Affirmative Action Essays (1425 words) - Social Inequality

Affirmative Action Affirmative Action: What is affirmative action? This has been a very interesting question throughout the past thirty years. Many people would like to answer it with simply the name given to programs that try to correct past and ongoing discriminations against women, racial minorities, and others in the work force and in education. Where this answer may be a good textbook style response, not all people agree with it. Affirmative action was created out of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It actually went into effect out of an Executive order that was delivered by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. He wanted to do more than what the non-discrimination laws of the time were trying to accomplish. He also wanted to see minorities and women get a better chance at advancement in their current jobs. President Nixon, whom also implemented the same Executive order, kept affirmative action alive. President Ford helped to update affirmative action by adding the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974. Years later President Carter created an office to handle affirmative action cases that dealt with the contract aspects of the original Affirmative Action plan, and called it the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. There were three prime aspects of affirmative action that fell into place. The first was affirmative action in employment. The second area is affirmative action dealing with contracts. The third area of affirmative action deals with the area of education. When we look at the affirmative action plans of employment, this is one area that most all of us have came into contact at some point in our lives. When you and I go to apply for a job with a company, we feel that if we are the best qualified for the position that we should receive it. This is the way that most normal people would feel. With Affirmative Action, this idea of the best-qualified person for the job is not a reality. Not all companies still go with the idea of Affirmative Action as a written policy, but may still have it as an acting practice in their hiring. Throughout the past thirty years many people have been promoted, hired, or even fired based upon their color of their skin, or on the basis of their sex. Does this sound like a very fair thing to do? Most would not think so, but it is a reality that Affirmative Action has put into play. In May of 1994 at St. Bonaventure University, the president of the university fired 22 of his faculty members for being males. He openly admitted that the firings were based on gender and not qualifications. Some of these professors' even had tenure that were fired. Needless to say, a group of twelve of the men went to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and brought up charges on the school. This is not the only example of a bias workplace that is moving in a reverse discriminatory fashion. There are many other businesses and companies that like to give special considerations to the minorities and females, just so that they can put off some appearance that they are trying to be fair to all of their employees. This idea of hiring anyone that is less qualified than someone else based on the color or his or her skin is wrong. Discrimination no matter how you want to view it is not anything that will go away by forcing companies to put into practice a program that selectively picks the worker that is less qualified, but happens to fit in the correct minority group or is female. When a company does this it is setting itself up for internal problems with workers that already work there. Any idea of discrimination or racism that already exists in the workers may be heightened instead of lessened. The idea that your coworker didn't have to score as high on the test, meet the same requirements, or have as much schooling as you because they are a minority is going to cause most people to feel a bit enraged. In a business where a person's physical skills are an important part of

Financial Rewards Are the Only Way to Gain Employee Loyalty

Financial Rewards Are the Only Way to Gain Employee Loyalty Financial rewards and incentives are the only way to gain employee loyalty because actions speak louder than words. People Like to See and Have Cash Money Let’s face this very important fact: Most people work for someone else – the owner of a business, and that business owner wants to make as much money as they possibly can off the work of their employees. This means paying them as little as humanly – not humanely – possible to make a profit. This is wrong, of course, but until we figure out, and pursue our dream, we’re pretty much going to work to fulfill someone else’s dream. And that means we have to work for what they will pay us, what the business itself is willing to pinch out of their fat wallets. Naturally, this terrible system is one-sided, a bit unfair, and employees begin to resent their employees for their greediness and lack of compensation. So people move on to other companies that will pay them more for their work and time. People need, want, like to see and have  cash money. So, therefore, financial rewards are the only way to gain employee loyalty. People are Apprehensive about Running out of Money For one, financial rewards and incentives keep employees loyal to a company because people are traditionally apprehensive about money – well, about running out of it. This goes back to the 1920s when it felt like, for some folks, money just poured in like champagne. Then the stock market crash of 1929 changed all that, the Great Depression set in – and money was never the same again. Even today in 2016, a few years after the Great Recession of 2008, people are worried about running out of money, so they work hard to find work at companies that will pay them well. Financial rewards, therefore, assure a person that the company they’re working for understands this apprehension and wants to keep the employee happy and paid well. Financial rewards – such as quarterly performance bonuses, yearly salary promotions and general monetary gifts and gift cards – are the key to keeping an employee’s loyalty, because more money is what people need and want . They’re afraid of not having enough of it, which is understandable. Actions Speak Louder than Words Secondly, financial rewards and incentives are the only way to gain employee loyalty, because actions speak louder than words. Any supervisor or boss can promise a promotion, a raise or a much-needed bonus. That may be enough to temporarily quell an employee’s apprehension at not getting paid what they want – but that certainly wears off. But until that check is given or that direct deposit made, when the employer actively demonstrates they want to keep an employee’s loyalty, the employee remains skeptical and increasingly disloyal. Actions speak louder than words. They begin to look for other jobs, better-paying jobs, at companies that do provide sufficient financial rewards and incentives. Companies have the revenue to pay their employees more money, but so many businesses fail to retain their employee’s long-time loyalty because these businesses are cheap and greedy. Employees don’t Need Emotional Support    They Need Money Lastly, a company that gives its hard-working employees well-earned financial rewards and incentives is one that will flourish and retain employees for life. Business owners know this – but they often take the path of the cheap, and exhibit extreme short-sidedness: they would rather hire younger employees who can do the same work for cheaper than pay their existing employees more for doing the work. This is how it is, unfortunately. What an employee needs, in order to retain employees long term and keep their loyalty, is to show an investment in the employee. Employees don’t need emotional support, a nicer office, better working conditions. What they need is money, cold, hard cash. People need cash in this economy. This world is getting more expensive by the second, so people want more money to add financial cushion to their lives, which is more than understandable, and companies must make this effort to retain their best employees. MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND In conclusion, we have here, in this argumentative essay, acknowledged the greedy, exploitative nature of capitalism in America. The corporate culture is going in the wrong direction; maybe it’s always been this way. Perhaps that’s why the one-percent keep their fortunes growing. Perhaps greediness and exploitation keep the capitalistic society going – or else we’d all be the same: and that’s Socialism, Communism. That’s not American. What is American, evidently, is not paying employees what they are worth, which results in unhappy people – those who flee to other companies because these other companies pay better and offer enticing financial rewards and incentives.

