Monday, September 30, 2019

Research Paper – Pawnshop System Design

Bulacan State University Sarmiento Campus City of San Jose Del Monte Bulacan Research Methodologies Pawnshop System Design (PSSD) Submitted by: _______________________ Submitted to: _______________________ Instructor Date: March 25, 2011 CHAPTER I The Problem and its background INTRODUCTION The fusion of computer technology and communication technology gave birth to new era of digital age (William Sayer, 2003). This fusion is what we know today as information technology. Information technology is the collaboration of industries dealing with computer, telephone, and various handheld devices.These technologies greatly affect the business industry. Pawnshop System (PSS) is an individual or business that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral. The word pawn is derived from the Latin pignus, for pledge, and the items having been pawned to the broker are themselves called pledges or pawns, or simply the collateral. The system is intuitive and eas y to use. The Pawnshop System (PSS) if an item is pawned for a loan, within a certain contractual period of time the pawner may purchase it back for the amount of the loan plus some agreed-upon amount for interest.The amount of time, and rate of interest, is governed by law or by the pawnbroker's policies. If the loan is not paid (or extended, if applicable) within the time period, the pawned item will be offered for sale by the pawner/secondhand dealer. Unlike other lenders, though, the pawner does not report the defaulted loan on the customer's credit report, since the pawnbroker has physical possession of the item and may recoup the loan value through outright sale of the item. The pawner/secondhand dealer also sells items that have been sold outright by customers to the Pawner or secondhand dealer.STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM General Problem The general problem in The Pawnshop System (PSS) is how long would it takes for saving data information of a client? Specific Problem 1. How lo ng would it takes for saving data information of clients? 2. How Does a Pawnshop Operates? 3. What are the problems can be encountered by the cashier during their saving information about client? SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY The study will determine the affects of the Pawnshop System (PSS). this will gain benefits to client, Owner, employee.Client: The Pawnshop System (PSS) will benefit them by assuring that they will b supplied with quality workers on time and rendered with efficient service. Someone who purchases or hires something from someone else. Employee: The Pawnshop System (PSS) will secure and maintain their record, keep their personal profile in case of incidence. And also they can save time and effort for saving data of client. Owner: The Pawnshop System (PSS) create accurate report that will help them make sound judgment in managing company. And also they can easily manipulate.The Pawnshop System designs (PSSD) and help them to save any information about their client and em ployee. SCOPE AND LIMITATION The Pawnshop System (PSS) must have limitation one of the limitations is for the cashier or employee at least he/she is given an authority from the owner , and only the owner and cahier must have a right to open and use the Pawnshop System (PSS) by accessing their password. The study will benefit Pawnshop System (PSS) inc. as it provides qualified workers to their client ant efficiently manage their Pawnshop System (PSS). the System will reduce the incidence of incomplete information.Gathered from applicant that will lead to inaccurate record on their database and unreliable reports. The material/ program going to use in this Pawnshop System (PSS) is the materials/ program to be use is the Microsoft Visual Basic 6. 0 and Microsoft Access 2003 or 2007. the reason why Microsoft visual Basic 6. 0 and Microsoft Access 2033 or 20007 will be use in this Pawnshop system, because only the Microsoft Visual basic 6. 0 and Microsoft access 2003 or 2007 will be able and compatible their connection and the relationship must be connected through.The Pawnshop System (PSSD) . Must has receipt and it locate to the office administrator or in the office of cashier or employee. It will start to make on Dec 2009 until last week of February 2010 finish it already CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK The purpose of the study is to help the owner or cashier to save their time to manipulate the system. And they can easily manipulate this system. And also It helps the owner to understand easily the prototypes of the program and this system is easy to understand. Can generate different reports that will aid management in making business decisions.The first frame is the Computer and software installer which is the Microsoft visual Basic 6. 0 and Microsoft Access 2003 or 2007. The second frame is data coding, system design, system analysis and installing software. The third frame is the Pawnshop system Design (PSSD). this will be the possible output of your crating and design ing system. RESEARCH PARADIGM [pic] Fig 1. The Research model of the Experiment HYPOTHESIS The main idea of this Pawnshop system design is to help the owner to easily manipulate the program.And it will help them to saving their data information that their going to inputted gathered by the client and employee record. TERMS AND DEFINITION Pawner/Pawnee- a member of an American Indian people living along the Platte River and its tributaries in Nebraska during the first half of the 19th century: confined to a reservation in the Indian Territory in 1874–75. Pawnshop- a shop where loans are made with personal property as security CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW The country's largest pawnshop chain, Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop, began as four pawnshop outlet in Metro Manila in the mid-1980s.Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop today has branches spread all over the Philippines serving the Filipino pawner everywhere Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop traces its roots to Cebu. There, French Consul to the Ph ilippines Henry Lhuillier established in 1935 his first of a chain of Agencias. He then opened several more branches in Cebu, as well as in nearby provinces of the Visayas. In 1968, Henry Lhuillier's son Philippe Lhuillier went forth and opened the first Lhuillier pawnshop at Libertad Street in Malibay, Pasay under the trade name Agencia Cebuana.As the years passed and with the support of hardworking personnel, several more branches were opened in Metro Manila as well as in Northern, Central and Southern Luzon. Soon branches sprouted in the south – in key provinces like Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. In 1987, the company pursued nationwide expansion. It then adopted the trade name Cebuana Lhuillier. Since then, every Philippe Lhuillier-owned pawnshop branch that opened anywhere in the Philippines carried the name Cebuana Lhuillier. Branches as far north as Aparri and as far south as General Santos were servicing the needs of over 25,000 customers a day.Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop is the country's largest pawnshop chain with branches in almost every city, town or district in the Philippines. â€Å"Walang Kapantay Magpahalaga† is the slogan that guides Cebuana Lhuillier in its everyday dealings with customers. The company takes pride in every opportunity where it has been able to live up to this commitment. CHAPTER III RESEARCH DESIGN |Treatment |Replication | |1. installing Microsoft Visual Basic | | |6. and Microsoft Access 2007 | | | |1 month | | | | |2. program designing | | |3. data coding | | Experimental complete Randomized design The experimental research may install Microsoft visual basic 6. 0 and Microsoft access 2007 for the designing and coding of the Pawnshop System Design system (PSSD).CLUSTER SAMPLING by group |respondent |Population |Percentage | |Programmer |2 |34% | |Quality Assurance |2 |34% | | |1 |16% | |Team leader | | | |Documentation |1 |16% | |Total |6 person |100% | Experimental cluster sampling by group PROCEDURE IN GATHERING DATAThe pawnshop System Design will building by a total of six (6) people which is the 2 programmers, 2 Quality Assurance, 1 Team Leader, 1 Documentation. STATISTICAL TREATMENT |Gender |Population |Percentage | |Female |10 |48% | | Male |11 |52% | |Total |22 Person |100% | Using a statistical by group it computes the percentage of every population of this study. And the possible population that will going to use this experimental study. hey may the population that are going to pawn on this study. CHAPTER IV SUMMARY OF FINDING 1. How long would it take for saving data information of clients? 2. How a Pawnshop Does Operates? 3. What are the problems can be encountered by the cashier during their saving information about client? DESCUSSION OF RESULT There are several ways of collecting and understanding information and finding answer to your question research is one way. This study has dealt some basic issues of design in quantitive research’s have discussed the co mmonly used design types in experimental research.If an item is pawned for a loan, within a certain contractual period of time the pawner may purchase it back for the amount of the loan plus some agreed-upon amount for interest. The amount of time, and rate of interest, is governed by law or by the pawnbroker's policies. If the loan is not paid (or extended, if applicable) within the time period, the pawned item will be offered for sale by the pawnbroker/secondhand dealer CHAPTER V CONCLUSION In savings data information gathered by a client it will save in 1 second only. It saves time for the clients in processing their transaction.It is very easy to operate because it must easy to understand. The problem that encountered by the user is deleting some data information gathered by the client in unexpected situation. BIBLIOGRAPHY Website: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Pawnbroker GRAPHICAL VIEW OF THE STUDY Login Form Main Menu Client Form —————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ INPUT Computer Microsoft Visual Basic 6. 0 Microsoft Access 2003 or 2007 PROCESS Data coding System design System Analysis Installing Software OUTPUT Pawnshop System Design (PSSD) Pawnshop system design (PSSD)

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Slovin Formula

SAMPLE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE Sample ? Is a finite number of an item (or individual) taken from a population having identical characteristics with those of the population from which it was taken. ? A sample is considered biased if one or several of the items (or individuals) in the population are given a consistently better opportunity to be chosen than the others. ? A collection with specified dimension Sample size ? Random sampling, the larger the sample, the more accurately it represents the population from which it was taken. As the sample size decreases, the degree of representativeness becomes less. Size of sample depends on some factors: ? Degree of accuracy required ? Amount of variability inherent in the population from which the sample was taken ? Nature and complexity of the characteristics of the population under consideration Sample Strategy ? Common Misguided Approach ? decide what data to collect ? then undertake survey ? decide what analysis should be done wrong data collected ? data collected on wrong subjects ? insufficient data collected ? Desired analysis may not be possible or effective Key to Good Sampling ? formulate the aims of the study ? decide what analysis is required to satisfy this aims ? decide what data are required to facilitate the analysis ? collect the data required by the study Determine sample size ? Slovin Formula: ? n = N__ ? 1+NE? ? Where: n = sample size ? N = population size E = margin of error * desired Example:What should be the representative sample size if the population from which the sample will be taken is 10,000 and the desired margin of error is 2%? Solution:To determine the sample size, use the formula; n = ___N__ 1+NE? n = 10,000 = 2,000 1+ (10,000) (0. 02)? The sample size is 2,000 This formula in finding the sample size cannot be used when the normal approximation of the population is poor or small. Margins of Error | |Population |Â ± 1% |Â ± 2% |Â ± 3% |Â ± 4% |Â ± 5% |Â ± 10% | |500 |* |* |* |* |222 |83 | |1500 |* |* |638 |441 |316 |94 | |2500 |* |1250 |767 |500 |345 |96 | |3000 |* |1364 |811 |517 |353 |97 | |4000 |* |1538 |870 |541 |364 |98 | |5000 |* |1667 |909 |556 |370 |98 | |6000 * |1765 |938 |566 |375 |98 | |7000 |* |1842 |959 |574 |378 |99 | |8000 |* |1905 |976 |580 |381 |99 | |9000 |* |1957 |989 |584 |383 |99 | |10000 |5000 |2000 |1000 |588 |385 |99 | |50000 |8333 |2381 |1087 |617 |387 |100 | Margin of Error Is the allowable error in percent due to the use of the sample, instead of the population ? * indicate that the assumption of normal approximation is poor and that the sample size formula does not apply. Guidelines with regards to the minimum number of items needed for a representative sample: ? Descriptive studies – a minimum number of 100 ? Co-relational studies – a sample of at least 50 is deemed necessary to establish the existence of a relationship ? Experimental and causal comparative studies – minimum of 30 per group ? Sometimes experimental studies with only 15 items in each group can be defended if they are very tightly controlled ? If the sample is randomly selected and is sufficiently large, an accurate view of the population can be had, provided that no bias enters the selection process Sampling Error ? Is the error attributed to chance that is being made when selecting random samples to represent a given population under consideration. ? It is the expected chance difference, variation or deviation between a random sample and the population. ? Does not result from measurement or computation errors, although these errors also contribute to inaccuracy.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Changing Face Of Rural Consumer In Emerging Markets Economics Essay

