Customer Loyalty and Customer Satisfaction Essay

Customer Loyalty can be difficult to define given the different views that are presented within the literature. Zithaml, Berry and Parasuraman (1996) determine that loyalty includes a customer’s intention to stay with an organisation and that loyalty includes four elements: repurchase intentions, recommending the service provider to other customers, less complaints and tolerance of price increases. Oliver, (1999) provides a different definition and describes loyalty as a customer’s overall attachment to a product, service, brand or organisation. A better appreciation of the factors that influence the loyalty of customers, particularly their attitudes and changing needs can help companies to develop strategies to prevent customer defection (Coyles & Gokey, 2002). Customer loyalty is important as it can have a powerful impact on a firm’s performance and it is considered to be a source of competitive advantage (Lam, et al., 2004). There is a strong level of agreement that customer loyalty and satisfaction are linked; however, there is an absence of consensus as to what constitutes customer satisfaction (Caruana, 2002); in addition, despite the fact that many loyal customers are satisfied, this does not always translate into customer loyalty (Kuo & Ye, 1999, Jones & Sasser, 1995) and studies have shown that satisfied customers may express a desire to switch to a competitor but it may prove to be difficult due to a lack of suitable alternatives (Pantouvalkis & Lymperopoulos, 2008, citing Mittal & Lassar, 1998). In contrast however, Reicheld & Sasser, (1990), indicate that high customer satisfaction should provide increased loyalty, which makes it less likely that a customer will decide to switch to a competitor. In addition to customer satisfaction, it has been suggested by numerous Researchers that there are other key antecedents to customer loyalty including perceived value, service quality, corporate image, reputation, trust and switching costs (Ishaqa, 2012, Lam et al, 2004, Bitner, 1995); however, although Researchers have posited that there is a connection, it can be argued that the connections is not fully understood, due to the number of potential antecedents (Wang & Wu, 2012); hence the relevance of this research. Perceived value- Perceived value can be defined in simple terms as the benefits received and the sacrifices made by the customer, although some studies have also proposed that perceived value is multi dimensional (McDougall & Levesque, 2000). It is also important to consider how perceived value can be increased and this may be achieved by delivering a better service, providing customisation of services (Coelho & Henseler, 2012) or reducing the customer’s cost perceptions (Ravald & Gronroos 1996). A customer’s perception of value could motivate them to continue to utilise the services of a service provider (Wang, 2010) and customers may also stay loyal to a company if they feel they are receiving greater value than they would from a competitor (Lam, et al, 2004, citing Bitner & Hubbert, 1994, Bolton & Drew, 1991; Sirdeshmukh et al, 2002). Another consideration of why a customer may stay loyal, rather than move to a competitor is the anticipated switching costs, including the cost involved in changing to an alternative, loss of loyalty benefits and developed routines and procedures (Lam, et al., 2004). In situations where switching costs are high, customers may stay with a service provider regardless of the perceived value (Wang, 2010) Service quality- Some studies have examined service quality as an antecedent of customer satisfaction (Rust & Oliver 1994; Spreng & MacKoy 1996), which as indicated earlier, is posited by some studies to link to perceived value. Parasuraman et al, 1988, developed the SERVQUAL model which can be adapted to suit the needs of an organisation and defines service quality as comprising of five dimensions including reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangibles. As part of the model the customer will compare their expectations with the perceived performance of services, or according to Santos, (2003), where the customer will make an overall judgement of the service offered. Whilst the SERVQUAL model is said to provide a good indicator of overall service quality (Buttle, 1996), it has been questioned whether or not the model can be applied to a range of industries and if the five dimensions are sufficient (Hu, et al, 2009, citing Buttle, 1996, Carman, 1990, Cronin & Taylor, 1990). Some Researchers have also argued that  the SERVQUAL model has shortcomings, as the model only measures the quality of interaction and tangibles such as dà ©cor, etc., but not the actual quality of the service outcome (Sureschander, et, al, 2001). Brady & Cronin, (2001) proposed a model which includes the quality of interaction, physical environment and the outcome. Given the fact that for this study the outcome relates to the quality of homes, or the end product, it will be important to determine how this influences service quality perceptions, in addition to considering the SERVQUAL model. Also, according to Barber & Goodman, (2011), since the SERVQUAL model was developed, the debate on how to define and measure customer expectations, perceptions and performance and to understand how to address the gap has not been addressed. It is important to understand where gaps exist with the services provided and customer expectations, as meeting customer expectations is a significant driver of customer satisfaction, which can increase loyalty intentions (McDougall & Levesque, 2000). The reality is that different customers have different service needs and expectations (McKnight, 2009) and it is important that this research also provides an insight into how customer expectations can be met. Corporate image- Several authors propose that service quality is determined by an evaluation of the corporate image of the organisation (Martà ­nez Garcà ­a & Martà ­nez Caro, 2008) and the relationship between satisfaction and corporate image have been reported in a number of studies (Razavi et al, 2012, citing Lai et al, 2009, Leblanc, 2001; Kandamplully and Hu,2007) Gronroos, (1984), indicated that image, including corporate image is built mainly via the customer’s experience and the manner in which the service is delivered. Bitner, (1992), proposed that the physical environment is instrumental, yet in later years these views have been extended to include a wider definition, including the business name, architecture, products and services and general impression of quality (Nguyen & Leblanc, 2001).

Life of Immigrant Women in 19th Century America Essay

The United States of America is one of the most diverse countries in the entire world. It has gained diversity not merely through race, but through religion, ethnic background, and through the ever-dynamic shift of America. Some of the most dramatic and rapid changes occurred in the late nineteenth century following the Civil War. As the United States began to industrialize, wave upon wave of immigrants poured into the country’s borders in search of religious, political, or, more often than not, economic freedom. To the outside world, the United States began to be seen as our Pledge of Allegiance suggests is: a land of the free. â€Å"’America is a free country’ one Polish immigrant stated†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢you don’t have to be a serf to anyone†¦freedom and prosperity are enjoyed by the people of the United States.’†1 Despite these immigrant hopes of freedom and prosperity, America was only just beginning to leave behind its roots of slavery; racism and prejudice were still in the air. While African-American men were being given their permission to vote, white women still struggled for that freedom. Immigrants faced dilemmas from some radical white women. â€Å"Feminists argued that native-born white women deserved the vote more than non-whites and immigrants.† 2 The struggles of being an immigrant were difficult enough, but to be a woman as well during that era was unlike any other barrier to freedom and inequality at the time. The novel Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska, an immigrant who lived during that era, discusses what life was like for her demographic during her time through the eyes of a Jewish immigrant girl. Immigrant women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century faced a slew of harrowing challenges as they faced a changing America. One of the biggest challenges that immigrant women had to face was exceedingly poor living conditions. Aside from being confined to very tight knit, ethnically uniform neighborhoods and communities3, many areas had landlords or landlord-esque figures set up to enforce strict living requirements which often limited higher quality housing in the immigrant  community and female demographic.4 In Bread Givers, Yezeriska’s character, Sara, experiences this dilemma. She grows up in a tenet fit possibly for a single person or possibly even a couple, and yet she lives with her mother, father, and three other sisters. On top of cramped living conditions, they do not appear to live in an area where access to cheap, safe food is available all the time.5 Later in the novel, an adult Sara is searching for a place to live with a room to herself. She struggles to find any place other than single rooms to share with two to four other women. She often finds herself facing rejection to open rooms. â€Å"’No girls,’ snapped this one, too. ‘Why no girls?’ I dared ask the skinny tsarina. ‘I want to keep the house clean. No cooking, no washing. Less trouble, less dirt, with men.’†6 When Sara finally does find a room, it is described as being a room very common to poor immigrants during that time. â€Å"It was a dark hole on the ground floor. The only window†¦was thick with black dust. The bed see-sawed†¦the mattress full of lumps and the sheets were shreds.† 7 These living conditions often created complications in the health and well-being of these immigrant women, and access to quality health care was rare for immigrant women. Sara’s mother falls ill in the novel and has no access to such care, ultimately leading to her demise.8 These poor living conditions, however, were not the only conflict immigrant women faced. Even when these women left home for work, conditions only worsened. Job opportunities for the immigrant woman in the United States during that era were remarkably limited. As the job market expanded, skilled labor became more desired and unskilled labor was left to the immigrants and women. These types of jobs came with low wages (some as low as $3 per week) long hours, and dangerous working conditions. Immigrant women were largely confined to low-wage factory jobs, while the job-market for native born white women expanded enormously. 9 In Bread Givers, Sara searches desperately and finds a job in a clothing factory, much like the factories who hired immigrant girls in reality, for five dollars a week. She describes the factory as small, congested, smelly, and filled with fumes with nearly no source of fresh air flow.10 A similar textile factory, The Triangle Shirtwaist Company, burst out in flames on March 25, 1911. The factory was located on the top three floors of a ten-story building in Greenwich Village  of New York City. As the fire spread, the young Jewish and Italian immigrant girls, some as young as 14, began to realize the doors to the stairwells were locked, as per usual in these factors, in order for the owner to prevent theft, â€Å"unauthorized bathroom breaks,† â€Å"outside distractions† to his employees. In the end, approximately 150 immigrant girls died in the fire, and some of the remaining survivors were arrested for forming a Union against these factories. 11 These inequalities towards immigrant women were prevalent all over the country, but especially in New York City, where a large portion of the immigrant community lived due to its proximity to Ellis Island and its high-volume of unskilled factory jobs. There were also barriers to immigrant women, however, on a smaller, more individualized scale: specific cultural practices. Women of all cultures, but especially poorer immigrant families, often had high-priority obligations in the home that prevented them from excelling in the world. While many native-born white women were privileged enough to grow up in school and go to college, get educations, and find skilled-labor careers, immigrant girls often had obligations forcing them to stay at home rather than seek an education, find a respectable job, and start their own family at a reasonable age. Taking into account the poor living conditions found in immigrant communities, as well as the lack of high wage employment and access to health care, women often had responsibilities to their families before pursuing their own lives. In Bread Givers, the meaning of the term â€Å"bread givers† was that Sara and her three sisters were obligated to give their earnings to the family, especially the father.12 Although not all immigrant families had patriarchal father figures who demanded all earnings for selfish reasons as the father in Yezierska’s novel did, the structure of income was very common to find in immigrant households. One of Sara’s sisters, Bessie, was the most crucial â€Å"bread giver† early in the story, and later on a man takes interest in her for a wife. â€Å"I like a plain home girl that knows how to help save the dollar, cook a good meal, and help in the shop. I think Bessie is just fitting for me.†13 This man takes interest her the same way most men would during that time. He sees her as a woman to uphold household responsibilities and help to save money instead of earn it on her own. Most of the daughters, except for Sara, end up marrying  men for the sake of bringing money into the house in order to support their parents.14 Finally, at the end of the story, the father begins to grow old and sick and it becomes the responsibility of the daughters to take him in and take care of him without question or hesitation.15 These were some of the specific cultural barriers that imposed on the individual freedoms of immigrant women in the United States. Anzia Yezierska, through her book Bread Givers, provided a very specific, yet realistic depiction of the challenges presented to immigrant women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century of America. The huge influx of immigrants, especially from southern and eastern Europe, between 1890 and 1914 created a drastically new dynamic in the changing United States. 16 This new dynamic presented countless challenges to immigrants and women alike including poor living conditions, limited job opportunities, and cultural barriers. As our country continues to progress, so will the challenges presented to each individual group, culture, and demographic; therefore, it is crucial to study these past experiences so we may learn to adapt and thrive in those conditions. Works Cited Foner, Eric . Give Me Liberty! – An American History, seagull 3e. 3rd. 2. New York, NY: W W Norton , 2012. 546-713. print. The Power and the People, episode 4 of New York: A Documentary Film, Steeplechase Films, 1999, PBS home video.  Yezierska, Anzia . Bread Givers, A Novel. New York, NY: Persea Books, INC, 2003. print.

