Race Ethnicity and Literature Essay

I have had an opportunity to read three great short stories. The short stories were â€Å"The Welcome Table, Country Lovers, and Child of the Americas. † All of them were amazing stories, betraying ethnic challenges, and some responsibilities. I think overall, everyone should read those stories in order to get certain perspective on culture, and understanding on how they lived during the time frame in their life. I also think the short stories provide an understanding in some respects, of how racial divide was apparent during that timeframe. As far as a declarative statement on this matter, I would like to show examples of the literature readings as it correlates with the perspectives of the racial divide, segregation, and overall trials in which ethnic individuals have had to go through. The assertion, I would like to provide is that, short stories can be a direct reflection on time periods that are occurring in life in spite of it being fiction. Our ancestors lived in a time of slavery and segregation. There was no unity between mankind unless the skin color was the same. There was no equality between man and woman and there was no justification to why anyone would be treated superbly unless they were white. It was thought that black people were diseased, filthy and inferior. Over the years, it took people like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , Rosa Parks, and Harriett Tubman to make a statement and help change the future for all other races, not just African Americans. Today, although racism still exists, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone for any reason to include race. The Literary works such as â€Å"Alice Walker’s The Welcome Table, Nadine Gordimer’s Country Lovers, and Aurora Levin’s Morales’s Child of the Americas† give feeling, and meaning to the different angles of racial segregation and acceptance. These literary pieces open one’s eyes and heart to what has been experienced by many if not by one personally. The Welcome Table by Alice Walker is a story about an old, African American woman who is looked down on by the white community. On her way to church, she was stared at with disgust, with pity and with fear. Once inside the church, it was made clear that she didn’t belong and was not welcomed there. â€Å"Under the old woman’s arms they raised their fists, flexed their muscular shoulders, and out she flew through the door, back under the cold blue sky† (Clugston. , 2010)Upon being thrown out, the old woman saw Jesus approaching and soon walked away with him. She walked herself to death and yet no one ever spoke of the ragged old women. No one cared what happened to her for she was just an old black woman who stepped in to the house of God, the God of the white race, a place in which she didn’t belong. It is stories like these that make you wonder of the cruelty that was endured by many in the past. Alice Walker made it clear in her short story the feeling and thought that many had toward African American. Her description of the old woman was strong enough to paint a vivid picture of what the woman looked like. â€Å"She was angular and lean and the color of poor gray Georgia earth, beaten by king cotton and the extreme weather† (Clugston, 2010). African Americans worked harder than everyone else on the farms of the past. They were owned by the white farmers during slavery and even after slavery was abolished, they still were employed by the white farmers. Walker makes it easier to understand that although slavery was no longer, segregation and hatred to all who were African American was still very strong. There was no acceptance from anyone regardless of the fact that most of the white families were taken care of or raised by African Americans. There was no sympathy, just disgust and disapproval. Unlike Walker’s piece, Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer shows a slightly different side of race and segregation. In Walker’s piece, there was no acceptance, no love, no feeling of mutuality. Gordimer on the other hand, talks about children playing together in the yard and fields. Race having no impact on how they interact, the kids play together and get along like family. As the time goes on and the kids get older, they begin to go their separate ways. The white children are sent off to school while the black children begin to work around the house and farm. A white boy and black girl from the story grow up together as close friends. They establish a relationship that compares to no other. When the boy goes off to school, he continues to stay friends with the girl. As he gets older and he hangs out more with his white school friends, he hides his friendship with his childhood friend. The friendship between the two had bloomed to something more, it had bloomed into a secret love. What would the rest of his family or friends think or say had they known that he loved this girl? A black employee to the boy’s father like in â€Å"The Welcome Table,† black people were looked down and were only good and useful to tend to the fields and the house work. They were not meant for friendship or relationships; they are not accepted as social beings. They are strictly workers. At the end of the story, the sexual and loving relationship that once was, is brought to an end by the birth of a baby that was unwanted and denied by the white boy. He refuses to admit his love and to differ from the world around him. Why wouldn’t he profess his love for this girl now that they have a child together? I believe this piece shows how society plays such a great role in the actions, feelings, and thoughts of humans everywhere. Had racial segregation been something of a distant dream, would the outcome be the same. Why do people act based on the perception and thought of those around them? Race plays a major role in Gordimer’s story. It determines the outcome of the story from start to finish. How many people have gone through a situation of the sort? For those who do not know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of race, this story takes a very personal subject and ties it in emotionally. Many people have experienced love and parenthood. How would one feel if the love of their life denied them in front of everyone because of their skin color? What if their child was denied or killed because of what others would say or do? Losing someone is never easy but to lose someone over something uncontrollable like race, it is heartbreaking. Readers are able to relate and feel what this young black girl is feeling as she grows up and away from the boy she has always loved. The relationship starts as one that everyone can relate to; a story of friends and soon turns in to a heart-felt, pain stricken story of betrayal and solitude. It was not until after the Civil War that segregation became illegal. There were still many states that were fighting for complete desegregation but African Americans were able to do things that their ancestors could only dream (Cozzens, 1995). Although integration of races was put into order by law, people found other ways to show their disapproval for what they believed was the inferior race: African Americans. Political groups formed in retaliation to the integration laws that had been passed and were taking effect. In the 1960’s, following many Civil Rights movements, a group known as the Ku Klux Klan became very active and violent towards who they thought were un-American. This abuse and hatred was towards more than just African Americans, it went towards Jews, Catholics and immigrants as a whole (Newton, 2007) Knowing that African Americans were not the only ones in the world hated by the white American society, Aurora Levin’s Morales’s poem Child of the Americas the acceptance of one’s race regardless of the thoughts of society. In this poem, Morales describes herself as an American, Puerto Rican, Taina, Mestiza, Caribbean, European, African, and altogether, an immigrant (Clugston. , 2010). She goes on to talk about how she lives her life in a certain way particular to each individual race. Each piece lives within her and she is happy and proud of the person she is. In today’s society, many people are not happy with themselves and try to conform to what they feel is socially acceptable. Morales’s poem opens up the hearts and minds to those who are mixed or born outside of the United States. Many feel like outsiders, like they do not belong. Instead of being themselves and being happy whether they get the approval of all or not, many sell themselves short in order to please. I believe Morales’s poem paints a very clear and concise picture across the page. The poem show that no matter what society thinks, one will never be happy or satisfied without being happy or satisfied with oneself. Morales using very distinguishing actions that one could relate to being Hispanic or a â€Å"child of the Americas†. She uses everyday life experiences that many can relate to vice fictional ideas that would make ones imagination do all the work. It is almost as if she was speaking not only for herself but for every Latin American that lives in the United States. â€Å"I was born at the crossroads and I am whole† (Clugston. , 2010). â€Å"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects individuals against employment discrimination on the bases of race and color, as well as national origin, sex, and religion. Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments. It also applies to employment agencies and to labor organizations, as well as to the federal government† (The U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2011). It is laws like these that keep our country somewhat free from races and cultures being treated as inferior. Although there are many different laws against racism, segregation and discrimination, it still occurs in today’s world. Each literary piece described above is different in many ways. There are underlying factors which give each story its own theme but at the end, race is represented very strongly within them all. Had the world not been so racial divided, would these storied have the same meaning? Would these pieces even exist? Race and how it is looked upon is the main theme that each story has in common. Although unconditional love, self-acceptance and social standing are also a theme within the three pieces, it is hard to look over the common denominator. Many times, writers can write about similar stories but different underlying themes change the way the stories are interpreted and what is taken from the story as a lesson learned. For example, had another write wrote a poem about being mixed in race but being widely accepted or being the popular person in society, the focus would be put on the social life vice the personal acceptance and gratification of being a happy individual that Morales shows in her piece. Had Walker’s piece been focused more towards Jesus and his acceptance of all regardless of race, the outcome of the story may have changed. The story may have revolved on praise and worship vice who treated the old woman poorly and why. As we learn to read and divulge in many different literary works, we learn to notice different themes and meanings behind each piece. Themes like race are very noticeable and very strong themes that get the wheels turning in the mind. Not many people can realize a theme in a story but the three pieces discussed in this paper all have very obvious and very strong themes that anyone and everyone can empathize and relate to. How can one read something of the sort and not relate or imagine feeling? It is nearly impossible especially since it is something that was fought for by many for years on end. It is something that many have witnessed or heard stories about; a part of history that will never be forgotten. Although literary works may be similar in theme or topic they are far from written the same way. The literary pieces discussed are all just as different as they are similar. Each work is written differently, conveys different emotions and reactions and overall expresses a different level of understanding. Point of view differs within each piece and with the difference it makes the reader’s perception of the story different. For example, Morales writes her piece using the first person point of view. It gives the reader a personal insight to what the writer is feeling and trying to express. Third person point of view leaves the readers mind open to visualization of many different things. There are many stories out in the world that touch base with issues such as racism, segregation, and discrimination. Whether in first person or third person; whether fact or fiction, these stories and poems all have share similar meaning and theme. Writers of racial themes put across the pain and chaos that these difference cause. Many people often times fail to see the pain behind things such as discrimination but through symbolism, metaphors, and other key literary terms these feelings, emotions and experiences are brought to light. Race is an issue that many people deal with on a day to day basis regardless what side of the spectrum they are on. Having read each piece of work, I can say that themes in each were very different yet strong and imaginative. A reader can never say that the imagination was not stimulated with the thought and understanding of each piece of work. Each piece establishes a sense of strength, love and personal experience throughout the piece. As a reader, I can say that after reading each piece I felt connected to the characters within whether it is imaginatively or realistically. Racism exists even to this day. We witness it through hate crimes committed in some of what are thought to be the safest places, like schools and churches. The Jena 6 controversy in Louisiana was a situation in which a white student was beaten up by a group of African American students after three nooses were left hanging on a tree where one of the African American students sat the day before. This tree was said to be a hangout for white students only (â€Å"The case of the Jena six: black high school students charged with attempted murder for schoolyard fight after nooses are hung from tree [Radio series episode].,† 2007). This controversy became a national headline in the news because many saw it as African Americans being portrayed as inferior and the root of all evil. People did not see any wrong from anyone else but the African Americans and vice versa. This and other such issues leave people with the feeling that racism and discrimination is something that is among us all and subject to come out when we least expect it. Can literary works like the ones discussed open up the eyes of the readers to the feelings that hatred and racial segregation causes? I believe that each one of these literary works has a strong racial theme and each one can impact a reader in a way that was not expected. As we become strong and more in depth readers, themes like these will become more vibrant and obvious to see. Race and ethnicity is nothing more than an exterior color and difference in geographical location (Hallam, 2004). The authors make it clear that these difference cause lots of separation and heartache. These themes not only educate on historical experience but on what should be put to rest as an unhappy and disapproving issue that is ongoing in society.

