Aftermath of the 2007 financial crisis in UK Essay

Aftermath of the 2007 financial crisis in UK - Essay Example The UK government has embarked on a number of missions to sustain the financial sector and the overall economy. This paper will focus on the measures taken by the UK government in the aftermath of the 2007 financial crisis to deal with the effects of the external forces on business organizations. In modern times, has been identified that global financial system is an interdependent system between all the countries (Shiller, 2008, p.xi). The current global financial crisis has created instability of economic systems in most countries including UK to such an extent that the UK government has been compelled to intrude into the financial markets in an unprecedented manner. The financial crisis although has not created problems in the UK constitutional system, nevertheless has proved that the constitution lacks flexibility to cope with financial crisis of such mammoth proportions (Black, 2010, p.1). The crisis has shown that the government has to face legal barriers arising from various u nanticipated sources. The European Union (EU) has a rule imposed on state aid which gives more power to the EU Commission than the Westminster parliament to decide the fate of taxpayers’ money. Moreover, various corporate and financial norms restrict the management capacity of the UK government of investments in the banks (Black, 2010, p.2). UK has â€Å"globally very active financial services industry with cutting edge financial innovation† (Williams, 2011, p.41). Previously, the UK government had a â€Å"tripartite† regulatory system which allowed the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Treasury to contribute towards maintaining economic progress in the country. However, the government felt that this system failed in three ways – a) it failed to assess any troubles that hinder economic progress, b) it could not assess appropriate steps to tackle such hindrances, and c) it failed to act effectively at the onset of the crisis ( Giudice et al., 2012, p.17). The effects of the global financial crisis first created waves in August 2007 and were enhanced throughout 2008. The impact of the crisis reached its peak in September/October 2008. Several financial institutes were rescued like the Northern Rock in UK. However, it was not before late 2008 that any major fiscal and monetary policies were established as response to the crisis. Most of the policies were put into practice only after the fall of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. Even in March 2008, the Treasury claimed that the government is duly abiding by all fiscal regulations and economy is stable. This indifferent perception was changed as a result of the events that occurred in September/October 2008. A reduction was made for a temporary period in VAT from 17.5 percent to 15 percent. In the end of 2009, it was brought back to the original rate. Moreover, the government made provision of ?3 billion for capital spending. In the beginning of the global c risis, the approximate valuation of public sector net borrowing (PSBR) was increased by 2.4 percent of GDP to 5.3 percent. Out of this, 0.6 percent was used for â€Å"discretionary budget changes† (Sawyer, 2011, p.206). In a wider context, the UK government has made plans and policies in response to the economic crisis with three main goals. First, the UK government has provided capital support to banks to reinforce their balance sheets. Secondly, the government has taken steps to enhance the competence of banks so that

Social Influences In Todays Society Young People Essay

Social Influences In Todays Society Young People Essay The five social influences that are being chosen are the media (news), new technology such as (television, computers, video games, and cell phones), punishments and/or the lack of, poverty, and divorces. All of these affect the way children are being influenced, raised, and how they deal with their daily lives and futures to some extent. Some of these affect more than others and they can affect on different levels, some on a positive note and others on a negative. Over the last generation a lot of things have changed in the way parenting and households work, how technology has sky rocketed, and they way media is being portrayed. All of these changes have dramatically changed the way our society deals with numerous things, how children are being brought up, and how our children are being influenced. Our technology has increased to the extreme, now we have television, cell phones, and video games of all sorts. Children spend more time doing these things than playing with other kids or going outside to play. Their lives are based on what they play, have, and do. Our news is more in depth; we look at reality and try to make a story out of it no matter what it is. The way families and schools handle punishments has changed too. We are more lax on kids now; we use different forms of punishments that do not always work. More parents choose to divorce or do not even get married in the first place. The binds that once were, are really not there anymore, which can have affects on a child being raised. The last one is poverty; this is an important factor too. Believe it or not poverty is at an all time high affecting more children than adults in the United States. (Knapp, 1995) Analysis of Social Influence New Technology: Technology can be very beneficial in a society. We use it in America every day. It has helped business grow, add different types of communication, stay in touch with others. It helps cut down on some environmental factors such as paper waste. But even with all of these benefits it can have very negative effects on children and adults. These negative effects are the lack of personal attachment, personal communication, kids and adults get sucked into it too deep, they are used as escape goats. It is being used more and more to raise kids than an actual parent. Based on studies, computers prevent children from interacting with each other and with adults. While these children need stronger interpersonal ties with supportive adults, the use of the computer technology only serves to keep children and adults apart. (Slavin, 1998) On the other side of the study it indicates that children who engaged in adult-mediated computer activity improved the level of their cognitive performance on measures of abstract thinking, planning ability, vocabulary, and visual-motor coordination, as well as on measures of response style including reflectivity. In Vygotskyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s theory of development, he states that social interaction plays a fundamental role in the process of cognitive development. When you compare using technology to not using technology, then the usage of technology would make it to where cognitive development would not be developing properly because of the lack of social interaction. It would alter the development because the type of interaction is virtual rather than face to face. Punishments: The lack of discipline in a childs life during the early years often promotes insecurity, dependence, and uncontrolled behavior. The way children are punished today is through a non physical punishment. Timeouts are a very big trend. Putting a child in a place to sit for a minute every year their age is. So an example of this would be an eight year old who gets sent to time out and sits for eight minutes; this approach takes the hands off the children. Another trend is redirection; this is where you redirect a child from the negative behavior to a different task. You are basically redirecting what they are doing at that present time. Using time out can be effective; it underscores the relationship between behavior and consequences. Discipline is about guiding children into acceptable and desirable behavior. Time outs give them an opportunity to make the connection between the behavior and the negative consequence (Reese, 1997). Time out also can be problematic. One of the problems with time out and redirection is the lack of fear. Most children feel time out is fun; they tend to misbehave even more than the start. Another problem is it takes more from a parent to do time out than corporal punishment. Corporal punishment has been a long debate; many advocate it and many are against it. With timeout and redirection you would be using Vygotskyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s theory of development, since you are socially interacting with the child. This can help them focus and grow in a positive way. Since each interaction is considered a learning experience, when timeout is being used they are learning that if they do a behavior that is not wanted then they will sit for so much time (Zhang, 2010). Media: The media is a very important aspect in our lives today. We broadcast anything and everything that can make a story. A lot of the media is altered for ratings. There is more displayed than ever before. Reality television is very big in the world today. This can have a very negative impact on children today. They see other kids doing wrong but then getting a show out of it. These types of media can be overwhelming for a child. Their brains are not fully developed and they do not understand what exactly is going on. These types of negative behaviors can rub off on the child. A research study that was done showed the more exposure six month old infants have to media, particularly media directed toward older children and adults, the less developed their cognitive and language skills may be at fourteen months, according to research published in the December issue of the Archives of Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine (2010). In Vygotskyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s theory, children imitate their surroundings and peers. Poverty: Unfortunately this happens everywhere and it is happening more and more in the United States than ever before. Children are going without food. A long-term study of cognitive development in lower- and middle-class students found strong links between childhood poverty, physiological stress and adult memory. Compared to well-off kids, poor children tend to go to ill-equipped and ill-taught schools, have fewer educational resources at home, eat low-nutrition food, and have less access to health care (Knapp, 2005). Cultural/Regional Differences Social exposure to various cultures expands a childs pool of knowledge. The more experiences that a child has, the richer their world becomes. Developmental advancements, dependent upon the people and the cultural tools provided to the child, will help him to form his perceptions of the world. Not all places around the world are up to date on all of the new technology. Some of these places really have no need for all of it either. Arranged marriages is very common in the Middle East, India and Africa, while in some Asian and most Western cultures, the romantic marriage is idealized and one has a right to choose their marriage partner and thus an arranged marriages is perceived as an infringement on this right and viewed unfavorably. Generational Differences In older generations there was some technology but nothing compared to what we have now. Children would play outside from sunrise to sunset, they were rarely ever in the house. They would go to school and come home just to play with friends. Families were more family orientated, dinners would be served and all would gather to eat. School was a very important aspect in the children lives and so was music. Children would develop more of a personal bond with their family and friends. Marriage was an important factor as well; it was against moral values to have a child out of wedlock. Children grew up in a two parent home front. The biggest difference is the direction we are heading. A great example of this is older generations were preparing their children to work on farms and now we are preparing our children to work on computers. Conclusion In society today, we are using social interaction through various forms. It is no longer just a parent and a child. Many of the technological advances take the place of this; which in turn can result a hindrance on cognitive behavior. Even at an early age televisions, games, media, and other exposures are coming into the picture. In Vygotskyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s theory, imitative learning is the first, where the child simply copies another person. Second is instructed learning, where a child recalls direction given by a teacher and then puts it into play, and the third is collaborative learning. Collaborative learning happens when a peer group cooperates to learn or achieve a specific goal while working to understand one another (Eckhoff, 2008). If you believe in Vygotskys theories you would want to advise parents to expose their children to a variety of social situations, since each interaction is considered a learning experience. It is especially important to introduce children to people and ideas that operate above their current knowledge level, giving them access to new ideas and concepts. Guiding children to look for answers by imitating what they see in others, listening to instruction and working as part of a group all provide opportunities for them to expand their current base of knowledge (Zhang, 2010).

