Drawing on current academic theory and debate, critically evaluate the Essay

Drawing on current academic theory and debate, critically evaluate the contribution of the Human Resource Management function to the management of employee reward practices - Essay Example Throughout the whole XX century and even earlier both practitioners and scholars attempted to design the theories explaining human behaviour at work and the ways to raise its effectiveness. A good insight into the value of HR related programs is provided by Schuler (1990: 52-54). He emphasizes that the HR function had an opportunity to shift from being an â€Å"employee advocate† (associated with personnel management) to a â€Å"member of the management team†. Schuler’s (1990) view was that this required HR professionals to be concerned with the profits, organizational effectiveness and business survival. In other words, human resource issues should be addressed as business issues. Storey (2001: 18-34) believes that emergence of HRM contributed greatly to an ever-greatest since industrial revolution shift in the principles of management. HRM encouraged both managers and employees to get rid of traditional patterns of interaction, outdated ideas of motivation, stereotypes, assessment and appraisal. Managers ceased to be mere mentors and executioners and turned to be the members of business teams. Introduction of HRM principle has made modern companies more competitive, dynamic and people-friendly that consequently influenced their efficiency and marketability. Therefore, many believe that HRM caused what was later called â€Å"a new managerialism† – a new look on organization, the ways it functions and succeeds and the way its employees work (Storey, 2001, p. 18). At the same time, HRM is not just a set of principles; it is rather an organizational science that helps to implement company’s general strategy in a most effective way. Thus, according to the most conventional definitions HRM is defined as a â€Å"system that is tailored to the demands of the business strategy† (Miles and Snow, 1984, p. 36-37); or â€Å"the pattern of planned activities intended to enable an organization to achieve its goals† (Wright and McMahan, 1992, pp. 343-345).

Days of Destruction Days of Revolt Essay Example for Free

Days of Destruction Days of Revolt Essay They offer very detailed and disturbing descriptions of life on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the slums of Camden, New Jersey, and the â€Å"surface mining† zones surrounding Welch, West Virginia, as well as some places in Immokalee, Florida, that are literally like slave camps. One chapter of the book caught my eye, â€Å"Days of Slavery. † It mainly takes place in Immokalee Florida, a center of immigrant agricultural laborers, mostly Latino. The immigrants are housed in terrible conditions, which makes it very hard for them to work. Additionally to the terrible conditions that they are forced to work in, they are also paid unreasonably low wages for the amount of time they are working. Another thing that is affecting the people who work in the factories are serious problems with breathing. They have this problem because of pesticide poisoning and other chemicals that they are being exposed to while working. One chemical that is mentioned is Methyl Bromide. It is also not uncommon for these workers to be held in literal slavery, have their paychecks stolen, and be subjected to physical abuse if they get out of line. The legal system in Florida appears willing to prosecute cases of slavery, but the immigrants are very afraid to come forward for obvious reasons. They are afraid they will be fired and more than likely the cases will not be judged in their favor. This is because these companies are huge, and are able to pay people off to continue making the workers work under unreasonable conditions. ONeill 2 Hedges interviews activists from the Coalition of Imoakalee Workers, a very strong and militant organization. He describes their struggle to secure a minimum level of decent conditions for the workers. The chapter includes the case of Miguel Flores and Sebastian Gomez, who where sentenced in 1997 to fifteen years in prison on charges of slavery, extortion, and firearm possession. The duo oversaw a modern slavery operation of four hundred men and women who harvested fields in Florida and South Carolina. The book highlights the harsh conditions for the laborers in this operation. The author wrote: The workers, mostly indigenous Mexicans and Guatemalans, were forced to work ten to twelve hours a day, six days a week, for as little as $20 dollars a week, all under the supervision of armed guards. Those who attempted to escape were beaten, pistol-whipped, and at times shot. The crew leaders charged the workers exorbitant prices for food. Female workers, according to one victim, were routinely raped. The coalition workers were told by Flores that if their experiences of working in the factory were talked about, he would cut their tongues out. (Hedges 158) The main questions of the people in the community of Immokalee were probably, â€Å"Who is going to take a stand for us immigrants? Who is going to be our leader that we will follow so we can be treated like normal human-beings? Their questions were not being answered until a man by the name of Lucas Benitez came along. Benitez was thirty-six and had two children . A group was started by Bentiez as well as people who â€Å"found the courage to stand up to abuse, breaking the cycle of fear that keeps the system in place. † Benitez started by becoming an organizer. He and his group would meet at the local Catholic church at night to help those who were being treated unfairly. Things were turning around for the immigrants. They were protesting and trying to do whatever they could to defeat the huge companies who were making them work many hours for such little pay. As they began to protest and strike, the employers gave them what they wanted. The workers of Imoakalee, Florida, got ONeill 3 a pay raise, and were no longer held in literal slavery. Other then the few changes that were mentioned above, Imoakalee Florida, has not significantly changed since the mid 1950s. Today, Imoakalee, Florida, is still an area where a majority of Americas crops and produce are grown. Many immigrants still live in Imoakalee, Florida. To this day, unfortunately corruption is still going on in Imoakalee. Huge factories and companies are forcing workers to work very hard, and they are also causing damage to the environment. They are causing damage to the environment because of the smoke stacks that are required by the different factories. (Coalition of Immokalee Workers) ONeill 4 Works Cited Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). N. p. , n. d. Web. 7 Feb. 2013. . Hedges, Chris, and Joe Sacco. Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt. New York: Nation Books, 2012. Print.