Changing Face Of Rural Consumer In Emerging Markets Economics Essay India is growing at an average annual rate of 7.6 for the past many years and it is expected to continue growing at an equal if not faster rate. The rapid economic growth is increasing and enhancing employment and business opportunities and in turn increasing disposable incomes. The rural consumers in India account for about 73 percent of the total consumers. In recent years, the lifestyle of a large number of rural consumers in India has changed dramatically and the process of change is going on. The buying behaviour of the rural consumers is influenced by several factors such as socio-economic conditions, cultural environment, literacy level, occupation, geographical location, efforts on the part of sellers, exposure to media etc. As the benefits of growth trickle down, an increasing number of people are moving up from the economically weaker class to join the middle class. The middle class with its rising numbers and incomes is thus becoming the biggest market segment. The afflue nt class too will continue to grow in terms of size and value, albeit, at a slower pace than the middle class. Most of the companies are going rural because of large and diverse markets, increase in literacy level and changing life style of the people. Even globalization and liberalization expanded the Indian rural market. Several studies have shown that rural consumers are generally ignorant and they are also unorganised. Under these circumstances, the sellers or the manufacturers, exploit the consumers. Though, the consumers in India have been provided with various safety measures against their exploitation. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the changing face of rural consumer in emerging markets. Key Words: Globalisation, Rural Consumer, Rural Market, Rural Potential. Introduction Rural consumers in emerging markets of developing countries are among the largest and fastest growing segments of the world’s population. In a country like India, where a substanti al number of the rural people are living below poverty line, having high level of unemployment and poor literacy level; consumer awareness continues to remain low. Above all about 70 percent of India’s population lives in rural areas. There are about 6, 38,365 villages in the country as against about 300 cities and 5,161 towns. Of the 121 crore Indians, 83.3 crore live in rural areas while 37.7 crore stay in urban areas, as per the Census 2011. Even in urban areas, a large number of people live in slums whose life is not better than those living in rural areas. This clearly highlights that India is still dominated by rural population. There were 7,935 towns in 2011 as against 5,161 in 2001. About 13.3% of India’s population and 42.6% of urban population reside in 53 cities having more than a million people, while the remaining 7,882 cities account for 47.4% of the urban population. There has been a steady increase in the number of cities from 5 in 1951 to 35 in 2001 to 53 in 2011 having a population of more than 10 lacs. About 31% of the urban population lives in the top-20 cities and about 51% of the country’s urban population lives in the top-100 cities.4 A report on survey conducted by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) says that there are 720 million consumers across the villages in rural India. Hence, the development of the nation largely depends upon the development of the rural population. Agriculture is the main occupation of the rural people for their subsistence. It has been observed in the report that the condition of the rural consumers is deplorable because they are being exploited in the rural markets on account of lack of competition among the sellers. Although the rural consumers face various problems like fake brands and spurious products, misleading advertisements, unfair warranties and guarantees, and unreasonable pricing but it hardly affects their passion to buying because they want to buy those prod ucts which reflect their prosperity level. Similarly, with globalization and liberalization, rural market in India expanded its potentialities across the world. Globalization describes a process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation, and trade. Globalization can be defined as the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant locations in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice – versa. Globalization generally means integrating our economy with the economy of world. Globalization had its impact on various sectors including agricultural, industrial, financial, health and many others. Globalization has helped in:

Friday, September 27, 2019

Analysis of an Individual Comic Strip Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of an Individual Comic Strip - Essay Example The point Franklin is trying to get across is that America is divided and therefore ineffective against enemies unless the colonies unite together. The phrase, â€Å"Join, or Die† means that unless the colonies unite, they will be attacked and wiped out. It is a simple statement that is trying to point out that the only option for the Colonies is to unite. The individual segments of the snake are the American colonies. Franklin chose New England to be the head of the snake. New England, especially the city of Boston, would definitely be considered the â€Å"head of the snake† at this time. Many influential politicians lived in Boston including Sam and John Adams. Boston is also where many pre-revolution events occurred including the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre. Franklin draws the head of the snake with its forked tongue sticking out. The snake is coiled and looks like it is ready to strike. The analogy of America to a coiled snake ready to strike is a very interesting one. But in considering what animal one would use to symbolize a divided America, a snake would be the logical answer. Snake’s have a lot of symbolism surrounding them. Often a snake represents wisdom and healing, even though many people associate snakes with evil.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

A Job Well Done Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Job Well Done - Essay Example A Job Well Done She did not tell me to do this or that; she just let me do things on my own. One of the toughest things to do was getting out of bed early to prepare breakfast. My younger siblings had to make do with cereals and milk for breakfast because I am not so comfortable working at the kitchen. I brought my mother something to eat in her room, a sandwich and some warm milk, went back to the kitchen because I also had to clean the table afterwards and put everything in the dishwasher. That time I felt like it was the longest morning in my life. I got used to going out of my room when breakfast is ready then go back to my room after eating. After doing the morning chores, I checked our refrigerator to see what I can prepare for lunch. I had no idea what to cook so I just stared blankly on the vegetables and meat that was in the refrigerator. I kept thinking I have to prepare a decent meal for my mom so she can gain back her strength and get better right away. It’s a good thing that we are so equipped with technology that the internet can give you all the small details in cooking – just like a guide for dummies. I ended up making some pasta for me and my siblings and a soup for my mother. It was my first time to cook pasta just by myself. Even if I had the convenience of canned spaghetti sauce and ready to cook pasta, it was still a tough job to do because I had to make sure that I will be able to cook something worth eating.

Human resources Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human resources - Research Paper Example Some of the roles in this team include HR Director, HR Manager, and HR Coordinator. Large and complex organizations may have even more people taking care of distinct areas of HR Management, whereas small enterprises may delegate all responsibilities to one or two people that comprise the whole HR department. Owing to the multiplicity and diversity of job responsibilities assigned to the HR personnel, many organizations find it hard to establish what academic qualification should be made compulsory for hiring HR personnel. Nevertheless, â€Å"the qualification expected from an HR manager is an MBA with specialization in HR/Personnel Management or a masters degree from TISS or XLRI. For others in the HR department, a basic degree and a certification issued by the NIPM, or by a recognized university are the desirable requirements† (Aswathappa 14). An HR Manager on average gets paid $60,153 per year in the US (â€Å"Human Resources†). Generally, the job responsibilities of an individual working in the HR department include recruitment of new employees, administration, assigning the employees tasks, and getting them equipped with the required resources. Each of these responsibilities are discussed in detail as follows: Recruitment is one of the most critical stages in any organization since recruitment is the process through which people are hired into the organization as employees. In order to select the right team of professionals, it is imperative that the recruitment process is crafted in such a way that right people are appointed in right positions. There are different ways to recruit employees that vary depending upon the demand of the position. Some of the ways of recruitment include online interviews, and face-to-face interviews. Online interviews are a good substitute for face-to-face interviews and are employed as a way of recruitment particularly when the candidates are located far and it is not feasible to have

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Modernist and Postmodernist Fashion Designers Essay

Modernist and Postmodernist Fashion Designers - Essay Example The essay "Modernist and Postmodernist Fashion Designers" discusses the designers and fashion in the context of Modernism and Postmodernism. The word 'modern' from which 'modernism' seems to be coined, generically refer to anything that is contemporaneous; in this sense, all art can be said to be modern as at when it was made. However, as an art historical term, modernism refers to a period dating from around the 1860s through the 1970s and is therefore used to identify the style, ideology and forms of art produced during this period. According to Klages (2003), modernism can be described as the movement in visual arts, music, literature, fashion and drama, which rejected the old Victorian standards of how art should be made, consumed, and what it should mean. During the later half of the 20th century, it became gradually apparent to many that the worldview fostered through Modernism is flawed, corrupt, and oppressive. A couple of events, including both World Wars, further heightened this perception. The perceived failure of modernism, as a movement and ideology, gave birth to the new period now referred to as Postmodernism, an ideology that has only emerged as an area of academic study since the mid-1980s. However, the term postmodernism is used in a number of confusing of ways; there is a problem with assigning a definite or useful definition to the term, most definitions are hopelessly vague and often inconsistent with each other. For some, postmodernism means anti-modern. while for others it is merely a revision of modernist premises (Burke, 2005; Witcombe, 2000). The stance of those who see postmodernism as anti-modernism is a basic rejection of the major tenets of modernism; that is, a rejection of the doctrine of the supremacy of reason, the notion of truth, the belief in the perfectibility of man, and the idea that we could create a better, if not perfect, society. This stance has been labelled 'deconstructive