CCEI083W Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CCEI083W - Essay Example I also maintain good communication with my preschooler’s parents in order to guarantee their well being. Finally, I ensure that I am in a good position to discuss problematic behaviours of my preschoolers with their parents in a positive, helpful manner. In order to encourage family involvement in classroom activities, I encourage parents to be clients of the program. This grants them a chance to say what they like or do not like about the program. They also offer bright ideas by acting as clients to the program. Also, I request the parents of my preschoolers to volunteers to some of the school programs. For instance, I ask some of the parents to help in serving snacks for students or contribute toys that they think might help their children learn. Finally, I have included myself on the teacher-parent association in order to contribute to the local politics that parents bring up concerning their children’s learning. Through this, I share with the parents the importance of their children’s learning. I support the relationships of my preschoolers and their families by incorporating both classroom activities and home activities that include both the student and their parents. Such activities ensure that they children and their parents have worked together to complete the assignment. For instance, during sports day, I ask the parent to run for a designated distance while carrying their infants. I give my students assignments concerning their parents, whom they have to ask in order to complete it. Such assignments include briefly describing what your mother or father does at work or how their parents’ childhood was. I also provide a diary for parents to sign to ensure that their child has completed his/her homework given. This will ensure that the parent has checked to ensure that the homework was tackled successfully. Whenever parents to my preschoolers’ parents are in school, I

The Work of Remix in the Age of Digital Reproduction Essay

The Work of Remix in the Age of Digital Reproduction - Essay Example Burton defended himself saying that it was an artistic project, which had no commercial purpose, and stopped the distribution. However, Downhill Battle organised an online protest, which was called â€Å"Grey Tuesday† and the copies of â€Å"the Grey Album† were posted on the internet6. They declared that â€Å"We cannot allow these corporations to continue censoring art; we need commonsense reforms to copyright law that can make sampling legal and practical for artists†7. The controversy over the Grey Album accelerated as EMI together with Sony/ATV Publishing tried to stop online distribution of the Album. However, EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) analysed the situation and concluded that there was no federal copyright protection for sound recordings before 1972: â€Å"Because the White Album was released in 1968, it appears that EMI has no federal copyright rights in the sound recording†8. The dispute over mash-up of Grey Album poses a number of lega l issues with regard to copyright law and digital sampling. The American Copyright Law limits the exclusive rights of copyright owners in a number of ways including â€Å"fair use† and â€Å"licensing†. Fair use, which means â€Å"reasonable and limited use of a copyrighted work without the author’s permission†, added to the copyright statute in 1976.9 Furthermore, licensing allows anyone, who wants to record their own version of a musical composition, to get a licence for it. 10 However, this compulsory licensing cannot be applied to sound recordings. As Vrana notes â€Å"to this day, a record company’s right to duplicate the recordings it has produced may not be exercised by others without the company’s permission; the protection is airtight, and, unlike... This "The Work of Remix in the Age of Digital Reproduction" contemporary American and Australian Law on musical creativity. Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd v Miyamoto is one of the rare cases in Australia with regard to the digital sampling. A number of recording companies sued five DJs for copyright infingement due to their remix CD. DJs defended themselves by stating that they did the CD in order to satisfy consumer demands. Since the DJs took entire songs to make a remix CD, the Court did not take â€Å"substantial part† into consideration and the judge found five DJs guilty for the infringement of copyright law. This case cannot be considered as a precedent for smaller amounts of digital sampling, since the entire songs were taken. American and US courts have been allowing very small portions of digital sampling for years, but a recent decision in Bridgeport Music Inc v Dimension Films Inc span the wheels of justice into the opposite direction. In Bridgeport case, two se conds of a rap song was copied for the movie called â€Å"I Got the Hook up† and repeated five times for the duration of seven seconds each. Although a District Court and Middle District Court held that the amount taken was de minimis, thus, it cannot be considered copyright infringement; the Court of Appeals overruled this decision by declaring â€Å"even where a small part of a sound recording is sampled, the part taken is something of value†. The decision clearly blocks further samplings and it makes it impossible for creative artists to experiment with sample music without a licence.

Attributes of an Effective Teacher Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Attributes of an Effective Teacher - Essay Example As opposed to the traditional perception that the duty of the teacher is to "stuff" students with knowledge, I agree with the Socratic philosophy that learning should be elicited from the students. The understanding that students are imbued with the innate capability to reason and indeed the capacity to learn by the constant utilization of this rational skill should be the first attribute of an effective teacher. I believe that a teacher should recognize this innate skill of the student because it will change the approach that he uses in teaching. Ever since I started to become a private tutor, I have always believed in the capacity of the mind of the student under my tutelage. Thus, instead of just spoon-feeding them and "stuffing" them with facts and information, I tried to sharpen their ability to reason by asking questions as we go along the lessons. Instead of directly explaining forward what happens during a physical change, I challenged them by describing what happens when ice turns into water. This approach enables them to participate more in the lesson and made them better scientists. I have been using this approach ever since and I am confident that I will be remembered as the tutor who did not only passed on knowledge but draw them out of the students. In effect, I significantly enhanced the rational ability of all the students who were under my tutelage. The second trait of an effective teacher is his possession of adequate knowledge coupled with mastery of his field. This follows with the logical argument that a person can never pass on what he does not have. It should be noted that what the student learn is limited with the amount of knowledge that the teacher posses. In the maximum, he can only be as good as the teacher and this makes it imperative for a teacher to equip himself with all the knowledge in his field possible. The basic requirement for a French as a second language teacher is the fluency and mastery of the French language. Having born and grown in Algeria, French has been my mother tongue and Arabic is my second language. Thus, I am more than fluent in French and more importantly, I am very much confident in English language skills which will also enable me to teach French efficiently to English speaking students. During my travels as a flight attendant, I have used both French and English in conversing with passeng ers. A teacher's knowledge is futile without the good communication skill to impart this to his students. I believe that knowing is different from communicating what you know. There are a lot of people who are gifted with knowledge but are unable to communicate them well. Thankfully, I am blessed with both abilities. Having worked as a bilingual client representative, I am tasked to communicate with customers through all their account situations imparting my knowledge as well as the service that they deserve. This has not been easy as I know that I was not just communicating facts but is representing the company with these dealings. However, my good communication skills helped the company to address customer concerns and retain major customers. Flexibility defines the commitment, dedication, and sincerity which a teacher puts in his profession.

Codfish market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Codfish market - Essay Example There has been a decline in the production of codfish from the staggering 810,000 in 1968 to the 750,000 of 2008. The pricing per block of codfish has increased over that period because of the decreased supply of cod fish in the market. 4. Based on the (limited) information available in the posted sources, and your general economic knowledge, what factors have probably shifted the demand (curve) for cod, up or down, between 1968 and 2008? The demand of cod has been affected by the Canadian government policy on its production. The 1992 ban that closed the Northeast fishing beds affected the availability of cod in the fish market ultimately becoming inexistent until two decades later. 5. Based on the data in Figure 3 in the 1973 article, identify years in which the demand for cod must have shifted (compared to the year before) and which way it must have shifted. Looking at the entire twelve-year period, rather than year-by-year, is it clear what happened to demand between 1960 and 1971? The years where demand shifted include 1960-1962 the demanded of cod shifted upwards. From 1963-1965 the demand shifted upwards while 1965-1967 the demand shifted downwards. From 1969-1971 the demand for cod shifted upwards. Newfoundland, in 1968, produced 810, 000 metric tons of Atlantic cod. This figure represents the world’s total of cod at the time. The area produced 100% of all the Atlantic cod in the world. In 1992, Newfoundland produced almost zero metric tons of Atlantic cod. 7. One normally expects a competitive market to generate efficient levels of production. Do you think Canadian cod production was efficient from 1948-68? If a single firm had owned exclusive rights to the fishing grounds, then would this have likely led to the same or different levels of production? Would that solution have been more or less efficient? Which market failure(s) apply to this

