Business to Consumer Marketing Essay

Increase in the use of Internet use means that marketing on the internet has also gained popularity. People turn towards the Internet to search for basic information on any items they are interested in, whether for personal use or for business, and to a lesser extent they may want to purchase it from the convenience of their home or office. From the business point of view, this means the companies need to pay special attention to their website, as it represents the company in cyber space. Not only the extent of information available on their site, but the user-friendliness of the website, search ability of the site, how fast the website loads, are also important factors. All these factors are also dependent on the target market of the company, whether they are engaged in B2B (business-to-business) or B2C (business-to-consumer) marketing. For instance, B2B customers are more concerned with technical aspect of the product, the warranty provided and the customer services. For B2C customers, the design and over all look of the product may be equally important as the functionalities. This article discusses the differences and similarities between B2C and B2B marketing that should be there in an ideal or a well-planned website. Features of Online Marketing Before being specific about what B2B and B2C marketing should ideally target, I’ll be discussing the common features any marketing site should have. It is also important knowing that a company is represented by one site, and this should give all the relevant information to all its stakeholders, in a manner which is easily accessible and gives only relevant information. The postings on an e-information typically fall into these five categories, according to Etzel, Walker and Stanton (2004): Company Background and General Information: This category covers the history of the company, its mission and vision, corporate philosophy and general orientation. It may also include financial performance of the company and other investor related information, the structure of the company, its operations and global/local divisions and branches, and profile of the management team. This portion is usually accessible to everyone and needs to be presented clearly to both categories of customers – individuals and business consumers. Current Business Operations: This category caters to the company’s customers. This is where division of any kind may come in. For customers this section provides product descriptions, dealer contact information and payment terms and structure. For the business partners, this may consider more technical details, how to contact the relevant business personnel, the different packages available etc. Because the company needs to know about its potential customers, and some of the information in this section may be confidential, access may be restricted by requiring the users to register and give their email address, which allows them to be kept updated with new company’s happenings if they choose to keep updated. This is a place where there is a two-way communication open, minimal though it may be, and companies should focus on those aspects which are valued by their target market. Links:Â  This category has connections to other related sites. This is important for B2B customers who may wish to contact a dealer near their place of business, or to get more information. Attraction and Entertainment Features: This is more important for B2C customers and includes those features and tools which make the site more interesting and unique for customers. For B2B sites, it is more important to be uncluttered, present the information in a style that is easy-to-read and understand, and the site itself should be easy to navigate. Contact Point:Â  This provides usually an email address for visitors, to make a comment or for queries and should also provide a phone number. This is an opportunity to interact directly with the company and is a major advantage of internet over traditional media. However, this should be paid attention to, as unanswered queries and negatively affect the company’s business. B2B Online Marketing: B2B sites specifically cater to corporate clients. This implies that the decision making process is longer for the customers and the company should cater to that. Also, services usually provided are in-house services or regarding maintenance software or similar services to increase the productivity and profitability of the company. The characteristics of B2B sites include an attempt to automate trading process on the website. This is more convenient, saves time as well as money. This is important as even though B2C sites are generally more popular, however, the amount of money in transactions is greater for B2B sites. This means that security is also important for any company, including keeping the information provided by the corporate client. Also, the company should try to differentiate itself from the competition by using and promoting its USP (unique selling proposition). This can be done both online as well as offline using traditional methods of advertising, tradeshows, field sales etc. By automating the processes and as much of their supply chain as possible, the company is saving costs in the long run, thus allowing it to compete on price basis as well. Ideally, B2B sites should also have a registration option for business customers who may wish to learn more. By registering themselves on the site, it allows for more human intervention and a two-way communication. This can make an online business transactions more long lasting which is important in businesses. B2C Online Marketing: Sites which specifically cater to a target group to promote goods and services fall into this category. The more popular sites include Amazon. com and eBay. com. B2C sites are more transaction-oriented in general. Though both sites allow transactions, consumers are usually online and in a position to transact and purchase immediately, as they take less time than businesses for decision making. This is because B2B consumers are more investigative and seek more information from different channels and sources. B2C sites also try to create relationships with customers to enhance the brand loyalty of consumers and ensure that their queries are answered. Though, this is more difficult and companies need to ensure that this process does not adversely harm the operations of the company. B2C sites simultaneously also use offline methods along with online advertising. Online tools can include interactive websites, online communities and discussion forums, email marketing, pop-ups, cost per click advertising such as Google AdWords etc. However, the challenge for any company lies in finding the right mix of advertising and promotion which maximizes profits and minimizes costs. However, good B2C sites allows the consumers to shop faster and in a more convenient manner, offerings and prices obtained are in real-time and can be changed as required and call centres are usually integrated along with the websites allowing interaction between the companies and the end-users. Conclusion: Research shows that more than actual purchase, consumers are using the internet more for research about the product and to make a more informed purchase decision, which is truer for the business consumers. Thus, the company should realize that not all visitors may purchase from their site; however most of them will be researching the company’s products and the information available will be a significant factor in the final decision. This is true to a lesser extent for consumers, because individuals tend to display customer loyalty, thus they may research more to confirm their original decision rather than look at competition’s information. Also, in B2C more emphasis is on price comparisons as customers usually go online shopping to obtain the best price possible. This is also lower than the price in offline stores in some cases as it saves the cost of the intermediary or any dealer involved. In B2B, competition on a global basis ensures that the companies no longer can ignore online marketing and it is necessary to keep up with the competition. Initiatives such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and just in time inventory are changing the way business is being done. This combined with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) ensures that the way companies do business with other businesses has changed and they need to use innovative ways to make their presence felt online. (Furlong, 2001)

Cheering and People

If people would ask a cheerleader if they think cheer is a spot, they will say yes. If they would ask anyone else, they would say it is not a sport. Cheerleading is a sport because they work Just as hard as anyone else who is in a sport. A cheerleader conditions, they have to be strong, and are competitive. In cheer, they do conditioning to get in shape, Just like every other sport. The coach will make them do all kinds of things, like run a certain amount of laps, and then do Jumping Jacks, lunges, or other things. Cheerleaders condition at every practice.They have to condition so they can do their routine over and over again during their practice. They also have to condition so they can lift people in the air and keep them there for a while. Another reason why they have to condition is so they can stay tight while doing all there cheers and dances. If they are loose at a competition they will get points taken off. Conditioning is a big part in cheer. Cheerleaders, especially guys, have to be strong. Guys have to be strong enough to hrow a girl up to about their shoulders and the hold them in their hands for a few minutes.Then they have to be able to extend them, so they are in their hands and over their heads. Football players may have to be strong, but they do not have to lift girls up everyday. Everyone from the people being lifted up to the people lifting them up have to be strong. The people in the air must be strong, so they can stay tight and not move to much while they are in the air. If they are doing a one legged stunt, and they are not tight, they will fall and may get hurt. The people lifting the them up must also be strong, so they can lift them up.They also cannot move because the person in the air might lose their balance and could fall. All cheerleaders must also be strong and fit enough to do their routine two hours or more a day, five days a week. Cheerleaders must be about as strong as a football player. Competitions are not Just for footbal l, basketball, baseball, and soccer, they are also for cheerleaders. They work on a their routine for months before they have to go to a competition. They have to make sure that it is perfect before they go to competition.They have to make sure their dances are tight and everyone is on time for everything. They also have to make sure they have their cheers memorized and their stunts go up. If they cant do something then they have to chance their routine to make sure everything will work. At the competition they must do their routine in front of a crowd and Judges. Then they are Judged on how well they did their routine. The Judges look at how well there stunts went, there dances, cheers, Jumps and umbling, but they mostly watch if there timing is right on everything.The team with the most points then wins the competition. Cheerleaders will usually do many competitions a year. Some will do four or five, but some may only do one. Cheerleading is not Just about cheering on your schools teams, like most people think it is. It is mostly about the competitions. Cheerleaders work Just as hard as every other sport, if not harder. Cheerleading should be considered a sport and not just an extra activity like everyone thinks it is. Cheering and People By qwsxecdvfgb

Movie Mississippi Masala Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mississippi Masala - Movie Review Example Conflicts between the races arise mainly due to ignorance, prejudice and stereotyping which leads to negative ideas and attitudes arising among the groups when relating to each other. Economic pressures and increasing competition for limited numbers of jobs, housing and schools have forced the races into conflict. Added to economic pressures are social conflicts arising from differences in religion, traditional values and a history of oppression of one race by another in different situations. The fear of the unknown and unfamiliar leads to avoidance, hostility, overt violence and a desire to destroy whatever is different from oneself. The film ‘Mississippi Masala’ explores the serious theme of interracial conflict and possible resolutions to these conflicts. In spite of the topic, it is a spicy, romantic, passionate, irreverent, funny and upbeat film which avoids racial stereotyping and depicts its characters as natural and human. The film has a liberal viewpoint in that it shows Demetrius, the Black American Name 2 hero and Mina, the Asian heroine in a positive relationship with believable underpinnings.