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 22

International Business - Essay Example Operating under three main segments -- Automobiles, Motorcycles, and Financial Services, the company well-known three brands -- BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, goes with the popularity of company. Its BMW automobile range encompasses the 1 Series, Series 3, the 5 Series, and 7 Series, the sports utility vehicles, X3, X5, and X6 and M models, such as M3, M5, and M6. It makes available to customer cars under MINI brand and motorcycles under the BMW brand. The Rolls-Royce brands include three luxury cars, Phantom, Coupe and Ghost. With continued production assembly, services and sales subsidiaries made throughout the world, (Reuters, 2010a), BWM is undeniably a global company that can be affected by globalization. One of best proofs of a company’s attainment of its long-term health is the behaviour of its stock price in the stock market as the same could indicate achievement of wealth maximization objective (Bernstein, 1993; Brigham and Houston, 2002). This paper seeks to examine how the BMW may have benefited from the actual and potential impacts of globalization on the company by analysing the possible strategies that the company has employed. This will also evaluate the possible strategies of going forward which the company might use to response to the impacts of globalization that would be identified. The paper will discuss first the different models to understand the company’s strategies. The models include the PEST, Five-Forces and SWOT and determine whether the same are applied by BMW in its choice of strategies. The paper will end-up evaluating the present strategies used by the company and recommend what should be done by company in relation with models describe. The analysis will include using available information for BMW from its 2010 Annual Report and its websites. This paper has chosen BMW as this researcher finds interesting to see how car manufacturers could really

Monday, September 23, 2019

Ithacan University Management Research Proposal

Ithacan University Management - Research Proposal Example There are various graduates’ degrees available at Ithacan including degree in health and business. Outside the lecture room, Ithacan University provides various opportunities for employees to assist the wider society. Hibidash is the university's annual Humanity Habitat 5k race. Of huge significance is the university program that supp...orts malnourished children, and Friday Services is a program through which university staff can volunteer and support in the broader Ithacan region. Students and employees can also participate by joining many of the other students and staff organizations or by taking part in club sport or recreational activities of the institution. Ithacan University offers a high-rate education on a basis of first-name. With a close student faculty, ration of about 12:1 and emphasizes on active involvement and learning. Ithacan is the best place to prepare for a long-term success. Ithacan's Vibrant, residential university overlooks Fingers Lake and is home to over 9,000 undergraduates and more than 850 faculties. The estimated budget for the restructuring program is about 400 million dollars. The estimated amount of money will cater for the replacement of the items and facilities not automatically replaced during the last program, such as laptops docking stations, computer monitors, special keyboards, software not added to the primary network bundle and RAM upgrades. The said amount will meet the employee’s salary increment and their security needs. Even, though, there are different ways in which employees can be recognized and rewarded, as a HR director, I look to give monthly salary increments in realization and acknowledgment of individual performance for employees whose performance will be consistently appealing, and who will demonstrate the job specific skills, behaviors and knowledge to meet overall expectations of the institution. Salary adjustments will be made at the start of each year as well as contingent on funds avail ability, (Baldwin 45). Also, all faculties to be offered appointment for the following academic year will receive yearly evaluations for salary. Procedures and policies concerned with faculty evaluations will be available in the faculty Handbook. Compensation strategy

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Reinforcement Theory Essay Example for Free

Reinforcement Theory Essay Q# 1: Identify the practices of organization that are indicating the application of reinforcement theory? Answer 1. Focus on proper training before giving task to the employees 2. Monitoring the performance of employees. 3. Formulation of procedures, rules and regulations in detail. 4. Strictness in compliance of rules. Q# 2: You are required to suggest some measures of positive reinforcement that can be implemented by the management of Crisp Soft restaurant. Answer 1. The manager can start a practice to greet the employees and having pleasant conversation with those who came on time at start of day and conduct a small meeting with staff at closing of day and praised and say thanks those who performed good during the day. These practices will decrease late arrivals and early leaver. 2. The management can start â€Å"Employee of the month† award scheme in which at end of every month letter of appreciation along with small cash price will be give to the employee how performed well during the month. 3. A roll of honor board should be maintained at prominent place in the restaurant where everyone can see it. The pictures of â€Å"Employee of the month† pasted on that board. Q# 3: Assess which level of Maslow’s hierarchy of need the organization is satisfying for lower level staff and managerial level staff? Explain Answer As per Maslow’s hierarchy of need, there are following five levels of human needs: i. Biological Need: The basic requirement for survival of human body e.g. food, water, air and shelter etc. ii. Safety Need: Protection from Cold, Heat, Sand, Storm, Earthquake, Animals, Enemies iii. Social Need: love, acceptance, belonging etc. iv. Self Esteem: Respect, reorganization v. Self Actualization: challenging tasks, In case of lower level workers the Crisp and Soft restaurant management is satisfying level 1 by providing free meal and uniform, paying salaries at reasonable rate and level 2 by making HVAC arrangement for workers. In case of management staff, the restaurant management is trying to satisfying level 3 along with level 1 and 2 also, by providing good salaries (level 1), good working environment (level 2) and membership of social club of restaurant to their staff(level 3) where they can attend get to gathers, family dinners etc.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Processes Of Globalization Are Causing Increasing Cultural Convergence Media Essay

Processes Of Globalization Are Causing Increasing Cultural Convergence Media Essay Interaction of the people, organizations and the most importantly among the governments of the nations is called the process of globalization. The process is determined by trade between the two nations, investment in their businesses and through the information technology and has some effects on the culture, environment, political and economic development of the country as well as on the well being of the human beings. There is no clear-cut definition of the globalization in general or in academic writings. For some, it is a means of freedom, prosperity and for others it is the means of prison and poverty. In the modern era some state the globalization as the process of modernism. This shows that everyone has make its own meaning and is affected by its global practices (Schirato Webb, 2003). Globalization has both negative and positive effects on the quality of life. In some respects it decreases the human security and peace while increasing crimes, but in some other cases it increa ses the human security by means of grater cultural pluralism (Scholte, 2000). Convergence means of bringing together things and it can be of different types, whether it can be technological, social, global, economic or cultural convergence. Culture convergence occurs when different cultures become more alike in terms of technology, sports, language and even in politics (Christopher, 2005). Globalization alone does not decide the shape and quality of the culture and the same way culture also does not alone manipulate the globalization. Both are interdependent on each other. In his book Globalization and culture, John Tomlinson states that Globalization lies at the heart of modern culture; culture practices lie at the heart of globalization. This is the reciprocal relationship. (Tomlinson, 1999). Globalization has transformed us and the most important it changes our culture. The history shows that contact between two different cultures leads to trade of products between them. Travelers and merchants from one culture to another culture bring products with them which make people to know about the other culture and their products. But today, due to globalization the products are spread rapidly through newspapers, television, telephone and internet. The computers and cellular phones were first made and used in the western world but now they are available everywhere, even in the less developed countries where landline cables are not even available. Technology has made the nations to know about the others and even to adopt their culture if they like something in the culture of other societies. In this era of Globalization, technology and products has deep impact on the cultures. People used to go to cinemas to watch movies before, but now they can watch it on their computers, same is the case with food where junk food can easily be grabbed and eaten in rush. Lets talk about American culture, people throughout the world watch Hollywood movies, TV shows and use English language as the primary as well as second language in their home country. Even their dressing has been changed; they like to wear jeans and t-shirts. We are living in interrelated world where people travel in air, have newspapers, televisions and other means of communications and they know everything that what is happening in the other society. Globalization is bringing the culture together by minimizing the scope of diversities. The ongoing global culture is not more than just the spread of Americanization. Hershey, Mars, Starbucks all has their markets in more than eighty countries around the globe, where they are spreading the food habits of their own culture into another culture. Another best example is of McDonalds food which is being served in almost every other country. Globalization is a process in which media and consumer culture is making the homogeneity around the globe, but on the other hand it is also said that globalization is demolishing the local cultures and traditions. This global culture is actually the westernization of the culture due to the capitalism. Global trade has made it easier for the nations to import and export their products. This culture convergence has now become a global culture having something common among the cultures or often called common community. Global culture convergence progresses when sport teams of different countries come together to take participation in international sports events like Olympics and world cups. Internet is available around the globe now and firms and even small businesses use it to market their products. The concept of e-marketing is increasing day by day and has important impact on the behavior of the business markets and the customer. The firms are changing their e-marketing strategies in order to compete in the global markets by attracting more customers around the globe (Sheth Sharma, 2005). The credit cards play an important role in the life of the consumer through which they can buy the products easily even if they dont have cash at the time of clearance. Consumer behavior has been changed over the past few years and the best example to study this behavior is the online social networking. People desire to get materialism, global capitalism and have brands represents the trends of the consumer culture. The globalization has strengthened and changed the way of organizing the capitalism. Means of communication has increased the awareness of the consumers regarding brands, food, music and life of the people of other nations. Globalization has increased the culture convergence which forces the governments to provide best and cheap products from all over the world to satisfy their own people (Ohmae, 1995). Technology has driven the world towards convergence where every wants to experience the new thing around the world through technology (Levitt, 1983). The globalization has changed the concepts of marketing and now organizations are customer-oriented and their focus is more on the profits as compared to sales. The organizations are get change worldwide now due to oligopoly and mergers. The companies are competing in global market place and having strategies and activities that focus on the global market opportunities and threats to gain the competitive advantage over their competitors (Keegan Green, 2003) . In order to compete in global markets, all firms need to craft strategies regardless of their sizes and functions. The global companies focuses on what consumer wants in order to achieve the long term success and they are selling same things everywhere in the same way that drive the world towards cultural convergence (Levitt, 1983). The companies are now well aware of the needs of the consumers as well as they are kindling the need for their products through promotional programs and advertisement. The best example is of Coca cola who thinks globally by giving a message of uniting the nations may be a source of competitive advantage for the company. The mass media and especially advertisements of the products continuously hold the people to think about the products in the market. Youth is the primary target of the advertisers because they think that once they persuaded the people in their young age, then they will remain with the goods and services forever. Advertisements persuade people to buy the products. The study conducted on German and Chinese culture reveals that German people find advertisement more convincing and informative than Chinese people, which shows that perception from advertisement has important impact on the consumer intentions to accept or reject the brands and the products (Chan, et al., 2007). The research shows that the new world has changed the marketers now they are dependent on other companies within their homeland or in other nations for their profits (Fellman, 1999). For example the most famous merger is of Disney and Pixar, Cisco and Linksys, eBay and Skype, Microsoft and Yahoo, Google and YouTube, Apple and neXt and JP Morgan Chase. Coca Cola comes in our mind when we talk about best and successful global advertisements. The brand is made from the same formula and sells with same strategy throughout the world. Ethics in visual representation of the advertisement is very important and there is need to understand the issues related to visuals representation (Schroeder Borgerson, 2005). In the study of advertisement strategies of the companies in America, Europe and Asia it is revealed that in order to face the global consumer culture, America and china both have shown similarity in their international advertisements, having the visible western and non western values (Jiang Wei, 2012). Cultural globalization has found everywhere now and it occurs through media that creates homogeneity across the nation. The best example of cultural globalization is coca cola and McDonalds. Media and communication are the integral parts of the globalization and there can be no globalization without them (Movius, 2010). The international marketers are facing issues regarding the set standard of advertisement in the age of globalization. Jiang Wei, (2002) in their studies shows that the companies insight creative strategies in their advertisements to have one voice or reliable effect of brands in the global market. History shows that consumption patterns of one nation always influenced the consumption behaviors of the other nation. In modern consumption culture very minute differences found between the products and consumption is differentiated on the basis of the brands names. Consumer culture is global now because of the link between the culture and identity of the individual. Capitalism has changed the self images of the people and alters them into consumers. The current study of consumption shows that that the consumer culture should be conducted systematically based on technical level as well (Miller Rose, 1997). There is a need to better understand the lives of the consumers or the ways in which they manage their identities through consumer subculture (Schouten Mcalexander, 1995). Mooij, (2011) argued that the consumption patterns of people are local, the brands and products can be global but people and their motive to buy such brands are not global. The study of indian culture shows that decisions related to consumptions are not made alone, they are closely related to the values and cultural loyalty. The process of globalization has made culture as an important issue which needs to be handle properly because conumption pattterns of the people and their cultural values both have greater impact on the marketing decision making (Banerjee, 2008). Globalization has increased the cultural convergence by means of technology, media and trade between the nations. Globalization makes the culture to come together and have some similar tastes in life and music and technology. The process of having similar norms and values is most common in teenagers. Teens around the world whether they are in America, Africa or Asia, watch the same channels and advertisements and the most important their access to internet develops the similar consumption patterns in them (Mooij, 2011). Cultural convergences has created more job opportunities for the people and saved many cultures. The study shows that due to globalization, marketization of the culture is very important for the survival of any culture which gives them an identity and save them (Howes, 1996). Although globalization has many positive impacts on the quality of life but this also increases the inequality between the nations and even within the countries. Policies are needed in the process of globalization which addresses the processes of production and the ways in which the poor countries connect with the global producers and consumers of the economy (Kaplinsky, 2000). This is not necessary that globalization only leads to the homogeneity of the cultures. There can only be the homogeneity of certain aspects of the society or economy otherwise there cannot be homogeneity among the culture and if this happens it will be very slow to differentiate. Advanced technology has created a difference among the cultures clearly. If we look back to 1960s we see that Asian culture find Americans modern in every aspect of their lives but today communication technology creates a difference. But now they dont find American ideal because of the family decay system. Both cultures can now see the values of each other clearly. (Mishra, 2008).