What Strategies Should McDonald's Pursue in 2011-2013 Essay

What Strategies Should McDonald's Pursue in 2011-2013 - Essay Example Thus, the strategic management within an organization revolves around conducting an analysis, deciding on an appropriate course of action and finally taking the action. Analysis of strategic management entails the critical evaluation of internal as well as the external environments within which the firm operates. Along these lines, an organization analyzes her missions, visions, goals and objectives as against the other players within the industry. Among these decisions that the organization must make is with what other firms do they compete and through what ways should the competition be? Finally, actions are taken with the aim, of realizing the set goals and meeting the decisions made after the analysis (Dess, Gregory, Lumpkin and Marilyn, 2005, 1) The McDonald’s (MCD) is a trade logo for a group of fast food and burger restaurants; she works like â€Å"Burger King Holdings.† The McDonalds are seen to be the dominant players within this industry with the widest covera ge of the world. According to past reports, the company has set an ever rising performance in the last nine years with her key operational pillars being founded on; people customers and employees), price, products, promotion and place. Their fundamental operation strategy has been â€Å"plan to win† all through. The annual report on investors for the year 2010 reveals a fabulous performance of the company despite the many challenges she faced just like all other firms and especially those in a like industry of the fast foods. By managing deeper insights for customers and proper alignment of business strategies, the CEO says that a 5% rise in comparable sales was realized, 9% growth in operating income and the company’s overall market share around the globe increased. By upholding proper prioritization for the relevance of the firm’s brand and focusing sharply on the customers, the firm managed to keep on top in the year. However, as the CEO puts it, it was the s ame focus that was to be employed for the following year, 2011. The basic working formula for the firm has been building on and holding onto the basics while at the same time modernize and differentiate their brand. As for the service delivery, the brand was committed to further her excellency by adopting onto favorable technologies, invest in training and adoption of other service enhancement mechanisms that are all aimed at maintaining or improving her performance in the year 2011. Repackaging as part of product differentiation and promotion was to be adopted more so through restaurant re-imaging (McDonald’s Corporation, 2010, 1-3). In a more like manner, the year 2011 saw a fantastic performance of the corporation. The CEO records a 5.6% comparable sales rise a 10% growth in operating income and an increase in the corporations overall market share margin. All these are attributable to the proper forecasts made and policies put in place in the previous year, followed by the right decisions and the correct actions. This therefore has revealed a strong strategic management planning of the corporation over the year 2011. There was even deeper commitment to modernizing the operations of the corporation even further than the previous years with even more innovations on customer oriented products. 2012 was no lesser as the comparable margin in sales shot up by 3.1% while 4% was the income increase. The year marked a continuation of inventions and innovations where new menus’ came into place and the focused decision to become modernized taking shape. In a bid to reach more markets, the report also reveals great strides that have been taken to exploit new markets, especially within even the emerging economies. The

SHORT LISTENING ASSIGNMENT FORMAT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

SHORT LISTENING ASSIGNMENT FORMAT - Essay Example The roles played by the piano, the bass and the drums are all very important. The piano is the lead and it starts out with the tone, melody and rhythm it wants to set for the whole song. The drums and bass play a similar role of maintaining the rhythm for the rest of the performers. The 12-bar blues chord progression (Rickert) is followed throughout most of the song. The pianist plays some variations during the performance. The bassist comps for the soloists by playing the root using slapping technique. The drummer uses fillers in between the performances of brass instrument players. The sequence of events in the song start with the pianist and bassist, then the saxophone, trombone and trumpets with the drummer play their sequences. The sequence displays head riff technique where the saxophone soloist performs his piece, the trombone player takes over for a while reiterating the chorus music and the saxophone soloist resumes his piece. The trumpet soloist also gets to showcase his variations. What is interesting to note is that the drummer and the trombone player have brief little duet which is very pleasant and emphasises the rhythm and melody of One O’clock Jazz. The light and upbeat melody of the entire piece is rejuvenating. The tone is simple yet energetic. The sequence of performances by the soloists and the sections is very well balanced. The video is visually appealing because the rhythmic motion display of the musicians rubs off on the listener and sets them

Corporate Responsibility for Childhood Obesity Essay

Corporate Responsibility for Childhood Obesity - Essay Example The central argument in Linn’s case is that the food manufacturing companies are the ones responsible for the high number of obese kids in society. However, David has a different argument stating that it is the accountability of the guardian and the kid to ensure that the child does not get obese. These central arguments are different and reviewing their supporting arguments offers more insight on the issue. The key difference between these two authors is on who ought to take responsibility for the obesity problem facing kids in the contemporary world. According to Susan Linn, the responsibility for this goes to the companies that manufacture these foodstuffs. She supports this by further stating that the advent in technology has made companies powerful enough to sidestep the authority of the parent when a kid wants to purchase a particular commodity. They have done this by producing commodities that are cheap enough for a kid to purchase with their allowance without necessarily asking their parents for the money. According to David, the responsibility for this falls on the companies and parents. David offers an example of his life where he received enough money to go to fast food restaurants and take his daily meals. He states that this has not changed with the contemporary families and is thus the parent’s responsibility. He further states that the kids ought to practice self-control not to go into these restaurants and eat fast foods. David comments on the issue of children that have flocked courts claiming to sew these fast food restaurants for their obese conditions (ZincZenko). He states that this is a wrong thing to do and that instead of suing these companies, the kids ought to take great care of their health. The fast food companies are also at fault because they do not indicate the ingredient content on their commodities and this leads to misinformed decisions among