Information Flow in an Organization Essay

Depending upon the organization information is used and disseminated accordingly. Information flow plays a very important role, and is a critical component among businesses who seek to be more successful than their competition. Companies cannot operate without a proper and concise information flow which is accessible through the company’s different departments. The IT department and information systems are mainly responsible for providing ways for the various departments within the company to have access to applications and systems that assist employees in accomplishing their jobs with more ease. Businesses today rely heavily on information technology, and software applications to assist the different departments through helping them complete their daily tasks and functions in a faster and better manner. Software applications help the information systems run in a way that allow employees to perform more tasks in less time and help everything run smoothly together similar. As I examine my current employer I can see how important information flow is to the success of our company. Information is used to work together with every department; however it is easy to point out how it flows by examining each department such as Sales, Engineering, Programming and Production. As orders are placed, our sales department is the first step in information flow in my organization. Customers have specific requirements for each machine they purchase which generally always differ from previous versions we have made. Once the sales orders and specifications are in order they are sent from the sales department to our Engineering department to be designed. There are several different draftsmen and each has their own area of expertise. The Production Manager assigns the frames and machines to be designed to the draftsmen based on the specifications given by the customer. Also, while in Engineering, the machines are given job numbers that will follow them throughout the shop so that it may be tracked as well as allow employees to clock into the proper job. Having a specific job number tied to a specific machine also allows management to review every individual that has worked on these machines at any time. After the machines have designed and approved they are then sent to the programming department. The programming department is responsible for tearing the machines apart in a CAD system known as SolidWorks and separating the frame from the sheet metal. After this has been completed the next step is to individually program each piece of tubing in the frame and apply the proper programming required for optimum cutting time on the laser. The next thing that is programmed is all the sheet metal parts. In order to program sheet metal, the part which is drawn in solidworks, must be saved and transformed into a DXF file. These files are put into a software called SigmaNest and programmed fairly easy. Once all elements of the machine has been programmed, the programming department takes the programs, the job related to the machine, the machine drawings and specifications, and the sales order and hands it off to the Floor Manager for Production. After the Floor manager has all this information, he decides which machines to cut and in what order to cut them in based on shipping dates. He then takes the machine programs, jobs, and drawing and pass them out to the proper departments which will work on cutting, assembling, painting, and testing each one of our machines before they are sealed and shipped off to any of our customers throughout the world. Information flow is essential in any business in maintain functionality as well as productivity. Without some sort of order, without some sort of standard operating procedures our company could not be one of the leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the world.

