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Monday, September 30, 2019

A Review on the Rich and the Rest of Us

THE RICH AND THE REST OF US: A POVERTY MANIFESTO By Cornel West and Tavis Smiley â€Å"Our intent with The rich and the rest of us is to make [people] think about the pervasiveness of poverty, its real causation, and the threat it poses to our democracy. We want to raise awareness about poverty and discuss how best to end it- in out lifetime. â€Å"(Excerpted from the introduction, page 10-11) When I started with this book, I had expected it to be a book on how depressing poverty is and maybe how to become rich. What I came across was none of that but a realistic approach with some new ideas of how to deal with poverty.The authors have explained everything in simple language that is discernable by everyone and no necessarily economists. It is based on the US economy and not poverty all over the world. It deals with the situation of poverty in the US. Recently with the Presidential election campaign, a lot was said about the difference between the middle class and the rich. Especial ly with the tax cuts issue where tax cuts are being wanted for the middle class and the wealthy shall not be given any cuts. Any household that is earning anything more than $1 million per year should not be paying lesser income tax than what a middle class family does.This book has historical backgrounds, personal stories and statistics to say to us that poverty is not just a big issue but also a national threat along with bringing shame upon USA. It seems that the citizens of America as a whole does not choose to solve this problem. Cornel West and Tavis Smiley are crying out for help to speedily address the growing poverty before it forever distorts the US democracy, values and economic future. The great recession has affected a large number of people who have been forced into poverty and also deepening the poverty that already exists.United States census declares that 50% of all Americans are now in the low income or close to low-income bracket. When the biggest economic institu tions fell due to the recession, they went to the Government for help, which was given to them. But, in turn, the majority of Americans suffered. There were no more jobs and place to live. One-third of the American middle class has fallen into poverty. This book is a fast read that encapsulates current issues with the historic past and obvious advocacy. This book shows how every president has handled the problem of poverty and the change of political and popular attitude towards the poor.They also talk about a â€Å"new poor† that has been added to the homeless, food insecurity and unemployment. They use Martin Luther King as a major example who immersed himself in the subject of poverty before his demise. Though, he saw it as an issue that only affected the African-American population. The new poverty is not like the poverty we associate with wrongdoing. This new poverty is the â€Å"working poor† who have jobs and sometimes more than one person in d family is earning . Just they are not being paid enough to sustain themselves and their families.They have no unions to protect their interests, no benefits like medical or retirement and long working hours. There is no surety of jobs and no guarantee so every worker is one salary away from poverty and also one lay off away. Basically Smiley and West has started a War for the poor. They are trying to give a voice to those less fortunate. For them, their ultimate goal is to try and give back the American dream, which has now been down sized and outsourced. They say that during the presidential elections on 2012 both the parties never said the word poor or poverty.Another important aspect of the book is the Occupy movement. It was what marked the state of their inequality in economics and an ongoing change in America’s policies and priorities. Tavis Smiley says in the book â€Å"We wanted people who are struggling in this current economy to know that they are not alone and not forgotten. † It tells us about a imperfect system where there is no economic equality. Even though America is changing into a nation of major minority, it does not have the market unity to ensure success. The poverty manifesto talks about twelve points about what steps to be taken to help the situation.First and foremost fair wages should be given to the people so that they are enough to live on. Then the Government needs to introduce more jobs; the prison and mass incarceration rates need to be looked at, tax codes, fair inflation rates. The most imperative of all is to release a call for a conference at the White House on the abolition of poverty and for that a sample letter must be sent to the President. This book says that USA is in a state of emergency, and that they should stand up and take some action. They need to work towards sustaining solutions and jobs with living wages.Unless they do that, they will not get the status of a great nation back. The efforts have to come from bottom up and will need brave leadership at the top most level to get back America in old form. Politics is run by money, and people with substantial amounts can actually affect the public policy. It is how the democracy of USA was designed and not much has changed since it was founded. The only major difference is that now corporations influence more than individuals now. The power of money is the same no matter whether you are a republican or a democrat.I find that the first part of the book is very good. It gives us a good look into poverty and backing it up by statistics and graphs. West and Smiley delve in deeper and examine the emotions comprised in poverty. I enjoyed the way it is written and how the authors provide us with two different voices. Personally I think that the book lacks where the solutions are concerned. No doubt hay have given some ideas on how to take on the problem but most seems repetitive and doesn’t seem like they are thorough. After reading the book I have a much better understanding of the poverty situation in America.I had heard the presidential debates and the speeches but never really understood the seriousness till I read this book. This book is highly recommended for all those to want to face problems by smart public policy, which would end up getting work for people and also providing the structure and services needed. A new economy can be created that will be supportable and progressive. One that will put the citizens on America back to work, just, the right leadership is needed. A Review by Ritika Malhotra 1153 words [Turnitin similarity: 5%]

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Global Economic Crisis: Implications and Challenges to the Philippines Essay

This is a forum where we can wonder, what is really happening in our country? Mr. W.D. Hilton our keynote speaker discussed the possible effects of the Global Economic Crisis in the Philippines. In this paper, I will write some of the highlights when we talked about Global Economic Crisis. The primary target of the said crisis is the people. There are so many people suffering in crisis and covered by clouds of hopelessness. Is there any hope, waiting for us to a brighter prospect of life? There are so many problems that we are experiencing right now. For our country Philippines, the Global Economic Crisis really put our country at stake. There is a big probability that there are many fellow Filipinos will be put to the test; on how high are their faith and how strong they are in facing the Economic crisis as of now. As a citizen concern, there are so many questions that are bothering to me at this time such as, what is Global crisis exactly means? When will economic crisis end? How to cope with the global financial crisis? And, what would be the possible effects of Economic crisis in the Philippines? What is really a Global Economic Crisis means? Based on my own understanding, Global Economic Crisis is the situation where more than one country is affected by scarcity of resources to be needed enable to provide for all citizens globally. When you say crisis, as what the dictionary defined it as, a condition of instability or danger in social, economic, political or international affairs leading to decisive change. This definition implies that our country is obviously affected by the so called Global Economic Crisis. As what the symposium explained and emphasized during the discussion, it is visible to the eye that we are one of the most affected by the crisis because as a third world country, this is not impossible to happen. The hardest question that crossed my mind was, when will economic crisis end? This would be a difficult question that the answer is still unclear for us, Filipinos. Another question is, is the Philippine Economy ready to battle the Global Financial Hardship? In our status right now, we are still struggling for some very broad reasons such as, corruptions, poor leaderships and rich in stealing wealth from others. If we still continue this type of system in our country, there’s no hope for any survival in crisis. Our superior in the government doesn’t have any heart for the poor and the rich people are getting richer. As a democratic country, how can we fight for what is right when all that we have is the left over of the government? Global economic Crisis touches the people’s lives negatively in some other ways. Here is some example of situations that is occurring right now. We can’t stop the time from approaching to us and will surprise us that one day; there would be a downsizing in the organization. One of the main reasons of downsizing of employees is, the company cannot afford to pay their salaries anymore due to financial crisis. It is hard for the organization to motivate their employees well because of lack benefits and expenses for their compensations would be budgeted only. For those who graduated recently, it would be difficult for them to get hired because there are no available jobs for them or the organizations are not yet ready for hiring new employees. It implies that there is no assurance even if you are holding a degree. Unfortunately, for the undergraduates are more difficult for them to find a job because of no vacancies for them available. For the prices of products or goods in the store, the consumer will buy it by bundles or dozens because they are aware or expecting that there is a price hiking because of high demand of goods. This is also the time that only few consumers because only few people can afford for the expensive price. That’s why they are taking the opportunity to buy the goods as many as possible. For our fellow Filipinos in other countries such as the OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) they are also affected by Economic Crisis in such way. Have you heard the news that there was a time that the OFW’s were forced to send back to their respective countries due to poverty. Of course, the foreign country will prioritize first their fellow countrymen before the other citizens while experiencing the crisis in their country. Lastly, for those who are my fellow students also got affected. Example of this, they are millions of students taking up â€Å"Nursing† because it is in demand this time. Without noticing it, that there so much rivals or competitors with that job, to the extent that they are only few of them got a vacant seat due to overflowing of graduates with that course. Because of the crisis, they are hoping to go abroad, but unfortunately, they are only selected and rare people has the capability or could meet the requirements in going abroad. So, where are they going? It takes time to wait for other demand from other countries. With these situations, it would really pull us down. We are almost poor in everything even though we are rich in natural resources. We just didn’t know how to use our natural resources wisely. Even in making wise decisions are very hard for us. Poor in leadership, has a big impact in our country that’s why we are suffering and experiencing these unwanted state in life. We owe USA with a big amount. We are still hoping to pay for it but, if the occurring of corruptions in our country; it would be difficult for us to cope up because if greediness ruling inside of us, with no hesitations, our country is slowly dying. To sum up everything, Global Economic Crisis is a big threat because we allow vulnerabilities and the threats to come. What would be the mitigating measure that we are going to use to cope up with the big crisis? I think truth shall always prevail. Our politics has a big part in our crisis right now. We should stress what should be stress out. We have to overcome the crisis this time because we are all accountable for whatever may happen.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

An Analysis of Improvisation of Internal Control and the use of Quantitative Methodology