Bottled water purchasing patterns of university students

Bottled water purchasing patterns of university students Safe and reliable drinking water is an issue in most of the countries, so companies have installed their plants to supply water in bottles to satisfy the consumers. But the reliability of all bottled water is always questioned. In Pakistan the purified water bottled industry is approximately 25 years old. It made its advent in Pakistan in 1980s. Abehayyat was the pioneer brand at that time. It is a common perception that most mineral bottled water appears to be safe and of better quality than water from other sources (Filtered, Boiled and Tap water), but the quality of some brands is spotty, however, and such products may pose a health risk. (Natural Resources Defense Council, 2008) There are rifts which seek to question the reliability and hygiene of Bottled water. Following are some brands of bottled water which are present in Karachi Market: 1. Aquafina 2. Aqua safe 3.Classic 4. Culligan 5. Kinley 6.Nestle Furthermore, primary research has determined which brands are available, famous and considered to be reliable in the minds of students. Research Problem This research explores the purchasing patterns of university students with regard to their attitude and buying behaviour of mineral bottled water. By attitude I mean the following: Is a particular gender more attracted to mineral bottled water? Is household income affecting the buying behaviour towards mineral bottled water? Do particular brands affect the buying behaviour of students? What is the students perception towards the reliability, and hygiene factors of mineral bottled water? Which type of media is more influential for consumers regarding mineral bottled water? What factors (brand image, company image, price, bottle shape and bottle size i.e. 0.5 liter, 1 liter, 1.5 liters, 2 liters, 5 liters, 10 liters, and others) influence students for using mineral bottled water? These are the major questions which need to be addressed. 1.3 Scope of the Study The study was conducted in only two universities of Karachi First is Karachi University; my focus was only on two departments Food Sciences and Chemistry. Second is Bahria in which our respondents would be students of Management Sciences i.e. BBA and MBA. Study Objectives The main objectives of the study are the following: To explore how demographic factors (income, gender etc) psychographic factors (interest, attitudes, opinions loyalty etc) affect buying of mineral bottled water. To describe the information about brands of mineral bottled water available in Karachi Market To find out which type of source of information (communication medium) is more influential for students towards mineral bottled water. Importance of Research This study has been helpful in evaluating consumers perception towards mineral bottled water in Karachi. What they perceive regarding each and every brand of mineral bottled water. This study has let us know about the top of mind brands of mineral bottled in Karachi market. It can help the companies to know that which segment be targeted and which marketing strategy of mineral bottled water be implemented. 1.6 Research Methodology This study is qualitative in nature. Qualitative method is suitable to ascertain the in-depth insights of students regarding mineral bottled water. It helps in exploring students perception and attitude towards the purchase of mineral bottled water in Karachi. Researchers used in-depth interviews with students based mainly on open ended questions. In depth discussion encourages a spontaneous and free flowing exchange of opinions and ideas among respondents. We have taken two extremes, one is Government owned Karachi University in which Food Sciences and Chemistry departments were interviewed because they deal in chemicals and reactions, so they must have clear knowledge about the composition of mineral bottled water. And second is privately owned Bahria in which BBA and MBA departments were interviewed with mainly upper upper middle class backgrounds. A reason of choosing these disciplines is to get a clear idea of behaviour and class because lots of students drink mineral bottled water as a symbol of status. Non probability, convenience sampling technique was used to conduct In-depth interviews. The questionnaire was finalized after consultation with the instructor, and was used after instructors approval 1.6.1 Sampling Data Collection In this study it includes a total sample of 200 students from two universities of Karachi i.e. KU BAHRIA. Breakup is given as follows: Karachi Institute/Departments Management Sciences Undergraduate BBA Graduate MBA 1.BAHRIA Male Female Male 25 25 25 Sub Total 50 50 Total 100 BBA and MBA students were chosen to assess the different perceptive of two different disciplines. Being business students they have an understanding and knowledge of marketing and brand concepts. Karachi Institute/Departments Food Sciences Chemistry 2.Karachi University Male Female Male 25 25 25 Sub Total 50 50 Total 100 BAHRIA and KU were chosen to get an equal representation of students in Karachi from every aspect i.e. socio-economic class and perception. Aforementioned departments have been chosen, their students possess sufficient knowledge beverages and chemical compositions. Data Collection: Secondary Data: This data was conducted through research Journals, previous Researchers conducted, business magazines and relevant websites Primary Data: Non probability convenient sampling technique was used to collect data through semi-structured questionnaires. Relevant samples (Top of mind brands of mineral bottled water revealed by students at a later stage) 1.7 Limitation of This Study This was a new area of research which had not yet been tapped in Pakistan, so it is very difficult to acquire information (especially from secondary data). This research was confined to only two universities of Karachi. Within those universities two departments were targeted for this research. This research concerns only the behaviour of students towards mineral bottled water because their consumer patterns may differ from outside market or other departments of universities or other universities of Karachi. Growing terrorist concerns resulted in the closure of Universities which led to delays. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Mineral Bottled Water: An Overview Mineral Bottled water by definition is pure water bottled for commercial purposes sold to consumers throughout different countries at different prices. It is now clear that mineral bottled water has become a commodity and various brand names have sprung up around the globe. According to Hall (2007) Water bottling is a huge business which is getting greater, by growing annually about ten percent over the past five years. There is no arguing how much mineral bottled water has become a part of our lives. Mineral bottled water is easily available everywhere in our colleges, universities, hospitals etc. Mineral bottled water has become a popular source of refreshment and revitalization internationally. Mineral bottled water has become a multibillion dollar industry with huge profit margins which has led to some big questions. Can we really put a price on something that is such a sustainable part of life and isnt putting a price on mineral bottled water denying some people the right to consumption of safe and reliable water resources? But even bigger questions are what is mineral bottled water exactly is it pure mineral water or is it just filtered tap water that has gone through a process of purification and put in plastic bottles along with a price tag that has a huge cost to profit margin for the manufacturers According to Eric Goldstein, co-director of the urban program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a non-profit organization devoted to protecting health and the environment. Evocative names and labels representing pastoral scenes have persuaded us that liquid is the purest drink around. But we should not think that mineral bottled water is better regulated, protected and safer than tap water. Some mineral bottled water does come from sparkling springs and pristine sources, but 25 percent or more of mineral bottled water comes from a municipal supply, which is treated, distilled and sold to us, at raised prices. Most people are amazed to find out that theyre drinking overvalued tap water, but bottlers do not need to mention the resource on the label. (Jemmott, 2008). 2.1.1 Origin of Bottled Water Columbia Water Centre says that since ancient times mineral bottled water has been around in some form or the other.  In the first century AD, during the times of the Roman Empire, people would travel to collect water in ceramic containers from the areas source water to their homes to enjoy it, and the rich had slaves and servants who did this for them. Water is and always has been a source of life sustainability and people have always considered mineral water as therapeutic so in some form or the other water has been used for commercial gain. According to the Columbia Water Centre bottled water did not become a business until the 1700s. Before the opening of spas where people used to come for the treatment of illnesses, modern medicine people started to consume mineral waters to help treat constipation, kidney stones and for common health.  The business of mineral bottled water began with the opening of spas. Initially, the spas would give out the water to their guests when they left to take with them.   Then in the early 1800s, the spas began to ship the water to people, by charging only the shipping costs and not for the real water. As this practice rose, the spas realized that they could earn profits by charging for the mineral water also. Vittel, Evian, Perrier and San Pellegrino, are the early suppliers of mineral bottled water who are still well known among others. But according to McCormack (2004) the real boost of bottled water market did not commence until 1968 when Vittel revolutionarily launched the first plastic bottled water aimed for general public consumption and within thirty years time it became a contemporary phenomenon. The plastic bottle made it easier to carry around water for consumption leading to its massive sales and growth as an industry. 