Describe marketing situations in which the use of qualitative research methods would be appropriate Essay

Describe marketing situations in which the use of qualitative research methods would be appropriate. According to Zikmund, Ward, Lowe, Winzar, Babin Qualitative research is a methodology that elaborate interpretations of phenomenal of interest without depending on numerical measurement ( Zikmund, Ward, Lowe, Winzar, Babin, 2011, pg 65 ) . It is characterised by its aims, which relate to understanding some aspect of social life, and it’s methods which generate words, rather than numbers, as data for analysis ( Patton, Cochrain, 2002 ) . In terms of marketing situations, qualitative research methods are appropriate to be used when the organization root for new product idea generation and development, strength and weaknesses of products/ brands and studying emotions and attitudes on societal and public affairs issues (qrca. org). To maximize understanding on the situation, there are two qualitative research methods that can be consider is Focus Groups and Questionnaires. With these methods, we identify the benefits as well as limitations of using these research methods. Focus groups can be define as an unstructured, free-flowing interview with a small group of people ( Zikmund, Ward, Lowe, Winzar, Babin, 2011, p71) . An approximately 60 to 90 minute discussion is led by a trained moderator with 8 to 12 relatively homogenous but unacquainted individuals who are brought together to discuss a specific topic ( Gunn, 2004) . Focus groups allow people to discuss their feelings, anxieties and frustrations, as well as the depth of their convictions, in their own words ( Zikmund, Ward, Lowe, Winzar, Babin, 2011, p72 ) . The benefits of focus groups can be presented for an in-depth exploration of new ideas, opinions, perceptions, and reactions to concepts and messaging. Focus groups often serve as exploratory research to assist survey design of subsequent quantitative research methods. Similarly, they can also be useful in validating and/ or clarifying results garnered from previous quantitative research and can be use to elicit â€Å" in their own words descriptions of products, services or issues being discussed. Conferences and other events present relatively low-cost opportunities to conduct focus groups with target audiences. There tend to be few interviewer effects on dialog because individuals tend to be influenced more by the group discussion than by the moderator. Participants are usually enthusiastic and spontaneous in their responses and groups tend to naturally cover more questions, opinions and comments than researchers could have anticipated. The disadvantage of the focus group however shows that the results from focus groups are qualitative and nonprojectable to larger populations. They require well-trained moderators to manage discussions, maintain focus, and minimize affects of the personalities and behaviours of individual participants on others and/or the entire group. Logistical and cost considerations include room and food set-up, and incentives are typically needed to encourage response. Questionnaires are not among the most prominent methods in qualitative research, because they commonly require subjects to respond to a stimulus, and thus they are not acting naturally. However, they have their uses, especially as a means of collecting information from a wider sample than can be reached by personal interview. Though the information is necessarily more limited, it can still be very useful. For example, where certain clearly defined facts or opinions have been identified by more qualitative methods, a questionnaire can explore how generally these apply, if that is a matter of interest. Ideally, there would then be a qualitative ‘check’ on a sample of questionnaire replies to see if respondents were interpreting items in the way intended. Alternatively, a questionnaire might be used in the first instance, followed by qualitative techniques on a sample as a check and to fill out certain features of the questionnaire replies. Interaction among techniques in this way is typical of qualitative research.

Quantitative Article Review

Research Article Critique 1 Running Head: RESEARCH ARTICLE CRITIQUE Research Article Critique of â€Å"The Study of Teacher Perceptions of Instructional Technology Integration in the Classroom† by Lynette Molstad Gorder The purpose of this assignment was to review a peer reviewed journal article that is research based, and is representative of one of the research methodologies we discussed in class. The format of the article has the appearance of a dissertation because it has many of the same components. It starts with an abstract that discusses the main points of the research and the results. After reading the article, I found that the abstract failed to mention that the research was based on teachers who attended a technology course at South Dakota University. After going through a basic and advanced technology course, the teachers were sent a survey to analyze whether those teachers were integrating technology into teaching and learning. The research methodology used in this study were surveys analyzed in a quantitative design. More specifically, two survey instruments were introduced in the article, but only one was used. Both were designed by Mills and Tincher (2003). They describe the Technology Integration Standards Configuration matrix (TISC) as the first tool. This looked at technology as a tool to enhance student learning and a tool for professional productivity. The second tool described by the same designer developed the Technology Integration Matrix (TICM). This tool was more user-friendly and just described what the teacher does and what the students do in a technology outfitted classroom. Later in the article we discover that TICM is survey based on a scale rating; (1)never, (2)seldom, (3)sometimes, (4)often, and (5)always. Using this tool, the author sought to find out to what degree teachers integrate technology into their classroom and into teaching and learning after taking two technology integration classes. Using the survey the study also revealed comparisons of teacher perceptions of uses and integration based on personal characteristics. These characteristics are age, gender, number of years in the teaching field, grade level taught, content area, and education level. The research questions the study offered were 1) How do teachers currently use and integrate technology for teaching and learning in the classroom? ) How do teachers differ in the extent to which they integrate instructional technology based on the characteristics of gender, age, teaching experience, grade level taught, content area, and educational level? The characteristics are considered factors and were compared to the integration of technology in the classroom. The dependent variable in this study is the integration of technol ogy in teaching and learning in the classroom. The independent variable is the basic and advanced training course that teachers took at South Dakota University. Two courses were given at South Dakota University. The subjects for this study were all the students who participated in the two courses. The author used teachers in K-12 who attended both a Basic Technology for Teaching and Learning Academy, and the Advanced Technology for Teaching and Learning Academy at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. A possible issue related to sampling may be that the author used teachers who attended a specific professional development experience. What if the courses did not benefit the students? A survey was mailed to the 300 South Dakota teachers who attended the classes. Of the 300 teachers who took the classes, 174 returned the survey. This was a 58% response rate. As we discussed in class 50% is a good response. The findings were based on the participants use and integration of technology in the classroom for teaching and learning, and the differences in perceptions based on the demographic and personal characteristics. Of the thirteen page article, seven pages were devoted to the findings. Demographic data collected were gender, age, teaching experience, grade level teaching, content area, and educational level. Research question one, â€Å"how do teachers currently use and integrate technology for teaching and learning in the classroom† was divided into three phases. Phase one devoted to professional productivity, phase two devoted to delivering instruction using technology, and phase three devoted to teachers integrating technology into student learning. The results were displayed APA style in a chart that displayed Mean and Standard Deviation. For this question, the findings report that teachers do not integrate technology well for teaching and learning, but do for professional productivity and facilitation of delivery of instruction. The second research question compared technology integration to each characteristic factor. For the first factor of male vs. female, a t-test was used to compare. There was no significant difference in gender and the use or integration of technology. Each factor was compared using a one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance). ANOVA is used when you have factors and a dependent variable. For each of the characteristics or factors a means was displayed for each of the differences of perception regarding, age, years teaching experience, grade level taught, content area, and educational level. From the findings of this analysis, only grade level taught had a significant difference in technology integration and uses. Teachers of Grades 9-12 use and integrate technology into learning more than teachers in lower grades. The study was accurate in their analysis and their findings. The study does not describe the content of the courses the teachers attended at the South Dakota University, or method of delivery. It only supplies the title of the course. References Gorder, L. (2008). A Study of Teacher Perceptions of Instructional Technology Integration in the Classroom. The Delta Pi Epsilon Journal, L (2), 63-76. Mills, S. C. , &Tincher, R. C. (2003) Be the technology: A developmental model for evaluating technology integration. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 35(3), 382-401.

Health Policy on Obesity in Relation to Mental Health Illness Essay

Health Policy on Obesity in Relation to Mental Health Illness - Essay Example The  World Health Organization  defines mental health as "a state of  well-being  in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community" (World Health Organisation, 2010). Obesity, where excess fat accumulates in the body, causes serious health problems like diabetes, liver and heart problems, and/or cancer, often also leads to mental illness in the affected person, thus producing an overall negative effect on human health. Data from the latest Health Survey for England (HSE) revealed that â€Å"in 2009, 61.3% of adults (aged 16 or over), and 28.3% of children (aged 2-10) in England were overweight or obese, of these, 23.0% of adults and 14.4% of children were obese. The Foresight report, Tackling Obesities: Future Choices project, published in October 2007, predicted that if no action was taken, 60% of men, 50% of women and 25% of children would be obese by 2050† (Department of Health, Obesity, 2011). ... ity to accord proper healthcare to all sections of the population, to spread awareness and educate the public through various promotions and programmes. In this context, the paper will examine the determinants of health, their relevance to health and well-being, and the impact of inequalities of health on individuals and populations, while analysing the impact of policies on public health and healthcare access, and the structure, organization and delivery of healthcare.   It will also evaluate the role of the nurse in the promotion of health with individuals, families and populations and first contact care, while using a health promotion framework to illustrate role of nurse Discussion The determinants of health, their relevance to health and well-being, and the impact of inequalities of health on individuals and populations: The surrounding environment and circumstances that one faces in his/her daily life, often decides the course of health of that particular individual. Differen t factors like family income, education, lifestyle, surrounding environment, interpersonal relationships, and genetics, all have a significant effect on health. On the other hand, certain commonly deliberated factors like the availability and use of health care services, tend to produce less impact on an individual’s health (WHO, Health Impact Assessment (HIA) - The determinants of health, 2011). According to WHO the determinants of health comprise of â€Å"the social and economic environment; the physical environment; and the person’s individual characteristics and behaviours† (ibid). Thus, we find that often the ambience/surroundings in a person’s life determines this/her health, and some of these determinants are quite beyond the direct control of an individual. Besides the