An Analysis of Improvisation of Internal Control and the use of Quantitative Methodology Research Methodology Quantitative Study Kothari (2004) defined primary research as the first-hand collection of data by a person investigating something. One of the main merit of primary research is that the data collected having specific to the research since the researcher full control over the methods used. This research will use the employees of Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Ltd. Borouge as the primary research subjects. The study will seek the views of the employees concerning improvisation of internal control. This study will utilize the quantitative methodology in investigating the analysis of improvisation of internal control. Kothari (2004) questionnaires are considered to be a cheap and effective way of collecting information from a big number of respondents. They can be prepared and administered in short periods of time since different respondents in different places can fill them at the same time. As the commonly used tools of data collection, there is an amount of reasons to study a topic with a questionnaire survey. First, questionnaires are anonymous, and researchers can more easily collect precise data with carefully drafted questions. Secondly the data collected can be quantified easily, hence making comparisons becomes easy. In addition, questions from questionnaires are designed for theoretical reasons, and the author can easily control what should be included. Questionnaires usually start from a known theoretical position and proceed to test the unknown position (Kumar, 2010). The questions are designed to conform to an existing research question and are hence fixed. The structure of a questionnaire is such that the researcher does not need to construct new questions. Consequently, a well-designed questionnaire can help the author gather information effectively not only on the overall performance of the test organization, but also to collect data for specific reasons in related enterprises. Pathak (2008) added that the Questionnaire is applied in the study in order to obtain information from the employees in Borouge. It consists of three main sections with the first section intended to address the idea of improvisation of internal control in business organizations. Given the wideness of the topic, it is intended that most respondents have an idea of how improvisation of internal control can be used as a business strategy in the current global market. The first part is, therefore, considered to be the identified aspect of the idea of improvisation of internal control. In the second portion, the opinions of the respondents concerning improvisation of internal control is evaluated. This section also attempts to determine the ability of Borouge to perform effectively. The last section is intended to collect biometric data from the respondents. The collected data will be the main tool for analyzing the test sample to see whether it is a representative of the larger Borouge i n the UAE and world population. The questionnaire uses closed-ended questions. Pathak (2008) explains that closed questions are advantageous since the results can be quantified easily. The data collected will be analyzed through data summary methods through percentage calculation. Background about Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Ltd. – Borouge Borouge has a high production capacity. In 2010, the company through its management team management tripled their products in the main manufacturing plant in Abu Dhabi to 2 million tones product. The 2014 production projection is expected to rise to 4.5 million tones. Borouge and Borealis are expected to increase their annual production to 8 million tons of polymers. The company is engaged on expansion plans across the Middle East and Asia market. Apart from the production process, the company in devising ways of addressing the water and sanitation problems affecting the people on a global perspective. The company engages in various corporate social responsibilities. According to Abdulaziz Alhajri, the CEO, Abu Dhabi Polymers Co. Ltd (Borouge), the company embarks on measures does not only cater to their customers, but also extends their care to the community and other stakeholders. For sustainability, the company ensures that they carry out activities that are environmentally friend ly and that promote the wellbeing of the natural environment (The National, 2013). Improvisation of internal control of Borouge will require understanding of the number of employees the organization has in the workforce. The Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Ltd has a total of more than 500 employees who work in the manufacturing plant for the petroleum products in the company. The research will collect information on the improvisation of the internal control of the organization. The population in the organization is comprised of majority male employees who take a population of approximately 87% of the sum of employees in the organization with women comprising of 13%. This population is crucial in the running of the study in the organization. The respondents will represent a sample of the entire population. Understanding the Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Limited internal control will enhance recommendation internal organization improvements. Borouge has tried to ensure equity in the workforce (Michael Adewale, 2010). Borouge has maintained an attractive positive image in the entire UAE region. With a high number of applications, the recruitment has been slow taking up to six months due to poor technical and contact with the candidates. This has been the case even after a massive expansion program taking place in all the branches. Such problems discourage many of the applicants who may have expansive experience in their fields of work, leaving the company lacking the best team to work with. It affected the company greatly by making some gaps in the workforce that reduced the output of the company. This reduced the production potential of the company and left the other employees exhausted due to overwork. This influenced the morale of the employees in such a situation negatively. Workforce planning refers to a well-organized move that involves the determination of the total number of employees required by the organization and critical understanding of their talents and abilities that are important for the company to realize its set objectives. It also involves preparing for action plan schedule to ensure that the objectives of the company are met as expected within the required duration of time. Sample Size and Selection Selection of the sample size is crucial in the research study due to enhanced ability to collect non-biased data from the respondent. The sample size selected for the study of the improvisation of internal control of Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Ltd is 100 questionnaire. The questionnaire will be used as the method of collection primary data in the study due to its easy application and design. In addition, the data analysis using the questionnaire is simpler in the quantitative research. The sample selection will be determined by probability sampling technique will be applied for this study due to its ability to incorporate non-biased data gathering and processing. This is effective due to easiness in calculating the required sample from a population. The selection process is also improved to ensure that the data collected is diverse and encourages the generalization of the sample size to represent the population (Wayne Stuart, 2004). Weng Ding (2013) argued that probability sampling is important due to its inclusive nature that provides a sample that is a representation of the total population. With a high population of employees at Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Ltd, the probability sampling method would facilitate representation of the entire population of over 1200 in the operation plant. The sampling process comprises of a number of steps to reach the desired sample size. The first step comprises of the definition of the population. In this research, the population type is considered to be the entire workforce at Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Ltd. This comprises of all employees who work in the organization. The second step comprises of the specification of the sampling frame that consist of a set of items or events that are possible to measure in the research. In this case, the objective of this research is to determine the improvisation of internal control of Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Ltd. The analysis comprises the study on the internal control in the organization that analyzes on its strength, weaknesses and opportunities for development to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the operation. Following the definition of the item being studied, Weng Ding (2013) added that the sampling process then involves the specification of the right method of sampling. In this cases, random sampling is selected where the population has equal chances of being selected as a sample for this study. This ensures uniformity and identifies the ground for analyzing that the sample used is a representation of the whole population. Having identified all the sampling concerns for the sample, the researcher may decide to determine the appropriate sample size for the research where in Borouge the sample size selected was 100 respondents. In addition, the determination of the sample plan is set for the selection of the sample in the workforce that will ensure the universality of the data collected for this research. Finally, the sampling method requires sampling integration in the research and data collection. The sampling method used is also reviewed to ensure that any possibility of bias is seale d. Data Collecting Tools The research on improvisation of internal control of Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Ltd will be dependent on two types of data that is crucial to this research. The primary and secondary data are important in research to ensure that there is verification of primary research results with secondary findings. The two types of data are important to the research since they reduce the possibilities of producing biased data thus presenting false evidence in the research findings. The primary data will be collected through a well-designed questionnaire that will gather all the primary data essential for the research. This paper will use some theories such as management and systems science, human resource management, core competency, and comparative advantage for analyses risks and development improvisation of internal control at Borouge, which is a manufacturing industry. The main methods used in the literature review in the relevant fields of manufacturing firms are quantitative, and qualitativ e empirical data from previous research (Herbert et al., 2006). This project intends to identify current and future trends in the improvisation of the internal control in an organization in the manufacturing industry through examining the past research, investigating ongoing trends and drawing conclusions on the possible future of improvisation in Borouge manufacturing company. The literature review in this research will give an overview of research done by the previous researchers and then compare those findings from the questionnaires used to present day academic work. The second section identifies the several large scale, and current, research findings analyzed to enhance understanding of the current state of internal control improvisation and its impact on the manufacturing industry. From these explorations, there is a discussion on the trends and movement in the global economy, especially in the manufacturing industry in United Arab Emirates. According to Adà ¨r Mellenbergh (2008), an exploratory study is used to clarify the understanding of a problem, to find out, what is happening; find a new insight; ask questions and evaluate phenomena in a new way‟. There are three principal ways to do exploratory research. Conduct a literature research; Conduct interview with experts in the subject or through questionnaires; conduct interviews to focus groups. As mentioned earlier, it will focus on the topic of risk assessment in HR outsourcing in the Chinese manufacturing industry. The research will conduct exploratory research in order to investigate the research questions. The research will be concentrated on both literature review and questionnaires, and combine them with the theory in order to provide an in-depth understanding of our research questions. At the same time, the research will use an explanatory study in order to answer our research questions more clearly. Firstly, after reading a numbers of literature about improvisation of internal control in an organization in the manufacturing industry in UAE, it is important to understand and analyze the question of (What is current risks of improvisation of internal control of the manufacturing industry?) And another question (What is the current trends in the development of the internal control improvisation in Borouge manufacturing industry?). This will help in collecting data and carrying an effective data analysis in subsequent sections.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Critical Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Critical Review - Essay Example Although this explanation was devised, some studies have shown the feasibility to stabilizing the GHG at a desired low level, which implies that few information are available on the strategies that could reduce the global temperature through stabilization of GHG. Earlier studies discussed the mitigation options to lower levels of concentration of GHG through emission reduction by carbon capture and storage (CCS) (Sally Orr 303). After nearly four years, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) new-fangled Part 810 guidelines are finally in place. The need for grandfather endowment in the new regulation means that numerous corporations will need to be decisive—in the formula of written export submissions and/or written notifications—to uphold amenability with their expertise export obligations. This regulation was apprised in 1986, and the international civil industry market has expanded in recent times. The DOE faces numerous technological challenges to deal with such emission disputes in the United States. The department should plan accordingly the termini and undertakings that are largely accredited or subject to definite authorizations. Fossil fuels are the greatest contribution to the world’s source of energy. Burning of fossil fuels is the major contributor to electricity, heating, and transportation. However, the burning fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide (CO2), which is also the major contributor to the GHG that is affecting the planet. CO2 makes up 79% of Canada’s total emission (PWGSC, 2009). CCS is a mitigation approach in which its primary focus is reducing the CO2 emission from the burning of fossil fuels. The CCS could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of fossil fuels ultimately leading to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) that are emitted into the atmosphere affecting the ozone layer (Figure 1). CCS would