Backwood Mail Order Case Essay

Backwoods is a mail order company that is into camping supplies and outdoor clothing. Gerald Banks, the operations manager of the customer service division, is interested in training his 40 employees in the customer orders group to be more effective in handling customer complaints and problems. The organizational structure is as follows: The customer orders division has 40 employees and four supervisors whereas the shipping division has 32 employees and 3 supervisors. The employees are evenly divided into two shifts – A day shift and a night shift. The customer orders division is responsible for recording customer orders and check availability of each item ordered. The orders are then transferred to the shipping division which is in charge of ensuring the product is shipped to the customers. The constraint to be kept in mind before designing the training program is that service should not stop to their customers. The problems as identifies by a needs assessment specify that majority of the errors resulting in merchandise return is because of incorrect entry of size in the computer. Based on this the goals of the training program include reducing merchandize returns and creating a positive image of backwoods in the minds of its customers and employees. Questions 1. Write several clear, measurable objectives for the training to be delivered to the employees in the customer order group. The needs assessment output indicates problems to be addressed according to the organizational and task analysis. Before setting measurable outputs, the company first needs to perform person analysis as well to identify whether there are some employees who are excellent with certain attributes but lack at certain different aspect. Since the customer order group is the main point of contact for the customers, it is imperative that the quality of customer interaction should improve. Apart from telephone etiquette training, the customer order group should also have deep knowledge about the product portfolio. Keeping this in mind, we suggest the following objectives for the training. a. Development of in depth knowledge about the product portfolio: This objective should make sure that every customer service representative is abreast on the products and the different SKU’s of that product. This will need interaction with the products team, and periodical evaluation will be required for the same. b. Ensuring better data entry by rechecking customer knowledge of sizes: Because 78% of the merchandise returns are due to problems with size, features, and/or color selections, representatives must be trained in data entry, as well as order verification. Most of the problems can be eliminated by order verification and probably a sample, or description of the product. Also a habit of being inquisitive needs to be inculcated amongst the employees so that they ensure that the customer is aware about the different sizes in the different products. c. Being polite and prompt in handling customer complaints: A polite and prompt response from the employee will help in improving customer experience and would thus aid in creating a better image of the company. Also this will reduce the clutter that is caused in the workplace which will  further increase productivity and improve order time. d. Improving the company image and boosting employee morale The company branding has to be improved among the customers so that there can be many more repeat orders. To this extent, representatives have to be trained on the discount/promotional offers, product superiority etc. Career opportunities have to be explained and performance reviews should be setup so that employees are content as well. 2. Develop a recommendation for the training plan that includes the training techniques that should be used and the length of training Since customer orders department interacts with customers on a daily basis, the training technique will primarily consist of an off the job training program conducted in batches so that customer orders can be simultaneously fulfilled. Off the Job training phase in batches: a. Simulation and Virtual Reality techniques are recommended with every employee getting a chance to face a simulated customer complaint call and on the basis of their performance, feedback would be given. b. The training program should have classroom instructions and role plays. This will be helpful in customer interactions, and telephone etiquette. The classroom training session should include representatives from the product department, wherein the participants have an opportunity to clarify real life questions. Role play would include dealing with difficult customers, call forwarding etc. Since each hour of classroom training would require 6 hours of designing, this is an ideal combination. c. It should have an e-learning component. This will include information on the product portfolio and product usage. This component can also include data entry techniques to facilitate timely feed and retrieval of data. d. There should be a peer training component too, wherein star performers in the job would be asked to train newcomers and freshers. e. Cross functional training should be offered to the order processing as well as shipping department, since each department should be aware of the processes in the  other. f. Rewards should be planned for in the training program for the most improved employee. This would help incentivizing the process. A batch plan is recommended, since at any point of time, we cannot have all the customer representatives busy in training. Identification of time slots with lesser load should be done, and batches of 5 would be ideal so that the floor wouldn’t be completely empty at any point in time. Given an 8 hour window, a training of 1 hour every day for two weeks would be ideal to cover the required objectives. This will then be followed up with the on the job component. On the job training phase: This is essentially a follow up phase wherein some of the calls of the employees would be recorded and feedback will be provided on the same. There will also be occasional surprise calls from HR posing as customers. Lastly cards with learning of the training program should be placed on the desk of each employee. This will also act as an effective way to evaluate the training program. 3. Offer a plan for evaluating the training program. Describe the criteria that will be used and the design you will employ. We propose the widely accepted four-level framework for evaluation of the training program. Phase 1: Reaction of trainees: A simple questionnaire can be used to record the response of the trainee with his ratings on the training program. A few sample questions could be: a. What were your expectations out of the program? Were they met? b. How would you rate the time allotted to the training program? c. How would you rate the instructor? d. How would rate the design of the program? Phase 2: Learning of the trainees: The performance of the trainees can be gauged and recorded before the training program. The evaluation criteria would be the average number of errors in the past month and knowledge about product. These scores can then be compared with post training scores to evaluate the effectiveness of the training program. Phase 3: Observation of trained employees: This can be done by recording some of the calls of the employees and occasional surprise calls from HR posing as customers. The improvement in their performance with respect to promptness and politeness of response can help in evaluating the training program. Customer interaction and communication effectiveness should also be evaluated by supervisors. Also feedback can be taken from customers as well. Phase 4: Return on investment: The return on investment can be measured by calculating the savings in cost due to reduction in the number of returns. Also increased number of orders due to better customer satisfaction can be considered in considering the payoff from the training program. This can then be compared with the cost of the training program to measure effectiveness.