Situation Analysis, Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Situation Analysis, - Assignment Example The sales for coffee have kept on increasing over the last decade despite a time of financial downturn. This is because this is a beverage that has a lasting demand among the community. Therefore, the main purpose of my business plan is to provide people with a place to enjoy their coffees, beverages and certain food products in, so that they are attracted by the quality and creativity that I have attempted to bring about with the help of my plan. (Weitzman, H. 2006) Target Market I wish to provide the age bracket of 14-28 years a place, so that they are able to come, relax and enjoy good food and coffee, and at the same time, get their work done, meet their friends and just have a bit of change away from home. I feel I will be able to carry out this project very well since I have excellent interpersonal skills and also a very dynamic personality. Market Description Expansion and diversification is what will keep the spirit of my firm alive. In the future, I plan to move on to supply ing my products not only to those who visit the coffee house but also to others with the help of stationed trailers in different parts of the city, and/or expanding the unit of my coffee house in order to create a chain of such businesses. I will be able to generate a large amount of employment as well with the help of the core team that I do employ, apart from which I will also be hiring a small group of people to do my research and development. Slowly and gradually, the coffee house is also likely to attract older people as they can also sit and work and enjoy a different kind of meal or desserts that are not really found elsewhere. Therefore, I aim to bring about product differentiation within my venture in order to attract more customers. It is also very essential that while beginning a venture one must think about how to market it. It is given that a ready market is already available, which includes the buyers of the product and thus the entrepreneur needs to think of ways of m aking the product reach the potential customers. (Hawes, Daryl) This brings us to the advertisement and publicity in terms of the marketing mix that the venture will be popularized by. I am only making use of word of mouth and internet mediums in the beginning, and later will move on to making use of the print media. In the future, I do hope that my venture is therefore successful and I am able to with all that I have planned; carry out a business of a coffee shop while keeping all the barriers in mind and trying to overcome them at the same time. This will hopefully bring me at par with the leading coffee business in the world today and put me on the top. Competitors and Products I am aware that there are many competitors in this industry such as Starbucks. If I follow the same strategy as those competitors, my business will fail. Therefore, in this business I would like to focus on quality rather than quantity and keep the business small at the beginning and eventually expand the business in the future. (2009, Fortune Magazine) SWOT Analysis Strengths Aviano Coffee has already been established well in another country which will give me the opportunity and chance to bring it to the people of the UAE easily. I have a number of friends within the age bracket of the target market, and thus have spoken to them regarding what

Article for publication about marketing Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

For publication about marketing - Article Example Marketing is defined as any activity undertaken by an organization in relation to buying and selling products with the aim increasing the margin of sales, purchases and profits. It involves processes such as pricing, promotion and distribution of products so as to satisfy the customers more and also benefit the organization. Marketing is a combination of steps and operations which widen the pool of customers as well as creating loyalty in the existing customers. Successful marketing is achieved through a universal approach which involves market analysis, market planning, implementation and finally market control. Online marketing which is also called internet marketing is defined as any efforts done solely over the internet in order to attract new customers or maintain the existing customers. This form of marketing utilizes various internet marketing tools to drive traffic to the website of the advertiser (Hamill and Karl 19). The common tools of marketing include banner advertisement, emails, and pay per click and are used to bring value to the advertiser (Lee, 67). This form of marketing is growing rapidly since more and more people are becoming internet literate and hence it is able to reach a large pool of potential customers. Internet marketing builds and maintains positive customer relationships through online activities whereby the customer and the advertiser can exchange ideas, products and even services. Internet marketing was introduced many decades ago but has not receives full appreciation until the recent years. Those who first used it did not fully utilize the unique characteri stics it has and hence it has gained popularity at a slow rate. The Internet is composed of numerous marketing features that organizations require to fully explore in order to enjoy the unlimited benefits. The marketing features in the internet should be incorporated in

Starbucks Coffee and Its Target Audience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Starbucks Coffee and Its Target Audience - Essay Example According to the Italian tradition coffee houses are like a place for conversation and that provides the customers with a sense of community. From the very beginning Starbucks has been a very different company. The company has not only celebrated the coffee and rich tradition but also successfully brought a feeling of connection. The company endeavors to bring an exceptional experience to the lives of its target market (Clark, Taylor 2007; Starbucks Corporation 2011) Starbucks’ target audience mainly comprises of the upscale coffee drinkers. The coffee chain provides an opportunity to its customers to take a break from the busy and hectic lives and spend some time in a relaxing atmosphere. Starbucks has a very well defined target audience. It has a target market in each age segment whether its adults, young adults or kids and teens. The primary target market of Starbucks consists of men and women aged between 25 to 40 years from urban areas and usually with high incomes. This target segment accounts for almost half the sales of the Starbucks. In order to appeal this target audience Starbucks works keep its products current and position them in such a way that they become a status symbol. Then comes the target market of young adults aged between 18 to 24 years. This segment accounts for 40 percent of the sales of the company. ... It makes it easier for the students whether they want to hang in there and work on their projects or it can be that they just want to hang in there to enjoy the coffee. The relaxing atmosphere provided by the Starbucks stores is an appealing factor to both the adult and young adult target audience. Now moving to the third target market segment that Starbucks is serving, comprising of kids and teens aged between 13 to 17 years. Though this segment is not large and accounts for only 2 percent of the total Starbucks sales, but still the company focuses on this segment. The main reason for the focus is that it is mainly the parents who purchase items for their kids. There are several products that Starbucks has just made for the kids and teenagers. Starbucks do not target the kids segment directly but it does make sure that its products are kid-friendly. The company also offers special child sizes in order to attract the kids (Starbucks Corporation 2011) Starbucks has formed a strong bra nd image in the minds of its target audience. It has used the selective specialization, product specialization and market specialization techniques for selecting its market segments. Target audience of Starbucks trusts the brand and associates it with high quality. There are certain requirements that the target market has from this famous brand as they look up to it with great admiration. The store has created a sense of convenience in the minds of its customers. Almost where ever they go, especially in United States they’ll found a Starbucks franchise within the respective vicinity. This means that there are several places still left that do not cater to the target audience. These places do not have a Starbucks franchise and

Oppression Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Oppression - Term Paper Example In case oppression consequences accumulate to institutional customs, practices or law, the institution becomes oppressive whether the people running those institutions have or do not have intentions to oppress (Angelo, pp.8) Law and police themselves are example of this type oppression. In such situations the use of word oppression refers relegation of a social category or a certain group by using societal norms, authority and force unjustly with the aim of achieving indoctrination. Through informal or formal institutionalization it attains systematic oppression dimensions. Oppression is basically experienced in form of aftermath of, and shoed in, prevailing form of, if unconscious, In psychology, prejudices, sexism and racism are always studied as peoples’ beliefs which, though not that oppressive, may cause oppression if they are within law or conform to some culture.   From association, in sociology, these biases are always learnt as being systems that have been institutionalized by oppression in societies.in this field, the oppression tools are inclusive of demonization, dehumanization and denigration which at times always generate accusation that is used to defend aggression in contrary to targeted individuals and groups. The human rights concept and U.D.H.R in general were made with the aim of limiting oppression through clarifying what basic freedoms of any state should all individual it If oppression is practiced through force, violence threats or by government agencies violence of NGO with a political intent, is always known as repression. More delicate political forms of oppression or repression can be got by individual investigation or blacklisting. International governance systems that may at times be oppressive are inclusive of absolute monarchy, imperialism, totalitarianism, dictatorship; colonialism and can produce a revolt to the

Dramatic action, genres and styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dramatic action, genres and styles - Essay Example Lewis is more interested in the experiences people had with guns more than she is about political attitude people show towards them. The set is moderate just a work area, a light, and a seat enhance the stage. A couple of picture casings are taken out of a cardboard box every now and then, and an upstage entryway is marginally aired out, giving a fragment of light. That ever-so-slight light from the entryway is unpleasant and feels typical of discovering light toward the end of a dull passage. Maybe that is the proposition: to infer trust for Lewis that she may inevitably be free from her individual story of enthusiasm and melancholy. On the other hand maybe it holds a more noteworthy centrality: to recommend that despite the fact that the voices of those on the far left and far right of weapon control laws are the voices that are frequently noted, the individuals who are in the middle of the lions share may can some way or another be heard and arrangements can be found. Villa unmistakably presents Lewis words, â€Å"We have a problem with guns in America.† The issue is we ridiculously like them." Like the m, abhor them, or feel some place in the middle of, weapon control is an issue that has more than one side. With a second demonstration that permits the gathering of people to impart their musings and stories, this show is encouraging a quite required dialog. During the climax of the play, Lewis does reveal how it is a fascinating and frequently excruciating adventure through gun culture — an anodyne expression that covers the numerous shades of subtlety in how Americans feel about firearms. The vicinity of Lewis herself and our dawning acknowledgment of exactly how difficult some of these stories will be, joined with Villas pliable (yet frequently funny) persona as the course for one ladys existence with weapons includes a passionate measurement that I think wouldnt be there without both of