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Summary to the Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary to the Article - Essay Example Another question that the paper addresses is the major geographical locations where the evolution supposedly took place and the location of the resultant fossils as discovered by archeologists. This is directly related to the adaptation to their current ecological niche. Although the results obtained need further research as stipulated by the recommendation, it is obvious that most of the tetrapods are found in the Arctic Canada where most of the evolution took place. In this regard, the data presented by the paper closely coincide with the conclusion in that the body scales, lower jaws, and other features are closely comparable to the primitive sarcopterygians. It is however important to note that there are significant implications of the study for understanding tetrapod origins and evolution in that the study exposes the geological setting together with the morphological features of this kind of fish that has been discovered and in so doing the study suggests the possibility of life in shallow-water, subaerial, and marginal

Foreign Direct Investment in India and China Essay

Foreign Direct Investment in India and China - Essay Example Statistics reveal that in 2001 alone, China received around US $ 53 billion FDI while India's figures did not cross even US $ 4 billion indicating that it was below 10 % of what China had attracted ( Internet, Ong, China, FDI : China V.S. India / chart). If you go further, China had attracted a phenomenal amount of US $ 60 billions in 2004 while India had received a meagre sum of US $ 5.3 billions in that year (Internet, Venkitaramanan, 2005, Para 9). Now it is clear that inflow of FDI into China had increased from $ 53 billion in 2001 to $ 60 billion having a growth of $ 7 billion in just 3 years while India had seen an increase of just $1.3 billion during the period. This difference has been continuously growing year after year making China the most sought after destination for the investing MNCs. And India has been really struggling to attract more and more FDI into its soil. This difference is really vast considering that both countries have opened up their economies and moved ahead with economic reforms becoming the Asian giants. Both of them are high potential consumer markets too because of their huge populations. But, these two countries are still the developing economies and have been desperately looking for huge volumes of FDI for economic growth. Because of the severe resource crunch at home, developing nations have been increasingly looking at alternate investment resources for boosting up their industrial growth and creating employment opportunities. Globalisation and internet revolution have only strengthened the importance of FDI but truly the investing multinational corporations / enterprises go by several factors in choosing the final destination of their huge investments. Krugell argues that the aim of MNCs in internationalising their production is to generate more profits and earn more money through the full exploitation of local markets and cheap factors of production (Krugell, 2005 P 53). It is therefore natural for MNCs to invest in countries that would fetch them cheap but efficient labour and highly rated technical expertise among other things. Let us examine and discuss in detail how these and other factors have been playing different roles in attracting FDI and creating the disparity in relation to China and India. 3 Main essay China has certainly reached an enviable position in relation to attracting FDI. It has become a favourite spot for all MNCs for pumping in their investments. In fact, China had overtaken the US as the top global destination for FDI in 2003 (Internet, Business line, 2004, Para 1). The USA had of course regained its number one position in the very next year, followed by United Kingdom and China (Internet, Venkitaramanan, 2005, Para 3). Standing next only to the US and the UK, China has been consuming major share of the FDI among all the developing nations. When we compare the Chinese position with that of India, we are bound to conclude that India is not that much favoured by the MNCs. But there is a world of difference on the perception of FDI between these two countries. United Nations Organisation (UNO, 2003, P 88) reveals that India does not treat as FDI reinvested earnings by foreign companies, overseas commercial borrowings, investments between direct investors / associate companies / subsidiaries and investments by offshore and domestic venture capital funds. On the other hand, China considers a good number of heads as

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategies - Essay Example This paper briefly analyses the cause of recent US financial problems and recommends certain solutions for that. The major reason for the current financial crisis in America is the credit policies of the Federal Reserve. They have made the credit cheaper and loan seekers like the home buyers took advantage of the easy credit and the bid up prices of the homes increased drastically. Financial institutions were ready to pay any amounts to the loan seekers as a result of the policies of the Congress and Federal Reserve. Congress continued its support for mortgage tax deduction which encouraged the home buyers to purchase expensive houses beyond their financial capabilities. Real estate agents took advantage of the favorable housing market conditions and they encouraged the home buyers to buy expensive houses in order to get more commissions. Wall Street firms paid too little attention to the quality of the risky loans that they bundled into Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) and the Bush administration failed to provide needed government oversight of the increasingly dicey mortgage-backed securities market (Wall Streets Role in the U.S. Mortgage Crisis Examined, 2008). In short, lack of control over the financial institutions was a major cause of the recent financial crisis. Everybody tried to catch the fish in the muddy water and nobody thought that the American economic bubble may burst in the near future. In short, lack of governmental control and the visionless policies caused the current financial crisis in America. Globalization and liberalization policies also contributed heavily to the current crisis. The huge expenditure made for war on terror and that for the recent gulf war put immense financial burden upon the common public. Tight control over the financial sector is the most important strategy the US government should take to avoid future financial

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Module 2, Financial and Strategic Planning (CASE) Essay

Module 2, Financial and Strategic Planning (CASE) - Essay Example The marketing strategy was appealing in the year 2010, hence attracting $1,500 million in terms of revenue. In the year 2011, the marketing strategy was not as effective, hence leading to a lower performance; reporting total revenues of $1,250 million. A strategic plan would be for the hospital to adopt a new marketing strategy (Bryce, 2000). The new strategy would boost the hospitals preference among the sick, increase the amount of grants offered, and increase third-party investments. Secondly, Franklin Healthcare had a structural change and dismissed some staff. The change had a positive effect in efforts to reduce the operating expenses; from $500 thousand in 2010 to $300 thousand in 2011, but had some material effect on the revenue. There was a causal and effect relationship between reducing the number of employees and the amount of patient revenue reported. The low number of staff led to a reduction in the average patient population to achieve a balance between the demand and supply of healthcare. The hospital should increase the number of staff to maximize the supply of healthcare. All employees should report to a senior health worker to improve the level of accountability (Charupat, & Huang, 2012). The hospital should also invest in new equipment and have all the employees trained on how to operate them. A single marketing strategy and the structural change had a significant effect on the hospital’s net income. The hospital reported a $249,800,000 reduction in net income from $1,499,475,000 in 2010 to $1,249,675,000 in 2011. The hospital should have a forecast of what to expect in the next financial year. It should prepare a budget income statement that would serve as a policy variable and govern the control variables and external variables (Greenwood, 2002). The forecasting process should be automated to enhance ease of access and accept frequent reviews. An analysis of the income statement

Monday, September 23, 2019

PESTLE and Marketing Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PESTLE and Marketing Strategies - Essay Example They note that the external environment impacts the following: customers, industry, competitors, government, and regulating bodies. Choosing the best marketing mix requires aligning external realities and the internal resources and capabilities of the organisation (Needham and Dransfield 2000, p.305). Dickinson and Ramaseshan (2008) agree with Needham and Dransfield (2000), but the former also emphasise that other factors also impact marketing strategy, such as the company's cooperative arrangements. This report believes that a company cannot generate effective marketing strategies, if it is only focused on its internal environment in planning these strategies. It must consider the external business environment, so that it can respond to the threats and challenges that are embedded in the outside world. Nevertheless, it does not postulate that only the external environment can assure the success of a firm's marketing strategy. Other factors will also impact the outcome of marketing s trategies. One important framework for analysing the external environment is through the PESTLE analysis. This report will use PESTLE analysis on Abu Dhabi, where its main goal is to help Nestle generate a marketing mix that will introduce a new line of food product for toddlers. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS AND MARKETING MIX The PESTLE analysis is one of the most prominent external scanning tools. It analyses the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors that can impact a company's marketing strategy by affecting consumer behaviour and choices, as well as their income levels. PESTLE analysis also reveals opportunities and threats that can shape future marketing strategies (Needham and Dransfield 2000, p.305). PESTLE analysis is also not a one-time event. It has to be done regularly, because the environment constantly changes and it will be critical to respond to these changes that can impact the business. This section analyses these factors in Abu Dhabi a nd relates it to the marketing strategy of Nestle. PESTLE Analysis Political factors. The government of Abu Dhabi promotes economic sustainability through diversifying its industries that will ultimately reduce its dependence on oil revenues. This economic diversification scheme can have a positive effect on Nestle’s brand extension scheme, because it can improve the reception for its new product line. In addition, after the Arab spring (Anderson 2011), the U.A.E. government aims to enhance the conditions of liberal human rights, so that its citizens will not think of being involved in political and economic sabotage and other economically-ruinous activities. The political environment can affect the marketing strategy of the company, because it will provide the political and economic stability needed to expand in this market. The political environment also regulates companies and competition. The political condition of the U.A.E. is considered as stable, in general, so it wil l not be risky for Nestle to expand business in the region. The U.A.E., in addition, pursues Emiratisation to enhance the employment of its citizens. This will impact Nestle's employment of expatriates in the long run. It would have to prepare nationals to handle critical management and marketing positions. Economic factors. Abu Dhabi is implementing its long-term economic development plan, which follows this formula:

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Effects of Alcohol on the Human Body Essay Example for Free