2.1.2 Bottled Water Worldwide Scenario According to Jemmott (2008) Mineral Bottled water is in all places, restaurants, homes, stores, offices and aeroplanes and all across the country. In 2006, we consumed more than eight billion gallons of the matter, which was 10 percent more than 2005. Its stimulating, calorie-free, handy, and tastier than the other tap water, also better than sugary sodas. Because of this According to the (World Watch Institute, 2007) consumers feel that choosing bottled water is a convenient alternative to buying many other packaged beverages, which may include unessential sugars, caffeine, and other chemical additives. It would seem that buying and drinking water is a logical action. Water bottlers around the world use this consumer faith to promote their product as convenient, safe and clean etc. They use a variety of marketing tools to communicate their message to their target audience. The non-alcoholic beverage industry spends an average of $2 billion per year (as of 2005) on advertising, making these beverages one of the most heavily advertised commodities in the U.S. (Zheng and Kaiser, 2008) This is no ordinary amount it shows how aggressively the bottled water industry markets its image of purity and safety. 2.1.3 Global Bottled Water Market According to statistics presented by the Global Industry Guide, In 2006 the global market of mineral bottled water grew by 7% and reached to $60,938.1 million, whereas on 2011, the value reached to $86,421.2 million which was an increase of 21.8% from 2006 to 2011. In 2006 market grew by 8.1% and reached a volume of 115,393.5 million litres. The market forecast for 2011 is to have an increase of 51% from 2006 with a volume of 174,286.6 million litres. bottled-water world figures Source: New Internationalist, Plastic is Forever, 2008 The United States holds the highest consumption in terms of countries followed by Mexico and then by China. In terms of regional global bottled water sales Europe is clearly the leader as shown in the pie chart below. Figure 2.8: United Kingdom Bottled Water Market Segmentation II: % Share, by Value, 2005(e) Source: Datamonitor (2), (2005), Global Bottled Water, Industry Profile, p. 12. 2.1.4 Market share and Distribution According to Zhao (2006) Group Danone, which is one of the worlds largest food producers, holds the largest market share in the UK bottled water market by the end of 2004. The company had a 22% of the market consumed volume, followed by Nestle S.A., accounted for 13.4% of the market. The domestic player-Highland Spring, which is one of the UKs leading bottled water suppliers, had 10.3% market share. In 1992 one could find seven hundred brands of mineral bottled water in the United States, and today there are over a thousand brands of mineral bottled water there and the number keep on increasing. The top five companies in the United States are earning billions, and the US companies are controlling just about half of the worlds market for the bottled water. 6 Source: US Bottled Water Industry 2.2 Bottled Water Pakistan Scenario It is clear that bottled water is a global phenomena and the focus of much consumer attention internationally. The figures clearly show a growing consumer trust in bottled water. The question now is does Pakistan have a similar level of consumer trust which has lead to an increase in bottled water consumption. In an article by Syed Ali Muhammad (2005) In Asian Countries, demand for mineral bottled water has developed by leaps and bounds over the past seven years, the Trans-Caucasus, North Africa and Middle East. The bottled water market in Pakistan is observing nearly 40 percent of the annual growth. Advertisement campaigns for mineral bottled water seldom show it as a lucrative luxury item; however they give the impression that it is a part of common effort against shortage of water. According to Rosemann (2005) A yearly consumption of about 2 litres per person bottled water.128 Compared with Thailands 43 litres and Philippines 15 litres per capita consumption, this seems relatively low. But taking Pakistans population into account, one has to estimate an annual consumption of 318 million litres. While again, sufficient figures are not available to prove this 964 percent consumption increase in five years, one is able to conclude that Pakistan is a highly dynamic and lucrative market. The statistics and figures above clearly do mention that Pakistan itself is a very lucrative market. There is a growing concern that people here are putting their trust in bottled water. Consumers use pet water bottles on the go because of their mobility and they use larger bottles of water at their homes for daily drinking purposes. Daily Pakistani consumers are bombarded with a plethora of ads depicting bottled water as pure, hygienic and safe. This may be factual but it also displays a clear opinion that the consumers share that water from other sources namely tap water is not fit for consumption and for people who have a choice they are switching over to bottled water. But are consumers here putting their trust into bottled water a little too early. What are the systems that govern bottled water in Pakistan namely its quality and the availability of safe brands of bottled water in the Pakistani market? 2.2.1 Pakistan Bottled Water Market According to the Standards and Quality Control Authority Pakistan, out of the 200 companies selling mineral bottled water in Pakistan, only 27 companies keep up the set standards. (Syed Ali Muhammad, 2005) The Pakistani bottled water market has about 27 corporations officially selling their products. But during summers there is a high fluctuation and this number exceeds to above and beyond 200 companies that flood the market with products that were not there before. The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is the national standardization body. It is their duty to ensure the safety and standards of products in Pakistan. From the viewpoint of quality control, PCRWR is observing a variation in the market of 50 percent, e.g. yearly about half of the brands vanish and are substituted by new brands. In 2005 PSQCA admitted that 200 companies are selling bottled water in Pakistan, but only 27 are registered as maintaining standards stipulated for the product. Nestle itself estimates approximately 150 water brands, with only 15 registered under the PSQCA scheme. (Rosemann, 2005) Rosemann (2005) further states that Nestlà © controls the majority of the market (over 50 percent) with its brands Pure Life, AVA and Fontalia, while Danones subsidy Sparkletts holds 12 percent and another local brand BSW has an estimated five percent market share. 2.3 Consumer Perception towards bottled water In terms of definition consumer perception talks about how a person or an organization views a certain commodity or service. How he or she understands and apprehends that certain commodity or service. In this case consumer perception talks about how a consumer looks at and rates bottled water. What are the factors that lead to consumers purchasing mineral bottled water? According to one study by MRUK research when asked to describe their reasons for using bottled water, respondents cited a range of different answers. In the May 2006 wave of research, over one-third (39%) of respondents reported that bottled water had a better taste, with a similar proportion (36%) who believed that bottled water was of better quality. This represents a significant increase over the September 2005 wave of research when only 14% of respondents cited better quality as a reason for using bottled water. (McKissock et al., 2007) Below is a table listing the reasons consumers use Bottled water: Table 1 Reasons for using Bottled Water April 04 Sept 04 Sept 05 May 06 Better taste 33 23 32 39 Convenience 32 29 31 12 Better quality 16 3 14 36 Safer / healthier for the children 2 5 4 3 Prefer flavoured water 5 7 8 10 Prefer sparkling water 3 5 3 2 Habit 1 16 8 11 Source: Mruk research limited (Consumer Perceptions and Experiences of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland: Secondary Research) In another research by the Consumer Attitude Survey on Water Quality Issues (1993), people do show signs of worrying about tap water safety even in countries where tap water is filtered and provided to people on a regular basis. Figure 2.2: Why people drink bottled water Source: Consumer Attitude Survey on Water Quality Issues (1993), American Water Works Association Research Foundation. p19. (Zhao, 2006) The success story of bottled water as discussed seems to come from a variety of factors. Namely Consumer Perception of higher quality, better taste, convenience etc. Because water is a source of life consumers see some water brands as revitalizing and even consider some water as healing. A notable example is Fuji Water, which was bottled in Viti Levu, Fijis main island, claiming has a very low pH level and contains the highest concentration of silica which helps tissue repair and reduce risk of heart disease, was becoming the No. 1 imported water in the U.S and also found it way to the UK supermarket chain, Waitrose (Rosa, 2004). But this isnt the only perspective that consumers share about bottled water there are many who do feel that bottled water is a drain on our resources, as it takes more water to produce the plastic bottle then it does to actually fill that said bottle. Source: MANATAKA: American Indian Councilhttp://www.manataka.org/images/tapwater.jpg As the picture illustrates there are different perspectives shared around the world. From how bottled water is manufactured to how it impacts our planet and the way we