Economics, Scarcity, and Choice :: Economics

Economics, Scarcity, and Choice Economics: is the study of choice under conditions of scarcity Scarcity: a situation in which the amount of something available is insufficient to satisfy the desire for it. - time and purchasing power are scarce As individual’s, we face a scarcity of time and spending power. Given more of either, we could have more of the goods and services that we desire. Resources: the land, labor, and capital that are used to produce goods and services - scarce labor – the time human beings spend producing goods and services capital – long lasting tools used in producing goods and services physical capital: buildings, machinery, equipment human capital: skills and training workers possess land – the physical space on which production occurs, and the natural resources that come with it As a society, our resources, land, labor, and capital, are insufficient to produce all the goods and services we might desire. In other words, society faces a scarcity of resources. Raw material – not long lasting tool Ex. Chalk What to produce? How much to produce? How to produce it? The World of Economics Microeconomics: the study of the behavior of individual households, firms, and governments; the Choices they make; and their interaction in specific markets What happens to the cost of movie tickets over the next five years? How many jobs will open up in the fast-food industry? Macroeconomics: the study of the economy as a whole Lumps all goods and services together and looks at the economy’s total output. Positive economics: the study of what is, of how the economy works (deals with the facts) Ex. If we lower income tax rates in the U.S. next year, will the economy grow faster? If so, by how much? What effect will it have on total employment? Normative economics: the study of what should be; it is used to make value judgments, identify Problems, and prescribe solutions. Normative analysis is based on positive analysis. Why Study Economics 1. To understand the world better - understand global and cataclysmic events such as wars, famines, epidemics - understand local problems; ex. Worsening traffic conditions in the city - tell us how many skilled therapists, ministers are available to help us 2. To gain self-confidence - when you master economics, you gain a sense of mastery over the world, and thus over your own life 3. To achieve social change - make the world a better place

Cultural Impacts Essay

â€Å"Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning â€Å"to cultivate,†) generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. Different definitions of â€Å"culture† reflect different theoretical bases for understanding, or criteria for evaluating, human activity. In general, the term culture denotes the whole product of an individual, group or society of intelligent beings. It includes technology, art, science, as well as moral systems and the characteristic behaviors and habits of the selected intelligent entities. †(Wikipedia) Any culture can be viewed as a blend of values, norms, institutions and artifacts of a civilization that has been passed on from generations through learning alone. The ideological perspective of life and the significance of things in it form the values of a society. Norms, are the expected collective behavior of the people where as the institutions are the structures within the society that transmit theses values and norms. Also, artifacts are the relics or the materialistic representation of a culture, derived from within it. Thus, cultures basically evolve and thrive on the basis of religion, historical background, environment and the social structure. Religious beliefs are typically the central themes of different cultures and more often than not the basic values are a derivative of them. For example, the 10 Commandments of Christianity or the five precepts of Buddhism are guidelines that transform the behavior of their followers. Similarly, religion occasionally is also implicated with government, as in a theocracy. The European and the New World cultures have been profoundly influenced by Christianity for at least the last 500 to 1700 years. Likewise Islam’s influence has fashioned a great deal of the North African, Middle and Far East regions for more than a 1000 years. Historical incidents also add new dimensions to any culture. For instance, most of the Commonwealth countries and the Europe celebrate a public holiday on the Boxing Day. On this day, the people organize feasts, festivals and certain sports in order to celebrate and also to share these rejoicing moments with the poor and the needy. There is no precise basis of this cultural carnival but only some theories that stem out from some historical happenings. Some believe that it was a day when people presented gifts to those who had worked throughout the year for them. Others argue that it was an annual gathering of extended families in the feudal times in which the lord of the estate handed out stipends to the serfs. Another group disputes that it was basically the day of the year when the church would distribute its donation money to the poor. Whatever may be the explanation, the Boxing Day is now an integral part of the western culture. (Wikipedia) The influence of different cultures on trade and commerce is profoundly instrumental and therefore it is not surprising that business tactics have diversely evolved in different regions of the world. In fact, the technological developments of the late 1990’s, in the arena of electronic media have added new dimensions to the concept. Consequently, the global giants of the corporate sector have been lavishly investing in examination of the cultural influences on the regional economies in order to maximize profits. â€Å"In China, for example, the foundation of Chinese respect for hierarchy and the family social collective is based upon the relational norms expounded by the Confucius and legal codes such as those developed during the Tang Dynasty. This institutionalized relational logic has shaped a society whose transactional order rests on social obligation to higher authority and to the family rather than on rules oriented to protecting the individual. Chinese capitalism is seen to be intrinsically different from the Western capitalism because of this contrast in institutional framing over a long period of time. † (Warner 2003) These and other brands of cultural values of a society are carefully considered when industries are being setup or when corporations are being established. This facilitates in determining the managerial skills required in the executive professionals who are responsible for communicating and representing their companies within the local industries. A working paper series issued from the George Washington University, discusses the U. S. /Mexican business alliances negotiations and the impact of their respective cultures on them. Mexico’s mestizo culture with its strong collectivist touch has embedded the people with the capacity to share power or authority equitably and the gift to accept and tolerate uncertainty and ambiguity in situations. However, they have also inherited the aptitude for individualism and tend to get involved in a loosely held social structure with little or no care for others. This is contrary to the culture in the United States, where people long for absolute power, are highly skeptical of ambiguous scenarios and more often than not downplay relationships. All, this along with the socio-political history of the two nations-which has been marred by discords and suspicion- is significantly determining in their mutual business alliances. (Teegen and Doh 2002) Moreover, the cultural heritage of a region characterize the production and sale of several products that otherwise do not correspond to the world wide demand. For instance, the annual Basant euphoria in the Punjabi region of the Indo-Pakistan, in which people fly kites and festivals are organized, much business is spawned. It becomes the very attraction for the tourists who converge here from all parts of the world, and the economic activity generated only in the city of Lahore has been estimated to be around PK Rupees 1. 5 to 2 billion annually. The proceeds of the events are shared by almost every one including the people belonging to the seasonal cottage industries and even the local vendors. Thus, the big corporations plunge into the scene and grab at every opportunity to escalate sales. The competitive environment forces them to inspect the cultural characteristics of the event and then to employ this knowledge in launching innovative products in the market as well as in transforming their already existing marketing techniques. (The News 2007) For a progressive business structuring in a region or country, political culture-which itself is a subsidiary of the social culture-can be of immense significance. An illustration can be vividly observed in the political history of Pakistan and the revolutionary rule of its Premier Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1973-77), which was influenced by the socialism philosophy of the Soviet Union. He aggressively followed these policies and nationalized most of the Pakistan’s industries. (Wikipedia) Consequently, the foreign investors and the big multinationals lost faith in the country and capital were taken out of the country. Locally, twenty two families in Pakistan had owned most of these nationalized banks, companies and industrial units. Sadly, this resulted into a deindustrialization in Pakistan, as none of the families have ventured in to even a single industrial project since the last 28 years. (Pakistan link) â€Å"In the fall of 1991, in the midst of the NAFTA negotiations, Vitro Sociedad Anonima (Vitro), the $3 billion Mexican glass maker, had signed a tentative $800 million joint venture with Corning Inc. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Just two years later, the joint venture was dissolved. According to company officials and external analysts, cultural differences were a principal cause of the alliance’s failure. † (Teegen and Doh 2002) Investigations showed that the Mexicans believed that Corning was a bit impulsive in their decision making; the Americans felt Vitro had a very time-consuming approach. Vitro management despised the frankness of the Americans, while polite Vitro executives, sometimes gave Americans the impression that they were reluctant to admit concerns and errors. (Teegen and Doh 2002) Thus, when businesses are being setup in different regions of the world, there is a need to develop a correlation between the corporate and the social cultures. References Babar Sattar. Immorality of Basant http://www. thenews. com. pk/daily_detail. asp? id=45221 Accessed: June 9, 2007 Boxing Day – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Boxing_Day Accessed: June 9, 2007 Culture – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Culture Accessed: June 9, 2007 Hildy J. Teegen (The George Washington University) and Jonathan P. Doh (Villanova University)-April 2002. â€Å"U. S. /Mexican Business Alliance Negotiations: Impact of Culture on Authority, Trust and Performance†. White Paper (The George Washington University). Malcom Warner . Culture and Management in Asia. Routledge, 2003 Who Owns Pakistan http://www. pakistanlink. com/hussaini/09-10-99. html#top Accessed: June 9, 2007 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Zulfiqar_Ali_Bhutto Accessed: June 9, 2007