Relationship With The Media And Tourism

Relationship With The Media And Tourism According to statistics, there are aspects which affect our way of thinking much more than mass media alone. The information and advice we are fed daily from various sources can often be ignored by us, but the mass media influences us all greatly, therefore, it is important for us to define mass media. The term mass media was first used in the 1920s to denote a section of the media aimed at targeting the lager audience using outlets such as nationwide radio networks and mass circulation of newspapers and magazines, though some forms of mass media such as books and manuscripts had already been used successfully for centuries. Mass media includes Internet media such as podcasts, blogs, message boards and video. We now have the kind of exposure that is compares in scale to that which was once restricted only to a certain band of mass media producers. Such audience communication has been considered by various commentators as forming a mass society with special characteristics, in particular, atomization or the lack of social connections this makes it especially open to the influence of modern mass media techniques such as advertising and propaganda. Public media as a term is used much less and is defined as media whose mission is to server or engage a public. Mass media can be used for several purposes, these include: a. Advocacy, in business and social matters. This can include advertising, marketing, propaganda, public relations, and political communication. b. Entertainment, traditionally in the performing of music, acting and sports and more recently during the late 20th century via video and computer games. c. Public service announcements. What makes mass media so attractive? The tourism industry harnesses the mass media which in turn holds a form of mystique to the public. This is because the designed communication appeals to a wider demographic. Advances made in mass media technology aides the marketing and promotion of tourism. If it gets people talking then this is a sign of a good mass marketing drive. If it succeeds then not only does it mean that the advertising drive has worked well, but also that the organisation in charge will benefit by the much valued and sought after word-of-mouth method of advertising. 2) Types of Media It can be possible to divide the types of Media into 3 categories: Print Media, Electronic Media and New-age Media. à ¢- º Print Media à ¢-„ a. Book A book is a collection of sheets of paper, parchment or other material with a piece of text written on them, bound together along one edge within covers. A book is also a literary work or a main division of such a work. b. Magazine A magazine is a periodical publication containing a variety of articles, generally financed by advertising and/or purchase by readers. Magazines are typically published weekly, biweekly, monthly, bimonthly or quarterly, with a date on the cover that is in advance of the date it is actually published. They are often printed in color on coated paper, and are bound with a soft cover. Magazines can be classified as: General interest magazines (e.g. Frontline, India Today, The Week, The Sunday Indian etc) Special interest magazines (womens, sports, business, scuba diving, etc) c. Newspaper A newspaper is a publication containing news and information and advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called newsprint. It may be general or special interest, most often published daily or weekly. The first printed newspaper was published in 1605, and the form has thrived even in the face of competition from technologies such as radio and television. à ¢- º Electronic Media à ¢-„ a. Broadcast: radio television Television and radio programs are distributed through radio broadcasting over frequency bands that are highly regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Such regulation includes determination of the width of the bands, range, licencing, types of receivers and transmitters used, and acceptable content. b. Film Film encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. The name comes from the photographic film (also called filmstock), historically the primary medium for recording and displaying motion pictures. Many other terms exist motion pictures (or just pictures and picture), the silver screen, photoplays, the cinema, picture shows, flicks and commonly movies. c. Internet The Internet (also known simply as the Net or less precisely as the Web) is a more interactive medium of mass media, and can be briefly described as a network of networks. Specifically, it is the worldwide, publicly accessible network of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using the standard Internet Protocol (IP). It consists of millions of smaller domestic, academic, business, and governmental networks, which together carry various information and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer, and the interlinked Web pages and other documents of the World Wide Web. à ¢- º New-age Media à ¢-„ a. Blogs (Web Logs) Blogging has become a huge form of media. A blog is a website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. b. RSS feeds RSS is a format for syndicating news and the content of news-like sites, including major news sites like Wired, news-oriented community sites like Slashdot, and personal blogs. It is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines, and podcasts. c. Podcast A podcast is a series of digital-media files which are distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers. The term podcast, like broadcast, can refer either to the series of content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also called podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster. d. Mobile Mobile phones were introduced in Japan in 1979 but became a mass media only in 1998 when the first downloadable ringing tones were introduced in Finland. Soon most forms of media content were introduced on mobile phones, and today the total value of media consumed on mobile towers over that of internet content, and was worth over 31 billion dollars in 2007 (source Informa). 3) Role of the media in tourism The mass media plays a unique role in modern society. Its growth has accompanies an increase in the magnitude and the complexity of actions and engagements within society. With rapid social change, innovation in technology, an increase in personal income, standard of life and the decline of some traditional forms of control and authority. Although much debated, there is an association between the development of mass media and social change, even after years of study into the influence of the media. Many of the consequences whether beneficial or detrimental which are attributed to the mass media are almost without doubt due to other tendencies within society. Sociologists would rarely deny the significance of mass media and mass communications as a whole, as being a main feature in the construction and circulation of modern social understanding and imagery. The media play a crucial role in putting emerging destinations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia onto the global tourist map, helping to boost the local economies, according to the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UNTO) (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=23983Cr=georgiaCr1=tourism). The vast majority of travel is decided upon by people who have never before travelled to that particular destination, and are therefore dependant on media reporting. Should a crisis occur, tourism can be seriously damaged. 4) Relationship with Media and Tourism It can not be ignored that the recent boom in tourism can be attributed to the media. Information is accessed using it and an education regarding the many interesting attractions to be found around the world. The internet is possibly the most popular source of information on destinations and the best way of reaching them. Through the Internet, information and various articles on a destination can be found which will give the traveller an advantage. They will also gain knowledge to determine which places best suit them and offer them the most. Using the internet is fairly easy and cheap to book. With online travel agencies, flights and trips can be booked simply by logging on to a particular website and making a choice from any of the tour packages the agency offers. 2. Effects of media on tourism The internet has for a long time been a key component and aide in the technology of travel. Surveys show that the trend is rising in numbers and indicate that travellers are doing their research and booking more and more of their travel online. Whist traditionally the realm of most major websites who were offering low airline fares with all the accompaniments are now in a position to offer even more. Social media now provides a completely new opportunity for interaction with its potential customers. It has become a global media platform which is at last, companies in all sectors are finding new way to: (http://38minutes.ning.com/profiles/blogs/can-social-media-make-an, Can Social Media make an impact on Travel and Tourism?) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ provide a greatly improved customer service à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ respond to customer needs in the marketplace à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ extend their real-world brands beyond current geographic restrictions These same things can occur in the world of travel and tourism! 1) Economy The tourism industry generates substantial economic benefits to host countries and tourists home countries. Particularly in developing countries, one of the first motivations for a region to promote itself as a tourism destination is the improvement made to its economy. Along with other factors, this massive economic development can bring both positive and negative consequences. (www.geointeractive.co.uk//economic%20impact%20of%20tourism.ppt, Globalisation and Tourism: Impact of Tourism) à ¢- ºNegative impact à ¢-„ There are numerous hidden costs relating to tourism, these can have a negative effect on the economy of the host community. Wealthy countries are better placed to profit from tourism rather than the poorer ones. In addition, the countries last developed will have the most urgent need for income, employment created by it and a general rise in living standards. These countries are less likely to realise these benefits due to large scale transfer of tourism revenues leaving the host country also the exclusion of local businesses and their products. a. Leakage The direct income for an area is the amount of tourist revenue that remains locally after taxes, profits and salaries are paid outside the area and after imports, these subtracted amounts are called leakage. Generally, in most all-inclusive package tours, around 80% of a travellers expenditure will go to the airline, hotels and other international companies, as opposed to local businesses and workers. In addition to this, significant amount of income actually retained at destination level can leave again through leakage. In Thailand, a study of leakage in tourism showed that an estimated 70% of all money spent by tourists actually left Thailand. There are two main ways that leakage occurs: Import leakage: This mostly occurs when tourists demand certain standards of foods, equipment and other products that the host country cannot supply. On average the import-related leakage for most developing countries to-date is between 40% and 50% of gross tourism earnings for small economies and between 10% and 20% for most advanced and diversified economies. Export leakage: Often, found in poorer developing countries, these are the only destinations that possess the necessary capital needed to invest in the construction of tourism infrastructure and its facilities. An outcome of this is an export leakage which will arise when overseas investors who finance the resorts and hotels take their profits back to country of origin. b. Enclave Tourism Local businesses sometimes see their opportunity to earn income from tourists severely reduced by the creation of all-inclusive holiday packages. When a tourist spends their entire stay at the same resort or cruise ship, which cater for all their needs and where they make all their purchases, there is little or no opportunity for local people to profit from tourism. All-inclusive hotels generate the largest amount of revenue but their impact on the economy is less per dollar of revenue than other forms of accommodation. All-inclusives also import more and employ fewer people per dollar of revenue than other hotels. The cruise ship industry provides another example of economic enclave tourism. In 1999 non-river cruises carried around 8.7 million international passengers. On some ships guests were encouraged to spend most of their time and money on board, more notably in the Caribbean. Guest opportunities to make purchases in certain ports are closely managed and restricted. c. Infrastructure cost Tourism development can cost the local government and local taxpayers a great deal of money. Developers may insist the government improve airports, roads and other infrastructure, along with tax breaks and other financial advantages, which can turn out to very expensive. Though the improvement of a countrys infrastructure can be deemed to be a necessity, when public resources are spent in such a way, it is often at the exposure of critical areas such as health and education. d. Increase in prices A tourist demands for services and goods will often cause price increases that react negatively on local residents whose income may not rise proportionately. Tourism development and the related rise in the demand of real estate may increase considerably along with a dramatic rise in building costs and land values, making basic daily requirements more difficult to attain. e. Economic dependence of the local community on tourism For a healthy economy diversification is a necessity. However, if a country or region becomes increasingly dependant for its economic survival upon one industry, it can put severe strain upon itself and the people involved to perform well. Developing countries, especially those without the ability to explore other resources have welcome tourism as a way to boost their economy. In Gambia, for example, 30% of workers depend directly or indirectly on tourism. Many small island states struggling to develop, percentages can range from 83% in the Maldives to 21% in the Seychelles and 34% in Jamaica. To rely solely on tourism carries a risk to those tourist-dependant economies. Economic recession, the impact of natural disasters such as tropical storms and changing patterns in tourism can all have a devastating effect. f. Seasonal character of jobs Problems that seasonal workers face include: job and income insecurity guarantee of employment difficulties in getting training employment-related medical benefits recognition of their experience working conditions and unsatisfactory and working conditions. à ¢- º Positive impact à ¢-„ a. Foreign exchange earnings Tourism expenditure will help generate income to the host economy which will stimulate the necessary investment for financial