Info Analysis - Computer Information System Article

Info Analysis - Computer Information System - Article Example The organization might want to automate this business process. In this case, the other businesses could be having the same hardware and software but they lack the business process. This way, they will not get the competitive advantage of the business first, then the competitive advantage of using information technology in undertaking the business process. The use of information technology is different as the process that is to be automated could still be undertaken by human beings. It will depend on the culture of the organization regarding the human resource. The gains that are sought in using information technology will depend largely on the competitive nature of the organization. I do not agree with the comparison as all organizations could be having the same hardware but they lack the competitive nature that comes from employing the use of these technologies. Information technology investment will depend on the business processes that are available and the strategies that various companies have towards the use of information technology. Even now, nearly all organizations have the same hardware and software but there are those organizations that have made use of information technology than others. This is because it depends on the investment on information technology and the strategies used. ... , although this one of the reasons, but because of the new opportunities and the research that they undertook in this field of information technology. Competitive advantage is gained when we make use of information technology and ensure that there is enough research to understand what will be gained and lost. Information technology risks are analyzed when new information systems are obtained. There is no need to focus on this aspect so much such that the function and the core reason for investing in the technology are forgotten. Risk management is part of the management of information systems. Once information systems have been installed in place, there will be management of these information systems. Risk management is another function that will come after the information system has been installed. It is, therefore, the role of the information managers of the information systems to constantly review the information system for errors and potential risks that might be experienced. Whe n taking this stand, I understand that there is no technology that does not come with risks. If risk management would be the main focus of companies and organizations, then the current status of technology could not have been attained. T is important to understand this important fact. Effort should be put in new opportunities. This is the main area of focus. Question 3 Duke Nukem is a game that was developed in the 1990s. The game was losing popularity. There were more advanced games which were being developed. These new games had features which were better than those of Duke Nukem. There were better features and improvement of computer features. With the development of these features, there were games which took advantage and were fun to play. For this reason, the popularity of Nuke Dukem

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Project Management - Essay Example Carly's ability to become an effective group leader is definitely in question since according to the other team members she is the real reason for the conflict and not Morris as she claimed. I feel she was using Morris as an excuse to divert responsibility for not completing project tasks in a timely manner. As an individual Carly must work on improving her management and communications skills as well as improve her emotional intelligence since this situation was completely avoidable. I think her mistakes and dysfunctional emotional conflict with Morris might have been the main contributing factor for the project delays and lack of group cohesiveness. 2) I think Carly was being blinded by her own emotions and insecurities. From what the other team members mentioned they felt that she was treating Morris unfairly as compared to other team members. Since the other team members felt Morris was not causing any problems there was no real reason or excuse for her to confront. The reality w as that Carly was the root of the conflict and not vice versa (Umsl). I think that Carly would benefit from having a one to one conversation with Morris in order to vent out her concerns and fears. As an individual Carly needs to figure out ways to better communicate her emotions without falling into destructive patterns or behaviors that only create unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings. Morris would probably be shocked, but not necessarily surprised by some the fabrications or negative ideas that Carly probably harbors about him. He would probably be more open to keeping the lines of communication open between team members in order to resolve underlying conflicts that will continue to affect team performance if the underlying causes for the conflict are not addressed. 3) Overall there is a definite lack of group cohesiveness between all team members not just Carly and Morris. The lack of open lines of communication between team members is an overall symptom of the underlying tensions and climate of mistrust that Carly as a team project leader has created. Since the team members were aware of Carly's unfair treatment towards one of the team members, their responsibility as a group was to address the problem directly and not let an individual team member's actions negatively affect the overall group performance. As a functional team all members are responsible for team performance, they as a functional group should have discussed ways to address the issue and resolve the underlying dysfunctional conflicts for the benefit of the whole. I think that the group would benefit from participating in a one day conflict management and effective communication seminar in order to empower, educate, and provide all team members with the knowledge and a set of tools to better deal with all types of functional and dysfunctional conflicts that are commonly encountered in group settings. During the seminar the expert speaker and psychologist could have a short 15 minute individual session with all team

Midterm exam Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Midterm exam - Coursework Example Accordingly, the following analysis will specifically focus on these changes with respect to workforce and illustrate the means by which different scholarly articles have engaged this issue and determines how it might be addressed in the near future. Accordingly, the following response will be broken down into four distinct sections. The first of these will be with respect to a summary of the major arguments presented within each article (a literature review in a sense). The second section will be with respect to an assessment of the contribution each article makes. Thirdly, a discussion that connects significant developments and trends with respect to strategic human capital management will be provided and lastly a discussion with respect to recommendations of articles that should be included in the course reading list will be made based upon the recommendations that have been analyzed and contributions that these respective authors have provided. Yarnall’s (2014) article illustrates the changing dynamics and employer’s face with respect to engaging an increasingly diverse workforce that oftentimes understands direction, metrics, and deliverables, in a variety of different ways. As a function of this new dynamic and hardship, the article focuses upon the approaches that human resource management must take as a function of engaging the stakeholders to a more effective and complete degree. Whereas a great deal of literature has been directed towards the need for diversity and inclusion within human resource departments around the world, the article in question denotes the fact that inclusionary tactics in and of themselves are insufficient with regard to dealing with the changing dynamics of the current workforce. Instead, analysis of the way in which direction is given and third-party recommendations with

Which form of social media is best for an organisation to use Dissertation

Which form of social media is best for an organisation to use - Dissertation Example And the impact of face-book in the world of business and on its total sale as compared to others. However, all these evaluations are obtained with the help of secondary research methods such as literature review as compared to primary research. And finally the dissertation is completed with the fact that, face-book is the best for any organizations as compared to other sites. In this age of stiff competitive and high bargaining power of the customers, maximum extent of the entrepreneurs or organizational management desires to present high-end inventive products. This is done in order to satisfy the changing needs and demands of the customers of recent era so as to retain them for longer period of time. However, it might be possible only if the entrepreneur or organizational management desires to offer high-level of concentration over advertisements or promotional campaigns. This might help in enhancement of the awareness level of the customers thereby amplifying the demand and profit ability of the organization in the market as compared to many other rival players. But, introduction of information technology has changed the definition of advertisement entirely. Now a day, advertisement or promotion means vivid description of the features or benefits of the products in social media’s like face-book, twitter, Orkut, LinkedIn, Pin-interest and many others. This is because; introduction of information technology enhanced the craze of social media’s as compared to conventional advertising tactics (Macdonald, 2013, pp. 256-356). This dissertation is divided into five phases mainly highlighting the importance of social media in enhancing the profitability of the business. Along with this, it also describes, which might be the best form of social media (face-book or twitter) among many others so as to improve the prosperity of the business. Therefore, the prime question that might be discussed in this dissertation through secondary research methods is, whe ther face-book or twitter appears to be the best form for any organizational up-liftment. Discussion Literature review Importance of Social Media According to Bregman (2012), social media acts as a weapon to flight against extreme competition and rivalry among the existing contenders. Social media also helps the organization to develop a recognised position for itself and its products thereby amplifying its reputation in the entire globe among many other rival players. As a result of which, it helps in enhancing the awareness of the targeted customers thereby amplifying the demand and total revenue of the organization in the market as compared to others. And so, the brand image and market share of the organization might get amplified resulting in amplification of the total profit margin. Therefore, it might be clearly stated that social media acts as a supporting medium to create and protect digital reputations in an effective and efficient way. Hence, from the above mentioned point s, it might be clearly revealed that social media plays a very important role in enhancing the portfolio of an organization in this age of extreme competition. And due to such unde4rlining reason, maximum extent of the entrepreneurs or organizational managements, prefer to comprise of a popular social media reputation. Apart from this, as per Jue & et. al. (2009), the craze of social media or social networking sites enhanced mainly due to the advancement of technologies in this age of

Poland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Poland - Essay Example ech Walesa and the ascendancy of Mikhail Gorbachev to the leadership of the USSR paved the way for the disintegration of the communistic hold on the country. Today, Poland has become a democratic, market-oriented country with membership in many international organizations. It is considered one of the success stories in the transition economies. In the 4th century, the Slav people who originally occupied the area between the Carpathian and the Middle Vistula in Eastern Europe, began drifting eastwards to Russia, southwards into the Balkans, and westwards towards the Order and Elbe Rivers. The pressures of a growing population resulted in the expansion of the areas originally inhabited by the Slavs. A written account of the country appeared only in the 14th century although a historical highlight of the country started when its ruler Mieszko I of the Piast Dynasty personally embraced Latin Christianity and imposed it on his people in 966. In the early medieval state, expeditions for plundering purposes were vital to the country’s existence but the reigns of Mieszko II (1025-34), Boleslaw II (1058-81), and Boleslaw III (1102-38) were marked by internal revolts and foreign invasions. It was believed that the country had no leader between the years of 1034 and 1039 when paganism and Bohemian invasion threatened to pull t he country apart. It was Casimir â€Å"The Restorer† (son of Mieszko) who restored the territorial integrity of the country and established Kraskow as its capital (Lukowski & Zawadzki p 7). Before 1157, not all of Poland accepted Christianity. However, the 12th century witnessed invasions, in the name of the religion, one after another. A deeper Christianity was established in the 12th and 13th centuries when more friars came and monasteries were established. The coming of the new bishops presented a new form of political authority in Poland, limiting the ruler’s monopoly to it. During these times, the rulers tried to attract settlers to augment