A war between the United States and Iran Essay

Preparations for a massive military strike on Iran are in full swing by the United States of America. But will these preparations convert to actual bombing on the ground? Are the two countries going to be embroiled in a war soon? These are the questions that are being asked everywhere, in hushed tones if it is the Pentagon corridors and terrified glances if it is the streets of Tehran. With Iran defying the UN’s call for restraint in its nuclear programme openly, it has only become successful in intensifying the speculations about the war. The issue here is â€Å"Is it inevitable? † Before we get in to the nitty-gritty of the Iranian crisis, let us look into the different causes of the wars that have been raged in the recent future. The twentieth century started with World War I in 1914 and since then, it is interesting to note that the wars have a particular pattern. The causes have always been dependent on three factors: Systemic factors, domestic politics and the role of the Decision maker. Hence, we would also try to view the US-Iran issue through this prism. However, comparing the pre-nuclear wars in a pre-nuclear age with wars in post-nuclear age would be a waste of space. Instead, it would do well if we look into the causes that can trigger a war in the present times where possessing nuclear power is not only a stark reality but also the bone of contention in this particular case. It is the claim by the Iranian government that they are ready to start developing nuclear weapons is what has triggered the whole issue. And ironically, it is the very reason that is playing a deterrent in the war. Remarkable is the fact that it is only America that is concerned with Iran trying to possess the deadly weapon. The first and foremost question that would help us in determining the fate of this discussion would be: Why is America so bothered? America, the self-declared big brother of all the nations on this planet, takes up the â€Å"burden† of maintaining peace on earth. To quote Eisenhower, â€Å"Freedom is indivisible.. †. America takes it as its personal duty to ensure that â€Å"Freedom† is maintained all over the world. If it was â€Å"Communism† that was a threat against â€Å"Freedom† during the cold war, today it is the irresponsible rulers of nations that possess or aspire to possess nuclear weapons that are threatening the â€Å"Freedom† in the world. And when Truman declared that â€Å"We cannot hope to maintain our freedom, if freedom elsewhere is wiped out†, he meant it. However, the reasons why Israeli attack on Palestine killing hundreds of civilians is not wiping out â€Å"Freedom† but North Korea developing nuclear capability is has interesting reasons. History has been witness to this characteristic of America where it deems it is her right to attack any country it wills to protect the attacked country’s â€Å"freedom†. According to Jutta Welders (Pg 37, culture of insecurity), the compelling reason for America to act in this fashion is to maintain its supremacy in the world. An act of aggression under the cloak of â€Å"Freedom fighters† becomes a necessity to project itself as a strong nation which can not only defend itself but protect other countries as well. A bright example would be the Cuban missile crisis. When this â€Å"crisis† occurred, many were of the view that it was quite unnecessary for America to take up such a strong and aggressive tone. However, it did do that and according to Jutta Weldes, it is the compelling reason to showcase its power that led it to act strong. In fact, Jutta Weldes considers the Cuban missile crisis as not a crisis at all. To quote her, â€Å".. crises are social constructions that are forged by state officials in the course of producing and reproducing state identity†. She is of the view that it depends on the social construction that makes us define a situation as â€Å"Crisis†. It depends on how we view a nation that determines whether it is a crisis or not. For example, Iran possessing nukes is such a big issue and is immediately converted into a â€Å"Crisis† whereas an equally notorious state like Pakistan possessing the deadly weapons is not. It has been time and again proved that large number of terrorist activities has their funds traced back to Pakistan. However, Pakistan escaped the whip but Iraq was destroyed in the name of WMDs! The only explanation for this is the prism that US uses to define its foreign policies. Attack the nations that would give it a chance to maintain her supremacy in the world. Attacking Pakistan would back fire as it has the capability to strike back. And attacking Iraq or Iran will definitely be easier as these countries have a notorious reputation which required some policing and also are comparative weaklings. Hence, the systemic reasons for US to wage a war against Iran are quite obvious: a chance to police a nation that has a history of supporting the biggest threat world faces today, that is, terrorism and simultaneously reaffirm its image as the superpower which it seems to be losing to China. If attacking Iran salvages some pride for US, the role of domestic politics in the whole affair plays another important role. US, the strongest nation in the world today, are also the most vulnerable to attacks by various terrorist outfits. After 9/11, it has taken its goal of fighting terrorism quite seriously. However, the path it has chosen to fight it is not very often appreciated. The aftermath of 9/11 saw it attacking Afghanistan and driving out the Taliban ruthlessly. Afghanistan was the target because it sheltered the most dangerous terrorist outfit in the world, Al-Qaeda. Their slogan was a regime change is essential for to â€Å"smoke out† the terrorist and the whole war was essentially to capture one man – Osama Bin Laden. The attack resulted in the killings of thousands of innocent Afghanistan who were already tired by the war torn politics of Taliban. America could never capture the villain. However, it overthrew Taliban and today, a â€Å"democratically† elected government exists in place of it. Is Afghanistan a changed country today? Has America finally left its shores after the war? Both the answers are No! Terrorism has been controlled and yes, America is still â€Å"guarding† Afghanistan with its air raids on civilians. The failure of capturing Osama in Laden was quite frustrating for the Bush administration and it was in search for a new scapegoat. And they found the perfect one in the form of Saddam Hussain. Suddenly, Iraq, the starving nation which was already bogged down by various sanctions and its citizens further troubled by the tyrannic rule of Saddam Hussain finds itself in the line of fire. The reasons given are quite fishy. America is suddenly in possession of confidential information that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussain should be relieved of his responsibility of taking care of them! The reasons were uttered in the same chilling tone of how Iraq, which can’t survive without taking aid from UN, poses the danger of destroying the whole world. The solution that is needed is again a â€Å"Regime Change†. America reasoned introduction of democracy in the country will solve the problem. Thus, despite the worldwide protests that marked the growing contempt against America and the UN Security Council voting against a military attack, America single-handedly went about with its â€Å"war on terrorism†. After 3 years of war, a executed Saddam Hussain, uncountable civilian deaths and threats of civil war ( not to forget the daily suicide attacks by shiities), no one found alleged WMDs. Today, it has been almost accepted that the report on WMD was wrong! The flak US received for the irresponsible behavior is enormous and its image in the middle east has gone for a beating as today, many believe that US is waging war on Islam rather than Terrorists. Its belief that a regime change is the only solution that can solve the problems of the world is quite naive. It proposes the same thing when it comes to Iran. Seymour M. Hersh, in journal â€Å"Fact: Annals of national security† had mentioned his conversation with Patrick Clawson, an Iran expert who is the deputy director for research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and who has been supporter of President Bush, who clearly spoke of regime change the ultimate solution. He said, â€Å"So long as Iran has an Islamic Republic, it will have a nuclear-weapons program, at least clandestinely. The key issue is therefore, how long will the present regime last? † This archaic view that regime change or toppling of government in another country and forcing them to â€Å"democracy† has never worked in bringing the much desired goal of the war – peace. In fact, statistics have shown that the transition period from any kind of rule to democracy has always been bloody and nations become quite war-prone (Democratization and war). The most recent examples are, of course, Afghanistan and Iraq, which are facing gruesome infighting among themselves. So why is America so bent upon making a regime change in those countries? Apart from the apparent reasons of dismantling the network of terrorism, experts are of the view that it is also the question of who controls the oil in the future that has been a major driving force behind the American policy. Middle East is the home for oil throughout the world and it is the control of oil that is US after. With its fast disappearance and soaring prices (reasons partly because the war that US is waging), the control of the oil fields will definitely be beneficial for America. In fact, the one who controls oil in the future is the undisputed king. This goes in line with the policy of US for whom displaying its authority is very important as it seems to be losing the crown to the exponential growth of China. Therefore, attacking Iran is also a desperate attempt by US to reiterate that it is America that is still calling the shots. However, attacking Iran has its own dangers. The most important and the immediate is the image of US in the Islamic world. Its continuous attacks on Islamic nations has made it poised against Islam and has become quite unpopular in the Middle East. If not anything else, America through these attacks is only getting successful in inviting the wrath of the people living there. In a conversation with Seymour M Hersh, Richard Armitrage was echoing the same sentiments – â€Å"What will happen in the other Islamic countries? What ability does Iran have to reach us and touch us globally – that is, terrorism? Will Syria and Lebanon up the pressure on Israel? What does the attack do to our already diminished international standing? And what does this mean for Russia, China and the U. N Security Council? † Yet how many in Washington will consider these questions? According to Seymour, there are people out there who believe it is the way to operate! If domestic politics are reasons enough to wage war, the role of the decision maker is of paramount importance. It is the head who declares wars and in this case Bush has quite a penchant for declaring wars. It is widely believed that Bush will declare war against Iran before leaving the White house. In fact, President Bush believes that â€Å"He must do what no democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do, and that saving Iran is going to be his legacy†. The personal ambition of Bush also seems to make the fear of turning Teheran in to a sea of fire in to reality. Moreover, with the failure of Iraq where they achieved instant victory but not a decisive one, Bush administration is looking out for scapegoats in a large way. Iran with its close proximity with Iraq is believed to be a supplier of arms and ammunitions to the Shiite attackers in the troubled Iraq. Those attacks are not only killing innocent Iraqis but also resulting in the death of hundreds of American troops out there. In short, it is a personal failure for Bush as a president as he forced his military in to war for no reasons. It becomes very important for him to fathom some pride and Iran seems to be a ripe case. One House member told Seymour when speaking of Bush â€Å"The most worrisome thing is that this guy has a messianic vision†. Therefore, you have President Bush waiting to bomb Iran at the slightest pretext. But how can attacking Iran solve the Iraq problem? The strategy that is being followed by the Americans is to start infighting in Iran and force it to take some irresponsible action like an up in the activities along the Iraqi border. The first response to any of American disturbance in Iran is believed to be given across the Iraq border which presently houses many American troops. The white house hopes to take advantage of that situation and make it an excuse to attack Iran. This reason is widely believed to work as the blame of first strike can always be switched to Iran and America will only be fighting for â€Å"Safeguarding† its citizens. Combining the above reasons, America declaring war on Iran seems to be a matter of time. The systemic, domestic politics and decision maker reasons a need for another war. The attack on Iran will accomplish three important factors for America. 1. America is believed to be the favorite target for the terrorists and its war on terrorism is necessary to protect itself as a nation. Moreover, this would give the image of the departing super power the much needed boost. An attack on Iran will give the masculine quality to the nation that it believes will spread â€Å"awe† across the world. 2. The second and more compelling reason for the attack is the role that domestic politics plays in this issue. Attack on Iran will bring about a regime change which will help America post â€Å"Freedom† there. This in other words means another puppet government that would act on the whims of US. This is quite beneficial as this gives it direct control over the oil fields of Iran along with Iraq’s, thanks to the WMD ghosts. So, that means with a single strike, not only do they believe that terrorism and nukes will be taken care of but also the oil fields. 3. The third reason is President Bush. His stint as President of America has mainly been marred by Wars. If in the past it was Afghanistan, now it is Iraq. Apparently, both have them have been failures as there have been no decisive victories. The victories have only been fast as is expected from a war between the super power and a starving nation. Iran war will give him the much needed boost to his image as this war can be a golden opportunity to pass the blame on Iran for the Iraq fiasco. Taking all these reasons into considerations, attack by America on Iran for possessing Nukes is quite imminent. Experts say Iran is still five to ten years away from developing any kind of weapon. However, America is bent upon going ahead with its plans. Therefore, nukes or no nukes, Iran is the golden opportunity to accomplish a lot many tasks. Nuclear disarmament is just one of the small ones.

