Proctor & Gamble

1. In our opinion, we think the answer about product life cycle is not absolutely correct. It is depend on product’s characteristic. 3C product such as eeepc (asus’s product, netbook) have quite short product life cycle; Rolex watch have been established more than 200 years. So if marketers want to extend product life cycle, they have to do more afford on survey to realize consumer behavior and satisfy their really needs and wants. When the product’s sales shows that it is on the decline stage, marketers should find the new desire on consumers and reposition, modify their product or marketing strategy, It is gain brand loyalty and equity to extend brands or products life cycle. Consequently, the â€Å"brand† makes its product life cycle prolong and maintain the product in the market. 2. Before we start to reposition, we must know the environment situation, such as industry, competitive, and consumer analysis. We use five forces analysis to analyze industry, and conclude that the competition is fierce. After that, we analyze competitive situation, through perceptual map we find that Kimberly-Clark is P&G biggest competitor. The price of Huggies is between Pampers and Luvs, and with the same function of Luvs. Consumers were willing to pay more than Pampers to buy Huggies. Form consumer analysis, we find that consumers are sensitive to quality. Because there were many double-income families, consumers are afford to pay high price for diapers. To regain the status of market share, P&G repositioned Pampers as high price brand, and changed some marketing strategies. Pampers has repositioned its products from â€Å"providing the most comfortable diapers† to â€Å"assisting mothers in bringing up children†. Therefore, it has come up with some concepts and ways to meet the purpose of the repositioning, such as the concept of Baby Stage of Development, the use of step-by-step toys, the consultation of experts, and establishment of Pampers parenting network. The concept of Baby Stage of Development is based on the babies various needs at various stages. As a result, P&G provides suitable diapers products for babies, including new babies, babies, toddlers and preschoolers. With the concepts of BSOD, Pampers has further introduced the step-by-step toy system. In the course of playing, the toys function as children friends. Besides changing the products, Pampers also establishes Pampers Parenting Network. On the websites, some experts have written professional articles on how to breed babies, how to help babies grow healthy, and so on. And all these articles are posted on the website as references for parents. Besides, the experts also provide professional responses to the problems parents have in the process of bringing up children. (2) We think that P&G can use the same way to reposition Crest’s brand image to differ from its competitors, and let it have room for progress. For instance, P&G can reposition Crest as a product for healthy and beautiful smile, not just for the purpose of cleaning. In this way, consumers can have better looks and fulfill their mental needs by using the repositioned products. 3. To realize consumers’ needs, P&G has a consumer relationship management system. In the system, there are three key points of customer relationship management. One is to understand consumers’ need deeply, second is to build consumer service center, third is to value consumers’ suggestions. To understand consumer’s need deeply, P&G through depth interviews, focus group, questionnaire survey, visit shop, trace system, e-mail, and telephone to attain this goal. Finally, value consumer’s suggestion is according to consumer’s feedback to improve product continuously. For example, there are colorful designs on the Pampers, because the babies’ clothes are light colors in summer, the picture color can be seen easily. Thus, P&G adopt the mothers’ advice to redesign the color. The above is how P&G to manage their customer relationship. Through the customer relationship management system, we can realize what consumers’ needs are.

Importance Of Historical Knowledge Essay

Learning about our past is vitally important to the present and future of our civilization. We must learn to grow from our past successes and mistakes. It is human nature to make mistakes, but the less we make, the stronger and smarter we become. The drawback is to go through the process of learning. It is impossible to grow and learn from if we don’t know or analyze our failures and mistakes. I feel the most important thing we can do with our history, is to take advice from it. When terrible things occur in history, it is recorded in textbook and encyclopedias as a bad thing. As intelligent being, it’s our job to read this, comprehend what is being said, and try to prevent future occurrences. History advises us that certain events are failures because millions were killed, or property was severely damaged, and our fragile eco-system was damaged. If we can’t learn from these past mistakes, we won’t have to worry making future one because we won’t have a future to screw up. The human race would probably not survive another world war, so we must prevent one from ever occurring again. Another great advantage of knowing our history is being able to improve our quality of life, as well as helping wild life prevail. By learning about old technology we can improve upon inventions making them faster, stronger, smaller, bigger, lighter, more accurate, and/or more reliable. If Henry Ford had not learned from his first attempts on the internal combustion engine, we may have a very different lifestyle today. If nobody came along after Henry Ford to improve upon his engine, we wouldn’t have nearly as powerful, reliable, and luxurious cars as we have now. We could still be driving model A’s. There is also the ability to take past inventer’s failures and turning them into a success. Inventers can apply new ideas of their own that have never been tried before to past failed inventions to get them to fulfill its purpose. Religion is important in most people’s daily life. By studding world history we can dig deeper into the origins of our religions, as well as learn to understand and tolerate other religions. As America is becoming more and more divers, we are commonly coming in contact with new, and sometimes odd  customs. I feel that it is important to understand others differences so not to become prejudice against others. If you can understand others difference, they don’t seem so odd and it is easier to relate and communicate with others. If people understood each other better and wouldn’t judge others just on their beliefs or race, we would have much less world conflict, since most wars are started over religion and differences in beliefs. History plays a huge roll in the existence or our race and the world we live in. With out the historians who archeologists that research and record it, we would be lost. Besides, history is cool anyway.

Project planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Project planning - Essay Example Feasibility study is considered as the disciplined study based on three levels. The first level is related to the operational feasibility. The second level includes the technical feasibility. The economic feasibility is identified in the third level. Economic level brings operative and mechanical levels together into a common unit. These three levels of feasibility study are important for the success of a project. The project has earned an important contract from the local health authority to organize and deliver the conferences based on the health issues in the workplace. For the success of the contract, feasibility study is important to determine the economic, technical and operational viability of a project (PMI, 2012; Overton, 2007). The aim of the project is to provide the quality education in terms of health issues in a workplace, which is important for every people (Zilicus Solutions, 2012). The milestones stages of the project have been segregated into set up stage, research and development stage, activation stage and review stage. Based on the milestones stages, the documentations of the objectives as well as goals are to be ensured that they are aligned with the desired project goals. In addition, the significance of the marketing and communication plan should be ascertained. The progress of the different activities should be scrutinised for determining the success rate of the project. The project manager should review the project on a timely basis. In this respect, the project manager would be able to have a better knowledge about the progress of the project. The deliverables or the outcome of the project can be improvement in the several health issues in the workplace. Other outcome can be increased awareness of the local business as well as the agencies of the government of the European Directives regarding such health issues. In

Social Class and Attainment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Class and Attainment - Essay Example According to the report findings  social class divisions play a great role in the educational attainment for children. Usually the higher the rank in the social ladder the high the chances that the students is likely to perform well. Good performance in school usually result to getting jobs and improving the general social class one is in. as such, working class and lower-class students tend to struggle in school due to family issues such as poverty, deprivation of medical assistance and incompetent language and elaboration techniques.This paper stresses that  one’s level can determine their performance and attainment of better academic results, due to the inequalities in society that expose the students to different scenarios. Students from high end classes can converse easily and relay technical information more reasonably and elaborately in examinations as compared to lower-class students who have been raised with the minimal exposure to good literature material.  Var ious theories are attributed to the inequalities of class and the impact on education and better social attainment. According to Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital, different social cultures in the form of classes offer individuals different circumstances that determine whether or not the person shall attain their needs and educational goals.  To be on the same level, students from lower class backgrounds ought to work harder, as they are facing greater challenges compared to the other advantaged students.

Why did the united states adopt a policy of neutrality from 1914 to Essay

Why did the united states adopt a policy of neutrality from 1914 to 1917 - Essay Example US President Wilson publicly declared this neutrality policy, and most Americans welcomed it. In this essay, the main reasons behind America’s adoption of neutrality policy will be established. In addition, the effectiveness of this policy will be determined, basing on different events that occurred during the period 1914-1917. Since the late 19th Century, different countries in Europe had been forming unions and alliances, to enhance their preparedness for war. This saw the Independent German Kingdoms come together in the late 1870’s, and this became the most powerful in the continent. During that time, France highly invested in weapons, in anticipation of an attack from Germany, its long time enemy. The power status of German was a threat to most counties, including Russia, which had to take sides with France, Great Britain, and even German itself, to ensure its safety. The British effort to remain uninvolved in conflict was impossible, owing to its ownership of the most powerful navy in the world. Unrest in Europe was hastened by rebellious provinces of Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman leaders who aimed at expansion of their empire. However, Europe was resistant to war and tried to withhold this for a long time. During this period, the Central powers included Ottoman Turks, Germans, and A ustro-Hungarians, while their rivals, the entente powers included France, Great Britain, and Russia (U.S Department of State Web). The United States of America dissociated itself from these events, even though most of its citizens were generally inclined to England and the Entente powers. Most Americans did not want their county to participate in the war. America therefore distanced itself from these events, and hoped not to get involved in them. Most Americans, as well as their leaders, including the president and the congress then, adopted this perspective. The then president Woodrow Wilson introduced the â€Å"neutrality policy,† publicly citing that the USA