Synoptic Gospels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Synoptic Gospels - Essay Example Synoptic problem†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 7. Faith seeking understanding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 8. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..10 9. Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..11 Introduction The first three books in the New Testament (Mathew, Mark , and Luke) are referred to as synoptic gospels. These books talk about similar subjects an d stories concerning Jesus Christ. However, these books do not cover the events about Jesus Christ in the same length and detail. The books cover the events surrounding the life of Jesus Christ in the same sequence, and in most cases, have used similar words1. Relationship between the Synoptic Gospels The book of Mathew was written about 6 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ. This is according to the chronology of gospels that are found in the crucial dates in the lives of Mary and her son, Jesus Christ. The book of Mark followed after the writing of the gospel according to St. Mathew. It was written about 16 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ. The gospel according to St. Luke was written 27 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ while John wrote about 62 years after the ascension2. ... It is important to note that the synoptic gospels have difference and similarities. The similarities cannot be explained just in terms of event sequences. These books differ in terms of language, grammar, and expression3. The first similarity among the synoptic is seen in their chronology. After Mathew’s gospel had been written and widely read by other Christians, the gospel according to Mark was written. It is assumed that Mark wrote the gospel after reading the work of Mathew. This is due to the fact that Mark could read Hebrew, the language that Mathew used in writing his gospel. The main difference between the three gospels is seen in respect of languages used by the two gospel writers were using. Mark was using Latin to write the gospel after reading the Hebrew version of Mathew4. After Mark and Mathew had written their gospels, Luke wrote his gospel. The writing of the gospel according to Luke is assumed to have been influenced by the writings of Mark and Mathew since th eir gospels had been circulated widely. However, Luke could not interpreted Hebrew language in which Mathew’s gospel was written. The difficulty in understanding Hebrew explains why Luke’s gospel is more similar to that of Mark that Mathew. John’s gospel does not fall under the synoptic gospels because the book was written several years after the synoptic gospels had been written and were in wide circulation. The synoptic had already been translated into other languages when John decided to write the gospel. The difference between the synoptic and John’s gospel is in respect of the fact that John did not want to repeat the same events that had been narrated. John knew that his gospel was directed toward the whole church unlike the synoptic that were directed to specific audiences. The

Psychology of Homer Simpsons Essay Example for Free

Psychology of Homer Simpsons Essay The Simpsons have been America’s phenomenal cartoon TV series that has a chilling resemblance to the typical family, if it would be viewed in a different angle removing the humour and exaggerations. The melodious opening song, Bart’s writing on the board, to the sofa antic just gives that tinge of spice to the expecting viewers. However, what usually catches the interest of the people is Homer. His credulous and sometimes sordid character ironically gives justice to the struggle of middle class families and perfectly depicts the role and challenges of a father who is facing the ordeals in the midst of a family crisis and his obligation as a citizen in the society.   A saying goes that the father is the home’s foundation. If that foundation would be weak, the family will collapse and disperse on the ground. He is the one that stands firm amongst difficult adversities a family faces and would be the source of their hope. Homer Simpsons heavy stature and obsession with Duff beer seems to exclude him from this description of this sturdy foundation. In Season 1, episode 3, Homer lost his job in front of his son in the Nuclear Plant. He became the common bum. He would lie on the sofa all day long, doing nothing and with a blank stare at the TV set, while Marge is working at a fast food chain on roller skates. He came to thirst for beer, since he was sober for a while due to lack of finances. With humour he searched for any kind of source for income including Bart’s piggy bank and going that low ,which wasn’t even worth it because it wasn’t even enough for one beer, he then came to a realization of what he has become. He decided on taking his own life by throwing himself in a watery grave. With a boulder around his neck he walked slowly towards the river. This action exhibited man’s reaction in time of weakness and lost of sight for ones purpose in life. However, he still managed to oil the fence upon going out, showing his compulsiveness of taking care of his own home. At the river, on the last minute he was about to throw away his life, his family came to the rescue. However, it turned out that it was Homer who would rescue them in the middle of the intersection from a speeding vehicle, and that is with a boulder hanging around his neck. The instinct of a father protecting his family came in stronger than his human weakness. Then, it dawned on him that the town needs someone to uphold safety around the place. He found his silver lining among the dark clouds. He went against even with his boss, Mr. Burns, just to be able to completely eradicate the town of danger. Mr. Burns even blackmailed Homer of giving his job back if he would just turn back on his own words about the plant’s safety. Homer almost gave in but his principles were as sturdy as his love for his family and community. Although, like water looking for its way back to the sea, Homer still got his job back and was still able to uphold his principle. He became the plant’s safety man. The seemingly ignorant and weakling personality of Homer turned out to be actually a shallow shroud that clothes his inner strength that brought hope and respect not only from his family but from his community as well. He secretly became a beacon to their hearts. He just needed that chance to bring it out of him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fathers have always been the icon of providing for his family. Since ancient times, these men are the ones that bring home the slaughtered meal after a dangerous and tedious hunt. Nothing has changed ever since except for the barbarism. Nowadays, the head of the families would still need to â€Å"hunt† for their income in order to provide for their pecuniary needs. Homer Simpsons is the kind of employee that slack-off during work, taking unscheduled doughnut breaks and seemingly doing his job but not actually serious about it. A provider, yes that he could be, but a good one is a dubious fact. In the first episode for season 1, a Christmas special of The Simpsons, Homer established the answer to this question. Mr. Burns joyously announced to the intercom that there is an increase in the safety of the plant but unfortunately no Holiday bonus for the mid-level workers. It saddened everyone, Homer on the other hand was still thankful because they had a â€Å"Christmas jar† that Marge has been keeping. But, little did he know that it was all spent on Bart’s surgery to remove the tattoo he just got. Upon entering the Simpsons home, he knew of the ordeal they are in. Marge had high hopes knowing that he had a Christmas bonus and Homer didn’t have the heart to break the news to his family, not with all those looks that are on tenterhooks. Homer, like our forefathers, hunted for a way to earn some extra income for his family, so that they won’t have to miss Christmas. He found one as a mall’s Santa Claus. He kept it a secret from his family in order to keep his family from worrying and his dignity as well. In a particular scene, it showed Homer going home from his Santa training exhausted and bad enough his sisters-in-law made a visit. Homer never did like them but because of his love for Marge, he still tried to be cou rteous and said his hellos. The gentleness, like any beast or man has, had been placed above the brute that he was. However, Bart discovered his clandestine accidentally but they made a bond not to speak of it. When pay day came Homer only got a measly $13. He got really disappointed but Barney asked him to try his luck on a dog race and take the chance of doubling his earnings. Homer refused for he didn’t want Bart to grow-up with that kind of values. It was Bart who encouraged his dad to take the risk because he believed that miracles happen to unfortunate kids especially in Christmastime. Thus, father and son embarked on the journey to try their luck. But fate made a twist on Bart’s little hope for miracle. The dog they made a bet on lost and so did their measly hope for their Christmas gifts. Broken hearted they went home. However , with a twist of event, the dog ironically named Santa’s little helper, was booted out by its owner and as fate smiled on both unfortunate souls, they found refuge in the arms of one another. Homer brought home the dog and it turned out to be the best Christmas they ever had. Homer indeed provided but not with mere money but with the gift of love for his family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A father is also a source of wisdom and guidance. He is not just the role model in a family but considered as his children’s hero. A father’s advice is treasured like nothing else and he is remembered with it even until his next life.   Homer’s clumsiness and ignorant responses are attitudes wherein a person won’t dare to ask or even take an advice from. He would even sometimes strangle Bart whenever he catches him with his smart alecks. However, that is just a part of his comic act for humour sake. On episode 2 and 5, Homer exhibited the support, love and guidance an ideal father gives in spite of his once-in-a while shallowness. He gave his children a strong arm they can run to and a shoulder they can cry on. Homer handed down his advice as carefully as our forefathers handed down their gift of wisdom to the generations next to them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Homer Simpsons is a comical proof of what human beings are in an ironic sense. Behind the humour and funny antics is the true father figure we have all known. He merely shows that there is always two sides of the coin, it could either be our bad or our good side. Homer Simpsons simply teaches us that we should never pass judgement to people by a mere look or by the way they talk, because their works and most of all their family might attest to their greatness above all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      References Groening, M et.al Burkes,J. , Simon,S. (Producers). Copyright 1990. Gracie Films. Twentieth  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Century Fox Film Corp.(Distributor).

Crime Data Comparison Paper

Crime Data Comparison Paper On a yearly base, the Federal Bureau of Investigation gathers information from organizations across the country that relates to specific crimes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation looks at the insights and advertises the information, which is known as Uniform Crime Reports. The two metropolitan ranges thats being contrasted throughout this essay is Mobile Alabama and Atlanta Georgia. Police officers must fill completely incident reports for all crimes that are committed. This solely happens if the victim decides to step up and is inclined to provide a report of the crime to the police. Crimes like aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, burglary, murder and property crimes are a couple of models that are gathered and examined every year. Variation in crime rate alters from year to year. The cause for the crime rate to change is due to the lack of the victims that do not report most crimes. The population of an individual region may change. Not all companies report crime information to the FBI for diverse purposes like being short on staff; software information processing system delivery issuance or the way retention of records are self-possessed. The FBI possess distinct announcement on crime thats seen or observed on their internet site www.fbi.gov. Atlanta Georgia had an expected 5,475,213 individuals living inside the twenty-eight districts that make up the Atlanta Georgia metropolitan range in 2009. The previous six years, the metro range included more than 458,568 individuals every year, more than some other in the United States. At this development rate, the anticipated populace of Atlantas 20 center areas for 2020 is 6.4 million. The biggest rate of individuals who moved to Atlanta Georgia originated from New York and New Jersey (Impact The Atlanta Regional Commission, 2014). Atlanta Georgia is a city that is not commanded by one specific race. There are a wide range of societies that make up the Atlanta Georgia populace. Atlanta Georgia is in the south where warm climate is one key element that draws in individuals to move to the range. As indicated by the FBIS Uniform Crime Report, in 2011 there were 3,391 thefts revealed. This number diminished from 3,761 numbers from 2010 (Federal Bureau Of Investigation, 2016). In connection to, the socioeconomics Mobile Alabama has an aggregate of 198,915 occupants (Mobile Alabama Demographics, n.d.). The Federal Bureau of Investigation detailed 1,897 thefts in 2011 and 1,761 in 2010 (Federal Bureau of Investigations). It is unmistakable to notice that there was a slight ascent in robberies from 2010 to 2011. Adjusting to the socioeconomics for Mobile Alabama the normal populace underneath the destitution level was 17.9% (Mobile Alabama Demographics, n.d.). Then again, the evaluated middle wage in 2009 was $35,068 and the per capita pay was 21,561 (Mobile, Alabama, 2017). Atlanta Georgia had a larger number of thefts revealed than Mobile Alabama in 2010 and 2011. The quantity of thefts declined in Atlanta by 331 in 2011. The quantity of robberies expanded in Mobile by 136 from 2010 to 2011. The wrongdoing numbers may appear to be high to a few notwithstanding, when taking the populace for these regions into thought, the number truly are not that awful. This examination discloses to me that wrongdoing is higher in certain geographic zones than others in view of various variables. Some would incorporate the racial obstructions, wage level, business, and numerous different components. A few elements could be at fault for the adjustment in the numbers. We need to consider that Atlanta Georgia has more populace than Mobile Alabama. The more populace that a range has the more noteworthy the open door is for violations to be conferred. The economic level altered because people lost their residence and jobs. This could exceptionally well add to the numbers expanding. Investigating what could help diminish numbers could be offices building up a theft team. Rehash guilty parties may have been gotten and given a stiffer discipline, for example, correctional facility or jail sentences. A few wrongdoings additionally might not have been accounted for to the police, which could add to the lessening in specific violations. Nobody can totally avert wrongdoing or anticipate the wrongdoing rates. There are many variables that have an influence in these violations. Some of these elements incorporate the neediness level inside a specific range. Race and distinctive ethnical foundations can add to high wrongdoing rates in a few territories. The quantity of wrongdoings announced every year may increment or lessening inside a geographic region relying upon various key variables. References Impact The Atlanta Regional Commission. (2014). Retrieved from http://file:///C:/Users/leidi/Downloads/ARC-Climate-2014-Full.pdf Mobile, Alabama. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/city/Mobile-Alabama.html Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/ Mobile Alabama Demographics. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://mobile.alabama.com/demographics.html