Analyzing Personal Conflict Management Style Essays

Analyzing Personal Conflict Management Style Essays Analyzing Personal Conflict Management Style Paper Analyzing Personal Conflict Management Style Paper The avoidance conflict management style occurs when a person attempts to ignore disagreements. A person that uses this style of conflict management may do so when they are afraid of standing up for their rights, or they may Just not want to deal with the hassle of a difficult and uncomfortable situation. One may also not want to hurt another feelings. There are advantages and disadvantages to the avoidance technique of conflict management. A disadvantage to using this technique is the conflict remains unresolved, therefore causing emotions to escalate. You may unintentionally signal to others that you are not interested in their needs. It may be an advantage to use this style of conflict management when a cooling off period is needed to think about the issues that are the source of the conflict. (Beebe Masters, 2009, p. 160-161) Accommodation is another conflict-management style in which one tries to handle the conflict by giving in to the wishes of others. This style is often referred to as a approach. People tend to use this approach when they lack confidence, have a high need for approval, and want others to like them. It may not always serve one well to accommodate during a conflict. A bad decision may be caused as the issues underlying the conflict were not thoroughly discussed. It may be appropriate to accommodate when you realize your position is wrong on an issue being discussed. Accommodating when appropriate can help a group develop a supportive climate as it shows you are reasonable. (Beebe Masters, 2009, p. CACM) Competition Is another conflict management style In which people strive to win a conflict at the expense of others. People who use this style are often seeking power and control over others. It is beneficial to use this style only if you are certain you have accurate information and that your insights and knowledge can help the group achieve its goal. Using the competitive style creates a disadvantage when it results in a defensive climate, creates blame towards others, and exerts control over others. (Beebe Masters, 2009, p. 161) Compromise Is another style of conflict management Tanat creates a solution Tanat wall somewhat meets ten needs AT all concerned. Using this method is not always a good idea. When groups quickly try to reach a compromise without discussing why they have conflict, the group may not reach the best solution or decision. Compromise may be beneficial when a decision is needed quickly. (Beebe Masters, 2009, p. 161-162) Collaboration is a method of inflict management in which group work together to produce a win-win outcome rather than competing for power. People who use collaboration view conflict as a problem to be solved rather than competing to prove who is right and who is wrong. Using this technique produces more satisfied group members as well as better solutions to conflict. A disadvantage of this method is the time, energy, patience, and skill it takes to collaborate. (Beebe Masters, 2009, p. 162) Different conflict situations require each of us to choose a style of conflict management appropriate for the type of conflict. The key to effective conflict prevention and management is to choose the conflict management style appropriate for the conflict (Green, n. D, Para. 1). Your conflict management behavioral style is simply a part of who you are. You develop a preferred style of conflict management based on past experiences, backgrounds, perceptions, gifts and abilities. (Mediation Works North, Inc. , 2008-2011) While most individuals have a preferred method of conflict management that they use in conflict situations, it may be necessary to choose a different style when appropriate. I personally use the collaborative approach to conflict management most often. I have never liked to avoid a conflict, which at times can lead to more contention. Often times a off?C,-1?0 period is needed to think about the issue at hand. I tend to want to talk about the conflict right away and resolve the issue. I do not work as well if I know a conflict exists. I care about what others are thinking and feeling in addition to my own thoughts and feelings. I want to take the time to develop a true consensus on a solution to the conflict that all individuals involved are in support of. I realize my preferred method of collaboration is not appropriate for all conflict situations. I often turn to the compromise style of conflict management when conflict exists with my children. I feel that using the compromise style has many advantages over other styles of conflict management to resolve conflicts I am having with my children. The competitive style of conflict management only makes my children more defensive and rebellious against my power. I want them to feel that we are a team, and we can work out conflict together. My biggest frustrations in dealing with others who use different styles of conflict management are those who continually use the avoidance style. I legalize that many people do not like to deal with conflict, so they would rather pretend it does not exist. Personally, I feel that in most situations, this causes the conflict to escalate. Relationships can be damaged by unresolved issues. I feel that overusing this style can lead us into giving up too many of our own personal goals and enables others to take advantage of us. It is important to learn to stand up for what one believes in rather than becoming a and trying to always please others. The only time I like to use this style of conflict management is when emotions are out of control and a cooling off period is necessary to regroup ND think about the issue. The conflict generally does not Just go away, and will have to be dealt with at some point. I also have a difficult time dealing with those who use ten competition style AT conflict management. I struggle to get along wit n tense won seek power over others and always want to be right. Conflict should not be a game that is to be won, but an opportunity to discuss different points of view and come to a consensus. In my experience, when the competition conflict management style is being used it creates an atmosphere of defensiveness, which I find uncomfortable.

The Laundromat by Marsha Norman †Theatre Essay

The Laundromat by Marsha Norman – Theatre Essay Free Online Research Papers â€Å"The Laundromat† by Marsha Norman Theatre Essay â€Å"The Laundromat† by Marsha Norman is a one-act play that was written in 1979. Marsha Norman was born in 1947 to a fundamentalism Methodist family (Ingrid 1). Marsha had a very lonely childhood, which was often reflected in her work. â€Å"Her mothers religious views prohibited Norman from playing with other children and watching television and movies, and she credits her loneliness as a child as the reason she became a writer† (Ingrid 1). â€Å"The Laundromat† is about two women, Alberta and Deedee who meet in a Laundromat and chat with one another while doing their laundry. Alberta is â€Å"a reserved women in her late fifties† who lost her husband Herb about a year ago and Deedee is a â€Å"restless twenty-year old) girl who is presently in a relationship with a man who is pursuing an affair. Throughout the play Marsha Norman portrays Alberta and Deedee as two women who are in denial about an aspect of their life. Alberta is in denial that her husband Herb passed away and Deedee is in denial that her husband Joe is having an affair with another woman. Through psychoanalysis the two women are able to overcome their denial and come to terms with despair and loneliness. â€Å"Sigmund Freud was born May 6, 1856 in a small town – Freiberg – in Moravia† (Boeree 2). Freud became very famous in his psychological studies of the personality. Alberta and Deedee use many defense mechanisms in trying to cope with their losses, the most prominent being denial. According to Freud, â€Å"Denial involves blocking external events from awareness. If some situation is just too much to handle, the person just refuses to experience it† (Boeree 6). Freud also developed a method of therapy called psychoanalysis. Freud’s theory says that the mind is composed of the conscious, the preconscious and the unconscious. â€Å"Freud said that the goal of therapy simply is ‘to make the unconscious conscious’† (Boeree 15). Denial is a very dangerous defense mechanism because a person who is in denial does not ever come to terms with a very traumatizing experience. Alberta goes to the Laundromat to clean her husband Herb’s clothing from the night that he died. When Deedee asks Alberta if her husband works nights too, Alberta says, â€Å"Herb is out of town† (1059). A year after her husband passed away Alberta is still unable to tell Deedee that Herb is dead. Later in the conversation Deedee finds that Alberta â€Å"forgot† to put one shirt into the washing machine. When Deedee grabs the shirt and goes to throw it into the washer with the rest of Herbs clothing, Alberta takes the shirt away from her and says, â€Å"I don’t want to†¦it’s too†¦that stain will never†¦It needs to presoak. I forgot the Woolite† (1061). This would have been the perfect opportunity for Alberta to tell Deedee that her husband had passed away but she still does not. According to Freud, the unconscious â€Å"†¦includes all the things that are not easily available to awareness, including many things that have their origins there, such as our drives or instincts, and things that are put there because we cant bear to look at them, such as the memories and emotions associated with trauma† (Boeree 15). When Alberta says that her husband is just away on business, she is keeping the fact that he is dead in her unconscious mind. Since psychoanalysis is about bringing feelings from the unconscious to the conscious, talking to Deedee is a form of psychoanalysis therapy. When Alberta is able to transfer this feeling to the conscious mind she is able to work on accepting her loss. Deedee helps Alberta, through a form of psychoanalysis, bring her feelings and the truth to the conscious mind. Towards the end of the night, Alberta and Deedee seem to be growing more and more fond of one another. As Deedee finally tells Alberta about her husbands affair she impulsively says, â€Å"†¦Like he’s dead and now you worship the shirts he wore† (1072). When Deedee says this she suddenly realizes that Alberta’s husband is in fact dead and she feels terrible. Deedee apologizes saying, â€Å"I’m sorry, Mrs. Johnson, I really am sorry. You probably been plannin’ this night for a long time. Washin’ his things. And I barged in and spoiled it all† (1072). Alberta responds to the apology saying, â€Å"I’ve been avoiding it or a long time. Herb died last winter, the day before his birthday† (1072). This is what is called a Catharsis in psychoanalysis therapy. A catharsis is â€Å"†¦the sudden and d ramatic outpouring of emotion that occurs when the trauma is resurrected† (Boeree 15). When Alberta finally tells Deedee the truth about Herb she is relieved to have told someone. Alberta’s â€Å"secret† is finally in her conscious mind and she is able to experience feelings and emotions about the event with another person. According to Freud this is a huge step towards the conclusion in psychoanalysis therapy. In contrast to Alberta, Deedee is a young woman who is still learning about life and relationships. Deedee is in a relationship with a man named Joe who is having an affair with another woman. Joe tells Deedee that he is working a double shift when really he is going to the bowling alley and bowling with a beautiful blonde woman. Like Alberta, Deedee is also in denial about an aspect of her life. Deedee is in denial that her husband Joe is having an affair. When Deedee is telling Alberta about Joe, she tells Alberta that the reason he is out late is because of his job. She says, It’s all-the-time, he lately. He says people are buyin’ more trucks ‘cause farmers have to raise more cows ‘cause we got a population explosion going on. Really crummy, you know? People I don’t even know having babies mean Joe can’t come home at the right time. Don’t seem fair. (1059) Even though Deedee has caught Joe cheating on her in the bowling alley, she does not tell Alberta the truth. By pretending that Joe is just working a double shift she is keeping her feelings and emotions in the unconscious mind. As the night progresses, Deedee develops a liking for Alberta even though they do not have a lot in common. A TV review on â€Å"The Laundromat† writes â€Å"In ‘The Laundromat’ she is writing about two women, one old enough to be the other’s mother† (O’Connor C18). Even though the women are so far apart in age, their situation is very similar and they develop a relationship based on that. As the play comes to a conclusion, Deedee tells Alberta about her boyfriend’s affair and brings her feelings to the conscious, finally recognizing that she is not being treated right. When Deedee asks Alberta for advice on what to say to Joe when she confronts him about the affair, Alberta says â€Å"Your own face in the mirror is better company than a man who would eat a whole fried egg in one bite. But it won’t be easy† (1074). What Alberta is really saying is that Deedee is going to be lonely with or without her husband because he is never home and she knows that he has betrayed her. Deedee would be better off being lonely without letting her husband get the best of her. Through psychoanalysis, Alberta was able to help Deedee come to terms with her feelings and move them from the unconscious to the conscious mind. According to Freud, insight is the last important step of psychoanalysis therapy. â€Å"Insight is being aware of the source of the emotion, of the original traumatic event† (Boeree 15). In the TV Review of â€Å"The Laundromat† in the NY Times, O’Connor writes, â€Å"Deedee is in a panic about her husband’s increasing indifference. ‘He makes me feel like I’m a TV set,’ she cries, ‘and he’s changed the channels’† (O’Connor 1). These lines are not included in the original play, but on the television version of the play Deedee is describing how the affair made her feel. Expressing the feelings associated with the affair is a form of insight. As Alberta is loading up her laundry basket she says, â€Å"Maybe, in a few months or next year sometime, I’ll be able to give these away. They’re nice things† (1074). Since Alberta has finally come to terms with her husband Herbs death sh e feels that she finally will be able to move on and take the final steps in mourning her husband. This final step of psychoanalysis is a key step to finally being able to cope with life and its obstacles. In conclusion, through psychoanalysis the two women are able to overcome their denial and come to terms with despair and loneliness. Alberta and Deedee were two very different women. Alberta was very refined and in her late fifties while Deedee was a mess and only twenty years old. Despite their differences the two women found something in common that brought them closer and enabled them to help one another. By talking about their feelings and their obstacles with their husbands at the Laundromat, Alberta and Deedee did something that takes years and years of therapy for others to accomplish. Alberta came to terms with her husband Herbs death and Deedee came to terms with her husband having an affair with another women. Denial is a very dangerous defense mechanism that the mind uses to block out an event in one’s life that is very difficult to deal with. Psychoanalysis is a powerful therapy that can be used to overcome denial and deal with reality and life’s obst acles. Reluctantly, Alberta and Deedee met one another and they were able to mediate one another and discover their problems in the conscious mind. Research Papers on â€Å"The Laundromat† by Marsha Norman - Theatre EssayThree Concepts of PsychodynamicPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyCapital PunishmentHonest Iagos Truth through Deception19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenWhere Wild and West MeetMind TravelThe Fifth Horseman

Ready, Set, Write!

