California Environment Essays - Environment Of California

California Environment A key environmental challenge not only in the Central Valley but also in all of California is how to protect and preserve both the regions agricultural resources and its coastal boundaries. California is a unique state; we are basically a bunch of states/separate regions that are all encompassed under one defined boundary. We have a large coastline, industry, agriculture, mountains, forests, deserts, valleys, large and small cities, and major interstate trade and transportation systems. Two things distinguish our agricultural resources from others: our coastline, and our states geographic diversity in regards to other states. As the state grows the question of where to put things is brought up. The pressures of urban sprawl in California have been evident for many years. The combination of California's growing environmental awareness, and its refocus on agricultural importance have prompted many policy tools to protect not only agriculture, but our coastlines as well. Over the years, many policy tools have been proposed; some have been accepted and others for various reasons (political, economic, and other) have not. Two existing tools for protecting agricultural lands and our coastlines are; The Williamson Act/Land Conservation Act and the California Coastal Act. Each are intended to protect California's resources. To combat the pressures of urban sprawl on California's agricultural lands, the California Land Conservation Act was passed in 1965. It was nicknamed the Williamson Act for its writer, Assemblyman John Williamson of Bakersfield (Mayer, Fence 2). The law was originally designed to keep agricultural lands in agriculture. This was proposed by offering property tax breaks for farmers and ranchers through a ten-year contract. This idea of protecting privately owned farmland from development for ten years through an agreement between the farmers, the county and the state, appealed to many. The popularity of this act is evident throughout California. In Kern County there is more than 1.6 million acres of agricultural related land (valley, foothills, mountains) currently under contract. "Kern county represents grow, by 2020 population in the county is expected to double" (Zapata 1). Kern County is important because it is a key agricultural area in California. Los Angeles and Fresno/San Joaguin Vallies grow closer each day. The area is a major supplier of oil and agriculture. The Williamson Act appealed to many farmers, addressing the issue of raising property taxes, letting them continue to farm. Property taxes were a major concern to the farmers who were feeling the effects of sprawl, especially the smaller farmers. Under the Williamson Act, landowners tax savings could range anywhere from 30-70% depending on what their land is being used for and what commodities it produces. The Act saves farmers a lot of money, in Kern County a total of about 15 million a year. Under the agreement the state then reimburses the counties some of this revenue, about 5 million in Kern County (Mayer, Williamson 2). All of the agricultural lands in California are eligible for the Williamson Act. It does not matter if the land is in the path of development or not. It does not matter what the land is being used for (farming or grazing). The Act's objective is to protect agricultural lands on both the urban fringe and those elsewhere that may be the product of leapfrog development. The ten-year agreement between the landowners and the state renews itself each year automatically. Landowners have two options out of the agreement, cancellation and non-renewal, both of which impose stiff penalties. The penalties amount to a predetermined percentage of the lands total market value. The main objective of the Williamson Act is to slow urbanization. The Act was not created to stop it; it was made to delay the inevitable. The Williamson Act is both good and bad. It does indeed slow urbanization, but the areas that need the most attention (urban fringe) are not really impacted. The Act saves farmers money in the form of property taxes and it does compensate the counties, but this compensation does not balance what is lost. In Kern County the difference is 10 million dollars, money the county is simply out of. Another thing, a ten-year agreement may sound like a long time for the preservation of land but it is not. "Is ten years to short? It probably is if the goal is the preservation of farmland" (Mayer, Williamson 2). Some landowners even find ways to actually benefit from the act. A developmental powerhouse may receive the tax break for their ten years and when they fulfill their obligation they develop the land anyway. This of course is not the ideal situation