The two poems I am going to compare are Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney

The two poems I am going to compare are Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney and Death Be Not Proud by John Donne. The first poem I am going to study is a poem by Seamus Heaney called Mid-Term Break. Seamus Heaney was born in County Derry into a farming background. He attended St. Columb’s College in Derry where he was a border. Heaney went on to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. The poet’s title Mid-Term Break is somewhat ambiguous as it would suggest a holiday of some sort, whereas, the poem is actually about the death of Heaney’s young brother who was killed in a tragic accident. The thoughts of death are brought to the fore almost immediately as the poem begins with a funeral note in line two: ‘†¦counting bells knelling classes to a close.’ The word ‘knelling’ reminds the poet of the church bells tolling for a funeral. In the second stanza we are aware that the tragedy which has occurred is different as funerals usually did not disturb his father in the way that this one had. Heaney recalls the embarrassment he felt when the adults sympathised with him and paid his deference saying ‘they were sorry for my trouble.’ This seemed to perplex him as it was a reversal of roles. There is a sense of alienation in the forth stanza when he heard the whispers of the neighbours, apart from his mother’s hand in his. His mother seems to be trying to control her emotions but is clearly outraged by what has happened. When Heaney’s brother is returned home, the poet refers to his brother as a ‘corpse’. This seems to suggest that Heaney is emotionally detached but it could just be a case of denial. Heaney injects a note of tranquillity to the poem when he describes the ‘snowdrops’ and ‘candles’. ... ... hand, deals with the mystery and fear that sounds death. Although we will all have to die eventually it is still something that scares us but Donne tries to alleviate those fears by telling us that death is just another part of life that will lead us to eternity. Heaney seemed to be emotionally detached throughout his poem until the final line whereas Donne was very passionate about his feeling from the start. When I first read both poems I was drawn instantly towards Mid-Term Break only because of the simplicity of the language. However, after carefully studying both poems my preference now lies with Death Be Not Proud. It is an interesting poem that expresses the act of dying as something natural and pleasant; abandoning the reputation it has for being frightening or powerful. It expresses that death is not the end of life, but only the beginning.

Johnnys Adventures :: essays research papers

Johnny Basily is an some what normal man. He has blonde hair that can only be described to be as beautiful as the morning sunrise. People say that his eyes are as brown as newly polished wood. Since he works as a lumberjack for T&L Wood Cutters he is very well built and has strong hands. Johnny is also tall. This is because when he was a child he drank his milk and lifted weights. He weighs 200 pounds and has an excessive eating disorder. Besides physical features Johnny is also very brave, stupid and sensitive. These attributes about him are shown several times in his life and are interesting to hear about. Overall he is a great person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Johnny is very brave person. This is shown one night when he is working overtime. Johnny was just doing the usual, chopping down trees and putting them on a truck, but when he was almost done with his work he smelled the smoke from a fire. It was coming from deep in the woods. He decided to check it out and so quietly and slowly he moved towards the location of where the smell was coming from. After going through some bushes he came upon a vast clearing and found a tent on fire. Seeing this at once he ran to the tent to see if there was anybody inside and indeed there was. Without thinking twice he courageously jumped into the tent, grabbed the 2 women inside quickly and jumped out before the flames could even touch him. This daring act showed how Johnny is very brave and puts others lives’ before his own. Another example of this is the time when he saved a little boy from bears. On a Sunday, not long ago, he was hiking on his most favorite trail on the Bub as Mountains. While hiking he heard a yelp for help and ran towards the source of the sound. There he saw a boy was being attacked by some bears. With only thinking of the boys safety he leaped at the two bears and tackled them to the ground. He then commenced to further more attack the bears until they ran away. After the fighting was over he took the boy to a rangers office. Once again he had proven that he is very brave.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Also Johnny is very stupid. This is shown when he tried to wrestle a killer shark.

Polar Bears :: essays research papers

Polar bears are big, white bears (sometimes darker fur) that live in very cold regions like around the artic poles. There are 21,000 to 28,000 Polar bears alive that are known. Polar bears swim in water and are carnivores, they eat fish . Polar bears feed mainly on ringed seals and bearded seals. Depending upon their location, they also eat harp and hooded seals and eat carcasses of beluga whales, walruses, narwhals, and Bowhead whales. A polar bears' stomach can hold up to 15% to 20% of its body weight. It can use 84% of the protein and 97% of the fat it eats. Polar bears need about 2 kg (4.4 lb.) of fat per day to survive. A ringed seal weighing 55 kg (121 lb.) could provide up to eight days of energy for a polar bear. On cold days polar bears curl up and cover their muzzle area. During the winter, some polar bears leave their dens and find other places to stay warm. They may use these shelters for several months at a time. Polar bears generally walk with a steady, clumsy walk. The front paws swing towards the sides with each step, landing slightly pigeon-toed. The head swings from side to side. The walk has a four-beat pattern, first the right front foot touches the ground, then the left back foot, then the left front foot, and lastly, the right back foot. Humans may encounter polar bears wherever human and polar bear habitats come together. Polar bear attacks occur most often at sites of human camp where they fish and hunt or in towns close by polars' habitat. Compared to other bears, polar bears are more willing to consider humans as prey. Most likely the person attacked is killed, unless the polar bear is killed first. Polar bears can live up to 20 to 30 years, but only a few of the polar bears live past 15 to 18 years. The oldest known polar bear in the Arctic lived 32 years. And the oldest polar bear in a zoo lived 41 years. Adult polar bears have no natural predators. Males sometimes kill other males competing for mates. Males rarely kill females protecting cubs. Cubs less than one year old sometimes are prey to adult male polar bears and other meat eaters, such as wolves. Newborn cubs may be killed by mothers that are hungry. Polar bears have been hunted for thousands of years.

Life & experienced

My life has experienced its fair share if twists and turns. If there is one thing that I have learnt from life, it is preparing to expect the unexpected. I always try to keep an open mind towards situations and it helps me to stay unruffled during adversity.I maintain a positive outlook towards life even during hardships, which helps me focus on things that need to be done in the present rather than worrying about the past. It has also helped face failure with optimism and given me confidence that anything is possible if adequate time and effort are put in.I enjoy reading books and feel that it is extremely enlightening and entertaining at the same time. I feel that good books can talk to people and change lives. I have read quite a few good books that have greatly influenced me and made who I am today.I enjoy playing outdoor sports and feel that it a great way to exert pent-up energy and refresh the mind. A good game has the power to take the mind off negative thoughts. I believe it helps to lead a healthy lifestyle since it acts as adequate exercise to the body and soul. It is also an excellent way to learn sportsmanship and make new friends.I feel college education is absolutely essential to gather knowledge, which would otherwise take years of experience. However, I do understand there is no substitute for real world experience. But, I just feel that a college degree would give a head start towards launching a successful career.I also hope that college life would expose me a world of new possibilities and people that would made life more interesting. I have been quite a disciplined and dedicated student in school, which is reflected by grades and clean record. I also stick to strong moral values, as a result of my healthy upbringing and good friends.I am looking forward to learning new things from professors and academic experts, enabling me to be a more enlightened person. I like making new friends by mingling with my fellow students and getting to know th eir experiences and thoughts on life.I feel that college is the best place to make human connections that last for a lifetime, since we reach a mature state of mind and are also free from the greed that haunts the professional world. I am good in coordinating charity events and can help out in organizing any event. I am very open to learning and quite good in grasping things quickly. I believe that I can I contribute to your student community in more ways than one by being an honest, unbiased, helpful person.I seek joy by helping other people, especially the ones that desperately need help. It makes my heart ache to see people in our very own country suffer without food and a proper place to stay. I am willing to do whatever it takes to revive this situation.However, I feel that I have to first empower myself with the necessary tools to accomplish this noble cause. I believe that I have to start with higher education which is the one of the key steps. Dedication and persistence in h ealthy doses measure are also equally important to reach this goal.I am very patient person and would like help out elderly people are abandoned by their kids. I feel that everyone deserves someone to care for them and listen to them. I wish to visit elderly rest homes and interact with senior citizens. I wish get their perspective on current affairs and help them in little ways that matter.I wish to spend time with time with them on a regular basis and offer such elderly homes my free services. If I could help out a few elderly people, it would make me feel extremely proud and contented.I gone through many trails and tribulations in my life so far and all of them have only made me a stronger person. Even when I failed in my tests, I never gave up hope and have always been ready to face tough situations. I feel this quality of mine helps me to keep moving forward in life. I would have to mention my math teacher who helped me a lot to come out of failure and taste success.I will alwa ys be grateful to her and I made decision to be helpful to other people. I have also helped a lot of my friends during personal crisis and family emergencies. I try not pass judgments and am very open-minded.This has helped me gain the trust of my friends and prompted them to share their personal problems with me. It has also made me gain insight into human pain and uncover ways to deal with it. This has helped to understand that that every wound will heal with time.I see myself as a very active and sociable person. I have a penchant for doing social work and fighting for good causes. I would like to participate in events that deal with cleansing the environment and taking a new fresh look at humanitarian issues.I believe it is my duty as a human being to exhibit empathy and devote time to improve the world that I live. Nothing in the world would be give me more pride and joy than knowing that I have made a difference in another person’s life.