Media and communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media and communication - Essay Example In this case, today people are experiencing technoculture rather than technocracy since the practices and skills accompanying computer technology today barely resemble the technocratic nature experienced in the 1984 according to Handler, Carolyn (45). In the technoculture era, technology is used in ways which have eroded privacy unlike the technocracy era in which individual privacy was highly respected. Big brother (technocracy) opposes publicity of information not only due to privacy but also for secrecy purposes. Contemporary Global Mediated Communication The forwards march of the internet into every day living was aided and supported by the exceptional demand for smart phones after the introduction of the first iphone in 2007.This has led to a new world order in the technology, telecommunication and media industry. In such a case, face book, Google, Microsoft and apple (contemporary global mediated communications) are moving towards the top of this world order pushing aside other mediated communication which existed in the twentieth century. These forms of media are essentially changing consumers’ performance and dismantling longstanding media, technology and telecoms in twentieth centuries. This contemporary global mediated communications have brought a lot of changes in contrast to the twentieth century media. ... On the same note, the contemporary media has become major channel for software functions music, games and other digital substances which have led to the rewriting of media rules. However, the increasing advantage of the contemporary media as opposed to the twentieth century media is due to lack of pressure from shareholders unlike the case other old media. The Eiffel Tower and the Opera Garnier The Eiffel Tower was constructed for the French revolt referred to as centennial Exposition Universelle. It was meant to be a short-term exhibit of architectural engineering expertise but emerged as the world’s tallest tower up to 1930 according to Spang (34).This makes the building significant to the history of urban space. Opera Garnier has been of great importance in history. This is because its museums and companies have made the city of Paris a popular tourist destination globally receiving more than 30 million tourists per annum. The city was initially the site the French revolt a nd rich cultural setting with wealthy patrons who provided an intellectual atmosphere which invited scholars and artists. The flourish of such people led to the transformation of the city making it the world’s top trade and cultural centre. Worries about Media Change A variety of developments in the Greek community led to the practice of writing. The first writers were the Hippocratic writers who wrote to make medicine a complete participant during the famous Revolution of Wisdom in late fifth century. The invention of writing was the biggest worry for them as now they were to see with their minds what they could not see with their eyes. However writing of poetry preceded the written prose discourse. The likes of face book and Google have

Chartered Portfolio Manager and Investment Management- week 3 Essay

Chartered Portfolio Manager and Investment Management- week 3 responses - Essay Example I agree that it is not suitable to add a hedge fund to such a client’s portfolio who has low capital base, risk averse nature, and willingness for long-term returns. Despite the accessibility of general public to the hedge funds as a result of their inclusion in mutual funds, they are not a viable option because of their cost and subjectivity of information. Participation in returns is not likely to increase considering the current limitations of the hedge funds. You have provided a concise definition of hedge funds. This was a particularly informative post as it introduced some new concepts such as derivatives and the investment technique of leverage. I don’t think it is suitable to add hedge funds that use leverage to a client’s portfolio given the enormity of risk of loss. I agree that institutions’ willingness for diversification drives them toward hedge funds. However, a fair understanding of risk and its comparison to the capital base is fundamental to making informed

Role of Religion and REN in Wells and Byrn Essay

Role of Religion and REN in Wells and Byrn - Essay Example This essay declares that H.G. Wells in his work titled The Discovery of the Future and E.W. Byrn named The Progress of Invention during the Past Fifty Years discuss how future might pan out influenced by various factors. Wells examine the ways past and present determines future, with various psychological and philosophical aspects playing inducing roles. On the other hand, Byrn focus on various scientific and technological inventions and discoveries of the past and the ways those things are orienting contemporary times and might sway future as well. Although both writers take a distinct approach in formulating their vision of progress, they both deal with how religion and REN play an optimal influencing role, and in other cases, how they take a ‘backseat’ and allow humans to play their roles in future and their vision of progress.This discussion stresses that  humans play prominent roles, there are occasions when religion subtly and even explicitly plays a role in peop le’s living and thereby influences their future and progress. That is, religion in the form of god or superior power is shown to influence individuals or society and in a way their future.  Although humans has invented and discovered many life sustaining and useful things, there is a view that superior powers and religion mainly played the facilitating role in that process.  Wells point out that future is something that is ambiguous, complex, and difficult to grasp.

How does the HR literature inform the recruitment process Essay

How does the HR literature inform the recruitment process - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that Human Resource knowledge and literature contributes significantly to the recruitment process in organizations. Recruitment process involves activities conducted by the HR department to attract and screen new employees in the organization in order to introduce new talents in the organization who can fill various positions that the organization requires.   In the recent times integrated and advanced knowledge on HRM focuses more on the skills of different employees, job requirements, selection process, performance management, education, and development as well as training/learning culture and reward and pay system. These activities are critical in human resource programs and thus informing the recruitment process. The researcher has worked with the HR department previously and he has gained experience on there requirements of organizations on new recruits. The recruitment process should keep in line with the shift in technology and req uirements within the workplaces. Recruitment process involves various activities that are critical in human resources management in such areas as training, development, job requirements, applicant qualifications, decision-making, interviews and positions required. Recruitment is an important process where successful measures include thorough research on job requirements and conditions in the market, interviews and such tests like psychometric tests on the candidates where the potentiality of the candidate is determined.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Essay Example for Free

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Essay The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969), and Moon Tiger (1987) all cover various aspects of desire such as the woman as a sexual object of desire, sexual development, repressed sexuality, and variations of sexuality. All three novels cover the woman’s early sexual experiences from childhood, the prevailing Madonna image of the woman accepted by society, sexual liberation, and their unconventional lifestyles. All set in the United Kingdom, the stories traces and discloses the life of the English woman. The novels are written in the post 1960s after the sexual revolution where many sexual taboos are lifted and most people feel an individualistic, unbridled freedom to express their desires. In the novel, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), the title is self-explanatory in dealing with the issue of desire for the prime does not only signify having the best of health, but also enjoying one’s peak in sexuality or sexual activity. Miss Jean Brodie is a young, bachelorette teacher who is in quest of a partner so as she enters the realm of school, she has to confront desire in fellow teachers, Mr. Lloyd (a married man) and Mr. Lowther. Throughout the novel, Brodie manipulates both men with whom she has a triangular love affair. Her pupils â€Å"found in (Miss Brodie) the only sex-bestirred object in their daily environment† (Spark 50). She awes the Brodie set with her past love affairs and lays bare to their view her sex life. The principal and some of the teaching staff frown on her educational deviance and continue to probe into her sexual life in order to set up Brodie for a downfall. Desire is also manifests itself in the school girls, more commonly called â€Å"the Brodie set† as the book spans their adolescent periods (pun intended). Like a bildungsroman novel, Sparks traces the development of the six girls as they grow into women under the watchful eye of Miss Brodie. In the early chapters of the novel, Sparks observes that â€Å"the year to come was in many ways the most sexual year for the Brodie set† (Spark 45). At the start, Brodie begins educating them at age ten and maintains active interaction with them until they are eighteen, therefore Brodie and the Brodie set are both in their prime of life. Through her, they glean much information about sexual maturity, menstruation, and love. Because sex is taboo, they live in a restrained environment where sexuality is subtle if not altogether cloaked (to which Sandy’s monastic life and the scandalous nature of open sexuality point). A juxtaposition of opposites of desire also arises in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie where innocence seduces and experience repulses. Sparks describes Rose Stanley as being â€Å"famous for sex† (Spark 57) because of her attractive appeal however she confesses that Brodie’s erotic affairs inspire no desire within her and remains indifferent to sex although she generates wide passion. On the other hand, after Sandy has sexual intercourse with Mr. Lloyd, she converts to the Roman Catholic church, choosing to lead the celibate life of a nun (Sparks 132). Her one-time sexual experience has made her turn away from living a promiscuous life as her teacher, Brodie does. In The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969), is a novel replete with sexual desire and the sexualized, objectification of the woman. The beginning of the novel begins with male voyeurism as John Fowles â€Å"the telescopist† (Fowles 2) peers through his binoculars looking at an engaged couple, Charles and Ernestina, walking along the seaside and then turns his vision to Sarah, â€Å"stretching eyes west over the sea wind foul or fair, always stood she prospect-impressed† (Fowles 1), longing and disappointed in love, staring at the sea. These three individuals are all in their sexual prime but are frustrated romantically. The title of the novel, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, also relegates an inferior position to the woman, for her identity is hidden and thus irrelevant apart from her association with the French lieutenant. The overwhelming and provocative interest in Sarah arouses not only Fowles, but Charles. The rest of the village also looks at her as a specimen embodying strangeness, yet rare attraction. Although notorious rumors fly, which she does not attempt to contradict, she still incites much attraction and performs to perfection her role an object of desire. Repressed desire functions to provide insight into the society and its acceptance of different expressions of desire in individuals. Fowles tells us that Ernestina, the first mentioned fiancee of Charles, lives a sexually repressed life peculiar to the Victorian Age, the time frame of the novel. The telescopist observes her outfit which â€Å"was feminine by way of compensation for so much of her expected behavior† (Fowles 3). Charles soon gets bored with Ernestina for her plain, Victorian outlook cannot satisfy his sexual desires. More overt sexual desire adds to the enigma and resultant desirability. This observation proves true as Charles fascination for Ernestina transfers to Sarah, whom society has ostracized and abandoned. The epitome of sexual repression is Mrs. Poulteney who is reputed for her piety, charity, and tyranny. Living under the roof of Mrs. Poulteney imposes Sarah with restrictions on her whereabouts and by extension, associations. Poulteney thinks herself always in the right therefore, the unorthodox or bohemian would never sit well with her. As a consequence of differences in desire, Sarah and Mrs. Poulteney ultimately part ways as Sarah repeatedly flouts Mrs. Poulteney’s commands to not follow a particular path along the farmhouse. This statement is pregnant with meaning since Sarah still ventures out alone, which works against mainstream directives. Out of Mrs. Poulteney’s stifling control, Sarah could reveal her sexual desire more liberally. Marriage is no longer held as the only institution under which one fulfilled sexual desire. Charles and Sarah have sexual encounters, although unmarried. In the end, Sarah chooses not to marry however she continues to live an unconventional life with the Pre-Raphaelite artists which composed controversial art and literature. Charles still desires marriage as a means of consolidating the union between him and Sarah, however, Sarah rebuffs him, standing unique as a Victorian woman who does not aspire to marriage or family. Moon Tiger (1987), authored by Penelope Lively, chronicles the life of a bohemian woman who lives a sexually unbridled life, hinged on desire. Unlike most women, she never falls into the regular, mainstream category of female tradition. Accounts of incest, homosexuality, and promiscuity pepper this novel, making it non-conventional and iconoclastic. The novel traces the sexual development of her and her brother, Gordon â€Å"from the first stirrings of sexual desire† (Lively 25). They undergo many changes during which they carry on an early incestuous relationship. Their filial and sexual ties permeate their lives. Desire is the compass which leads the sibling duo to each other’s arms. Moon Tiger explores incestuous desire, parallels historical records of incest, and justifies it. While doing coverage in Cairo, Egypt during WW II, a tour guide mentions that â€Å"the wife of pharaoh was also the sister of pharaoh. He is loving his sister†¦incest said the Army Padre, quite acceptable in those days apparently† (Lively 74). The incestuous desire runs through the book once both siblings are alive for they both object to each other’s sexual partners and seem unfulfilled in their own relationships. Claudia confesses that desire for Gordon never extinguishes in her life and when he dies. When Claudia and Gordon reveal their incestuous relations to Sylvia and Mrs. Hampton, Claudia gets physically sick and is emotionally disturbed. Yet, the two prefer to classify their relationship as â€Å"classical, very high class. Look at the Greeks† (Lively 142). Since this book is written by a historian, several references to world history are not uncommon. The Greeks were a people who are said to found classic civilization and who favored incest and homosexuality. Claudia rejects wifehood and motherhood as a bohemian woman. Claudia does not have the inclination to marry and rejects the proposals of several men to marriage. She prefers to preserve her own freedom by remaining single. Jasper offers to marry Claudia after finding out that she bears their child. Although she gets impregnated a few times, she refuses marriage as a way out to escape reproof. She attests that â€Å"no one has ever married Claudia† (Lively 53) –which not only appears as a confession, but also a resolution. Gordon marries and settles down with Sylvia, and it can be argued that because she cannot marry her brother, she spurns marriage. In spite of her lack of will to get married, Claudia chooses to have â€Å"a sexual field day† (Lively 91). Working in a male dominated realm allows Claudia opportunity to explore more desire in herself and sparks the desire of other male soldiers in the camp. A highly desirable woman, she enjoys herself as the men make erotic advances to her especially since women are rare. She also denies her daughter, Lisa, a maternal relationship since her birth came about with a man for whom she does not love enough to marry. In sum, the novels all delve into woman’s desire and the ways in which she expresses her sexuality whether covertly or openly, conventionally or otherwise. Desire drives the women to pursue passionate relationships, where they either become fulfilled or hurt. Within framework of female desire is male sexuality which is sparked by the female presence. The texts deal with the recourses which women have to take in order to live contentedly with themselves, their sexual desires, and their partners and point the reader to wider considerations such as culture, belief systems, and the woman question. Works Cited: Fowles, John. The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Back Bay Books. , 1998 Lively, Penelope. Moon Tiger. Grove Atlantic Inc, New York, 1989. Sparks, Muriel. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Harper Collins Publishers, United Kingdom, 1984.