live. According to Jemmott (2008) Agree, some mineral bottled water does come from pristine sources and sparkling springs, but 25 percent or more of mineral bottled water comes from a municipal supply, which is treated, distilled and sold to us, at raised prices. Most people are amazed to find out that theyre drinking overvalued tap water, but bottlers do not need to mention the resource on the label. If more than 25 percent of bottled water comes from the tap instead of some pristine lake or some secret spring full of minerals that are pure then why do consumers feel it is the purest drink out there? This is the perception that has been built around consumers even in countries where tap water is provided filtered to each and every home as a basic human need. The success story then definitely remains to be positive consumer perceptions that outweigh the negative perceptions. It is these positive perceptions that are promoted my billion dollar advertising and promotion campaigns. This positive perception building has led to bottle water becoming big business with even bigger profit margins. Theoretical Framework There are many perspectives to Bottled water around the world from general consumer preferences to University students consumption preferences. Universities around the world in developed countries like U.S., U.K. and Canada have both positive and negative perceptions about bottled water. Students in these universities have various arguments and counter arguments regarding bottled water preferences. Universities students who hold positive perceptions see bottled water as a healthy diet and lifestyle choice, for them bottled water is part of life and walking around campus one can clearly see people holding water bottles. They drink because of positive perceptions regarding taste, quality and convenience (Battle of Water bottle, 2000; Devasenathipathi et al, 2008; Jemmott, 2008; Pip, 2000; Rosa, 2004; World Watch Institute, 2007; Zhao, 2006). They said that every story has two sides to it and because in the developed world tap water is filtered there is a long debate over Bottled Water versus Tap Water. Some students also see bottled water as a waste of precious water resources, a source of plastic poisoning and a drain on the environment. They question its purity and whether it is safe to drink or not. (Bottled Water vs. Tap Water, 2008; 2000, No Bottled Water at University, 2009; Rosemann, 2005; The Battle of Bottle). Both these positive and negative perceptions determine the sales of bottled water domestically and abroad. As discussed above there are different perspectives to Bottled water around the world from general consumer preferences to University students consumption preferences. Therefore, it was our endeavor to find out Students perceptions about Bottled Water in Karachi. What effects their purchase decisions and how and why they choose to or not to drink Bottled water. Data Analysis Findings Monthly Household Income of the respondents of both universities; BAHRIA and Karachi University Aforementioned figures shows that who used bottled water, majority of the BAHIRIAs students have had their monthly income more than Rs.60,000, whereas 28 students household income was Rs.40,000 to Rs.60,000. In addition to that only 2 students those household incomes was under Rs.20,000. While majority students of KU have had their household income in between of Rs20,000 to Rs.40,000. However, only 10 students those household incomes were over Rs. 60,000. 3.2 Residential Area of Students of BAHRI and KU Out of the 18 towns of Karachi, Our research incorporated respondents from 11 towns of Karachi. Figure 3.2(a) explained that the most of the inhabitants of Gulshan town were consuming mineral water than any other type of water. Whereas figure 3.2(b) shows that the most of the inhabitants of Gulshan town were consuming mineral water than any other type of water. 3.3 Type of water were being used by students for daily drinking purpose Above figure 3.3(a) shows that there were huge differences in the responses of the students of university BAHRIA and KU. In figure 3.3(a) shows that in BAHRIA, among 100 interviewed students 57% were the daily users of mineral water, whereas 21% were the users of filtered water, 15% were boiled tap water and only handful amount of students 7% were the users of tap water. On the contrary, figure 3.3(b) shows that among the 100 students of KU, majority 54% were the users of boiled tap water. However, 20% were the users of tap water, 18% were the users of Mineral Water and only small chunk were the users of filtered water. Thus, it is extensively noticeable that the majority of the students of BAHRIA were the users of mineral water comparative to KU. 3.4 Reasons behind drinking particular type of water As per above figure 3.4(a), among the 100 students of BAHRIA, 44% thought that the reliability plays vital role while using particular type of water and 35% were in view of easy access and 21% students preferred to cite their own factors namely hygiene and price. In figure 3.4(b), however, 54% from 100 students of KU believed that easy access is important factor for them rather than reliability. Hence only 46% students marked their answers for reliability. Therefore, there is visible difference between the views of BAHRIAs students and KUs students. For BAHRIANS reliability was the main reason for using particular type of water but for KU students easy access was the foremost reason. 3.5 Top of Mind brands of Bottled water Figure 3.5(a) shows that from 100 students of BAHRIA; Nestle mineral water was the top of mind. Addition to that 80% students recalled Nestle water when they were asked the name of first brand came to their mind. Moreover, only 13% students were recalled Aquafina as their top of mind brand and only 7% students had top of mind awareness of Culligan. In other mentioned brands 42% students recalled Aquafina and 17% for Nestle and 16% Culligan. In figure 3.5(b) 68% students of KU had an awareness of Nestle as their top of mind brand and 27% students recalled Aquafina as their top of mind of brand. In other mentioned brands 33% students marked Aquafina in other mentioned brands, 18% 17% students marked Nestle and Culligan respectively. Hence, it is widely visible that the BAHRIANS has more top of mind awareness of Nestle comparative to KU students. As far as other mentioned brands are concerned Aquafina was being marked after than Nestle by both universities students. 3.6 Frequency of using bottled water among students In figure 3.6(a) out of 100 students of BAHRIA 14% students who were consuming bottled water several times in a day. Moreover, 32% students consumed bottled water at least once in a day, 36% were consuming more than once in a week and 16% students who were consuming bottled water once a week. There were small chunk of students who consumed bottled water less than once a week. However, figure 3.6(b) shows that in KU out of 100 students only 6% of students were consuming bottled water several times in a day. 22% students were consuming at least once daily, 17% students consumed bottled water more than once in a week, and 10% students consuming once a week, 12% students were consuming less than once a week and 33% students were consuming bottled water once a month or less. Therefore, the students of BAHRIA consumed more bottled water than KU students. Similarly, the frequency of consumption of bottled water of BAHRIANS was far more ahead than KU students. Though the respondents of KU belonged to Food and Sciences department yet their frequency of consumption is less than BAHRIANS. However, in KU 33% students marked their answers of consuming water in a month or less, on the contrary there wasnt a single respondent in BAHRIA, whose consumption of bottled water was as lowest as KU students. Aforementioned figures show that the students of BAHRIA were more attracted towards bottled water than KU students. As far as gender was concerned Females were more inclined towards using of bottled water than male; in both universities. 3.7 Size of bottles preferred by students In figure 3.7(a) majority of the students of BAHRIA purchased bottled water from university Cafe and the size of the bottle was 0.5 litre because on the other hand students were in view that the they purchased 1.5 liter or larger than this quantity rather preferred to purchase from shop. As far as figure 3.7(b) is concerned that the students of KU whosoever consumed bottled water they had preferred to purchase from university cafe of 0.5 liter and preferred larger quantity of bottled water from nearby shop of their respective homes. Thus, there is not visible difference because 0.5liter was sufficient for them to consume at university as compared to other sizes of bottled water in both of the universities. 3.8 The most important factors towards buying of bottled water Figure 3.8(a) shows that in BAHRIA 61% students thought of availability was the most important factor for purchasing bottled water, 16% students were in view of Price is the most important for purchasing bottled water, 12% students for promotion and only 9% students thought that they were attracted by the packaging of bottled water. On the contrary, figure 3.8(b) in KU 44% students were in view that availability was the most important factor for purchasing bottled water, 35% students were price conscious, 12% and 9% students were being attracted by promotion and Packaging respectively. Therefore, Price for BAHRIANS is least issue than KU students because only 16% students from 100 students in BAHRIA were considering price, whereas 35% students of KU had the influencing factor of price. Reasons behind influencing factors towards the purchase of bottled water Majority of respondents believed that availability is the major factor for influencing the purchase of bottled water. Moreover, respondents believed that out of mind, is out of sight so being on the shelves of shop would have much influence on the purc