Proposal for alternative, convertible and flexible types of Research Paper

Proposal for alternative, convertible and flexible types of accommodations for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games - Research Paper Example mated that the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil could provide ample accommodation for 33,000 visitors, this being the number of the hotel beds that are available (Berg, n.d.). The Olympic Games will definitely require more than this, considering that the number of visitors is expected to be much higher, estimated at a figure well above 50,000. Worse still is the fact that; the economic implication of the city would be even dire, if it engages in the erection of permanent facilities that are only to be used for accommodating the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games of 2016, and then fall short of business later. However, while uptight efforts are being made to avail the necessary accommodation through the construction of more hotels and accommodation facilities, it would even be more comfortable and innovative of the city, if it could devise other means of providing temporary accommodation, which still meets the required standards. One of the viable considerations for the temporary, yet quality accommodation provision for the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the Olympic Games of 2016, is the use of Cruise Ship (Honeywell, n.d.). There are various reasons that make this option viable. First, the city of Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by water, which makes the use of cruise ship possible, as the visitors and the athletic members will only be sleeping in the regions surrounding the city. The advantage of this option is that; it will allow for the provision of ample accommodation in areas of close proximity to the city, thus allowing for the desired convenience. The second advantage is the fact that, the use of cruise ship will allow for the temporary provision of accommodation, thus eliminating the need for construction of permanent accommodation facilities, which may then lack sufficient business thereafter, thus resulting to unnecessary tying up of substantial resources in the substantial constructions (Honeywell, n .d.). The validity of this option is the fact that, the same

Nelson Mandela Speech to the UN Special Committee against Apartheid Essay

Nelson Mandela Speech to the UN Special Committee against Apartheid - Essay Example Nelson Mandela Speech to the UN Special Committee against Apartheid This paper refers to Mandela’s speech after the declaration and was a follow up regarding what was happening regarding apartheid in South Africa. Since then the UN passed many resolutions regarding apartheid. In 1976 the UN Centre against apartheid was created. Prior to Mandela’s speech in 1990, the General Assembly adopted the â€Å"Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in South Africa†. This declaration called for negotiations between all parties to end apartheid and create a democracy free from racial discrimination. Nelson Mandela is the person giving the speech to the Special Committee against Apartheid. He is giving the speech because even though the journey to stop apartheid had began through UN efforts, he believed that nothing much was happening in South Africa especially after the declaration by the UN General Assembly in December 1989. The speech was made to the Special Committee against Apartheid in New York in June 1990. The audience included the permanent representative and Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, the President of the UN General Assembly, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Excellencies and permanent representatives of the UN and Heads and Observer Missions. The audience represented people from around the world who were member states of the United Nations. This was a forum of member states of the United Nations and a great opportunity for Nelson Mandela to explain the oppressiveness of Apartheid to the world.

CRJS472IP1 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CRJS472IP1 - Research Paper Example A high biometric, as categorized by Woodward (McGuire, L., 2000), are those systems which involve physical features that do not change with time. Examples of these are fingerprints and some parts of an individual’s eye. When something is considered high biometric, it refers to the reliability of the object used for the system. (McGuire, L., 2000). In both the public and private sector, high biometric is used for identification, verification and security purposes. Fingerprinting is the most commonly used biometric system (Spinella, E., 2002) by the government and private organizations. Fingerprints are unique to an individual so much so that even identical twins have different sets of fingerprints for each digit. In fact, they are supposedly more exceptional than the DNA since although twins can share the same genetic material in their body, the same cannot be said for their fingerprints. (Watson, S., 2008) As such, both public and private institutions have turned to fingerprinting to identify individuals. Apple’s iPhone 5S and 5C models do not need a four-digit security number to open the device. Instead of the common security applications, Apple has incorporated a fingerprint scanner which allows the gadget to identify its owner by reading the imprint the individual makes when he or she presses the start button. (Trader, J., 2013) The public sector has also benefited from fingerprint scanning technology. The police and other government agencies tasked in keeping the peace have been using a person’s biometrics to aid in the performance of their duties. The history of fingerprinting in the criminology goes way back to 1903 when a man named Will West drew confusion as another man named William West was already in prison. (The History, 2014) After their fingerprints were taken, it was discovered that they were

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

Aticle - Essay Example Groups have long debated whether sexual preference is biological or is influenced by environment, and the repercussions this may have for homosexual law and culture in today’s society. In the gay marriage legalization debate, the media used the same sex bonded pairs of albatross (Zuk and Bailey, 658). Sexual interaction between individuals of the same sex has been noted in populations of dolphins, sheep and monkeys. But first, it is essential to define what constitutes homosexual behavior. The female-female pairs of albatross were not seen to engage in sexual activities. However, this does not mean that a quick roll in the nest did not occur. This makes one wonder whether relationships between same-sex pairs, without copulation, still class as homosexuality. Lack of the male species may have caused the same sex pairing among the albatross population. The preference of commitment over multiple partners then allows this same-sex behavior to persist over time. If a female pairs with another female, one or both may reproduce with a male, thereby increasing their chance of reproductive success in a pair rather than alone. This is known as co-operative breeding, where non-related adults help rear the young. However, this lacks the normal reproductive competition often seen between members of the same-sex. This form of co-operative reproductive challenges the ideas of the evolution of sexual reproductive strategies and orientation. Despite a possible increase in reproductive success in same-sex pairing than alone, these females are still in a dilemma. This is because the reproductive success of female-female pairs was less than that of female-male pairings. Homosexuality in nature may have previously been over-looked. Female and male Laysan albatross are not physically distinguishable. This is a commonality in many seabird species. Consequently, scientists had to determine gender through genetic tests (Zuk and Bailey, 659). This is thoroughly resource