Euthanasia: Suffering and Powerful Pain Relief

One of the reasons that some people believe that euthanasia is morally okay is that if people with a terminal illness want to die, you should let them. Others will argue that life is a gift from God and that another human shouldn’t interfere with God’s will even if they are begged to help. An example of this is in the Bible. Thou shalt not kill is one of the Ten Commandments so it is therefore a fundamental tenet of the Christian and Jewish religions, but is it really murder?Euthanasia can help family members, relatives and carers to end the dreadful pain and suffering that their loved ones have to endure. It sometimes seems the kindest thing to do. However one could argue that with more powerful pain relief and dedicated hospices, pain should be controlled. Another reason against euthanasia is that in hospitals it could destroy the relationship and trust between the patient and the doctor. Also is it really fair to put the Doctor in the position of having to make such a key decision?Surely if God gave life then only he can decide when to take it back. The major argument against euthanasia in my opinion is that if it is legal it could be subject to a great deal of abuse, such as relatives not wanting to bother anymore or getting their hands on someone’s will. Even Doctors could be tempted to hurry along a patient’s death in order to harvest their organs for a younger patient. It is a bit like the argument for Capital punishment, what if you hang the wrong man, similarly what if the man who has been in a coma for years suddenly awakes?Life is precious and it should not be devalued and if taken to it’s extreme in the hands of a person such as Hitler, euthanasia could stop being a choice but something that is enforced. In conclusion I think euthanasia should be allowed as if people want to die and they cannot do it for themselves they should be given help to die with dignity, surrounded by their loved ones, in their own home, not in some impersonal clinic in Switzerland. At the end of the day I believe in freedom of choice.

Daiwa Bank

A Case Study| | Background and History Daiwa Bank, or Osaka Nomura Bank as it was first called, was founded in 1918 in Osaka, Japan by Tokushichi Nomura. It was created mainly to take advantage of the new capital Japan had amassed from foreign commercial ventures and domestic industrialization. Its securities division experienced huge growth in volume and profits that it almost functioned as different entity. Japanese industry spectacularly grew in the 1930s, but after the war the Allied occupation forces enacted a variety of laws aimed at decentralizing the industry.Part of this was that the bank was forced to change its name to Daiwa Bank, Limited. In 1948, Daiwa Bank established a foreign department and the following year it was authorized as a foreign exchange bank. Daiwa opened representative offices in New York and London in 1956 and 1958, respectively as it was also gaining stronger presence in Tokyo. The bank opened more overseas offices, in Los Angeles in 1970, Frankfurt in 1971, Hong Kong in 1976, and Singapore in 1979.It established a new trust headquarters in 1985 to reinforce its position in trust banking, promote fee income, and demonstrate its ability to accommodate the increasingly diverse needs of Japanese society. Daiwa, like most Japanese banks, made its profits through lending, but failed to implement appropriate oversight procedures when it turned to high-volume securities trading. It was not until 1980s that Daiwa’s entry to trading securities would lead to a scandal with longtime repercussions.In September 1995, the news reported that one of its New York bond traders, Toshihide Iguchi, had embezzled funds and altered bank records in order to conceal 11 years of losses than amounted to $1. 1 billion. Five years later, Daiwa was still enduring the impact of the New York scandal when a Japanese court ruled on the shareholder suit when a number of former and current management officials were ordered to pay $775 million in damages to sh areholders for failing to properly oversee Iguchi's trading.Occurrences of Fraud Toshihide Iguchi is a Kobe, Japan-born US citizen who majored in psychology at Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield. He joined Daiwa’s New York branch in 1977. There he learned how to run the small back office of the branch’s securities business. Traders say that he had traded as much as $1billion in a day, striving to affect the prices through big positions, yet his reported profits averaged $4 million a year over the past decade, never exceeding $10 million in a single year.When Iguchi lost a few hundred thousand dollars early on in his trading activities, he was tempted into selling off bonds in the Bankers Trust sub-custody account to pay off his losses. As money was lost in trading mostly short-term Treasury bills, he covered the losses by selling US government securities owned by Daiwa, allegedly forging documents to hide their sale. He concealed his unauthorized sales fr om the custody account by falsifying account statements so that the statements would not indicate that the securities had been sold. He was able to forge some 30,000 trading slips, among other documents.When customers sold off securities that Iguchi had already sold off on his own behalf, or when customers needed to be paid interest on long-gone securities, Iguchi settled their accounts by selling off yet more securities and changing yet more records. Eventually about $377 million of Daiwa’s customers’ securities and about $733 million of Daiwa’s own investment securities had been sold off by Iguchi to cover his trading losses. By the early 1990s, it was difficult for Iguchi to continue to hide them particularly after 1993 when Daiwa made limited efforts to split up its trading and back-office functions.Yet he managed to survive for another two years before engineering his own day of reckoning. Why Violations Occurred When Iguchi was promoted to become a trader in 1984, he did not relinquish his back-office duties. All in all, he supervised the securities custody department at the New York branch from approximately 1977 right through to 1995. This lack of segregation, a relatively common feature of small trading desks in the early 1980s but already a discredited practice by the early 1990s, led to Daiwa’s downfall. Iguchi’s very own words were â€Å"To me, it was only a violation of internal rules.I think all traders have a tendency to fall into the same trap. You always have a way of recovering the loss. As long as that possibility is there, you both admit your loss and lose face and your job, or you wait a little – a month or two months, or however long it takes. † Daiwa and its internal auditors never independently confirmed the custody account statements. Subsequent investigation showed that risk control lapses and cover-ups were part of the culture of Daiwa’s New York operation in the 1980s and early 1990s, to a farcical degree.For example, during the 1995 investigation of the Iguchi affair, the bank was also charged with operating an unauthorized trading area for securities between 1986 and 1993. Opportunities of Fraud Opportunities for fraud open the door for individuals and companies to behave unethically and commit fraudulent acts. Opportunity is created through the use of one’s position and authority, professional and personal pressures, and weak internal controls. Some of these opportunities are taken by Toshihide Iguchi in order to conceal a trading loss dating back to 1984, and additional losses throughout his career as CEO of Daiwa’s New York branch.In the late 1970’s, Iguchi was promoted to bond trader while still maintaining his duties as clerk in the securities deposit department. This allowed him access to two major responsibilities and to take advantage of each position and its authority. He learned the process of trading bonds, the paper work that was required to complete transactions, and how to seamlessly deposit securities. It was a perfect opportunity to learn each process and find holes in the system to conceal fraud.During this time, Iguchi’s financial transactions were not maintained or properly recorded as a financial institution or international financial institution. His process was to first trade then record trades manually on paper rather than on a computer. Trading transactions could not be over seen by the Daiwa corporate office due to this process. This created the ability to freely make trades and conceal and alter transactions when needed. In 1979, Iguchi became executive vice president and head of government and bond trading in the New York branch where he answered only to himself.His superiors failed to manage him properly and instead gave him full control of the New York branch. This allowed him to set his own schedule, standards, rules, and operate the branch how he deemed fit. In addition, I guchi was seen as a â€Å"trustworthy† employee due to his history with Daiwa, position, dedication, and sacrifices he made as a vice president and bond trader. This gave confidence to his superiors that they did not need to oversee Iguchi or question his actions. Iguchi’s expertise in the US government bond market was something that no one else in the company could match.Daiwa failed to train or hire another worker in the field which allowed Iguchi to take full control of its operations and responsibilities without another’s input of his actions. Daiwa Bank had numerous opportunities for fraud in its New York branch office. These opportunities for fraud could have been avoided in the past; however, creating a strong action plan will help deter opportunities for fraud in the future. Deterring Fraud in the Future Opportunities of fraud almost always lead to the occurrence of fraud. The best defense for this is the need for a strong action plan to deter fraud in t he future.Daiwa lacked in several areas including strong internal controls and conducting regular internal and external audits. Strong internal controls are essential to the proper management of a company’s operations and success. Daiwa did not exercise the separation of duties in its New York branch. Separating of duties can ensure that each positions process is efficiently executed by being checked by an independent party. The implementation of a separation of duties also prevents a single business process from being completely managed by a single individual.This increases the difficulty of successfully performing fraudulent activities which reduces them in return. Daiwa and Iguchi did not use a company system or computer system to track transactions made by employees. Requiring all banking transactions to be reported in a company computer system is beneficially to management and the accounting department. Activity of each employee and branch can be monitored which can ensu re duties are being fulfilled and fraud is not being performed. Daiwa’s Japan corporate office failed to supervise and over oversee Iguchi and the New York branch.Increased oversight of international branch’s and branch executives ensures that operations are in accordance to company objectives and processes, and abide by government laws and regulations. Daiwa depended solely upon Iguchi to trade bonds in the US market because the company failed to train or hire another individual with similar expertise. Employing more than one knowledgeable and skilled individual in a specialty field increases its effectiveness and decreases issues related to improper actions. Daiwa failed to conduct regular internal and external audits of company policies and financial statements.Regular internal and external audits can determine whether financial statements are in accordance with company policies and government standards. Audits can also disclose fraudulent transactions and discrepan cies. Daiwa Bank had numerous opportunities for fraud which lead to Iguchi’s ability to conceal trading losses for such an extensive period of time. In order to prevent a similar situation from taking place, it is essential to find why these violations occurred in the first place. Creating a proper action plan is essential to deter fraud in the future. ReferencesBizcovering. 2008. Retrieved on October 6, 2012 from http://bizcovering. com/business-law/toshihide-iguchi-and-daiwa-bank-securities-trading-scandal/ Case Study – Daiwa Bank. 2000. Retrieved on August 29, 2012 from http://202. 70. 81. 13/itd/OTH00009/Course%20Materials/Day%208/S1C%20-%20Case%20Studies/Case%20Study%20Daiwa%20Bank. pdf Funding Universe. 1996. Retrieved on October 2, 2012 from http://www. fundinguniverse. com/company-histories/the-daiwa-bank-ltd-history/ The Daiwa Bank Case. 2000. Retrieved on September 10, 2012 from http://dspace. lib. niigata-u. ac. p:8080/dspace/bitstream/10191/15002/1/34(1-2)_ 107-138. pdf The Independent. 1995. Retrieved on October 5, 2012 from http://www. independent. co. uk/news/business/us-orders-daiwa-bank-shutdown-1537096. html The Key to Financial Management: Management. 2004. Retrieved from September 27, 2012 from http://fic. wharton. upenn. edu/fic/papers/99/9942. pdf The New York Times. 1996. Retrieved on October 5, 2012 from http://www. nytimes. com/1996/02/29/business/daiwa-bank-admits-guilt-in-cover-up. html Wells, J. T. (2012). Principles of Fraud Examination (3rd ed. ) Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Fiji Water and Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Nova School of Business and Economics 2nd Semester 2011/2012 Marta Andre Lopes n º10265 International Management – 4th Case Study Summary – Fiji Water and Corporate Social Responsibility: Green Makeover or†Greenwashing†? 1. Introducing the Case The case traces the establishment and subsequent operation of Fiji Water LLC and its bottling subsidiary, Natural Waters of Viti Limited, the first company in Fiji extracting, bottling and marketing, both domestically and internationally, artesian water coming from a untouched ecosystem in the main of Fiji Islands. It takes us through the growth and market expansion of this highly successful company. The company has grown rapidly over the past decade and a half, and now exports bottled water into many countries in the world from its production plant located in the Fiji Islands. In 2008, Fiji Water was the leading imported bottled water brand in the United States. Despite of a great marketing success of the Fiji brand, particularly in the U. S. market, the case shows us how the company has responded to a number of corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues, including measuring and reducing its carbon footprint, responsibilities to key stakeholders, and concerns of the Fiji government with regard to taxation and transfer pricing issues. It also leads us to think of CSR challenges that may jeopardize the sustainability of a great marketing strategy. In this case, Fiji Water faces CSR issues such as the carbon footprint on its production, responsibilities to stakeholders, relations and legal issues with the Fiji authorities on tax incentives, export duty claims and transfer price that may jeopardize an otherwise successful marketing strategy. . Challenges Ahead The firms’ strategies should not only focus on the stakeholders’ or the employees’ interests, they should also take care of the outsiders’ interests affected by the firms’ business since every firm, irrespective of its business or size, must have an obligation to satisfy the social interests when it does the business in the sake of the stakeholders. The case showed that a corporation’s marketing and ethical strategies should not only focus on the interest of the stakeholders and the legal compliance of that corporation’s business, but also center on the moral and social responsibilities. A corporation with a more socially responsible practice would consider itself as responsible corporate citizen of the entire society for every course of business actions. Also, if a corporation fails to maintain a good CSR practice, it exposes the business to various green nterests groups which may trigger the corporation’s sustainability. Given this, it is very important that corporations and their marketers care about CSR practice to ensure the sustainable strategy, which help to ensure the achievement of the stakeholders’ interests by managing economic, legal, social, cultural, and environmental risks. Fiji Water LLC showed a great contribution in Fiji with respect to tax revenue, jobs for local workers, foreign currency collection from export sales and so on. These factors ensure that the production facilities in Fiji can be sufficiently operated and expanded over the years to meet the increasing demand from consumers. I think that the company could develop a comprehensive program on measurement, tracking, reporting, and audit on corporate commitments and responsibilities on environment protection of itself and its vendors, which could help to Fiji Water LLC and its vendors to improve its environmental credibility in certifying that Fiji Water LLC is carbon negative. Also, the company should start paying more corporate taxes to demonstrate that it is a good corporate citizen by revisit its transfer pricing practice. As a consequence, it should review and optimize its business operations to be more efficient and effective by reducing its costs,balancing the interests of its stakeholders and Fijian government.