Interdisciplinary Curriculum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Interdisciplinary Curriculum - Essay Example He will be in a position to distinguish the good from the bad. This subject knowledge alone is not valuable and to help him with additional knowledge and train him with new skills, the institution or the concerned faculty enrolls him in some interdisciplinary courses that would be related to his major subject. As in the case of a student of literature, interdisciplinary courses like translation, soft skill development, entrepreneurship may be highly useful. In this way, he not only gains additional skill or knowledge but also gets interactional expertise in the new field. This type of knowledge that we acquire through multidisciplinary form is normally named as interdisciplinary community or project. The people working here are the ones who bring out the courses or projects that would be of much use to the learners. This group consists of both learners and teachers who cooperate together in the learning and teaching environment. This interdisciplinary teaching provides ample opportunity for the learners to enrich their knowledge in one or more additional academic disciplines. On the whole, the aim of such interdisciplinary courses is to make the learners face challenging tasks not only in their subject but also in the other related disciplines, so that they will be able to stand out from the rest. The le IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT LEARNING The learning process according to the scholars happens through two important ways. They have been named as implicit and explicit learning. Learning as we all know is the process of acquiring knowledge of something. Some things that we learn happens through taking effort on our side and at the same time there are things which we do learn without effort at all. And this is the way through which the experts have identified and differentiated the learning process. Let us look at the two ways clearly in order to comprehend well. IMPLICIT LEARNING The term implicit refers to the learning that takes place in a passive way. In this type of learning, the learner is exposed to information and thus acquires the knowledge of that information simply through that exposure. Axel Cleeremans states in his article that according to Berry and Dienes (1993), learning becomes implicit when we acquire new information without intending to do so, and that the resulting knowledge is difficult to express. Further, Arthur Reber from his research found out that, "learning might be implicit to the extent that people appear to be able to learn new information without intending to do so and in such a way that the resulting knowledge is difficult to express." This suggests that implicit learning contrasts with implicit memory in that it typically involves sensitivity to relationships between events rather than sensitivity to single events. One important thing that we should note here is that consciousness or awareness does not play a role in implicit learning. Therefore, we call this as unconscious or unintentional learning. This unintentional learning is not aimed at any goal and is just the by-product of the normal information processing system. Many psychologists suggest that much of the learning process that happens in our life is implicit in nature. We learn such skills and activities through exposure and this is known as implicit learning.

The role of the World Bank Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The role of the World Bank - Essay Example d its operations on 25 June 1946 and its first loan was approved on 9 May 1947 for the postwar rehabilitation and reconstruction ventures as concerns to France. It was at the time the largest loans to have been issued by the World Bank. The five parts (agencies) of the World Bank comprise of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Development Association (IDA), International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and lastly the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). The activities of the World Bank emphasize more on its role towards the developing nations, ones which are doing their best to catch on to the bandwagon of the developed nations. The fields that the World Bank focuses upon in these developed nations include human development which can take into concern the subjects related with education and health. Then there is the field of agriculture and rural areas development emphasizing more towards the irrigation activities and steps and the rural services. Environmental protection is also a related field coming under the focus discussion of the World Bank. This field takes a look at the areas which discuss the reduction of pollution as well as the manners in which regulations could not only be established but also enforced as a result. Infrastructure is a significant area that is seen courtesy the World Bank whereby the main point of emphasis is on the construction of roads, electricity provision and urban regeneration. Governance is the last pivotal area that World Bank takes into account and this speaks about the anti-corruption laws and measures in place and if the same are missing, then the manner in which these can be had in the first place. Also governance entails of the development of the legal institutions and other relevant corporations coming under this banner. World Bank tries its best to provide loans and other related incentives at

Karl marx Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Karl marx - Essay Example He intended to help the readers understand the kind of pain that these classes were being placed into by the rule that had been established in France at the time, and how the dictatorship failed to notice the plight of the commoners, which further led to a pitfall in the politics as well as economy of the country. Through his writing, Marx tried to help the people to understand that even a commoner could come to terms with the entire situation and circumstance and play the rightful part of a hero by lifting the pressure that the lower classes had been engulfed into because of the rule that persisted in the country at the time. It was leading to a major deterioration in the economy’s cycle, not to forget the happiness factors of society at large. One of his most famous quotes help to provide readers of the Brumaire with Marx’s views on an individual’s life within society at the time in France. ... anxiously conjure up the spirits of the past to their service and borrow from them names, battle cries, and costumes in order to present the new scene of world history in this time-honoured disguise and language.† By this, Marx means to throw light on how the rise of Bonaparte led to a downfall of the people and how the country suffered on the basis of their societal aspects because of harsh and unfair decisions taken by a single man. This quote means that a man has a destiny to follow, and thus he must follow the path of his life with respect to the same, while creating new opportunities for himself. Most people are under the impression that whatever is in store for them will happen eventually, however a man must try and create solution for himself to live his life with ease and peace. Life throws a number of situations and circumstances towards a person during his lifetime, and these are the opportunities that a person perceives. He must have the ability to figure out on his own what must be done in a given situation because otherwise he might end up regretting and hurting himself as well as others around him. According to Marx following a set tradition laid down by ancestors was not the way by which life was meant to be lived. He writes that it is this tradition that weighs people down in the present as they are hell bent on trying to imitate the lives that their forefathers had undergone. Even though some men try and break free from such a historical presence present in their lives, they somehow fall short at the very last moment as the past catches up with them and weighs them down. A man must be strong in his will and determination to be able to live a life for himself despite whatever he must have gone through earlier, or despite whatever hardships his family

Module Four Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module Four Assignment - Essay Example Further examination would provide the benefit of the doubt and confidence for the company in order to prevent unscrupulous steps toward hasty accusations and figure if reasonable grounds exist in justifying the case whether under Laura’s favor or otherwise. Additionally, Jeremy should consider having to consult the organization’s policies and seek counsel of the knowledgeable administration in the presence of all appropriate documents consisting of solid evidences which either confirm or nullify the deed in direct reference to falsification of employment information. Regardless of Laura’s current traits and working performance as an employee, however, Jeremy must keep in mind that in any context, both intention and action of an applicant to falsify his or her personal information duly agreed and signed to be disclosed under legal professional requirements by the employer is a grave offense. It should be understood to full measure as well that prevailing work conditions that take into account Laura’s remarkable professional attributes are by no means related to any mild or heavy offense committed by her during the stage of application. As a consequence, Jeremy ought to express in all honesty to Laura the truth regarding the company’s right to dismiss any employee found to have advanced deception and serious dishonesty on purpose. Breaking it slowly to her, Jeremy may first opt to establish a hint from which to initiate the conference with Laura so that the latter comes into a gradual and rational discernment of the delicate situation rather than struggle with the moment of abrupt revelation. Eventually, this gives opportunity for Laura to explain her side of the incident and realize in the process the gravity of her fault that deserves the equivalent sanction of dismissal from work. On the other hand, Jeremy must not fail to communicate to Laura how the company has

Bringing a Global Perspective on Business Studies to IGCSE Essay

Bringing a Global Perspective on Business Studies to IGCSE Underprivileged Youths - Essay Example ‘Organizational structure’ refers to the people conducting and carrying out the processes within the Organization. It also describes the different functional areas within a corporation and how well they work together to complete their task in the most effective and efficient manner. It is well understood that organizational structure directly impacts the alignment between business units. This emphasizes the need for a fluent structure in order to streamline the business operations in a more complete manner that will allow for more efficient and effective operations. Having a good and complete organizational structure will lead to better a decision-making process in order to achieve long-term goals. The following parts will explain the hierarchical order of the organizational chart for this project, as well as a detailed elaboration of each of the main organizational roles.Simply defined, an organization chart is a graphical representation of the people in a project team and the relationships and linkages between them. The organizational chart here shows the duties and responsibilities of each individual involved in this project from a hierarchical perspective. This chart also gives an idea of what the flow of operations are and how it was throughout the term of the project. These positions in the organizational chart were the main ones held by the people implementing the whole project, and it would be important to note that there was a heavy interaction between these positions.

Soft Drinks Essay Example for Free

Soft Drinks Essay Soft drink consumption has increased substantially over the last 50 years and it has been established that using large amounts of soft drinks regularly can be detrimental to your health. If used in moderation soft drinks can have some beneficial effects on your body. Caffeine Benefits Caffeine is a stimulant that is found in soft drinks. It large amounts can have detrimental effects on your health but it also has numerous benefits. Caffeine stimulates your central nervous system, helps breakdown fatty acids in your liver, boost your mood and alleviate headaches. People who regularly ingest caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinsons disease, colon cancer, gallstones, and cirrhosis of the liver. Sponsored Links 5 Foods you must not eat: Cut down a bit of stomach fat every day by never eating these 5 foods. Trimdownclub. com Carbonated Water Carbonated water is a primary ingredient of soft drinks. Carbonated water was created by Joseph Priestly in the year 1767 and has since proven to have many benefits for the gastrointestinal tract. Carbonated water eases stomachaches, quells nausea and has been proven to alleviate constipation. Sodium Benefits Sodium is another product found in soft drinks. Sodium is an important mineral found in almost all natural foods. Sodium helps your body retain water, helps avoid and treat muscle cramps, keeps electrolyte balance, prevents the effects of aging of your skin and prevents your the drop of your blood pressure. Sponsored Links Read more: http://www. livestrong. com/article/260283-what-are-the-benefits-of-soft-drinks.