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Aristotles Logical Foundation of Physiognomics :: Aristotle

Aristotle's Logical Foundation of Physiognomics ABSTRACT: Whenever we meet an unknown person, our first judgment, even unwillingly and often subconsciously, starts from his or her external appearance. Since character can be properly recognized only from words and deeds observed over some time, at first sight we have to rely on what we immediately can see. This physiognomical first approach to each other is as old as humankind, and, though it has never been able to be proved a proper science, in everyday life we all believe in and use physioculture. The earliest extant written work on the subject is the pseudo-Aristotelian treatise Physiognomonica. The author of its first part, in discussing the methodology of the art, refers to Aristotle, who develops the logical foundation of physiognomical inference: as an enthymeme, a syllogism from signs. Yet, concentrating solely on the formal logical analysis, Aristotle does not touch the central point of physiognomics; it C. S. Peirce’s discovery of the triadic relation of the sign t hat was able to shed new light on this central problem and to see physiognomics as a process of semiosis. Thus, Aristotle founded the formal logical basis, from which modern semiotics developed new approaches to physiognomics, taking them in account in several strands of their research. Whenever we meet an unknown person, our first judgement – unwillingly and often subconsciously – starts from his or her external appearance. Almost every aspect of it can be regarded as some kind of clue: for instance, clothing and hairstyle tell something about social status and personal fashion, facial expression and gestures indicate the emotional state of mind, and clinical symptoms allow to diagnose a disease. Yet all those features are superficial and changeable, and therefore don’t tell anything about the inner nature and character of a person, by which we define personality and identity. Since character shows itself only in words and deeds, it would need a long-term observation to detect it (always unrealistically assuming that the character be constant), and still there is hardly a safeguard against wilful deceit. Here, as a short-cut method, physiognomics is used: the art of inferring character from the physique of body and face – especially from those features that can hardly be influenced by their bearer like bone-structure, stature, voice, and the supposedly unconscious parts of body language. An immediate physiognomical inference is necessary for survival in the animal world: to decide at first glance whether the other is prey or predator, friend or foe, that is: whether it is save to stay and to approach or better to flee, to defend or attack.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Feminist Protagonists in The Awakening and A Dolls House Essay

The Feminist Protagonists in The Awakening and A Doll's House    The idea of women's liberation is a common theme in both Kate Chopin's The Awakening and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. In her analysis of Feminism in Europe Katharine M. Rogers writes, " Thinking of Nora's painful disillusionment, her parting from her children, and the uncertainties of her future independent career, Ibsen called his play 'the tragedy of modern times'" (82). The main characters in each work, Nora Helmer, in A Doll House, and Edna Pontellier, in The Awakening, portray feminist ideas. Neither Ibsen nor Chopin intended to write for the women's right's movement, but both works are classics of a woman's liberation. Ibsen is quoted as saying "that he never 'consciously worked for the women's right movement'" (82). It has also been shown that "Chopin did not intend to write a feminist tract" (Martin 252). Even though neither work was meant to be used as a feminist advocacy document, the works are excellent examples of the fact that many people were attuned to the plight of women. Nora and Edna both intend to pursue their own careers. At the time these works were written, women did not normally have their own careers. Nora enjoys the copying work she secretly does at night to earn back money for her loan. Working makes her feel less like the shallow, twittering female people think she is and more like an independent man. After Nora leaves Torvald, she wants to live on her own and support herself. Edna wants to become an artist. She tries to paint seriously every day after her return from Grand Isle. Even though Mr. Pontellier thinks her paintings are a silly hobby, Edna sells several paintings and hopes to sell more. Nora and Edna are both i... ...the works portray feminist ideas such as pursuit of careers, independence from families, and close male friends. Ibsen and Chopin were ahead of their time by writing works focusing on a topic that is still controversial a century later.    Works Cited Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1985. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rpt. in Michael Meyer, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999. Martin, Wendy, ed. "Introduction." New Essays on The (Awakening. New York, NY: Cambridge UP, 1988. Rogers, Katharine M. Feminism in Europe. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1982. Templeton, Joan. "Is A Doll House a Feminist Text?" (1989). Rpt. In Meyer.

George Balanchine Essay -- Biography Biographies

George Balanchine One of the most important and influential people in the world of ballet is George Balanchine. He became a legend long before he died. He brought the standards of dance up to a level that had never been seen before, and he created a new audience for ballet. Balanchine was one of the greatest and most prolific choreographers in ballet history, choreographing at least 300 ballets; he was rivaled in quantity only by Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa. At the age of nine he started training at the Imperial School in St. Petersburg. He rarely saw his family because they lived far away and he became the ward of Grigory Grigorevich, who was in charge of the school. There Balanchine performed his first role as cupid in Sleeping Beauty. During the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Imperial School closed and the students were put out on the street. Balanchine was cut off from his family in the Caucasus, and was taken in to live with Mr. Grigorevich. The school did reopen and Balanchine graduated in 1921. He then joined the Soviet State Ballet. Upon graduation Balanchine married Geva, a fellow student whom he had met in the ballroom dancing class. Geva described her husband as a cross between a poet and a general. In order to have his choreography seen, Blanchine organized a small company called The Young Ballet, to perform at halturas (bread and butter jobs). At the Maryinsky, Balanchine had been assigned to stage the procession in Rimski-Korsakoff's opera Coq d'Or, and what he devised, although beautiful, shattered tradition. The company tried to re-train him, but he wouldn't conform. His choreography continued to be controversial, so the board at the Maryinsky Theater dis... ...he marriage had never been consummated. For Tanaquil LeClerq, his fourth wife (whom he married in 1952) he created La Valze (1951), Bourrà ©e Fantasque (1949) Western Symphony and Ivesiana (both in1954). Her career ended after she was tragically stricken with polio. Before their divorce was finalized Balanchine became infatuated with his final protà ©gà ©, Suzanne Farrell, for whom he created many of his last great ballets: Mozartiana (1981), Don Quixote (1965), and Diamonds in Jewels (1967). After Balanchine recovered from a mysterious illness, he continued to work until his death. He died of Jakob-Creutzfeldt syndrome, on April 30, 1983. Balanchine's funeral was held in a Russian Orthodox Church and that night the New York City Ballet performed as scheduled. Balanchine’s repretare is still widely performed and he has made a mjor impact on the world of ballet.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Sin Taxes Are One of the More Controversial Taxes Out There