The Effects of Alcohol on the Human Body Essay Introduction Today, alcohol is one of the most common substances that people abuse. It is an addictive drink that has become a popular way of having a good time or relaxing in social gatherings. It is among the most commonly used psychoactive drugs. Alcohol is a popular social phenomenon, yet most societies forget its effects on their bodies. Research has carried out in the recent years on the effects that alcohol consumption is having on people. The resulting data has been extremely negative. The introduction of Alco pops, led to a substantial increase in the youth population drinking alcoholic beverages. On average, young people start drinking at approximately age thirteen. Parental and peer influences are a major factor in these early habits. Before the legal age of 21; almost seventy percent of people manage to get away with at least one alcoholic drink. This increases the probability of adolescent consumption in the future. Alcohol, specifically ethanol, depresses the central nervous system and it has many side-effects. Cell membranes in the human body have high permeability to alcohol, so alcohol diffuses into nearly every biological tissue of the body once it gets into the blood stream (Dasgupta 2011, pg.88). It starts affecting the body and mind from the second one sips it. After taking it for a while, one starts feeling more sociable, but drinking too much makes basic human functions like walking or talking harder. One might start saying things they don’t mean and behave out of character. Some of the effects of alcohol disappear overnight, while others stay longer or become permanent. Other effects are impaired judgment, addiction, poor mental health, hormonal change and withdraw as a result of deciding to quit. Alcohol affects most important organs within the human body. Alcohol interacts with the gamma amino butyric acid receptors located in the brain. These receptors are the center of inhibitory neurotransmission in the human body and is synthesized from glutamic acid (Miller 2006, pg. 23). First and foremost, it depresses the brain tissue, the nervous system and destroys brain cells. The problem with destroying brain cells is that, once lost they cannot be regenerated. Excessive drinking over a long period of time may cause severe problems to one’s memory and cognition. Alcohol affects parts of the brain like the cerebral cortex; limbic system; cerebellum and the hypothalamus. The cerebral cortex is the center of voluntary muscle movement and it processes one’s thoughts and senses. Once inhabited by alcohol, it slows down our bodies on reaction time and impairs judgment. This makes an intoxicated person more talkative and confident. Also in the cerebral cortex, alcohol increases the pain threshold. It affects the hippocampus as it impairs memory and causes inflated feelings (Miller 2006, pg. 48). The limbic system controls emotions and memory. Alcoholic effects on the limbic system occur when the intoxicated person endures memory loss and uncontrolled emotional outbursts. The cerebellum controls the body’s muscular movements. When it is affected by alcohol there is involuntary muscle movement and incoordination. The hypothalamus controls the body’s automatic functions and release of hormones. Alcohol affects the hypothalamus through sexual performance and arousal (Brigg 2010, pg. 71). An intoxicated person is more sexually aroused, though the performance is not as normal. The liver can fairly process alcohol safely when the drinking is moderate. Heavy drinking however, overtaxes the liver causing serious damage. A fatty liver is one of the first stages of liver destruction among heavy drinkers. It interferes with oxygen distribution and nutrition of the liver’s cells (Horsley 2008, pg. 94). Persistence of this condition causes the liver cells to die and form fibrous scar tissues. This is the second stage of the deterioration of the liver. Part of the liver cells may regenerate with proper nutrition and abstinence. However during the last stages of deterioration the damage to the liver cells is irreversible. Alcohol abuse is a major contributing factor in cancers, including mouth cancer and liver cancer, which are both on the increase. Alcohol comes second to smoking as risk factors for digestive tract and oral cancers. Research suggests that this happens since alcohol breaks down into a substance called acetaldehyde. This substance then binds to proteins in the mouth triggering an inflammatory response from the body. In severe cases, cancerous cells eventually develop. Alcohol alters the chemistry within the brain and increases depression risk. It is associated with various mental health problems. People suffering from either anxiety or depression are twice likely to be heavy or addicted drinkers. Extreme drinking levels may often cause psychosis. This is a severe mental illness that causes development of hallucinations and delusions of persecution. Psychotic symptoms may also occur when heavy drinkers suddenly decide to stop drinking and as a result develop a condition referred to as ‘delirium tremens’. Moderate drinking does not suppress food intake. It may actually increase appetite. Heavy alcohol consumption has an opposite effect. It causes euphoria, which leads to lack of appetite. As a result, heavy drinkers often eat poorly and get malnourished. Alcohol contains seven calories per gram thus is rich in energy. However, just like fat or pure sugar, these calories lack nutrients. The more calories consumed in alcohol make it hard for the drinker to eat enough food to get enough nutrients. Worse still, alcohol abuse displaces calories from required nutrients and interferes with metabolism of nutrients in the body. This damages the liver, the digestive system and most every bodily organ. Alcohol irritates and disturbs the stomach. Therefore, heavy drinking may easily cause nausea, diarrhea and also sickness. Alcohol also has a dehydrating effect (Newell 2004, pg. 39). This is one reason why heavy drinking may lead to a severe pounding headache the next morning. Hydration also determines the extent of a hangover. After drinking heavily, unconsciousness may occur and extreme consumption levels often lead to alcohol poisoning. Death can also occur in a situation where alcohol concentration within the blood stream is more than the blood. Alcohol may also cause death when there is asphyxiation from vomit (Haven 2001, pg.43). Drinking too much alcohol is not good for your skin either. It causes dark circles under a person’s eyes and bloating. It also dries out the human skin and may lead to premature aging and wrinkling. Drinking heavily may cause acne rosacea (Taylor 2000, pg. 70). This is a skin disorder which starts with likelihood to blush and flush and eventually progresses to facial disfiguration known as rhinophyma. Conclusion Use of alcohol is a great, enjoyable and safe experience if used moderately and with caution. If one does decide to drink they should drink slowly and responsibly. A drinking person should always consume alcohol with food. A person should drink no more than one drink in an hour. Consuming plenty of water in between drinks is also very important and helpful. Pregnant women should not drink and also one should not drive under any alcoholic influence whatsoever. Mild and moderate alcohol use benefits the coronary system (Newell 2004, pg. 98). Generally, for healthy people, moderate alcohol is considered as one drink a day for women and around less than three drinks a day for men. This is considered the maximum advised amount of alcohol consumption. Healthy people refer to those women who are not pregnant, people who are not addicted to alcohol and without any pre-existing medical conditions. However, the quantity of alcohol safely consumed by an individual is highly personal and dependent on genetics, family history, sex, weight and age (Taylor 2000, pg. 79). References Brigg, J. 2010. The Practitioner, Volume 5. California: University of California. Dasgupta, A. 2011. The Science of Drinking: How Alcohol Affects Your Body and Mind. Boston: Rowman Littlefield. Haven Emerson, G. N. 2001. Alcohol and Man. New York: Ayer Publishing. Henry Newell Martin, H. C. 2004. The human body: a beginners text-book of anatomy, physiology and hygiene : with directions for illustrating important facts of mans anatomy from that of the lower animals, and with special references to the effects of alcoholic and other stimulants, and. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Horsley, S. V. 2008. Alcohol and the human body . London: Macmillan. Miller, M. W. 2006. Brain Development: Normal Processes And the Effects of Alcohol And Nicotine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Taylor, B. 2000. Everything You Need to Know About Alcohol. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Prologue To The Gospel Of John Religion Essay