How Home-Schooling Really Got Started :: Essays Papers

How Home-Schooling Really Got Started People have often been known to find comfort in numbers and to therefore enter into social contracts with others living around them. People feel safer in groups and so they choose to give up certain rights and privileges for protection from their peers. This inevitably leads to domination of man over man. People choose leaders to make their decisions for them, or they do as the majority says. It is very rare for people to make rational decisions and carry to them to their full potential once they have entered into a social contract. The desire to follow the crowd which is created by this social setting is deplorable and is therefore the main object of critism in Henrick Ibsen’s play An Enemy of the People. The characters in this play all live together in a town ruled by what is known as the compact majority. This majority is led by a group of town officials who come up with plans and policies on which the people may vote. This system offers no chance for the freedom of individuals. Beginning with a speech discussing â€Å". . . the colossal stupidity of the authorities,† Doctor Stockmann deconstructs this appalling social system. This speech criticizes the lack of intelligence the authorities have shown and the need for their destruction. If freedom is to exist for individuals, the first step must be to do away with worthless officials and authorities that force the people to make a choice from the narrow selection they provide. What is right in one situation may not hold true in another, but the authorities force all people to live under the same laws with the same punishments instead of allowing for diversity. However, Stockmann does not stop there. In fact, he says t hat the authorities are not the main problem, but that instead â€Å"The most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom among us is the compact majority.† This majority follows its leaders blindly without ever giving thought to any alternative outside of the shielded path on which they are directed. â€Å"People that do that are . . . so very far from distinction.† These people have given up their won right to think and have doomed themselves to lives that can never meet the full potential of the human experience.

Plot

In this article, Goldstein attempts to describe the aspect of AIDS in Newfoundland. In order to sufficiently do so, she illustrates three main elements which relate to the expansion of the legend in the province; Cultural variability, localization and contemporary legend. The idea of doing this is to give the reader a general understanding of what stories were told In order to enhance the generation of these legends. Throughout the article, Goldstein provides examples of deferent versions of the AIDS legend. There are significant motifs used In these versions that distinguish he versions generated.There Is the coffin version In which the man usually lures the woman Into getting involved with him, and when she leaves to return home he hands her a box which has a coffin Inside with the message â€Å"welcome to the world of AIDS†. The lipstick version generally suggests the opposite; the woman lures the man Into getting Involved with her and In the morning the man will go to the bathroom with a message wrote on the mirror In lipstick â€Å"welcome to the world of AIDS†. The version chosen will reflect cultural assumptions and values, which Is what Is described as ultra variability.Goldstein provides facts that the coffin version is more prominent in Newfoundland than the lipstick version; 74% of random sample knew about the coffin legend versus the 26% that were aware of the lipstick legend. The original version may not have made sense to Nefariousness's, so it was altered to be understandable and meaningful. They often use mainlanders, which are the outsiders, as scapegoats. The Newfoundland version suggests an innocent, hardworking woman goes away on a trip, meets a man, falls in love and engages in sexual intercourse.If they engaged in sexual activity in Newfoundland and retrieved AIDS, the mainlanders would be blamed for the disperse because they are strangers. Newfoundland are good, mainlanders are bad. Newfoundland is safe, mainland is a threat . In part II of the article is where Cider's main points start. This is where he beings to outline his main points on murmuring. He begins with a definition on what murmuring is, in case the reader is unaware. If the reader is completely unaware of the aspect of murmuring, they would read Cider's first description and probably be totally confused. Loud banging at the Victims' kitchen door. † When seeing the word â€Å"victim† they may think there is some kind of illegal activity going to happen when they enter the house. â€Å"Loud banging† may constitute for an aggressive person or group. They both relate. In trying to avoid this conclusion, Sided quickly exemplifies the fact mummers are always lifelong neighbors and are never strangers even though they would appear to be. What happens when mummers enter the house? Sided continues to illustrate huge points that unfamiliar readers need to be aware of.Mummers do not enter households and â€Å"trash† the pla ce. They enter and dance around, have sociable drinks, eat food and Walt for the household to guess their Identity. There Is no Illegal occurrence that takes place during this activity and Slider makes this point very clear. The second point Sided makes Is the aspect of Scoffing. Upon reading this article, I was unfamiliar with what scoffing was. Sided makes a mall point regarding scoffing when he describes the term â€Å"scoff'. A scoff Is formerly known as a meal, usually one that consists of a large amount of food.Another efferent families, for which all the food is stolen or â€Å"bucked† which in Newfoundland means something a little different than stealing. Sided makes another huge point when he says that food is only taken from another family living in the same community and who is the same â€Å"social class† as the person taking the food. An individual who comes from a poor fisher family would not take from a wealthy family, and a wealthy individual would mos t certainly not take from a poor family. Sided also acknowledges the connection between murmuring and scoffing which is another age point made in this article.He notes that they lie at the intersection of different forms of alliances within and between families. These alliances can include sentiment and emotion, but also kinship or work and production. These activities basically hindered or helped social relations. In order to further illustrate the alliances, Sided goes in to talk about the organization of the village inshore fishery during the period when the family was the unit of work for the fishery, which is Part Ill of the article. In Part IV of the article, Sided describes the truck system and the tall al system.Due to reading the first article â€Å"In Between History and Tomorrow: Making and Breaking Everyday Life in Newfoundland. â€Å", I am very familiar with both of these systems, but he describes it because not all of the readers would have read that previous articl e. He thoroughly describes each system which is important so that the reader will know what these systems are and what they were used for. In Part V of the article, Sided illustrates the diminishing of the two customs (murmuring and scoffing).This is a major point because readers may understand why they haven't en familiar with either of them and it would be due to the fact that hardly anyone participates in them anymore. For example, I knew what murmuring was because it still occurs in my area but not very often. I was completely unaware of scoffing upon reading this article because it was not something that I was introduced to. It did not happen in my area and if it did, it would not go over well. These customs are diminishing and if we ask people in generations from now, they probably will not know what either one of these customs are.The last main point that Sided presents n this article is answering â€Å"Why do outpost Nefariousness's mum and scoff? † He answers by illu strating that customs do things. They are connected to people who participate in them. It becomes their social root for some people. The second answer that he illustrates is the connected between customs and culture. It is important for Sided to illustrate this because reader's may often times wonder while interpreting this article why people do the things that are being described.They may not realize it, but it is a true statement when people say it is part of you inheritance. Aside from the main points outlined in this article, which are relevant in understanding the article, I have generated a few questions based on a couple aspects that were discussed. 1. ) Why doesn't Sided talk more about the women during that era? He did mention in Part I that the mothers, wives, sisters and young children salted and dried the fish, preparing them for fall delivery to the merchant. He also mentioned them again during the explanation of kinship organization.The women were part of the shore cro wd, there were usually three or four needed, and they were not paid erectly (it depended on their father or brother's catch) Sided continues to describe how men interact during the off season, but what about the women? What do they do knows back then the women did all the cooking and cleaning). In my opinion, there is too much focus on the men, although it is proven they worked extremely hard and it is important to put emphasis on that, but it almost feels like women were minor in this article. 2. )Len the context of scoffing, how would people actually steal the goods?Sided gives a thorough description of scoffing, but fails to mention anything about owe the goods would be stolen, or bucked. Why didn't Sided expand on this context and provide an in-depth example? Would people wait until early hours in the morning? Would they do it in broad daylight? Would they go back numerous times in one scoff? Would they get someone else to do it for them Just in case they get caught? What do the y bring with them? Does anyone get really hurt or angry buy having their food stolen? Sided mentions that the individual(s) buck enough for it to hurt, but how hurt do they get?Do they seek revenge other than stealing back from them? A lot of answered questions came to me when reading about scoffing and it may be because I am so unfamiliar with the custom. I will definitely do more research into it because it seems very interesting. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this article. I can relate to the murmuring where I am from. Although it is not a common thing, my family still sometimes go downstairs, dress up and come up dancing like mummers would. I really appreciated the point in the article when Sided referenced the â€Å"abundant Sunday dinner†. The traditional Sunday dinner is still a huge thing in my family.My grandmother faithfully cooks every Sunday, either for a small or big crowd. Cider's descriptions are very thorough and interesting to read, which is why this arti cle appealed to me more than the others. He covers most aspects that are needed in order for the reader to understand the points he is attempting to make. This is extremely important when trying to keep the reader interested and informed, and Sided productively does that. As a new reader of Cider's work I am impressed with his systematic descriptions and approach in his work and I look forward to reading more of his writing!