Bent Pyramid Insight In Egyptian Architectural History

Bent Pyramid Insight In Egyptian Architectural History The Bent Pyramid in Dahshur, Egypt is unique among pyramids: instead of being a perfect pyramid shape, the slope changes about 2/3 of the way to the top. It is also one of five Old Kingdom Pyramids that retain their original form, 4,500 years after their construction. All of them- the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dahshur and the three Pyramids at Giza- were built within a single century. Out of all five, the Bent Pyramid is the best opportunity we have for understanding how architectural techniques of ancient Egypt were developed. Statistics The Bent Pyramid is located near Saqqara, and it was built during the reign of the Old Kingdom Egyptian pharaoh Snefru, sometimes transliterated from the hieroglyphs as Snofru or Sneferu. Snefru ruled Upper and Lower Egypt between 2680-2565 BCE or 2575-2551 BCE, depending on which chronology you use. The Bent Pyramid is 189 meters (620 feet) square at its base and 105 m (345 ft) tall. It has two distinct interior apartments designed and built independently and connected only by a narrow passageway. Entrances to these rooms are located on the north and west faces of the pyramid. It is unknown who was buried inside of the Bent Pyramid- their mummies were stolen in ancient times. Why is it Bent? The pyramid is called bent because of that steep change in slope. To be precise, the lower part of the pyramids outline is angled inward at 54 degrees, 31 minutes, and then at 49 m (165 ft) above the base, the slope abruptly flattens out to 43 degrees, 21 minutes, leaving a distinctively odd shape. Several theories about why the pyramid was made this way were prevalent in Egyptology until recently. They included the premature death of the pharaoh, requiring the speedy completion of the pyramid; or that noises coming from the interior clued the builders into the fact that the angle was not sustainable. To Bend or Not to Bend Archaeoastronomer Juan Antonio Belmonte and engineer Giulio Magli have argued that the Bent Pyramid was built at the same time as the Red Pyramid, a pair of monuments built to celebrate Snefru as the double-king: pharaoh of the Red Crown of the north and the White Crown of the South. Magli, in particular, has argued that the bend was an intentional element of the Bent Pyramids architecture, meant to establish an astronomical alignment appropriate to Snefrus sun cult. The most commonly held theory today is that a comparably sloped pyramid- Meidum, also thought to have been built by Snefru- collapsed while the Bent Pyramid was still under construction, and the architects adjusted their building techniques to make sure the Bent Pyramid would not do the same. A Technological Breakthrough Intentional or not, the Bent Pyramids odd appearance provides insight into the technical and architectural breakthrough it represents in Old Kingdom monument building. The dimensions and weight of the stone blocks are much greater than its predecessors, and the construction technique of the outer casings is quite different. Earlier pyramids were constructed with a central core with no functional distinctions between casing and external layer: the experimenting architects of the Bent Pyramid tried something different. Like the earlier Step Pyramid, the Bent pyramid has a central core with progressively smaller horizontal courses stacked on top of one another. To fill in the external steps and make a smooth-faced triangle, the architects needed to add casing blocks. The Meidum pyramids outer casings were formed by cutting sloped edges on horizontally placed blocks: but that pyramid failed, spectacularly, its outer casings falling off it in a catastrophic landslide as it neared completion. The Bent Pyramids casings were cut as rectangular blocks, but they were laid sloping inward at 17 degrees against the horizontal. That is technically more difficult, but it gives strength and solidity to the building, taking advantage of gravity pulling the mass inward and downward. This technology was invented during the construction: in the 1970s, Kurt Mendelssohn suggested that when Meidum collapsed, the core of the Bent Pyramid was already built to a height of about 50 m (165 ft), so instead of starting from scratch, the builders changed the way the outer casings were constructed. By the time Cheops pyramid at Giza was constructed a few decades later, those architects used improved, better-fitting and better-shaped limestone blocks as casings, permitting that steep and lovely 54-degree angle to survive. A Complex of Buildings In the 1950s, archaeologist  Ahmed Fakhry  discovered that the Bent Pyramid was surrounded by a complex of temples, residential structures and causeways, hidden beneath the shifting sands of the Dahshur plateau. Causeways and orthogonal roads connect the structures: some were built or added on to during the Middle Kingdom, but much of the complex is attributed to the reign of Snefru or his 5th dynasty successors. All later pyramids are also part of complexes, but the Bent Pyramids is one of the earliest examples. The Bent Pyramid complex includes a small upper temple or chapel to the east of the pyramid, a causeway and a valley temple. The Valley Temple is a rectangular 47.5x27.5 m (155.8x90 ft) stone building with an open courtyard and a gallery that probably held six statues of Snefru. Its stone walls are about 2 m (6.5 ft) thick. Residential and Administrative An extensive (34x25 m or 112x82 ft) mud brick structure with much thinner walls (.3-.4 m or 1-1.3 ft) was adjacent to the valley temple, and it was accompanied by round silos and square storage buildings. A garden with some palm trees stood nearby, and a mud-brick enclosure wall surrounded all of it. Based on archaeological remains, this set of buildings served a range of purposes, from domestic and residential to administrative and storage. A total of 42 clay sealing fragments naming fifth dynasty rulers was found in a midden east of the valley temple. South of the Bent pyramid is a smaller pyramid, 30 m (100 ft) high with an overall slope of about 44.5 degrees. The small inner chamber may have held another statue of Snefru, this one to hold the Ka, the symbolic vital spirit of the king. Arguably, the Red Pyramid could be part of the intended Bent Pyramid complex. Built roughly at the same time, the Red Pyramid is the same height, but faced with reddish limestone- scholars surmise that this is the pyramid where Snefru himself was buried, but of course, his mummy was looted long ago. Other features of the complex include a necropolis with Old Kingdom tombs and Middle Kingdom burials, located east of the Red Pyramid. Archaeology and History The primary archaeologist associated with excavations in the 19th century was William Henry Flinders Petrie; and in the 20th century, it was Ahmed Fakhry. Ongoing excavations are being conducted at Dahshur by the German Archaeological Institute at Cairo and the Free University of Berlin. Sources Aboulfotouh, Hossam M. K. Astronomical Algorithms of Egyptian Pyramids Slopes Adn Their Modules Divider. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 15.3 (2015): 225–35. Print.Alexanian, Nicole, and Felix Arnold. The Necropolis of Dahshur: Eleventh Excavation Report Spring 2014. Berlin: German Archaeological Institute and Free University of Berlin, 2014. Print.Alexanian, Nicole, et al. The Necropolis of Dahshur: Fifth Excavation Report Spring 2008. Berlin: German Archaeological Institute and Free University of Berlin, 2008. Print.Belmonte, Juan Antonio, and Giulio Magli. Astronomy, Architecture, and Symbolism: The Global Project of Sneferu at Dahshur. Journal for the History of Astronomy 46.2 (2015): 173–205. Print.MacKenzie, Kenneth J. D., et al. Were the Casing Stones of Senefrus Bent Pyramid in Dahshour Cast or Carved?: Multinuclear Nmr Evidence. Materials Letters 65.2 (2011): 350–52. Print.Magli, Giulio. The Giza ‘Written’ Landscape and the Double Project of King Khufu. Time and Mind 9.1 (2016): 57-74. Print. Mendelssohn, K. A Building Disaster at the Meidum Pyramid. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 59 (1973): 60–71. Print.Moeller, Nadine. The Archaeology of Urbanism in Ancient Egypt from the Predynastic Period to the End of the Middle Kingdom. New York: Camridge University Press, 2016. Print.Mà ¼ller-Rà ¶mer, Frank. A New Consideration of the Construction Methods of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 44 (2008): 113–40. Print.Reader, Colin. On Pyramid Causeways. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 90 (2004): 63–71. Print.Rossi, Corinna. Note on the Pyramidion Found at Dahshur. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 85 (1999): 219–22. Print.

F D P Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

F D P - Coursework Example They realize it is a significant problem when their own citizens who are living in those countries or through media influence from those liberal countries start adopting such liberal ideologies. Terroristic actions therefore begin to stop the assimilation. It is possible for a country to love and hate United States at the same time. They may hate their liberalism but love other aspects like their economic power or military superiority. This proves to be a problem and especially when trying to curb transnational crime. This is because it is may destroy the positive image and relations between those countries and USA. This may fuel hatred further hence resulting to more terrorism against US. Transnational crime may be as a result of a weakened government. This is because of weakness in borderline patrol services hence illegal immigrants are able to enter the country and come to cause terroristic actions. It may also be due to lack of tight securities in airports and train or bus terminals hence providing a channel for transnational criminals like terrorists to enter the United States (Rollins et al.

What are the main obstacles to womens leadership and what can be done Essay

What are the main obstacles to womens leadership and what can be done to address them - Essay Example Lets take the example of Fortune 500 companies, most of the people employed at the top positions such as Chairperson, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer are men. However, there were only 6% women employees on these top positions and 15% were also present in the Board of Directors of these companies (Wagadu, 2008). Such disparity in business world is evident in every country especially in the developed nations worldwide. In the European Union, out of fifty nations that are operating as the trading organisations, women were found 11% on senior positions and only 4% as Chief Executive Officers (Women’s Media, 2009). In 1986, two individuals from the Wall Street Journal suggested an anwer for such disparity for top position employees in organisations. They believed that women managed to get to the senior rankings with immense difficulty as there are various blockages in the paths destined for these positions. The exclusive group appeared within their hold, however they just couldn’t smash through the so called ‘glass ceiling’. This situation captured the association of aggravation among women and demonstrated reverberation regarding those high aims which are visible, but someway unachievable (Grogan, 2010). Â   There was a period in which there were many obstacles for women. For instance, in the 80s, it was difficult to assume a woman getting to the senior position. This viewpoint was further embedded by Richard Nixon, the President of USA, which was recorded in the White House and published in the form of Freedom of Information Act. He stated that no woman is suitable for managing the positions in government bodies; the main reason emphasised by him was that women lack consistency and they are highly emotional. Moreover, according to the President, women keep on changing their attitudes towards work and are simply unable to comprehend with responsibility and seriousness towards the job.