Sin taxes are one of the more controversial taxes out there. They are basically a form of indirect taxation (which has its pros and cons) on goods and services which society considers to be moral ills. As a general rule, it is unwise for the government to interfere in people's lives more than is necessary to enforce the rights of others. Libertarians rightly ask why we should punish people for making decisions about their own lives — even if the majority says we should, that doesn't make it right. Sin taxes, though they rarely have conventional economics cited as a defence of them, actually do have sound economic backing however.In fact, a libertarian should support sin taxes, because they correct an infringement of individual rights. Common examples of sin taxes are taxes on cigarettes and alcohol. Choosing to consume these goods is an individual decision; should the government be involved and actively attempt to reduce their consumption? The answer is yes, because of the ext ernal costs not accounted for in the price of these goods. Without taxes, the price of a pack of cigarettes would not account for second-hand smoke and the impact of cigarette smoking on the health and enjoyment of others.Likewise, the price of alcohol does not include the costs of things like drunk driving and other general impairment of one's faculties which can pose a menace to society. It is the individual who is harmed by a drunkard who cannot react quickly enough to avoid an accident. A logical conclusion might be to even extend the sin tax to other things. Libertarians in a number of countries have been campaigning for the legalisation of drugs because they believe that the choice to use drugs is an individual one which the government has no right to interfere in.I personally am not inclined to take a strong stand on this issue, but if I were to side with the libertarians (which is my natural inclination), I would nevertheless also support a steep sin tax on drugs. Cocaine an d marijuana have similar effects on society as cigarettes and drugs (some research indicates that marijuana smoke may be more dangerous than cigarette smoke). It only makes sense to tax their consumption to internalise their external costs. There is a time and place for everything under the sun, and that includes government intrusion on individual decisions.When your decision has an impact on others, the price of that decision must account for the potential costs and benefits it will bring about. health officials grappling with the obesity epidemic have debated a wide range of approaches to helping slim the American waistline. To some degree, everything from building more sidewalks to banning chocolate milk has been explored. Yet few tactics have been as polarizing as the possibility of introducing tariffs on treats.Despite endorsement from several respected obesity researchers and politicians, soda taxes, for example, have been subject to severe scrutiny, as critics protested that implementing a tax before verifying that it would achieve the end result was shortsighted and potentially overreaching. So, in attempt to determine just how sin taxes might impact people's food choices, psychologists from the University of Buffalo decided to put junk food levies to the test—in the lab. Researchers recruited shoppers to peruse the aisles of a mock supermarket filled with 68 common foods labeled with nutritional information.Participants were given a predetermined amount of cash, and were told to use that money to purchase a week's worth of groceries for a family. The first time, all of the products on the shelves were priced in keeping with local supermarkets. In subsequent trips, however, junk food was taxed—an additional 12. 5%, then 25%— or healthier foods were subsidized to reduce cost. The study, published in the journal Psychological Science revealed that taxes were more effective at getting people to avoid certain products than subsidies we re at prompting healthier food purchases.In scenarios where junk foods were taxed, study participants generally came away with a lower caloric total for their groceries, and a higher ratio of protein to fats and carbohydrates. Yet, in situations where healthy foods were subsidized, the savings were often spent on additional junk food. That is, instead of stocking up on more fruits and vegetables because they were cheaper, the study's shoppers bought their veggies, and then used the leftover cash to bring home extra treats like chips and soda.In the end, the subsidies-only scenarios resulted in higher total calorie counts, and didn't result in overall nutritional improvement on the week's groceries. Because the scenario is hypothetical, the findings certainly shouldn't be taken as the final word in the sin tax debate, the researchers stress, but should instead be used to inform the ongoing discussion about practical ways to battle obesity. To that end, they say, the next step should be research to determine whether these results would be replicated in the real world. Read more: http://healthland. ime. com/2010/02/25/would-junk-food-taxes-really-make-people-eat-better/#ixzz1Bv8WDv91 I’m not a fan of paying higher taxes. Nor am I a fan of people going without health insurance. As we’ve heard over and over on the 6 o’clock news and political debates, our current health care system cannot continue along its present course and represents a serious threat to the health of the U. S. economy. Therefore, I’m reluctant to admit that substantial changes will be required (both monetary and personal responsibility) if we plan on altering our future.Unfortunately, we are living in an era where we are so concerned about offending someone that we’re willing to turn a blind eye to the obvious, and withhold what must be said until we’re among the safety net of our supporters or behind the security of a computer screen. The Case For Highe r Taxes to Pay Health Care Costs At present, the likelihood that higher taxes will become a necessary evil to pay for government sponsored health care is gaining ground. Personally, it really doesn’t bother me all that much.If called upon in the future, I’m willing to pay a slightly higher tax rate so uninsured Americans can have access to life saving drugs or little Danny falls off his bike and breaks his arm. No problem, happy do it, just play me a patriotic song and tell me I’m doing my part for the good ol’ Red, White ; Blue. Heck, I’ll might even enjoy it. As long as the people getting it actually deserve it! Then comes a news report which says the Obesity Epidemic in America is still going strong. Obesity in America – NBC News. Obesity in America – Diabetes Related Illnesses a Threat to Medicare.Should Junk Food Have a Sin Tax / Fat Tax? When we, as a nation, are discussing future budget crises partly because we can’t pus h ourselves away from the table†¦ I think we might need to reassess the problem. Most of the things that are considered â€Å"bad for you† in the U. S. come with a regulatory agency warning label, and possibly a sin tax. Goods like cigarettes, alcohol, and even gasoline, have an additional sin tax attached to them because they’re (arguably) bad for us in their own unique ways. Not to mention, they’re a cash cow for the tax man. So why should junk food be any different?It’s well known that sugar stuffed goodies or chocolate covered yumyums are contributing to the obesity epidemic. Why should food that possesses little nutritional value but contributes to the cancer/diabetes/heart disease epidemic be immune from taxation? Better yet, why should the people who consume these foods (if you can call them that) eat significantly more of them compared to the population mean, have a body mass index greater than 30%, and still get access to the same government sponsored health care that everyone else is supposed to get when they retire?Moreover, be eligible for disability insurance solely because of their weight and medical conditions directly related to their eating habits. Why should junk food mega-consumers be allowed to contribute as much in taxes as much as the next person, but indulge in a lifestyle that will undoubtedly cause them to take more out of the Medicare system than they actually contributed during their working years. Critics will (correctly) say that these individuals will die off sooner than normal resulting in lower overall health care costs.However, considering that medicine is constantly extending the human lifespan and the cost of medical care/drugs will always increase, it’s an arguable debate at best. This situation hardly seems fair to the majority of the population, and because of that, it’s a viable question and should be pushed to the forefront. In a fair and just society (which we’re sup posed to live in), those who spend more in the end should be expected to pay more upfront. Right? A National Sin Tax of 2% for Junk Food? What if, just for arguments sake, a 2% fat tax was placed on anything bearing the label â€Å"junk food†?When an item would be purchased at the grocery store, a mandatory 2% sin tax was added to the item just like everyday sales tax. It will be used to fund Medicare deficits, educating the general public against an unhealthy diet, as well as providing temporary financial assistance to anyone who can’t afford medical care. After all, this sin tax will target the majority of people who are, or likely will be, posing a greater risk to the sustainability of government sponsored health care (e. g. Medicare). Then again, is a 2% sin tax enough?How about a 5%? An extra quarter for a bag of Doritos or Snicker’s bar doesn’t seem that bad. Does it? It is a powderkeg of a debate just waiting to go off, but because of political cor rectness, no one wants to bring it up. Considering our present situation (severe recession, financial crisis, record numbers of uninsured, etc), it’s a debate worth having regardless of the hurt feelings and political fallout. Then again, perhaps complaining about our problems while doing nothing to solve them is just the new way American way.A so-called â€Å"sin tax† is a tax which is specifically levied against products or services that a society has identified as harmful or undesirable, but not so harmful or undesirable that they can or should be banned outright (i. e. prohibition). Common sin taxes include those on alcohol and tobacco, although those regulations which exist in places that have legalized but restricted gambling or prostitution can also be referred to as sin taxes. The purpose of a sin tax is based in economic theory: it intends to reduce consumption of the undesirable good by increasing the price.Sin taxes are currently levied against a wide variet y of social ills which are considered not so serious that they need to be prohibited. Prostitution (in many countries), cocaine, and marijuana are criminalized in most countries, for instance, but alcohol and tobacco are not. In American history, the Prohibition era demonstrated that alcohol could be eliminated from society only at extremely high cost, and in large part alcohol was not eliminated, but simply driven underground onto the black market. Sin taxes are seen as a way of reducing the frequency of socially harmful behaviour without creating an underground criminal economy.This is the approach taken when charging taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, in some countries marijuana and other supposedly mild drugs, and in some current proposals on soft drinks and other sugar-rich junk foods for public health reasons. In economic theory, a sin tax is also known as a sumptuary tax or a Pigovian tax – a tax which attempts to reduce the collective social harm from a private economic tr ansaction by raising the price of that transaction. The law of supply and demand indicates that when a price for a good or service goes up, more producers will be willing to supply it, but fewer purchasers will be willing to buy it.At the same time, when the price for a good does down, more purchasers will buy it, but fewer producers will be willing to make it in the first place. A tax does both: the end price of the good ends up artificially high so that few people buy it, but the actual money which goes to the seller (i. e. price minus tax) is held artificially low, so that fewer producers enter the market. Normally economists consider this a generally negative impact of taxation, but in the case of sin taxes, it is seen as a positive – since the purpose of the sin tax is to reduce or even eliminate the harmful behaviour, rather than to encourage economicgrowth.In theory, a sin tax raises the price of the undesirable good without increasing the profits to the producer. With the price having risen, fewer people will be willing to buy the good. Overall, this results in a general reduction in consumption compared to what it would have been on the free market. Particularly in countries with advanced social welfare networks, the argument is also often made that sin taxes help society directly by producing a pool of funds to pay for the consequences of undesirable activity.For example, tobacco cigarettes cause lung cancer – which, in almost all advanced countries except the United States, is treated with public funds. Sin taxes on cigarettes create a pool of money out of which lung cancer treatments can be funded, so that non-smokers are not covering the costs of lung cancer through their income taxes. At the same time, in practice jurisdictions which have sin taxes must balance the benefits of a higher sin tax (in terms of reducing the harmful behaviour) with the risk of creating black markets.Black markets, or underground economies, commonly supply illegal goods in all countries, including illegal drugs. Black markets can only do so at increased cost, to cover risks,pay border smugglers and organized criminal organizations, cover losses to law enforcement, and so on. However, if the added cost of the black market is less than the added cost of the sin tax, then sin taxes may lead to a large underground economy. In some regions of Canada, for example, cigarette smuggling is a profitable activity due to high taxes on cigarettes.Black market cigarettes are produced on Aboriginal reserves or smuggled across the border from the United States. In addition to this practical problem of managing sin taxes (which must paradoxically be high enough to be effective but low enough to prevent black markets from emerging), there is also an opposition argument from libertarians who argue that the government should not be interfering with individual citizens' freedom to choose how to spend their money when their choices fundamentally involve h arm to themselves rather than harm to others.Of course, this rests on the assumption that the principal social â€Å"evils† of alcohol and tobacco consumption are liver cirrhosis and lung cancer suffered by drinkers and smokers themselves, rather than the smaller number of bystanders struck by drunk drivers or stricken with cancer from second-hand smoke. Taxing snacks: The pros and the cons Diet-to-Go Meal Delivery: $25 Off 1st Week’s Order with Coupon â€Å"calorielab25?A proposal by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to levy a 5 percent surcharge tax on sugar-laden snacks and beverages, pitched by his office as â€Å"a critical first step in discouraging the consumption of these empty calories,† has raised again some basic questions about the wisdom and practicality of imposing â€Å"sin taxes† to reduce the public’s usage of certain commodities. A quick review of some of them, with attempts at answers. Isn’t this just another revenue-r aising scheme disguised as a health issue?True to some extent; even the Massachusetts public health commissioner admitted that the primary goal of the tax is to provide money to state coffers. But that money, which is expected to run more than $40 million a year, will be used to fund public health services, some of which will probably involve weight-reduction programs. Will it actually motivate people to consume fewer sodas and candy bars and the like? Ordinarily, the answer would be â€Å"not much,† and not enough to significantly lower the state’s obesity numbers.There are already 33 states that charge sales taxes on soft drinks or candy, mostly around 4 to 6 percent, and studies of the sales charts indicate that those amounts are too small to put a meaningful dent in public consumption. To really accomplish that, take a leaf from the imposition of cigarette taxes, which did in fact cut into tobacco sales because of their sheer size of the taxes, which often amounted to $2 or more per pack. A Harvard experiment found that, given a big enough tax on sugary sodas — in that case, 35 percent — sales thereof tanked by fully 20 percent, even as sales of non-taxed diet sodas rose.So why not make it a 35 percent tax? Because no legislature would ever go for something that draconian. First, it’s hard to sell the premise that Cokes and Hershey bars are cigarette-level health hazards and legitimate targets for hypertaxing. Second, it’s hard to sell any tax increases whatsoever during a Recession of a Lifetime; 5 percent is as much as Governor Patrick thought he could get away with. But the economic downturn may change the basic math, here. For the same financial reasons that a large tax is out of the question, a small tax may actually gain some clout.Sure, another 5 percent won’t change people’s behavior under normal economic conditions, but at a time when people have begun raising their own vegetables and cutting their kids’ hair to save a few bucks, an extra nickel per soda or Snickers bar might get a lot of people rethinking that impulse purchase. It might also mean that any tax at all would be politically unacceptable right now. Then we might give some thought to the Australian Variation, where they’re calling for the tax on low-alcohol beer to be abolished, as an incentive for the notoriously thirsty Aussies to cut their overall alcohol intake.An American adaptation of that might have those states that currently tax food products eliminate the tax for low-fat, low-cal, low-sugar dietary soft drinks, candy, snack foods and so forth. Write or e-mail your legislator. (Ironically, the proposed Massachusetts law would tax both regular and diet items equally. Tsk tsk. Back to the drawing board, Governor. ) Senate leaders are considering new federal taxes on soda and other sugary drinks to help pay for an overhaul of the nation's health-care system.The taxes would pay for only a fraction of the cost to expand health-insurance coverage to all Americans and would face strong opposition from the beverage industry. They also could spark a backlash from consumers who would have to pay several cents more for a soft drink. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee is set to hear proposals from about a dozen experts about how to pay for the comprehensive health-care overhaul that President Barack Obama wants to enact this year. Early estimates put the cost of the plan at around $1. 2 trillion. The administration has so far only earmarked funds for about half of that amount.The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based watchdog group that pressures food companies to make healthier products, plans to propose a federal excise tax on soda, certain fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas. It would not include most diet beverages. Excise taxes are levied on goods and manufacturers typically pass them on to consumers. Senior s taff members for some Democratic senators at the center of the effort to craft health-care legislation are weighing the idea behind closed doors, Senate aides said.The Congressional Budget Office, which is providing lawmakers with cost estimates for each potential change in the health overhaul, included the option in a broad report on health-system financing in December. The office estimated that adding a tax of three cents per 12-ounce serving to these types of sweetened drinks would generate $24 billion over the next four years. So far, lawmakers have not indicated how big a tax they are considering. Proponents of the tax cite research showing that consuming sugar-sweetened drinks can lead to obesity, diabetes and other ailments.They say the tax would lower consumption, reduce health problems and save medical costs. At least a dozen states already have some type of taxes on sugary beverages, said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest . â€Å"Soda is clearly one of the most harmful products in the food supply, and it's something government should discourage the consumption of,† Mr. Jacobson said. The main beverage lobby that represents Coca-Cola Co. , PepsiCo Inc. , Kraft Foods Inc. and other companies said such a tax would unfairly hit lower-income Americans and wouldn't deter consumption. Taxes are not going to teach our children how to have a healthy lifestyle,† said Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association. Instead, the association says it's backing programs that limit sugary beverage consumption in schools. Some recent state proposals along the same lines have met stiff opposition. New York Gov. David Paterson recently agreed to drop a proposal for an 18% tax on sugary drinks after facing an outcry from the beverage industry and New Yorkers. The beverage-tax proposal would apply to drinks that many Americans don't onsider unhealthy — such as PepsiCo's Gatorade and Kraft 's Capri Sun — based on their calorie content. Health advocates are floating other so-called sin tax proposals and food regulations as part of the government's health-care overhaul. Mr. Jacobson also plans to propose Tuesday that the government sharply raise taxes on alcohol, move to largely eliminate artificial trans fat from food and move to reduce the sodium content in packaged and restaurant food. The beverage tax is just one of hundreds of ideas that lawmakers are weighing to finance the health-care plans. They're expected to narrow the list in coming weeks.The White House, meanwhile, is pulling together private health groups to identify cost savings that will help fund the health overhaul. Mr. Obama on Monday held a White House meeting with groups that represent doctors, hospitals, insurers, pharmaceutical companies and medical-device makers. They pledged to help restrain cost increases in the health-care system in an effort to save $2 trillion over the next decade. â⠂¬Å"When it comes to health-care spending, we are on an unsustainable course that threatens the financial stability of families, businesses and government itself,† Mr. Obama told reporters. Write to Janet Adamy at janet. [email  protected] om BUFFALO, N. Y. , Feb. 25 (UPI) — Taxing unhealthy foods reduces overall calories purchased, while cutting the proportion of fat and carbohydrates and increasing protein, U. S. researchers say. The study, published in Psychological Science, finds subsidizing the prices of healthy food increased overall calories purchased without changing the nutritional value. Leonard Epstein of the University of Buffalo said some states are beginning to impose â€Å"sin taxes† on fat and sugar to dissuade people from eating junk food, while others favor subsidies over punitive taxes as a way to encourage people to eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains.The thought is that if you make it cheaper, people will eat more of it, more expensive and people will eat less, Epstein says. Epstein and colleagues simulated a grocery store â€Å"stocked† with images of everything from bananas to nachos and had a group of volunteer mothers given laboratory â€Å"money† to shop for a week's groceries for the family. Each food item was priced the same as groceries at a real grocery nearby, and each food came with basic nutritional information. First the mothers shopped using regular prices. Then the researchers raised the prices of unhealthy foods by 12. percent, and then by 25 percent, or they discounted the price of healthy foods comparably. The study showed taxes were more effective in reducing calories purchased over subsides, the researchers said. Read more: http://www. upi. com/Health_News/2010/02/25/Study-Food-sin-taxes-effective/UPI-60061267154775/#ixzz1BvAQlOhN A recent study examining the potential impact of sin taxes—increasing the cost of junk food, in particular—as a means to promote healthier choices found that, in a lab setting at least, when unhealthy foods cost more, people tended to eat them less.Now, new research attempts to size up the value of sin taxes in the real world. A study published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine followed more than 5,000 people from 1985-1986 to 2005-2006, tracking food consumption habits, as well as height, weight and blood sugar levels. They then compared that data with information about food costs across the 20-year period. Researchers found that, incremental increases in price of unhealthy foods resulted in incremental decreases in consumption. In other words, when junk food cost more, people ate it less.Analyzing the cost of soda and delivery pizza in terms of adjusted 2006 dollars, the researchers found that, during the 20-year study period, pizza and soda costs actually went down—making them more accessible for less. Yet, their analysis also showed that every 10% increase in cost was associated with a decrease in calorie consumption—7% for soda, and 11. 5% for pizza. What's more, a $1 increase in soda price was associated with lower daily caloric intake (about 124 calories less per day on average), lower body weight (2. lbs. less, on average) and better blood sugar levels, according to the researchers. Similar trends were seen for a $1 hike in pizza cost, and when both pizza and soda costs increased by $1, the effects were further amplified, the researchers found. Along with colleagues, lead author Kiyah J. Duffey, from the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, points to the results as possible evidence supporting the use of taxes as a means to promote healthier eating habits.Duffey and co-authors suggest that, based on these findings, an 18% surcharge on soda and delivery pizza could, on average, cut 56 calories per person per day—a reduction that means dropping five pounds per person during the course of a year. In an accompanying edito rial in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Drs. Mitchell Katz and Rajiv Bhatia of the San Francisco Department of Public Health argue that it's time to put these proposed policies into practice to combat obesity. They suggest that taxes on unhealthy foods could go toward promoting healthier behaviors.Katz and Bhatia write: â€Å"Copying a successful tactic of anti-tobacco crusaders, the funds also could be used to counter the lavish advertising of soda and junk food or for ‘marketing' ordinary tap water. † The study and accompanying editorial come the same week that Bill Clinton announced the result of a three-year study finding that large beverage companies are voluntarily reducing the sales of sugary sodas in schools, and New York politicians are again bandying about the possibility of a soda tax. And all of these developments add to the already heated debate over the merits of enforcing public health mandates through taxes, of course.Yet, while sin taxes are already widespread across the U. S. in the form of cigarette surcharges—Washington state just tacked another $1 in taxes onto a pack of cigarettes, for example—for many, the growing efforts to govern food choices through tariffs go too far. What do you think? Are junk food taxes good public health policy? Or are they indicative of a dangerous trend toward government interference in our freedom of choice—†punishing people for enjoying life once in a while,† as one detractor put it? Read more: http://healthland. time. com/2010/03/10/study-sin-taxes-promote-healthier-food-choices/#ixzz1BvAf9j11Obesity costs U. S. businesses about $45 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity. As a result, strategies that were once unthinkable for keeping the population's weight in check may soon become reality. In coming months, it's likely one or more states and municipalities will try to impose taxes on soda, sweets, or other types of â€Å"junk food,† m odeled on existing cigarette taxes. To the Bush Administration, such â€Å"obesity taxes† were an anathema, even though 27 states have already imposed small tariffs of 7% to 8% on vending machine snacks such as candy, soda, and baked goods.Now the combination of a budget-busting recession and a citizenry that keeps getting fatter is causing legislators to consider more drastic steps. Late last year, New York Governor David A. Paterson proposed an 18% sales tax on non-diet soda and sugary juice drinks for the fiscal year starting in April. Such a tax, he says, would raise $404 million this year and $539 million in 2010, to be used for fat-fighting public health programs. Paterson has run into stiff opposition from the soft-drink industry. But several other states are mulling such taxes, says Kelly D.Brownell, director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. â€Å"I've been contacted by a number of state legislators recently,† he says. â€Å"I think it's only a matter of time before it happens. † In a statement, the American Beverage Assn. labeled Paterson's soda tax proposal â€Å"a money grab that will raise taxes on middle-class families. † Opponents also note that new levies would fail to address the many complex factors that contribute to weight gain. Yet studies have shown a clear correlation between costs and consumer behavior. A Rand Corp. urvey of 59 cities found that children gain more weight if they live in communities where fruit and vegetables are expensive. And the University of Florida just published a study showing that the more alcohol costs, the less people imbibe. Academics also say high tobacco taxes deserve much of the credit for cutting the U. S. smoking rate from 42% in 1964 to below 20% now. Economist Frank J. Chaloupka, director of the Health Policy Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, cautions that a junk food tax could cause people to simply switch to other foods that are just as high in calories.Still, he contends, with an 18% tax â€Å"you would likely see some noticeable impact on consumption. † Any sweeping obesity tax is likely to run into another snag: how to define â€Å"junk food. † Liz Morrill, chief executive officer of Fizzy Lizzy, a brand of sparkling juices, complains that Paterson's proposed tax is â€Å"completely irrational† because it would tax her product but not containers labeled â€Å"100% fruit juice,† though those drinks may have the same amount of sugar.Any obesity tax must be based on such criteria as calories and sugars per ounce, Morrill argues. The French government, for one, has embraced this logic. It's considering a tax of 5. 5% to 19. 6% on all foodstuffs the government deems â€Å"too rich, too sweet, too salty,† and not strictly necessary. It remains to be seen if the American public will swallow more dietary taxes. In November, Maine voters overturned a wholesale tax on sodas and the s yrup used to make soda that the governor had signed into law last April.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Competitve advantage Essay