growth in various economic sectors. Some countries may accelerate growth by insisting that visitors bring in a certain amount of foreign currency for each day of the duration of their stay. A significant indicator of the role of international tourism is its generation of foreign exchange earnings. In 83% of countries, tourism is one of the leading five export categories this accounts for the main source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 38% of countries. b. Contribution to government revenues Taxes generated by direct contributions on incomes from tourism employment and businesses and direct levies made on tourist e.g. departure tax. Indirect contributions arrive via tax and duties charged on services and goods supplied to tourists. The TWO assumes that tourism and travels direct and indirect, and personal tax contribution globally was more than US$800 billion in 1998 this figure is expected to double by the year 2010. c. Employment generation International tourism and its rapid expansion has significantly increased employment. Eg. Hotel accommodation alone has provided around 11.3 million jobs worldwide during 1995. Tourism is able to create jobs directly via hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, souvenir sales and taxis amongst others, and indirectly via the supply of goods and services required tourist-related outlets and businesses. Tourism supports up to 7% of the global workforce. d. Stimulation of infrastructure investment Tourism can stimulate local government to make much needed infrastructure improvements, better water and sewage systems, roads, electricity, public transport and telephone amenities can all benefit from such investments. This will all invigorate, encourage, and improve the lives of residents and the tourist combined. e. Contribution to local economies The environment relies heavily on the assets of tourism revenues are often used amongst other in the economic value of protected areas. Other revenues are not so easily quantified, as not all of tourists spends is formally logged. Revenue is earned from tourism via informal labour such as street render, guides and drivers. A positive side to informal employment is that monies are generally recycled within the local economy this has a good multiplying effect as it is spend repeatedly over and over again its community. The WTO has estimated that tourism will probably generate an indirect contribution that will be equal to 100% of the direct total of tourism expenditure. 2) Culture There are concerns that the development of tourism could lead to some destinations losing their cultural identity if they cater for the presumed requirements of their tourists, in particular, the international market. This is based on the observations of other destinations having compromised their sense of identity. The experience of tourism can be somewhat different to the things people see and do when in a home environment, this includes the real life experience and lifestyle of the places and the people they may see during their visit. (http://www.gawler.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/5_Gawler_Impacts_Tourism.PDF, The Social Cultural Impacts of Tourism) à ¢- º Positive impact à ¢-„ Tourism is an opportunity for cultural exchange and more, creating an interaction within people of different lifestyles, aspirations and needs. Putting economic benefits aside, experiencing outside contact within various communities draws attention to the host community. People will always want to interact with other cultures and communities in the hope of learning of their traditions or possibly be confronted by new challenges and perspectives on life. It has been said that travel is a means to discover that things unknown or forgotten within ourselves. Tourism is obviously an experience driven industry the more you do it the more you want it. In addition local culture is a unique experience, along with the local personality, food and hospitality. The more one knows and learns about a destination, the more fulfilling the experience will be. Tourism is often used as a tool for raising awareness. The local branding of certain products and achievements can create regional identity, nationally and internationally. The needs and awareness of local issues can be raised by tourism. There is a global trend that aims towards investment in interpretation of natural and cultural resources. The attraction to natural and heritage icons often helps to fund numerous conservation project it also provides opportunities for the management of those sensitive and significant areas. A growing and important number of cultural celebrations have emerged which highlight many important events whilst paying homage to their ancestry. Cultural events can assert their identity which help and preserve local traditions for younger generations they also influence and inform visitors. In Australia main urban areas which tend to be multicultural and have developed their own very unique cultures. Many mostly regional areas are very much influenced by the food and the culture of their founders. Local food, crafts and personalities are always kept alive and kicking purely by tourism whilst raising funds for the greater community. Tourism can often boost the preservations and transmission of cultural and historical traditions. This will often help with conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources, the protection of local heritage, and a revival of indigenous cultures and arts and crafts. à ¢- ºNegative impact à ¢-„ Many impacts are socio-cultural and result in a lack of information, false impressions, poor communication and knowledge and misinformation. Negative perceptions and attitudes towards visitors and tourism in general can affect tourism and communities. Ill feelings towards tourism, delays/obstructions to tourism product development plus lack of council/authority support can prevent tourism from flourishing; perhaps these communities are not yet ready or even prepared for the onslaught of tourism. Problems with the economy or the environment can all too easily, rightly or wrongly, be blamed on tourism. Leaving the channels of communication open and with adequate consultation transparency and involvement at community level at all stages during the planning process can benefit communities in taking ownership of tourism. In some circumstances the word tourist has become a negative term; in fact, many travellers no longer consider themselves as tourists and prefer the term traveller. There is a clear change in attitude of both the traveller and communities to the concept of the visitor. This concept now gives strength to the fact that travellers are merely guests of the community and that their stay in that community is very much a privilege and not a right. 3. Media marketing in tourism industry 1) How Film and TV drama images promote the new destination Greater knowledge of a country can be gained from film and TV. The wildlife, fauna, culture and its people can result in the broadening of minds and general attitudes towards the country. An interest in the nation and its positive image can eventually lead to an actual visit to the country (Iwashita, 2006). Leisure activities such as watching films as well as traveling are ways to escape. Both provide temporary relief from the real world (Carl et al., 2007). Films can induce viewers to travel by the physical properties (scenery and landscape) and their associated theme, storylines, events and actors, shaping the audience feelings, emotion and attitudes towards places. Location and film experiences are enhanced in memories by associating them with the actors, events and setting (Iwashita 2006; Riley Van Doren, 1992). One of the effective strategies to induce film tourists is collaborative campaigns with the film industry (Grihault, 2003). England provides an excellent example of the way in which film and television has boosted the tourism industry. Approximately 28 million visitors visit Britain each year after viewing the country on the screen (Kim et al., 2008). VisitBritain has made various efforts to temp Indian film makers to use UK locations in Bollywood movies, even if locations are used as backdrops for other countries. Movie maps have also been widely used to promote film locations of the destination. Movie maps have been found to be successful as part of film tourism marketing campaigns (Hudson Ritchie, 2006b). They can be used to ease film tourist in identifying various locations where the film has taken place. A movie map has been produced by VisitBritain highlighting more than 200 filmed locations across the UK. These materials have quickly become Visit-Britain most successful printed product. Other marketing strategies have included guided film tours and walks. Such tours have relied heavily on film illustrations enabling the tourist to identify the landscapes and buildings that have been used in the making of the move. There should also be a website dedicated to film tourism that will provide film synopsis, links to film-related websites, the necessary relevant information about travel within the destination including tours, accommodation, food, shopping and the opportunity to learn about film destination, the language, history, religion, lifestyle and leisure. 2) How consumers make a decision on their destination Literature on tourism shows that the image of a destination will influence significantly the tourists choice of destination. Images of destinations play a significant role in influencing tourist decision-making process as the basis for tourists to make choice about where to visit (Gartner 1989; Echtner Ritchie 1991). The more favourable the image of the destination, the greater the likelihood of being selected as a destination choice (Chon 1990; Um 1993). Butler (1990) suggests that films can influence the travel preference of those who expose to the destination attributes and create a favourable destination image through their representation. To influence the choice of destinations, understanding of how decisions are made and which factors can influence them are regarded as the important pieces of information (Woodside Carr, 1988). There are plenty models explaining the tourist decision-making process which include important variables influencing tourist decisions. It has long been recognized that travel stimuli through marketing efforts and previous travel experience have played an important role in influencing destination choice. Non-touristic-directed stimuli such as films can also have strong influences on tourist decision-making (Iwashita, 2003). These stimuli have not yet been included in the tourist decision-making models as important variables. The power of film in portraying a positive destination image to induce tourist arrivals to a place is clearly shown in various research (e.g. Tooke Baker 1996; Iwashita 2006; Kim et al., 2008). Having reviewed the literature, it was found that film-induced tourism is relatively new in tourism research. Research on the impact of film on tourist decision-making is even lacking (Busby Klug 2001; Hudson Ritchie 2006b; Rewtrakunphaiboon 2008). 4. Media on tourism of countries 1) Impact of Film on Visitor Number Film-induced tourism has brought major economic benefits to local communities such as lasting tourist receipts. Film locations can be all-year, all-weather attractions which alleviates problems of seasonality in the tourism industry (Beeton, 2004). Riley et al. (1998) studied 12 films and found that the peak of the interest appear after the release of the film, approximately 50% increase in visitation at least five years later and the image is often retained for a long time. 2) How films and TV drama influence on tourism A further significant benefit of film tourism is the increase in cultural value to the location of the film. Numerous heritage sites have been used as film locations and in many cases have seen their popularity soar as a result, particularly after its release. Such sites acquire specific meaning through its film narration. Without film storylines, a castle or a stately home may not be indistinguishable form others (Busby Klug, 2001). Film locations worldwide now play a major role in deciding which country a tourist will visit. The American soap opera Sex and the City is one of the examples that have become such a big hit not only in the United States but around the world. Hundreds of shops, restaurants and bars that were featured in the film have become significant destinations and an added reason to visit New York. à ¢- º Specific Film and drama cases à ¢-„ a. The Piano, Lord of Ring, etc (New Zealand) New Zealand is one of the latest destinations to benefit from film-induced tourism. The movie, The Piano has provided many positive benefits form tourism within New Zealand. New Zealand was shown in its promotional posters which in turn aided and promoted international tourism advertising. The image of New Zealand has been enhanced further after being the backdrop to all three Lord of the Rings films. The New Zealand tourism website promotes itself as Home of Middle-earth. Amongst other popular films that were shot in New Zealand include The Last Samurai, Whale Rider and Perfect Strangers. Websites that link particular films to their film locations is a very effective promotional tool to induce tourists to the destination (Croy Walker, 2003). This promotion strategy has been used in New Zealand where Tourism New Zealand developed part of its website to specifically promote The Lord of the Rings and other film locations throughout the country. b. TV drama (South Korea) The Korean film named Stairway to Heaven, one of the popular television series in Asia, was shot in many clichà © places but the sentimental location is the merry-go-round at the Lotte World. After the release of the film, the merry-go-round at Lotte World has become the famous attraction among Asian tourists (Aran, 2007). Evidence shows that the emotional attachment that film-induced tourists have with the film is a recreation of the often stunning locations. In Winter Sonata, the evidence is shown and impression scene of two lovers holding hands whilst walking on a log. This famous log has now had to be destroyed and removed from the location due to an overwhelming number of visitors, some attempting to emulate the scene in the film. Film can enhance the destination image and increase the awareness of the host city. Previous research (Kim Richardson, 2003) suggests that those who are exposed to the film have more favourable destination image towards destinations featured through films than those who are not exposed to films. 5. Conclusion This report shows the relationship between the tourism and the media and its actual effect on tourism. It also gives an illuminating perception of film-induced tourism by revealing a lack of research in tourism and requesting further empirical studies into this aspect of tourism. It also shows the advantages to be had from film-induced tourism, opening up many locations to a wider audience and informing the tourism more than traditionally targeted tourism promotional campaigns. The marketing of film tourism has been used successfully in many of the leading film locations in United Kingdom, United States, Korea and New Zeal