Law of contract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Law of contract - Essay Example However, a counter offer has also been made under which the BD has actually asked Natalie to keep the offer open and if she does, she will get 12 tall glasses also. Considering the above situation, it may be important to ascertain whether Natalie has accepted the offer made by BD. Under this situation, it is important to ascertain the acceptance of the offer and its communication in order to make a formal contract. The offer has been accepted by BD on 18th however, it reached to Natalie on 21st however, under contract law an offer is accepted once the letter of acceptance has been posted if postal acceptance is made. In Adams V Lindsell1 and Henthorn v Fraser2, court decided that an acceptance is complete as soon as the acceptance is posted. Under these conditions Natalie will have to perform her part of the contract and purchase the bottles of Lemonade according to the offer made by her. 2(B) One of the key issues in this case is to decide whether it’s an invitation to treat or an offer to the world which Cruisey Liners plc has made. Under the case law, the advertisement made by the companies is generally considered as an invitation to treat and as such they are not liable to contract on the terms mentioned in the advertisement. An invitation to treat is therefore considered as a willingness of the individuals to negotiate and enter into contract. It is also important to note that in order to become a binding contract, it is critical that the acceptance must be definite in nature. The lack of this therefore may not render a contract binding on other party. (Stone and Cunnington) It is however, important to make a distinction between the invitation to treat and an offer to the world. Under unilateral contract, one party to the contract makes a promise for a reward on the performance of certain act. When an offer is made to the world, its acceptance only occurs when the complete performance of the act is done. (Elliot and Quinn). Considering this, the cas e of Caroline may not require damages for the firm because she has not performed the act. However, in case of Stephen Spider, the same may not be the case as the acceptance of the offer has been made through the performance of the act. It also however, has to be decided as to whether the revocation of offer should be communicated through same channels or not. As a general rule however, the revocation of the offer has to be properly communicated through the same channels. Q#2 The doctrine of privity under the contract law outlines that the rights and obligations arising under the contract can only be imposed on the persons who are party to the contract. As such rights and obligations cannot be enforced on others who are explicitly or implicitly not part of the contract. (McKendrick) The doctrine of privity therefore is also critical under the current environment also as the same help to identify the rights and obligations of third parties under the contract. There are wide range of l aws which are covered under the doctrine of Privity and are decided till today according to this doctrine. Issues such as trusts, estates, collaterals etc are still governed by the doctrine of pri

Pricing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pricing - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is pricing that can be approached at three distinct levels such as industry level, market level, and transaction level. Industry level pricing process considers overall economics of the industry including changes in customer needs and supplier prices. Zuponcic states that Market level pricing takes into account market trends and competitors’ strategies; whereas, transaction level pricing specifically focuses on the discounts management. Modern marketers practice a range of pricing strategies mainly including cost plus pricing, skimming pricing, market oriented pricing, penetration pricing, premium pricing, price leadership, target pricing, absorption pricing, and value based pricing. A set of economic factors is to be considered before recommending a pricing strategy for a particular product since pricing is the most effective profit lever. As Sloman points out, it is necessary to evaluate market demand and price elasticity of the product. Fo r instance, if there is high market demand for a product, the marketer can fix a relatively higher price whereas he will be forced to lower product prices when market demand declines. Some products including jewelleries and automobiles are very sensitive to price; and hence, even a small increase in price will lead to a noticeable decline in their market demand. As Clausen indicates, economic theories do not encourage the setting of higher prices for such price sensitive products. In addition, production costs and expected profit margin have to be analyzed while choosing a pricing strategy.... In addition, production costs and expected profit margin have to be analyzed while choosing a pricing strategy (ibid). When a product’s cost of production is high, firms generally charge higher prices in order to ensure adequate return on the huge investments. In the view of Senior (1852, p. 102), organizations need to consider huge profit margins if the cost production is high and fix a low profit margin if production costs incurred are near to the ground. Shaw (2001, pp.58-59) points out that market structure also plays a crucial role in ensuring successful pricing since market demand is the key driver behind product movement. To illustrate, a skimming pricing policy would probably fail to attract customers in a market where competition is intense, because a set of other product choices are available to customers. Therefore, it is better to adopt a cost plus pricing policy or penetration pricing policy while operating in a highly competitive market environment. Similarly, pr ice discrimination strategy would be advisable in a market which contains diverse population. This strategy seems to be potential for mobile phone industry, particularly to Aslan. According to George, Joll, and Lynk (1992, pp.181-185), in an oligopolistic market environment, a small number of sellers dominate the market; and hence economic theories advise firms to compete in such market segments with relatively low prices and high production. If a marketer increases his product prices in an oligopolistic market environment, customers will certainly switch their demand to other sellers who market their products more affordably. Marketers must give specific focus on the pricing of simple configurable products. Economic approaches direct that price

Education Essay Example for Free

Education Essay In United Kingdom and Europe, the adults and volunteers working around the school, paid or not, have various names: learning support assistant, classroom assistant, special needs assistant, but the most common term is the one of teaching assistant. The teaching assistants are very important in primary schools, so much that at the moment it is nearly impossible to imagine things running as efficiently as they do, without the help of the teaching assistants. In the present there is a big deficit in the number of teachers available in primary schools, especially in the number of men working close to children of a young age. Skilled teaching assistants bring a very valuable contribution to pupils achievements within the learning environment, but their main purpose states from their name, as the term of teaching assistant indicates their role of supporting the teacher and working under his guidance. This is done by supporting pupils during the teaching of the curriculum . Teacher assistants support the pupils by understanding their learning support needs. In order to do that, the teaching assistant needs to listen to the children, respect and value them. They will gain the sense of independence, with the help of the school staff, especially those working close to them, such as teacher or teaching assistant. The teaching assistant has to enable the pupils access to the curriculum at all times and to encourage them by using plenty of praise and rewards. Also, every pupil must participate fully in every lesson, and the teaching assistant must ensure that, by reminding pupils of teaching points made by the teacher, and also by organising them in appropriate play activities or games. Younger pupils should be encouraged to take turns and speak and to follow simple written instructions. The teaching assistant has to encourage the children to use the school library at all the time and also to use spelling aids, when necessary. All of these will encourage the pupils to gain the sense of independence and to develop their independent learning. The teaching assistant needs to ensure that the children knows, understands and applies class and school rules. The younger pupils should be able to make choices on their own about the books and to be able to select resources independently. Older pupils should be encouraged to develop their skills and to work independently when the case, to manage own reading book and help keeping reading record up to date. The teaching assistant must help the pupils work cooperatively and encourage them to use the library independently. Children should learn to use information from various sources and include references and to complete all tasks set in a given time. The teaching assistant must make sure that all the pupils have access to information from artefacts, charts, diagrams, and that they are able to organise and keep tidy their own work. The teaching assistant must provide support for the teacher, as stated from the term itself. The teacher takes full responsibility for the interactions that take place between pupils and the helping staff. The teaching assistant needs to provide general classroom help, including preparations of rooms, materials and equipment. The pupils need to be supervised by the teaching assistant and by the teacher, working together, as a team. Also, the teaching assistant needs to assist in monitoring the pupils progress as required by the school and in the production of teaching aids and preparation of work for pupils.