Collaborative Learning in E-learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Collaborative Learning in E-learning - Essay Example In order to ensure that collaborative learning is effective, asynchronous online discussions have been perceived as an efficient way for learners to participate in high quality discussion and intrinsic cognitive collaboration. This is because asynchronous online discussion gives learners enough time to reflect on their friend’s findings and contribution and reason about their own contributions before sending them off to their friends. Collaborative learning looks forward in fostering the argumentative quality discussions among learners in order to improve personal knowledge acquisition. In order to ensure efficiency of the collaborative learning, it is significant to apply additional instructional direction, which may assist learners to use the advantages of asynchronous communication or interaction for argumentative knowledge acquisition. For instance, knowledge construction via collaborative discussion is vital since collaboration methods sequence, define, and assign learnin g activities to distinct learners and can in turn facilitate activities such as construction of arguments during discussions. Collaborative learning in E-learning is rooted in constructivism. It intensively focuses on how productive peer collaboration can be stimulated and sustained in computer-mediated environments and how these collaborative activities facilitate learning. The use of Computers in learning will aid in providing sentence openers to ESL students, software-embedded collaboration scripts and representational guidance in order to improve the quality of online argumentation or moderation among students. In order to make collaborative learning effective, ESL students are encouraged to meet in groups. This increase explicitness due to persistence of textual messages on computer screen, more defined in expressing arguments due to lack of nonverbal communication

Can the media influence politics?

Can the media influence politics? Can the media influence politics? If so, how? If not, why not? There are numerous academic theories as to the relationship between politics and the media, and whether or not one is a dominant partner greatly influencing the output of the other. Some purport that the media hold extraordinary amounts of power in the political arena, however many other believe that the power they wield is in fact minimal (Newton Van Deth, 2009). What cannot be disputed is the idea that the media and its audience are interdependently connected; the media will alter their message to suit a specific audience, while the public are more likely to invest in media which reflects their viewpoints. Generalisation is something which should be avoided when discussing the media’s relationship with politics, as while the term media traditionally may have been used in reference to newspapers and radio or television programmes, (Newton Van Deth, 2009) it now encapsulates social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. There are those who may argue that media simply represe nts the political views of the public, and while that may be true in the cases of social networks, many may challenge its truth in relation to mass media news outlets. In this essay I will attempt to conclude myself as to the extent of influence media has on politics, and evidence how I have come to that conclusion. In the UK, the link between media and politics is undeniable. For a major newspaper to alter its political allegiance is a sizeable change, which would be expected to dominate all forms of media. For example the decision of The Sun, Britain’s most widely circulated newspaper and therefore the focus of my study, to remove its 12 year support for Labour in 2009 created national news, and ultimately forecast the downfall of the Labour government. It is worth noting that The Sun has supported the party that eventually forms the next government in the last 7 General Elections; something which suggests that The Sun hold great influence over the political opinions of their readers. However, in 1997, 2001 and 2005, the Conservative vote was not as effected as one may imagine, with an average32% of Sun readers saying they would vote Conservative through that period (Ipsos MORI, 2010). While this research may suggest that The Sun is a newspaper which will ruthlessly alter its allegiance in order to be on the winning side of an election, I would argue that this is not necessarily the case. In the 1992 General Election for example, The Sun had been consistently anti-Labour and Kinnock, including their infamous ‘If Kinnock wins today will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights’ headline, despite the polls suggesting either a minority Labour government or a very slim Labour Majority. The attacks on Kinnock in the final days of the 1992 campaign were widely regarded as responsible for Labour’s unexpected defeat (McKee, 1995), and even Neil Kinnock himself announced in his departing speech that ‘the Conservative-supporting press has enabled the Tory Party to win yet again when the Conservative Party could not have secured victory for itself on the basis of its record’ (Whitney, 1992). This would be used as an example for the theory of agenda-setting, whereby a media outlet has an opinion which it pushes upon its view ership, and attempts to influence which issues are considered important. Agenda setting is achieved by attaching priority to certain stories which may reflect the opinion which the media outlet wishes to push – in this instance the opinion that a Labour government would have been bad for Britain. Another example of how the mass media have exerted a great influence over British politics, and politics in general is the growth in the publication of scandal within Westminster. Prior to the Profumo Affair in 1963, the media and the public very much stuck to the idea that the private lives of politicians should be exactly that; private. The great public interest in this story however, meant that this affair was the watershed of political scandal, with journalists taking ever further measures in order to reveal the next big scoop. Albeit not immediately followed by a huge stream of revelations, the boundaries of privacy in the lives of politicians had been broken by the media and have not been the same since (Stanyer, 2012). This could be said to be an example of priming with, in the 1990s especially, the scrutiny over the dealings of Conservative politicians from the left-wing press leading to an environment whereby Majors administration was seen to be one full of sleaze and mistru st. This was achieved with revelations such as the Cash for Questions scandal and the backfiring of John Major’s Back to Basics campaign. This is priming as rather than directly stating the conservative ministers were untrustworthy, the media simply dripped out stories to highlight this way of thinking (Newton Van Deth, 2009).The mistrust of Conservatives created by the media environment of the 1990s is perhaps best characterised in the result of the 1997 general election in the historically safe Conservative seat of Tatton, in which the Cash for Questions tainted MP Neil Hamilton lost out to an independent, Martin Bell, standing on an ‘anti-sleaze ticket’ (Mann, 1999). The coverage of scandal can also be used in an argument to suggest that the media has little influence over political thinking. Those who believe in the reinforcement theory which states that ‘mass media can only reflect and reinforce public opinion, not create or mould it,’ (Newton Van Deth, 2009, p. 196) would point to the relatively recent shifts in what journalists publicise in relation to scandal in politics. While prior to the millennium scandal was often focused on the private lives and sexual misdemeanours of the political class, as such behaviour has become normalised in open society, the media has taken less of an interest in it. The public have gone from being shocked by behaviour that may be considered immoral, or not ‘Christian’, to now being shocked by primarily criminal activities. This has directly led to the kind of journalistic research which resulted in the Expenses scandal in 2009. The enormity of this story reflects the moral leanings o f the British people in the 21st century, and was a story picked up by media outlets nationwide – all of which will have held different agendas. Some may say that this proves to an extent that the media cannot control or influence, but merely just publish information which will reinforce public opinion. On a more international scale, it is difficult to ignore the way in which social media forms and revolution have gone hand in hand, specifically in the Arab Spring. It is not a recent idea that the new media of the late 20th and 21st centuries would create new dimensions from which politics can be influenced (Poster, 1995). In Egypt, ‘cyberactivism’ first came to existence in2004, and offered an alternative to the state-controlled media; allowing people to express opinion unpopular with the government. From 2008 onwards, in the shadow of a global economic crisis and an increasingly repressive government, there was a growing number of protests in which a key role has been played by new media forms (Khondker, 2011). It cannot be questioned that social networking was a pivotal player in the organisation and publicising of the protests across the region. One reason for this was the state control of traditional media, which left social media as almost the last voice of the pe ople. On a ground level ‘Facebook was used to schedule the protests’ and ‘Twitter to coordinate’ (Khondker, 2011), and then following on from this traditional media was utilised to present the uprisings to an international audience who in turn supported the uprising. In this case, and similar ones across North Africa, new media held great influence over politics. It mobilised opposition groups, allowing them to build a group identity as well as coherence. The influence that such new media can exert over politics in times of revolution and uprising should not, however, be overstated. It is important to point out that for such events to unfold, certain revolutionary conditions and the inability of the state to react to the actions of the people must be present. In this sense the media is merely a tool of the revolution, not a predetermined necessity for a revolution to occur (Khondker, 2011). Personally I believe that the media, both new and old, does not have a monopoly over the thoughts of the people and instead just provides them with a voice from which their ideas can be spread. The fact that revolutions have occurred throughout history in times before social media, such as the French and Cuban Revolutions, tells me that new media is more of an enabler than a driving force behind such events (Himelfarb, 2011). To conclude, I believe that the influence of the media over politics depends greatly upon the political situation in the region that it is being published. In more politically stable areas, such as the UK, while the media may have a certain agenda their consumers are likely to only access and take note of media that reflects their personal views. Mass media must cater to a certain readership in order to be sustainable as a business, and therefore cannot obviously attempt to mould public opinion. This is evidenced by the fact that in all post war elections but 1, the party with the greatest media support has formed the next government (Butler Butler, 2010). Despite this, the media can play a vital role in influencing politics, as displayed in the aforementioned Arab Spring. I believe this is a sign of the future, in which conventional media will play a comparatively small role to that of social media, in Africa and beyond.