African Socialism: Analysis of Ujamaa

African Socialism: Analysis of Ujamaa MAJOR THEMES IN AFRICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT LECTURER: FRED OTIENO STUDENT: CHRIS MUGO NDIRANGU QUESTION What is African Socialism (Ujamaa)? Citing concrete examples from around Africa, examine why this ideology has faced immense opposition. INTRODUCTION African Socialism is an ideology that can be traced to the 1950s and 1960s when most African countries were attaining their independence. The ideology was propounded by African leaders in independent Africa who sought to ground their states in this ideology they believed would achieve the goals and aspirations of independence. The proponents of the ideology sought to differentiate it from other forms of socialism that existed across the world at the time, particularly Marxist-Leninist strands of socialism. African socialism can therefore be defined as a belief in sharing of economic resources in a traditional African way. It is however prudent to accept that the interpretations and definitions of African socialism differ as it is not the brainchild of a single thinker. According to Freidland (1964) : African Socialism differs in that no single leader has been distinctively and uniquely associated with the ideology. Rather the ideology of African Socialism has been the product of diverse leaders operating within the variety of exigencies in their own countries, which helps to account for the lack of development of a unified theory. (p. 2) African socialism can be said to be an indigenous attempt by various African leaders to develop a distinctive â€Å"African† path of economic and political development. It advocates for a return to traditional African values practiced before colonization. As mentioned above African socialism is a product of different leaders. Therefore to understand African socialism we must study the leaders and their works which collectively contributed to this ideology. These leaders implemented this ideology in their respective countries. Some were successful while others were not. The ideology as will be explained in this paper faced immense opposition hindering its full adoption. CHARACTERISTICS OF AFRICAN SOCIALISM Though the African Socialist leaders had their own distinct views on African socialism various characteristics of African socialism can be drawn. According to Martin (19) the socialist leaders’ conception of African socialism had the following common characteristics: Ideology and practice are inextricably linked Politics has supremacy over the economy Socialism is not a sacred dogma but a guide to action African socialism is a socialism building on and adapted to African indigenous values, culture, traditions and society The people are the main agents and ultimate beneficiaries of socialist development African socialism aims at creating ‘a new man’ The single party operates according to the Marxist-Leninist principle of Democratic Centralism, which institutionalizes communication between the leadership and the rank-and-file of the party, with ultimate decision-making power resting with the highest executive organ of the party. Collective decision making is based on collective deliberation and consensus State has control over the economy Furthermore (Batsa, 1965) has summarised some six basic characteristics of African Socialism: It ignores the power of monopoly capital. It accepts the mixed economy as a permanent feature of socialism. It denies the existence of classes in Africa and advances the idea of the neutral state. It advocates a multi-party system where possible, or a single party open to all, irrespective of beliefs, with a specific denial of any vanguard role The African element of the theory consists of a romantic interpretation of our traditional morals and culture Positive non-alignment is treated as neutrality Several African countries on attaining independence sought to establish declarations or policy documents that sought to clearly stipulate the ideology they adopted. In the context of African socialism, very few countries had clear and concrete policy documents on African socialism. Notable among these countries is Kenya and Tanzania that formulated policies or declarations with regards to African Socialism. Tanzania in 1967 formulated the Arusha Declaration a document written by socialist leader Julius Nyerere for the ruling party the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). In this declaration it is clearly stated that ‘The policy of TANU is to build a socialist state’. It further goes on to lay down certain socialist principles it seeks to implement in Tanganyika. In Part two of the document lay The Policy of Socialism. The fist element in this policy is absence of exploitation. The declaration states that in a socialist state all people are workers and in which neither capitalism nor feudalism exists. It believes in a classless society where there is no one exploits another. Every worker receives a just return for their labour. However the declaration points out the fact that Tanzania still has elements of feudalism and capitalism that are remnants of colonialism. The second element is that the major means of production and exchange are under the control of the peasants and workers. The declaration stipulates that this should be done through the machinery of their Government and their co-operatives. The third element is the existence of democracy. This element requires that the government should be chosen and led by the peasants and workers themselves. Finally is that socialism is a belief. The declaration states that socialism is a way of life. A socialist society can only come into existence if i t is built by those who believe in and practice the principles of socialism. The declaration believes that the successful implementation of socialist objectives depends very much up to the leaders. On the other hand Kenya in 1965 produced a sessional paper which outlines in detail both the theory of democratic African Socialism and its practical application in Kenya. The president in introducing this paper states that, ‘we rejected both Western Capitalism and Eastern Communism and chose for ourselves a policy of positive non-alignment.’’ Thus the Kenyan government fully adopted the African socialism philosophy. The sessional paper goes on to outline the operating characteristics of African socialism. They are: Political democracy Mutual social economic responsibility Various forms of ownership A range of controls to ensure that property is used in the mutual interests of society and its members Diffusion of ownership to avoid concentration of economic power Progressive taxes to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth and income The above characteristics are evident in the various works of the African Socialist leaders. The understanding of their concept of African socialism is enhanced by looking critically at the individual African socialist leaders and their ideas and perception of African socialism. AFRICAN SOCIALIST LEADERS JULIUS NYERERE Julius Nyerere was the founding father of Tanganyika and later on Tanzania. He comes up with his own form of socialism known as Ujamaa a Swahili term for family hood and brotherhood. Ujamaa become the official policy of Tanzania in 1967 following the Arusha Declaration. According to Nyerere socialism is an attitude of mind and not strict compliance to a standard or set political pattern (Nyerere, 1977) . Nyerere emphasised on brotherhood or family hood where people view each other as brothers and sisters or as members of one family. Nyerere argues that social institutions and organisations cannot by themselves achieve the purpose of socialism. These institutions can only do so if they are infused with the spirit of brotherhood and care for one another. Nyerere believed that Ujamaa differed from other strands of socialism in that the foundation of the philosophy was to be found in African culture and traditions. Furthermore Ujamaa was opposed to capitalism and scientific socialism or Marxism which legitimizes class conflicts. Nyerere went further to elaborate on the practices of Ujamaa. The first is love where an African doesn’t regard his brethren as another enemy. An African regards all men as his brethren as members of his extended family. People in African Societies cared for one another. Secondly, Nyerere argues that their existed a classless society in Africa. Classes were only brought as a result of the agrarian and industrial revolution. These events produced conditions that brought about a class system. Since these revolutions did not occur in Africa, therefore no classes existed in Africa. Thirdly Nyerere believed that in traditional Africa everyone was a worker. Everyone contributed his or her fair share of efforts towards the production of societal wealth. There was no place for laxity or laziness. Finally Nyerere maintained that wealth was shared in traditional Africa. No one could hide wealth or amass it for personal selfish reasons. The riches or the poverty of an individual or famil y were the wealth or poverty of the whole community at large. KWAME NKRUMAH Kwame Nkrumah’s ideas on African socialism were different from those of Julius Nyerere. Indeed the two showed criticised each other on their perceptions of African socialism. Nkrumah in his own admission subscribed to scientific socialism and described it as the only true socialism. According to (Martin, 2012) Nkrumah viewed African socialism as a means of not only liberating the people from the shackles of imperialism but also empowering the people politically, economically, socially and culturally after independence. Nkrumah believed that the following were the tenents of African socialism; Common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange Planned methods of production by the state, based on modern industry and agriculture Political power in the hands of the people in keeping with the humanist and egalitarian spirit which characterized African traditional society Application of scientific methods in all spheres of thought and production AHMED SEKOU TOURE Toure’s concept and ideas on African socialism was similar to that of Nkrumah. The two had a strong friendship that was evident when he granted Nkrumah asylum when he was overthrown by a military coup in 1966. Toure led an authoritarian regime in Guinea that was strongly oppressive. He arrested over a thousand people who simply opposed his regime. Prominent intellectuals and cadres were jailed, tortured and executed. Sekou Toure’s was more grounded in the Marxist-Leninist education as compared to Nkrumah. He had a great interest in the writings of Mao Tse-tung as well as other Marxist philosophers. Initially during the first decade of his rule, he refused to launch the country into clear path to socialism. He downplayed the role of ideology in the construction of a new society. He adamantly refused to choose between capitalism and socialism. He argued that certain strange theories had little to do with the crucial tasks facing the country. However during the Eighth National Congress of the PDG (the ruling party of Guinea) in 1967, Sekou Toure officially launched Guinea on to a path to socialism. Sekou Toure prescribed to scientific socialism from which he derives the meaning of socialism from. That is socialism is expressed by the effective exercise of political, economic and cultural power by the working people. Toure however was for a socialist ideology adapted to African realities. He preferred the term â€Å"communaucratic’’ instead of African socialism. He believed that African life is communal characterized by collective life and social solidarity. An Afric an cannot organize his life outside that of his social group-family, village or clan. Finally Toure believes in the supremacy of politics over the economy. In this regard he was heavily influenced by the Marxist-Leninist ideology on the roles of the state and the party in the creation of institutions designed to translate socialist ideas into practice (Martin, 2012). Toure believed that the ruling party was the definer of the general interest, the custodian of the popular will and the incarnation of the collective thought of the whole Guinean people. The basic aim of Toure’s socialism is alter the relationship between human beings. This is done by decolonizing their viewpoints and attitudes and by creating a new man freed from a system of capitalistic exploitation and participating with all his strength in the development of his nation. MODIBO KEITA He was the first president of Mali. He led the Nation on a path to socialism, both politically and economically. In 1960 the countries single party, the Union Soudanaise RDA (US-RDA) decided to set the country on a socialist path to development. Keita’s priority was to build a new society aimed at the political, economic, social and cultural empowerment of Mali’s popular masses. Keita firmly believed that a type of socialism adapted to the conditions of Mali would be the best tool to achieve this goal. Mali’s socialism was characterized by the following features; A socialism based on agricultural workers and peasants rather than on a nonexistent proletariat A vibrant private sector encouraged to contribute to national development Respect of the Malian spiritual and religious values Modibo Keita argued that socialism cannot be adopted wholesale; it must be adapted to the specific socio-cultural context of Mali. Keita elaborated that Africa has its own values, its own history. Africa thus can solve its own problems within the African context using African methods. Malian socialism was also grounded in universal human values. Keita argued that socialism cannot be reduced to purely economic or social concerns. Its goal is man itself in its material, moral, spiritual and cultural dimensions. The African man must be open to all kinds of experiments. Keita considered socialist planning necessary to achieve the primary goal of improving the living conditions of the majority of the people, which in Mali were the peasants. He focused on the development of agriculture through an elaborate network of rural cooperatives, down to the village level. Keita also embarked on the complete overhaul of Mali’s educational system to be consistent with Mali’s rich cultural heritage. The above leaders contributed significantly to African socialism. They sought to implement their socialist ideas and concepts in their countries. Some were successful to some extent while others failed. Case in point is Kwame Nkrumah who was overthrown in a military coup. OPPOSITION TO AFRICAN SOCIALISM African socialism as an ideology faced immense opposition as an ideology. This is because of the various cons associated with the ideology. These disadvantages or flaws in the ideology brew dislike for the ideology preventing its adoption or implementation. African socialism faced opposition due to the following. First it is an unreal theory which cannot be implemented as it is. Most of the socialist principles were borrowed from the Marxist-Leninist school of thought. The socialist ideology is not adopted in the same way it was advocated by Marx and other socialist thinkers. Secondly and closely related to the first is improper implementation. African socialism faced rejection due to improper implementation. Few people were in charge of wealth distribution and formulation of policies such as taxation. Thus the notion that the masses or the people have control over the nation’s wealth is a fallacy. Thirdly is that African socialism is economically inefficient. The lack of a self regulating labour market, private ownership of capital and a free financial market affects the economy negatively. Entrepreneurs and foreign investors are discouraged from investing in the economy. This leaves a country economically underdeveloped. This is the case with most socialist countries. Another pitfall of African socialism is no real increase in standard of living. African socialism does not raise the standards of living but lowers it instead. This is because the income of the rich is reduced making them fall closer to the level of the poor. It only reduces the gap between the rich and the poor but does not improve the standards of living in the society. Lastly is that socialism promotes laziness and incompetence among members of society. This is because of the social security system in socialist states that takes care of those with no income. Such provisions by the government deter people from working hard to earn their livelihood. This equally affects the hard working members who feel dissatisfied as they are not rewarded for their toil. Their toil goes to taking care of those who don’t work. Such a system impacts productivity and hence economic growth negatively. REFERENCES Batsa, K. (1965). African Socialism. The Labour Monthly , 514-517. Martin, G. (2012). African Political Thought. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Nyerere, J. K. (1977). Ujamaa-Essays on Socialism. USA: Oxford University Press. William H. Friedland, C. G. (1964). African Socialism. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. Page | 1