The Mental Health Nurses Role Social Work Essay

The Mental Health Nurses Role Social Work Essay Care planning, provision and management are essential parts of the mental health nurses role. Ongoing interaction and assessment of clients needs creates a basis for providing and organising care that is inclusive, effective and adaptive through evaluation and review. The creation of a framework of care established on the premise of recovery, as it is viewed in mental health terms, can not only provide for a clients basic needs but can also allow them to continue to grow as an individual and lead a fulfilling life even in the presence of a mental health problem or illness (Hall, Wren Kirby, 2008). This case study will explain and discuss the nursing care of an individual that has a mental health problem. A plan of care will be outlined including the reasoning and evidence base that prompted such direction. Parahoo (2006) reminds us that all nursing practice should be based on sound principles and processes that stem from reliable sources. Firstly we will look at the specifics of the scenario and set up some working premises which will then allow us to further speculate on the development and implementation of a structured care plan. The case study is based around a 69 year old female named Simone. After recent lapses in memory, orientation and changes in mood were disclosed to her GP she was further assessed and consequently diagnosed with early onset dementia. Simone lives with her 40 year old daughter in a semi detached bungalow in a quiet suburban area. Simones daughter has paraplegia after an accident ten years ago. She is able to care for herself to a certain extent but does require occasional assistance from Simone. Simones daughter also recently experienced bouts of depression which lasted several months. Recently Simone had an incident when she became disorientated on a trip to the local shops and had to be escorted home by a neighbour. The role of the nurse in this case study is that of a community psychiatric nurse working with older adults. After meeting Simone and carrying out an initial assessment there are several pertinent pieces of information to continue with: Simone appears to be physically well and her home is clean and well equipped for both her and her daughter; She seems to understand where she is but at times can become flustered when unable to answer certain questions; Her daughter reports that, on a few recent occasions, Simone has burned food while cooking; She has no other family living locally and has lost touch with many of her friends since looking after her daughter; Simone states that she does not require any assistance at this time as she feels that she will be able to cope, however, she seems to be very anxious about her diagnosis and the consequences for her and her daughter and whether they will be able to continue managing to live at home. To be able to begin to make any kind of conjecture on what plans of care may be suitable for Simone we have to make several key assumptions about the skill of the nurse. For this we will use some of the attributes identified by Gerard Egan (2010) in his skilled helper model. Firstly we must assume that through accomplished communication skills and core empathic values a working therapeutic relationship is possible to establish. Also that the care plan proposals which are being put forward are ones that have been discussed and accepted by all involved parties as suitable to Simones preferences after reviewing alternatives. Finally, we must presume that through encouragement, motivation and reasoning, Simone will consent to nursing, psychiatric and other agency involvement. From the initial assessment it would seem that Simone has an apparent need for information pertaining to her condition as well as emotional support and counselling. She may require psychiatric input in terms of ongoing assessment, medication prescribing and monitoring. It also seems as though Simone may need some sort of support or assistance in certain daily activities, this could be direct support or the creation of systems and routines which enable her to perform tasks independently. A growing level of social isolation looks to be occurring and Simone may benefit by having assistance to address this. Simone may need access to support groups relating to her diagnosis of dementia, her role as a carer but also to her social and personal interest or activities. These could promote social inclusion as well as cognitive enhancement. Simone has also stated that she has concerns over the wellbeing of her daughter if she should be unable to perform the duties for her that she has up until this point. This may require a level of involvement within Simones care for her daughter, to learn about Simones condition and also to look at possible ways in which she can assist, perhaps by considering some form of support for herself or by means of being actively involved in the care plans. Therefore, with these needs in mind, we can begin to create an all encompassing, holistic care plan which is not purely based on the historical medical model that you are ill and we can cure you, or even the more modern social model that purports that you have needs and we can meet them but is instead more firmly based on the progressive view of recovery which states that you may have a problem but with help you can grow beyond it (Hall, Wren Kirby, 2008). This positivity in the face of such adversity may go against the grain of traditional treatment of dementia sufferers but the goal of restoring and maintaining mental health to its achievable optimum capacity, even when it may be in inexorable decline, should remain exactly the same as in all other areas of mental health treatment (Hughes, 2006). For care plans to be efficient they also have to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timed (SMART), as this allows a flexibility to the planning process because effectivene ss can be evaluated and appropriate changes can be made as required (Brooker Waugh, 2007). So for this particular case study, the initial care plan would comprise of tasks for the nurse to complete, either as a direct care provider or as a care manager. These tasks would hopefully address the current needs of Simone over an interim period, whilst improving relations, knowledge, involvement and empowerment which could help to provide her with a greater amount of control over her current situation. The tasks will firstly be detailed in a basic format and then what each task entails will be comprehensively discussed thereafter. As care provider: Weekly home visits Liaise with psychiatrist, monthly psychiatric appointments Family work Risk assessment Creation of advanced statements As care manager: Link in with multidisciplinary team Signpost, assist to access support/interest groups Being able to have face to face communication with an individual on a regular basis is the cornerstone of effective nursing practice (Ewels Simnett, 2003). As Simone had stated that she did not feel that she required any external involvement at this time, even when we are working on the assumption that she will accept it, it would be important not to initially overwhelm her. She may be feeling very frightened and vulnerable. A study of older independent living people in 1998 identified dementia as a primary fear, rating higher than cancer (Mackinlay, 2006). General awareness of dementia issues is relatively low even though it is a common enough condition to affect more than 1 in 100 people aged over 65 (Alzheimers Scotland, 2010). A bombardment of too much input or information may cause her to be defensive and withdraw her engagement with CPN services. Starting off with a planned weekly visit of around one hour in length which follows up on the preliminary visit and assessment would perhaps not seem overly intrusive. During this time the nurse can provide much needed emotional support and counselling, building up a more robust working relationship. Information about Simones diagnosis, such as how her dementia developed to this point, how it may progress in the future, what to expect, how to prepare, what options are available and any other pertinent questions can be answered as and when Simone feels ready to discuss such things. Overtime Simone can start to identify weaknesses to focus on and strengths which can be utilised and begin to compile her own plans and goals which she can work on in a more independent fashion. These can be more specific goals such as taking up a new hobby or interest or could even be to plan how to visit the local shops and return home safely or cook a meal without the worry of burning it. These goals can then be broken down into achievable tasks for Simone which she can carry out with minimal support. Increased independence can ofte n involve an element of therapeutic risk and it is important not to confuse care with control (Watkins, 2009). Weekly visits give the opportunity to provide tangible support and to continually assess the progress of Simones dementia, mental health, general health, the continuing suitability and condition of her residence, activity levels, relationships and inclusiveness in the wider community. Informal and also formal rating scales, such as the MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination), MADRS (Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale) as well as clinical observations can be regularly recorded to monitor any developments, patterns or trends. Frequent visits allow more effective methods of communication techniques to be developed which suit Simones personality and current capabilities. Care becomes not only person centred but also relationship centred and this bond can foster trust and relieve anxiety, stress and agitation (Innes, 2009) The community psychiatric nurse would work in tandem with a designated psychiatrist, reporting to them weekly. The psychiatrist that originally assessed Simone and made the diagnosis of dementia would be most preferable to aid continuity of care. For this commencement period of Simones involvement with psychiatric