Reading Moby-Dick as Ethnic Allegory Essay -- Moby Dick Melville Paper

Reading Moby-Dick as Ethnic Allegory At a time when images of the white settler conquering the "savage" frontier were prevalent in antebellum America, depictions of racial polarization and, alternately, co-existence among different ethnic groups had already begun to find expression in various artistic mediums, from painting to literature. Today more than ever, such works continue to elicit critical re-examinations where race relations, colonization, and literary representation are concerned. While many literary and cultural critics have proposed allegorical readings of political and religious natures, Herman Melville's Moby-Dick can also be read relatedly as an ethnic allegory, where particular scenes and images representing death or destruction illustrate Melville's uneasiness with how white expansionist attitudes are enacted often in tension with or at the expense of different ethnic peoples living within America's geographic borders. For these purposes, I would like specifically to examine Melville's rather unconvent ional portrayal of a non-white character such as Queequeg. The correlation between his anticipated and ultimate death and the calamitous demise of the Pequod , as a space which rearranges traditional structures of hierarchy and accomodates ethnic diversity, in the end, demonstrates Melville's indecisive anxiety between an imagined fantasy of an alternative social reality and the historical reality of American westward expansionism. First, allow me to be clear: At a simplified level, I call this an ethnic allegory because Moby-Dick both illustrates and confronts the ways in which "white" America expresses a desire for hegemonic control, symbolized in Ahab's ruthless quest for the white whale, at the same ti... ... Works Cited Berkhofer, Robert F. The White Man's Indian: Images of the American Indian from Columbus to the Present. New York: Vintage Books, 1979. Brodhead, Richard H. "Trying All Things: An Introduction to Moby-Dick. New Essays on Moby-Dick or, The Whale. ed. Richard H. Brodhead. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1986. Duban, James. Melville's Major Fiction: Politics, Theology, and Imagination. Dekalb: Northern Illinois UP, 1983. McIntosh, James. "The Mariner's Multiple Quest." New Essays on Moby-Dick or, the Whale. ed. Richard H. Brodhead. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1986. Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc., 1964. Yarborough, Richard. "Strategies of Black Characterization in Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Early Afro-American Novel." New Essays on Uncle Tom's Cabin. ed. Eric Sundquist. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1986.