PEST(EL) Analysis of Finland and Chine

PEST(EL) Analysis of Finland and Chine Finland is a parliamentary republic government with a multiparty political system based country lead by the head of state which is the president. Finland president hold a period of 6 years term with maximum two consecutive term elected by the Finnish. Both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister dominated by the president after the parliamentary elections. They are the head of government and having the executive power to the government including the EU issues. Women in Finland are treated fairly great. They represented 38% of the seats in the 200 members of parliament in the year of 2003. Besides, part of them holding important positions like foreign minister, speaker of parliament and so on. The most significant position of Finnish ladies ever hold is president in the year 2000 by Tarja Halonen and primes minister by Anneli Jaatteenmaki in March 2003. Economic Factors Finland is a highly industrialized country with GDP of $181.4billion in year 2009, over 40% from the GDP are from the contribution of exporting goods and services. The primary economy sector in Finland is service sector which contribute about 65.7% and followed by manufacturing sector in producing metals, chemicals, and so on. Taxation system in Finland is very difference with the other countries. Finnish hold their own tax card to prevent the card holder from getting highly taxed by their government. Those people without tax card are taxed 60% from all the income they obtained. The most significant industry in Finland is Nokia, which is one of the world largest and notable mobile phone producers. Due to the highly success of the development of Nokia in Finland, this enable Finnish have the opportunity to own mobile phone and also connect to the internet much earlier before this becomes common in the United Stated and other countries in the world. Social Factors Finland hold the population over 5.32 million inhabitants, a part from the whole populations, there is 2.7million of them are workforce and 2.5 million from them are employed. Public sector is the most popular sector the Finnish to contribute in. Major ethnics group in Finland include Finns, Swedes, Lapps, Sami, Roma, and Tatars, and majority of them roughly about 91% speak in Finnish. Besides, large numbers of them are believed in Lutheran. In the education system of Finland, children who reach the age of 9 years old are compulsory for them to start school. The attendance and literacy rate in Finland are almost hundred percent. This is among the higher in the ranking of education index in the word. Free meals will be provided for students who study in primary and secondary schools. Besides, the government absorbs the tuition fees, which mean there are 0 tuition fees for their full time students. Technological Factors Staying ahead Finland has long been recognized for the success of the work it has done to promote innovation and the results speak for themselves in many areas. Finland cannot afford to rest on its laurels. This identified a number of shortcomings, most particularly in the area of business support and making it easier for small businesses and start-ups to access the support and incentives that already exist. Finland has international links that need to be strengthened in research, the university world, and business. Being able to tap into the dynamism of the globalization process going on around us more effectively is a challenge facing many other countries as well as Finland. Staying ahead of the competition is a must. Greater sustainability One of the fundamental trends under way and one highlighted by Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation is the growing emphasis on the need for greater sustainability and reducing unnecessary wastage of the worlds dwindling natural resources. Addressing this challenge will call for a range of new innovations based on a much lower level of resource usage than we accept today, innovations that have a smaller footprint across the entire life cycle of products and services. The need for these types of innovations is perhaps most obvious in areas such as renewable energy, but ultimately it is also likely to be felt across all the products and services that people interact with in one way or another. Clean technology Finland has already made great strides in developing energy-efficient systems and technologies, and is committed to doing more in this area. The country is expected to be one of the fastest-growing renewable energy markets in Europe over the next five years, and wants to be one of the EUs leading users of renewable energy per capita by 2020. A number of initiatives are under way to promote the development of environmental technologies and services in Finland, including the Cleantech programme and the new Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation that has been created to focus on advanced RD in the energy and environment sector, alongside the other five centres already in place. Known as CLEEN, its research agenda will address issues such as carbon-neutral energy generation, distributed energy systems, sustainable fuels, smart grids, efficient energy use, resource-efficient production technologies and services, recycling, and waste management. Legal Factors Welfare State and Rule of Law form the Basis Finland is a welfare state. The state and the municipality of residence have to guarantee everyone a worthwhile existence and offer equal opportunities for a balanced and active life. People also have to have sufficient knowledge of their rights and responsibilities. A system of legal safeguards guarantees that these rights are upheld. Societal stability, the quality of the judicial system, good governance and effective legal safeguards are important competitive factors in ever more global and integrated markets. Strategic Action towards 2012 within Legal Policy Increase the flexibility of legal proceedings. Improve the equality of the citizens in legal safety cases. Improve the efficiency of crime prevention and broad-based criminal policy. Better support and compensation systems for crime victims. Rapid enforcement of criminal responsibility. Increase the prevention of disruptions of payment. Improve the fairness and efficiency of the collection of claims. Assess the up-to-datedness of family and inheritance legislation. Strategic Action towards 2012 on Governmental Level Strengthen structures supporting good law drafting. More effective evaluation of the alternatives to and effects of legislation. Support cooperation in order to create functional democracy. Create opportunities and forms for civil participation. Promote the enforcement of rights within the EU. Stress the development of practical forms of cooperation for the prevention of international crime. Emphasise clarity, transparency, good governance and the protection of fundamental rights in the activities of the EU. Why do you think Finland tops the chart for overall ranking of the Best Countries in The World? Finland education is ranked number 1 in the world. Finland has set education as a national priority and believes that future generations do not have prospects for a healthy lifestyle if the population is not well educated. Finland quality of life is ranked number 4 in the world. The standard of living in Finland is better. The Finland citizen has lots of holidays so families can actually spend time together. Finland economy dynamism is ranked number 8 in the world. Finland or the Republic of Finland has a mixed economy which is highly industrialized. The country located in the northern Europe has rich natural resources like gold, silver copper, timber and limestone. The country also has deposits of iron, lead, zinc, chromium and copper across the country. Service, which is the largest economic sector of the country, forms more than 67 percent of the total and the next sector, manufacturing accounts, for more than 30 percent of the economy of Finland. PESTEL Analysis for China Political Factors The primary system in China is socialist system. The Constitution is the fundamental law of the state and entitled with the highest legislative power. All other laws and regulations shall be consistent with it. It has been amended four times since its adoption and will be continuously optimized to better suit the changing environment. The National Peoples Congress (NPC) is the Chinas fundamental political system. It is composed of representatives from provinces, autonomous regions, direct municipalities and the military. Chinese Communist Party (CPC) is the ruling party with other eight political parties. The eight parties are parties participating in the discussion and management of state affairs in cooperation with the CPC instead of parties in opposition. This leads to relative stable politic in China. A unique form of political risk occurs in China, and this is the constant battle between the countrys central government and the provincial and local governments over applicable law, and observance or non-observance of it. This makes companies operating in China hard to know exactly what the rules are. Economic Factors Since 1949, the Chinese government has adopted planned economy system for 30 years. Though this system contributed to the stable, planned developments of the Chinas economy, it also limited the economy development and sapped its vitality. The Chinas economic reforms began first in the rural areas in 1978 and shifted to the cities in 1984. The implementation of reform transforms Chinas economy into a socialist market economy. China is the fastest growing major economy in the world, with an average growth rate of 10% for the past 30 years. Chinas embrace of the World Trade Organization and foreign direct investment is unprecedented and contributes significantly to its growth success. China overtook Germany as the worlds biggest exporter of goods in 2009. Its booming investment and consumption are helping to rebalance the world economy although Beijing has refused to let the yuan rise against the dollar since the global financial crisis began in mid-2008. However, there is numerous weaknesses challenge the economic growth of China. One of the most serious weaknesses is the conflict of interests between central government and local government. Local officials primary priority has been to promote themselves and their careers by pushing for high investment rates and output levels whereas central officials are more concerned with excessive investment, unsold inventories, and local policies risking nationwide price inflation. Besides, corruption is mainly a government phenomenon in China. Corruption especially affects government handling of a wide range of local problems such as economic reforms and the need to compensate losers in the process of modernization. Social Factors There are around 1.3 billion inhabitants in China. The Chinese government tries to control its population growth by strict family planning policy, with the goal of one child per family. However, the policy is conducted with exceptions in rural areas and for ethnic minorities. For religion, Buddhism is most widely practiced, with an estimated 100 million adherents. Traditional Taoism also is practiced. China is still an industrializing agrarian society and has a long way to go to attain an industrial society, so most of the people do not have access to the best of Chinas recent improvements. Most modern Chinese young adults do not go to college, to which entrance is obtained by passing the Gaokao, a standardized test at the end of the year. In the year 2000, less than 50 percent of the population finished junior high, and less than 15 percent finished senior high or vocational school. In 2000, only 3.6 percent of the population went to college. Amongst high school and vocational schoo l graduates, less than one tenth had the chance to go to college. There is one private car per 120 people. In China, people with associates degrees and above comprise less than 5% of the population. Technological Factors Cement industry of China has many technological advances compare to other countries. China cement industry focuses on energy-saving, consumption reduction, environmental protection, quality and productivity improvement, and clean and intensive production for sustainable development. China has developed 60 types of special cements with independent intellectual property rights such as high strength cement, silicate cement, and oil well cement. New suspension preheater (NSP) sintering system is the main processing equipment of a NSP cement production line. China has been developed advanced NSP technologies of 1000-5000 t/d sintering systems. The design of 10000t/d NSP sintering system has also been completed and three production lines are under construction. Electricity consumption of cement production largely depends on grinding process in normal circumstances. In China, the combined power consumption of NSP plants has decreased from 125kwh/t in the 1980s to 95kwh/t today in some moder n plants, mainly due to the adoption of advanced technologies and equipments, such as advanced roller mill and high efficiency separator. Environmental Factors There are some current environmental issues in China. Poor land management and excessive industrialization on fragile grasslands is driving to desertification in China. Besides, the climate change is exacerbating the problems. Unrestrained development and industrialization throughout the country makes China particularly vulnerable to growing changes in the climate due to rapidly increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the worlds atmosphere. Desertification is engulfing ecosystems with sand and reducing already scarce arable land and creates eco-refugees. Chinas economy based mainly on heavy industry and coal for cheap energy emits high levels of greenhouse gases, ultimately accelerating global warming and climate change. To alleviate the short-term effects of climate change, China has started to use artificial precipitation and other experimental means. The Chinese government also has begun to adopt stricter energy conservation legislation and increase and international coop eration to combat threats that climate change may bring to China. Legal Factors The judiciary in China means law-enforcement activities conducted by the countrys judicial organs and organizations in handling prosecuted or non-prosecuted cases. Sources of law are as follow: 1982 Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China The Constitution of the PRC guarantees the basic rights and interests of citizens. Chinas Constitution has been amended for four times since its adoption in 1982, most recently this year on March 14, 2004 when the National Peoples Congress voted to include formal guarantees of human rights. NPC Statutory Law and Other Legislative Enactments China has intensified legislative action on enacting and revising laws and regulations in accordance with its having become in late 2001 a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Up to the end of 2003, around 440 laws and law-related decisions enacted by the NPC and its Standing Committee, more than 1,000 administrative regulations enacted by the State Council and 10,000 local ordinances had been formulated. International Treaties Though the 1982 Constitution does not specify the treatment of international law in relation to the laws of the PRC, in practice the legislative approach has been to automatically incorporate international law as part of PRC law. If, however, the PRC has made a reservation to a provision of a treaty, this aspect or provision of the treaty is not implemented in the law. Case Law In theory, each case stands as its own decision and will not bind another court. However, in practice lower peoples courts judges often attempt to follow the interpretations of the laws decided by the Supreme Peoples Courts.