The Prologue To The Gospel Of John Religion Essay The Gospel of John was writing by one of Jesus disciples by the name of John (thus the title of the book). It was written around A.D. 80-95 and the theme of the book is Jesus as the Son of God. We notice in the other Gospels, known as the Synoptics because of the close similarities in each account, that Jesus is portrayed in many different ways. In Matthew he is seen as the King of the Jews and was very much directed to a Jewish audience. In Mark he is seen as the Suffering Servant, which meant a lot to the Romans, to whom this text was directed to. In Luke he is the Perfect Man, an great achievement in the eyes of the Greeks and other Gentiles. Although all these facts are true and can be seen in all the Gospels, John, whose account was written long after the others, was drawn to write an account directed to all believers. John goes into the divinity of Christ and we see this from the very first chapter. In this book, Jesus is the Logos and he is the I AM. In this essay I will only look at the first chapter of John, in particular verses 1 through to 18 and we will first and foremost discuss Christ as the Logos, afterwhich we will look at the three main characteristics of the Logos in terms of his relation to the Father, his relation to the World and his relation to humanity. We will then conclude. The first thing we notice when we start reading the Gospel of John is its close similarity to Genesis chapter one verse one and that he introduces his book very differently to the other disciples turned apostles. All the writers begin with a different look to the story of Jesus. Matthew begins with the geneology of Jesus from Josephs line, Luke also uses a geneology starting point, but from Marys line, Mark goes straight into Jesus baptism. But John decided to start from the beginning. Note however that this is not the same beginning as mentioned in the Book of Genesis. Although Genesis starts with the beginning of creation, John goes beyond that. A.M. Hunter says no book ever opened more magnificently. [] John goes back to the very beginning of history, even beyond it, as to say There is only one true perspective in which to see this story you must see it in the light of eternity.  [1]  . Therefore, although the Gospel begins in the same way as Genesis, they speak of two differ ent creations. Genesis speaks of the old creation, whereas John speaks of the beginning of a new creation. For John to say in the beginning was the Word already starts proving Jesus immortality. One might think that he was then a part of Creation. John goes on to say and the Word was with God and the Word was God which not only proves his immortality but goes beyond that to prove his divinity. To go on to say that He was in the beginning with God seems to be a repetition of verse 1, but John actually reinforces what he is saying to show us that Jesus was not a part of creation, but he was a part of the creation process. He was actually the Word that spoke creation into existence. This is shown in two ways: Jesus is firstly referred to as the Word or in Greek, the Logos. What does this mean? A word can be defined as a means of communication, the expression of what is in ones mind  [2]  . Therefore the verse can be translated in the beginning God expressed himself. However, some s till find the translation of logos to word inadequate. One author explains that: To a Jew therefore the Word meant God showing himself in power, wisdom and love. On the other hand, to a Greek, especially if he had read the Stoic philosophers, the Logos meant the Rational Principle permeatting all reality.  [3]   Even so, in using the term Logos to describe Christ, John presents him as the very Word of God that God himself speaks. Jesus is then referred to as the person through whom all things were made. Jesus is therefore, as we have said before, the very word that brought creation into existence. God continue to speak to us through his Son, who is the Word as explained in Hebrews 1:1-3. The concept of the Logos is very deep however, which has brought much debate. In this passage, we see the main characteristics of Jesus operating as the Word. We see his relation to the Father first of all. One commentary says He was the person existing from eternity, distinct from but in eternal fellowship with the Father  [4]  . Next we go on to see Christs relation to the World in that through him the world was created. And then finally when we go on to read further down in verse 14, we see his relation to humanity. He became flesh and dwelt among us. For the rest of this essay, we will look into thes e three characteristics. Looking at the first few verses, in particular verses 1-5, we see the Words relation to God the Father. This is seen in the fact that the Word has always been in pre-existence with the Father. He was not only in pre-existence with God, but he is God himself. This is also seen in the fact that he possesses attributes of God such as being the Light. God is seen has the light in Old Testament scriptures such as Psalm 4:6 or Isaiah 2:5. Jesus is the Light of the World (Matt. 5:14). In his relation to the Father, Christ can therefore be seen as divine. Their relationship is so strong that through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (v.3). We therefore learn that God created through his agent the Word and there is nothing at all that was or could have been created without him. To deny his existence therefore is to deny that of God. John therefore affirms the pre-existence, the personality and the divinity of Christ in presenting him as the Word. The Word is not only seen as the light, but he is also Life itself. Hunter explains that the Divine Word was the source of life as well as the agent of creation  [5]  . He goes on to say that the word life can be referred to as a quickening power  [6]  and calls the light moral and spiritual illumination  [7]  . This brings us to the Words relation to the World, his very own creation. It was through Christ that God the Father created and now sustains, as seen in scriptures such as Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:2. In verses 6-7, the author starts by introducing the one who had been called to prepare the way, or to be the witness for the Light that was to come into the world. The author is sure to emphasize that he is the not the light but has only come to testify about the light. As we look into verses 9-10, we see how they tell of the Incarnation of Christ and what happened: the Light was coming into the world. In verse 11, we notice that the world he came to did not reco gnize him. The word own here appears twice in this verse and could mean the following: the first own could refer to the world in general and the second to his own people in terms of the Israelite who did not receive him. However, when Jesus came to the earth, he came to the people of Israel, who were Gods chosen people. Jesus would only be taking to the World through the apostles work and throughout Church History. This is obviously debatable, but I believe Jesus came unto his own as in his own creation, but his own (as in the people) did not respond or accept. Bruce, who uses the English Standard Version in his commentary, backs this statement by explaining the Greek term for the word own: His own place translated the neuter plural ta idia; his own people translates the masculine plural hoi idioi. [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] This is not a mere repetition of verse 10; it particularizes what was said more generally there. The Word of God, which came to the world of mankind in general, came in form of special revelation to the people of Israel [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦].  [8]   Therefore we see how he relates to the world in that he came into the world and was amongst the people of world, performing miracles, signs and wonders, showing his love, and yet the relationship between Creator and creation is so ruptured to the point where the Creator is put to death on a cross by his very own creation. However, there is hope for the ones who do want to choose to believe in him and he gave these ones the power to be reconciled with him and reborn spiritual. Let us now look at the word in relation to humanity on a whole. In becoming flesh (v.14) he became just like the creation. In Jesus, God became a human being, having the same nature as humanity, but without sin  [9]  . Through the gateway of human birth, the Incarnation is further explained in verse 14a. The rest of this verse indicates his dwelling among us. This dwelling is translated as Christ making his tabernacle among us. One author explained how the term tabernacle could suggest a temporary stay, as the tabernacle in the Old Testament was a tent that was pitched up to worship God. In this tent, the people would go to worship and experience the power of God. This same author comments that the Greek verb eskenosen means literally pitched his tent [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦]; the consonants s-k-n would remind the knowledgeable reader of the Hebrew Shekinah, the word the rabbis used for the Divine Presence among his people Israel  [10]  . This would explain the following the final p art of verse 14, when the author explains that we have seen his glory. The we here most likely refer to the Disciples who were with him, but denotes the idea of the Shekinah Glory concept mentioned earlier. The rest of the verses seem to carry on from where he left off, in the sense that verses 10-14 seems like a parenthesis between verses 9 and 15, since in verse 15 he goes on to speak about John the Baptist. The author ends this prologue well in saying: No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Fathers side, has made him known (v.18). Here again, the author proves the deity of Jesus Christ by interchangeably referring to him as God and as the Sent One, showing signs of the Trinity concept, which we are not able to discuss in this essay. In this essay, we look at the divinity of Jesus Christ. He saw that He is God, he is Creator, He is omnipresent and that he is Light and Life. We then looked at his relation to his Father, to the world and to humanity in general. He was in every sense God but in order to save us he made himself human in every sense. The story of Jesus is now about to be unfolded in the rest of this book, keeping in mind who he really is.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Lonely Soul of Dasein :: essays research papers

This analysis makes no pretences of keeping with the psychological and moral convictions that Heidegger ignored. His structural analysis is simply not complete enough to represent Dasein's phenomenological orientation in the world without considering some aspects which are inherent to each Dasein such as a psychological history and a moral destination. Although speculation as to the reasons behind his choice to ignore such overwhelming attributes is forever possible, leaving out psychology and morality leaves Dasein with no soul. Dasein then is nothing more than a component of the world through other Dasein. One can only Be when one's Being is disclosed by Others until the they is escaped in Death. Heidegger doesn't enjoy the negative connotation of the word escape in the context of relationships with Others, but this seems to be more important as a question of true existence, true realization of the authentic Self. I argue that the soul, the spirit, the essence of Dasein must be explained as well as the phenomena of existence in order to clarify the question 'What does it mean to be (Dasein)?'; Through the soul, Dasein may bridge the gaps of loneliness that occur in the solitude of single existence amongst Others. Psychology and morality provide excellent headquarters from which to launch this campaign in search of the soul of Dasein…How can one's soul exhibit both concernful solicitude and care while experiencing existential loneliness in the face of Death? When looking at the temporality of Dasein's existence, psychology corresponds to Heidegger's concept of already-being as does morality to being-ahead-of-itself, in relation to the prospect of having a soul. Psychology and morality play such large roles in the creation of both the they-self and the authentic self that some definitions are in order. Psychology explains the relationships between phenomena and both voluntary and involuntary behavior patterns. Behavior is the reaction of the subconscious with the conscious before decisions are made and actions taken. The sum of the behavioral limitations of these reactions, symbolically speaking, equals the finite potential of possibilities after already-being-in-the-world. Thus behavior displays an abundant importance when considering Dasein's interpretation of events on an authentic as well as an inauthentic level. It seems that Heidegger shies away from psychology because behavior can vary so much from one person to another and creates problems for his strictly structural analysis of being. Morality is also of great concern in a personal view of Heidegger's Being and Time due to the touchy nature of his use of such terms as conscience and guilt to describe qualities that are present in all Dasein.

The Cat and his Master Essay examples -- Puss in Boots Folk Tales Essa

The Cat and his Master Puss in Boots is a strange little folk tale in which a talking cat performs deeds of heroism in order to further his master's lot in life. It is saddled with a moral which implies that through hard work and ingenuity one can rise above his station. This hardly seems to be the case, however, when we look at the contributions made by the miller's youngest son and master of the puss himself. Furthermore, the symbolism peppered throughout the tale would seem to indicate that there is more going on. The tale begins with the death of a miller, who leaves his sole possessions to his three sons. The youngest of the sons winds up with nothing but what he believes to be a lowly cat, which he is convinced will be good only for a meal and a muff. The young man begins the story in a passive hopelessness, bemoaning the fact that he received the least of his father's goods in his inheritance, and he retains this passivity throughout. He never makes any contribution to his own well-being, beyond his initial decision not to eat the cat, and to let the cat demonstrate his cunning and deceitful skills. He lets the cat do all of the thinking and all of the work. He even becomes the "Marquis of Carabas" at the whim of the puss, and follows all of the cat's instructions, including swimming nude when the cat directs him. He doesn't even ask for an explanation. The moral states that "hard work and ingenuity will take a young man further than his father's money," but the young man certainly shows n o signs of hard work nor ingenuity. In fact, he seems to be an icon for naivety and blind faith. This does not, however, mean that the moral is wrong. There are several aspects of this story which take folk tale conventions and turn ... ...ter. He traps animals and delivers them to a person of power, displaying his ability to negotiate. He puts a plan into action that will place his master in a position of power and manipulates the peasants to back up that plan. He craftily dupes the ogre into using his incredible powers against himself. In all of these instances we see evidence of the underdog using his wits and cunning to overcome the odds and be in control of the world around him, an idea that must have had appeal to people with little or no control of the events in their lives. Indeed, it is an idea that still has appeal today. Works Cited Darnton, Robert The Great Cat Massacre http://www.geocities.com/pashathecat/History/Cat_Massacre.html Perrault, Charles. "Puss in Boots." Folk & Fairy Tales Comp. Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek. 2nd ed. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview, 1996. 94-97.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Roles of Greek and Roman Women Essay -- Greek, Roman, Women, femin