Health Impact Assessment for Policy-Making

Health Impact Assessment for Policy-Making 1. Introduction Indeed, a lot of changes happened particularly on how the people deal on health issues. In the past, medical concerns are not the main concern of the society. However, in the 21st century, due to some factors that affect the health of individuals, diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension are the major problems of the population. Because of these, responsibility for health plays a major role in national and international healthcare policy. The government implemented some strategies to address the health concerns of the society. For instance, the governing bodies increased the healthcare budget because of the mushrooming health problems. However, some people argue that prevention is better than cure and they contest that the government must spend more of their financial budget on activities that promote health and prevent illness. Effective preventive healthcare plays an important part in preventing disease and gives the people the best chance for a healthier life (Australian National Preventive Health Agency,2013). It also helps to improve the performance of our public health service. Thus, greater attention should be paid to strategies of promoting health. Health promotion goes beyond health care. It puts health on the agenda of policy makers in all sectors and at all levels, directing them to be aware of the health consequences of their decisions and to accept their responsibilities for health. The responsibility for ensuring the right to health for all lies not only with states and their obligations to their own people, but also with the international community. The case study depicts the responsibility for health in different aspects and it appraises the contemporary issues in healthcare and their impact on national and international healthcare policy. In addition, it also emphasizes the justifications for policy intervention solutions on contemporary issues in the international context. This report may help the individuals and the society on how to face healthcare issues. It will be a great success for the nation if healthcare issues will be addressed. 2. Evaluate the impact the contemporary issue discussed in your case study would have on national and international healthcare policy. As discussed in the case study, the major source of health problem comes from unhealthy lifestyle of individuals such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits. How can the society decrease or eliminate these problems? The governing bodies implemented some strategies in order to combat the health concerns of the society. They plan to improve some policies, both in national and international context. For instance, they give emphasis on strategies of health promotion because the costs for preventive programs are much cheaper than activities that help treating the actual health problems. States hold the primary responsibility to fund and ensure all the essential goods and services under the right to health (World Health Organization, 2014). This may include investing enough resources on health promotion. Health promotion strategies include mass campaigns and people awareness programmes. These activities more often than not can be seen in the school or community where the educators impart the significance of maintaining good health. Through health promotion, the people may realize the importance of having a healthy lifestyle and achieve the optimum health and well-being. As a result, the public can be more active by exercising regularly and playing some sports. Furthermore, they can practice good eating habits and stop smoking to prevent illness. Truly, responsibility for health should be a collaborative effort among individuals and the societies in which they live. As an effect, both can benefit from one another. One good example is the government assistance for the public on how to avoid diseases. Both of them can benefit if the people abide the rules by the law makers. If practiced by the populace, the government can save the resources that were not used for medical treatment for instance. The extra funds then can be directed to other projects which can give additional benefits to the people in general. The effects of medical concerns should be carefully considered by the people, especially the policy makers, so they can amend some policies to effectively improve the health status of the public. In the case study, the health problems would have a great impact on international and national healthcare policy. Existing poor health condition may serve as an eye-opener to the community. Because of the untoward effects of unhealthy way of living such as , they take precautions and some steps to practice a healthy lifestyle in order to alleviate them. National and international healthcare policy can be upgraded using the ideas that can be harnessed to this case study. They may execute effective strategies to promote health and prevent from getting sick. For example, unhealthy habits such as cigarette smoking, excessive use of alcohol and other harmful substances should be restricted or banned in the community by implementing strict laws. Although there are existing policy to address these problems, the policy maker may improvise the law. Punishments and fines may be given to individuals who violate the law. For instance, individuals who are caught smoking in non-smoking area will be jailed for a day and they are required to attend a community service for 1 week. On the whole, national and global health governance is essential because states will not accept national and international norms without genuine partnerships, equitable burden sharing and efficient programmes that improve health outcomes. Yet, political, legal and economic challenges impede effective governance. Countries face serious problems of fragmentation, duplication, and even confusion, among the deluge of global health actors and initiatives. Health ministries often lack basic knowledge of, and control over, foreign-supported programmes. The public needs a system of governance that fosters effective collaborative effort and coordinates initiatives to create synergies and avoid destructive competition. 3. Discuss and critically analyse the rationale or justifications for putting into place each of the below listed types of policy intervention solutions globally to address the contemporary health issue highlighted in your chosen case study: 3.1. Education and training As defined by many resources, education is an essential human virtue. Man becomes man through education. He is what education makes him. It has been rightly said that without education, a person is a splendid slave, reasoning savage. Education is necessary for society. Education fashions and models man for society. Man cannot be conceived merely in terms of his biological existence. Education brings into focus the social aspect of man. Education signifies mans supreme position in society. Education is an essential basis of good life. A man becomes a human being in the real sense when he is transformed from primarily an animal being into a human being. In short, education is an essential concomitant of all human societies. Through education, the people can acquire knowledge and wisdom about everything in life. The people can solve problems successfully because they can apply the knowledge they have gained in order to solve their concerns. Meanwhile, training, is the process by which s omeone is taught the skills that are needed for an art, profession, or job. Training is beneficial for the new staff particularly because it makes them proficient and more competent in their area of work. Developing competence has become a crucial issue for establishing a smart workforce that can achieve a competitive success. A major factor or function of Human Resource Management that differentiates it from personnel management is training and development. Training can be defined as a planned process by which people acquire the capabilities and competencies to aid in the overall achievement of the organisations goals and objectives. Training can be seen from the very entrance into the organisation, for example, orientation where the employee is taught the organisations culture. It continues into the probation period, where employees gain sufficient skills for the position held and can also be seen throughout the duration of employment. Thus, training act as a remedy to change with in an organisation. There is a strong link between training and learning, both foster a permanent change in behaviour according to the behaviourist approach and thereby lead the movement toward a learning organisation.. Both education and training are essential in order to address the contemporary issue stressed in the case study. By educating the public, the people can become aware of what is happening around them. Furthermore, they can improve their way of living because of the wisdom and knowledge they have as part of the learning process. Through education, they can help promote health and prevent diseases. Stressing out the importance of preventing illness, for instance, can help the individuals achieve a quality of life. By making them aware of the cons of unhealthy habits, they can avoid being sick. For example, the person who is aware that eating foods high in cholesterol can make the person at risk for stroke or any cardiovascular diseases may stop taking such unhealthy foods. Training, on the other hand, is helpful to an individual in carrying out successfully a task. One example is by providing training to healthcare workers. Resources should be provided to maintain a high quality of trai ning. Training can be hard if it is poorly funded because they usually require aids in order to demonstrate procedures. Another good example is in a healthcare community center, where a program can be conducted once a month. Before the healthcare workers perform their task, they are trained on how to deal the people with different personalities and how to deal the community as a whole. They give health teachings such as obesity. As mentioned in the case study, obesity is one the leading cause of forming other debilitating diseases, such as diabetes, cardiac diseases, and hypertension and thus, obesity should be avoided. By imparting information, like proper diet and exercise, this health problem can be prevented. 3.2.Tax benefits and payments to caregivers Tax benefit rule is a judicially created doctrine seeking to repair some of the inflexibility inherent in the annual accounting system. According to this rule, if any loss or expense deducted in the previous year is recovered by the tax payer, the recovery must be included in the current years gross income to the extent that it was previously deducted. The tax benefit rule ensures that if a taxpayer takes a deduction attributable to a specific event, and the amount is recovered in a subsequent year, income tax consequences of the later event depend in some degree on the prior related tax treatment. Tax benefits are indeed a great help to individuals who needs healthcare assistance. Nowadays, with the rising cost of medical supplies and procedures, tax benefits that will reduce the cost of health care expenses for example, is a great help especially to those people who are in dire need of financial assistance. From the tax, the government can successfully implement and carry out projects that can contribute to individual’s welfare. They may effectively plan and perform heath preventive programs because of the individual’s tax contribution and collaboration of the people. Meanwhile, payments to caregivers are important. Since the healthcare workers are the front liners in providing care for the people who need assistance, they should be given sufficient incomes. Giving them a salary which help them survive from day to day living and help them save for their future use help them provide a quality care for people who needs their help. Instead of working double shifts to earn more money for their needs, they may only work a single shift. Their extra time can be allotted for their family and for themselves to rest. Because of this, they can be relieved from stress and enjoy their day offs. This can yield a good result because a well-rested individual can give and provide a quality care for their patients. 3.3. Respite care As defined by the Ministry of Health (2014), respite service should provide a safe, enjoyable environment with staff able to support the disabled person to participate in their community. Respite care is generally short-term and intermittent, available in community settings and in rest homes, and part of the support network available to a person and their carers. This is very important since individuals who provide care experience stress. This may be in the form of emotional, financial or physical burden. With stress, an individual who provides care can cause negligence or abuse to the patient. To avoid this, they should also have a break or a day off. During their break or day off, somebody would temporarily relieve them of their duty. This is a great help to the care givers, since they can reduce or eliminate the stress that builds inside them. And with this, as they return to duty fully recharged, they can provide and maintain a quality care for their patients. 3.4. Business regulations combining work and care giving Each year, there are increasing number of people who needs assistance and care to maintain their well-being. Because of this plight, the demand for care givers is also escalating. Thus, a lot of health care centers are being made, either public or private, to accommodate the increasing number of individuals who need assistance. Nowadays, rest homes are common in some countries and there should be regulations that must be maintained in order to provide a quality care and assistance for the patients. A good example is, providing the right number of staff to the number patients available in the care homes. There should be enough staff to attend the needs of the patients in order to render a good quality care, like assisting a disabled person to transfer to a chair. Big patients need two or more staff to accomplish the task such as showering them and doing cares in order to avoid injuries to patients and also to caregivers. For health and social care staff to work together, they must be able to share information about a person’s assessments, treatment and care. One of the most important legal right one have as a caregiver is about his employment. The unpredictable nature of caregiving, and the time that it takes to provide care, often make it difficult to continue working on a normal schedule. In fact, the Department of Labor’s latest investigation found that employee complaints with respect to balancing career and family often occur because an employer refuses to reinstate an employee after an extended leave. Generally, these complaints can be resolved fairly easily, although to date, 16 legal actions have been taken against employers for violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). All in all, in order to attend the needs of the patient, business regulations should be fair and just to the employees and consumers. 4. Conclusion This paper makes the claim that a key activity required to promote healthy policy-making at the local level is health impact assessment. Highly participatory local health impact assessment can be used to identify negative health impacts that call for policy responses, and to identify and encourage practices and policies that promote health. Socially responsible decision-making for improved equity-in-health is stimulated by community-level health impact assessment because it is a practical tool to help communities come to grips with local conditions that need changing if better health for all is to be realized. Even with the advancement of knowledge on medicines, society still faces the burden on health related issues. Health issues should be attended immediately due to the fact that not only the individual who suffers the sting of the disease but there love ones are also affected. Health prevention strategies should be promoted and initiated in every community. Aside from the fact th at it is more cost-effective than curing the actual diseases, it can also benefit the public by practicing healthy lifestyle. Health promotion is indeed significant in order to achieve the optimum of health and well-being. Health issues can affect everyone, it can cause physical, emotional and financial burden. It is a miserable situation in which everyone involved to the individual especially the family members is being pulled in. Health issues then affects the economy of a nation. And if not properly attended, it may cripple the nation’s wealth. In addition, through collaborative effort of the individual and society, the health issues can be minimized or avoided through effective implementation of health promotion strategies, community projects and programmes by the government, community and the individuals.