Ready, Set, Write! Ready, Set, Write! Ready, Set, Write! By Erin One of the biggest problems people have with writing is getting started. A blank page (or computer screen) can be intimidating, but prewriting is a great way to overcome that intimidation. Here are some prewriting activities to help get the words flowing out of your brain and onto the page: Listing: Listing is one of the easiest things you can do to get the ideas moving. Assuming that you have a topic, just write down the topic and jot down any ideas that come to mind. Dont judge or censor ideas; just write them down. You can censor later! If you have a large or broad topic, listing can be a good way to break it down into categories or narrow the topic if necessary. Mapping: For the visually-minded, a concept map or web can be a great way to organize a jumble of ideas into something that makes sense. A concept map helps show relationships between ideas. Freewriting: Freewriting is one of my favorite ways to get the creative juices flowing. Give yourself a topic and a time limit (5 or 10 minutes usually works) and just write whatever comes into your head. Dont pay any attention to spelling or grammarjust write. When youre done, go back and pull out whatever ideas seem most useful. Freewriting is also a great way to get yourself unstuck when youve already begun but dont know where to go next. Prewriting works no matter what kind of writing youre doing. Just grab a piece of paper and a pen and go! Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:15 Terms for Those Who Tell the Future30 Baseball IdiomsThrew and Through

Community Natural Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Community Natural Resource Management - Essay Example Up to date, there are around 1.2 billion people mostly coming from developing countries who "still lack access to sufficient and safe water to meet their basic needs" (qtd. in WHO and UNICEF, 2000). On the other hand, our biodiversity, which includes "trees, insects, mammals, corals, amoeba, fungi and all aspects of flora (plant life), fauna (animal life) and the dynamic interactions between them", is facing extinction (David Humphreys, p.183). The increasing rate of biodiversity extinction is largely caused by "climate change, pollution and habitat loss; for example, due to urbanisation and tropical forest clearance" (Budds, p.184). Lastly, we have a growing concern regarding food. It is noted that some agricultural practices aimed at increasing productivity have negative effects on the environment. The result is an ever-increasing difficulty to produce food: "farmers complained that they were unable to raise any pigs - the litters were too small and the young only survived a few days. The apple trees were coming into bloom but no bees droned among the blossoms, so there was no pollination and there would be no fruit. The roadsides, once so attractive, were now lined with brown and withered vegetation as though swept by fire" (Goodman, p.220). The negative agricultural practices mentioned in the book includes use of agricultural chemicals such as insecticides (Goodman, p.220). In this paper, we take a particular look at the concept of community natural resources management, how they are done, their strengths and limitations and the possible solutions in the future: how community natural resource management can be used for future environmental policies. The discussion will deal heavily with biodiversity and water resources, although we will also be mentioning agriculture once in a while. Community natural resource management' as a key environmental policy response Water resource Although considered natural resources, most water resource management involves human intervention. Construction of dams, for example, are unnatural but are practiced for economic reasons (Budds, p.146). Also indirectly, "people also induce changes to water resources", such as through "the rules, practices, roles and customs through which water management is organised" (Budds, p.146). Recently, the concept of global water crisis is surfacin. It includes both "the decreasing availability of fresh water through increasing demand and consumption (from agriculture, industry, rising populations, cities), pollution and changing climatic conditions, and the lack of access to drinking water among lower-income groups, largely in developing countries" (Budds, p.152). There are various responses to the water crisis. For example, how the Greek government has solved the problem is different from the conception and solution of the Irish government. The Greek government resorted to water demand management, which independent studies warned of "having serious social,

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

Community - Essay Example Attendance is described as good as the school district has partnered with a truancy solution company and as such has launched a campaign to encourage students to attend school regularly. As a result, school attendance has improved by 10%. The latest report reflects that daily attendance is at just over 94%. District Setting Administration For administrative purposes the school district is divided into four categories: elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and special schools. There are 68 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, 15 high schools and 8 special schools. Each school is run by a principal who reports to the Superintendent for the district. The superintendent is assisted by a deputy superintendent for administration, a deputy superintendent for curriculum and instruction and a deputy superintendent for business and financial services. The superintendent and the various deputy superintendents coordinate all aspects of the administration of the school with the princ ipals. Student Data Enrolment for the 2010-2011 academic year is 94, 702. The district accepts students from the age of 4 for pre-kindergarten. Once students are registered at an elementary school, registration is no longer necessary. Students come from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds. However, 67% of the student body is Hispanic. District Mission The school district’s mission is to provide an exemplary education with above average educators and an intensive extracurricular program. In addition the school district’s mission is to foster an environment that is family oriented. In other words, the school district encourages close community between the staff, teachers, administrators, the study body and the families. The school district readily admits that its wants to be the best place in the state for families. Thus its mission is to foster a connection between the schools and parents, business and members of the community generally. This is because the school dis trict takes the position that while the child’s education is significant for society’s future, the family provides the key to learning. As such, parents are not only obligated to be actively involved in the education of the child, but also have an inalienable right to be involved. The school district prides itself on its advanced technology, innovative facilities and highly qualified staff. These factors have made the school district appealing to both staff and families in terms of recruiting students and educators. The school district has a strategic plan which targets the enhancement of its students’ academic and social achievement. It also endeavors to provide a climate for learning that is safe. This is accomplished by emphasizing the recruitment and retention of exemplary staff, keeping up with modern technology and fostering communications with the external public and fortifying partnerships with the business community. Mission/Philosophy Public Relations The school district’s school/community relations mission is guided by the philosophy that the community is a stakeholder in its schools. As such, two-way lines of communication must be open so that the school district operates transparently and the community is therefore fully informed of all issues impacting the operation and success of the school. An informed community is in a more effective position to participate in the school distr

Recent Organizational Innovations such as TQM and BPR Essay

Recent Organizational Innovations such as TQM and BPR - Essay Example For example, they are responsible for correct approach, implementation and meeting of goals plus objectives that are set by the company (Tuckman 1994, p. 733). The recent innovation defies traditional management approaches and incorporates best methods that suits organizations needs. Innovation management is important in organizations due to its ability to change and integrate various processes such as those of products. This ensures that the ideas generated transform into successful market ventures. The idea of innovation is beyond the non technological innovation considering the organizational innovation seen as in various angles (Tuckman 1994, p. 735). Innovations in the workplace are responsible for the success and conduct of the workers in an organization (Knights & McCabe 1998, p.173). Employees have sufficient freedom although they have a defined responsibility. They require various skills and knowledge to enhance the association between the technological and organizational in novation. The level of innovation depends on the size of organization. Large organizations have the ability to initiate changes due to access of various resources. They are more established than smaller organizations hence will have the power to plan and implement their objectives according to the schedules. In various companies, technological and non technological innovations associate largely (Tuckman 1994, p. 747). It is possible that product plus process innovations relate to enhance various operations in a firm. However, organizational structure may have effects on this relationship. Organizational innovations concentrate on customer issues such as feedbacks to the customers plus the suppliers of the organization. The main aim is to reduce costs and improve revenues of the company. Total quality management TQM This is a type of organizational innovation that is under product and service practices. This innovation is a form of quality revolution arising in recent past. It deals with procedures that affect customers for services and commodities in terms of delivering quality products and services (Knights & McCabe 1998, p.176). TQM depicts how the top management performs their roles in the organization. The innovation has altered the conduct of workers because of the accountability it grants to them. TQM allows each employee an opportunity to participate in quality improvements of products plus services (Tuckman 1994). Their roles widen in order to meet the set goals concerning product quality. TQM enhance workers emphasis on the mission plus visions of an organization, and adherence to procedures in order to achieve objectives. TQM management concept entails various themes that are useful in organizations. TQM is able to transform the work environment as it ensures quality for products and services in which workers and the management has to participate keenly. TQM entails various changes including programs whose aim is to alter the approach to employee ass ociations. This helps employee’s participation in issues concerning quality services (Crosby 1979, p.7). Some notions of TQM view workers as the greatest enhancers of success in an organization. An important aspect of TQM program is that it can be changed to conform to requirements of any organization. Managers of all levels can incorporate TQM to fit their management perspectives entailing quality principles and

Statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Statistics - Essay Example As documented by the National Center for Education Statistics, NCES (2013), the years 1990 to 2011 saw an average drop from 12% to 7% of high school dropouts in the US. This shows that a majority of high school students increasingly appreciate the importance of graduating, thus the need for me to also strive to graduate. In support of this finding, it would be appreciated that school dropouts increasingly find it hard to secure employment. In 1990, 52.5% of high school dropouts were employed as compared to 49.8% in 2011 (NCES, 2013). Thus, with the aim of securing employment in future to attain financial independence, it would be important to complete my high school education. Completion would increase my chances of securing employment and therefore a brighter future. Interestingly, more male than female students consistently drop out of high school. As such, I appreciate the greater risk of dropout as a male student thus the need to take grater caution to ensure that I do not fall victim to factors that could hinder me from completing my high school education. Therefore, these statistics on high school dropout rates enlighten me on the importance of graduating from high