BIOL 260-Microbiology (Bacterial Unknown Lab report) Report

BIOL 260-Microbiology (Bacterial Unknown ) - Lab Report Example On the basis of morphology after performing Gram staining one was identified as Gram positive Cocci while other was identified as Gram negative Bacilli. Further, colony characteristics, biochemical tests as well as specific tests the micro-organisms were carried out to reach to the correct identification of the micro-organism. The Catalase test was performed which was positive, eliminating the chances of unknown sample to be Streptococcus (which is catalase negative). Further, Mannitol fermentation was positive for this unknown sample which eliminates the chances of S. aureus (Mannitol negative) from the sample. Further, presence of pigment was observed to eliminate the chances of S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus (both these organisms do not have pigment). Since the colony color was found to be yellow the identification tapers to the presence of Micrococcus sp. In order to further segregate the Micrococcus sp. presence or absence of glucose fermentation was observed. The result was negative confirming the absence of Micrococcus varians (which displays glucose fermentation) and presence of Micrococcus luteus (does not display gluc ose fermentation). The second unknown bacteria was aerobic as it was catalase as well as oxidase positive. Since it is Gram negative aerobic bacilli the identification tapers to the possibility of either Helicobacter salinarum, Alcaligenes faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Since citrate utilization was positive in the biochemical test it could be Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Alcaligenes faecalis. To eliminate one of the species to taper the identification further, growth was observed which was moderate and hence probability of Pseudomonas was eliminated (as Pseudomonas display abundant growth). Manipulative skills and cognitive microbiological knowledge are essential for the identification of microorganism beyond

Environmental Problems, Mitigation Measures and Effectiveness Essay

Environmental Problems, Mitigation Measures and Effectiveness - Essay Example The other anthropogenic activity is destruction of the natural environment by unsustainable use of resources, a factor that has also resulted in world climate changes (Dalby, 2002: 44). Atmospheric pollution is the main cause of global warming; it results from the accumulation of carbon IV oxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, trapping heat from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are by-products of industrial combustion, which means that the extent to which a country contributes to global warming by these gases depends on the level of industrialization; a high level of industrialisation causes increased consumption of fossil fossils. Fossil fuels like natural gas, oil and its products have a high carbon content that is released in huge quantities and at a faster rate than can be sequestered by natural carbon sinks like forests and oceans. In this case, first world nations and rapidly developing third world nations are the main contributing agents to environmental degradation by industrial pollution. On the other hand, environmental degradation can occur due to unsustainable use of natural resources like forests and water bodies; this is a serious problem in developing countries (Adil, 2005: 315). The economies of these countries are primarily agricultural based; the high rate of population growth necessitates high agricultural production for food security. However, deteriorating climatic conditions have reduced the productivity of land in these areas, forcing people to clear more forests for agricultural purposes. Consequently, forests that play a role in precipitation are destroyed, and the areas receive less rainfall; this has a negative effect on agricultural productivity, which forces further clearance of forested areas. This cycle goes on and on until many of productive lands have become barren, especially due to poor farming practices and the dependence on rains for agriculture in these countries. Some of the effects of environmental degradation include loss of biodiversity; decreasing ice coverage on mountain tops and poles that pose a threat to sustenance of the hydrological cycle; and desertification by loss of vegetation cover. Moreover, it causes climatic changes like extreme weather conditions whereby dry areas get drier, hot areas hotter, and wet areas wetter; and a rise in sea level that destroys sceneries and property (Barry and Eckersley, 2005: 255). Based on the economic implications of these changes and their threat to survival of life in the planet, governments and international organisations have taken measures to mitigate the effects of the environmental problems that result from these changes (Carter, 2001: 282). These measures target the two main aspects of environmental degradation including pollution and unsustainable use of resources; there have been some level of success though with some limitations too. This paper discusses the measures taken by governments and internationa l organisations; the extent of success of these interventions; the limitations facing effective implementation of interventions; and the consequences of these measures. Intervention Measures Governments have come up with environmental policies that aim at encouraging adoption of environmentally sustainable approaches by their citizens. For instance,

Comparing Hedonistic and Utilitarian Products Essay Example for Free

Comparing Hedonistic and Utilitarian Products Essay Utilitarian Consumption: The consumption of products has tangible benefit for consumer. In western culture, such products are often labeled as practical or necessary. Utilitarian products are purchased and consumed to satisfy consumer’s practical or functional needs. Utilitarian consumer behavior has been described as ergic, task-related and rational. In the marketing literature choice and decision with respect to utilitarian products and informed by the utility maximizing perspective. Thus the consumption of utilitarian products is more instrumental. The motivation initiating the need for a utilitarian product suggests that these products are primarily thought of in terms of their functional performance. Hedonic Consumption: The consumption of products for fun, amusement, fantasy, arousal, sensory stimulation, or enjoyment. Hedonic, pleasure-oriented consumption is motivated by the desire for sensual pleasure and fun. In western culture such products are often labeled as frivolous or decadent. The concept of hedonic consumption recognizes that individuals consume many types of products because of the feelings and images that are associated with the product. The cognitive motives driving the consumption of hedonic products are arguably the need to satisfy symbolic and value-expressive motives such as ego gratification, social acceptance and intellectual. Hedonic products have pleasure potential whereas utilitarian products perform functions in everyday life. Products with pleasure potential provide intangible, symbolic benefits and are likely to hold greater potential for evoking positive emotions in a consumer. Consumer decision making process: Consumers are often faced with these types of choices between hedonic and utilitarian alternatives that are at least partly driven by emotional desires rather than cold cognitive deliberations. Hence, these choices represent an important domain of consumer decision-making. Yet much of the pioneering work in behavioral decision theory has largely focused on the cognitive aspects of decision-making without exploring its emotional dimensions. Consumer decision is driven by functionality, usage and benefits out of various functions of product in the case of utilitarian consumption. But the decision making process is obsessed by symbolism, status, value-expression and social acceptance. For example: the decision of buying bread is driven is by its generic functions and attributes not by brand or image, which are already underlined and understood by every consumer. In case of designer suit the decision is influenced by its brand, image, labels and certain associations like brand ambassador , designer and promoters or co-owner also.

How To Be A Manager That Leads

How To Be A Manager That Leads Large organizations are supervised by individuals who have the basic expertise and features which let them to bond with the business and the individuals concerned with the corporation. Managers ought to meet the countless hassles of performing their purposes; managers presume various roles which consist of being a figurehead, person in charge, link, supervisor, disseminator, representative, industrialist, interruption handler, the allocator of resources, and mediator. Managers lay down and accomplish the organizations objectives by scheduling, systematizing, controlling as well as directing. A manager is capable of assuming or assigning portions of influence to lead staff and attain targets (Bateman Snell, 2004, p.21). Being a person in charge, or rather a leader is not the same as running a business. Leaders contain the interpersonal abilities required to manipulate others to accomplish an objective enthusiastically. Leading is a key element of a managers profession. Leaders do not require being a supervisor to guide people, but managers are required to be familiar with how to direct as well as control. Leaders, moreover, have the capacity to motivate, encourage, transform attitudes and persuade others to accomplish the companys objectives (Paso, 2005, 2). Managers contain the capacity to fire workers if they do not achieve the requirements to be completed. The power given to the supervisor allows them to be in charge of a worker based on dread of reprimand, whereas a leader is able to manipulate a worker in other different ways. Denis declares that the major point connecting leading and managing is the thought that employees freely pursue leaders simply because they are willing to, not because they are obliged to (Denis, 1995). Managers and leaders contain the exceptional capacity to either motivate or restrain workers by managing diverse circumstances accordingly. Managers, who contain the talent to direct, are capable of motivating workers to achieve tasks exclusive of direct involvement by the manager. Workers that are motivated labor industriously, efficiently and competently since they are willing to. The customs in a business which has superior leaders is inspiring and gratifying to work in. businesses with managers that are not leaders are liable to fail since the workers are not content operating there (Akbar, 2009, 1). The ten of most essential qualities to seek in a manager who can lead effectively in a company as discussed by Akbar are: 1. Self-Inspiration. The individual that you employ for the post has to be able of doing the work without requiring you to monitor her constantly. This person should be capable of understanding the fundamental objectives of the company and developing her personal approach for attaining those objectives. She must be dedicated to placing her all into the work daily without the secure control of a superior (Akbar, 2009, 2) 2. Good Customer Service Expertise. Regardless what type of industry you are in, one can gain from having a manager who is outstanding in coping with clients or customers. Eventually this may perhaps not be a huge proportion of the managers work given that the everyday errands of customer service will be the responsibility other workers. nevertheless, when problems crop up with clientele, the supervisor is the one who has the ability to disperse the circumstances or to aggravate it. One must employ a manager who is capable of making even the most complicated clients contented so that one can maintain clients and the company can develop. 3. Reliability and Honesty. One should employ a manager who is going to be somebody that you believe you have full confidence in. Certainly its difficult to tell this during an interview although asking the correct questions can provide one with a general judgment of the persons essential truthfulness. By employing somebody that one supposes is honest, it decreases the strain of placing the expansion of ones company in management of another person. 4. Being a Team Player. The supervisor must be somebody who is dedicated to working with a team of the workforce for the enhancement of the entire company. This implies that the supervisor is not in the company exclusively for the self-centered motives of â€Å"getting ahead†. Alternatively, he is concerned with the growth of the company since he is going to benefit from the growth and expansion of the company alongside other workers of the company. A supervisor is the go-between the bosses on the superior level and the workers in the subordinate level. Thus it is essential for the person in this position to be a team player (Akbar, 2009, 3). 5. Argument-Resolution Capacity. Being in the position of the go-between people in different levels of employment makes the manager act as a link between people in the corporation. He will as well serve as the negotiator for disagreements involving subordinate workers. So as to be capable of doing this effectively, the manager that one chooses to employ must be capable of handling disputes in the work place. He should to be somebody who can identify problems as they appear and solve them immediately and at the same time, the manager must contain the ability to deal with immense disputes when they come up (Akbar, 2009, 4). 6. Acquaintance of the industry. The manager of a company must be somebody with the ability to answer the questions of the workers, clients as well as customers. This simply means that the manager should be aware of what he is talking about. Even though some companies offer training to their managers, the perfect individual for such a position should be someone who contains specialized skill or advanced acquaintance in that particular industry. Willingness for more training will thus be an added advantage 7. Reliability. Basically, a manager should be someone that one can depend on. A reliable manager is one that is committed to their work and can sacrifice their extra time for the sake of the company, even when it means working late. This person should be ready and willing to do anything for the company at all costs (Akbar, 2009, 5). 8. Capacity to Remain Composed. The responsibility of a manager is a tough position to handle since there are numerous hustles involved in the day to day activities of the company. The manager should be capable of handling the different problems that arise in the course of these activities. A manager who remains calm and composed even in difficult times keeps the entire work place calm. This will in return lead to an increase in productivity and a better business environment, hence the growth of the business. 9. Hopeful Approach. Well, nobody wants a manager who is calm but indifferent. Everyone desires a manager that approaches each and every project optimistically. Such a manager is always hopeful and expresses sincere feelings towards their job. This assists in the maintenance of motivation in the entire company which leads to content workers, increased productivity rates, high income rates and expansion of the business as a whole. 10. Leadership Ability. Above all those other factors to look for in a manager, one should be able to notice that the manager they wish to employ has exceptional leadership abilities. Such a manger should be confident in their capacity to guide a team, an excellent public spokesperson, one who can assign responsibilities suitably and one that others will feel contented taking guidelines from. With these qualities, one can be sure of having hired a manager that leads (Akbar, 2009, 6-7). Thus being a manager is a form of art. Regardless of the business environment, getting and maintaining a team of workers is one of the major challenges any professional manager will come across.