Independent Study Unit

HRE 4M1: INDEPENDENT STUDY UNIT This -A clear explanation of the issue -various ethical positions in society. (minimum -> 2 opposing positions) -consequences of each position (results of adopting this position) -underlying beliefs of each position (why this position is right) -explain why some positions may be stronger than others -quotes(or paraphrase) from the Catechism of the Catholic Church -includes a mix of at least 4 examples (case studies or questions to stimulate discussion. -any multimedia that enhances the presentation) Students must inform the teacher of needs at least one week before the presentation. Essay:The essay requires the author to adopt a position on the issue (researched for the presentation) and defend it with a logical and well researched argument. The argument should involve principle and practicality. The essay will be 4-5 pages long excluding title page, bibliography etc. A bibliography and referencing must be included or the essay may receive a grade of Z ERO. Topics: 1. Is capital punishment moral or immoral? 2. Is euthanasia moral or immoral? 3. Can child labour ever be ethical? 4. Is there such a thing as a just war? (Just War Theory) 5. What is the general population’s moral responsibility to the poor/homeless? . Can doctor assisted suicide ever be moral? 7. Is genetic engineering in human beings ever moral? 8. Are there any circumstances where abortions are justifiable? 9. Is animal testing moral justifiable? (medical/industrial) 10. Is genetic engineering of plants and animals justifiable? 11. Is stem cell research morally justifiable? 12. Is poverty in developing nations the moral responsibility of developed nations? 13. Is pornography (making/viewing) moral? 14. Is censorship ever morally correct? 15. Is prostitution ever moral? ( legalization of) 16. Is homosexuality a moral issue? (Why do some make it one? 17. Should there be limits on reproductive technology? (IVF) 18. Who is morally culpable for the use of performa nce enhancing drugs in sports? Is this practice justifiable? 19. What is our moral responsibility to the environment? 20. Is surrogacy morally permissible? 21. Is in vitro fertilization morally permissible? 22. Is food consumption a moral issue? (ie. Vegan/vegetarianism) 23. Other topic (rarely approved) Topic Selection: -must provide 3 sources (for websites print a page that demonstrates relevance) (5 Marks) -complete a sheet listing sources and a preliminary thesis. Essay |Presentation | |Outline *15 |Conference | |First Submission * (10) |Note Submission* (30) | |Conference |Presentation * (50) | |Final Submission * (100) | | * for marks Topics and Seminar Dates HRE 4M1-01Period 3/4 |Topic |Student(s) |Date | |1. Capital Punishment | | | |2. Euthanasia | | | |3.Child Labour | | | |4. Just War | | | |5. Resp. to the Poor | | | |6. Doc Assisted Suicide | | | |7. Gen. Eng. Human | | | |8.Abortion | | | |9. Animal Testing | | | |10. Gen. Eng Plant/Animal | | | |11. Stem Cells | | | |12. Poverty Dev. Nations | | | |13.Pornography | | | |14. Censorship | | | |15. Prostitution | | | |16. Sexual Orientation | | | |17. Reproductive Tech. | | | |18. Perf. Enhance drugs | | | |19.Environment | | | |20 Surrogacy | | | |21. In Vitro fertilization | | | |22. Food Supply | | | |22. Other | | | Topics and Seminar DatesHRE 4M1-04Period 6 |Topic |Student(s) |Date | |1.Capital Punishment | | | |2. Euthanasia | | | |3. Child Labour | | | |4. Just War | | | |5. Resp. to the Poor | | | |6.Doc Assisted Suicide | | | |7. Gen. Eng. Human | | | |8. Abortion | | | |9. Animal Testing | | | |10. Gen. Eng Plant/Animal | | | |11. Stem Cells | | | |12. Poverty Dev.Nations | | | |13. Pornography | | | |14. Censorship | | | |15. Prostitution | | | |16. Sexual Orientation | | | |17. Reproductive Tech. | | |18. Perf. Enhance drugs | | | |19. Environment | | | |20 Surrogacy | | | |21. | | | |22. | | | |23. | | Religion ISU Seminar Name: _____________________ |Note |Level R |Level 1 |Level 2 |Level 3 |Level 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The note is poorly |The note is poorly |The note is organized |The note is well organized|The note is well organized and | |Comm. |organized and laid out. |organized and laid out. The|and laid out with some |and well laid out. The |well laid out. | | |The important info is |important info is not |competence |important info. is easily |The important info. is easily | |Org. |not available. easily accessible |The important info is |accessible |accessible and well highlighted | | | | |not easily accessible| | | | | | | | | | |/10 | | | | | | |Knowledge |The note contains |The note contains some |The note contains most|The note contains all |The note contains all information | |Content |little info. on most |info. on most aspects of |info. on most aspects |info. on every aspect of |on every aspect of the i ssue | | |aspects of the issue. |the issue including the |of the issue incl. the |the issue including the|including the Catholic view. | | |Some of the info. is |Catholic view. Some of the|Catholic view. The |Catholic view. All the |Every point is accurate and | |/20 |correct |info. Is correct |info. is mostly correct|info. s correct |presented in detail with | | | | | | |underlying beliefs and | | | | | | |consequences of each position | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Presentation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Knowledge |Lacks 3 or more of the |Lacks 2 or more of the |-Opp. Viewpoints Church|-Opp. |-Opp. Viewpoints/ | |Content |following: |following |view are presented with|Viewpoints are presented |Church view are presented in | | |-Opp. viewpoints |-Opp. iewpoints |some detail |in detail |detail with accurate analysis | | |-detail |-de tail |-Questions/ Case | |-Questions/Case studies are | |/10 |-Church view |-Church view |studies have some |-Church view |relevant to the topic and serve to| | |-Questions |-Questions/ Case studies |relevance | |illuminate the aspects of the | | |-Case Studies |are not relevant | |Questions/Case studies are|issue | | | | | |relevant and insightful | | |Communication |Voice is monotone. |Voice is monotone. |Voice is clear and |Voice is clear and |Voice is clear and confident. | | |Reads the pres. with |Pres. |confident. |confident. |Speaks with clarity with | | |clarity with a lack of |lacks focus & clarity & an |Speaks with clarity |Speaks with clarity with |appropriate vocabulary | | |under. |understanding of the issue |with an appropriate an appropriate vocabulary |Use of different media to engage | |/10 |Uses little to no media|Use different media to |vocabulary |Use different media to |the class in the presentation | | |to engage the class in |engage the class in the |Use diffe rent media to |engage the class in the |Little to no checking of notes | | |presentation |presentation |engage the class in the|presentation | | | |Reads notes |Frequently reads notes |presentation |Infrequently checks notes | | | | | |frequently checks notes| | | |Application |Student is unable to |Questions are answered |Questions are answered |Questions are answered |Questions are answered with | |Questions |answer any questions |without clarity and with a|with little clarity and|with clarity, with little |complete clarity, without | | | |great deal of hesitation |little attention to |hesitation, and in some |hesitation, and in great detail | | | | |detail |detail | |/10 | | | | | | DUE DATES: Outline: First Essay: One week after the outline is returned Final Essay: December 19, 2008 Submit Outline/ 1st Essay as well Presentation Date: Essay Outline: Genetic Screening Ian Gogolek: While there are possibilities that genetic screening procedures could provide great insight into def ects and disease in humans, the process (who has control and access to the information) needs to be very tightly controlled. The way genetic screening is currently used and promoted is immoral. Point One:Pre-birth genetic screening, how it is currently used is immoral because it leads to abortion based on gender and prejudice towards those who have special needs. Abortion based on gender: 7999/8000 abortions performed in the Bombay area between 1978-82 were on female fetuses. (Kimbrell, pg. 122) Abortions based on disabilities: Poll in New England 1% based on gender 6% based on Alzheimer’s in old age 11% based on obesity (Rifkin, pg. 147) -can lead to a genetic-based eugenics program (sterilization of those deemed unfit to have children) -violation of the integrity of the human being and a child as a gift (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2344) Point Two:Genetic Screening has the strong possibility of being used by corporations to determine hiring practices and insurance pre miums. Example: Reggie Lewis: Boston Celtics died of a genetic heart dysfunction Eddy Curry: Chicago Bulls had heart problems. Bulls wanted him to undergo genetic testing before signing him to a new contract The Bulls had insisted that Curry take a DNA test to determine whether he's a potentially fatal heart problem. Curry, who missed the final 13 games of the regular season susceptible to and the playoffs after experiencing an irregular heartbeat, balked, saying it violated his privacy. (www. nytimes. com/2005/10/03/sports/basketball/04curry) Employers may demand the right to genetic tests before hiring or promotion 981, the Bureau of labor statistics reported that occupational illness costs private sector employers 850,000 lost workdays. (http://www. scu. edu/ethics/publications/iie/v4n2/genes. html) Corporations looking to improve their profits could demand that genetic tests be applicable to reduce waste. This could create a permanent underclass of the unemployable. predispositi on to genetically-based disease is often associated with race or ethnic background. For example, the sickle cell trait is found in 1 out of 12 blacks, but only in 1 out of 1,000 whites. (http://www. scu. edu/ethics/publications/iie/v4n2/genes. html) Insurance companies could deny access after a genetic screenGenetic screening may be performed on current or prospective employees when it is clear that the genetic trait directly affects job performance (http://www. acoem. org/guidelines) Point Three: Genetic Screening can be useful but most genetic diseases are untreatable or not properly diagnosed. Gen. screening often only demonstrates a predisposition or susceptibility to a certain disorder not a definitive Results can be misinterpreted Problems in diagnosis – both parents must have the gene Tay Sachs disease Cystic Fibrosis Sickle Cell Anemia Useful to inform couples concerning marriage (accepted by the Catholic Church) Conclusion: While there are some possible benefits to g en. screening, many of its current uses are unethical.For genetic screening to be ethical, access to results must be seriously restricted and must not be used to deny people health care, employment or other basic rights available to all people. Tips On Writing an Argumentative Paper Step One: Choose a Topic Choose a topic that is of interest to you. This will make the process of research much less painful. Step Two: Find Research Materials Gather information from as many sources as possible. You will need information(arguments, statistics) from different perspectives. Do not completely decide what your full argument will be before you complete your research. Step Three: Develop a Thesis Determine your stand on the issue. Be sure your stand can be defended by logic and/or statistical analysis.All your arguments for your essay must flow logically from your thesis. The claim in your essay may be a positive or negative claim. Step Four: Make An Outline Before you start writing it is imp ortant to make an outline. The outline should sketch out all your arguments and the structure of your paper. Each argument should logically flow from the argument before it. Expect to encounter problems with logic and flow. You will most probably have to revisit this more than once. Step Five: Take a Break Take a break from the work for a few days. This is important to gain some perspective on your arguments. Step Six: Revisit Your Argument With a Critical Eye Look at your argument from an opposing viewpoint.What objections would they raise to your arguments? Also, seek someone who has a skeptical mind who can evaluate your arguments objectively and without prejudice. Step Seven: Write Your Paper Write your paper following a revised outline. Write in a concise and formal manner. Your introduction should include your thesis and your reasoning behind your argument. Be sure to avoid common problems in language use, spelling, grammar etc.. Ex: tense agreement Step Eight: Proofread Your Paper After you finish writing your paper let it sit until the next day. Proofread it orally. Do not be afraid to rewrite sentences and restructure paragraphs to improve clarity. |Level 1 |Level 2 |Level 3 |Level 4 | |Thinking |This paper is unclear, or reflects |A clear position, but may not |A clear position, responding |A strong well articulated position, | |Soundness of |partial understanding or some |articulate it very clearly; |competently and comprehensively |responding precisely and | |Argument |distortion of the topic; exhibits |responds in a general way to the|to the topic, showing some depth|comprehensively to the topic: | | |faulty logic and/or stereotypical, |topic, showing broad |of thought; some claims may not |demonstrates excellent understanding | |30 |superficial thinking in some of its |understanding of major issues, |be strongly supported but this |and depth of thought supported by | | |supporting arguments, analysis and |but may address some ideas more |only sli ghtly undermines the |compelling and logically sound | | |examples; little or no effort to |effectively than others; support|main argument; some success at |arguments, analysis and examples; | | |anticipate and address problems |of main points is inconsistent, |anticipation of counter |Anticipates and addresses problems and| | | |sometimes adequate; minimal |arguments |counter-arguments effectively | | | |anticipation of counter | | | | | |arguments | | | |Comm. |This paper reads poorly, exhibiting a|This paper reads well showing |This paper reads well for the |This paper reads very well, exhibiting| |Focus, Organization |lack of control of focus and/or weak |some control of focus, |most part, exhibit control of |command of focus, organization and | |and Development |organizational and developmental |organization and development; it|focus, org. nd dev, but its |development | | |patterns; may ramble, be repetitious,|may rely to some extent on |elements are not as well managed|Its int roduction draws the reader into| |15 |hard to follow in places, or locked |formulaic devices for its |as at the command level (eg. The|the discussion, which presents a | | |into an organizational formula |structure, and it may wander or |intro. /concl. may be |sustained and logical progression of | | | |shift topics abruptly at times. |ineffective, or the argument may|ideas leading to an effective | | | | |not flow consistently) |conclusion. | |Comm. This paper exhibits a lack of control|This paper exhibits some control|This paper exhibits control of |This paper exhibits command of | |Clarity of |of expression, grammar, punctuation, |of expression, grammar, |expression, grammar, |expression (word choice, tone, | |Expression |and mechanics; many and significant |punctuation, and mechanics; may |punctuation, and mechanics; some|sentence structure, and sentence | | |errors, some of which interfere with |contain numerous errors, but |minor errors |sense), grammar, punctuation, and | |15 |the reader’s understanding or require|they are not such that they | |mechanics; no errors, or at most a few| | |the reader to supply meaning to make |interfere with the reader’s | |minor ones | | |the text intelligible |understanding | | | |Knowledge |Referencing |Referencing |Referencing |Referencing | | |Bibliography |Bibliography |Bibliography |Bibliography | |30 |Evidence |Evidence |Evidence |Evidence | | |Catholic Church |Catholic Church |Catholic Church |Catholic Church | Seminar Presentation Sign-Up | | | | | | | |Sun |Monday |Tuesday |Wednesday |Thursday |Friday |Sat | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Preliminary Sheet Name: __________________ Thesis: | | | | | | | | Sources:Include title/author(website)/ how info is relevant to the topic at hand/ pages that are relevant | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