â€Å"A firm that already has sustained competitive advantage in its domestic market may not have the same advantage in an overseas market. Discuss the issues that this creates for a firm, and how it might exploit its resource advantages to secure successful market entry and create competitive advantage in a new overseas market.† With the global trade network more integrated, according to Pearce and Robinson (2009), firms tend to enter foreign market to gain more profit due to the maturity of domestic market, excess capability, and potential purchasing power in foreign market. Therefore, as a firm has already achieved success in its domestic country it might consider enter a new market. Before it operates in a new market, it has to consider the barrier of market entry, such as the barrier of political, social, economic or technology in a new market. And as foreign entry decision (Peng, 2009) model presents three aspects: where, when and how should be considered before enter in a new market. In addition, as a manager of a company should adjust its competitive advantage to adapt different market. Based on the study of Hill (2013), changes in the forces which include macroeconomics, social, technological, global, political and legal, and demographic may give great influence in competitive force model. Therefore, the ability of a firm to solve problems by the impact of different forces then build new competitive advantage by its resource advantage and competences significant as it enters a new overseas market. This essay will present some specific example of the firms which may enter a new overseas market and face different issues during the process of entering a new market and offer solutions to each issue. Price wars are common in any industry which is a common issue to be considered before enter a new overseas market, moreover, base on five force framework, in order to increase the ability of competing with rivals in industry, the ability of rivalry among competitors is one of the forces. Primark is one of the most successful fashion retailers in British. Its competitive advantage is from its low price. In another word, it gains profit from the cost leader strategy. (Hooley & Piercy ,2008). India is one of the biggest developing countries in the world. It has large population wh ich means India has a huge potential market for Primark. As reported by  BBC (2013) Recently, India government has opened up its retail market to foreign companies to stimulate its economic. Assume Primark enter the market of India, it may face competitive rivals, such as H&M and Gap. It has to maintain its competitive advantage and improves the ability of efficiency of cost .However, as a company which relies on low cost supplier, first of all, it has to decrease the barging power of supplier, thanks to the large population in India, it is not only providing a huge market for Primark but also offering a powerful labor resource to it. It offer an exactly social force to exploit its resource advantage and strategic fit in market of India.(Grant,2007) According to value chain study, reducing the cost of individual cost driver and reemployment could offer cost advantage to a firm. (Thompson & Martin, 2010) Primark could outsource to different local manufactures and create competition among them. In order to reduce the bargaining power of local supplier, Primark should deduce the dependence of a certain supplier. A good experience of Wal-Mart (Peng, 2009) could be used to Primark, it set up a policy within company which prevents any supplier offer more than 3% of its purchase. Furthermore, Primark should constrain those factories by contracts to prevent them copy the product and become both supplier and rivals. Primark might gain profit from controlling the cost and matching the opportunities in the external environment eventually enter a new overseas market. Before enter a new overseas market, the culture is always a considerable problem for a firm. Different countries have different belief, values, and behavior depend on their national culture.(Rugman & Collison) Furthermore, a firm should think about where to enter, base on Institution-based considerations on country risk.(Peng, 2009) It should evaluate the culture distance from its domestic country to a oversea market, moreover, taking advantage of common cultural, language, and historical ties.(Makino& Tsang,2011) If a firm enters a different cultural environment from its domestic and it may lose its competitive advantage. Therefore, when a firm enters a new market, it should not only focus it competitive advantage but also match the requirement of local people and adjust its strategy to current situation. Disneyland built the sixth Disneyland in Shanghai and it will operate in 2015. Consider it is as a cross culture theme park, it should learn the experience of other Disneyland in other countries. French Disneyland (Trigg, 1995) which has not reach its  expectation. It failed in France because it used English as official language in it which annoyed French, alcohol was forbidden in French Disneyland and this policy against the behavior of local people. What is more, it had conflict with farmers for land expropriation and caused opposition in France. Another example to support the argument is Tesco. Tesco lost 1.8 billion in USA, a lot of factors led to its failure, and one of the most important factors is Americans having different eating habits from European. Tesco has not considered it and eventually fail in a different culture environment. In order to gain profit in different culture markets, a firm should improve its abilities of adaption to a specific national market and blend global standardization and local adaption. For example, McDonald’s gained great competitive advantage from its global strategy (Grant, 2010). Although the menus of McDonald’s include globally items, likes happy meals, however, in different counties it ha s locally items. Considering about local relevance and find a balance point between global standardization and local adaption could maintain competitive advantage in a new culture market. In addition, to compete with first-mover in a new market is an important risk to a firm. Late entrants may face entry barrier which set by first-mover and hard to gain market share. Furthermore, the relationship between first-mover and local government maybe stable. (Peng, 2009) Kindle e-book reader is an electronic product was launched by Amazon from 2007 which linked to the electronic books. If Kindle enters Korean market, it would face some powerful competitors. The most competitive rivals is Galaxy Tab of Samsung as well as it have already gained great market share in Korea. In order to compete with Samsung, differentiation strategy could be used by Kindle. Innovation is the most competitive advantage of the technology industry. In another word, kindle should focus on its unique resource which is the large amoun t of e-resources of Amazon. This tangible source could attract customer and create the demand of customer. By increasing its dynamic capabilities by updating its organizational knowledge, accepting different ideas and developing the blend of tacit and explicit knowledge in a new market. (Wall, et al.2010). Besides, Kindle can evaluate the market of Korea which based on the current situation of Samsung before it enters this market and predicts the potential risk and makes some measures in advance. Moreover, late entrances could  cooperate with the first- mover to share the fixed assets to reduce the cost of entering a new market. As for small-medium companies, one of the biggest problems is the scale of the companies cannot support high risk of entering overseas market and they can afford the huge capital. P.van Dam & Zn. BV is family business with less than 30 staff which exports fresh flower and wholesale company in Netherlands. The competitive advantage of P.van Dam & Zn. BV is flexible to response the requ irement of customer. Customer could order flowers by their official website, telephone or E-mail them and customer can contact specialize staff in each step, in other word, P.van Dam & Zn. BV contact customers personally. It can react rapidly and fit the demand of customers. If it wants to enter UK market, it may export directly since the size of it is really small and it prefer to take whole controlling of distribution. The small scale of entry is suitable for them and the best entry mode of this kind of small companies is exporting. It is not only reducing the cost of entering overseas but also get better control over distribution. (Peng, 2009) After a company enters a new market, According to Industry-based consideration on the degree of competitiveness (Peng, 2009), one of potential risks is substitute. For example, Lipton is one of the most competitive brands in China and became the best sale in tea market in five years. The core competence of Lipton is the sensitivity of the requirement of customer (Chanston, 2012). Lipton invests a lot on researching the tendency of tea and the preferences of customer as well as setting up a data base and in different countries. It combined the tea and the life of target customers together. Base on the VRIO framework (Peng , 2009), value, rarity, robustness and Non-substitutability to keep sustainable competitive advantage, Lipton brings a health and new style of drinking tea to Chinese market which also brings value to its brand. Besides, it is will cost a lot to copy the operating model of Lipton. In addition, the healthy image has been accepted by costumers, some substitutes such as coke, juice can’t take place of it. Therefore, increasing the ability of each element in VRIO framework and improve the sustainable competitive could avoid the threat of potential substitute in new market. In conclusion, this essay has covered some major issues when a firm enters a new market, price issue, culture issue, first-mover issue small-medium size company issue and substitute issue. And give some specific companies as examples to explain how to gain  competitive advantage to response to each issue. For example, Shanghai Disney should blend global standardization and local adaption to get competitive advantage in a new market. A firm should change or improve its competitive advantage as it enter a foreign market, otherwise, it will loss the opportunities and fail in a new overseas market. References: BBC (2013). H&M wins final approval to invest in India. [Online] Available at < http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25196418> Accessed 4th January 2014. Grant, R (2010) Contemporary strategy Analysis: Text and Cases (7th ed). A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Pubilication Grant, R (2007) Contemporary Strategy Analysis: Concept, Techniques, Applications (6th ed). Wiley Blackwell Edition Hill, J (2013). Theory of Strategic Management (10th ed).International Edition Hooley, G. Piercy, N(2008) Marketing Strategy and competitive positioning(4th ed). Prentice Hall Edition Peng, W(2009) Global strategic management(2th ed). International student Edition Pearce, J.& Robinson, R. (2009). Formulation, implementation& control of competitive strategy (11th ed ). McGraw. Hill international Edition Rugman, A. & Collinson,S (2009) International Business( 5th ed) Prentice Hall Edition. Thompson, J.& Martin, F.(2010) Strategic Management : Awareness and Change(6th ed) South-western Edition Trigg, M. &Trigg, D( 1995) â€Å" Disney’s European theme park adventure: a clash of cultures† Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal. Vol2.No.2. PP.13-22 Makino, S.& Tsang, E(2011) Historical ties and foreign direct investment, JIBS, 42:545-557 Wall, S. Zimmermann, C. Klingebiel, R.& Lange,D. (2010)Strategic Reconfigurations: Building Dynamic Capabilities in Rapid Innovation-based Industries. Mixed sources edition.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Joeseph story Essay