Differences Between Actor Network Theory And Social Construction Sociology Essay

Differences Between Actor Network Theory And Social Construction Sociology Essay Here are few differences between Actor Network Theory and Social construction of technology that I found from various analysts point of view. To start with, I would like to jot down the basic difference between Actor network theory and the theory of social construction of technology. Actor network theory (ANT) considers both technical determinism and social determinism, i.e. it does not stick by the idea that technology shapes the society or the society shapes the technology (latour, Reassembling the social: an introduction to actor-network-theory, 2005). Social Construction of technology (SCOT) theory follows the ideas that technology is emerged from the social interaction of social group, which can be called social determinism. (Klein, H. K. Kleinman, D. L., 2002) Both of these theories involve participants in process of shaping the network or in shaping the outcome, known as Actors. Actors involved in ANT are humans and non-humans which are treated equally as separation between the two are difficult, as it cannot be said who played the major role. (latour,1997). The actors involved in SCOT are the Relevant Social group which includes people sharing the same interest in shaping the technological artifact (Bijker, Hughes, Pinch, 1989). Actors in ANT need to be performing constantly to keep the network flowing without any lag or hick up. SCOT does not follow a strict principle on the performance of the actors or the groups. If a certain relevant social groups involvement or influence is less than the other group, in that case it only brings in a few changes in the outcome of the technological artifact. (Klein, H. K. Kleinman, D. L., 2002) Talking about the aim of these theories, ANT is more about how the networks are formed rather than why the y are formed. It does not predict the outcome of the socio-technical artifact at any point. These entities are known as mediators where the input by the actors cannot predict the outcome; rather it multiplies or deletes the input/object passing through network known as tokens or quasi objects. (Wikipedia) Whereas SCOT illustrates how the social surrounding which include RSG and other actors give rise to a particular artifact. Right from the beginning the outcome is predicted or decided. It acts more like an intermediate unlike ANT. It does not really matter if there are changes that come through in the social surrounding while building the artifact, the previously assumed idea of the outcome would still remain the same. (Klein, H. K. Kleinman, D. L., 2002) If we study ANT carefully, the actors involved in it are not just objects but an association of other elements which self constitutes a network. To look like a single point actor, these elements are simplified or Black boxed. That means the network actors are open to new ideas and their contents can be reconsidered (Gidding, 1999). The idea of reconsidering the content does not exist in SCOT. It limits the influence of the RSG once the interpretive flexibility starts to gradually diminish. This causes it to reach the rhetorical closure, thus the alternative idea of a new design is eliminated. (Klein, H. K. Kleinman, D. L., 2002) Following the actor, this method in ANT suggest that the actors set their framework and the limits of the network by themselves. Actors in ANT are able to make their presence individually felt by the other actors (Tatnall Burgess, 2002). As discussed earlier, actors can be thought of as a black box, which has many actors hiding one behind other. So basically all the actors can be found at one place or it can be said that all the actors form a single point actor and this effect is known as Punctualisation (latour, Reassembling the social: an introduction to actor-network-theory, 2005). When the same method is compared to SCOT, actors are followed who are relevant to the technology and that may lead to another actor who is also relevant to that technology. The process is continued till no new actors pop-up. This causes the interpretation to come to a closure. Both of these theories have a positive and a negative side of their own. The biggest drawback of SCOT is that it ignores the effect of the technology after it has come into existence by social determinism. The technological artifact might have been developed for a particular purpose. But it is hard to expect the end-users to use it the way it is suppose to be used. In that case, it means that the effect of the technology after is has come into existence from a social determinism method, is slowly shaping the society in its own way. That brings us back to technological determinism. (Klein, H. K. Kleinman, D. L., 2002) As we know RSG solves the technical problems, seeking solutions, etc. We do not know who decides the which group are relevant social group and with the same the social interest. It fails to include the groups that have no voice and also the groups that will be affected by the results of technological change and also the groups that have been stamped down and excluded (Prell, Christina, 2009). It also fails to explain the circumstances where one of the relevant social groups seriously disagrees to either to the design or technological system or artifact, etc. There is no explanation on how the theory would handle the disagreements of the groups. Many critiques has pointed out on the same fault of theory that it portrays all the social groups on the same level or sharing equal authority or power. There is a slight fault with the interpretive flexibility once it reaches the closure. It does not look back for further interpretations in the future. (Hard, 1993) Actor-network theory treats humans and non-humans equal. It has been argued by many critics that how can a non-human be assigned to be an agency. For example, a technology can only be identified because we differentiate it from human actors. Technologies do not speak for themselves nor do they exist outside of processes of human assumption. Analytically speaking there is no such non-human actor to be described by ANT. ANT assumes that all actors, which include both humans and non-humans, are equal within the network, and have the same power. This leaves no space for power instability is left. Thus the power struggles within the network. ANT case studies leads to a lot of useless descriptions that seem pointless. (Whittle Spicer, 2005) Another major drawback of ANT it gets very difficult to follow the actors as the researcher would have to get into the depth of the topic for investigating a particular case without knowing where they will lead. As the actors are black-boxed, the researcher is following only one actor and would not know if it would open up further possible investigation. One of other weakness about ANT is that the actors, ANT requires both the actors to be performing constantly to keep the network flowing. Even if one fails, the whole system fails. (learning-theories, 2008) Talking about the strength of SCOT, one of the plus point of SCOT is how it overcomes one problem by finding a better way to adopt the technology. For example. Bicycle. There was a lot of debate on the safety and the way it was built or looked. But then, the eventually they adopted it because of the fact that they were fast when it came to speed. They overlooked the problem by relating it to another better plus point to the technology. To think about it, end of the day we (humans) are the once who are going to use the technology. So doesnt it make more sense that we shape the technology the way we want it? Based on our application we can shape the technology, SCOT is something that does exactly the same. Unlike ANT even if one if the actors fail to perform, the outcome of the system or the technological artifact does not fail. In that case that particular actor or the group will have less influence in the process of making the artifact. (Bijker, Hughes, Pinch, 1989) Actor-network theories main strength would be how it overcomes both social and technical determinism. This makes sense in a way because in a particular invention, it is hard to say who played the major role, humans or non-humans. For instance, let us take the example of how the laptop came into existence. If we have a look into it, the invention results from human and technology. The technical aspect of the laptop is achieved by the technical team which in-turn is influenced by the social background. Therefore, what seems to be social is partly technical and what seems to be technical is partly social. (latour, Reassembling the social: an introduction to actor-network-theory, 2005) Following the actors might have been criticized in the case of ANT but it has its own positive side too. When compared to SCOT, it does not have to approach each and every actor of the same revelant group. In ANT all the actors act as a single point actor which can be found in the Black box. (Gidding, 1999)