The Verona Story Of Romeo And Juliet English Literature Essay

The Verona Story Of Romeo And Juliet English Literature Essay Romeo and Juliet is a story of love set in Verona that has an unfortunate tragic ending. At the beginning of the play, the audience is shown the prologue of the play that familiarizes them with the tragic ending to come. In the play the audience sees a lot of contrast between love and hate and contrasts of emotions will become apparent as you continue through the play. The masked ball is at the very beginning of the play. Dramatic irony is allowed to run throughout the play as from the prologue the audience can tell that Romeo and Juliet are both going to collide and fall in love and this will happen despite the fact that they are from feuding families. As the audience hears in the prologue: A pair of star-crossd lovers take their life. This means that they have met only through fate and chance and that they will both die together. When they meet at the ball they have no idea to whom one another is and after enquiring they soon find out that they are from rivaling families. The prologue was preformed in a sonnet, which consists of 14 lines and 10 syllables in each line. Once Juliet realizes that Romeo is a Montague she immediately tells herself that: My only love sprung from my only true hate! This denotes that Juliet had just thought she had found the right person who she loves but she cannot love him, as he is her born enemy, a Montague. Romeo and Juliet are sharing actions. This shows that Romeo and Juliet have quickly become attracted to each other. The audience can see the couples togetherness; now Romeo and Juliet can also see their togetherness as they both exchange the hand position of prayer. This equates with the religious imagery and connotations within their speech. It is also showing that the relationship between the couple will expand onto a more faithful way. The audience sees that Juliet is reluctant to kiss Romeo when she says: If I profane with my unworthiest hand à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. Using a religious metaphor, Romeo remarkably talks Juliet in to allowing Romeo to kiss her. However this metaphor offers more uses. O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do! They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. A way in which Shakespeare has made this scene dramatically important is as the way that Shakespeare portrays Romeos thoughts when he first meets Juliet in a very poetic and romantic way. This becomes dramatically important as Romeo then links to a dove surrounded by ugly crows: Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear, So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows. From this the audience can tell that Romeo is completely shocked about Juliets appearance and beings to demonstrate her beauty. This is showing love at first sight with Juliet and after the first time he lays eyes on her he says: Did my heart love till now? Romeos use of language and speech is a lot more poetic in contrast to Lord Capulets jesting language. Capulets speech is fun and majestic in comparison to Romeos language being extremely dramatic and said in a serious manor and being very austere about what he is saying. It is almost as if it is too late for Romeo and Juliet as they fall in love before they find out each others identities The Montagues and Capulets fight takes place in the opening scene of the play. In this the audience can see an indication that the romance between Romeo and Juliet is set to become very complex due to the fighting between the two families and that their relationship could end in tragedy. This scene is very important as it gives the scene a lot of structure. The themes that the audience can take from this scene are: marriage, love, hate and conflict. Marriage in this scene refers to Paris bid to marry Juliet. Love in this scene refers to Romeo and Juliet unexpectedly converging and then instantly falling in love. Hate is found in this scene when Romeo and other close friends of the Montague Family, who are also foes of the Capulets, attend the Ball uninvited. And the audience sees conflict in this scene when Tybalt finds out Romeo is attending the Ball and wants him to immediately be removed. When Tybalt suddenly realizes that Romeo is at the ball the feeling of the atmosphere immediately changes as there is conflict and confrontation between Romeo and Tybalt, the audience knows this as Tybalt proclaims: Ill not endure him. [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] He shall be endured. From this you can see that the two phrases are matched and that there is now a lot of anger coming from Tybalt sparking tension between the two characters that the audience immediately will pick up. A lot of thing said in Romeo and Juliet are said in a similar way to a poem, this is called iambic pentameter just as the audience sees when Tybalt exclaims. Ill not endure him, He shall be endured. This line is split, but the two different sentences are similar, the audience can tell that this is an argumentative conversation in this part if the play as by the way the sentence is converged. Tybalt utters: Fetch me my rapier boy. From this the audience can see that Tybalt has longed to fight Romeo and is more than willing to do so. The audience may decide to interpret this as anger and tension being created from the feud between the two rivalling families. And doing so will make the audience excited and ambitious. The story ends in tragedy and the audience is then left to feel sympathetic for Romeo and Juliet, as it was fait that played a very big are in the story. As just after one died the other died not knowing and reasoning into why one another died, but just assuming it was cause on their behalf. Not only this but Shakespeares use of dramatic affect really heightens the feeling that the audience receives from the play.