The Four Building Blocks of Competitive Advantage Research Paper

The Four Building Blocks of Competitive Advantage - Research Paper Example Each of these concepts has very different implications for the organization as it relates to being able to successfully outperform competition. Competitive advantage is defined as the specific strategic advantages that a company maintains over rival companies in the same market or industry that serves to strengthen business position. Others consider competitive advantage to be the implementation of a unique value creation that is not currently being exploited by competition (Clulow, Gerstman & Barry, 2003). Whatever the actual definition of competitive advantage, it cannot be successfully achieved without efficiency, quality, innovation and customer responsiveness as the foundation of business. Efficiency means being able to produce more outputs than competition at a much lower price for inputs. The end result of being able to achieve this is having a cost advantage over competition. Cost advantages give the business opportunities to consider flexible pricing structures as they can n ow provide products at a much lower input cost. Efficiency could be achieved by setting up a lean production system that uses less physical raw resources and also reduce reliance on labor payments for manufacturing. A business might be able to find, through strategic alliances along the supply chain, opportunities for volume discounts on raw product procurement. This represents lower input costs to achieve the same or higher outputs. Quality is a very important dimension for achieving competitive advantage.

Admissions Application For a Graduate Program 500 words Essay

Admissions Application For a Graduate Program 500 words - Essay Example I returned to college when I was more economically stable and, at the age of 25, acquired a BA Degree. After that, I acquired a Master’s Degree in teaching social sciences. My first exposure to the functions of human resource officials took place when I was employed as a secretary, who doubled as an administrative assistant. Since then, I have also worked in different capacities as a certified teacher, and a customer service representative. At present, I work as an administrative assistant in the Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s finance department. There are many educated individuals who are opting for a certification in human resources. Business professionals, in particular, are seeking to acquire it because it allows them to be able to work in an assortment of well paying fields. Fairleigh Dickinson University is recognized as an important institution that provides indepth certification programs for qualified professionals. Acquiring a certification will help me to be able to develop additional skills which will contribute towards acquiring job stability in my chosen career. I would like to work in the human resources department of a large organization, in order to acquire the kind of extensive experience that can only be afforded by that kind of setting. Acquiring a certification in human resources will also allow me to be able to operate in assorted capacities. Many corporations, particularly in the international setting, require more professional, or expert human resource personnel than they have at present (Mathis & Jackson, 2010). This is because there are many corporations which have to navigate through the complexities that result from mergers, layoffs, the prospect of hiring exceptionally talented workers, and handling complicated insurance changes. The Certification program will inform me on the important aspects

What is Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. What was their mission, and how Research Paper

What is Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. What was their mission, and how did it influence the whole financial meltdown in 2008 What is going on right now with them - Research Paper Example This in turn, made ownership of affordable housing easily and widely available. The company allows its clients to reinvest their property and assets in order to earn more profit and thus, increase the number of money lenders in the market. Fannie Mae also assisted banks in issuing a greater number of housing loans. Since 1968, Fannie Mae has become a publicly traded organization and has held the monopoly of the mortgage market for as long as thirty years since its inception. In 1970, Fannie Mae acquired a higher status in the market and now got the authority to buy private mortgages. Also, the federal government created the another similar firm, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, more commonly known as Freddie Mac in 1970 with the aim to compete with and thus help improve the standards of Fannie Mae in the market (Kate). The company started its work by buying mortgages in the market, pooling them up and selling them to the investors with a ‘backing security’. This allowed the lending money available in the market to increase and hence, more home purchases to be available for the customers. Together, the two companies brought great and rapid changes to the US economy. They formed a type of liquid market for the mortgages which defined a very important new rule in the market according to which, the financial institutions did not have to hold on to the mortgages and could easily sell them in the market (Peter 18). In this way, the funds of the companies were freed and they could use it to make further additional mortgages. Thus, the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac together had a very positive impact on the business market (Duhigg, Friday). Rates of home ownership were also increased in the country and the companies earned large profits in the mere space of two decades. They raised enough money that allowed them to buy mortgages from a number of varied sources which included both pension and mutual funds and also, the

Smoking among college students Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Smoking among college students - Research Paper Example It is important to know the actual motives behind smoking before taking any kind of preventive action. Most of the people start smoking during their teenage due to peer pressure or need for approval by their friends. Some youngsters also believe that smoking actually helps them keep in shape and have self-control, while others say it makes them look cool. According to the statistical data, the rate of smoking has increased by 30 % during 1993-1997 amongst the college students. Studies show that the measures which can be taken by the colleges authorities in order to reduce the level of smoking amongst the young students. Experts believe that taking preventive measures is better than abrupt prohibition from smoking which can cause the opposite effect on the students. The high rate of smoking among college students can be explained by aggressive advertising and promotional activities aimed to increase the size of the market. The glamorous ads casting handsome and beautiful models, actually tempts the youngsters to smoke. Tobacco industry focuses on sales promotion more than any other industry in the world. Companies spend a huge amount of investment to reach adolescents. Adolescents, of 18-24 years, become the main target market for the tobacco industry. The companies distribute free cigarettes outside the concerts and college clubs in order to attract more and more people towards their brands. The industry has also involved the youngster in the promotional activities. These kinds of aggressive promotion activities have drawn a huge number of younger lots to smoking. Promotional activities in bars and night clubs were started during 1980s. The level of tobacco consumption among students was indistinct, but the some field researches show that nearly every college student was involved in those promotional activities during 1990s. It has been predicted that the college students will become main consumers of tobacco in the next few years. The tobacco companies launch their promotional campaign mostly in the urban localities, trying to trap the young consumers through various advertising medium and techniques. Even the students who don't have enough exposure to the bars and night clubs can be influenced by the heavy advertising by different brands. For instance, Asian American students have become the main target for many promotional campaigns aiming to find new customers. University Health Centers can help to prevent and reduce smoking rate by educating the students about the diseases caused by smoking. Smoking should also be strictly prohibited within the college premises. Psychologists have deduced the various ways to control smoking habits within the younger students by providing different psychological treatments for quitting smoking. They have also worked upon finding the relation between smoking and media exposure of the individuals. Further in their research works psychologists have also tried to analyze the factors which can contribute to motivate or de-motivate individuals from smoking. The previous studies have classified smokers by their age, gender and race and have provided the statistical data accordingly. The main theme of the paper is to examine the relation which exists between smoking and factors such as the peer pressure, stress and depression. METHODOLOGY