Parents Influence on CHildren Essay -- essays research papers

When two people decide to have a child, either knowingly or unknowingly, they make a vow to raise that child to the best of their abilities. While some parents are wonderful, loving, proud parents some are hurtful, abusive both physically or mentally, or just down right evil the impact they have is immense and will determine many aspects of the child and the way he/she lives out the rest of his/her life. In my life I have both kinds of parents, my mother is the most caring, loving, proud parent I know; while my father is very abusive and hateful towards me and this has had a tremendous effect on me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the years my mother has always been there for me and has been the one true positive factor in my life. She left my father with a 7 year old and two 3 year old children making $4.75 an hour at Walgreen’s. She has always defended me and helped me do many things I would not have been able to do without her help. Her love and devotion has fought many battles against my father and schools that did not care about the student but only test scores. It hasn’t always been easy and many years were spent with sometimes just enough money to eat, but through it all she has been a strong beacon of hope.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the other side of life is my father, he was a man who I believed may have loved my mom at one point but he was abusive, he was an adulterer, and just down right evil. He spent many years with at his peak four girlfriends p... Parents Influence on CHildren Essay -- essays research papers When two people decide to have a child, either knowingly or unknowingly, they make a vow to raise that child to the best of their abilities. While some parents are wonderful, loving, proud parents some are hurtful, abusive both physically or mentally, or just down right evil the impact they have is immense and will determine many aspects of the child and the way he/she lives out the rest of his/her life. In my life I have both kinds of parents, my mother is the most caring, loving, proud parent I know; while my father is very abusive and hateful towards me and this has had a tremendous effect on me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the years my mother has always been there for me and has been the one true positive factor in my life. She left my father with a 7 year old and two 3 year old children making $4.75 an hour at Walgreen’s. She has always defended me and helped me do many things I would not have been able to do without her help. Her love and devotion has fought many battles against my father and schools that did not care about the student but only test scores. It hasn’t always been easy and many years were spent with sometimes just enough money to eat, but through it all she has been a strong beacon of hope.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the other side of life is my father, he was a man who I believed may have loved my mom at one point but he was abusive, he was an adulterer, and just down right evil. He spent many years with at his peak four girlfriends p...

Farmland Industries Inc. Essay -- essays research papers fc

Introduction Today, when we hear the slogans "better farming, better food," or "proud to be farmer owned" one company comes to mind, Farmland Industries. We may think of this of this fortune 500 company as a leading agricultural powerhouse, which it is, however, it was not always that way. Background Farmland Industries Inc. was founded by Howard A. Cowden, who was born and raised in Southwestern Missouri. Cowden started young in the cooperative business by working for the Missouri Farmers Association (MFA). However; in October of 1927, he had resigned from the position of secretary for the MFA and started out on his own. Immediately following, Cowden received the MFA oil contract that previously had been held with Standard Oil Company, and Cowden was now in the wholesale oil business. On January 27, 1928, Cowden Oil Company was founded. This business was moved to Kansas City, Missouri in late 1928. In January of 1929, Cowden Oil Company was dissolved and Union Oil Company (Cooperative) was formed. It was clear that Cowden had planned to do more than just buy and sell oil to local cooperatives. A board of directors was created to run the company, yet Cowden retained full control over the company that he had created. Cowden started recruiting smaller companies to join their cooperative by signing contracts to sell certain amounts of Union’s products. In 1929, Union Oil Company had purchased its first land. "The Two Car Garage," as it is referred to, was the building that they had purchase to become their new home. In 1935, Union Oil Company changed its name to Consumers Cooperative Association (CCA). CO-OP was decided to be its official logo. In October of 1956, CCA moved to their new home on North Oak Trafficway, in Kansas City, and the company was ready for major business. In June of 1961, Howard A. Cowden retired as President of CCA and Homer Young stepped in to fill his shoes. In early to mid 1966, CCA changed its name again. This time to Farmland Industries, Inc., however; they still kept that CO-OP symbol for a trademark. CCA now emphasized much of its business to fertilizer, petroleum and commercial feed. This business only grew and grew for them. "By 1967, Farmland Industries had manufacturing fac... ...nternational consumer needs to be confident that they are getting excellent product at a competitive price. Farmland Industries is the crucial link between these two segments of the market. It is a system that has proven strong for many decades and promises to be strong for many more. WORKS CITED Alm, Rick. "Gamblin’ on the River." The Kansas City Star Almanac. 1996. Cabrera, Mario. Telephone interview. 20 Nov. 1996. Fite, Gilbert C. Beyond the Fence Rows. University of Missouri Press, Columbia, Missouri, 1978. Fite, Gilbert C. Farm to Factory. University of Missouri Press, Columbia, Missouri, 1965. Hartke, Debby. "Farmland’s Harry Cleberg: Agri-marketer of the year." Agri Marketing June 1996: A-D. Tolley, Warren D. E-mail to the author. 8 October, 1996. "Top 125 Area Private Companies-Part I." Kansas City Business Journal 14 June 1996: 20-24. Appendix 1992 Annual Report. The Farmland Cooperative System, 1993. 1994 Annual Report. The Farmland Cooperative System, 1995. 1995 Annual Report. The Farmland Cooperative System, 1996. "We Bring Quality to the Table" The Farmland Cooperative System. 1996: 61 U.S. Bureau of the Census 1995.

Determining Hate Crimes Essay -- essays research papers

Exposition: Determining Hate Crimes?Hate based on race, religion and sexual orientation exist within any cultural rich societies. When this type of hate fuels a person into taking violent actions upon those they hate, it is called a hate crime; a topic which the American public is seriously concerned about. It has been a widely discussed subject on the media, and often debates of whether or not a crime should be attributed with hate are the center for discussion.Does hate crime imply on any case when a person is convicted for inflicting damage on someone "different"? It is often difficult to set a benchmark for measuring sufficiency of hate as a cause to label it in front of crime. The term can be conveniently stretched and squeezed by people with different ideas and biases. The four white policemen who brutally beat Rodney King Jr., a black man, half to death for merely speeding is determined by the court ¡Ã‚ ¦s judgment, as officers performing their duty. Hate, to those particular jurors and judge, was not a valid concern. To them, the beating was not due to the officers ¡Ã‚ ¦ resentment for a black man, but because they were simply disciplining an offender of the law. To the minority groups, the court ¡Ã‚ ¦s ruling was outrageous. From their point of view, the savage beating was unnecessary and hate was obviously the factor which induce the four cops to perform such a nasty feat. Because people have varying views and opinions, application of the term "hate crime&qu...

Raider’s of the Lost Ark and Film Violence Essay

Raider Buttons In his book, More Than a Movie: Ethics in Entertainment, F. Miguel Valenti examines nine â€Å"hot buttons† of violence – â€Å"creative elements that filmmakers use to manipulate viewers’ reactions to onscreen violence.† (99) These elements, posited by researchers conducting The National Television Violence Study (Valenti, 99) are â€Å"choice of perpetrator, choice of victim, presence of consequences, rewards and punishments, the reason for the violence, weapons, realism, use of humor, and prolonged exposure† (Valenti, 100) . Raiders of the Lost Ark is a violent, yet well loved film which would be interesting to examine in this light. In Raiders, the choice of perpetrator is our hero, Indiana Jones. We do not think of him as â€Å"a perpetrator†, he is â€Å"the good guy†, yet he is shown bringing about the demise of many people. Victims of violence can be portrayed as likeable, in which case the effect on the audience is to â€Å"increase fear and anxiety. If violence can happen to someone *like* me, it can also happen *to* me, they reason† (Valenti, 101), however, if â€Å"the victim is dissimilar to the viewer and NOT likable, the viewer can more easily either rationalize the violence or dismiss it because in some way the victim ‘got what he deserved’† (Valenti, 102). The victims in Raiders are Nazis, not â€Å"everyday Joes†, their characters are not individualized, or if they are, they are over-the-top evil, like Arnold Ernst Toht the sadistic and ruthless Nazi Gestapo agent (Raiders). Raiders is chockfull of weapons – knives, machetes, submachine guns, and firearms of all sorts. â€Å"Weapons – in most cases fi rearms of one sort or another – can trigger aggressive feelings in viewers and cause them to interpret a seemingly neutral situation as potentially threatening† (Valenti, 104). This is knowledge Steven Spielberg puts to good use in the scene in Raiders where a Nazi approaches the bound Marion ominously with a vile looking weapon in hand, viciously flicks it open †¦ and hangs his coat on the wooden hanger (Raiders). This leads us to the subject of humor in violent situations. â€Å"†¦humor strips violence of the moral outrage the viewer might otherwise feel. And if our hero can joke about the destruction he is causing, surely we can as well† (Valenti, 107). Indiana Jones is confronted by a large, sword wielding man and after watching his elaborate swordsmanship, Indiana tiredly pulls out his gun and drops him with one bullet – to the rousing cheers of the audience (Raiders). â€Å"Social scientists state that when violence is shown in context, complete with depictions of the pain and suffering caused by the violent acts, aggressive behavior in the viewer is inhibited†(Valenti, 102). â€Å"If a violent act is rewarded – through the perpetrator’s attaining his goal or ‘getting the girl,’ the likelihood of learning aggressive behavior is increased† (Valenti, 103). After Indiana Jones battles his way onto a ship, he’s so bruised he can’t move, so Marion, a beautiful woman, kisses the pain away. This is the only physical consequence we see Indie â€Å"suffer† (Raiders). In Raiders of The Lost Ark, the violence is abundant from beginning to end, – a death tally of 63 (allouttabubblegum) — but we accept it because it is always the â€Å"bad guy† getting hurt — a greedy guide is skewered by a bed of nails, a relentless thug is chopped by a plane propeller, and numerous Nazi s meet their comeuppance by having their faces melt off (Raiders). The violence is often gory and realistic. According to the study, the reason for the violence tends to affect the viewers’ response to the violence. â€Å"When a violent act is seen as unjustified, aggressive tendencies are reduced in the viewer† (Valenti, 103) – the â€Å"body count† of Raiders consists entirely of Nazis, baddies, and thugs, which would make the audience tend to feel less anxious, and thus according to Valenti, actually increase the viewers’ aggressive tendencies (103). If the existence of audience created websites such as The Incredible Melting Nazi (YouTube) posted in the â€Å"Comedy† section, can be used as evidence, there may be something to that. Works Cited ASHPD24. â€Å"(Indiana Jones And The) Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981): Body Count Breakdown.† AllOuttaBubbleGum.com. WordPress, 31 January 2010. Web. 15 January 2013. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Dir. Spielberg, Steven. Paramount, 1982. Film. TheScarredLovers. â€Å"The Incredible Melting Nazi.† YouTube.com.You Tube, L.L.C., 23 May 2008. Web. 15 February 2013 Valenti, F. M. (2000). More Than a Movie. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Print.