Qualitiative Analysis on Diabetes Research Paper

Qualitiative Analysis on Diabetes - Research Paper Example The findings of the study show that communication and education combined with cultural differences create a difficult environment in which to treat diabetes in regards to this ethnic minority group. The results suggest that more time needs to be taken by doctors and dieticians to explain the causes and effects of the disease and how best to treat it with an understanding of the social and dietary differences of the community. Information needs to be available to patients and family members in a language they understand and in relation to the activities of their daily lives. There are many different ethnic minority groups in large communities that frequently accept immigrants and this is just a sample of how one such group can suffer emotionally and physically because treatment options are catered to a majority lifestyle. Only when doctors, educators, and the public make a point to diagnose, treat, and teach about diseases in a context familiar to the daily lives of those suffering fr om them will, no matter how small the group, they be able to work in conjunction with their patients. Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the role of diabetes mellitus in the Lebanese community of Sydney, Australia. Methods This is a primary data analysis of a survey of twenty-five Lebanese individuals living in Sydney, Australia. ... agnoses, how the diagnosis was made, major physical and emotional effects on health, communication between health care provider and patient, major difficulties regarding the disease, and quality of life. Conclusions The results of this study provide a unique perspective into the Lebanese community and the affect of social and cultural differences of immigrants and their experiences with diabetes. Lebanese immigrants in Australia often are not diagnosed with diabetes until middle age. They find it difficult to adjust their previous living habits to what they see as Western ideas. Communication about the disease is difficult because many immigrants do not speak the native English language. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. There are multiple types of diabetes, the most common being Type 2. Type 2 diabetes most often develops in adults but can occur in younger people as well. The person’s pancreas does not secrete enough insul in to maintain normal levels of glucose and his or her body can begin to respond poorly to insulin. With obesity numbers rising and people exercising less and less, Type 2 diabetes is seen at a growing rate and many of the people diagnosed are completely unaware that they were affected. The increasing cases of diabetes amongst Lebanese people are also a cause of worry. Sydney is host to a large number of Lebanese people, migrated to the country, hence the city, in search of better job opportunities living standards. There are many studies indicating increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus in these families. These have been ascribed to hereditary factors, food habits, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and increased consanguinity over many generations (Abou-Daoud, 1969). Acculturation is a

Corporate strategy and its integrated nature. Volkswagen case Essay

Corporate strategy and its integrated nature. Volkswagen case - Essay Example This report will discuss as to what is a successful business strategy by discussing the key dimensions of the business and discussing the same with respect to the Volkswagen group.Corporate strategy is an integrated process as it requires a collaborative effort at the organization-wide level to ensure that the overall objectives of the organisation are achievedIntegrated nature of the strategy outlines that the different organizational resources are combined together to execute the corporate level strategy and achieve the strategic objectives of the firm. It’s also because of this reason that strategy as a process is considered as an iterative process where the firms keep on adjusting and changing their strategies in order to successfully negotiate with their external environment. Strategy therefore outlines as to how the firm, by utilizing its internal strengths can take up the opportunities offered by the external environment while at the same time negotiating with the threa ts faced. There are four key dimensions of any business strategy involving the strategy formulation under which organizations actually formulate the strategy, the analysis dimension under which the firms perform the strategic analysis before any strategic option is chose, choosing the right strategy and finally implementing the same. These four key dimensions of a well developed business strategy therefore require a collaborative and integrated approach to make a business strategy successful. It is through all these key dimensions that a firm reaches at a point where it can achieve its organizational objectives. This report will discuss as to what is a successful business strategy by discussing the key dimensions of the business and discussing the same with respect to the Volkswagen group. Corporate Strategy and its integrated nature Johnson and Scholes define strategy in following manner: â€Å"Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long-term: which achiev es advantage for the organisation through its configuration of resources within a challenging environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectations".1 The above definition suggests that strategy is the name of setting an overall direction for the firm on long term basis. What is also important to note that it outlines the need for achieving a configuration with the organizational resources while working in an uncertain and challenging external environment to achieve the kind of advantage which can fulfill the expectations developed by the stakeholders? The above definition is quite comprehensive in the sense that it outlines as to how the integration of different elements together can provide the firm the kind of advantage to achieve its objectives. Without setting a direction and configuring it with the organizational resources, it may not be possible for a firm to achieve its organizational goals. Volkswagen Group has set up a strategy of achieving its g rowth through expansion in the emerging markets. It is also aiming to consolidate its position in the existing markets while at the same time achieving the set financial targets to be achieved in medium and short term. A closer analysis of this would suggest that the group is actually aiming to develop a two pronged strategy of consolidating in the existing markets while at the same time achieving the expansion in new markets.2 Evaluating the same in the light of above definition would suggest that the firm’s strategy is clearly focused upon meeting the expectations of its stakeholders by using its traditional advantage in its existing markets while at the same time configuring its resources to gain access to the emerging markets. It is also important to understand that an organization is a collection of different resources which are combined together to achieve the common objectives. For example, a firm’s excellent production system and high quality output may not sel l itself unless it’s backed up by excellent marketing resources. Similarly, despite having the capability to produce high quality products, a firm may not be able to achieve the same if it does not have access to finances. As such strategy is therefore of integrated

Qualitiative Analysis on Diabetes Research Paper

Qualitiative Analysis on Diabetes - Research Paper Example The findings of the study show that communication and education combined with cultural differences create a difficult environment in which to treat diabetes in regards to this ethnic minority group. The results suggest that more time needs to be taken by doctors and dieticians to explain the causes and effects of the disease and how best to treat it with an understanding of the social and dietary differences of the community. Information needs to be available to patients and family members in a language they understand and in relation to the activities of their daily lives. There are many different ethnic minority groups in large communities that frequently accept immigrants and this is just a sample of how one such group can suffer emotionally and physically because treatment options are catered to a majority lifestyle. Only when doctors, educators, and the public make a point to diagnose, treat, and teach about diseases in a context familiar to the daily lives of those suffering fr om them will, no matter how small the group, they be able to work in conjunction with their patients. Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the role of diabetes mellitus in the Lebanese community of Sydney, Australia. Methods This is a primary data analysis of a survey of twenty-five Lebanese individuals living in Sydney, Australia. ... agnoses, how the diagnosis was made, major physical and emotional effects on health, communication between health care provider and patient, major difficulties regarding the disease, and quality of life. Conclusions The results of this study provide a unique perspective into the Lebanese community and the affect of social and cultural differences of immigrants and their experiences with diabetes. Lebanese immigrants in Australia often are not diagnosed with diabetes until middle age. They find it difficult to adjust their previous living habits to what they see as Western ideas. Communication about the disease is difficult because many immigrants do not speak the native English language. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. There are multiple types of diabetes, the most common being Type 2. Type 2 diabetes most often develops in adults but can occur in younger people as well. The person’s pancreas does not secrete enough insul in to maintain normal levels of glucose and his or her body can begin to respond poorly to insulin. With obesity numbers rising and people exercising less and less, Type 2 diabetes is seen at a growing rate and many of the people diagnosed are completely unaware that they were affected. The increasing cases of diabetes amongst Lebanese people are also a cause of worry. Sydney is host to a large number of Lebanese people, migrated to the country, hence the city, in search of better job opportunities living standards. There are many studies indicating increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus in these families. These have been ascribed to hereditary factors, food habits, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and increased consanguinity over many generations (Abou-Daoud, 1969). Acculturation is a

CURRENT ISSUES IN MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

CURRENT ISSUES IN MANAGEMENT - Essay Example that organizational crisis can be averted or at least minimized through managerial strategies that are visionary in their perspectives (Simola, 2003; Cheney & Christenson, 2000; Pearson, & Clair, 1998; Seeger, Sellnow, & Ulmer, 1997). It is important that strategic planning involves more proactive and innovative measures to meet the exigencies of competitive business. Scholars have asserted that irrational decisions in business are often motivated by false judgment, escalated commitment to previous course of actions where managerial leadership may be driven by financial investment, time and belief that something better would emerge (Bazerman and Moore 2008; Staw & Fox, 1977). The various social researches have revealed that organizations are willing to take risks and make decisions to avoid losses rather than with the desire to make profit. (Hallahan, 1999; Beach, 1997; Bailey & Alexander, 1993; Pease, Bieser & Tubbs, 1993; Frisch, 1993; McDaniel & Sistrunk, 1991; Devine, 1990; Fagley & Miller, 1987; Bazerman, 1984). Shapiro, Slywotzky and Tedlow (2000) believe that key factor that sustain the performance of the organizations through thick and thin are their strong leadership. Nutt (1990) believes that flexibility of approach and initiative in decision making is vital part of leadership as ‘strategic choices are influenced by the manager’s decision style’. Hence, the leaders who are able to make tough decisions and implement changes are able to revitalize the business. In competitive business environment, exemplary leadership effectively links the data, information and knowledge within the organizational goals to overcome hard times and gain competitive advantage. The organization must incorporate more aggressive but people friendly management strategies that encourage trust building amongst the work force for improved organizational results. The paper would analyze the various elements of change management and the role of strategic thinking and planning