Cool Hand Luke :: essays research papers

In Cool Hand Luke, the movie begins with the word, VIOLATION, across the screen. The word is from a parking meter and sets the tone for the entire movie. Luke Jackson, the title character, is arrested for cutting off the heads of the town’s parking meters while drunk, or in legal terms, for destroying municipal property while under the influence of alcohol. When asked why he cut the heads off the parking meters, Luke answers, â€Å"You could say I was settling an old score.† While it leaves the viewers believing that he probably received a parking ticket at some time in the past, no clues are given to what the old score may have been. He is sentenced to two years in a road prison, in a chain gang. His punishment did not fit the crime, and today, such an act would probably result in time spent in community service rather than a hard labor prison gang. To further accentuate that his sentence is worse than his crime, Luke Jackson dies at the end of his story. Luke is a decorated veteran, yet left the military service just as he went in, as a Private. This indicates that he had authority problems while there. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and a couple of Purple Hearts and that indicates that he is brave and probably humanitarian, because the Silver Star is usually given in recognition of a life-saving deed of valor. That he was never promoted, or else promoted and consequently demoted, (the story does not elaborate on the details) indicates that his superiors, those who had the authority to promote him, did not react well to his achievements. For Luke, death represents ultimate freedom. There is no doubt that he believes in God, in that he talks to God several times throughout the movie, yet his conversations are always more like arguments than prayers. In one of the final scenes, the empty shell of a church represents Luke’s relationship with God, and even the emptiness in himself. Luke feels that God has never been there for him. He tells God just before the end of the story that God hasn’t ever dealt him a good hand. That military authorities considered him a hero, decorating him with medals, doesn’t make him a hero in his own eyes. Luke is a tortured soul, in that he tells God that he doesn’t deserve any good thing because he killed people in the war. Still, Luke is a free spirit, true to himself, with no regard for the rules and regulations of other human beings. The crime he is arrested for is not one of violence toward any person, it is

A Tale of Apocalypses, Men, Women, & Sports :: Movie Film Sports Essays

A Tale of Apocalypses, Men, Women, & Sports This movie is set in a post-apocalyptic society in the year 2010. After World War III broke out, the world was destroyed in the year 2008. The survivors have no memory of what their planet used to be like, or how they used to live. The earth is covered in layers of debris that archaeologists are sifting through to figure out how people lived before the world was destroyed. Along with the "death" of our modern world, women's rights also died, and men think they are far superior once more. Opening scenes (each is only a few seconds long): Close up of blade chopping vegetables, zoom out to see that blade is actually ice skate. Cut to: restaurant with people eating soup out of semi-deflated basketballs. Cut to: Opening credits with people playing in background: people are running around wearing helmets and throwing a hockey puck at each other's heads. Cut to: people on an archeological dig, sifting through the dirt with tennis rackets. Most of a track has been unearthed, and the archaeologists think it is called a "Coca-Cola" because of the large sign at one end of the field in the center of the track. One of our heroines is named Soleada Lluvia, and she has just unearthed a badminton birdie and is studying it. She is distracted when the archaeologists who have been uncovering the track announce that they have finished. She drops the birdie and joins the others as they stare at the track. They remember seeing people run in circles around such a thing from damaged movies they have uncovered on previous expeditions. The men immediately begin discussing how this must have been used as a sports arena for men. The women point out that they saw women running in the movies, too, but they men just laugh at them and say that women are too weak to do sports. The women become angry and start citing famous female athletes they read about in records they found. They mention Babe Didrickson, FloJo, Wilma Rudolph, and others. The men point out that that was before the world ended, and say that now women are weak again. The women assert that women never were weak, then or now, and challenge the men to a contest. They decide to hold their contest in one month - to give them time to train, and time to research more of the sports of the past.

How to work on complex tasks in a team Essay -- Management

Every day in our life we come across challenges. It becomes imperative that we find solutions to them. Some problems we need to face alone and some we need to encounter as a team. I worked in several teams all my professional life and I believe that any task can be easily completed when there is coordination between the members of the team. In this reflection paper I would like to present my views on the importance of defining roles, advantages of being with the same team, challenges in a diversified group and the significance of trusting team members. Defining Roles â€Å"Roles are positions in a group that have a set of expected behaviours attached to themâ€Å"(John and Saks, 2011: Page 225 of quote). I feel that most of the problems in a team occur because roles are not clearly defined. Roles provide sense of direction to the team members and drive them towards the common goal. I would like to quote my experience when I joined as a trainee to depict the importance of roles in a team. Our team had two tasks, supporting the existing applications and developing new applications. Even though there were 6 members in our team, there used to be issues every day. There used to be slippages in deadlines and we used to miss support tickets too. This went on for about 3 months and our lead arranged a meeting to find out the reason behind our poor performance. The first and foremost thing that popped up was that none of the members of sure of their roles. Everyone concentrated on just one task and as a result we always defaulted. Drastic improvement in our team’s performance after each member was assigned a specific role proved the importance of team roles. My practical experience combined with the theoretical proof that â€Å"Role ambiguity causes... ...hin few months she started working efficiently and the outcome was that we won best team award within our entire account. To conclude, there might be several reasons behind exceptional or poor performance of a team but I regard the points mentioned above highly and I feel that if the above issues are taken care then the team would perform to their potential, providing exceptional results. References 1. Organizational Behaviour, Sixth Edition by Gary Johns & Alan M. Saks 2. Why teams don’t work – Interview by Diane Coutu 3. Building the Emotional Intelligence of Groups by Vanessa Urch Druskat and Stephen B.Wolff 4. http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Managing_Groups_and_Teams/Diversity#How_Are_Diverse_Teams_Different_From_Homogenous_Ones.3F 5. http://jmo.e-contentmanagement.com/archives/vol/10/issue/1/article/382/trust-a-neglected-variable-in-team-effectiveness