services to have a monthly appointment with a psychiatrist would be both realistic and achievable. This would be an opportunity to receive further support and review ongoing mental health and mental state assessments such as the MMSE or the more comprehensive ACE-R (Addenbrookes Cognitive Examination Revised). A psychiatrist would be able to provide any ongoing prescription support if required or provide access to relevant psychosocial therapies. The NICE-SCIE Guidelines for Dementia Care (2006) states that this would depend on the results of cognitive tests and perceived cognitive functioning. Using the MMSE as an example, it is recommended that only people with a score b etween 10-20, denoting moderate Alzheimers type dementia should begin courses of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine. The effectiveness of these drugs for individuals scoring lower than 10 points drops dramatically. For people with mild to moderate Alzheimers type dementia, scores over 20, should be given the opportunity to participate in structured group cognitive stimulation programmes and alternative therapies. In the journal article, Dementia: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Management, Salama (2008) recognises the effectiveness of these programmes and therapies for the management of cognitive symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, depression and aggression. It would seem from the needs outlined from the scenario this type of intervention would be beneficial to Simone. It is always important to remember that often people with dementia do not exist solely in isolation and inevitably family members and friends will become involved in their journey. Innes (2009) talks about the importance of a partnership between the nurse and individual diagnosed with dementia and states that these partnerships can extend to close family members or carers creating a triad of care. With Simones consent, sessions could include her daughter, helping to educate and inform her therefore better preparing her to cope with the possible demands of continued cohabitation with her mother. The NICE- SCIE Guidelines for Dementia Care (2006) state that people living in the community diagnosed with dementia should be supported to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible rather than being uprooted to an unfamiliar environment. Also if Simones dementia is seen to have a possible genetic link her daughter should be briefed on the risk of developing the condition hersel f. Simones daughter may be able to inform of ways in which she may be able to assist, however, the information provided in the case study suggests that due to Simones daughters disability her ability to support her mother in some aspects of care may be limited. Studies have consistently shown that stressors faced by family members of people with dementia are amongst the most difficult to cope with of all chronic illnesses and this can lead to an increased risk of depression, loneliness and self injury (Keady cited in Norman and Ryrie, 2009). As Simones daughter is already prone to depression a recommendation of how to assist her mother could be to receive more direct support herself subsequently alleviating some of the caring duties for Simone. The importance of relationships and friendships should not be underestimated. The emotional support from an extended social network can be invaluable and Simone should be encouraged to renew links with family and friends to strengthen existin g relations and reduce isolation. Leff and Warner (2006) identify social inclusion as one of the key factors to maximising mental health in dementia. One of the most important duties of the community mental health nurse is to ensure the health and wellbeing of the client, their family and wider community. In order to do this they have to assess the risks involved within the situation. For Simone, her recent dementia symptoms pose new risks, to herself and others, which consequently have to be identified and managed. The most appropriate way to assess risk is in conjunction with the individual you are working with, even though their view of the risks involved may vary from yours. This collaboration means that any decisions feel agreed rather than imposed and are therefore more likely to be conformed to whilst also enhancing the therapeutic relationship between the individual and nurse (Ramsay et al, 2001). From the case study we can see that there are possibilities for Simone to inadvertently bring harm to either herself, her daughter, her neighbours or even the wider community through a number of negative eventualities such as wan dering, causing fire hazards or lapses while driving if she does indeed drive. However, although assessing risk can highlight the dangers a situation or condition can cause it can also help to recognise positive skills and strengths which may be utilised. As part of a recovery focused care plan therapeutic risk must be considered and encouraged in order for Simone to maintain the sense that she is still author to her own story. Barker (2009) promotes the idea that personal growth and development through new or continued experiences does not stop with a diagnosis of mental illness or dementia but should be encouraged to continue unabated. Another consideration which could be brought to Simones attention is advanced statements. These are personal statements of preference in terms of the types of treatments a person with a mental illness may or may not wish to have in the future in the event of a decline in their mental health. These wishes and preference must then be upheld under Part 18 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. Simone may not feel ready to start compiling these statements straight away but if she is aware of them, over time, her preferences can be documented. Under Part 17 Chapter 2 of the same mental health act Simone also has the right to independent advocacy which she may wish to utilise to create any advance statements or to reinforce them if required. If Simones dementia does decline to the stage where she is no longer deemed to have adequate capacity for appropriate decision making she would come under the legal realm of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. In tim es of better mental health Simone may wish to select a named person to act on her behalf should this be required in the future. All decisions made on Simones behalf must be to her benefit and be the least restrictive option. With these factors in mind, part of the community psychiatric nurses role would be to promote the use of advance statements in order that Simone may continue to be cared for in a manner of her choosing, even after the possible loss of capacity, thus maintaining a sense of self and control over her own treatment. Both of these elements are identified by Pilgrim (2009) as being key points in aiding recovery in mental health treatment. Multidisciplinary team and multiagency working is an essential part of modern health care provision (Brooker and Waugh, 2007). Community nurses can appear to be working autonomously but are often supported by and linked in with a number of other health professionals and social care workers such as physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, social workers, general practitioners, psychiatrists and care assistants to name but a few. Norman and Ryrie (2009) claim that the effectiveness of this way of working lies in the diversity of skills and experience which is able to be drawn upon to facilitate more effective care for specialist needs or requirements. In the case of Simone any identified needs that would be unable to be met by the community nurse or that would be more effectively met by other workers could be referred on. In this way Simones care becomes collaborative, with her at the centre and people with the specific knowledge and skills being utilised around her. As well as engagement with health and social care professionals there are numerous charities, agencies, groups and organisations that offer external support. For Simone this could be in the form of local support groups for issues that affect her, such as dementia, stress or being a carer, or could perhaps be more focused on activities that suit her general interests. The community psychiatric nurse could possibly assist Simone to source, access or even in the short term, attend these kinds of pursuits. Interacting with others in groups or focusing on enjoyable tasks has the therapeutic benefit of enhancing both social and cognitive proficiency for a person diagnosed with dementia (Gilhooly et al 2003). Leff and Warner (2006) also stress the importance of social inclusion by naming it amongst their four key areas for improved quality of life alongside independence, health and choice. So in summary, we have outlined the case study scenario of Simone, identified her needs and created a plan that is intended to meet these needs. In addition to meeting the identified needs, a deeper analysis of the plan depicts how it will benefit Simone in a more holistic sense. By keeping the notion of recovery firmly in mind, the overall aim is to build up Simone, the person, as a whole and not purely to assist with the symptoms of dementia. For Simone to recover she must be supported to live a full life in the existence if her dementia, be able to remain independent for as long as possible, be included in the community, plan for the future and enjoy a quality of life that she finds gratifying. As this care plan created for Simone progresses, being updated and augmented as required, it should mean that her dementia should become to be viewed as illness which is being managed and not as a defining characteristic of her personality. Paraphrasing from a letter written to the notable neurologist Oliver Sacks: A person does not consist of memory alone. They have feeling, will, sensibilities and moral being, matters of which neurology cannot speak. It is here, beyond the realm of an impersonal psychology, that you may find ways to touch them, and to change them (Luria cited in Sacks 1985).