The Legal Definition Of Crime

The Legal Definition Of Crime Explain how crime can be considered as a social construction and contrast this with legal definition of crime. Our nation, from the start, has been divided by class, race, national origin and has endured class conflicts throughout history (Zinn as cited in Welch, 2009). The purpose of this essay is to show that crime is constructed socially rather than individually. In order to do so, I will focus on describing how crime can be viewed as a product of social construction, explaining different factors contributing to the way people perceive particular behaviour as criminal as well as contrasting concept of crime being socially constructed with its legal definition. After discussing theories created by Howard Becker and Karl Marx , it will conclude that criminal behaviour and its consequences are indeed socially constructed. Reaching consensus over an appropriate term defining crime has undoubtedly been challenging for criminologists as there are no purely objective definitions; all definitions are value laden and biased to some degree (Barak, 1998, p.21). Hence, it is not an easy way to give an exact definition to something so diverse. However, the legal definition of crime suggested by Tappan (1947) is agreed by many to be the most precise and clear so far. It states that Crime is an intentional act in violation of the criminal law (statutory and case law), committed without defence or excuse, and penalized by the state as a felony or demeanour. Although, it has also met with criticism from others who believe that it is too narrow definition (Milovanovic, D.). Only harms defined as such by state are considered in Tappans theory which is also limited to those crimes legally guilty (Milovanovic, D.). It is also vital to mark that legal definition of crime not only excludes white collar crime but also fai ls to acknowledge cultural and historical context of law, such as on gambling and prostitution that may be different depending on state or nation (Henry, S. 200). Essentially an act becomes a crime when it breaks the law established by the government of particular society. Of course what accounts as crime varies depending on different cultures, laws and religions, although there are three main elements determining crime which remain consistent: harm, social agreement and their reaction. The way society responses to the particular harmful behaviour may differ depending upon the society. For example, theft conducted in UK may result in getting a warning or minor sentence, whereas in Muslim societies the same person would have his hand cut off for such an offence. Looking also from historical perspective, attitudes towards certain acts considered then as criminal have also changed as many of those are no longer viewed as crimes. Therefore it is clear that the definition of crime has un doubtedly gone through changes and most probably will continue to change. The main aspect which legal definition of crime seems failing to consider is that some behaviours are considered as crimes whilst others not. This brings us to the social construction of crime, an idea created and essentially developed by society in terms of held perceptions, morals, beliefs and values of individuals living within it. These shape the way we are such as personality, character and our roles within the society. As people are measure beings, they often judge themselves and people around them. The concept of social construction sees criminal behaviour as a mutual interpersonal activity involving actors and audiences (Henry,S.2009). Therefore, the way someone is identified and located within a scope of the society has significant consequences for the way we act towards others (Becker, 1963). Societies define crime by their own norms, believes and rules. Whereas rules, which govern everywhere, determine as well correct and incorrect behaviours within the society. „Cri minal law often mirrors a fairly extensive point that particular behaviour violates some social standards and values (murder, rubbery, etc.). However, actions considered as criminal may vary depending on different cultures, laws or religions. In short, crime is what particular society chooses it to be. Furthermore, crime is a fundamental part of deviance, theory suggested by Howard Becker. Deviance is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather the consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an offender'(Becker, 1963). It is not only a result of humans actions but also depends on the audience judging particular behaviour as negative or positive. Becker argued that deviance can be defined as a kind of behaviour which differs from the normal, rule-breaking behaviour that is unacceptable in society and depends on what people see as unacceptable. In such situation where society labelled particular person as a deviant, it often results in isolation of this person who eventually finds the only way to survive through involving in criminal activity. Most importantly, crime often arises where the obvious segregation of the rich and poor occurs. Karl Marx, on the other hand, suggested that class struggles are underlying problems in societies where the basis o f power is wealth and which as a result leads to injustice and inequality. Sheptycki (2006) says that the roots of crime lie in the social structural inequalities of wealth and power. This viewpoint perceives capitalist societies as ones which choose individual interest over social welfare. Therefore, from the social constructionist point of view, crime is a behaviour defined by powerful and privileged people with authority to make laws that recognise some acts as offensive. Once more, regarding Becker, powerless people, no matter how bad the damage they done could be, they are likely to be arrested and judged. People who hold more power create then some kinds of illusions that people at the lower levels of social hierarchy (measured on the basis of their income, education degree or even race)- are seen as dangerous to the society. It not only creates place where people are dependent on state but also discriminates people one way or another. Government, could also be an example here . It defines what crime is by choosing to outlaw some particular act. For instance, the issue with drugs which government made illegal. Money tracking laws or tax evasion fall into different category, which relates to government who creates crime for their own interests. This suggests that crimes are created by lawmakers who limit citizens freedom on the ground of their own moral standards. Taking into account all of the aforementioned factors, we can conclude that crime has inevitably been a product of social construction. Notwhistanding the fact that crime is a complex and diverse concept without one, accepted definition, what accounts as criminal varies depending on cultures, laws and religions which proves that crime is a product of social sonctruction. Definitions of crime are constructed by both cultural norms and values as well as power relations. In adition to that we socially shape the meanings of behaviours and their consequences.

Books Will Never be Replaced Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Books Will Never be Replaced What is it about a book, the physical book, the tangible reincarnation of an author that allows us to believe it will continue to be revered and regarded even in our age of computerized information? How can we be sure that, just as the clay tablet gave way to the scroll and bound book, the faith we have placed in paper editions will not be improved upon with the microchip? It may be that for all our attempts to squeeze and shrink information into screens, to encapsulate a world of knowledge into the size of a suitcase, to create a communications device which is always targeted at fitting into the palm of one's hand, there exists a hand-held favorite already which has worked itself inextricably into the human consciousness. The book is too close to our minds, hearts and hands to be replaced. When Ovid, the scurrilous Roman poet, fell out of favor with Caesar and was exiled to one of the far and rainy reaches of the empire, he put his faith in a book. He sent a volume of his poems from exile back to the city of Rome for publication and the possible vindication of his name. According to his opening lines, he sent it like a son: Little book, you're off to town without me, wet behind the ears (your ink is hardly dry). Enjoy it. I can't go. Papa's not allowed. Ovid insisted that a book could represent him and the sorrows of banishment to the emperor. The clever pun of which Ovid was probably aware was that the Latin word for book (liber) was close to the word for children (liberi). Whether Caesar appreciated the humor or not, his decree never wavered. Ovid lived the remainder of his life on the Black Sea, never able to return to the city that made him great, leaving only his book-child to b... ...it would be easier for a mother to forsake her child than for humanity to part with the passion for its paperbound twin-image. Technology has yet to produce the book's equal because it has approached the hand-held counterpart with hopes of improving speed, providing variety, expanding capability. But the book is and has always been a retreat of sorts, a stepping back for contemplation rather than a rapacious scramble for information. The book, more human symbol now than a silent reality on a shelf, will remain the quiet and palpable meditation between the hand, the head, and the heart. Sources cited: Abrams, M. H.. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: W & W Norton & Company, 1993. Gwynn, R.S.. Poetry. New York: HarperCollins College Publishers, 1993. Slavitt, David. Ovid's Poetry of Exile. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1990.

political ideology in the media Essay -- essays research papers

Throughout many generations and years gone bye the media and presentation of issues by news sources have influenced society’s opinions on moral and governmental issues. Dating back to the writing of the constitution the general public was influenced by what was said in the media presentation. The framers of the American Constitution banned newspaper reporters from hearing any information regarding the constitutional meetings due to the fact that our founding fathers did not want to be influenced by the way the news was reported. In today’s technological society this influential concept may be even more prevalent with the advancement of the internet and the easy accessible news. In order to be informed you no longer have to pay a bill to subscribe to your local newspaper, but you can simply click on a story on a website and read the same text that appears in local papers. Two sources which are both easily accessible and well respected are the New York Times and the Wash ington Times. Both newspapers report on both national and local news pertaining to all areas that deemed being covered. Upon evaluating the ideology, bias, reporting style, and ease of learning new information, I found these two well respected and well known newspapers to be vastly different.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upon attempting to navigate around the two websites I found that locating stories and specific writings on the NY Times website was tougher than on the Washington Times website. The NY Times ...