Lab report- materials Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

- materials - Lab Report Example Steel is artificially produced and it exists in different forms of iron. Whereas steel has carbon content which is less than that of pig iron, its carbon content is more than that of wrought iron. Moreover, steel has such qualities as elasticity, hardness, as well as strength, which depends on the heat treatment and composition (Makelainen and Hassinen 488). Consequently, it is categorized as either having low, medium or high carbon content. On the other hand, aluminium is a silvery white metallic element that is ductile and has low density as well as high strength to weight ratio and is mainly bauxite. Owing to its good thermal and conductive properties, aluminium is usually used in forming hard light corrosion resistant alloys. Similarly, a polymer is defined as chemical compound that is formed through a process known as polymerization, and it consists of repeating structural units (Cheremisinoff 1). Inherently, polymers are normally characterized by their light weight and their ab ility to resist corrosion and reaction. Materials and methods The dumbbell specimens were put under tensile forces through a horizontal tensile testing machine. Consequently, the diameter of the specimen was obtained by use of vernier calliper and recorded before the test commenced. Moreover, during the application of the load, two cameras were used in determining the diameter of specimen. Subsequently, the cross-sectional area of the specimen was obtained and together with the load, both the engineering stress and the true stress were calculated in accordance to the following equations. The process was repeated for all the materials. Consequently, a horizontal tensile force was applied to the specimen. The elongation and the new diameter of the specimen, due to the applied load were similarly obtained through the use of VI monitor and the cameras, and they were recorded. Using the load (KN), the diameter (mm) and the elongation (m), engineering and true stress, engineering strain, yield stress *0.1 percent offset, Young modulus, ductility, ultimate tensile stress and work fracture were also obtained. Where where r = diameter/ 2 = Davis defines young elastic modulus as the measure of the resistance of a material to elastic deformation (32). It is equal to the slope of a stress/strain curve in elastic region. Therefore, where , and , are y axis points of the curve, and; , and are x axis points of the curve Moreover, according to Davis ductility of material describes the ability of a material to deform permanently before failure (37). It is actually the engineering strain at failure. = Davis claims that work fracture is equal to the area under stress-strain curve, and its unit is work per unit volume (Nm/m3) (45). More importantly, the ultimate tensile strength refers to the maximum amount of stress a material can bear. It is obtained from the engineering stress-strain curve as the highest point. Conclusion From the tensile test conducted on the materials A, B, and C, the young modulus, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were obtained. Material A had the highest young modulus with a value of 190 GPa, and it was followed by material B and finally material C. Consequently, from the results it is clear that as the materials become brittle, the Young modulus tends to become higher. It was also noted that the polymer achieved the highest engineering strain, of 0.57, and was closely followed by steel with 0.35 and aluminium with 0.1.

Last 3 question assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Last 3 question - Assignment Example As a project manager, I want to be an achiever. Success and achievement will be the founding pillars of who I want to be. In all my professional undertakings, I will strive to manage expectations of all involved stakeholders, especially the expectations of my employer and that of the company’s clients. Undeniably, meeting or surpassing expectations as a reliable indicator of an achiever’s competence. In case of changing needs and expectations, I will align my task performance procedures with the new stakeholders’ expectations. Undeniably, project management will help me achieve my goals. First, project management emphasizes on measurability of task progress. Secondly, project management recognizes the element of timeliness in task progress. Moreover, project management values the aspect of feedback and communication with a project’s stakeholders. As aforementioned, I would ensure client satisfaction by becoming an achiever. Feedback and effective communication, which is an essential element of project management, will be influential in facilitating client satisfaction (Brewer, 01). In addition, my wildly important goal will materialize only if I will be able to keep track of a project’s progress through objective measurement of deliverables in terms of cost and

Housing Policy Seoul, Korea Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Housing Policy Seoul, Korea - Research Paper Example ty has also experienced extensive sprawl and suburbanization, growing into a metropolis of twenty million citizens in neighboring provinces and cities. In the face of this abrupt and phenomenal expansion, Seoul metropolitan Government has had to manage emerging urban challenges with a fair share of lamentable mistakes and success stories (Yoonseuk, 2012). As part of a two-tier local government administration, Seoul Metropolitan Government is involved in policy-making for the entire metropolitan region. Seoul has been at the center of a remarkable boom in residential buildings, in which older houses have been replaced by newer ones that with increased density (Yoonseuk, 2012). The inner cities, specifically, have seen phenomenal renewal over the past twenty years, both in terms of pace and magnitude. Managing this growth across the entire metropolitan area has been one of the most challenging issues of planning for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, especially in light of the Jeonse system that is unique to South Korea and has resulted in unique challenges for Seoul. This paper will discuss the unique challenges facing Seoul, as well as how the Seoul Metropolitan Government has reacted to these challenges in way of housing policy. Finally, the paper will present an evaluation of these policies with regards to their success. The low interest rates and the lengthy slump in the housing markets In South Korea as a result of the Asian financial crisis and the global financial crisis threatened the very future of the jeonse system, which is a unique and long-standing home-lease system that stretched back to the 19th century. These jeonse contracts have been a mainstay in Seoul since it was founded over a century ago. In this system, the tenant, rather than paying rent monthly, pays the landlord a lump sum, up-front deposit that is normally ~40% of the houses value (Yoo, 2014). After a lease period of two years, the landlord can either renew the lease or refund it in its