Essays --

My main research question for this paper was : How do Social networking services affect Korean international students’ adaptation to the U.S.? Literature Review Before SNS such as Facebook, launched by Mark Zuckerberg in February 2004, (Carlson, 2010, Par.1) became popular, most Korean international students used internet community services such as Cyworld Mini Home where people post pictures or write an open diary or email services to share his or her daily stories with family or friends living in the home country. However, internet community services are a sort of one-way communication tool, so people need to regularly stop by and log into the community homepages in order to read or leave a message to his or her friends. On the other hand, although email services are a two-way communication tool, it is not easy to contact everyone regularly while studying abroad. Actually, there was no way for Korean international students to maintain close relationship with home country friends and family after going abroad. Moreover, it is even more difficult for adult foreigners to make friends with host country students because each of them may have di fferent cultural background or interest and concerns (Malarcher, 2004). As a result, many Korean international students experience emotional isolation and suffer from high mental stress because of homesickness, new relationship with classmates and cultural differences. For example, I had a chance to study in Omaha, Nebraska for nine months after finishing mandatory military services in 2002. At that time, I was not able to make American friends except for a couple of roommates since I had no chance to meet them privately, but also could not keep in touch with my friends in my homeland, so I ... ...., and Twitter Inc. became public companies, people seem to regard SNS only as a profitable business model. However, the original characteristic of SNS linking people closely is still effective. From that point, I reviewed related literatures and compared them with what I observed during last 6 months at GWU. First, SNS cannot replace face-to face communication, so it has a limited effect to help international students’ adaption to the new environment. Second, since SNS makes international students feel comfortable, if colleges use them as an educational tool to draw active participation of international students, it could work. I conducted this research only based on literature reviews and observations. Therefore, for the following research, I would like to conduct a survey of Korean international students to know how they use SNS to enlarge their human networking.

Charismatic Leader Essay

This type of leadership holds a lot of power. In both productive and counterproductive respects. The rhetoric employed to effectively carry out charismatic leadership acts as a double edged sword. While it is true that a message delivered in a charismatic manner inspires the followers to implement it with a lot of fervor, but in this same zest, there are a lot of important issues that are overlooked and lots of questions ignored. This entails problems when the charisma delivers its desired results, but they still leave a sour taste in the mouth. In my professional career, I have not encountered charismatic leadership neither in the top echelons of power nor in the middle management slots. However, most of us have been affected, and even wowed, by the charismatic skills of Barack Obama, while running for the US Presidency in 2008. Inspirational rhetoric, exceptional oratory skills and narcissistic excellence were expertly deployed towards millions of people. Perhaps in our lifetimes, it has proven to be a living, breathing example of pure, unadulterated charisma. It was a need of the time and a result of the disillusionment with the last 8 years. But, the cynicism that perhaps was put in the back seat during this process, made a comeback in the last two years, where more and more people have grown disillusioned by the lack of actual, and perceived, objectives being achieved. The overhyped expectations that are, in effect, created by charismatic leadership, eventually end up hampering its own effects, even though the results achieved might be significant. In the spirit of double edged swords, narcissism fits the bill perfectly. Excessive traits of this personality type have officially been diagnosed as a psychological disorder, whereas a good mix of those same qualities supposedly makes a great leader. From my personal experience, there has been a lot more interaction with unproductive narcissists, as compared to the productive ones. Charismatic leadership is an outward focusing theory, but since being confident and thoughtful requires a thorough understanding of one’s own self, unless it is coupled innately with authenticity, there would continue to be major loopholes in its implementation. As is the case with most leadership theories, the situational context of the company or market matter deeply. Charismatic leadership is the need of the hour during turbulent times and thus ends up being encouraged and nurtured. However, during mature and stable market times, charisma tends to be counter-productive and pointless. Also, since narcissistic leaders tend to believe undoubtedly in their vision, not taking into account the ideas put forward by others, it can become self-destructive for companies. This leadership theory, more than others, needs to be deployed with a lot of care and consideration.

Expected Pattern of Development from Birth to 19years

Expected pattern of development from birth to 19years AgePhysicalCommunication and intellectualSocial,emotional and behavioural 0-3 monthsGross- waves arms and brings hands together over body. Fine-clasps and unclasps handsThrough crying and physical contact. Smiles back when they see a smiling face.. Babies may stop crying after they are picked up or by hearing a familiar voice. By 3 months they get excited when its time to feed 3-6 monthsGross-rolls over from back to front and moves head to watch others Fine-reaches for a toy and moves it from one hand to anotherEnjoys rhymes and action songs. Uses sounds to gain attention.Can laugh showing a range of feelings. Stops crying when talked to and reaches out to be held. 6-12 monthsGross-sits unsupported and likely to be mobile e. g. rolling or crawling. by 12 months may stand alone briefly. Fine-grasps objects with index finger and thumb. Starts to babble and enjoys looking at books. They also watch and copy adults. Is affectionate tow ards family and primary carers but discriminates between strangers and family. plays peek-a-boo. 1-2 yearsGross-may walk holding onto furniture, by 2 years will walk unaided. Fine-uses spoon to feed, can hold own cup and will start to scribble. Also read: Child Development Not Following Expected PatternWaves bye-bye, fingers point to objects to draw attention to adults. Less babbling and more recognisable words e. g. â€Å"no†,†come†Cries when left with someone they don’t know. keen to explore as they become more confident. Also interested in other children but does not play cooperatively. 2-3yearsGross-uses sit and ride toys and able to run. At this stage they are able play on slides. Fine-draws circles and turns pages in books. Points to pictures of familiar objects and names them. Start to recognise shapes. Starting to use sentences or putting words together. Playing imaginatively e. g. on the home corner.Shows kindness Begins to understand anger and feelings. Gets frustrated when they don't get what they want. Separation from carers remains an issue for some unless they know who they staying with. 3-4yearsGross-walks upstairs with alternate feet. Runs backwards and forwards. throws a ball. Fine -draws face with features washes and dries hands with help. Use language to say how they are feeling because speech is understandable most of the time. Can name some colours and can verbally count to 10. constantly asks questions. Listens attentively to age appropriate stories. Start to understand the consequences of own behaviour.Can express their thoughts resulting in decrease in tantrums. Seeks approval from adults. 4-5 yearsGross- aims and throws ball, walks in a line. Climbs ladders, tree and playground equipment. Fine-draws a person with head, trunks and legs. Memory develops which allows recall of songs and rhymes. Imagination develops. Start to understand symbols e. g. writing and reading. Aware of others emotions and gender roles. Will follow basic rules and seeks play with peers in groups. Attends to own toilet needs 5-6 yearsGross- runs quickly and able to avoid obstacles. throws a ball to a partner and catches it.Fine-has control of pencil to form letters. Colours in pic tures. Attention span increases and the development of vocabulary extends communication. Most children know the alphabet and can name upper case and lower case. Enjoy a joke. Physical care needs are developed. Understand the rules of games. Often has one or two focused friendships. 6-7yearsGross-hops skips and jumps confidently, balances on a beam and uses wheeled toys e. g. roller skates. Fine-cuts out shapes accurately. ties and unties shoelacesShows reasoning skills but still using trial and error learning. Able to carry adult like conversations.Uses appropriate verb tenses, word order and sentence structure. Have strong friendships. Develops self help skills e. g. wiping up spills. Uses language rather than tantrums or physical aggression to express displeasure. 7-12 years Gross- Increased coordination skills which allow more concentration on games like football/netball. Fine-skills are refined allowing work like model making and typing. Able to reason and use logic to solve pro blems. Show creativity in role play. Begins to use information form one situation and transfer to another.Some are keen to show inappropriate behaviour to gain attention from adults and admiration from other children. 12-19 yearsPuberty begins for boys between 14-17 years and for girls between 13-16 years. May became sexually active Gross-stamina increases which allow for them to walk for longer distances and take part in energetic sports. Fine -increase of strength in hands enables movement such as twisting lids of jars. Question sources of information e. g. parents,books and teachers. Start to change physically and hormones affect their mood. Making a transition from dependence on family to independence.

Computers and Their Mathematical Application essays

Computers and Their Mathematical Application essays Ever since the mid 1980s, computers in elementary and middle schools have been used for the students to practice their basic math skills. Some schools use computers to take tests, or just for practice drills. Computers can help the students build up a good sense of how current events have an effect on the economy, how to manage money, how to understand profit and loss, and how to use spreadsheet software. When you learn to use graphs, tables, diagrams, and spreadsheets you learned something that contains math. Teachers use computer programs to increase the way they teach math through technology, but it also gives them information as to the profit of computer-assisted mathematics instruction for student growth in both of the areas. Computers can be used in stores to keep track of the about of money they have, and of course in order to add money you have to know something about math. Earlier research suggests that access to technology contributes to the accomplishment of mathematics education improvement. In June 2000 teachers were interviewed by themselves for 30-60 minutes about the connection between their use of computers and mathematics education development. The interview guide was individually made to order to each teacher to fill gaps in our database. Teachers also participated as a group in a final interview to identify the key themes that are rising from the data. All interviews were recorded by audio and were transcribed by both the teachers and the students. One teacher said that it freed students from the repetition of physically creating different kinds of displays, and it also made it easier for the students to make patterns. She said that it took far less time to create products and students enjoyed the activities, and that some math strands were easier to address on-line than off-line, for example, storing data, constructing graphs, and editing graphs in data management problems. ...