Greek and Roman women lived in a world where strict gender roles were given; where each person was judged in terms of compliance with gender-specific standards of conduct. Generally, men were placed above women in terms of independence, control and overall freedom. Whereas men lived in the world at large, active in public life and free to come and go as they willed, women's lives were sheltered. Most women were assigned the role of a homemaker, where they were anticipated to be good wives and mothers, but not much of anything else. The roles of women are thoroughly discussed in readings such as The Aeneid, Iliad, Sappho poetry, and Semonides' essay. Most women in ancient Rome were viewed as possessions of the men who they lived with. Basically they were handed from their father to their new husband at the time of their marriage and submitted any property they owned, or dowry they were given, to their husband. There were however two types of marriage in ancient Rome, Manus and sine Manus. Under the first type, Manus, the woman and all of her property and possessions were placed under the control of her husband and he could do with them how he pleased. Under the second type, sine Manus, the woman remained under the control of her oldest male relative, usually her father or brother. This type of marriage gave women a lot more freedom because they could carry out their own cash businesses, own their own property, and accept inheritance money (Gill, 5). Aside from the two different forms of marriage that was allowed, marriages in ancient Rome were very similar to those of the ancient Greeks. Girls married young, usually in their early teens, and many marriages were arranged by the family, usually the male head of the home. ... ...literature I couldn’t help but compare my lifestyle to the woman in the stories. Women today are no longer looked upon only to supervise over their home and family, they are not forced into marriages, and they are not blamed for all the world’s problems. Today’s society is not a patriarchal one; in fact today men and woman appear to be equal to one another. Works Cited Virgil. "The Aeneid" Book IV (lines 254-257, and lines 654-656) Gill, N.S. "Comparisons Between Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome", pages 1-8 Homer. â€Å"The Illiad† by (Book I, IV) Frost, Frank J. "Greek Society in the Age of Polis" (5th Edition) Pages 92, 93 Semonides of Amorgos (c. 625 B.C.) An Essay on Women ( lines 10-12) Semonides of Amorgos. â€Å"Women.† c. 7th cent. B.C.E. Trans. Diane Arnson Svarlien. Web. 7 Oct. 2014 The Roles of Greek and Roman Women Essay -- Greek, Roman, Women, femin Greek and Roman women lived in a world where strict gender roles were given; where each person was judged in terms of compliance with gender-specific standards of conduct. Generally, men were placed above women in terms of independence, control and overall freedom. Whereas men lived in the world at large, active in public life and free to come and go as they willed, women's lives were sheltered. Most women were assigned the role of a homemaker, where they were anticipated to be good wives and mothers, but not much of anything else. The roles of women are thoroughly discussed in readings such as The Aeneid, Iliad, Sappho poetry, and Semonides' essay. Most women in ancient Rome were viewed as possessions of the men who they lived with. Basically they were handed from their father to their new husband at the time of their marriage and submitted any property they owned, or dowry they were given, to their husband. There were however two types of marriage in ancient Rome, Manus and sine Manus. Under the first type, Manus, the woman and all of her property and possessions were placed under the control of her husband and he could do with them how he pleased. Under the second type, sine Manus, the woman remained under the control of her oldest male relative, usually her father or brother. This type of marriage gave women a lot more freedom because they could carry out their own cash businesses, own their own property, and accept inheritance money (Gill, 5). Aside from the two different forms of marriage that was allowed, marriages in ancient Rome were very similar to those of the ancient Greeks. Girls married young, usually in their early teens, and many marriages were arranged by the family, usually the male head of the home. ... ...literature I couldn’t help but compare my lifestyle to the woman in the stories. Women today are no longer looked upon only to supervise over their home and family, they are not forced into marriages, and they are not blamed for all the world’s problems. Today’s society is not a patriarchal one; in fact today men and woman appear to be equal to one another. Works Cited Virgil. "The Aeneid" Book IV (lines 254-257, and lines 654-656) Gill, N.S. "Comparisons Between Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome", pages 1-8 Homer. â€Å"The Illiad† by (Book I, IV) Frost, Frank J. "Greek Society in the Age of Polis" (5th Edition) Pages 92, 93 Semonides of Amorgos (c. 625 B.C.) An Essay on Women ( lines 10-12) Semonides of Amorgos. â€Å"Women.† c. 7th cent. B.C.E. Trans. Diane Arnson Svarlien. Web. 7 Oct. 2014

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

How and Why Did Hitler Kill the Jews

How,why and with what results did Hitler persecute the Jews ? How,why and with what results did Hitler persecute the Jews ? Hitler made them numerous promises and used many techniques of propaganda. Through Hitlers entire regime , Hitler’s main goal was to persecute the jews. The Jews were severely mistreated by Hitler and his numerous followers. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation, imprisonment, fear, or pain are all factors that established persecution of the Jews. There are various reason why Hitler wanted to persecute Jews in the first place.Hitler used gruesome methods of torture to persecute them. At the end of world war 1, Life for the German people became very difficult after the Treaty of Versailles. After paying a great amount of money for war damage to France and Great Britain, In 1929 Germany was in a economic depression of the worst kind. Hitler was a very inteligent man. He knew that the Germans was in a desperate state and were looking for someone to blame . He believed that the Jews were a threat to the so called superior ‘Aryan’ race, which was blonde haired,blue eyed and mainly German.He said there were many inferior races ,but the lowest of them all were the Jews. The Germans were extremely poor and unemployed. They turned to blame the Jews ,many whom were rich and successfull in business. Hitler made them promises such as new job openings and a decrease in unemployment if the Jews were taken out of the picture. Hitler was famouse for saying â€Å"If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed. † Hitler often told lies in his speeches . He was a great speaker and manged to convince the people that what he was saying was true.Hitler indoctrinated the children into beliving that the Jews were not pure blood and a threat to the nation through the curriculum and textbooks taught in school. Nother reason for his hatred were his anti capitalist and anti liberalism views. He claimed that the Jews were a part of an international conspiracy, and that he had profited from the misery of other Germans. All these were serious accusations but Germany was vulnerable other Germans. All these were serious accusations but Germany was vulnerable and was looking for something to believe in.Anti-Semitics believed Jews fit such stereotypes; ‘criminals, sexual predators, inferior, bacteria, unpatriotic’. To this day historians are confused about why Hitler personaly hated the jews . It is said that when Hitler was trying to make a living in Vienna, he often saw may Jews minting with money around him and thought it was unfair that they were extremely rich and he had to struggle to make a aliving. What further confuses the historians is that Hiters mother whom he worshiped was half Jewish resulting in him growing up in a semi jewish household.Once Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933,persecution of the Jews became official. Placards reading ‘Jew s not wanted’ were hung on doors outside shops and cafes. Jews were ade to wear the Star of David and beaten up on streets . In 1935,The Nuremberg laws were made. were antisemitic laws in Nazi Germany introduced at the annual Nuremberg Rally of the Nazi Party. Only Germans or those with related blood were considered citizens of the Reich from then on. Marriage or sexual relations between Jews and those of German blood. Were forbidden.By the mid 1930s the Jews were terrified and began to fled. Some went to Palestine,others to the USA and Britain. In 1938 the jews went around smashing Jewish stoores,homes and Synagogues. Ordinary German began to help in mudering the Jews. After Germany invaded Polandand Czechoslovakia in 1939 ,more Jews were trapped under German rule. The Germans began to transport Jews into the Ghettos. Initially Hitler began sending all jews to concentration camps. In the concentration camps, the Jews were either tortured or made to do hard labour. Even with the tiniest excuses they were shot.The Nazis killed physically or mentaly impaired jews without question. They would be selected for gassing this meant they would all be placed in a room and that mustard gas would be sprayed on them. If they survived, most Jews would slowly and systematically starved to death. This was made even worse because while they were being denied proper food, they were expected to do manual labour for long hours, despite being hungry and thirsty. As they were treated so badly,the Jews began to look like how they were made to seem in the propaganda posters making the Germans agree with Hitler even ore. the food was close to not non-existent, it was calculated to starve the Jews into corpses. Sometimes Jews were publicly hanged at roll call time. Jewish prisoners froze to death because they were not allowed to have any warm clothing or protection from the elements, and winters were very harsh. thers were experimented on by the notoriously brutal Dr. Mengele wh o used Jews to test out his own particular scientific theories. 2 million Jews were killed in 1941 ,when the invasion of the USSR began.The Final Solution in december 1941 was Nazi Germany's plan during World War II to annihilate the Jewish people, resulting in the most deadly phase of the Holocaust, the destruction of Jewish communities in continental Europe. about one million Jews were killed before the plans of the Final Solution were fully implemented in 1942, but it was only with the decision to eradicate the entire Jewish population that the extermination camps were built and industrialized mass slaughter of Jews began . The final solution implements what it’s name says, the final solution of getting rid of the Jews forever.Jews were rounded up in Germany,in Eastern Europe and every other part of the Nazi controlled Europe,Jews were sent to death camps. The most deadly extermination camp was in Auschwitz in Poland. 4 million people were sent and only 60,000 survived. Al l in all , the Holocaust will always be a big part of history as it resulted in deaths of millions of Jews who were all innocent people, who lived lives of hardships and torture to a great degree. We will never truly understand the pain and the sorrow they went through ,losing many loved ones. This was the destructive result of the persecution of the Jews. Rhea Daulet-Singh