School Leadership Essay Example

School Leadership Essay Example School Leadership Essay School Leadership Essay The functioning of the schools has been constantly changing in response to the changing trends in education. The foundations and frame work for change is introduced by the principal, who then progressively adapts it in cooperation with all those, whom it would matter. The traditional image of a school principal being a strong manager in a hierarchical system or a high caliber executive, ensuring everyone’s conformity in line, is quickly fading. No longer is the principal performing just ceremonial or formal tasks. The new age demands and expects more from the education system and looks upon the principal to deliver. A principal’s strong belief and leadership are very important for the success of school changes, in the long run. Several recent studies calling for school reforms have emphasized the need to redefine the role of school principal. The principal may be described as the central point of the school change process, attempting to balance the requirements and view points of the teachers, community, district and state (Cushman, 1992). Broadly speaking, the leadership qualities of a principal is observed in the development of a school culture to facilitate learning, set up shared learning goals, recognize economic and social issues that may be affect education.   Decentralization of decision making to local school level, site-based management and self managed schools are becoming increasingly common which highlight the need to review the principal’s role (Caldwell and Spinks, 1992, 1998). Owing to pressure for reform and improvement in school functioning, several government agencies and departments associated with the school education are helping in the professional development of the principal. The need to work with external community, manage revenues, align curriculum to make it compatible with established standards and develop decision making bodies are some of the modified roles intended for principals (Barnett). Occupying a vital position in the complex working of the school, the principal’s job incorporates a number of roles including those of psychologist, teacher, facilities manager, philosopher, police officer, diplomat, social worker, mentor, PR director, coach and cheerleader. In any such role, the principal confronts all extremities associated with it. For instance dealing with a broken window to a broken house, a bruised knee to a bruised ego, a rusty pipe to a rusty teacher (Sherman, 2000). nbsp; REFERENCES Cushman K. (Sept. 1992) The Essential School Principal: A Changing Role in a Changing School.; Horace Vol. 9, # 1.. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 2nd May, 2007 from essentialschools.org/cs/resources/view/ces_res/102 Caldwell, B J Spinks, J M, (1992) Leading the self-managing school London, Falmer Press Sherman L. Spring (2000). The New Principal. MW Education [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 2nd May, 2007 from www.sedl.org Schoolfile. The Role of the School Principal. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 2nd May, 2007 from schoolfile.com/cap_start/roleprin.htm Barnett B.G, The changing external policy context and the Role of the school principal. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Northern Colorado [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 2nd May, 2007 from ncsl.org.uk