Industrial Revolution Essay Example for Free

Industrial Revolution Essay The business environment has transformed drastically since the advent of new technology and Industrial Revolution became a period of radical change from manual work to automated technology and advancement, which kept making life simpler with time. Some of the greatest organizational and socioeconomic revolutions in history occurred as a consequence of innovations in communications technology and media. The contraption of the printing press, for instance, in the mid-fifteenth century by the German typographer Johann Gutenberg initiated the knowledge revolutions in science and technology, commerce, engineering, law, and politics. Ultimately, the print medium gave rise to the market economy based on paper and given to the industrial revolution. The development of electricity in the nineteenth century instigated a series of other revolutions that transformed industrial society in reflective ways. It led to an extensive range of electrical and electromechanical inventions, including the light bulb, the dynamo, the electric motor and hundreds of electric machines based on it, as well as the telegraph, the telephone, radio, and television. These diffused all through the economy, influencing the nature and location of production, the structure and operation of business organizations of Europe in 1900, including offices and factories and the marketplace itself. Eventually, they came to comprise the technological underpinnings of the hydroelectric and communications and transportation infrastructures we know today. These, in turn, inclined the evolution of the mass production, mass consumption, and mass communications society of the twentieth century. Business organizations have undertaken extreme restructuring by modifying their means of communication and synchronization of work activities. New technology has made it promise for companies to work on a real-time basis, whereby products and services are conveyed to the right place at the right time. Since then, information technology has propagated and has undergone significant improvements. Costs have sustained to decline as these new technologies have emerged. A business not supported by a network of computer systems (primary information technology) is more or less destined to fail, since it will be incapable to compete efficiently in todays complex and dynamic environment. The invention of the telegraph instigated the first truly electronic communications revolution and gave rise to the age of instantaneous global electronic communications. Besides representing a thriving commercial business itself, the telegraph became the foundation of a number of significant new business ventures. One of these was a printing telegraph invented in 1855 by David Hughes in which messages were typed out at the transmitted and receiving ends. It provided the incentive for P. J. von Reuter in Aachen, Germany, to form his own company in 1849 to transmit commercial intelligence including stock market information across Europe. The telegraph had an unusual impact on business in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. By making information obtainable instantly across the markets of the world, it integrated local, national, and international markets, thus obliterating the monopoly power and control that numerous business organizations had over local and regional markets. The telegraph transformed the spatial and temporal organization of economic activity all through the world and came to synchronize the social, economic, and political activities of one and all across space and time. The telegraph provided the crucial and cumulative break of the identity of communications and transportation, wrote James Carey, author of three books and over 100 articles and essays on mass communications and the media. The telegraph became a model of and a mechanism for the control of the physical association of things, specifically for the railroad†¦ [It]†¦ brought a decline in arbitrage, [that is,] the buying cheap and selling dear by moving goods around in space . . . [and it affected] the practical awareness of time through the erection of standard time zones. (Carey 133-137). The development of the telephone precipitated the second electronic communication revolution in the late nineteenth century. Because it was a two-way medium and as it carried voice, the telephone initiated a more publicly and economically considerable communication revolution than the telegraph. The telephone is a wonder of technical and engineering design and operation, and it became the first true worldwide, instant, global, and personal, information, and communications medium. These days, the telephone system interconnects hundreds of millions of people around the world and provides them with the means to communicate instantaneously by voice, written message, computer, and facsimile whether they are at home, in the office, or in a car, a truck, or an airplane. The telephone became one of the most significant social and economic technologies in history by providing a medium for exchanging personal and business information, coordinating social, economic, and political activities, facilitating decision making, and merely keeping in touch. In addition, it does this with little or no human involvement. Developments in radio communications ushered in the age of commercial public broadcasting after the First World War. For nine months commencing on February 23, 1920, Guglielmo Marconi, commonly referred to as the â€Å"Father of Radio†, broadcasted a regular news service from his transmitter at Chelmsford in England. These developments are significant in retrospect because they are not unlike the wave of mergers and acquisition and strategic alliances that leading manufacturers, network operators, suppliers of software, content, and services are implementing today in an all-out effort to create and dominate the electronic superhighways of the future. The postwar period witnessed the spread of telephone networks into the rural and remote regions of industrialized countries and the linking of all of them into a nationalized telecommunications infrastructure. At the same time, this infrastructure was ongoing to undergo transformations as a consequence of major innovations in switching and transmission systems, many of which were developed by the Bell System also known as â€Å"THE telephone company†. One of the biggest technological breakthroughs was the prologue of automatic, electromechanical switching. As it was automatic, it was faster and more efficient than manual switching, and it transformed the telephone business from an extremely labor-intensive to a highly capital-intensive one; one of the consequences was the drastic cut of telephone operators. Electromechanical switching progressively gave way to fully electronic switching in the sixties and seventies, and these ultimately to the computerized switching systems of today with their highly automated, software features that give them the capability to process voice, data, and image communications, route traffic optimally throughout the network, and to monitor, detect, diagnose, and repair problems as they arise. Both local and long-distance communications were further transformed as a result of innovations in multiplexing and microwave radio and coaxial cable transmission systems. Both of these developments increased transmission competence and also improved economics by orders of magnitude that resulted in major reductions in the price of long-distance telephone service as well as stimulating a consequent increase in the demand for service. Multiplexing, invented by Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1927, was a way of modulating higher frequency transmission signals with lower frequency voice signals so that copper, for example, could carry several voice conversations concurrently. This meant a reduction in the use of copper and in the cost of local and long-distance services. The former transatlantic radiotelephone link was installed by ATT between the United States and England in 1929, and radiotelephone links were also recognized between North and South America. In 1933, European engineers began using microwave communications to transmit telephone signals across the English Channel, a distance of a dozen miles. But radiotelephone communications were not very reliable, and the quality of the signal was often poor for very long-distance transatlantic or transoceanic communications. A mass production, mass consumption culture, however, could not have advanced without the development of mass communications. Radio, television, newspapers and magazines, and advertising brought information, news, entertainment, and cultural content to an information-starved society, but all played fundamental roles in creating a mass consumption and mass production society. One of their most significant effects was through advertising. In the book, Communications in History, William Leiss, Stephen Kline, and Sut Jhally wrote, â€Å"The developed phase of the market industrial society is the consumer society†¦ What marketers had realized was that, with the population as a whole having far greater discretionary income, leisure time, and employment security than ever before, work was no longer the focus of everyday life. The sphere of consumption could take its place. By linking consumption through electronic media to popular entertainment and sports, marketers and advertisers eventually fashioned a richly decorated setting for an elaborate play of messages, increasingly in imagistic or iconic form, about the way to happiness and social success† (Leiss, Kline, Jhally 176). To keep their factories operating at maximum capacity and efficiency, in effect, to move the goods cascading off their assembly lines, business had to increase its selling efforts, and this meant tremendous investment and expenditures on advertising. Advertising played a big role in creating a consumer society in the early twentieth century. According to Daniel Pope, an expert on the history of American advertising, marketing, and consumer culture, as early as 1920, the lead in advertising had passed to manufacturers of nationally distributed brand-named goods†¦ it was in the formation of the national consumer market that the advertising industry as we know it these days was born and nurtured (Pope, 1983). Companies are not the only ones who have gained from advances in modern information technology. Consumers and interest groups have created strategic alliances and now capable to coordinate their activities as well as exchange ideas and thoughts through a number of database and network systems. For instance, owners of personal computers can subscribe to a computer network and, without difficulty, retrieve information concerning the products and corporations online. Such information can also be transmitted to other users without problems. This huge use of technology by both consumers and companies affects the way business is run today. These consumer strategic alliances know no geographical limitations; oftentimes, they are global in nature, particularly among the industrialized nations. As companies can get in enormous profits from the better coordination, greater product elasticity, improved quality, leaner production, and more time-based competitiveness that information technology offers, they also facades the threat that can come from these consumers strategic alliances. For instance, corporations can no longer ignore consumer demands for constant product quality, reliability and respect for the environment, or timely delivery of services. As we move towards an increase in advanced technologies, the labor force must be retrained. This training must not only expose workers to the technical matters adjoining the new process, but also to the new focus of the organization. They have to be made responsive of the importance of advanced technology in improving work methods and in remaining competitive and therefore employee compulsion to the new process is imperative. Advanced technology by itself adds little or no value to an organization. There should be organizational, as well as employee dedication, to exploit the technology to the maximum level. For instance, with an ever-increasing use of computer-integrated manufacturing systems, and the stream of technical documentation that accompanies it, employees have to be skilled in recognizing the critical information at the right time. Once that information is recognized and properly interpreted, there must be an organizational dedication to use the information to make better decisions. Without this potential, the organization cannot take advantage from new technologies. Human resources’ management, therefore, will persist to be a critical factor in the survival of any organization. We sum up the influence of information technology on human resources as follows: †¢ Information technology transforms the mode of communication and work processes. †¢ Custom or standardized operations are replaced with skilled and multi-skilled workers. An extremely trained labor force is desired to manage information technology. †¢ Worker motivation and satisfaction might improve since workers are no longer restricted to routine operations, enjoy management powers, and can contribute to developments in their work processes. New technology also has an impact on the organization itself, as follows: †¢ Organizational reformation is required. This reformation makes the organization flat. Decision-making powers are decentralized. †¢ Communications are better and the organization is capable to make timely responses to its environment. †¢ Introduction of new products and services is improved and varieties of products can be efficiently introduced and marketed by the organization. †¢ The organization is competent to improve its efficiency, quality, and competitiveness. Todays advanced technology can, conversely, easily become a basic technology. A rapid increase of new technologies also brings rapid obsolescence of earlier technologies. Policies concerning technology must not be static; they must keep evolving. George Stalk Jr, a writer of the Ivey Business Journal (1988) points out that competitive advantage is a persistently moving target†¦The best competitors, the most thriving ones, know how to keep moving and always stay on the cutting edge. A company should be able to evaluate potential new technologies quickly. The goal must be to remain competitive, and effective management of technology is a vital step in achieving this. With an increased focus on customer satisfaction, technology is a decisive means for achieving customer satisfaction. Browning, a writer for the Economist Magazine (1990) notes that a learning organization uses technology incessantly to refresh its knowledge of its customers’ wants and to work out new ways of satisfying them. This commitment to be a learning organization needs vast resources, however. For example, Browning also points out that building a learning organization necessitates new skills, clever people and capable machines. Noticeably, technology and human resources should be used together for the organization to stay competitive. Vincent Barabba and Gerald Zaltman, authors of Hearing the Voice of the Market (1991), note that hearing the accent of the market and making constructive use of it with respect to the voice of the firm is a learning progression. Essentially, the voice of the market has to be interpreted into facts and tasks that will lead to suitable products or services to satisfy customer needs. This is related to the application of quality function deployment, whereby the organization expands its strategic plans to assure customer needs. Thus, a learning organization should also be a caring organization. As a caring organization, its major objective is to please its stock or stakeholders, its customers, and employees, and also to be collectively responsible. The traditional organization, with the focus on satisfying stockholders alone, is varying to this new form, with a sophisticated stakeholder group. Thus, technology and human resources’ management are recognized as key variables that facilitate an organization to improve its productivity, quality, and competitiveness. A critical constituent is the information technology, which offers both opportunities and challenges. The organization should show understanding to its environment via its policies, and be learning and caring organization, as time and reliability influence competitiveness. Finally, organizations should innovate and constantly move to achieve new targets, particularly in view of todays rapidly developing new technologies. This is not to deny that the extent of interaction has increased gradually over time, though the time involved has been centuries somewhat than the last few decades. The diverse industrial revolutions paced this up. Basically, once two societies trade, they become mutually dependent. The stock markets subside in New York in 1929 triggered the Great Depression in all parts of the world because of their momentous economic relationships with the United States. Interactions were closer than they had been previously and they were to become even faster. The complex capitalist economies were tied intimately together in the long run, even if short-term fluctuations were less rapidly passed on (Aiki 83-87). Though, is speed of such enormous important? We have a global stock market today, where the information from a stock market in one part of the world is broadcasted instantly to those in others. Ever since the start of the electronic communication era this has been the case. For example, information in London about the New York Market passed far more gradually before 1939 and even more slowly before 1914. It was slower in spreading around and was far less comprehensive than it is now. Nevertheless, big movements in the stock markets were known and reflected in the stock markets of the world. Short-term and small fluctuations are imitated all through world markets today, much more rapidly than they were in the thirties, but big and long-term fluctuations have always been reflected around the world once markets had become consistent (Collins, Porras. 1991). We can go even a further back and argue that globalization, in the logic of a growth in interconnectedness between members of different states, is itself only a special case of something more universal. In medieval Europe, most people typically did not stray from the area they were born in. They inspired mainly local goods and primarily produced either for themselves or for a very local market (Schlossberg H. 1992). Economies were mainly local. Trade over considerable distances took place on water either by sea or river, which accounts for the inconsistent number of towns and villages that were either by the sea or on rivers. Human beings have had a steady urge to detach themselves from the area as much as the technology of the day permitted. Certainly there have always been big movements, due to populations looking for better circumstances or due to conquerors building new empires. Under the Roman Empire, for example, large parts of Europe were ‘globalizing’ in this sense and the degree of globalization declined with the Empire’s retreat. The medieval Church could be seen as a globalizing force but the degrees of interaction and interdependence were much reduced in the so-called Dark Ages.