Da Vincis The Mona Lisa Essay -- Visual Arts Paintings Art Da Vinci J

Da Vinci's The Mona Lisa When I first look at the ‘Mona Lisa’, I notice the intriguing look that is on her face. The expression is one that reminds me of a lady that is neither happy nor sad, smiling nor frowning. Her skin is very smooth and she has no blemishes, but also she has no eyebrows, which makes her look quite strange. At different times the expression on Mona Lisa changes. Sometimes she is giving a cheeky smile and others she looks puzzled. This is very strange and almost magical. Also, when looking at the Mona Lisa, I notice that her face is bathed in light. This light is almost heavenly and gives the impression that she is angelic. But on the contrary, another thing I notice is the dark clothing and gloomy mysterious background setting. The dark clothing and the veil covering her hair give the impression that she has been to a funeral or is in mourning. The background setting is very mysterious. The winding roads, ravenous mountains and the gloomy fog all add to the mystery. It is as if the background is right out of a fantasy story. Another weird thing that the background does is makes the beholder unsure on which time of day it is in the picture. The painting is Oil on a poplar wood panel. This was Da Vinci’s main style. It may have helped to create the Sfumato technique. The size of the painting is 77cm x 53cm, this is quite a small size for such a great painting. Da Vinci may have done this to make it look more lifelike so the beh...

Location of Selves and Reorganization of Reality :: Identity Reality Self Essays

Location of Selves and Reorganization of Reality We perceive limits in our culture of information—our postmodern world. Limits in defining a simple, modernist self are the same limits that govern the ownership of land and of ideas (hence, the copyright). Defining a person in strict terms of a single identity allows self the capacity for ownership. People feel that they have a handle over things if they know themselves in terms of a concise identity. Even more, people can be assured that they are normal or, further, powerful and significant, if they have certain â€Å"desirable† traits that make up their true selves. This sense of self causes the identity crisis, insecurities, and self-hate just as much if not more so than it gives people an assurance of knowing who â€Å"they† are. The cyborg enacts the anticipated demolition of such reducing mirages. Cyborgs defy traditional classification, thus controllability. This threatens those in power, and it threatens those that enjoy the limits once in place. While this idea must seem to crush the strength of groups that have been defined by a unifying trait such as â€Å"male†, it really allows for far more possible groups to unify—groups that may have experienced turmoil and were unable to be classified by one word, like â€Å"woman†. Simple classifications that have discounted other portions of one’s unique experience will no longer limit or detract from one’s multiple selfhood. Then, cyborgs/selves can explore the self of choice to maximize their experience in accordance with their environment. Finally, the quests for self as authentic will no longer persist. The authenticity of human interaction could just be a falsity. Behaviors are, after all, only as genuine or definitive as you imagine them to be. One can shape their experiences, or at least their perceptions of them, uniquely. [See Chapter 5, Speaking into the Air] Thus, the need for human contact could be viewed as another myth. People can fall in love over the Internet. The orgasm that one has in a simulated situation, like phone sex or cyber sex, is just as â€Å"real† as the one he/she would have had if the big fat hairy woman on the other end of the wire (and the orgasm) really was the skinny sexy blond thought to be communicating.