Role Of Women In Sustainable Forest Management Environmental Sciences Essay

Over the past twosome of decennaries most development plans have come to the decision that peoples ‘ engagement is important for their success. Forestry plans have followed the same general way. In Nepal, it is realized that forests status and country were decreased chiefly in 1980s due to quickly increasing population force per unit area ( Adhikari 2001 ) . Therefore, authorities establishments and INGO ‘s took induction for affecting local people, particularly adult females in the direction of the wood. Several surveies have shown that adult females are the primary users of forest resources in many developing states. Nepal is non an exclusion. Harmonizing to ( Lamichhane 2004 ) , the survey of adult females ‘s position in Nepal indicates: Sixty six per centum of clip of the adult females is being spent in fuel wood aggregation. Ninety five per centum of the fuel energy in the mountain part of Nepal comes from the fuel wood. Womans and misss collect 87 % of the entire fuel wood. Looking at the state of affairs, authorities of Nepal has included the issue in the development program from eight five twelvemonth program ( 1992-1997 ) . Ninth five twelvemonth program ( 1997-2002 ) states that, â€Å" As adult females are chiefly involved in aggregation of lumber, firewood, fresh fish, workss, carnal bedclothes and so on, necessary agreements will be made to include them compulsory in the forest users commissions † . Thus, theoretically adult females ‘s engagement in forestry plans considered of import from the eight five twelvemonth program and encouraged them for engagement in assorted forestry plans of authorities though adult females have some restraints to make so ( Chaudhary 2000 ) . The undermentioned state of affairs is still confronting by adult females in pattern. Womans are constrained by society to come from their houses. If it is so so starts negative remarks and none of the household member supports them. Womans are discouraged and did non elect in determination devising organic structure. If they elected so they would be for formality either or to demo the giver bureaus. Still, in many societies adult females are avoided from the contact with the aliens because they are diffident. Their hubbies do non wish their contact with other males. Womans are considered forest destroyers alternatively of defenders. Women ‘s commission can non work without support of males and are non working good due to their credibleness and household supports. Forest resource direction in Nepal is based on the people ‘s engagement and determination of the user ‘s group. Women are the cardinal wood users and their engagement in the sustainable direction reveals the success of the direction patterns. Therefore adult females ‘s engagement and engagement is most so. But the social scene in Nepal has great influence on adult females ‘s engagement. Besides these restraints, community forestry plan tried to authorise the adult females ‘s position through engagement in Nepal in someway when it emerged during 1980s ( Giri, Pokhrel et Al. 2008 ) . In this paper it is tried to analyse the followerss: Obstacles on specifying adult females ‘s engagement in determination devising in community forestry Policies and programs to increase the decisive functions of adult females in community forestryObstacles on specifying adult females ‘s engagement in determination devising in community forestry in NepalNepali societies are multicultural, complex and have hierarchal system which includes different caste groups, economic categories, and societal rankings within people. These fluctuations distinguished the upper and lower caste system, gender biased division in societal activities, etc. Therefore, there is ever the being of discriminatory nature in the society over the usage and control of the resources. Basically these obstructions besides have threatened the vulnerable groups and adult females in take parting in the community forestry procedure ( Timsina 2002 ) . However in recent context, many adult females are involved in community forestry plans after awareness plans of NGOs and authorities though they are dominated by work forces and are bewildered by deficiency of specific functions and supports. Chiefly, the adult females are non attracted to community forestry plans as outlook of the authorities and NGOs because of the factors:Irrelevant of the plans to the demands of adult females:Community forestry plans planted pine which is useless for adult females instead it added more work to them. Similarly, community wood is restricted for fresh fish and firewood aggregations, which send them far for aggregation of such points. Some community forest user groups are more financess oriented because they have to use watchers for forest protection. In this state of affairs, adult females can non roll up grass fresh fish and firewood instead commission gross revenues such points yearly. This makes adult females disinterested to community forestry.R estriction to adult females ‘s engagement in formal organisations:Womans are busy people of the household who can non pull off clip for meetings, which offers nil to them. They have to be busy most of the clip within family ; cookery, eating, kid lovingness, utensils rinse, cleansing, H2O fetching and animate being lovingness. These are their chief duties which do non let them to travel out go toing meetings and so on. Community forestry plans were begun as formal organisations because it was developed signifier of Panchayat Forest ( local authorities unit ) where adult females are far from formal organisations in Nepal.Lack of attending and support given to adult females by undertaking, contrivers, and authorities functionaries:Women ‘s engagement is still weak in forestry due to the undermentioned grounds: Illiteracy, low position in society, deficiency of cognition about the plans, they are hesitating to go involved in public work, deficiency of support of their male household members, non self assurance, unsure about their uncertainnesss and so on. In most of the forest users group the high and average degree population are largely involved in the commission instead than the lower category, adult females and marginalized groups which have bulk users of the resources ( Timsina 2002 ) . Figure 1 illustrates the findings of a gender analysis survey in community woods of Ramechhap and Dolakha territory in Nepal. The figure clearly illustrates the gender biased functions in every sector of authorities, community and family. As we discussed earlier that adult females ‘s engagement in community forestry are defined by different societal and cultural barriers that the society clasp. The society has its inferior position towards adult females sing the determination doing procedure from family to community forestry though they spend most of the clip in it. Though adult females try to come across these barriers with their ain attempts and abilities, their engagement is non wining due to the male dominancy and determination over the resource usage. Hence adult females ‘s engagement in determination devising procedure is still in the creep phase in the sustainable resource direction in most of the developing states particularly Nepal.Women ‘s EngagementNFUG C ommittee Members– Policy 50 % of all commission should be adult females In world merely 2-3 members merelyCommunity ForestryTake about no decisions- varies with ethnicity Have no control on assets Have no entree as per regulations made by work forces Maximal impact on her day-to-day work burdenHousehold ImpactCaste, place in household and support from hubby will act upon grade of engagement Time restraint due to duplicate burden- ‘inside ‘ and ‘outside ‘ undertakingsFUG Formation ProcessNo specific scheme to approach/ involve adult females though recommended in Re-orientation Participate in labour for determinations taken by work forces Equally knowing but non consultedTraining PlansWomen ever really few, if any Mobility restraint Poor attitudinal & A ; practical support from work forces Illiteracy in all adult females ‘s group Rarely invited for proficient preparationForest ForcesCultural/attitude prejudice towards adult females ‘s capableness Constraints on communicating with adult females About all determinations take by work forces ( Undertaking and Community ) Womans more antiphonal to adult females Texas rangers Neither functionaries nor adult females take the enterpriseAgro ForestryAbout all interactions between undertaking staff ( all work forces except one ) and hubby as caput of family. Largely fulfills labor/care of baby's room Can non command assets as land non in her name Beginning: ( DRCFDP 1995 ) Fig 1: Women ‘s engagement in Different Activities Although we discussed about the obstructions, the adult females ‘s inclusiveness in the community forestry has besides been observed in some facet. The empowerment attack in WID recognized the adult females ‘s ternary function ( production, reproduction and community ) that seeks to run into the strategic gender demands. It indirectly through the grass roots mobilisation of practical gender demands support to seek the strategic gender demands. It explicitly focus the demand of power to adult females for bettering the place ( Moser 1989 ) . In Nepal adult females ‘s engagement in community forestry, organizing and take parting in forest users ‘ group is increasing. They are concentrating their active engagement and functions in widening the constructions and determination devising procedure ( Giri and Darnhofer 2010 ) . The community forest user groups define the managerial facet of the forest resources. Thus adult females ‘s engagement in these groups helps them to raise the voice in their practical and strategic gender demands which create a mechanism for carry throughing them ( Giri 2009 ) . Harmonizing to Adhikari ( 2001 ) , Nepali adult females in cragged part drama effectual function in the forest direction. The subsistence life schemes lead the increase of diverseness of adult females ‘s function in resource direction. In the same manner, authorities plans and NGO ‘s have taken adult females as primary group and encouraged their engagement in decisive organic structure of forestry plans. They focus on: Women ‘s engagement is critical in re-greening of the state. Womans will be benefited from their engagement in forestry plans because they are the chief users of the wood. Womans are the lone lasting dwellers of the country. As we are discoursing about some positive facet of adult females ‘s inclusivity in resource direction, it is besides of import to discourse the typology of their engagement. In most of the instances adult females ‘s engagement are inactive in nature. Their engagement is chiefly pretended under which they can be manipulated. Similarly their engagement is functional chiefly targeted to the accomplishment of undertaking end ( Agarwal 2001 ) .Policies and programs to increase the decisive functions of adult females in community forestryThe conventional theory on development did non place the nucleus function of adult females in sustainable resource direction. Therefore, a response alteration in environmental policy, planning and plan is required to take a firm stand that adult females are the active stakeholders in resource direction ( Armitage and Hyma 1997 ) . Womans are the 1 who largely carry tonss of firewood, branchlets, little lumber, fresh fish, leaf-litter, non lumber forest merchandise and so on from the woods. The adult females are besides responsible for taking H2O. They are non merely responsible for aggregation of such points for place usage but besides affecting selling. The adult females are left at place in most of the developing states therefore they are still responsible for the addendum and direction of natural resource for domestic usage when their hubbies go to seek for chances in markets. Due to the state of affairs, most of the development bureaus have been recommending on the issue of Women in Environmental Development ( WED ) since the last 30 old ages on the issue of adult females in H2O, land and wood. Harmonizing to ( Regmi 2007 ) , community based resource direction is a cardinal rule to authorise the adult females ‘s position in community forestry. Armitage and Hyma ( 1997 ) besides pointed that community based participatory attack to adult females is required for development. The community based resource direction procedure on the footing of Women ‘s Empowerment Framework is intended to the policy shapers, contrivers and development militant to analyze the extend of support required for the adult females ‘s authorization ( Mosedale 2005 ) . The empowerment procedure can be improved through the alteration or alteration in the community forestry procedure that could include the marginalized community and adult females in the determination devising procedures. The policy degree agents such authorities functionaries, community stakeholders, facilitators should be given developing to plan the plans so that more marginalized people and adult females could be included ( Nightingale 2002 ) . ( Acharya and Gentle 2006 ) in their on the job paper illustrate the authorising procedure on the footing of their three twelvemonth undertaking in Nepal on Strengthening the Role of Women and Civil Society in Democracy and Governance ( SAMARPAN ) . Figure 2 illustrate the procedure, which shows that authorization, inclusiveness should be started from the base of the plan. The protagonism, preparation, literacy categories, measuring internal administration capacity defines the base for the inclusion of adult females and marginalized people in the determination devising procedure which subsequently on contribute to the peace development, struggle direction, sustainable resource direction and poorness decrease. This plan was based on the Rights Based Approach ( RBA ) which focuses on recognizing the vulnerable, marginalized groups, adult females about the human rights. Besides the rights, this attack besides encourages to carry through their duties among the groups. Sustainable Resource Management Governance & A ; Consencus edifice Poverty Decrease Inclusion of adult females and fringy community in the determination devising procedures Appraisal of internal administration capacity Community degree protagonism and adult females empowerment preparation Advocacy literacy categories Participatory, transparent and inclusive standards to choose local facilitators and preparation participants Practice of public audit and hearing in undertaking activities Empowering and participatory acquisition stuffs Fig 2: Procedure of authorization ( Adapted and modified from Acharya & A ; Gentle, 2006 )DecisionFrom the above treatment it is clear that adult females are the chief users of wood merchandises though their engagement in the wood direction is really weak. Since 1970s, development plans and bureaus have been working in the sector of adult females ‘s authorization recognizing the necessity of adult females ‘s engagement in development plans though their engagement is non as outlook. Forestry direction sector is non an exclusion. Merely approximately 10 % of the community woods have been managing by adult females groups in Nepal today. As people attitude is being altering from the past it is possible to authorise the adult females and marginalized groups in the hereafter. The socio-cultural position is the barriers for limited and inactive engagement in the community forestry sector in Nepal. The projected orientated activities of the giver and other organisations do non really work out the adult females ‘s position in the society instead they felt inferior themselves. Hence the attacks of equal engagement in every sector including the community forestry should be developed. This proviso could assist to make strong adult females ‘s commission and aid in the income coevals activities.