Marketing-Pizza Industry Essay

The four major competitors, Pizza-Hut, Papa John’s, Domino’s, and Little Ceasers are the market leaders in the take-out pizza industry. Having a strong brand equity in the take-out pizza industry allows a company to gain a significant advantage in the market. Customers in the take-out pizza industry place a high value on the product quality and price of a company. Maintaining a good reputation is very important in this industry for companies because customers will build a relationship with the company and will keep on coming back or ordering from that company if they feel like they are getting a good deal. Even though the take-out pizza industry is very competitive, many investors will surely be looking for investment opportunities in the years to come due to the growth potential in the industry. Macroenvironment The demographic factors in the take-out pizza industry have provided new positive opportunities for companies in the industry. Economic factors can also influence the industry in a positive or negative way during a good or bad economy. Ecological factors such as rising prices in gas and rising prices on dairy products has hurt the industry. Technological factors are helping companies meet new customer needs and demands and are opening up new opportunities for companies all around the world. Political and legal factors have not had a tremendous recent impact on companies in the industry. Cultural factors that have affected the take-out pizza industry have been primarily the increase in consciousness of health and fitness among the public in the United States. Microenvironment Those factors that are close to a company, that affect its ability to serve its customers, are called its microenvironment. There are several factors that affect the microenvironment of a company in the take-out pizza industry mentioned in this report. They include the industry’s market, the industry’s competitors, its customers, and the industry’s promotion and distribution of its products. A. The Market in the Take-Out Pizza Industry in the U. S. The market for the take-out pizza industry in the United States is fairly large and not to mention very competitive ( Competitors are talked about later on in this report). While there are four major companies, Pizza-Hut, Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Little Ceasers, that own 31. 7% percent of the market in this industry, 68. 3% percent of the market is dominated to what are known as â€Å"other† businesses. These â€Å"other† businesses, some of which are well known, include the hundreds of small companies or family- owned businesses, that most people do not even realize compete in the pizza industry. The 68. 3% percent statistic shows that due to the fact that there is a very large market for pizza in the United States, the pizza industry is open to a lot of businesses, which causes the competition to intensify. Another statistic that should intensify the competition in the next several years is the growth potential that is predicted to occur in this industry. According to Yahoo Finance, the growth potential for the pizza industry in the next five years is estimated to be about 12. 4% percent. This number or percentage will probably surprise a good number of people, especially since Papa-John’s has just recently announced that it had to lay-off some employees due to losses in the company. Regardless of this announcement, the pizza market in the United States is sure to attract more businesses because of the growth potential in this industry in next several years. B. Competitors in the Take-Out Pizza Industry The take-out pizza industry is an extremely competitive industry. The reason this industry is so competitive is because there are four major competitors in this industry that not only compete against each other, but also against hundreds of other companies or private businesses. The four major competitors in the take-out pizza industry are Pizza- Hut, Papa John’s, Little Ceasers and Domino’s. Pizza-Hut has a bit of an advantage over the other companies as it dominates about 13. 4 % percent of the market ( see Appendix A). Domino’s comes in second out of these competitors, owning about 8. 4% percent of the market. Little Ceaser’s and Papa John’s rank third and fourth, as they own 5. 3% percent and 4. 6% percent of the market respectively. The remaining 68. 3% percent of the market is controlled by those â€Å"other† companies in the industry. Some examples of those â€Å"other† businesses include Ledo’s Pizza, Sbarros’ Pizza, Jerry Subs&Pizza, and many others. So why is it that these four companies really have such a significant competitive advantage in the market over so many other companies in this industry? One reason is the fact that the four major competitors have very strong brand equities. Customers know and recognize the names of these companies and prefer their products over products from companies that they are not as well aware of. It also helps that these four competitors are multi-million dollar companies that are able to spend a significant amount of money promoting their products, which in turn leads to a stronger brand equity. The four major competitors have franchises all over the U. S. and are well known, while the â€Å"other† companies are usually just small businesses that are located in one area. It is important to note that there are those â€Å"other† companies in the take-out pizza industry that have name recognition among customers and have franchises through out the U. S. Two examples of those companies are Ledo’s Pizza and Sbarro Pizza. Both of these companies are successful companies but do not have nearly the market share that the four major competitors have. This is because the four major competitors have thousands of franchises across the U. S. while Ledo’s and Sbarro’s have only a couple hundred. C. Customers in the Take-Out Pizza Industry Markets in this industry are segmented by dividing the markets into distinct group of buyers. The market in the take-out pizza industry is segmented by three types of buyers or consumers. Consumers who purchase cheap pizza, consumers who purchase moderately priced pizza, and consumers who purchase expensive pizza ( see Appendix D -perceptual map for which company fits different consumers). However, companies in the industry often ignore these segments and target the market using undifferentiated marketing or mass marketing by going after the market with one offer. For example, Little Ceasers could advertise a deal such as â€Å"2 Pizzas for $14 dollars†, which is intended to target all the segments in the market. The most effective vehicles that are used to reach the consumers in the take-out pizza industry are just any types of cars. With so many different competitors in such a large market, the marketing mix plays a major role in the buying behavior patterns of customers in the take-out pizza industry. Promotion is definitely one of the key factors in the buying behavior patterns of customers in the take-out pizza industry. Promotion is a big reason why the four companies, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, Dominos, and Little Ceasers have a distinct competitive advantage in the market over other companies in the pizza industry. The more customers know about a companies product, the more business that company will usually generate, especially over those companies that do not promote their product. Price, which is another component of the marketing mix, is also a very important factor in the buying behavior pattern of customers in the take-out pizza industry. However, price is a more complex issue in the pizza industry than one might anticipate. The reason for this, is the fact that many of the â€Å"other† smaller companies in this industry, lower their prices on purpose, in order to compete with the big name companies like Pizza Hut and Papa John’s. A lower price will not necessarily mean more business if the product quality of a particular company is considered low by customers. Quality is another factor that has a huge affect on customer buying behavior. A lower price with good product quality is what will really generate business in this industry. The four major competitors, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, Dominos, and Little Ceaser’s are known for their great product quality and their fair prices (see perceptual Map). These companies have that great reputation of great product, great service, and fair price which is valued so highly by costumers. Having a good reputation of a product and price is very essential in the take-out pizza industry because customers will build a relationship with the company and will keep on ordering from that company if they believe they are getting a good deal. D. Pricing in Pizza Market What is interesting about the pricing in the pizza industry is that the take-out pizza market can be thought of as having two types of competition. Most people would agree that the take-out pizza market can be seen as a monopolistic competition, or the market consisting of many buyers and sellers with different prices (Kottler). What most people do not realize is that between the four major competitors there is somewhat of a oligopolistic competition. The four major competitors are very sensitive to each others’ prices because customers perceive their quality of product very similarly. If Pizza-Hut were to lower its prices, the other competitors would be in danger of losing business if they do not lower their prices as well. Lowering prices could lead to price wars among the competitors, which the pizza-industry was very well known for in the 1990’s. Therefore, companies must be very careful in the prices and deals they offer to their customers. For companies to be successful in the take-out pizza industry in the future, companies must find a way to have lower prices along with great product quality among their competitors. E. Promotion and Distribution in the Take-Out Pizza Industry Promoting and distributing the product is very important in the take-out pizza industry. Those companies that promote their product and are able to distribute or deliver that product efficiently are the companies that tend do be successful in the take-out pizza industry. The four major competitors are known for their advertising and promoting in this industry. These companies try to differentiate themselves in the industry by having unique logos and catch phrases that express their great product or service (see Appendix C for logos of the four major competitors). For example, Papa John’s tries to distinguish itself in the pizza industry as having â€Å"Better Ingredients, Better Pizza†. Domino’s wants to be known in the industry as not just having great pizza, but as having that very fast and efficient service when they use the phrase â€Å"Get the door! Its dominos†. Little Ceasers Pizza, a company that lost a lot of its market popularity when it suffered big losses from 1998 to 2001 (VBIC-Little Ceaser’s), has been slowly climbing back by offering â€Å"Quality Products + Great Taste + Favorite Food =Little Caesars Pizza! â€Å". Pizza-Hut, the company with the biggest market share in the industry, is known as â€Å"The family pizza place† (Pizza-Hut). Companies in the pizza industry have also been known to run their advertisement campaigns by promoting sales using special deals or bonus packs. For example, Domino’s used to promote † buy one, get one free on Tuesdays† (see Appendix B for examples of bonus packs used by the four major competitors). Many other companies in the industry have been known to promote deals that are very similar. Marketing and promoting a companies product will help companies in the pizza industry with their goal of maximizing their profit. Efficient distribution of products in the take-out pizza industry is now more important than ever before. Intensive distribution, which is stocking the product in as many outlets as possible is the strategy most franchises of the four major competitors prefer to use, because pizza is a convenience product, and is therefore bought frequently. With the increasingly rapid pace of living in our society, customers are demanding faster and more efficient service. The pizza industry has responded with this change by distributing the product straight to the consumer faster and more efficiently. One of the ways distribution has improved is due to the fact that companies have become more convenient for the customer. For example, Pizza-Hut has partnered up with KFC and Taco Bell to make it more convenient for customers to obtain their product (Pizza Hut). The companies in the take-out pizza industry, that will be most successful in distributing their products in the future, are the ones that will be able to provide their product faster, more efficient, and at more convenient locations. Macroenvironment There are also factors outside of a company that affect its ability to serve its customers. These factors are called the macroenvironment of the company. The macroenvironment factors that affect companies in the pizza industry include the demographic, economic, ecological, technological, political/legal, and cultural factors. A. Demographic factors that have affected the Take-Out Pizza Industry The demographic factors that have affected the take-out pizza industry are the geographic shift of families toward the suburbs, as well as the increase in single-parent families. These developments have presented new positive opportunities for the take-out pizza industry. New opportunities have been created in the industry because more people have been moving from cities to the suburbs. New communities are now being developed in places like the countryside, once thought to be unreachable by many just a decade ago. This has allowed the market in the industry to expand because there are more families and people in general in the suburban areas. This demographic shift has provided more accessible targets for companies in the industry. Another demographic shift that is having an affect on the take-out pizza industry is the change in the makeup of the American family. There are more divorces in the United States than ever before and due to this there are more single parent families. Many single parents work and do not have time to prepare meals for their families. This presents another positive opportunity for companies in the take-out pizza industry. When single parent families are in a rush or are looking for a just simple meal to feed the family, companies in the take-out pizza can gain from this opportunity because they can satisfy this customer need. Demographic developments such as the increase in single parent families, and the geographic shift of of families from cities to the suburbs has expanded the market for companies in the take- out pizza industry. B. Economic Factors that can influence the Take-Out Pizza Industry Economic factors influence almost every industry, and the take-out pizza industry is no exception. If prices of a product such as pizza go up by a significant amount, there will probably be an affect such as less consumption of pizza by customers. One other thing that could happen is, due to the various prices of pizza in the industry, customers could also buy cheaper pizza with lower quality to compensate for the rising prices. However, usually when the price of a product goes up, especially such as food, consumers tend to substitute that good or product with a cheaper good or product. In a bad economy, people tend to spend less and save more. Therefore, people will probably spend less on pizza compared to what they would in a better economy. On the other hand, if the income of people or families were to increase, there will probably be a rise in the consumption of a product such as pizza. When people have more money, they tend to spend it on more goods and products. In a good economy, people are generally spending more money and are usually consuming more pizza. C. Ecological Factors that affect the Take-Out Pizza Industry The ecological factors that are affecting the take-out pizza industry are the rising gas prices as well as the rising prices on dairy products, specifically cheese. Both of these factors have really hurt companies in the industry. The rising prices of gas has really hurt those companies in the industry that deliver because companies have had to compensate their drivers for the extra costs. The rising prices on dairy products, especially cheese, has hurt all the companies in the industry because cheese is one of the main ingredients to making a pizza. The smaller chains have been especially hit hard by these rising costs and it has been reflected in the rising costs of pizza in many stores. For example, one small chain in Boston called Papa Gino’s, has had to raise the price of their medium sized pizza from $8. 99 to $9. 49 ( National Restaurant Magazine). Customers do not buy as much with higher prices so companies end up losing business. These increases in prices have had a very negative affect on the industry. (For negative publicity in the industry, please see Political/legal factors). D. Technological Factors that affect the Take-Out Pizza Industry Technological factors are also affecting the take-out pizza industry. Due to the increasingly rapid pace of living, customers in the take-out pizza industry are now demanding faster and more efficient service (Pizza-Hut). Technology is helping companies in the pizza industry meet those customer demands. For example, new and better equipment, such as faster ovens, which are always being modified and improved on, are allowing for companies to make pizzas faster and more efficient. The new internet age has allowed customer to order pizza online, giving companies more business and speeding up the service. With computers available in almost every pizza store, when an order comes in for a pizza, stores are now able to get more precise directions to the address of where the pizza is supposed to be delivered. Technology has also opened up doors to new opportunities for many companies in the industry. Due to improved technology and communication through out the world, companies in the industry, especially the ones with money, like the four major competitors, are now looking to expand their business not only in the United States but also oversees. Improvements in technology has helped companies in the take-out pizza industry adjust to customer needs and wants, and at the same time, it has opened up opportunities all over the world for companies in the industry. E. Political/Legal Factors that affect the Take-Out Pizza Industry The political or legal factors that affect the take-out pizza industry are usually any food regulations that are enforced from the U. S. government. In the last several years, the government has pushed companies in the pizza industry to make their food healthier for consumers. This has not been as big of a problem as first anticipated, because companies in the take-out pizza industry have been forced to modify their menus anyways. Due to the increase in consciousness of health and fitness among the public, companies have had to adjust to this health craze with healthier choices to provide customer satisfaction and to stay profitable in the industry (see next section on cultural factors for more in depth on this topic). Another legal issue, which has received some bad publicity, is that the group People for the Ethical Treatment (PETA) has sent letters to three of the major competitors, Domino’s, Papa John’s and Little Ceasers â€Å"seeking to curb alleged abuses, particularly against dairy cows that produce the milk for mozzarella cheese†(News Digests). This issue is being dealt with as the companies are meeting with PETA to make sure they are meeting its guidelines. Overall, political and legal factors have not had a tremendous affect on the take-out pizza industry. F. Cultural Factors that affect the Take-Out Pizza Industry The major cultural factor that has affected the take-out pizza industry has been the increase in consciousness of health and fitness among the public. This has had a negative affect on the industry because companies have suffered in business. Pizza has never been perceived as being exactly the most healthy food out there. With the new health craze, companies in the take-out pizza industry have been forced to adjust their products and services to the new costumer wants. Companies in the industry have spent millions of dollars to find out how to satisfy these wants. Even though pizza is still the dominant menu item, many new healthy compliments have been added to the menu in order to soothe customer demands. These new additions have included salads that could be purchased separately or in different pizza combo packages, and the offering of healthier beverages such as numerous diet beverages and water. Pizzas have also been modified to adjust with the health craze as items such as vegetarian pizzas, lower fat ingredients, and low-carb crust are now being offered. Due to the fact that the American society has placed more value on health, companies in the take-out pizza industry have been forced to adjust their products and services in order to remain profitable.