In-Game Ethical Explorations Essay -- Gaming

Ethics help us every day to determine what is â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† because they are the values of conduct imposed upon an individual by a larger group, usually society. Ethics has also been referred to as moral philosophy. Ethics and morality have a tendency to be confused and used interchangeably, but there is an important difference that must be noted. Morals define personal character, and therefore are usually unchanged in an individual, while various groups might dictate different ethics. With the emergence of technology in the 21st century, the study of ethics, specifically applied ethics, has increased in the number of relevant subjects. A common example is the case of downloading music illegally. Evidently, it is a crime, but because of a lack of persecution for those who participate in this form of theft, the perception of it is vastly different compared to someone who will physically shoplift an item. Ethics becomes even more complicated when laws are not applicable to the given situation. This gives an opportunity for ethical and moral exploration in an increasingly popular field of technology: video games. Now fully integrated into Western culture, video games are no longer targeted for children only. Young adults have become a growing demographic in the video game world and therefore the demand for more sophisticated games has increased. These gamers are not only looking to have fun, but also for a distraction from reality and an investigation in multiple ethical dilemmas. Historically speaking, with a moderately short life, video games traditionally have not been known to include ethics as a major component to a game, until recently. More games now than ever have content that explores ethics, such as the will to ... ...– as toxic† and the lack of consequences for the simulated crimes can be toxic as well (Ludlow and Wallace 92). Gaming companies like EA, by not enforcing more strict rules and not punishing those that break them, are basically saying: â€Å"The law doesn’t apply unless we feel like enforcing it. If we don’t, there is no law, and anything goes.† The anarchy-like attitude that this message is sending can be dangerous to both the morals of the players committing the crimes and to the business of the game itself, although the popularity of the games have not decreased just yet. Works Cited Ludlow, Peter, and Mark Wallace. The Second Life Herald: The virtual tabloid that witnessed the dawn of the Metaverse. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2007. 89-107. Print. Cogburn, Jon, and Mark Silcox. Philosophy Through Video Games. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2009. 73-91. Print

Job-hopping †Is It Good or Bad?

It is barely get to hear of a person who started their career with an organization many years back, dedicated his entire career with the organization and finally retired from the same organization. As it is said, nothing last forever; same is in the case with job these days. Jobs today do not last unlike previous generations. In the past few years, job-hopping has become so widespread across the industries that even a four years stint in the same organization is considered to be a stable job. Three jobs in less than a year, no longer raised eyebrows and gaps mouths. Job-hopping, in fact, has become a new mantra for success. People no longer believe in sticking to one job and waiting for that golden leap to come. So, what’s the job-hopping is? In simple terms it is the practice of changing jobs frequently, especially as a means of quick financial gain or career advancement. Basically, there are two kinds of job-hopping – random job-hopping which is moving every time you get a better job offer (the typical quick financial gain job-hopping) and strategic job-hopping which is taking a new job because it enhances and helps build your career. Key reasons for job-hopping Welcome to the world of job-hoppers. It’s an employee-driven economy. With more opportunities and avenues round the corner organization are really at the mercy of the employees. Some of the common reasons for hoping jobs as quoted by job-hoppers include dissatisfaction with the job, lack of challenging work, stagnation or less pay, Poor Human resource policy of the corporate, miss handling of the employees, corporate vision and mission not colliding with the employee's persona, too much control applied on the employees, privileges are being delivered on the basis longevity of the employees with the corporate, the eye-popping fat salaries and many more. These appear to be the main reasons for their resignations. Job-hopping also acts as a shortcut to success. Employees make their way to higher levels in the management hierarchy as each job change brings with it a hike in pay and position. Moreover, sticking to the same organization from which you started off your career is passe now. It is believed that those who hang on to the same job are taken for granted and declared not competent enough to move ahead in their career. Job-hopping: How It Effect Your Career Success Is job-hopping and career success related to each other? What is the effect of one on the other? Job-hopping affects career success in a negative way. By hopping jobs frequently, you are sending negative signals to your potential employer. Too often, job-hopping employees learn nothing substantial. Companies like to invest on those job seekers who align their career goals with the corporate goals. The reason is simple. They are able to contribute better in the company and if they are constantly moving from one job to another, they send a signal of non commitment. It gives a pessimistic image in the mind of the employer. Grass is not always green on the other side No doubt job-hopping has become the latest trend today, or a shortcut to success; one cannot jump from one job to another as and when it strikes one’s imagination. Moreover, though two or more jobs on a resume no longer are an employment risk, too many jobs in less than two years time portray one as a chronic job-hopper. A series of rapid, random and pointless moves will show up as annoyances on the resume. Employers view such contenders as dysfunctional – lacking in loyalty, trust and self-motivation. Quick moves from one job to other raise big questions for prospective employers as to one's staying power and ability to withstand challenges, as well as accept accountability. Employer may feel that you are not committed to a particular organization. The future employers, who are probably looking for a long term employee, might not be impressed with the job-hopping tendencies. They might perceive that one has become a job-hopper may be because of inability to get along with colleagues or employers. It does not even leave substantial time to acquire sufficient experience and hands-on skills. What’s more is that after innumerable hops, one may find himself at the same place where he first started. The downside of job-hopping Many job-hoppers think that jumping from one job to another in rapid succession is a sure way to reach the top. However, they have to encounter the hidden consequences. In unstable industries like hi- tech, advertising and television, job-hopping is the norm. In these industries, workers find out later that a resume with short period is a turn-off to employers. They may suspect a job-hopper of being unable to get along with the co-workers. Moreover, the job-hopper is also taking on a new boss who may turn out to be a tough leader. Studies indicate that employees often wrongly believe that they will get promotions if they switch organizations. However, the job-hoppers have to overcome obstacles like a clearly hostile boss, demotion or a significant decrease in pay etc. HR experts suggest that not to run out the first chance you get. A little patience can go a long way. Though job-hopping is a negative signal to prospective employers, but depending on the reasons it can also be a positive. Mick Hager, a leading HR expert explains the reasons why job-hopping is a bad thing as quoted in the website – www. greenbaypressgazette. com. These include:- * You’ll never have the chance to lay down roots, establish a strong reputation and be viewed as an asset to the company. Job-hoppers miss the opportunities given to the solid, loyal, staying- put performers. * Job-hoppers are huge expenses for employers. It takes an employee at least six months to go from being a liability to contributing to the bottom line. That is why employers hate dealing with job-hoppers, they cost too much. Job-hopping sends the message that you are not dependable, suggesting that you lack loyalty and commitment. Please don’t tell me the woeful tale of how companies aren’t loyal to employees these days – companies are loyal to the dependable, productive ones. * Job-hopping suggests incompetence, if you’re so good- why you leave? * Job-hopping takes a mental toll. At some point you need stability in your life to maintain balance. * Your next boss could be worse! * It suggests you are irresponsible or cannot maintain relationships * It indicates that you lack resolve and the ability to stick-to-it. Employees promote those they trust; trust is earned over time. * It is just plain stupid! In today’s new environment, how short is too small to stay at a job? The answer varies among industries and professions. Earlier two to three years used to raise a red flag. Today, depending on the industry, it is 1 to1. 15 years. But what employers are really looking at, did the person complete the project or commitment that he made? B Lynn Ware, an employee retention expert with the Integral Ta lent Systems suggest the job-hoppers â€Å"You’re really looking at a very limited window of productivity. Let’s say someone stays with an organization for 2. 5 years. It takes them the first year and a half to really get up to speed. Then they spend their last three t six months looking for the next thing. That leaves about a half year of real productivity†. Look beyond the fat pay offer to avoid another hop in a short time and perhaps less pleasant circumstances. Learning Relevant Skills and Knowledge Matters People who are in the new workforce and have been job-hopping quite a bit, it is advisable to find out what you want. If you able to recognize it, then find a organization that is willing to train or how they are willing to commit to their employees career in the long term. Instead of job-hopping frequently for career growth, make learning the relevant skills and knowledge in that industry one’s key objective for a successful career. The skills and knowledge that one learns in the process will contribute to career success in the long term. If job-hoppers realize the benefit of committing to a company who is willing to train them for more than two years, hopefully they won’t be job-hopping often anymore. Are job-hoppers are listening!