Understanding Consumer Behaviour in Asian Mobile Phone Market

Understanding Consumer Behaviour in Asian Mobile Phone Market Executive Summary Consumer behaviour attempts to understand the buyer’s decision making process, both individually and in group. Behaviour of the consumer is biased or subjective. Their decision-making process is influenced by numerous factors. Personal influencing factors are categorized into two: internal factors and external factors.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Understanding Consumer Behaviour in Asian Mobile Phone Market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This study explores the significance of consumer behaviour in developing and refining marketing strategies. It also examines internal and external influencing factors that impact on mobile phone purchasing in Asian market. In addition, it looks at some of the success and failure examples about understanding consumer behaviour in the mobile phone industry. The strategies used by these companies must conform to the changing market environment and changin g consumer needs/wants. Introduction Overview Consumer behaviour is the study of how when, why, and where people do or do not buy goods and services (Baker Hart, 1999, p. 46). It attempts to assess the influence on the consumers from external factors such as high salaries and income, growth of urban lifestyle among others (Sheth, Mittal Newman, 1999, p. 3). Consumers do purchase goods and services for a number of reasons and these may include reinforcing self concepts, maintaining a given lifestyle, becoming part of a particular group or gaining acceptance in a group they already belong, and or expressing cultural identity (Riquelme, 2001, p. 438). Behaviour of the consumer is biased or subjective (Blodgett et al., 2001, p. 90). Their decision-making process is influenced by numerous factors. Personal influencing factors are categorized into two: internal factors and external factors. Internal factors include consumer’s attitudes, personality, perceptions, personal-concepts , lifestyle, roles and emotions. On the other hand, external factors include things like household structures, group associations, subcultures, and cultural beliefs among others (Jaeger et al., 2003, p. 187; Baker Burnham, 2002, p. 352). Internal or psychological influences are personal thoughts and feelings. Internal influences depict the way consumers interact with the environment around them, recognise their personal feelings, assemble and evaluate information, make plans, and take action.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Consumer internal influences are very vital in knowing why and how particular behaviours occur (Dahl Moreau, 2002, p. 47). On the other hand, external influence evolves from the formal and informal relationships that exist among people. External influences can also be referred to as socio-cultural influence (Dahl Moreau, 2002, p. 48). Consum er behaviour provides rich information about people who buy products and services (Hawkins, Best Coney, 1998, p. 10). Many companies often fail to understand the needs and want of the consumers when developing their marketing strategies and this has cost them very dearly. Therefore, evaluation and understanding of consumer behaviour must come first before creating marketing strategies and plans (Gruner Homburg, 2000, p. 6). The decision making process of the consumers consist of five stages. These stages help in understanding how consumer behaviour influences the decision they make when they are purchasing goods and services. These stages are: identification of the need, searching for the solution, evaluation of the alternatives, making of decision and finally evaluating the decision made. The last stage is where consumers do regret or commend on their purchases (Smith, 2003, p. 20). Purpose of the Report The purpose of this report is to explore the significance of consumer behavi our in developing and refining marketing strategies. The study examines internal and external influencing factors that impact on mobile phone purchasing in Asian market. In addition, the study looks at some of the success and failure examples regarding understanding of consumer behaviour in the mobile phone industry. Overall results of the study will help the Asian mobile phones companies to develop and adjust their marketing strategies. Consumer Behaviour and Mobile phone purchasing Attitude and Mobile phone purchasing At the present, there has been a massive shift from second generation to third generation mobile phones. This means the use of mobile phone has changed from mere calling to a variety of novel uses such as accessing internet, multimedia messaging among others. Liu (2002) conducted a study on factors that affect the brand decision in the mobile phone industry in India. She established that consumer attitude plays a significant role in purchasing decision. In her study she found out that choice for mobile phone is influenced by attitudes towards the brand and mobile phone network. Whereas service rates and regularity dominate consumer choices between mobile phone network providers, choice for mobile phone brand were affected by mobile phone technological features (Ling, 2004, p. 43; Meyer Johnson 1995, p. 78). Most consumers preferred to buy mobile phones from reputable brands such as Nokia, Samsung and Motorola. Mobile phone products from these companies are widely accepted in most of the Asian market and are considered to be the best (Ling, 2004, p. 44). Chinese mobile phones experienced a lot of negativity in some Asian markets despite of the fact that some Chinese brands like Techno are high quality mobile phones (Castells et al., 2007, p. 83).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Understanding Consumer Behaviour in Asian Mobile Phone Market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most mobile phone companies in the Asian market sold their products through local network service providers. Mobile phones sold through network service providers which are reputable for strong and reliable networks recorded the highest sales compared to those with negative reputation. Some of these network providers have customized mobile phones to an extent that they can only use their lines. This has had considerable impacts on the sales of reputable mobile phone brands since consumers’ attitude towards some of the network service providers varies (Ling, 2004). Reference Group and Mobile phone purchasing Previously mobile phones were being perceived by general consumers as expensive luxury commodities which could only be afforded by a few. However, mobile phones are increasingly becoming common, affordable and accessible even in the rural areas (McNeill, Sanders Civille, 2000, p. 163). According to a consumer behaviour research conducted by Srivastava (2005) in the Asian market , the purchasing decision of most of the consumers is influenced by reference groups. These include friends, family, work-mates, and peer groups among others. Hawkins Best Coney (1998) defines a reference group as a group used by individuals to express their purchasing behaviour in a specific circumstance. A reference group in this case consists of a group of individuals that a person has frequent contact with and those that he/she does not have direct contact or membership but considerably have influence on his/her purchasing behaviour (Blodgett et al., 2001, p. 90). The latter group may include celebrities, college students, and national leaders among others (McNeill, Sanders Civille, 2000, p. 164). Srivastava (2005) emphasizes that mobile phones have transformed from technological gadgets to social gadgets with communication being the main purpose of purchasing a mobile phone. Nevertheless, facilitating coordination between friends and families and strengthening social interact ion are the most significant elements of using cellular phones (Yoo Donthu, 2002, p. 390). According to McNeill, Sanders Civille (2000), owning a state of the art mobile phone is nowadays regarded as an achievement, not only money-wise but also socially in terms of integration within the society.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Certain groups have been identified through the use of mobile phones. For example, Nokia Company has been conducting a huge campaign for its Asha phone with the youths in mind. Most youths in Asia, Africa and the rest of the world have been identifying with the QWERTY movement and this is the reason why Nokia Company opted to introduce a cheaper phone with QWERTY characteristics. QWERTY phones are so much appealing to the youth and most youths want to identify with it. This is an example of how reference groups do influence consumers’ purchasing decisions (Bloggers Association of Kenya, 2012). Motivation/Emotion and Mobile phone purchasing Sheth, Mittal Newman (1999) defines motivation as unrelenting need that inspires and motivates consumers’ long term ambitions. Emotions on the other hand are provisional state that reflects the present changes in motivation. Motivation and emotions are budding forces that stir up and stimulate some behaviour in consumers. The two no rmally work together to influence consumers’ behaviour. Motivation compels consumers through buying process while emotions drive the motivation (Thrash Elliot, 2003, p. 873). According to a study conducted by Ling (2004), consumers normally have emotional attachment to there cellular phones than any other electronic gadgets. This is manifested in numerous ways. She found out in her study that most people tend to use emotional terms when describing their experience with their cellular phones. For example, some of the people she came across told her how they normally panic when their batteries run down or how they love using their mobile phones since they are not restricted to phone their friends whenever they are. In addition, mobile phones always act as a linkage between people who are already in some forms of relationships. Therefore, mobile phones create a sentiment of being near the loved ones. Being alone no longer means being on your own since friends and families can a lways stay in touch using the mobile phone. To some people mobile phones have become a part and parcel of them like an extension in their body and have made a habit of fumbling with their phone even when not on use (Liu, 2002, p. 49). Consumer relationship with the mobile phone is extended to the information contained and stored in the mobile phone itself. Immediately an individual acquires a mobile phone and inserts his/her SIM card the subsequent activities entail customizing phone features including ring tones, messaging service among others. In addition, mobile phones normally have a record of telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, personal notes, personal diary, videos, photos and many more items that are exceptional to an individual consumer. Therefore, mobile phones have become so valuable to the users that once they are lost they are difficult to replace (Thrash Elliot, 2003, p. 873). Some experts argue that individual’s emotional attachment to their mobile phones is a s a result of their relationships with others and that use of these phones is not a personal obsession. However, with the introduction of computer and video games on the mobile phones would make this an interesting debate. Many studies carried out on the use of mobile phones among the young people show that most of them prefer to play mobile phone games, even when they have PCs and games console (Vincent, 2005). As a result of this emotional attachment to mobile phones, mobile phone companies have been working indefatigably to improve the mobile phone to increase consumers’ emotional attachment to their mobile phones. Studies show that some consumers are willing to spend more than $600 for a single gadget as long as it has the features they want. At present, the very expensive I-phones and I-pads have dominated the mobile phone market and some consumers are willing to pay for them. These phones have extraordinary features that increase their emotional attachment to the consum ers. A number of the companies have also resorted to adding these features in cheaper mobile phone versions (Riquelme, 2001, p. 440). Successful and failure examples Over the past years, significant progress has been made regarding the development of new marketing strategies that conform to the consumers’ needs and wants. These developments have emphasized on reducing rates of product failure in the consumer market; however rate of product failure is still high and has not changed that. An example of this failure was experienced by AT T Company which introduced its first picture phones in 1964 Global Fair. The picture phone was launched in 1970 but slumped in 1974 due to lack of demand. A number of companies also attempted to launch different versions of picture phones in the 80s and early 90s and experienced the same fate (Floyd, 2001). Still, AT T re-launched the picture phones in the early 90s and experienced the same results. Despite of market failure, the company has b een adamant in re-launching this product in the market. Even with the present age of internet based mobile phones, picture phone’s time has not come. At the moment consumers are scrambling for smart phones, but they are still uninterested in picture phones. Therefore, new products that do not conform to the consumers’ needs and wants are bound to fail. Companies nowadays are starting to embrace tools of marketing research to establish consumer preference and need/wants (Floyd, 2001). Apple PLC is an example of a company that has been able to understand consumer behaviour in the mobile phone market. Its success is attributed to their market penetration strategy. The company is taking advantage of the computing revolution taking place at the moments by providing relatively cheaper and portable alternatives to laptops and desktops. In addition, the company has a tendency of introducing new features or quality devices which conforms to the current consumer needs and wants (Spark, 2009). The earlier smart phones that dictated the market were blackberries. They were viewed as top technological phones since they were able to combine normal phone features with PDA. Blackberries were replaced by I-phones. Apple I-phones are the greatest success story in the mobile phone history. Currently the company is introducing Android powered I-phones with the most powerful hardware and software (Spark, 2009). Conclusion In the past years, most marketers relied on daily contacts with the consumers to understand them. However, as companies and marketers expand, they normally lose contact with the consumers. This is the reason why most of these companies and marketers have resorted to consumer research since it is the only way they can learn more about consumer behaviour. Companies that actually understand how consumers respond to their products and services in the market are likely to gain competitive advantage over its rivals. Consumer behaviours are significantly in fluenced by cultural, social and psychosomatic elements. Therefore, companies must consider the needs and wants of the consumers first before developing any marketing strategy. The needs and wants of the consumers vary considerably depending on internal and external factors. As a result, companies must identify with how consumers transform marketing and other factors into buying response. When product managers are asked if a specific strategy will generate the desired outcome, they would generally say that it depends on: the product or service, targeted consumers, the message and the design of the strategy. All the above mentioned elements form the marketing mix. Conventionally, marketing mix include the 4Ps (Product, price, promotion and place) and are used to position product brands and to create value for these brands alongside the strategies used. In the case of our study, mobile phone companies in the Asian market can generate high volumes of sales if they set their priorities right. A number of literatures in our study have emphasized that individuals cannot be classified as a single entity since numerous internal and external factors influence their purchasing decision. Therefore, the mobile phone companies have to meet the needs and wants of the mobile phone consumers taking into account the consumers attitude, reference groups and motivational and emotional attachment to the product. The concept of reference groups has an enveloping effect on marketing studies. Reference groups have been used as a foundation for numerous marketing studies in different fields. But for our case he asserts that reference groups influence individuals in a number of ways including needs for social approval. Consumers apply both comparative and reflective assessment when purchasing a product. Although some consumers may decide to follow reference group(s) with caution, those who are more vulnerable to peer influence will always strive to satisfy the expectations of the refe rence groups by abiding by their norms. These norms normally function without verbal interactions or thinking. Companies apply their knowledge of motivation and emotions to formulate their marketing strategies. They can find ways of stimulating consumers’ emotions and motivating them to fill the need provoked by these emotions. Consumer attitude represent how the consumers perceive the products and services in the market. Companies must carry out marketing research to establish how there products and services are generally perceived in the market and make necessary adjustments. 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3 paragraph assignment on Ancient Greece Research Paper