Rational Choice Theory

Rational Choice Theory Sociology of religion According to Johnson, when defining the sociology of religion we look at the definition of the term religion as well as the task sociology has in the study of religion. Sociology plays an important role in the study as it involves the recognition of the social reality of any social phenomenon (Johnson 2).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rational Choice Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Johnson, sociology is the study of how human beings interact with each other within groups. It focuses on how such interactions have an influence on human behavior. In other words, sociology is a field of science that strives to explain the group dynamics and how the groups have influenced individuals and human activities. Groups influence human behavior as they change, shape, and modify an individual’s behavior in one way or another. Groupings exist in the family setting, educational pro grams, as well as peer associations (2). In this respect, religion can be a subject of sociological study as it falls within the constraints of a group. Religion is a group phenomenon because religious organizations tend to organize themselves in groups known as congregations, fellowships, dioceses, and denominations. In this case, sociology helps us understand religion as a social phenomenon (Johnson 3). According to Johnson, sociologists in attempting to define religion have come up with two forms of definitions. There are substantive as well as functional definitions. They go hand in hand in coming up with a clear-cut definition of religion. The substantive and the functional definitions provide a foundation in which one can understand the meaning of religion and the impact it has on the lives of the people. The substantive definition focuses on the nature of religion when it is at its core. In other words, it focuses on the essence of religion (9). On the other hand, the functio nal definition mainly focuses on the impact religion has to the people who practice the religion. In combining the two definitions, sociologists have defined religion to be a phenomenon whose subject matter involves the provision of answers to all questions. It is a phenomenon that is sacred, holy and one that has a supernatural bearing (13). At this point, the sociology of religion involves the description of the reality of religion. According to Johnson, sociology approaches all its subjects with neutrality as well as objectivity when describing reality. Religion is no exception despite its emotional nature and the immeasurable values attached to it. In other words, by the fact that religion qualifies to be a group phenomenon, its sociological investigation must be neutral and objective. In addition, the sociology of religion is of empirical nature. In any study including the study of religion, one must come up with the relevant empirical information and data. This involves factua l analysis, evidence, as well as verifiable procedures. In this case, the sociology of religion involves subjecting the study of religion to scientific methods (7).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The importance of the sociology of religion However, sociology’s limitation in describing the reality of religion exists as it can only make conclusions on the phenomenon that can be perceivable. To support or dispute any sociological theory, the relevant empirical data and information has to accompany the study. In this case, the study of religion involves forces that are generally unperceivable as it is a sacred, spiritual, and supernatural phenomenon. In addition, religion encompasses emotions and faith, which are incapable of measurement (Johnson 8). In this respect, many have argued that sociologists cannot study religion, as they cannot describe the unobservable (Johnson 7). However, according to Yinger, empirical investigation may not be capable of fully revealing the essence of religion. However, its participation to the study of religion has a great contribution to understanding religion. The argument of the church stained window supports the relevance of the empirical study of religion. To fully admire the beauty and understand the message on the church stained window it requires one to be inside the church. However, the view from the inside constitutes a fraction of what one can learn regarding the window. One can only appreciate the context of the exterior framework when he is outside. In addition, in studying the stained church window we may consider information that does not relate with viewing the window from the outside or from the inside. For example, we may consider the reasons for its installation and make comparisons with other windows of the same nature. It is therefore, important in the study of religion to consider the soci ology of religion as an avenue to help us understand religion (4). The sociology of religion involves answering questions of religion empirically has the effect of amplifying our understanding. In other words, sociology can be an additional tool to further our understanding to the study of religion. Rational choice theory The rational choice theory strives to provide an explanation regarding the purpose of religion in the society. The essence of the theory is not only centered on religion’s persistence but also deals with the observation of ubiquity of religion within different societies (Bellah 19). The rational choice theory entails that human beings make social, economic, and political choices through rationalization. They can also make rational religious choices. Rational choices come about in instances whereby a person chooses not to address his opinion in a group whereby everyone has an opposing opinion.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rational Choice Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Johnson, constrains of human rationality are found within the extent of their understanding and the information they posses. In addition, human beings make rational choices based on their tastes and preferences. Rational choice theorists have introduced the aspect of supply and demand for purposes of understanding why people make certain choices that dictates their religious behavior. They argue that religion brings forth rewards and gains in which the religious people desire. For example, likeminded people fellowship together, provides emotional support to each other, and the promise of a brilliant life when one dies. However, the dynamics of demand and supply entail that for every reward or gain there is a cost. In this case, the cost comes in the form that one has to change his lifestyle to conform to what the religion dictates (37). In some instances, it may involve sacrificing one’s leisure time to take part in the religious group’s activities. According to Johnson, the rational choice theory does not strive to explain the origin of religion. The rational choice theory comes in to explain the reasons why people turn to the religious ideas and systems for answers, solutions, and protection (36). Yinger, Milton. The Scientific Study of Religion. New York: Macmillan, 1970. Print. Bellah, Robert. The Ritual Roots of Society and Culture, a Handbook of the Sociology of Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Print. Johnstone, Ronald. Religion in Society, a Sociology of Religion. Pearson: Prentice-Hall, 2007. Print.

Work Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Work Psychology - Essay Example It may comprise of competences and qualifications that a person needs to perform a job. The personal specification and job description that the author refers in this case is that of appointing the European Social Fund Programme Coordinator. This is a particularly vital position in the company and management should be extremely keen during appointment. This is a critical task since it covers the central area of London and requires the person that the management appoints to carry out challenging programmes (Matthewman, Rose, and Hetherington, 2009). The person that the management appoints should have qualities such as the ability to convince, skill, and motivate individuals. They should have relevant qualifications and work experience in the field. This personal specification is sufficient since it provides all the details that match this job. It should incorporate meticulous details of the level of qualification and experience that is necessary. Importance of using job analysis Job an alysis is a valuable method that managers have employed to access information concerning this job of project coordinator. It is a process through which they acquire information concerning responsibilities, skills, and work environment of a job. It is a process that demands them to collect a lot of information to emerge with the right conclusion on the requirements. The process is extremely valuable in preparation of both job specification and description. It enables managers to hire the appropriate coordinator who will facilitate delivery of the European Social Fund programmes in the organization. This leads to proper utilization of the resources of and hence leading to success of the organization. Job analysis aids management to select the best candidate who will deliver the necessary information to young people (Arnold, 2005). This will ensure that the project achieves its target of reaching young people who have many issues that require support. Methods of using job analysis Job analysis is decidedly vital in an organization since it impacts directly on productivity of an organization. The human resource department should be thoroughly keen when deciding the method that an organization should adopt for job analysis. There are various ways of conducting job analysis that managers can adopt. These include conducting interviews, questionnaires, incident investigations, gathering background information, and observation (Matthewman, Rose, and Hetherington, 2009). These methods provide reliable information concerning job description and various specifications for the available job opportunities. The human resources professionals should adopt several of these methods to enhance credibility of the information. The most appropriate method for this job is conducting interviews. This is an ideal method because a panel of interviewers examines the candidates physically. This enables them to acquire all the relevant qualities that they need for the job opportunities ava ilable (Nankervis, Compton, and Morrissey, 2009). Methods of Personnel Selection This is the process that organizations adopt to promote or hire individuals. It mainly focuses on selection of appropriate workers in an organization. The most reliable methods of Personnel Selection that the Organizations should adopt include work sample tests, situational and competency based structural interviews, and cognitive ability. They are the one that are available in this case where selection of a program coordinator is the key issue. These methods are the best since they provide a high level of validity (Nankervis, Compton, and Morrissey, 2009). The management adopts appropriate means of appointing the Program

My version of the American dream to immigrants including Chinese Essay

My version of the American dream to immigrants including Chinese - Essay Example In my own way, I had my version of the American dream to many immigrants; America personified the opportunity to experience the freedom they lacked in their countries, and exploit available opportunities in work and education. Although in the modern day, many countries have become more liberal than there were in the past, I carried such sentiments because, in China, it is well known that the media and freedom of expression are far from the world class. Despite my original enthusiasm, when the day came, I had mixed feelings about leaving my homeland to go to a place I did not know and where I knew almost no one. I said a few tearful goodbyes, and as I walked into the airports interior, I did not look back to wave to my few waving relatives because I did not want them to see my tears. My journey to America in many ways was more than just a physical journey; it was a spiritual one too. I had begun to question myself and decide where I belonged, did I belong to China and should I study, and they return to my home or did I belong to America like my unknown relatives? On the plane, I kept turning these thoughts around in my mind until I fell asleep, I when I woke up, I was in America. When I got off the plane, I stood transfixed in wonderment, staring at the crowds milling around receiving and saying bye to friends. I could hardly believe I was in America, the land of freedom and opportunity, as I experienced a mixture of joy in finally arriving and nostalgia when I realized I had left my homeland probably forever.... I had begun to question myself and decide where I belonged, did I belong to China and should I study, and they return to my home or did I belong to America like my unknown relatives?  On the plane, I kept turning these thoughts around in my mind  until I fell asleep,  I when I woke up, I was  in  America. When I got off the plane, I stood transfixed in wonderment, staring at the crowds milling around receiving and saying bye to friends. I could hardly believe I was in America, the land of freedom and opportunity, as I experienced a mixture of joy in finally arriving and nostalgia, when I realized I had left my homeland probably forever. Settling down was not very hard, and it was arranged that I should stay with my relatives at first before I could move out on my own. I did not move around much in the first few days, and when I did venture out on my own I walked into a cafe for a snack, the first thing I noticed was that almost everything was fried. The food was not bad, bu t I knew it would take time to get used to, some combinations were, however, strange to me, and I did not even attempt them such as cheese and apple. Contrary to what many people in my homeland China imagine, life in America is not an easy one, yes, the jobs pay more, but one has to work longer hours and at times work more than two jobs at a time. When asked my uncle what I could do for work since I needed to make money for my upkeep, he said for the time being I could work in his grocery store in my free time. However, he encouraged me to look around and see what else I could do since he knew selling greens was probably not going to be very interesting to me. One of the fears I had about coming to America was racial discrimination, which I had heard so much about, however, in