Assignment 1 Demand Estimator Essay

Imagine that you work for the maker of a leading brand of low-calorie, frozen microwavable food that estimates the following demand equation for its product using data from 26 supermarkets around the country for the month of April. For a refresher on independent and dependent variables, please go to Sophia’s Website and review the Independent and Dependent Variables tutorial, located at http://www.sophia.org/tutorials/independent-and-dependent-variables–3. Option 1 Note: The following is a regression equation. Standard errors are in parentheses for the demand for widgets. QD = – 5200 – 42P + 20PX + 5.2I + .20A + .25M (2.002) (17.5) (6.2) (2.5) (0.09) (0.21) R2 = 0.55 n = 26 F = 4.88 Your supervisor has asked you to compute the elasticities for each independent variable. Assume the following values for the independent variables: Q = Quantity demanded of 3-pack units P (in cents) = Price of the product = 500 cents per 3-pack unit PX (in cents) = Price of leading competitor’s product = 600 cents per 3-pack unit I (in dollars) = Per capita income of the standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA) in which the supermarkets are located = $5,500 A (in dollars) = Monthly advertising expenditures = $10,000 M = Number of microwave ovens sold in the SMSA in which the supermarkets are located = 5,000 Option 2 Note: The following is a regression equation. Standard errors are in parentheses for the demand for widgets. QD = -2,000 – 100P + 15A + 25PX + 10I (5,234) (2.29) (525) (1.75) (1.5) R2 = 0.85 n = 120 F = 35.25 Your supervisor has asked  you to compute the elasticities for each independent variable. Assume the following values for the independent variables: Q = Quantity demanded of 3-pack units P (in cents) = Price of the product = 200 cents per 3-pack unit PX (in cents) = Price of leading competitor’s product = 300 cents per 3-pack unit I (in dollars) = Per capita income of the standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA) in which the supermarkets are located = $5,000 A (in dollars) = Monthly advertising expenditures = $640 Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you: 1. Compute the elasticities for each independent variable. Note: Write down all of your calculations. 2. Determine the implications for each of the computed elasticities for the business in terms of short-term and long-term pricing strategies. Provide a rationale in which you cite your results. 3. Recommend whether you believe that this firm should or should not cut its price to increase its market share. Provide support for your recommendation. 4. Assume that all the factors affecting demand in this model remain the same, but that the price has changed. Further assume that the price changes are 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 dollars. 1. Plot the demand curve for the firm. 2. Plot the corresponding supply curve on the same graph using the following MC / supply function Q = -7909.89 + 79.0989P with the same prices. 3. Determine the equilibrium price and quantity. 4. Outline the significant factors that could cause changes in supply and demand for the product. Determine the primary manner in which both the short-term and the long-term changes in market conditions could impact the demand for, and the supply, of the product. 5. Indicate the crucial factors that could cause rightward shifts and leftward shifts of the demand and supply curves. 6. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia does not qualify as an academic resource. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: 7. Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or  school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. 8. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: 9. Analyze how production and cost functions in the short run and long run affect the strategy of individual firms. 10. Apply the concepts of supply and demand to determine the impact of changes in market conditions in the short run and long run, and the economic impact on a company’s operations. 11. Use technology and information resources to research issues in managerial economics and globalization. 12. Write clearly and concisely about managerial economics and globalization using proper writing mechanics. Click here to view the grading rubric.

Mathematics, the Connection Between Art and Science Essay

Although there are many differences that set art and science apart, they share one undeniable commonality. This bond that is present between what is otherwise considered as polar opposites is mathematics. As shown in Professor Vesna’s lecture, mathematics is imperative to the development of art. Through math, artists have come to understand perspective, proportion, and geometrics. In terms of science, mathematics is the foundation which every theory stands upon. Nature, humans, and the digital world would have been impossible to comprehend without numbers to bridge the gap between the unknown and the understood. Truly, mathematics is ubiquitous and continues to prove its importance to this day. A novel amalgamation that consists of mathematics, art, and science is music. Milkman, an artist of the mash-up genre, is a musician that samples different songs and digitally combines them to form a brand new track. In a way, his work is described as an example of cross synthesis or convultion which according to Burk is some aspect of one sound superimposed on another. To harmoniously combine two different songs, one must fully understand every possible correlation in terms of rhythm, melody, and lyrics. And with mathematics and science making the technology available, the art of mashing up songs has become readily accessible and requires only creativity to create the next hit single. Mathematics has almost an infinite range of applications in society today. For example, Robert Lang presents mathematics as part of the core that drives origami, the art of folding paper. Lang shows that complexity is irrelevant; with mathematics to dictate origami, anything can be shaped. Because of its practicality of compacting large things, origami is used in various sectors of science which include telescope lens packing and heart stents. Another example of math’s prevalence is Theo Jansen’s presentation on his kinetic sculptures. His biological art, able to move independently, essentially redefines the wheel. Not only is it artistic but also it is a masterpiece of engineering; just a simple push can propel a massively heavy structure across difficult terrain. It is evident that math not only facilitates the evolution of artistic creations but also helps apply them as potential solutions to problems of today.

Madness in Wuthering Heights

AP Literature and Composition The Maddness of Wuthering Heights What is madness? It is defined as the state of having a serious mental illness, extremely foolish behavior, according to Oxford Dictionary. To an author, however, it can be so much more. In her novel, Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte had a method behind the madness, so to speak, using it to make many main points throughout the novel. She employs this madness specifically in her character Heathcliff, whose own emotions driven him to insanity. Through what causes him to go mad, and his actions as a result, the story is develpedHeathcliff’s madness derived from multiple factors but is rooted from hate shown by Hindley. When Mr. Earnshaw founb Heathcliff in the streets and took him in (page 36), he treated him like his son, sometimes even better than his own children. This created Hindley’s resentment for Heathcliff. Hindley did not like the attention Heathcliff recived from his father, therefore wanted to make Heathcliff as miserable as possible. When Hindley makes him a servant of the family, after Mr. Earnshaw’s death (page 43), he makes his distain know, with constasnt abuse and ill-treatment.It would give reason to Heathcliff’s loathing of Hindley. No one would agreeably go through that adversity without good reason. Therefore, it would seem reasonable for Heathcliff to leave when he thought Catherine was going to leave him. All of the time he spent away, would leave time to grow rueful to Hindley, and plot revenge for his mistreatment. He became so consumed by revenge, that he became void of any previous emotion. He lost care for anything other than shaming Hindley and gaining control of the Heights. He didn’t care who got in his way, and used others for his own selfish reason.This was the reason why Heathcliff married Isabella (page 131). Isabella would not have known of his schemes, as Heathcliff kept his true character hidden; he kept his madness well hidden. After Catherine’s death, he would have no other purpose to live but to fulfill his plan, even using Cathy (Catherine’s daughter) and his own son, forcing them to marry (page 248). Therefore, there is no question that the theme that the desire for revenge can consume someone is not a question. Heathcliff’s thirst for revenge was caused by his madness, nd it is present in most of the book. Another probable cause of Heathcliff’s madness is his love and obsession with Catherine. Heathcliff is treated terribly by all but Catherine, and she becomes his solace; his only friend. Her companionship is likely what kept him sane for longer. When she distanced herself, growing closer to the Lintons after staying there for several weeks (page 52), his attitude changed. Resentment and jealousy begin to form. She was not spending as much time with him, leaving him to endure whatever punishment Hindley forced on him.He was losing the one person he had left who seemed to c are about him Therefore, when she announced she was going to marry Edgar Linton, he ran and did not return for years (page 84). While he was away, he probably lost sight of reason, of what he previously thought mattered. He was likely angry that she would leave him for someone he did not like; that she wouldn’t be with him. His madness only worsened when she died, as the thought of life without her was too much for him to bear. He caused her death by running off with Isabella. His madness led to Catherine’s lapse from reality.She lost her mind over his actions, and as a result he lost her. His madness was caused by love, as he didn’t know how to grieve. The message of spiritual love and torment that is present throughout the story is shown throught this aspect of Heathcliff’s madness. He loved Catherine desperately, and her death tormented him for the remainder of his life. His madness nearly ruined the lives of the others around him, stopped only by his own death. Was Heathcliff mad before he arrived at Wuthering Heights? It is not said, but how it developed is crucial in developing the story.