3 paragraph assignment on Ancient Greece - Research Paper Example Cleisthenes had these groups represented equally on their general assemblies were discussions were done for the welfare of their state. They safeguard each other against tyranny and monopoly of power. In Sparta, the reform of Lycargus was established. They also had reclassification and regrouping of people. Debts were cancelled and the land was divided equally among them. There was an established way of living where their children undergo specified developmental stages to make them warriors. They were considered as Spartan citizen at the age of 19 as soon as they have been awarded with shield, which is a great symbol for them. Women were also encouraged to work to make them able to bore strong children. The two forms of governments institutionalized greatly vary. Athens practiced democracy in all its sense, where they derive decisions for the state after discussions from every representative of the tribes. Spartans also had assemblies for their decision making but their way of living has been predetermined. They live and work for Sparta and nothing else. 2. Zeno who lived around 490 BC formulated certain paradoxes – an absurd or contradictory statement. His statements challenge scholars both from history until today, such as Plato, Aristotle and others. Various explanations surfaced to either prove or disprove the points of Zeno. Inclusions of explanations exploited mathematical reasons, physics, and other theories. One of his paradox included in the Paradox of Plurality titled The Argument from complete divisibility states that â€Å"†¦ whenever a body is by nature divisible through and through, whether by bisection, or generally by any method whatever, nothing impossible will have resulted if it has actually been divided†¦ though perhaps nobody in fact could so divide it†. This paradox touches the idea of a line or space that is composed of infinite number of points that can be divided into dimensionless parts. That if these

The MYKI electronic ticketing system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The MYKI electronic ticketing system - Essay Example The MYKI Electronic Ticketing System Although the MYKI electronic ticketing system has been praised a number of times, it has also received a considerable amount of criticisms. These have been generated by the range of failures and loopholes experienced during the project. This project replaced the Metcard ticketing system that was used in Metropolitan Melbourne among other ticketing systems used in busies within the same region. It is the most recent contactless ticketing system that makes use of a smartcard and which is used on public transport. This system started on the 29th of February 2009 and was valid for train service transport of the Metropolitan system (Mitchelle, 2009). From the project management viewpoint, some of the things that have been discovered to have gone wrong include the lack of ability by Lynne Kosky, who was the public transport manager to remember the number that was to be used by passengers to buy a ticket. As a result of this, a computer error occur and r esulted in over 1,600 people receiving new Myki cards onto which their names were printed wrongly or indicated as anonymous. With its production alongside other similar Metcard services, the government continued to make payment in order to ensure that commuters had sufficient opportunity to switch to the Myki electronic ticketing system. Most of the News agents also refused to sell the Myki cards since they earned far less commission from the government than that generated from the other Metcards.