Networking Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Networking - Coursework Example For example, security needs may entail authentication, encryption security levels and modes of detecting intrusion. Additionally, the costs involved in the three mediums are difficult to contrast due to the different costs involved such as- acquisition costs, installation costs and maintenance costs. For an entrepreneur who wants to establish a global satellite radio system, I would begin with using at least two GEO satellites strategically placed above the globe. This would enable the satellites to transmit signals to the radio satellite receivers. Additionally, the entrepreneur would have no interference since the satellites are placed directly above the earth and would orbit continuously. The frequency of the transmission would range from 5GHz to around 30GHz. A synchronous connection can be likened to a lift that stops every floor to allow people on and off from the ground floor to the tenth floor. The first four floors refer to the input messages, while the next six floors are responsible for producing data. The network chosen is a local LAN, which is wirelessly connected and also through coaxial cables. If additional media is required, a USB cable can be used for connecting to the network. In some instances, one may want to use an external hard drive. In such instances, the hard drive is connected either via the USB or

The identification and analysis of the economic, political and social Essay

The identification and analysis of the economic, political and social issues facing the United States - Essay Example A combination of reduced market entry barriers for a multitude of different industries has increased competition in a country that is highly saturated with consumer product competition. Renewed reliance on foreign imports to sustain quality of life from emerging or developing countries such as China has, today, begun to impact supply and demand in the United States. In addition, with many foreign nations changing their fiscal policies to ensure economic stability during an ongoing international recessionary environment, currency valuation has become unpredictable, thus impacting profitability for companies that have made considerable profit producing products in countries where labour costs are low. Furthermore, political actors in the U.S. government continue to divest financial resources into the free market environment to assist large banking and lending facilities, as well as a variety of corporate industries, through bailouts and short-term tax extensions. All of these factors, and many more, have raised the consumer price index and increased inflation, thus diminishing real consumer incomes. This report identifies and analyses all of the economic, political and social issues facing the United States and offers recommendations for increasing economic growth in the country. The political and economic factors The United States is considered a federal, constitutional democracy. Weingast (1997) reinforces that stable democracies can only be sustained when values, principles and beliefs are shared by all citizens of the nation, a phenomenon referred to as civic culture. â€Å"If there is no consensus within a society, there is little potentiality for peaceful resolution of political differences† (Weingast 1997, p.248). According to Barrett (2011) there are a series of distinct constructs that must exist in order to be a stable and thriving democracy, including equality, accountability, fairness, transparency and trust. Why is this necessarily relevant to assessing the current condition of the United States? In 2008, President Barack Obama and the authorities of Congress committed billions of dollars to banking and lending facilities and a variety of corporate entities that were failing due to a surplus of economic problems stemming from the mortgage crisis, inflation, market speculators, and diminished consumer incomes that were negatively impacting revenue growth in a variety of industries servicing consumer products. Corporations, consumers and market investors alike have grown inter-dependent on governmental intervention and commitment of taxpayer capital to continue to bailout businesses and financial industries. Where it was once considered unmentionable for government to take such a critical and active role in the free market economy, today consumers and business leaders are placing considerable pressure on governmental actors to develop routine and synchronized financial rescues in order to guarantee short-term economic stab ility in the country. This change in social and political attitudes seems to have now created a somewhat unified set of cultural values related to government involvement in business, industry and investment that has changed the dynamics of the traditional constitutional de

Journalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Journalism - Essay Example The reason behind the easy usage of twitter accounts to spread messages fast if the features that it has incorporated in enhancing the sharing of information. This aids in fast spreading of information across the globe within seconds. For instance, from the reading, Twitter has played a very fundamental role in enhancing the communication of critical messages. Such messages include information about terror attacks (Hermida 672-673). The reading gives some insight on the importance of people to embrace the use of twitter as a social media communication platform. Twitter has a major impact on the journalism practice in everyday life. The social media communication platform has had quite and influence how in the reporting and distribution of information globally in the news houses. The use of Twitter affect how other news organizations have to respond to breaking news in order to have a significant input to the public. In addition, the journalists’ scope is evolving daily to because of the new communication platform to that is making great impacts in the communication industry (680). The article is about the impact that citizen journalism has from case studies done in China. In china, the mainstream media is in strict control and there is the intensification of social conflicts. These happen amid the worsening sentiments among the nationals in the country. The reading is very realistic about the current society where citizen and mainstream journalism communication have taken root. For instance, it cuts across the citizen communication and its impact in the societies that are non-democratic both politically and socially. The reading gives insight on what is happening in most societies in the world in terms of communication practices. It is evident from the case stud citizen communication has a great influence in mainstream journalism in enhancing the online flowing of information. The establishment of

Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 28

Summary - Assignment Example The government advocated socialist ideologies but which however could not be marketed on the global market since these did not appeal to the post modern types of films. It is for this reason that the Fifth Generation films took a radical approach in their development and could be viewed as rebellious. Though they were banned on the domestic market, they received significant appreciation on the global market. The fifth generation films specifically moved from a usual Chinese Kung fu movie towards depicting a disintegrating socialist background. This is illustrated in the film tilted (Platform 2000) which shows the successful troupe of cultural workers from Fenyang to the countryside. The other issue is that Jia’s films are primarily concerned with portraying a sociological perspective with regard to the social problems caused by the Chinese development. For instance, the films focused on issues such as destruction of the environment, neighborhood s as well as the destruction of families as some of the problems caused by contemporary Chinese development. Jia also incorporated pop music in his films as a form of entertainment given that his childhood was characterised by complete lack of entertainment. The arrival of Japanese pop music and Hollywood films had a liberating effect since these revolutionized the Chinese film. The other issue that characterized Jia’s films is tha t he was concerned about portraying reality through the camera. The sixth generation on the other hand not only rejected the metaphysical image of China but reflected a polarized society. However, the sixth generation film is of the view that a paradigm transformation about the way the camera portrays reality should be confronted and all the contradictions should be captured. For instance, xiancheng is is a true reflection of socialist industrialization failure. This has in fact led to cultural poverty as depicted in Jia’s films. The

The identification and analysis of the economic, political and social Essay

The identification and analysis of the economic, political and social issues facing the United States - Essay Example A combination of reduced market entry barriers for a multitude of different industries has increased competition in a country that is highly saturated with consumer product competition. Renewed reliance on foreign imports to sustain quality of life from emerging or developing countries such as China has, today, begun to impact supply and demand in the United States. In addition, with many foreign nations changing their fiscal policies to ensure economic stability during an ongoing international recessionary environment, currency valuation has become unpredictable, thus impacting profitability for companies that have made considerable profit producing products in countries where labour costs are low. Furthermore, political actors in the U.S. government continue to divest financial resources into the free market environment to assist large banking and lending facilities, as well as a variety of corporate industries, through bailouts and short-term tax extensions. All of these factors, and many more, have raised the consumer price index and increased inflation, thus diminishing real consumer incomes. This report identifies and analyses all of the economic, political and social issues facing the United States and offers recommendations for increasing economic growth in the country. The political and economic factors The United States is considered a federal, constitutional democracy. Weingast (1997) reinforces that stable democracies can only be sustained when values, principles and beliefs are shared by all citizens of the nation, a phenomenon referred to as civic culture. â€Å"If there is no consensus within a society, there is little potentiality for peaceful resolution of political differences† (Weingast 1997, p.248). According to Barrett (2011) there are a series of distinct constructs that must exist in order to be a stable and thriving democracy, including equality, accountability, fairness, transparency and trust. Why is this necessarily relevant to assessing the current condition of the United States? In 2008, President Barack Obama and the authorities of Congress committed billions of dollars to banking and lending facilities and a variety of corporate entities that were failing due to a surplus of economic problems stemming from the mortgage crisis, inflation, market speculators, and diminished consumer incomes that were negatively impacting revenue growth in a variety of industries servicing consumer products. Corporations, consumers and market investors alike have grown inter-dependent on governmental intervention and commitment of taxpayer capital to continue to bailout businesses and financial industries. Where it was once considered unmentionable for government to take such a critical and active role in the free market economy, today consumers and business leaders are placing considerable pressure on governmental actors to develop routine and synchronized financial rescues in order to guarantee short-term economic stab ility in the country. This change in social and political attitudes seems to have now created a somewhat unified set of cultural values related to government involvement in business, industry and investment that has changed the dynamics of the traditional constitutional de

Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 28

Summary - Assignment Example The government advocated socialist ideologies but which however could not be marketed on the global market since these did not appeal to the post modern types of films. It is for this reason that the Fifth Generation films took a radical approach in their development and could be viewed as rebellious. Though they were banned on the domestic market, they received significant appreciation on the global market. The fifth generation films specifically moved from a usual Chinese Kung fu movie towards depicting a disintegrating socialist background. This is illustrated in the film tilted (Platform 2000) which shows the successful troupe of cultural workers from Fenyang to the countryside. The other issue is that Jia’s films are primarily concerned with portraying a sociological perspective with regard to the social problems caused by the Chinese development. For instance, the films focused on issues such as destruction of the environment, neighborhood s as well as the destruction of families as some of the problems caused by contemporary Chinese development. Jia also incorporated pop music in his films as a form of entertainment given that his childhood was characterised by complete lack of entertainment. The arrival of Japanese pop music and Hollywood films had a liberating effect since these revolutionized the Chinese film. The other issue that characterized Jia’s films is tha t he was concerned about portraying reality through the camera. The sixth generation on the other hand not only rejected the metaphysical image of China but reflected a polarized society. However, the sixth generation film is of the view that a paradigm transformation about the way the camera portrays reality should be confronted and all the contradictions should be captured. For instance, xiancheng is is a true reflection of socialist industrialization failure. This has in fact led to cultural poverty as depicted in Jia’s films. The

The plays Miss Julie Essay Example for Free

The plays Miss Julie Essay The plays Miss Julie, August Strindberg, 1888 and A Dolls House, Henrik Ibsen, 1879 are two plays with a variety of themes and different views of life. But both plays have women as their major characters: Julie and Nora Helmer. The role of women in both plays is shown to be different. In Miss Julie, Strindberg shows women as inferior in society, as he believed that they were a secondary form of humans. In A Dolls House, at first, we think that Nora is a typical innocent wife. This leads Ibsen to relate women seen by society, as wives, mothers, and working at home. Ibsen wants to reinforce the subordination of the role of women to show the need for changes. A comparative study will be made of the lives of these two women and the role they occupy in each play. Julie is the mistress of the house, with Jean, the valet and Kristin, the cook. All the events and problems happening in the play could be a result of certain circumstances: first, her feminist mothers primary instincts about men made her disgusted and horrified about them. The absence of her father leads to an incomplete rising of herself. She had just broken off her engagement and her ex-fianci had an influence on her depravation. Also, it was in Midsummer Eve, she was in her period; she loved dancing, and was influenced by the flowers. Julie starts as superior to Jean in terms of class, as she is from an aristocratic family and Jean is her fathers servant. She manipulates him in the start: Supposing I order you to Julie (pg 81), Ill obey Jean (pg 81). Miss Julie starts making advances to Jean, who becomes worried about her reputation, becomes wild calling him to dance, and he ends up conquering her sexually. Jean thought that having sex with her would probably help him to better his social status, but he discovers she is penniless and so desists. Jean at first was in love with Julie, idealizes her at the start but once he had had her, he starts to degrade Julie. Julie becomes a sick woman, suffering from hysteria and feminine masochism, Julie had the desire to fall and be dominated by a man. Now Julie was totally dependent upon Jean. Jean was superior to Julie in terms of morality as he was a man and she was a degenerate woman. Strindberg wants to show that Jeans power over Julie is not because of the fact that he is rising socially but only because he is a man. This shows how maleness is a sign of superior status. Julie suffers a severe depression and humiliation as the sexual affair with Jean pushed her to the edge. Julie degrades herself when taking the initiative and sleeping with Jean, places herself beneath his level, destroyed the image of the woman.

Factors That Affect The Pricing Decision

Factors That Affect The Pricing Decision In Finland, Lukka and Granlund (1996) observed that product cost information had its greatest importance in pricing, tendering and cost reduction decisions. In Italy, Cescon (1999) noted the most important uses of product costs were in cost reduction, pricing, make-or-buy and investment decisions, and its least important role related to decisions about distribution channels. Based on the above quotations, the costs of the product, its inputs including the amount spent on product development, testing, and packaging required to be taken into account when a pricing decision is made. Therefore, product costs are very important to make a pricing decision. In Australia, Joye and Blayney (1990) found that product costs were of major importance in the pricing decisions of the majority of companies. Therefore, cost is a  major factor that will affect pricing decisions. Variances between actual and  budgeted cost are inherent in business. Actual cost may not correspond  with budgeted cost, thus, it is important to have a thorough planning on  how can these cost affect company profit. Profit planning must take into account expected changes in cost. An   increase in cost with no corresponding change in selling price will   greatly affect company profits. Thus, the ability of the enterprise to limit suppliers bargaining power as to control the price of raw materials and production will be greatly influence the pricing decision. A products cost can be classified as fixed or variable costs, according to whether the volume changes. quoted by Dominiak Louderback, 1997. Fixed cost is the cost that  remains the same regardless of the level of production or the level of sales such as property taxes, rent, advertising, insurance, and utilities. Moreover, variable cost is the cost that changes in a directly proportion to changes in production volume such as sales commission, packaging, labeling and shipping costs. In many manufacturing companies, labor costs remain constant over wide ranges of output, so managers can consider labor as a fixed cost for many short-term output decisions. In addition, most overhead costs change only when managers decide to restructure the company, so these costs do not change as output fluctuates from day to day. The only cost that definitely does go up and down with production is the material cost. Hence, the cost of material will increase especially when economic downturn and the price of product will increase eventually. In spite of all, the product cost information was significantly more important when used directly in decision making. This may be because product cost information may be regarded as being more important when it is actually being used in a decision rather than as a guide for possible future decisions. Product cost information may be significantly more important in continuous production process manufacturing than in discrete-part and assembly manufacturing for product mix, output level and product discontinuation decisions because continuous production processes lead to the production of many different products for which a variety of product related decisions will need to be made. DISTRIBUTION(PLACEMENT) Placement under marketing mix involves all company activities that make the product available to the targeted customer, quoted by Kotler and Armstrong, 2004. With this, the easier the targeted customers can get the product, the more success of your company in distributing product. Distribution is getting your product to the consumer. Once you know your market area and have safely processed and packaged your product, you have to place it where your customer can buy it. On a general note, while planning placement strategy under marketing mix analysis, companies consider six different channel decisions including choosing between direct access to customers or involving middlemen, choosing single or multiple channels of distributions, the length of the distribution channel, the types of intermediaries, the numbers of distributors, and which intermediary to use based on the quality and reputation, quoted by Proctor, 2000. Therefore, distribution is important because it affects sales, profits and competitiveness. It can contribute up to fifty percent of the final selling price of some goods. Without distribution even the best product or service will fails. Author Jean-Jacques Lambin believes that a marketer has two roles which are organizing exchange through distribution and organizing communication. Moreover, distribution can be classified by channels, coverage, locations, transportation, logistics and others aspects. Physical distribution or Place must integrate with the other Ps in the marketing mix such as price, product and promotion. For example, the design of product packaging must fit onto a pallet, into a truck and onto a shelf, prices are often determined by distribution channels, and the image of the channel must fit in with the suppliers required positioning. You can see how Coca Cola further integrate the timing of distribution and promotion in the Hall Of Fame later. In fact, they see distribution as one of their core competencies. In addition, geographical pricing is setting different prices for a customer in different parts of the world which is includes shipping costs. Therefore, there will be difference price on the same product in differences country. Although within a country, the same product will be charged to different prices, which may be caused by the urban or metropolitan area, income distribution and others factors. Apart from that, distribution strategy is influenced by the market structure, the firms objectives, its resources and its overall marketing strategy. All these factors are addressed in the section on selecting Distribution Channels. The first strategic decision is distribution intensity which include of intensive, selective and exclusive distribution. Intensive distribution aims to provide saturation coverage of the market by using all available outlets. For many products, total sales are directly linked to the number of outlets used such as cigarettes and beer. Intensive distribution is usually required where customers have a range of acceptable brands to choose from. In other words, if one brand is not available, a customer will simply choose another. The second one is selective distribution which involves a producer using a limited number of outlets in a geographical area to sell products. The producer can choose the most appropriate or best-performing outlets and focus effort on them. Selective distribution works best when consumers are prepared to shop around or they have a preference for a particular brand or price and will search out the outlets that supply. The last one is exclusive distribution which is an extreme form of selective distribution in which only one wholesaler, retailer or distributor is used in a specific geographical area. The next strategic decision clarifies the number of levels within a channel such as agents, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, franchisees, direct marketing and others. In some Japanese markets there are many intermediaries involved. In the marketing channel of distribution in Japan, especially in the retail sector, the number of retailers had been increasing from 1950s to the beginning of 1980s consistently. However, it has begun to decrease in the beginning of 1980s, explained by Hisao Fujimoto. Companies such as Ford, Ferrari, Toyota, and Nissan use specific dealers to make their products available, whereas companies such as Nestle involve a whole chain of wholesaler retailers to reach its customers. In conclusion, distribution is playing a big role in the pricing decision. The business communities should place the product efficiently and effectively, and set a reasonable price for selling. There is some advice for the consumer, that is consumer should shop for the best price as they can find regardless of how long the levels of distribution and how far the place of selling the product from you. ECONOMIC CONDITION Economic environment of the country is an important factor affecting the pricing decisions. Inflationary and deflationary conditions will also affect the pricing decision of a company. Inflation is a rise in the average price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. Money loses purchasing power during inflationary periods since each unit of currency buys progressively fewer goods. Consequently, inflation also reflects erosion in the purchasing power of money which is a loss of real value in the internal medium of exchange and unit of account in the economy. Therefore, a company should decrease the price of product when there is an inflation so the consumer will be afford to buy it. On 20 July 1993, Alan Greespan, chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, testified before a congressional committee. He said: The role of expectations in the inflation process is crucial. Even expectations not validated by economic fundamentals can themselves add appreciably to wage and price pressures for a considerable period, potentially derailing the economy from its growth path. However, deflation is a decrease in average price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. While lower prices may seem ideal from a consumers point of view at first, but deflation leads to rising of unemployment and falling in production, a situation from which it is extremely difficult to recover. Therefore, a company should charge a higher price on product when selling it so that it can be able to pay for salary of employees and covered the production cost. On the other hand, the prices are increased in boom period to cover the increasing cost of production and distribution. To meet the changing economic conditions, several pricing decisions are available such as price can be boosted to protect profit against rising costs, price protection system can be linked with the price on delivery to current costs and emphasis can be shifted from sales volume to profit margin and cost reduction. On March 16 alone, five days after the earthquake and tsunami and as the nations nuclear crisis was worsening, United States investors put $700 million into Japanese Exchange Traded Funds, according to the data from Trim Tabs, an investment research organization. That was twice the previous largest daily inflow on record, in 2003. After the earthquake, investors waited for two trading days before acting. But on Wednesday, March 16, after stocks in Tokyo fell by about 10 percent, investors in the United States responded by moving heavily into E.T.F.s. One reason may be that Japanese stocks still have far to go in their recovery. Though the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo has bounced back from recent lows, it is still down 9.43 percent since before the earthquake.