Monday, September 16, 2019

Lais of Marie de France Essay

Love and Marie de France According to American mythologist, Joseph Campbell, â€Å"The greatest love was during the Medieval Ages, when noble hearts produced a romantic love that transcended lust† (Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers [2001]). The Lais of Marie de France are primarily concerned with this idea of love–specifically, courtly love–between a man and a woman. Courtly love, a union modeled after the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord, became a popular convention in the 12th century (â€Å"Backgrounds to Romance: ‘Courtly Love’†). Instead of proving loyalty to a lord, the man would have to prove his love to a woman. Marie de France, however, focuses not just on the idea of love, but also on the differing kinds of love that existed in medieval society. She recognizes love as a force that cannot be avoided and that can be executed correctly or incorrectly; not all love is equal. Marie begins her collection of lais with the story of Guigemar, a noble knight who is cursed with the task of finding true love to heal a physical injury. This lay introduces two types of love: selfish and selfless. Selfish love is not courtly love. It lacks devotion and true loyalty. It lacks suffering and self-denial. Marie de France portrays this kind of love in the old husband of the woman whom Guigemar loves. The man locks his wife away in an enclosure guarded by a castrated man. By doing this, the husband shows a mean, limited devotion to his wife; perhaps even worse, he limits her ability to experience true love. This kind of love does not last; in fact, the husband is cuckolded when his wife has a year-long affair with Guigemar. He is made a fool, the dupe of love. Guigemar, however, in contrast to the old husband, practices selfless love. He is kind and noble, and, although he suffers from his physical wound, the pain of love is keener: â€Å" Love had now pierced him to the quick†¦for the lady had wounded him so deeply†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (De France, Marie. The Lais of Marie de France. Trans. Glyn S. Burgess and Keith Busby [L ondon: Penguin Group, 1986.Print] p.48).† This type of love most closely resembles courtly love. Guigemar endures severe anguish to please his beloved, and his undying love inspires  him to prove himself to her. This lay provides a good example of what Marie de France considers wrong and right in love. We see another selfish love in the story of Bisclavret, a man with a werewolf alter ego who is betrayed by his adulterous wife. Ironically, although her husband is physically a beast, the real beast, as portrayed by Marie de France, is the wife, who not only betrays him, but also marries another man. She is selfishly concerned with her physical desires, something Marie de France considers ignoble and far worse than the jealousy displayed in the story of Guigemar. The selfish love in this story is inspired by sexual desire, a desire that Marie de France sees as a threat to selfless love. Selfish love is again shown in the lay of â€Å"Les Deux Amanz,† in which a young man has to carry his beloved to the top of a mountain without falling in order to prove his worthiness to her father. This seems to be an act of love, but, in fact, when the woman begs her lover to take a potion that will help him reach the top, he reveals another, vainer, motivation: â€Å"These people would shout at us and deafen me their noise†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Burgess and Busby 84). In other words, his desire to reach the mountaintop is motivated at least in part by a need to prove himself to others, and less by the desire to faithfully perform a trial for his beloved. The noble purity of courtly love is not present. Characters demonstrating pure, selfless—even self-denying–devotion are portrayed throughout the lais as examples of true love. In the story of â€Å"Eliduc,† a brave, loyal knight is forced to find a new lord in another land and temporarily leave his wife, Guildeleuc. Although Eliduc meets a new love (Guilliadun), he remains faithful to his wife, demonstrating loyalty, suffering, and therefore a more pure kind of love. He finally marries Guilliadun, but only after Guildeleuc decides to give herself up to God and leave Eliduc. By letting Eliduc marry his true love, Guildeleuc also shows love in its most giving form, but in this case it is a truly spiritual love. This story thus displays two types of selfless love represented by each of his wives: love of God and the love between a man and a woman. Significantly, at the end of the lay, â€Å"He placed his beloved lady with his former wife, by whom she was received honorably as a sister, . . . â€Å" (Burgess and Busby 126). This suggests that pure love can take both a spiritual and worldly form. Central to the Lais of Marie de France, then, is courtly love. While her lais are idealistic in their portrayal of loyalty  and romantic chivalry, historically, marriages among the nobility were dispassionate and practical (Joseph Campbell). Troubadours began to introduce stories of interpersonal relationships and the possibility of romantic love. Although this kind of love directly contradicted the views of the church, it inspired people to take matters of love and relationships into their own hands (Joseph Campbell). This is what Marie de France wants to inspire–the universal knowledge of love and how imperative an aspect it remains in society. The idea is important enough to her to make her text more accessible to society. She begins her prologue by stating: â€Å"When a truly beneficial thing is heard by many people, it then enjoys its first blossom, but if it is widely praised its flowers are in full bloom†(Burgess and Busby 41). She wishes to share her insights about love to everyone, not simply to write inaccessible stories available only to philosophers or the learned. Works Cited â€Å"Backgrounds to Romance: ‘Courtly Love’† Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers [2001]. De France, Marie. The Lais of Marie De France. Trans. Glyn S. Burgess and Keith Busby. London: Penguin Group, 1986. Print.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Merck Pharma Case Analysis

Jim Mesplie MBA 519 – Competitive Strategy Case Analysis #4 FACTS Beginning as a small scale manufacturer of chemical in the United States, Merck Research Labs (MRL) became the top notch research institution in the pharmaceutical industry by World War II. By attracting the top talent in chemistry, biology, and pharmacology, MRL emerged as the leader in human pharmaceuticals with the release of highly necessary drugs to treat infections, and tuberculosis. MRL focused their strengths on three key areas: vitamins, antibiotics, and hormones.With the best scientists in their industries, MRL developed a reputation of being the best and their profitability put them at the top of their own industry. By the 1970’s, pharmaceutical research had advanced dramatically and MRL expanded their leadership in the market by providing â€Å"breakthrough drugs to the market. † In doing so, MRL tripled their bottom line by the 1980’s and were continually one of the most valuabl e companies on an annual basis. MRL’s profitability was hard to match by their competitors along with their innovations in the human therapeutic drug market while maintaining a science-based business model.MRL biggest core strengths was not only maximizing their top-talent to produce profits and cutting-edge drugs to be sold on the open market, but being very disciplined in their drug development process. Every one of MRL’s competitors put their newly designed drugs thru the same development process as they do, but the difference is post-marketing clinical studies (Phase V) makes sure their products are positioned correctly and they are utmost effective to whoever consumes their products for medical reasons. ISSUESIn 1984, the pharmaceutical business world was shook up with the passing of the Hatch-Waxman Act which tore down a barrier that MRL had created with their innovations for other competitors to enter the market. This new law enacted allowed generic drugs to be manufactured which made a big hit to market share for MRL and other competitors in the pharmaceutical industry. Collaboration could be used with smaller companies to replicate drug patents that recently expired which meant smaller R&D was needed to make generic drugs and the timeline for MRL to have exclusivity was depleted.Another hit was a few years later when pricing restrictions were put in place hurting MRL and the industry even further. With the regulations and the FDA allowing businesses to advertise to potential consumers directly thru the mail, television, or print ads in the local newspaper, MRL had to re-think their own strategy and begin what the new CEO Ray Gilmartin called a â€Å"New Reality. † In his view, what made MRL the powerhouse in the past is not going to carry the company forward with the new business battlefield for market share.The belief that the product quality and effectiveness would be enough to justify a premium price in the open market would no t be a long-term solution for MRL since doctors and patients could get something very similar for a much cheaper price by using generic drugs. The biggest struggle for MRL currently is whether they could adapt to the new changes while maintaining their core values as being a â€Å"science-led† or based company. Mr.Gilmartin felt the biggest obstacle for the company was bringing drugs to the new market while still using their larger research department while other competitors are focusing more on a larger sales force to bring their drugs to market. CONCLUSION/ANALYSIS MRL and Mr. Gilmartin still struggle with adapting to the new market and it is obvious that Mr. Gilmartin isn’t quite sold on what the organization has done to be effective with selling their drugs in the market.While not adapting to the drug industry changes, MRL is not leveraging external opportunities with other organizations like their competitors have along with not capitalizing on direct to consumer marketing with a minimal sales force. Now MRL should not forget what made them great by maintaining a top-tiered research staff, but it would be ideal for them start putting more money into other critical stages of the drug development process. As you can see in Exhibit 2, MRL’s puts 60% of their R&D expenditures in the target & clinical phases of the drug development process.Now this helped them become a market leader in product differentiation and quality but today’s competitors are focusing more on phases III and IV to help drugs hit the market with a bigger impact. I feel MRL is on the path to change while adapting new strategies in response to the new market. However the bureaucracy that was created in doing so has inhibited this response to a minimal roar. All these extra teams that Mr. Gilmartin and MRL have created to figure out how to re-gain their market share have slowed down the progress that was intended. I suggest that Mr.Gilmartin keep with his somewhat flat leadership organization but invest more time in working with marketing department to create drugs that are needed in the market place. I feel utilizing the marketing department’s expertise and forecast of what the market will demand will help MRL develop drugs that can be sold in the market from the beginning will alleviate any wasted efforts for the company in those first few critical and expensive stages of drug development. In doing so, costs will be reduced and profits will be reflective of those efforts which would put them back down the same path that made MRL great in the first place.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Customer-Driven Strategic Marketing