Predictions about Global Capitalism and the Rise of the BRIC Powers as Challengers to the United States The WritePass Journal

Predictions about Global Capitalism and the Rise of the BRIC Powers as Challengers to the United States ABSTRACT Predictions about Global Capitalism and the Rise of the BRIC Powers as Challengers to the United States ABSTRACTRealism, Security and Global CapitalismConclusions about the Future Multipolar World OrderREFERENCESRelated ABSTRACT In this proposal, what I really want to do is predict what role the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, China, and India) will play in the international system over the next century based mostly on secondary sources.   It is based on realist premises that in the decades ahead the international system will continue to be in a state of ‘anarchy’.   Economically, China and India alone are likely to surpass the U.S. economically by 2050, although they are also likely to become rivals in Asia rather than allies.   I think that the world system will continue to evolve into an increasingly multipolar direction, with the Great Powers seeking a balance in the Asia-Pacific region.   This region is rapidly becoming the new centre of global capitalism, and the future strategic (and of course the economic) balance of power will be decided there. My main research question is really an attempt to predict the role the BRIC countries will play in the international capitalist system over the next century, relying mainly on secondary sources. I have provided a list of these in the references and will refer to them in this proposal at least insofar as attempting to explain the main ideas I derived from them for making my predictions.   Obviously this thesis will have to combine theories of realism and global capitalism, and address economics and security.   Economically, I do think that the BRIC countries of Brazil, China, India and Russia are likely to surpass the U.S. by 2050, but I am also of the opinion that the post-1945 international system in which the U.S. was the hegemonic capitalist power has been in decline for quite some time.   China alone is already on track to surpass the U.S. and the European Union in overall GNP and GDP by 2050, if not GDP per capita, and India will probably not be far behind (Ikenberry 2008) .   Of all the Asian states, only India is has the potential to attain great power status in the 21st Century that will rival the Chinese (Ganguly and Pordesi. 2007 and Dickson 2007). Realism, Security and Global Capitalism I am not going to assert that global capitalism will suffer a major breakdown and collapse or that any of the great powers will break with the system and set up independent economic blocs.   For the last thirty years, though, capitalism has meant the free trade and laissez faire system of the Washington Consensus, which of course is hardly a new ideology (Friedman 2005).   These 19th Century ideas may have been discredited by the recent depression, making the more authoritarian capitalist models of Russia and China more appealing that than neoliberalism. Neither Russia nor China are really likely to become democracies, but will continue to have authoritarian governments with capitalist economic systems (Dickson 2005).   I am also sceptical of the theory that the capitalist system necessarily becomes more liberal or democratic with higher levels of economic development, since history shows that capitalism can function well enough under authoritarian regimes, as in Russia and Chi na (Olson 1993).   All the BRIC nations will remain strongly tied to the global capitalist system, but they will also have to address their own internal problems of extreme poverty and mal-distribution of wealth (World Bank 2011).   Global capitalism will therefore continue to expand in this century, along with the new developments in computers, robots, biotechnology, genetic engineering and communications technology that have fuelled its rise all along (Ohmae 2005). I do not expect that there will be any serious alternative to global capitalism in the foreseeable future, although that system can operate in many forms, whether liberal, fascist, laissez faire or social democratic.   As recent events have shown yet again, the more unregulated and free market types of capitalism are far too prone to instability, speculative booms and crashes (Hetzel 2008).   This is one reason why 21st Century capitalism may turn out to resemble the Keynesian and social democratic type that was dominant in 1945-70 rather than the 19th Century laissez faire version (Skidelsky 2010 and Clarke 2009).   Unregulated, laissez faire capitalism on a global scale also has too many features of injustice, exploitation and inequality to ever become a truly popular system (Klein 2009, Scheper-Hughes 2005, Shiva 2004, and Shiva and Hulla-Bhar 2004). Conclusions about the Future Multipolar World Order I predict that the international order will increasingly become multipolar, and that the democratic capitalist countries (the U.S., India and Brazil) may form a bloc against the authoritarian capitalist states of Russia and China. I also believe that in practice, BRIC really means China, India and Brazil since Russia is also a declining power whose main function is to supply oil and other raw materials (Ikenberry 2008).  Ã‚   I will not predict that the multipolar system will inevitably lead to another world war, especially given that three of the BRIC countries are already declared nuclear powers.   I doubt that any confrontations between the major players in Asia will result in another world war, or even in a revival of the Cold War, and for the sake of the world it would be much better for all concerned to avert a major conflict between nuclear-armed states.   There are also obstacles to the rise of China and India to possible superpower status, just as the relative or absol ute decline of the United States is not inevitable (Varshney 2007). To the extent that nation-states still have the power to decide these matters, and the current recession indicates that states still retain considerable autonomy in economic policy rather than simply existing as the playthings of capitalists and ‘the markets’, they will not choose the type of capitalism that seems most vulnerable to severe recessions and depressions that have a negative impact on all countries in the world system (Li 2010).     In time, a global capitalist class is bound to develop and along with it new international institutions that will replace the current ‘anarchy’ of the world system and all the classical Great Power rivalries.   There are already signs that this is occurring, but it seems highly unlikely that the process will be completed in the foreseeable future (Appelrouth and Edles 2011). REFERENCES Appelrouth, S. and L.D. Edles 2011. Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era: Text and Readings, 2nd Edition. SAGE Publications. Friedman, T. L. 2005. â€Å"It’s a Flat World, After All†. New York Times Magazine, April 3, 2005, pp. 33-37. Clarke, P. 2009. Keynes: The Rise, Fall and Return of the 20th Century’s Most Influential Economist. Bloomsbury Press. Dickson, B. J. 2007. â€Å"The Party is far from Over†. Current History (September 2007), pp. 243-45. Ganguly, S. and M. S. Pordesi. 2007. â€Å"India Rising: What is New Dehli to Do? World Policy Journal (Spring 2007), pp. 9-18. Hetzel, R. L. 2008. The Monetary Policy of the Federal Reserve: A History. Cambridge University Press. Ikenberry, J. G. 2008. â€Å"The Rise of China and the Future of the West: Can the Liberal System Survive?† Foreign Affairs, Vol. 87, No. 1 (January/February 2008), pp. 1-9. Klein, N. 2009. No Logo. Vintage Canada. Li, Minqi 2010. â€Å"The End of the ‘End of History’: The Structural Crisis of Capitalism and the Fate of Humanity†. Science Society, Vol. 74, No. 3 (July 2010), pp. 290-305. Olson, M. 1993. â€Å"Dictatorship, Democracy and Development†. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 87, No. 3 (September 1993), pp. 567-76. Ohmae, K. 2005. The Next Global Stage: Challenges and Opportunities in our Borderless World. Pearson-Prentice Hall. Scheper-Hughes, N. 2005. The Last Commodity: Post-Human Ethics and the Global Traffic in ‘Fresh’ Organs† in A. Ong and S.J. Collier, eds. Global Assemblages: Technology, Politics and Ethics as Anthropological Problems. London: Blackwell Publishers, 2005: 145-67. Shiva, V. 2004. â€Å"Biotechnological Development and the Conservation of Biodiversity† in A. Abbas and J.N. Erni (eds). Internationalizing Cultural Studies: An Anthology. Blackwell Publishing, 2004: 30-42. Shiva, V. and R. Hulla-Bhar 2004. â€Å"Piracy by Patent: The Loss of the Neem Tree† in Abbas and Erni, 2004: 146-59. Skidelsky, R. 2010. Keynes: The Return of the Master. Perseus Books Group. Trompenaars, F. and C. Hamden-Turner 2010. Riding the Waves of Innovation: Harnessing the Power of Global Culture to Drive Creativity and Growth.   McGraw-Hill. Varshney, Ashutush 2007.. â€Å"India’s Democratic Challenge†. Foreign Affairs, March/April 2007: 1-9. Virilio, P. 2005. The Information Bomb. London: Verso, 2005. World Bank 2001. Inequality in Focus: An Overview of Global Income Inequality.