Feminine Sexuality in The Storm Essay -- Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin's short story 'The Storm'; describes an encounter of infidelity between two lovers during a brief thunderstorm. The story alludes to the controversial topic of women's sexuality and passion, which during Chopin's time no one spoke about much less wrote about. So controversial was 'The Storm,'; that it was not published until after her death in eighteen ninety-nine. The story is broken up into five sections, each filled with small clues and hints that reflect her message. In short, Kate Chopin's 'The Storm'; is about a confirmation of feminine sexuality and passion and a rejection of the suppression of it by society. The title of 'The Storm'; gives the reader a peek into the underlying meaning of the story. It obviously portrays feelings of sexual energy, passion, and explosiveness, but the storm refers to nature, which historically has a feminine association. The storm takes on the personification of a deep, rumbling cloud of feminine sexuality and passion waiting to explode. Throughout the story, the intensity of the storm is symbolic of the intensity of Calixta's passion. At the onset of the story, Chopin subtly exposes the idea that women of the time are expected to repress their feelings of sexuality and passion. The scene is set as Calixta is attending to household chores unaware that a storm is imminent. Chopin writes, 'She sat at a side window sewing furiously on a sewing machine. She was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm. She u...

Individuals vs. Society Essay -- essays research papers

An individual’s role in society can vary with the number themes the characters exhibit. When there are signs of fate, cruelties, weaknesses, and desires for justice and catharsis the role of an individual becomes more complicated. In Antigone, most of those themes are shown thus a single person’s influence or role on society is very small and complicated to attain. However in The Lottery the society has most of the control and there is not many signs of those characteristics so the role of a person is simplified because they are nothing compared to the society combined. Finally, in The Penalty of Death, there are signs of many of the themes but since it is the societies influence against that of an individuals, it is simplified because they have to work together. Out of the three readings, I believe that Antigone exhibits most of the characteristics that complicates an individual’s role in society. There is a considerable amount of fate shown in this story. For example, the most evident is that of our main character Antigone. Her fate is shown from the Prologue where she makes her decision to bury her brother Polyneices. â€Å"Ismene, I am going to bury him. Will you come?† There is a point that sort of suggests where her conflict will arise where she defies Creon’s law by saying, â€Å"Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.† Weakness was shown on the part of Creon. His main weaknesses were his cruelty and hubris. He seems especially cruel when he is enraged with Haimon for t...

Consumer Behavior Essay

1) How can understanding consumers’ behavior help companies sell products or services in today’s market? Please cite an example from our text or from our YouTube videos and use a personal example. As Steve Jobs states in the YouTube video, all marketing decisions revolve around your customer. Marketing is all about building profitable customer relationships by creating value for customers and capturing value in return in the form of profits. To effectively sell a product/service, understanding how your customers buy your products and services will help you determine when, how and where you should market your products/services and in turn help you grow your business by responding to their needs. Also, if you know what customers buy and how they go about buying particular products, you can more easily spot a need that has not yet been satisfied. For example, if you run a technology company and notice that many of your customers buy educational software from college bookstores, you may recognize that your customers could use a place to buy and automatically download educational software online. Steve Jobs states in the YouTube video â€Å"Give her not what she wants but give her something that she has never dreamt of, and when she gets it she recognizes it as something she wanted all the time†. A very simple example is that of ITunes, which was discovered 10 years ago. Steve Jobs noticed that music fans clearly wanted to download songs they liked in an affordable and easy way rather than driving to Best Buy or some record store to buy them on $15-to-$18 CDs. Jobs took advantage of this opportunity and came out with the iTunes Music Store, which is today the top most online music retailer, and synced it perfectly with a piece of hardware: the iPod. This eliminated the use of Walkman’s, MP3 Players and CD players. Thus, it is important to understand people’s motives (what drives them to buy), and their attitudes (how they feel about a product/service). Knowledge about these psychological characteristics helps companies design and provide products and services that their customers want and need. The book states an example of McDonalds that first started with providing low priced burgers, fries and shakes. But today, with people becoming more health conscious, McDonalds has a reworked menu that provides more choice and variety such as Chicken Nuggets made with white meat, low fat milk jugs, and a line of premium salads. When people think of McDonalds, people think of value – whether it’s a college student buying a burger for a couple of bucks r a working women at the drive through grabbing a breakfast latte that’s a dollar cheaper than Starbucks. I would like to give a personal example of me shopping at the department store called Safeway. I was a frequent shopper at Safeway and every day I would receive emails regarding the deals and discounts on the products I purchase the most. I would also get emails with recommended products to buy and Safeway was able to do this by keeping track of my shopping history. I would actually get lured by reading these emails and go to the store to buy the recommended discounted products. Marketers can benefit from an understanding of consumer behavior so that they can better predict what consumers want and how best to offer it to them. The importance of understanding the consumer behavior is that to know and understand the preferences of different consumers which will enable the marketers to form the marketing strategies accordingly. Businesses that cannot understand how a consumer’s mind operates will have a more challenging time figuring out how to target a campaign that will attract or catch attention. In order to make the right decision, marketing managers must know how their consumers will react. Before introducing/repositioning any product/service, you must first ask questions like, do people want it? Are there enough people who want it so that it will be profitable to produce that product? Do the people who want it have the economical ability to pay for it? Another important point is that when you know how customers behave in relation to the products you’re selling, you have a better understanding of how to provide good service to them, increasing the chance that you’ll have repeat customers. For example, if you know that customers tend to come to your restaurant because they can get healthy food without waiting for a long time, you could continue training your staff to be as efficient as possible. Identifying the buying behavior of the target market and catering to those behaviors is integral in today’s complex society. 2) How can connecting with a culture help influence consumer behavior? Can you give us an example from your personal experience? A people’s culture includes their beliefs, rules of behavior, rituals, style of dressing, religion, etc. Culture is an external factor influencing consumer behavior. Since people with different cultures have different values, they will have different buying habits. A particular company’s marketing strategies should reflect the culture that is being targeted. Failing to do so can result in lost sales/profits/opportunities. Before advertising or introducing any product/service, it is very important to understand the local culture of the population of a particular area, city, or country. For example, the You Tube Video shows that Thailand and Malaysia have a family oriented culture and so the elderly and tradition play a huge part in the commercials as compared to Australia having a very individualistic culture focusing the advert on youngsters. Another example would be if a given country discourages the use of tobacco or alcohol, the potential pool of consumers for these products would be small. Therefore, companies which distribute these types of products should limit advertising in such areas, and focus on other countries where there are no restrictions on the use of such products. A personal example would be that of McDonalds. In India, meat consumption is prohibited in Hinduism. McDonalds did spend time developing a food menu targeted towards no meat eaters. They now offer a lot of vegetarian options, making it a happy place for both: meat and no meat eaters. Another example would be comparing North India and South India. I have to been to both, and have noticed a vast difference in the culture. People in North India prefer breads over rice which is a favorite with people in South India and East India. So many restaurants in South India have 99% rice based dishes. If a restaurant in South India serves more bread based food options, it would likely make less business as compared to restaurants serving rice based dishes. As part of their efforts to convince customers to purchase their products, marketers often use cultural representations, especially in promotional appeals. The objective is to connect to consumers using cultural references that are easily understood and often embraced by the consumer. By doing so the marketer hopes the consumer feels more comfortable with or can relate better to the product since it corresponds with their cultural values.