A. List Joseph’s risk factors and create a brief summary of the information you have so far. Identify how his risk factors would affect cellular function. Joseph had a family history of vascular disease, his weight has been increasing as a result of poor diet and has hypertension. The cells have to use more energy (ATP) in order to move nutrients it needs for cells to live. B. Assuming Joseph’s heart has stopped, what cellular processes and membrane functions are going to be affected by the loss of oxygen, blood glucose, and waste removal? Cells become leaky, sodium leak into cells while potassium leaks out. Carbon Dioxide levels raise in cells and that drives down the pH making the cells acidic and begin to die. C. Which intracellular organelles have membranes as part of their structure? How would the breakdown of the membranes of these structures affect the function of Joseph’s heart cells? These membranes enable cell movement, growth, division, secretion, and alow the exchange of oxygen. When the breakdown happens, it prevents the oxygen from being able to move into the cell it needs to go to and the cell starts to die. D. Two important pieces of information – the instructions Joseph’s body needs to repair itself and his predisposition for vascular disease – are both contained within the cell on which structures? Both pieces of information are contained within the cell nucleus in the DNA. E. Joseph’s heart attack has caused the function of his cells to change. What types of proteins in the cell membrane were involved in the homeostatic imbalances of his heart cells? The fluid mosaic model is the structure consisting of a sea of fluid lipids with different proteins (phospholipids, cholesterol, and glycolipids). F. Why was reestablishing oxygen flow to Joseph’s body so important? What processes would be affected by lack of oxygen? Without oxygen flow, cell death occurs and is irreversible. Oxygen is required for ATP (the energy source of the cells) G. Consider once again Joseph’s health history and risk factors. What could you suggest to Joseph to reduce his risk for another heart attack? I would suggest to Joseph to lose weight, change his diet and try to reduce stress. H. Explain why Joseph’s heart failed based on what you have learned so far about the function of cells in the human body. Because of poor diet and fatty foods, there was probably a large amount of lipids in the plasma membrane. These block the normal process of exchanging chemicals and proteins. When the exchange is blocked, the cells are unable to provide oxygen to cells and the cells build up lactic acid and die.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Conflict Management Styles Essay