Deception Point Page 64

â€Å"Holy shit!† The pilot pulled back on the stick, jolting upward. The black mountain of steel rose before them out of the waves without warning. A gargantuan unmarked submarine blew its ballast and rose on a cloud of bubbles. The pilots exchanged uneasy laughs. â€Å"Guess that's them.† As ordered, the transaction proceeded under complete radio silence. The doublewide portal on the peak of the sail opened and a seaman flashed them signals with a strobe light. The chopper then moved over the sub and dropped a three-man rescue harness, essentially three rubberized loops on a retractable cable. Within sixty seconds, the three unknown â€Å"danglers† were swinging beneath the chopper, ascending slowly against the downdraft of the rotors. When the copilot hauled them aboard-two men and a woman-the pilot flashed the sub the â€Å"all clear.† Within seconds, the enormous vessel disappeared beneath the windswept sea, leaving no trace it had ever been there. With the passengers safely aboard, the chopper pilot faced front, dipped the nose of the chopper, and accelerated south to complete his mission. The storm was closing fast, and these three strangers were to be brought safely back to Thule AFB for further jet transport. Where they were headed, the pilot had no idea. All he knew was that his orders had been from high up, and he was transporting very precious cargo. 75 When the Milne storm finally exploded, unleashing its full force on the NASA habisphere, the dome shuddered as if ready to lift off the ice and launch out to sea. The steel stabilizing cables pulled taut against their stakes, vibrating like huge guitar strings and letting out a doleful drone. The generators outside stuttered, causing the lights to flicker, threatening to plunge the huge room into total blackness. NASA administrator Lawrence Ekstrom strode across the interior of the dome. He wished he were getting the hell out of here tonight, but that was not to be. He would remain another day, giving additional on-site press conferences in the morning and overseeing preparations to transport the meteorite back to Washington. He wanted nothing more at the moment than to get some sleep; the day's unexpected problems had taken a lot out of him. Ekstrom's thoughts turned yet again to Wailee Ming, Rachel Sexton, Norah Mangor, Michael Tolland, and Corky Marlinson. Some of the NASA staff had begun noticing the civilians were missing. Relax, Ekstrom told himself. Everything is under control. He breathed deeply, reminding himself that everyone on the planet was excited about NASA and space right now. Extraterrestrial life hadn't been this exciting a topic since the famous â€Å"Roswell incident† back in 1947-the alleged crash of an alien spaceship in Roswell, New Mexico, which was now the shrine to millions of UFO-conspiracy theorists even today. During Ekstrom's years working at the Pentagon, he had learned that the Roswell incident had been nothing more than a military accident during a classified operation called Project Mogul-the flight test of a spy balloon being designed to listen in on Russian atomic tests. A prototype, while being tested, had drifted off course and crashed in the New Mexico desert. Unfortunately, a civilian found the wreckage before the military did. Unsuspecting rancher William Brazel had stumbled across a debris field of radical synthesized neoprene and lightweight metals unlike anything he'd ever seen, and he immediately called in the sheriff. Newspapers carried the story of the bizarre wreckage, and public interest grew fast. Fueled by the military's denial that the wreckage was theirs, reporters launched investigations, and the covert status of Project Mogul came into serious jeopardy. Just as it seemed the sensitive issue of a spy balloon was about to be revealed, something wonderful happened. The media drew an unexpected conclusion. They decided the scraps of futuristic substance could only have come from an extraterrestrial source-creatures more scientifically advanced than humans. The military's denial of the incident obviously had to be one thing only-a cover-up of contact with aliens! Although baffled by this new hypothesis, the air force was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. They grabbed the alien story and ran with it; the world's suspicion that aliens were visiting New Mexico was far less a threat to national security than that of the Russians catching wind of Project Mogul. To fuel the alien cover story, the intelligence community shrouded the Roswell incident in secrecy and began orchestrating â€Å"security leaks†-quiet murmurings of alien contacts, recovered spaceships, and even a mysterious â€Å"Hangar 18† at Dayton's Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where the government was keeping alien bodies on ice. The world bought the story, and Roswell fever swept the globe. From that moment on, whenever a civilian mistakenly spotted an advanced U.S. military aircraft, the intelligence community simply dusted off the old conspiracy. That's not an aircraft, that's an alien spaceship! Ekstrom was amazed to think this simple deception was still working today. Every time the media reported a sudden flurry of UFO sightings, Ekstrom had to laugh. Chances were some lucky civilian had caught a glimpse of one of the NRO's fifty-seven fast-moving, unmanned reconnaissance aircraft known as Global Hawks-oblong, remote-controlled aircraft that looked like nothing else in the sky. Ekstrom found it pathetic that countless tourists still made pilgrimages to the New Mexico desert to scan the night skies with their video cameras. Occasionally one got lucky and captured â€Å"hard evidence† of a UFO-bright lights flitting around the sky with more maneuverability and speed than any aircraft humans had ever built. What these people failed to realize, of course, was that there existed a twelve-year lag between what the government could build and what the public knew about. These UFO-gazers were simply catching a glimpse of the next generation of U.S. aircraft being developed out at Area 51-many of which were the brainstorms of NASA engineers. Of course, intelligence officials never corrected the misconception; it was obviously preferable that the world read about another UFO sighting than to have people learn the U.S. military's true flight capabilities. But everything has changed now, Ekstrom thought. In a few hours, the extraterrestrial myth would become a confirmed reality, forever. â€Å"Administrator?† A NASA technician hurried across the ice behind him. â€Å"You have an emergency secure call in the PSC.† Ekstrom sighed, turning. What the hell could it be now? He headed for the communications trailer. The technician hurried along beside him. â€Å"The guys manning the radar in the PSC were curious, sir†¦ â€Å" â€Å"Yeah?† Ekstrom's thoughts were still far away. â€Å"The fat-body sub stationed off the coast here? We were wondering why you didn't mention it to us.† Ekstrom glanced up. â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"The submarine, sir? You could have at least told the guys on radar. Additional seaboard security is understandable, but it took our radar team off guard.† Ekstrom stopped short. â€Å"What submarine?† The technician stopped now too, clearly not expecting the administrator's surprise. â€Å"She's not part of our operation?† â€Å"No! Where is it?† The technician swallowed hard. â€Å"About three miles out. We caught her on radar by chance. Only surfaced for a couple minutes. Pretty big blip. Had to be a fat-body. We figured you'd asked the navy to stand watch over this op without telling any of us.† Ekstrom stared. â€Å"I most certainly did not!† Now the technician's voice wavered. â€Å"Well, sir, then I guess I should inform you that a sub just rendezvoused with an aircraft right off the coast here. Looked like a personnel change. Actually, we were all pretty impressed anyone would attempt a wet-dry vertical in this kind of wind.†

Gender Issues Essay

According to Elisabeth Horst, Erik Erikson’s theories pertaining to identity and intimacy disconcerns sexual differences. The primary consensus of several writers concludes that Erikson believes that women rely on marriage to develop their identity. This was written at a time when differences in sexes were treated as afterthoughts. He based his theories on the masculine version of experience. Yet Erikson did not portray women as inferior. There seems to be a conflict in underemphasizing women’s roles and overemphasizing women’s roles and overemphasizing their role in the social system. Very little was written about women in this time. One author (Marcia, 1980) implicated that intimacy becomes more of a feminine task and identity demonstrates a masculine task. Orlosfsky (1977) defines the masculine traits such as independence, autonomy, and assertiveness even more important to forming identity than the more feminine characteristics of warmth, tenderness, and understanding. Some writers disagree with Erikson’s theory of human development because they considered him to be a sexist. His writings involved the masculine aspect more than the feminine side in his studies. Horst, E. A. (1995). Reexamining Gender Issues in Erikson’s Stages of Identity and Intimacy. Journal of Counseling & Development, 73 (3), 271-278. Marcia, J. (1980). Identity in Adolescence. In J. Adelson (Ed. ), Handbook of Adolescent Psychology. New York. Wiley. Individuation and Attachments Many feminist critize Erik Erikson’s theory because of neglect or misprotrayal of female experience. He seems to presume that identity precedes intimacy. This seems to add limitations to his universal theory of human development. Even though he includes trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, intimacy, generativity, and integrity into his theories. Erikson demonstrates the stages of life as: (I) Infancy showing trust vs mistrust ages 0-16 months (II)Early Childhood 17-36 months (III) Play Age (IV)School Age 6-12 (V) Adolescent (VI) Young Adult (VII) Adulthood (VIII) Mature Age It appears as if Erikson did not elaborate on attachment during infancy and childhood, thus the need to apply the notions of Jean Piaget.