Cable television in terms of its Respositioned target Market Assignment

Cable television in terms of its Respositioned target Market Demographics using the US - Assignment Example About 52.1% households in the U S earn over $50, 000 per year. This provides cable TV with a high potential of increasing its sales, market share as well as its brand awareness (US Census Bureau, 2009). There is a total of 117, 538, 000 households in the US that comprise all the racial groups (US Census Bureau, 2010). This shows there is a sizeable number of households cable television will market to in the targeted group. Census data also predicts the market has potential of growing in the coming years. Cable television targets families as it provides different channels suitable for family viewing and that will suit each member of the family. Cable television targets a wide range of individuals in all age groups, and they range from 5-60 years. The main users of cable television range from 15 to 40 years. The main target markets, therefore, include students and teenagers, professionals and business people, and seniors. The student and teenage population has an enormous desire for no n-stop entertainment, and easy access to entertainment will attract this group. The population continues to grow, and this is a crucial aspect for cable television’s customer base. ... Types of Research Needed to Reposition Cable Television Cable television is positioned at providing continuous entertainment and information at affordable prices to all its viewers. The main aim of the business is to provide services to its consumers in an effective and unique way. Cable television aims at casting channels through which individuals can access their favorite programs. This concept will enable the business to build a strong relationship with individuals who initially may not like cable television. Repositioning cable television requires extensive research. Market research has to be carried out to determine the preference of individuals and to show people the benefits of the services. This method will convince a large number of people to subscribe to cable television so they can enjoy the new services. Research has to be done regarding market needs of the target population. Rapid growth experienced in the field of information technology is the beginning of a trend towar ds an economy based on the infrastructure of cable television. Cable television should, therefore, ensure that it keeps up with the changing trends that are taking place due to changes in information technology so that it can provide up-to-date services to its customers. Methods Used to Increase Adoption Rates After identifying the target market and researching on consumer insights, cable television should develop a new overall image integrated with an awareness-building program aimed at shifting perceptions about cable television. Cable television would use two key methods to increase adoption rates of the services it offers to customers. The first method will focus on attracting new customers. This will be achieved

The Challenges for Inclusive Education in China Essay

The Challenges for Inclusive Education in China - Essay Example Poor human resource management in the form of teachers lacking necessary qualifications and motivation and absence of required teamwork all contribute to halfhearted attempts at inclusive education. Administrative Challenges Malinen (2013) shows some interesting trends with regard to inclusive education in China. For instance, Malinen (2013, p. 6) reveals that almost 60% of Chinese children with disabilities already study in mainstream schools. However, this optimistic figure is based on a disability assessment system that is based on functional disability such as visual, hearing, language, intellectual, physical and mental disability. On the other hand, the WHO categorizes disabilities along cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along, life activities, and participation domains. Thus, the performance of inclusive education in China appears deceptively positive. Some legal and social challenges include the difficulty of children of economic migrants to large cities getting admitted to schools in the cities. The large classroom sizes, rote learning and an assessment system based on competition rather than teamwork also make it difficult to implement inclusive education. Malinen (2013) also notes that teachers spend little time in planning lessons for inclusive classrooms. The UNESCO (2003) report also reflects similar views such as the inadequacy of the curriculum to meet the diverse learning needs of inclusive classrooms. Inclusive schools are often inaccessible to scattered populations which also pose a strong challenge. Chen (n.a.) also notes the problem of large classrooms for inclusive teaching to take place. The dearth of effective teaching aids further complicates the situation for teachers, who are inadequately trained at times. Poor school management... This paper approves that a conceptual paper on inclusive education by UNESCO validates the findings of Zhu and Wang by identifying some of the same barriers to inclusive education. The report highlights the challenge posed by socio-economic factors such as inadequate educational facilities and inequalities bred into the educational system. Poor human resource management in the form of teachers lacking necessary qualifications and motivation and absence of required teamwork all contribute to halfhearted attempts at inclusive education. This paper makes a conclusion that the main challenges to inclusive education in China are administrative and cultural. School administrations are struggling to equip inclusive schools with well-trained teachers while parents of children with special learning needs need to appreciate the importance of inclusive education. Resources need to be invested in teacher training, curriculum development and making inclusive schools accessible to the target populations. The current curriculum and teaching methodologies are inadequate for meeting the learning needs of students. The Chinese government seems to be making inclusive education a major priority; however, cooperation from local governments is also essential for these efforts to be effective. Moreover, once general consciousness that inclusive education is beneficial for the whole society is raised, the prospects for inclusive education in China are likely to become much brighter.

Globalization and Regionalization As The Counteracting Forces Essay

Globalization and Regionalization As The Counteracting Forces - Essay Example Globalization is characterized by economies opening up their local markets for international firms, which then creates a global market ideally open to all countries and firms. On the other hand, through regionalization countries seek to form economic blocks primarily to create preferential treatment for their firms as regards access to each other’s market as well as resources. In essence, globalization and regionalization are forces that act in opposite directions. This paper will demonstrate that the origins and purposes of regionalization are too varied and distinct to be classified as parallel to the process of globalization. Globalization and regionalization: forces in conflict In the contemporary world, various world economies have been pursuing a number of market approaches in an effort to promote their economic growth (for less developed countries) or economic stability (for industrialized countries). Regionalization, or formation of regional trading blocks, has been am ong the major approaches aggressively pursued by countries across the world. The European Union, North Atlantic Free Trade Area (NAFTA) and Association of East Asia Nations (ASEAN) are classic examples of regional trade blocks. As noted earlier, regionalization process gives more focus on certain regions rather than the global economy in general. Regional blocs tend to minimize interactions between different parts of the world, particularly in terms of trade. They in effect tend to threaten the process of globalization. Countries within a regional trade block apply a number of mechanisms to effect preferential treatment of their fellow members, thus giving them a competitive edge over non-members. One of the most used mechanisms is discriminative tariffs. Others are government subsidies, and import quotas, technical assistance (Mucchielli, Buckley and Cordell, 1998). Regional trade blocs are among the most popular the regional integrations developments that have and continue to char acterize the modern world economy. Many countries have joined one or more regional blocks. In furthering their course, members of a regional trade block may go as far as taking such drastic measures as removing both tariff and non-trade barriers between the member states and thus offer complete and unrestricted access to each other’s market and productive resources (Kacowicz, 1998). Since regional blocks are more inclined towards implementation of policies that protects the state members from global competition, it tends to obstruct global trade liberalization. As a result, trade between members of a regional trade block and non-member states suffers significantly. This evidently discourages the process of globalization. Since globalization process is characterized by the move towards free trade and increased interdependence among different economies despite of regional differences, regionalization effectively becomes a powerful force that tend to move opposite to the directi on of globalization (Mucchielli, Buckley and Cordell, 1998). When punitive tariffs are imposed on imports from non-member states, the imported goods automatically become more expensive compared to similar goods from a trade partner within the regional trade block.

HEALTH LAW AND ETHICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

HEALTH LAW AND ETHICS - Essay Example Further, childhood obesity increases the children’s vulnerability to cardiovascular diseases. The major cause of childhood obesity, being consumption of foods with high levels of calories, however induces both legal and ethical concerns. This is because different stakeholders such as the government, the fast food industry, and parents have a responsibility to protect children from the identified health risk factors. The government should for example enact strict laws to regulate level of calories in produced foods while the industry should outline ethical measures for protecting children. Judicial implementation of the regulations would greatly solve the childhood obesity issue. The opinion that public health has currently thrived more that in old days is true and consistent with the high living standard that has led to higher life expectancy. Such developments in public health are however attributable to public health policies that are legally formulated and enforced to ensure that individuals right to life is protected by the government. Established legal measures and ethical standards in public health have also ensured immediate and adequate

Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Art History - Essay Example The Plan of St. Gall shows an entire monastery compound, which includes things like churches, houses, a brewery, kitchens, stables, and an infirmary. While this plan was never actually built, much can be learned from it because it was probably a typical plan during this time period. The plan was actually made by combining five different parchments that were sewn together. This includes room for this like an orchard and a road. The buildings are marked with red, while everything else is marked in brown. There are over forty buildings that are present in this plan and although the buildings were never built, they are an excellent guide to how people lived during this time period. The plan itself is actually quite interesting, as things like the scriptorium and library are located on the inner concourse of the plan, while lodging and a hostel are located on the outer half. Also, the Abbott’s house in located near the scriptorium, which could symbolically mean that he is closer to God than the other monks. Many of the buildings that are present would be for economic reasons, as the monks had animals and places to grow fruit and vegetables located at these places. The plan was meant to depict a place that was entirely self-sufficient, meaning that the monks would not have to leave this monastery for any reason. This means that every aspect of life had to be explored in order to come up with a plan that would accomplish this goal, which is what makes this plan so important historically. The largest buildings that were present at this monastery were the buildings of worship and study, with these building also being located in the middle of the plan. The schools, houses, and stables were also quite large, but they were located on the outside of the plan. The entrance also led right up to the largest buildings. These large buildings were mostly meant for guests,

Discussion 4C Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion 4C - Assignment Example It is important for people working together to get along at their work places as they require each other at some point during work. When people get along in workplaces, it is easier and faster for them to help each other finish tasks and deal with deadlines. The video is about a talk on email etiquette and how the email works. It was good to learn the don’ts involved when sending a single mail to multiple people. I also learned that I can be in a position to prevent computer viruses spread through emails. An important lesson learnt from the video is that it is valuable to respect other workers whom you working with. The times when an individual does not feel like working should be spent outside the office rather than making noise for others. It is important for people working together to respect each other. Hacking into people’s machines and emails to get vital, and secretive message is one of the risks of electronic communication. Sensitive information meant for specific individuals could get into the wrong

A Response to Crossing the Tracks of Friendship and Dating Essay

A Response to Crossing the Tracks of Friendship and Dating - Essay Example It also shows that lately there have been signs of disagreements in the relationship on topics like "religion, being involved in church, and also about being sexual" (Braithwaite, 1999). Beneath the questions is the hidden issue of intimacy, whether they would indulge in it since they have started to get involved physically already or abandon it altogether in congruence to their concept of friendship. Despite their uncertainties, Robert and Anya's main objective is still each other's well-being because they do genuinely love each other and are, "almost soul-mates" (Braithwaite, 1999). That love is outwardly displayed in the form of constant communication about their relationship, that they can be "open and direct with each other" (Braithwaite, 1999). The dominant medium of communication is the late-night conversations over the telephone. Because of their willingness to talk openly together they seek solutions to their questions. One solution they have come up for their interpersonal issues is their mutual categorical agreement not to date. One convenient advantage is the clarity of the definition of friendship and its conventional boundaries, that they need not anymore court possible miscommunication or mixed signals with their actions towards each other. This is the best solution at hand because it is commonly agreed by both and leaves no room for ambiguity. The disadvantage, however, is that it currently halts any development towards and intimate relationship. A relationship is a dynamic process and two people who are attracted to each other and share the same values ought to have every room available for going to the next level, if permitted. Yet both also see the possibility that they "don't have to see friendship and romance as excluding each other" (Braithwaite, 1999), that maybe they can have both. An advantage of this solution is the acceptance and recognition that both concepts, although seemingly contradictory, can further enhance the relationship. In friendship is the ease that Robert and Anya have already established in talking about anything of consequence which can probably lead, as they further mature, to a deeper understanding of each other's unique individuality and very personal needs that romance can fill in. This case teaches us that interpersonal communication is a practical necessity that requires a lot of work to interact well in society. Interpersonal communication is a work by itself. It s not just a passive tool to be used to go about one's everyday business but is something that grows and can be developed through deliberate effort. One applicable theory in the case is the theory of Relational Dialectics of Leslie Baxter and Barbara Montgomery which tells about the simultaneous presence of the push and pull of tensions in a close relationship. The closer the relationship is the more conflicts will come threatening to tear the relationship apart (Cooke, "Relational"). It is evidenced by Anya's perception of Robert's lack of consideration of her feelings when he kissed her without her express consent, the early observation incompatibility, the playful accusations of who likes whom more with Robert's vehement rebuttal, Anya's supposed flirtatious nature and her denial of it. Under this theory, these potential conflicts are best

Reporting results Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Reporting results - Essay Example Financial results, information, and conclusion may be reported in balance sheets, activity statements, and cash flow statement amongst others. The information on the balance sheet, activity statement, and cash flow statements are connected. Whereas balance sheet provides the financial position of an organization, activity statement provides the reports on the entitlements and obligations in respect to taxation and cash statement flow projects, the cash inflow and outflow within organizations (Finkler, 2010). The cash flow statements of organizations are derived from balance sheets and activity statements. On the other hand, taxation entitlements and obligations as obtained from activity statements are derived from expenses that dependent on cash availability portrayed within the balance sheet (Finkler, 2010). In addition, the changes in stock as illustrated by balance sheet are used within activity statements to calculate the income of the organization for tax entitlements and obligations. From the above explanations there is enough evident that the information in balance sheet, activity statement, and cash flow statements are connected and not independent and some allude. The financial statements heavily borrow from each

Comparative Research on Cross-Cultural Families Essay Example for Free

Comparative Research on Cross-Cultural Families Essay 1. Reference or bibliographic entry of your selected article in APA style (see example in the first assignment guidelines): Toro-Morn, M., Sprecher, S. (2003). A cross-cultural comparison of mate preferences among university students; the united states vs. the peoples republic of china (PRC). Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 34(2), 151-170. 2. What are the aims and/or research questions of the study? The research of the cross-cultural study aims their question at comparing mate preferences of young adults in the People’s Republic of China and those young adults of the United States. This study correlates to the research done in 1998 by Goodwin, which examine the political and economic structure in a particular culture and the effect it had on relationships, in particular mate preferences. 3. What concepts or ideas did the authors want to study? How were they defined in the study? Read through the literature background or the introduction part. The article states the researchers have three concepts they wish to obtain from the study. One, within each culture analyzes gender variation in mate preferences. Second, differentiate the two cultures in which they are satisfied with gender differences in mate preferences. Third, differentiate the two cultures of the significance of diverse partner characteristics. The concepts were outlined and explain through a questionnaire to 648 university students in the United States and 735 university students in the People’s Republic of China. The United States questionnaire contained 422 females, 219 males, and 7 did not specify their gender. The People’s Republic of China questionnaire contained 343 females, 352 males, and 40 did not specify their gender. The questionnaire contained a section called â€Å"Traits Desired in a Mate.† Through the results, researchers could determine which traits were least and most important. Also the differences and similarities within each culture, including the mate preferences of women versus males within each culture. 4. Describe the participants of the study. Since you are supposed to choose an article of a cross-cultural study on families, the participants for this study should have different cultural backgrounds. What are these cultural backgrounds? What are the demographics of the participants? This study contained two different participants, our very own young adults from the United States and young adults from the People’s Republic of China. In the late 1970s, The People’s Republic of China began having social and economic reforms. Not only did they began having reforms, but these reforms stimulated the growth of social science research. Which as a result, allowed researchers to research the mate preferences of young adults in the People’s Republic of China. The People’s Republic of China is recognize as the largest country in the world. Thus, having an immense population. These people live in a country were social and historical forces play an important role in their expectations of their potential partner. In addition they live in a country were government enforces family polices. This study contain people who were currently in a university; thus their age would range from eighteen to twenty three. 5. What is the authors’ methodology? How did the authors collect their data? What are the measurements or research tools that they used? The author’s methodology is based on a method, a procedure, measurements of the procedure, and results. The author collected their data by a questionnaire given to university students in the United States and the People’s Republic of China. The measurements the researchers used were in a section on the questionnaire called â€Å"Traits Desired in a Mate† which determine what characteristics they found important in a potential mate. 6. What kind of analytical procedures did the authors use? Describe each as to how they can answer the research questions or achieve the aims of the study. The author uses three types of analytical procedures. They first gather their research by determining which of the twenty-five traits were most and least favored overall. They put this data into a table, which  portrays the importance rating for the total sample. Secondly, they compared the similarities and differences within each culture. As a result, they are able compare each culture traits that hold high or low importance and see if any of them are the same. Third, they compare the mate preferences for women and men in each culture. 7. What are their general findings and conclusions? The study concluded that participants would rather have a mate who is honest, kind, healthy, and have an energetic personality. Researchers found that participants felt that intrinsic personality traits were more important then status characteristics. Males were more entranced with attractiveness as a role in finding their mate. Well women in both culture were looking for men with earning potential and wealth. The major difference between the United States and Chinese cultures was the importance of having children to both parties. As you could imagine, it was important to the American culture and was fairly unimportant to the Chinese counterparts. 8. After the findings and conclusions, what recommendations were made by the researchers? I don’t know if there were recommendations made as much as thoughts for the future. The researchers though that the past has shaped both countries enough that what they look for in a potential mate will stay true. These differences between the two countries should still hold true, disregarding the fact that the Untied States culture is widely accepted in China. If anything they came to the conclusion that China’s one-child policy has a major effect on how the Chinese look for a mate. 9. What learning did you gain from this assignment or from reading this kind of a paper? I definitely enjoyed reading this particular article because it compared the United States culture (which is the country I lived in) to another culture, the People’s Republic of China. Through the researchers questionnaire, I was able to see the comparisons between the two cultures in their mate  preferences. I felt it was interesting to see how important social and economic factors are in other cultures.