Conflict usually occurs when individuals within a group or organization has differences in opinions. When individuals are in a disagreement about something like policies and procedures or even the overall direction of which an organization or company is heading it can become very frustrating. As we all know conflict the process of conflict usually begins when an individual or party has perceived the other part and it has showed a negative impact or will affect something that another party cares about. According to the readings in Chapter 15 the early approach of conflict saw that all conflict was labeled to be bad. Conflict then had a negative vibe and was used often to be linked with such terms as violence, destruction, or irrationality as reinforcement to its negative association. There are several types of conflict from the integrationist point of view that includes functional and dysfunctional conflict. Functional conflict usually arises during when the goals of a group are supported and the performance rises. On the other hand dysfunctional conflict is conflicts that hinder the performance of the group as a whole. The conflict process consists of five stages that include potential opposition, incompatibility, cognition and personalization, intentions, behaviors, and outcomes. In my workplace the most common form of conflict management is potential opposition and incompatibility. I have worked for Viking Range Corporation for 10 years now and I enjoy my work there. My Supervisor is always open for communication but this is one of the most vital parts that bring about conflict in my organization. Most of the times communication plays a huge role in the effectiveness of the company. Communication is the biggest problem that we have as a whole throughout the facility because there always seem to be conflict that arises between departments on part outages, and department personnel. Conflict is something we can’t avoid whether at home or at the workplace. Conflict will be present in just about every human interaction that we come across and this can make the strategies that we use for conflict management very important. According to (Conflict Management Home-versus-work) â€Å"Conflict management strategies vitally increase the performance and effectiveness of an individual and in turn the effectiveness of the organization as a whole. † I am an individual that can’t handle or try to avoid conflict. I have been a part of a lot of confrontations and I try to avoid them at all costs. â€Å"In the same article Rahim and Bonama’s (1979) categorization of the styles of settling interpersonal conflict is based on two facades, first when a person considers himself and his own concerns and the second when a person considers others and the concerns of others. Their styles for handling conflict include an integrating style in which a person considers his style and the styles of others. Secondly would be the avoiding style in which the individual has no concerns for their self as well as others. Thirdly would be obliging in which the individual posses a concern for others but not himself. The next one is the dominating style in which the individual has high concerns for himself for low concerns for others. Lastly we have the compromising style in which the individual possess some consideration for himself and some for others. I can relate more to the dominating style because in my organization every department is usually out for themselves meaning they like to maintain a high standard by any means. However, one thing that I have learned that is being a part of the business world there will always be some form of conflict and differences of opinions will arise so it is best to handle the situation immediately. By acknowledging that there is conflict present and communication has come to a standstill we can decrease the problems that unsolved conflict can bring about in any organization. One way that we deal with conflict in our organization is by acknowledging the goals of each department as well as the employees. The Supervisor over our department does not handle conflict well and he tries to avoid any altercations at all costs. With me being next in line he will usually push things of this nature off for me to handle. I often deal with the situations by bringing the employees into the office to see what the problem is in forms of communication and what caused the problem to begin with. I have tried to encourage my Supervisor to deal with situations in the future before they occur and he has taken steps on his own to deal with situations where he sense conflict. He can actually sense when there is a lack of communication and conflict is about to arise so he stops it before it starts by bringing both individuals into the office to try and get to the root of the problem before something major happens. This same occurrence can happen between male and female management personnel that can’t seem to see eye to eye and have issues that lead to conflict. According to (Conflict Management Modes and Leadership Styles) â€Å"most individual characteristics have an impact on the instruments analyzed, for example: younger managers are more task-oriented, while older managers are typically relationship- oriented and avoid conflicts, women are more collaborative and avoid conflicts less and men tend to use the accommodating mode more than women. â€Å"Rather surprisingly, according to our survey, women appear to be more competitive than men. The compromising style of conflict matches my personal preference tremendously, because I can relate to this style in my organization on a day to day basis. Being in my field of work there will always be a competition between the male and female employees as well as male and female management personnel. I look at this as something that will be unavoidable because there will always be a power struggle between the genders. So I try to look at things from a bigger perspective and consider both parties involved because there will always be differences in opinions.