Amber Inn & Suites Case Study

Work Environment Amber Inn & Suites, Inc., formed in 1979, operates 200 Amber Inn properties and 50 Amber Inn & Suites properties located in 10 states throughout the Rocky Mountain and western states. On Average, each location has approximately 120 individual guest and suite-style rooms. Under a new president and CEO, the goal is for Amber Inn & Suites to reach profitability within two years after five consecutive years of unprofitability. This company is positioned as a limited-service hotel which does not have the amenities such as a restaurant, lounge, or meeting rooms. This type of hotel is classified under a midscale hotel with food and beverage, such as Holiday Inn and Ramada Inn. CompetitionDirect competition to Amber includes other mid-scale hotels in the western and Rocky Mountain states, specifically hotels that are in the same class as Amber which do not possess the extravagant amenities of an on-site restaurant or meeting rooms. For Amber to make its hotel stand out among st the others is a very difficult task with so many other companies present in this industry. The next level of competition would fall to recreation vehicle parks and camping sites. For the price-conscious individual, this may pose as an easier solution, but does not give someone the comfort of a traditional bed and amenities like television. Also, with a presence in the rocky mountain and western area, weather plays a contributing factor into this scenario.The indirect competition to Amber Inn & Suites is potential company cutbacks and layoffs. This not only affects their business traveler base, but also could affect if individuals have the luxury to travel and stay in a hotel opposed to a relative or friends residence.StrengthsLocation is a key factor to the success of Amber, because the company avoids the downtown areas and has chosen to only be located on sites close to major highways close to suburban areas, airports, and large regional shopping centers. This shows that all of its locations are at a convenient location  with easy access to and from their sites. Even though profitability has not been able to be reached, the company has still been able to produce three consecutive years of growing revenues. The average occupancy rate is higher than the industry average for the respective class the hotel is in, and Amber has a significant standing amongst business travelers. WeaknessesThe glaring fact of being unprofitable for five consecutive years is definitely the major weakness of this organization. Lodging revenues are rising, but the expenses correlated with these revenues are increasing at a much faster rate. Other weaknesses are the lack of amenities that Amber Inn & Suites offers travelers, which creates a lack thereof to differentiate from other hotels with the same presence. Another item that could be a weakness is a lack of differentiation between the Amber Inn and AmberInn & Suites. OpportunitiesBy having noticeable differences between the two , this could allow for different price structures and allow Amber Inn to enter a new target market giving the organization the ability to expand its chain. Also, with a dominant business traveler occupancy rate, Amber Inn & Suites could start forming frequent visitor relationships with organizations, so those companies refer their business travelers to stay in these sites.ThreatsWith having so many consecutive years of unprofitability, the thought of bankruptcy or closing of the organization is always a present factor. A company can only go so long of losing money year after year before it is required to throw in the towel. Government regulations on requirements of hotels could also be an imposing factor, because certain regulations could raise general expenses that are required to keep the hotel up to code and to the industry standards.ProblemWith the new CEO wanting to produce profitability within two years, the current problem is how to re-position the organization’s strat egy and define which customer base to focus on. By starting with which type of customer to target, the organization can be more focused on its tactics.Alternatives1. Do nothing. There is not much of a pro to this solution, because by doing no sort of action will either result in the business failing and closing down, or that could cost the marketing senior vice president her position.2. Reward Program for businesses. By instituting a reward program with businesses, it will allow business travelers to stay at the hotel for a discounted price for Sunday through Thursday lodging through his or her place of employment. Instead of attempting to find the best rate. The company knows that when an employee goes to this city, he or she will stay at the Amber Inn and the company books it for the employee. This will increase the business traveler base, which is already predominant. However, this will decrease the overall revenues for the organization.3. Increase weekend prices. By increasing l odging prices on the weekends, it will not harm the business traveler base, and increase profits for the personal and vacation/pleasure areas. This could adversely affect the number of guests staying at the hotel on the weekends and drive the weekend revenue stream down.4. Increase average daily room rate to be more toward industry average. Since the survey says that only 36.6% stayed at the hotel based on price and the fact that majority of business travelers had the rooms paid for by the business, this will increase overall profits. The negative to this option would be the potential loss of that customer base.5. Increase business traveler advertising. By capitalizing on the best strength of customer base, the hotel has the ability to make its focus be solely on the business traveler, which is where the most occupancy is coming from. If the company decides to shift its focus toward the business traveler it will have to cut advertising cost elsewhere, but could in-turn create a bett er strategy for the organization. This will decrease costs because of a more finite focus but also keep the greatest customer base that the hotel already possesses.6. Decrease employee base. By doing this the company will save in SG&A expenses, which will allow the budget to be decreased creating a better profit. However, decreasing the employee base per site, could result in a negative effect on the hotel because it could reduce response time to cleaning rooms and getting each one available for the next guests. Decision PackageIf the company can effectively increase the advertising for the business  traveler and increase the hotel’s overall average daily room rate, it will be able to capitalize on the area of customers that visit the hotel the most and also increase the revenue per room. By shifting the focus to the business traveler, the company can save advertising costs elsewhere because this will limit the areas that are needed to be advertised to. If the overall adver tising budget is decreased and the business traveler rate can increase, then the company is able to capitalize on the most profitable target market available.Plan of ActionDevelop a new budget for advertising with a special emphasis on the business traveler. Attempting which channels are spent on the everyday consumer will help decrease those costs and effectively increase sales. The price increase can happen in gradual stages on a quarterly basis. Given the time from of two years, the organization should structure itself at 75% of the industry average on room rate, which would give Amber Inn a $20 increase per room average. This would allow for a $2.50 increase per quarter.Overall room occupancy rate may decrease without the personal and leisure guest presence, but the increase in profit and business segment will help adjust those figures. If the occupancy rate decreases slightly, but the revenue is increasing, this will decrease the variable costs associated with maintaining those extra rooms which will allow for less expenses.

Armellini Italian Ice Cream and Coffee Chain Business Issues Essay - 9

Armellini Italian Ice Cream and Coffee Chain Business Issues - Essay Example There are several important strategic tools such as Porter’s five forces model, SWOT analysis etc. that are heavily used in the industry. Furthermore, there are various ways, developed in the past few decades, which could be used in developing business. Franchise rout of growing business is one the most widely used method of developing business. This paper is all about an ice cream and coffee chain company named Armellini Ice Cream and Coffee Chain and its strategic decision. The paper includes an in-depth analysis of the competitive forces that would have a significant influence on the process of strategic decision making. The paper also includes the implications for the management of quality for the company in adopting the franchise route of growth. Armellini Ice Cream and Coffee Chain was founded by an Italian lady named Maria Armellini during the period when the Second World War just ended. Initially, it was located in a coastal town that was near to Venice in Italy. In the first cafà © products like traditional Italian ice cream as well as espresso coffee along with cooked pies, light snacks, sandwiches, and beverages were sold. After the death of Maria, the company was taken over by Alessio, Maria’s eldest son. Under his leadership, the business grew as the chain of restaurant and cafà © outlets in all over Western Europe. In the entire process, Alessio was assisted by his siblings. Alessio used to give significant importance to various things like maintenance of the quality and cleanliness and proper record keeping. Alessio or any of the family members used to visit each of the cafà ©s at least once a month in order to see how things were going on. It was a business audit most of the time which was carried by Ales sio himself. He used to visit the outlets without any prior notice with the objective of seeing the real picture of the outlets. Furthermore, there was a monthly financial report regarding used food items, wages, labor hours etc.   

Discuss the palace of Knossos as an architectural embodiment of Minoan Essay

Discuss the palace of Knossos as an architectural embodiment of Minoan cosmology and culture, focusing particularly on the relat - Essay Example The Palaces were built on the Kephala hill where it had easy access to the sea as well as the Cretan interior. The first palace was destroyed in 1700BC but it was rebuilt again. However, the second palace was destroyed by fire in 1350 never to be rebuilt again.1 The area around the palace was transformed into a sacred region with and it was not inhabited. The Palace of Knossos was magnificent and was a symbol of the civilization of the people of Minos. Its construction was massive and no other known architectural piece rivaled it in size during those times. The palace was architectural plans were equally sophisticated and there was remarkable use of luxurious materials. Advance techniques were used in building the Palaces which made them stand out in the entire Crete. The Minoans demonstrated their technological advancements in the design of the Palaces by incorporating features such as light wells, complex drainage and water systems. The Palace of Knossos was built to serve religiou s as well as administrative functions. Hence, its design was elaborate and it comprised of several sections to suit various functionalities. This paper aims to discuss the palace of Knossos as an architectural embodiment of Minoan cosmology and culture. Specifically, the relationship of the palace to nature as topography, orientation and temporality is evaluated. Also, the use of ornament and role of ritual are discussed in detail. Role of Ritual The extensive palaces of Knossos were concerned with practical pleasures and celebrations for the people. The palaces were designed to allow for social interactions and communicated the underlying social ideologies and order. It has been argued that the Palace of Knossos was designed as an architectural expression of the social concepts of the time.2 The West Wing was dedicated to public ceremonies and performances. The elaborate walkways in the West Wing create an impression that this was the focal point of movement. They served as process ion ways leading to the inner parts of the palace. The elevation of the walkways indicates that there was a separation of the performers and the audience. One of the processional ways in the palace, known as the Royal Road, led to a large elevated area that was probably used for the theatrical performances.3 On the south side there was a square paved bastion built against it equipped with a platform. The platform was positioned in such a way that people could actually observe actual performances from there. It is evident that the theatrical area was arranged in such way that it could allow viewing in three levels. Arguably, the Knossos palace architectural environment created social hierarchy which had been translated into spatial order. If the paved bastion was indeed sectioned for the most prominent figures in Minoan society, then the two flights of steps could have functioned, as they stand, for the elite closest to the representatives of the community. However, the hierarchical positioning of people according to status could also function to realign the socio-political fabric of the Neo-palatial period during ceremonies ideological in nature. Hence, the theatrical area could be able to function in two ways depending on the occasion. The architecture of the palace was dynamic making it capable to serve various social functions. The other evidence that the palace of Knossos served as a ritual centre is its interior

Cause and Effect of Online Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cause and Effect of Online Education - Essay Example People throughout the nation are looking for ways to cut their costs of living without sacrificing what they already have. Students who are trying to get an education are not typically interested in cutting out going to school so that they can get a job now. Many studies have actually shown that such a move is counter-productive in the long-run. When a student takes the time to get a degree, their earning power exponentially increases. Therefore, when an individual makes the decision to stop going to school in order to work full-time, they are actually limiting their earning potential. There is also truth in the idea that you must train to get the job you truly want rather than just the job you’ll accept. On-campus educations can cost several thousand dollars a year depending on which institution you attend. So, many students are turning to online education in order to cut back on cost while still continuing toward their degree. At Oregon State University, the average cost of full-time attendance for one year is $9435.01 while living off-campus, and $21430.01 if the student is living on campus (â€Å"Oregon State University†). Conversely, while attending the same university entirely online, the cost of one full-time year is only $8460 (â€Å"Oregon State University†). Conversely, while attending the same university entirely online, the cost of one full-time year is only $8460 (â€Å"Oregon State University†).   Therefore, we can clearly see that online education can save money. Nearly every class in the United States has felt the squeeze of the tough financial situation.   Families who used to subsist on one income have had to see their partner return to work.   Numerous High School students are balancing work and school to help out their families.   College students, who used to be able to go to school full-time with the help of financial aid, are finding themselves in the position of having to work as well.     Ã‚