External Environment Analysis Kraft Foods Essay

In the every changing and expanding food industry it is imperative organizations conduct strategic marketing to remain on top of their industry and make better plans for their future. Strategic marketing drives organizations to their peak of success and draws customer loyalty. The Porter Five Analysis and PEST analysis are two of the tools utilized by strategist to enhance organizational success. The Porter Five model examines the internal workings of the organization as well as the industry letting organizations know about potential threats. The PEST analysis on the other hand examines the macro-environment, looking at potential political and social threats to industry. The utilization of these two models together will better equip organizations to face ever changing industries and see potential threats. Below the author will discuss the different aspect of each model as well as provide useful web links to gather additional information. Porter Five Forces Analysis The Porter Five Analysis was developed by Michael Porter as a tool utilized by organizations to help identify the structure and competitiveness within an industry (Porter, 2008). It encompasses five different forces that shape the industry; threat of new entrants, threat of substitute products, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers and rivalry among existing competitors (Porter). The ability to analyze and understand trends and threats within an industry is critical for â€Å"effective strategic planning† that will render organizational success (Porter). Below is an analysis of Kraft Foods utilizing the Porter Five analysis model. Buyer Power With so many different varieties of brands available to consumers it is essential that organizations research consumer needs and demands in order to remain successful. As competition increases within the industry,  organizations must â€Å"create new products that adapt to the changing lifestyles and preferences of consumers, which have shifted to a focus on health and wellness† (Hathaway, Mrak-Blumberg, Wexler-Beron, 2006). Consumers have no loyalty or obligation to stay with one brand and will easily switch as prices and nutritional labels fit their needs. Conducting analysis of competitor’s financial statements will also help paint a picture of consumer trends helping organizations to adjust their products. Below are several websites that provide different information on the power that consumers hold. 1. This website discusses some very important facts relating to the immense power that consumers possess in the food industry and how the demand for healthy food is increasing the price of raw materials resulting in organizations absorbing the overhead costs to keep prices low. It also provides some information of Kraft Foods biggest competitors. Analysis of competitors can help strategists determine future marketing strategies and how to establish brand loyalty. Monitoring competition allows for change and adaptability permitting one to stay on top of their industry by tailoring products to consumer needs/demands. 2. This website provides information that describes the growing demands of consumers and the growth of the healthy food craze. This website really demonstrates the power that consumers hold in the food industry. Consumers are mandating healthy food choices with no GMO labeling. This has caused organizations to generate new products that are healthy and cater to consumer needs if they are to stay successful. Analyzing consumer trends is extremely important as it will allow a business to better tailor their food products and draw in new consumers and maintain loyalty of old consumers. http://www.inspirationgreen.com/vote-yes-on-37.html Supplier Power Although there are only ten major suppliers for Kraft Foods they have extreme power over the food industry. Walmart is one of Kraft Foods largest clients with the most revenue generated and with so many competitors on the market Kraft Foods must absorb the additional costs of producing cheap food in order to stay competitive. An individual supplier must â€Å"offer something  special to stand out from the crowd, such as a lower price, faster delivery time, more flexible credit terms, higher product quality or volume discounts† (Sullivan, n.d.) 1. This article provides a thorough discussion and different view point on supplier power and monopoly in the food industry. It provides a discussion on how big organizations, such as Wal-Mart, exert their power over their suppliers. Different suppliers have monopolies at supermarkets and can pay for primary shelf space and promote their brands. This leads to smaller suppliers struggling in an industry dominated by large supply compani es and large retailers. http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/doc/RetailConcentration-web.pdf 2. Pratt provides a good discussion on how to analyze the bargaining power of suppliers. Understanding the questions he poses will enable an organization to potentially avoid competition and build quality relationships with suppliers thus enhancing chances of industry success. http://ezinearticles.com/?Understanding-the-Bargaining-Power-of-Your-Suppliers&id=4251948 3. This informative website provides a list of the Kraft Foods suppliers. Determining the number of suppliers in an industry can help strategist determine the bargaining power of the suppliers. In hard times suppliers can ration their products causing organizations to spend more money upfront and lose revenues. When an organization is able to differentiate their product from competitors it is easier for them to bargain with suppliers for fair pricing. http://www.dailytrader.com/ss-kraft-foods/suppliers.html Threats of Entrants When an industry is booming the threat of new entrants is high as everyone wants to make profits. The threat of new organizations creates competition among an industry and influences their ability to maintain profits (Wilkinson, 2013). Firms in this industry preserve market share through brand loyalty, diversification and the barriers placed within the industry to enter the market (Porter, 2008). It is therefore imperative that these brands maintain quality at a competitive price and drive off new competition. 1. The following website points out the current economy/industry sales for Kraft Foods and their top competitors. This is a good website as it will paint a picture for future companies as to the  market capital, net income, dividends, operating margin and growth revenue. All of which are great indicators as to expenses and revenue generated and allows them to determining if starting a business in this industry is worth the overhead, time and effort. It can also help determine how different products by different companies are comparing to each other. http://financials.morningstar.com/competitors/industry-peer.action?t=KRFT ®ion=usa&culture=en-US 2. This web page provides a table with Kraft Foods top competitors broken down by categories allowing easy access to different aspects of the business. This also allows potential companies to determine which industry they would have the most impact in to succeed. Additionally it provides revenue, income and market share. http://csimarket.com/stocks/competitionSEG2.php?code=KRFT 3. NASDAQ is a great reference for organizations looking at trends in the food industry as it provides information on the financial, size and growth trends as well as market cap. This information is essential to determine if an organization can compete in certain industries. http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/krft/competitors 4. This informative document discusses current economic indicators and the growth of the food industry over the last 10 years. It talks about nature of the industry, market overview, demand and annual food spending at home. Additionally it provides a discussion on the issues affecting the industry. This resource will help paint a vivid picture of the economy of the industry and help determine if a new product will succeed. http://trade.gov/td/ocg/report08_processedfoods.pdf Threat of Substitutes The growing health trends have led many companies to adapt and change products to fit consumer demands. With a variety of brands available it is imperative organizations cater to consumers in order to avoid losing their loyalty to another company. â€Å"Consumers in the industry have minimal switching costs and there is never the guarantee of brand loyalty† (Hathaway, Mrak-Blumberg, Wexler-Beron, 2006). In order to keep loyal consumers organizations in this industry must offer new and innovative  products. 1. This document provides valuable information on consumer trends, healthy eating, industry dynamic, emerging products, and success factors. This valuable information helps organizations determine current trends and how they can adapt to remain successful and ahead of their competition within the industry. http://www.pwc.com/us/en/transaction-services/publications/assets/functional-foods.pdf 2. This is a very informative website that discusses current trends in the food industry while stating growth percentages specifically relating to the healthy snacking options. This is a good site to gain a better understanding and insight to healthy alternatives that competitors may be producing as well as market trends http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/84475-snack-food-industry-trends 3. Organic Trade Association website provides information on industry statistics and projected growth trends which is can assist organizations in determining their future products based on consumer trends. http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html Rivalry Among Existing Competitors In every industry there is rivalry amongst organizations to win over consumers. This can generate new and innovative products, intense sales promotions and pricing wars (Porter, 2008). On the outside this activities may appear to be beneficial but in reality it can lead to increased costs and decreased profits for organizations (Porter). 1. CSI Market online provides a nice graph detailing growth rates of the major competitors in the food industry. This is an extremely useful tool to help determine where you stand financially next to your competition. Utilizing this information may assist in determining if a new product should be launched and if new marketing tactics are needed. http://csimarket.com/stocks/competitionNO3.php?code=KRFT 2. If an organization is to remain successful and on top of their organization they must produce numerous products that cater to consumer demands, i.e healthy food choices. This innovative thinking keeps consumers coming back to the same brands and generates loyalty. http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/04/22/these-food-companies-are-the  -best-at-inspiring-bra.aspx PEST Analysis PEST analysis tool was developed by Francis Aguilar to help organization see the macro-environment of their business environment in order to make changes and maximize financial success (Mind Tools, n.d.). The ability to adapt and change business tactics to meet consumer demands can create new and improved products enhancing brand loyalty (Mind Tools). The PEST analysis focuses on political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological changes in the industry, helping organizations to determine different opportunities (Mind Tools). Political 1. This website provides information on regulations of the food industry, agricultural industry and federal regulations. Understanding the political implications and regulations of the food industry will assist with licensing and production of food products. It is imperative to know and understand these regulations in order to become and remain a successful and well respected brand. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs118 2. Harris provides a great article discussing government regulations for the food industry, to include agencies and their regulation methods. Knowing the correct process and FDA regulations will help bolster an organization while gain respect and trust from consumers. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/government-regulations-food-industry-76884.html 3. With the growing health trends the FDA has started enforcing stricter food labeling. This labeling ensures â€Å"stringent guidelines to maintain the integrity of the food label† (Philipson, 2005). Additionally this provides accurate information to consumers and allows them to make healthy educated decisions regarding the food they consume. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/82/1/262S.full Economic 1. Yahoo Finance provides data on the economic conditions of the food industry as well as a forecast of the growth prospects. This information is valuable to organizations as it can assist in determining present and future growth trends, revenues and specific growth regions.  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/food-beverage-business-confidence-report-130100393.html 2. The FDA addresses the need for government involvement in food safety in order to strengthen consumer confidence thus enhancing food industry growth. It is also a tool that can be utilized to determine how globalization is affecting the economic environment (Mind Tools, n.d.). http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm326870.htm 3. Organic Trade Association provides a website with information on the economy of the growing organic food trend. The needs and demands of the consumers for healthier food options has driven many food industry organizations to reexamine their line of products and begin producing healthier food options. The demands of the consumers must be met in order for an organization to succeed. It is also important to consider the economic impact these changes can have on our environment and make sure we leave a positive footprint. http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html Social 1. Over the last several years the food industry has had to adapt to the growing health conscious population and produce more healthy food alternatives. Understanding FDA regulations of labeling and marking and serving sizes on products will gain consumers trust that the products they are consumer are in line with a healthy life style. The social taboo of mislabeled or healthy food could potentially damage an organization. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/food-labels-fda-changes/2014/02/27/id/555199/ 2. Yahoo Finance provides an article discussing the importance of meeting the demands of the consumers in order to generate profits. Consumers are not only looking for healthy alternative in the grocery store but in restaurants too. There is an increased demand for nutritious organic fresh food in restaurants. Organizations must weigh the benefits between producing fresh products and providing affordable foods. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/health-wealth-food-beverage-industry-13 2935034.html Technological 1. Emerson discusses the evolution of technology in the food industry and how is has helped organizations to produce healthier and fresher food. Utilization of technology can allow organizations to produce large  quantities and variety of products thus catering to a larger consumer population and decreasing organizational costs. http://www.insidetechnology360.com/index.php/how-technology-has-affected-the-food-industry-22970/ 2. This website discusses the importance of evolving technology to running a successful business. Improved technology and software advances over the years have allowed for food industry organizations to make reordering of food and supplier easier and more convenient. These technologies can monitor refrigeration temperatures, energy usage helping to ensure the best food is available for the consumers. When consumers know that organizations go to extra measures to ensure product quality it generates brand loyalty and increased revenues. 3. Gould presents a very informative article regarding the importance of technology in the food industry. The use of technology assists with â€Å"decision making related to consumer insight, brand and product management and pricing† allowing organizations to maximize consumer needs and wants.   4. One new technology in the food industry is the utilization of biotechnology to increase efficiency of production and reduce environmental impact with increase production. This very informative slide show discusses the pros and cons of this innovative technology. In order to meet the growing health requirements by consumers it is beneficial for organizations to understand what technology their competitors are utilizing.   Conclusion If an organization is to succeed it is imperative a thorough analysis of the industry and environment is conducted. Utilization of the Porter Five Analysis will provide organizations with information on the internal and immediate threats to their organization. The PEST analysis on the other hand provides information on the marco-environment allowing organizations to focus on new opportunities for growth and success and see potential threats to the industry. Although both of these methods have different focuses,  when utilized together a significant amount of information in generated that will guide an organization on the path to a successful and profitable future. References Hathaway, J., Mrak-Blumberg, E., Wexler-Beron, E. (2006, April 4). Strategic Report for TheKraft Foods Corporation. Pandora Group Out of the Box Consulting. Retrieved July 23,2014 fromhttp://economicsfiles.pomona.edu/jlikens/SeniorSeminars/pandora/reports/kraft.pdf Mind Tools. (n.d.). PEST Analysis. Retrieved July 24, 2014 fromhttp://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_09.htm Philipson, T. (2005). Government Perspective: Food Labeling 1,2,3. The American Journal ofClinical Nutrition, 82. Retrieved July 23, 2014 fromhttp://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/82/1/262S.full Porter, M. (2008, January). The Five Competitive Forces that Shape Strategy. Harvard BusinessReview. Retrieved July 23, 2014 from http://hbr.org/2008/01/the-five-competitive-forcesthat-shape-strategy/ar/1 Sullivan, D. (n.d.). Food Industry: The Bargaining Power of Suppliers. Chron Small Business.Retrieved July 24, 2014 from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/fast-food-industrybargaining-power-suppliers-78188.html