Chapter 1 Customer-Driven Strategic Marketing Lecture Outline I. Defining Marketing We define marketing as the process of creating, distributing, promoting, and pricing goods, services, and ideas to facilitate satisfying exchange relationships with customers and to develop and maintain favorable relationships with stakeholders in a dynamic environment. [ A ]. Marketing Focuses on Customers [ 1 ]. As the purchasers of the products that organizations develop, promote, distribute, and price, customers are the focal point of all marketing activities. [ 2 ].The essence of marketing is to develop satisfying exchanges from which both customers and marketers benefit. [ 3 ]. Organizations generally focus their marketing efforts on a specific group of customers, or target market. [ B ]. Marketing Deals with Products, Distribution, Promotion, and Price 1. Marketing is more than simply advertising or selling a product; it involves developing and managing a product, making the product available i n the right place and at a price acceptable to buyers, and communicating information to help customers determine if the product will satisfy their needs. 2.These activities—product, distribution, promotion, and pricing—are known as the marketing mix because marketers decide what type of each element to use and in what amounts. 3. The Product Variable [ a ])The product variable of the marketing mix deals with researching customers’ needs and wants and designing a product that satisfies them. [ b ])A product can be a good, a service, or an idea. ( [ 1 ])Good—a physical entity ( [ 2 ])Service—the application of human and mechanical efforts to people or objects to provide intangible benefits to customers ( [ 3 ])Idea—concept, philosophy, image, or issue c ])The product variable includes the creation or modification of brand names and packaging. It may also include decisions regarding warranty and repair services. [ d ])Product variable decisions and related activities are important because they directly impact the creation of products that meet customers’ needs and wants. 4. The Distribution Variable In dealing with the distribution variable, a marketing manager makes products available in the quantities desired to as many target market customers as possible, keeping total inventory, transportation, and storage costs as low as possible. . The Promotion Variable The promotion variable relates to activities used to inform individuals or groups about an organization and its products. a)Promotion can be aimed at increasing public awareness of an organization and new or existing products. b) Promotional activities can also educate customers about product features or urge people to take a particular stance on a political or social issue. 6. The Price Variable a)The price variable relates to decisions and actions associated with establishing pricing objectives and policies and determining product prices. )Price is a critic al component of the marketing mix because customers are concerned about the value obtained in an exchange. 7. Marketing mix variables are often viewed as controllable because they can be modified; however, economic conditions, competitive structure, or government regulations may limit a marketing manager’s influence. [ C ]. Marketing Builds Relationships with Customers and Other Stakeholders 1. Individuals and organizations engage in marketing to facilitate exchanges—that is, the provision or transfer of goods, services, or ideas in return for something of value. [ 4 ].Four conditions must exist for an exchange to occur: a)Two or more individuals, groups, or organizations must participate, and each must possess something of value desired by the other party. b)The exchange should provide a benefit or satisfaction to both parties involved in the transaction. c)Each party must have confidence in the promise of the â€Å"something of value† held by the other. d)To b uild trust, the parties to the exchange must meet expectations. [ 5 ]. An exchange will not necessarily take place just because these conditions exist; marketing activities can occur even without an actual transaction or sale.Figure 1. 2 depicts the exchange process. 6. Marketing activities should attempt to create and maintain satisfying exchange relationships. [ 7 ]. Marketers are also concerned with building relationships with relevant stakeholders who have a â€Å"stake,† or claim, in some aspect of a company’s products, operations, markets, industry, and outcomes; these may include customers, employees, investors and shareholders, suppliers, governments, communities, and many others. [ D ]. Marketing Occurs in a Dynamic Environment . The marketing environment, which includes competitive, economic, legal and regulatory, technological, and socio-cultural forces, surrounds the customer and affects the marketing mix as shown in Figure 1. 1. 2. The forces of the market ing environment affect a marketer’s ability to facilitate exchanges in three ways: a)They affect customers’ lifestyles, standards of living, and preferences and needs for products. b)They help determine whether and how a marketing manager can perform certain marketing activities. )They affect a marketing manager’s decisions and actions by influencing buyers’ reactions to the organization’s marketing mix. 3. Marketing environment forces can fluctuate quickly and dramatically. 4. Changes in the marketing environment produce uncertainty for marketers and at times hurt marketing efforts, but they also create opportunities. 5. Marketing mix elements—product, distribution, promotion, and price—are factors over which an organization has control; the forces of the environment, however, are subject to far less control. II.Understanding the Marketing Concept A. According to the marketing concept, an organization should try to provide products t hat satisfy customers’ needs through a coordinated set of activities that also allows the organization to achieve its goals. 1. Customer satisfaction is the major focus of the marketing concept. a)To implement the marketing concept, an organization focuses on customer analysis, competitor analysis, and integration of the organization’s resources to provide customer value and satisfaction, as well as long-term profits. )The organization must also continue to alter, adapt, and develop products to keep pace with customers’ changing desires and preferences. [ 8 ]. The marketing concept is not a second definition of marketing. It is a management philosophy guiding an organization’s overall activities. [ 9 ]. It is important for marketers to consider not only current buyers’ needs, but also the long-term needs of society. B. Evolution of the Marketing Concept 1. The Production Orientation )During the second half of the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing in the United States. b)As a result of new technology and new ways of using labor, products poured into the marketplace, where consumer demand for the new manufactured goods was strong. 2. The Sales Orientation a)Between the mid 1920s and the early 1950s, businesspeople viewed sales as the major means of increasing profits. b)During this era, businesspeople believed that the major marketing activities were personal selling, advertising, and distribution. 3.The Marketing Orientation a)By the early 1950s, some businesspeople recognized they must first determine what customers want and then produce it, rather than make products and try to persuade customers that they need what is produced. b)A marketing orientation requires the â€Å"organization-wide generation of market intelligence pertaining to current and future customer needs, dissemination of the intelligence across departments, and organization-wide responsiveness to it. † c)Today, businesses want to satisfy customers and build meaningful, long-term buyer-seller relationships.C. Implementing the Marketing Concept To implement the marketing concept, a marketing-oriented organization must accept some general conditions and recognize and deal with several problems. 1. Management must first establish an information system to discover customers’ real needs and then use the information to create satisfying products. 2. To satisfy customers’ objectives as well as its own, a company must also coordinate all its activities. III. Managing Customer Relationships A.Achieving the full profit potential of each customer relationship should be the fundamental goal of every marketing strategy. 1. At the most basic level, profits can be obtained through relationships in the following ways: a)By acquiring new customers b)By enhancing the profitability of existing customers c)By extending the duration of customer relationships 2. Implementing the marketing concept means optim izing the exchange relationship—the relationship between a company’s financial investment in customer relationships and the return generated by customers responding to that investment.B. The term relationship marketing refers to â€Å"long-term, mutually beneficial arrangements in which both the buyer and seller focus on value enhancement through the creation of more satisfying exchanges. † 1. Relationship marketing continually deepens the buyer’s trust in the company, and as the customer’s confidence grows, this in turn increases the organization’s understanding of the customer’s needs. [ 10 ]. Eventually this interaction becomes a solid relationship that allows for cooperation and mutual dependence. C.Customer-centric marketing requires developing collaborative relationships with customers based on focusing on their individual needs and concerns. 1. It adopts the view that customers buy offerings which provide value and prefer a rel ationship rather than a transactional orientation. 2. Collaborating with and learning from customers leads to a â€Å"sense and respond† approach rather than a produce and sell approach. D. Customer relationship management (CRM) uses information about customers to create marketing strategies which develop and sustain desirable customer relationships. 1.By increasing customer value over time, organizations try to retain and increase long-term profitability through customer loyalty. 2. Managing customer relationships requires identifying patterns of buying behavior and using that information to focus on the most promising and profitable customers. IV. Value-Driven Marketing A. To manage customer relationships, organizations must develop marketing mixes that create value for customers. Value is a customer’s subjective assessment of benefits relative to costs in determining the worth of a product (customer value = customer benefits – customer costs). . Customer bene fits include anything a buyer receives in an exchange. 2. Customer costs include anything a buyer must give up to obtain the benefits provided by the product. Costs include the monetary price of the product as well as less obvious nonmonetary costs, such as time and effort. B. The process people use to determine the value of a product is not highly scientific. C. In developing marketing activities, it is important to recognize that customers receive benefits based on their experiences. D. The marketing mix can be used to enhance perceptions of value. V. Marketing ManagementA. Marketing management is the process of planning, organizing, implementing, and controlling marketing activities to facilitate effective and efficient exchanges. 1. â€Å"Effectiveness† is the degree to which an exchange helps achieve an organization’s objectives. 2. â€Å"Efficiency† refers to minimizing the resources an organization must spend to achieve a specific level of desired exchang es. B. Planning is a systematic process of assessing opportunities and resources, determining marketing objectives, and developing marketing strategy and plans for implementation and control.C. Organizing marketing activities involves developing the internal structure of the marketing unit. D. Proper implementation of marketing plans hinges on coordination of marketing activities, motivation of marketing personnel, and effective communication within the unit. E. The marketing control process consists of establishing performance standards, comparing actual performance with established standards, and reducing the difference between desired and actual performance. VI. The Importance of Marketing in Our Global EconomyA. Marketing Costs Consume a Sizable Portion of Buyers’ Dollars 1. About one-half of a buyer’s dollar goes to the costs of marketing. 2. Because marketing expenses consume significant portions of each dollar, it is important to know how this money is used. B. Marketing Is Used in Nonprofit Organizations 1. Marketing is also important in organizations working to achieve goals other than ordinary business objectives such as profit. 2. Government agencies engage in marketing activities to fulfill missions and goals. . In the private sector, nonprofit organizations also employ marketing activities to create, distribute, promote, and even price programs that benefit particular segments of society. C. Marketing Is Important to Business and the Economy 1. Businesses must sell products to survive and grow, and marketing activities help sell their products. 2. Marketing activities help produce profits which are essential to the survival of individual businesses and the health and ultimate survival of the global economy. D.Marketing Fuels Our Global Economy 1. Profits from marketing products contribute to the development of new products and technologies. 2. Advances in technology, along with falling political and economic barriers, and the univers al desire for a higher standard of living, have made marketing across national borders commonplace while stimulating global economic growth. E. Marketing Knowledge Enhances Consumer Awareness 1. The study of marketing allows a more effective assessment of a product’s value and flaws. 2.An understanding of marketing enables evaluation of corrective measures (such as laws, regulations, and industry guidelines) which could stop unfair, damaging, or unethical marketing practices. F. Marketing Connects People through Technology 1. New technology, especially technology related to computers and telecommunications, helps marketers understand and satisfy more customers than ever before. 2. The Internet is a vital tool for marketing to consumers and other businesses. G. Socially Responsible Marketing can Promote the Welfare of Customers and Society 1.The success of our economic system depends on marketers whose values promote trust and cooperative relationships in which customers are t reated with respect. 2. By managing concern about the impact of marketing on society, a organization can protect the interests of the general public and the natural environment. H. Marketing Offers Many Exciting Career Prospects 1. From 25 to 33 percent of all civilian workers in the U. S. perform marketing activities. 2. Whether a person earns a living through marketing activities or performs them voluntarily in non-business projects, marketing knowledge and skills are valuable assets.