A Look into the Journals of Mi essays

A Look into the Journals of Mi essays It has been ages since I last wrote in a journal, but the most unusual thing happened to me last night. I heard noises in the kitchen, so I took a candle to reveal the source of all the racket. Upon entering the kitchen, I saw a man, a young man it seemed, eating. Although it was difficult to tell by the candlelight, I dont believe he was white, but then he was not really dark skinned either. He looked more like the color of parchment. It is typical for some of the neighboring Negroes to come by, but that is usually in the daytime and they normally have some sort of greeting. I didnt mind though, I said to him, If its just food you want, you will find that, I figured that I am not one to bother a man who is obviously as close to death as one can get by being so hungry. I guess that is a result of the lesson that my father taught me, the words that I will never forget, they repeat constantly through my head. I remember very little of my father, but he did tell me once that in order to rise, you must raise the shadow with you. That shadow, of course referring to the darker skinned races. That actually explains a lot about my father actually. You see, he actually married a woman with dark skin named Juana, (the woman I am named after,) and together they had a light skinned son, much like the man who was visiting me last night. Their son, my half-brother, was named Calvin and he was a great man. He was shot along with my grandfather by one white soldier; my father loved him so much. His love was so great that the people of the town ostracized him and his whole family and will probably continue to until the end of time. I have been living out here in this great house, with only the comfort of the visiting Negroes, and it is for their company that I am further cast away by society. The fact that my family is from the North, yet living here in Jefferson, Mississi ...

Case Study The Vermont Teddy Bear Co Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Study The Vermont Teddy Bear Co - Essay Example This study will carry out an environmental scanning basically to assess the elements having profound bearing on the Vermont Teddy Bear Co. Accordingly, a SWOT analysis has been conducted to identify the strategic factors (external and internal both) which will determine the future of the company (Wheelen, 2006, p. 9). While considering opportunities in external factors, on top of the list is the bear grams. Despite the huge toy market, Vermont Teddy Bear Company has remained a front runner in this field. As pointed out by the Wheelen and Hunger "Bear-Grams were personalized teddy bears that were delivered directly to recipients as gifts for holidays and special occasions. Bear-Grams were gift-boxed in unique containers complete with air holes for the bear"(2006, Case 22-9). This reflects the exclusivity and distinctiveness of the product. The second factor considered is the distribution method. After having experimented various methods, the company concluded that the direct marketing strategy of Bear-Grams was the most profitable. Methods of distribution used were the company owned retail stores, direct mail catalogs, and licensing and wholesale agreements. In order to expand its product line and cut costs, the company went into offshore sourcing.

Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward novel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward novel - Essay Example In a careful analysis of the novel, it becomes lucid that Bellamy's bipolar society is partially organized by scientific-technical reason and partially devoted to the pensively rational pursuit of freedom and individuality. Therefore, the author makes use of scientific-technical means to solve the social problem of scarcity through high levels of political centralization and a willingness to assimilate the machine culture. Thus, Looking Backward is one of the best known films of this sub-genre and arguably the best in terms of literary merit and wholeness of conception and vision. In the novel, Bellamy's society is bipolar in nature as it incorporates scientific-technical reason although it is devoted to the pensively rational pursuit of freedom and individuality. However, this scientific-technological advance has not come to pass by 2009, even in modified form, as either socialism or capitalism does not give room for this bipolarity in the 20th Century. Bellamy's concept that such a society would result with high levels of political centralization and a willingness to 'fit in' with the machine culture proved to be wrong. The main reason for the lack of this scientific-technological solution is that Bellamy's society is bipola