Current and future strategies

Current and future strategies 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Purpose: The purpose of this report is to understand and analyse the current and future strategies of NEXT in terms of its market in the United Kingdom. This report also considers the tactics to reach potential markets and expand into newer market segments. Approach: In order to conduct a comprehensive study of the company, the factors taken into account are an internal and external analysis, the generic strategies used by NEXT and a thorough understanding of the 4 Ps, PLC, BGM and Ansoffs Matrix has been done in correlation with the future and currents strategies. Findings: Next is the second largest clothing retailer in the UK operating through 500 NEXT retail stores within UK and Eire with over two million active customers. Next aims to provide high quality and beautifully designed products to their customers. From the internal and external analysis of the market strategy of Next, results conclude that next has been a mid market retailer for nearly two decades. It has achieved huge amount of success in the internet and online shopping environment and have been able to cope to with the recent recession within UK and globally. Limitations: Next has suffered sales in the last year due to the recession in the UK and has been moving from a low price retailer to a design and quality product provider. In achieving this aim of providing high quality and designed products it has suffered loss in the UK in sales and growth. It also needs to be aware of the risks of increasing their shop sizes, as the store space to sales growth ratio is very poor. New out of town stores has not been great success and has only added additional costs. 2. INTRODUCTION The only way to attain the successes the company has experienced in the past few years in terms of growth of sales and profits is to see what opportunities lay on the horizon. The Marketing Department of Next Plc has performed a series of internal and external scans throughout the company in order to identify these opportunities. This report contains an analysis performed on the structure, culture, and the micro and macro environment of NEXT PLC. The outcomes are presented in the form of a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the company. A PEST analysis focuses on the environment that the company now is in (Political, Economic, Social and Technological) and a scan based on the Five Forces Model of Michael Porter. Furthermore, there is the presentation of mix map model, which analysis the 4 Ps (Product, Price, Promotion and Place) and product life cycle, Boston Group Matrix, Ansoffs Matrix of NEXT. An executive summary has been constructed to provide the company vision and a sense of direction with the help of data gathered by the Marketing Department. The above mentioned activities are performed In order to discuss and evaluate the current marketing strategy of NEXT PLC and to recommend an appropriate strategy for the near future to expedite further growth. 2.1 MISSION ANALYSIS NEXT is a retailer of clothing, footwear, accessories and home products. Next clothes are designed by in-house design team to offer consistency of style, quality and value for money with a contemporary fashion edge. The company operates through five reportable business segments namely: Next retail, Next directory, Ventura, Next sourcing and other. NEXT PLC aim to provide â€Å"Exciting, Beautifully designed, Excellent quality clothing and home ware that reflects the aspirations and means of our customers† (Nextplc, 2009) and keep providing quality products for their target markets. In lay-mans terms, a mission statement describes what business the firm is in (Thompson and Martin, 2005). Objectives describe the kind of results the business seeks to achieve while the strategies simplify the way to achieve the desired objectives. Market can be defined as location where the buying and selling of merchandise takes place and marketing can be defined as the process of identifying a target market and developing appropriate strategies for product development, pricing, promotion and distribution (Burns, 2002). NEXT also aims to respond to the particular needs of their customers through the package of measures, which they believe support all customers including those with additional needs. NEXT PLC operates through 500 NEXT retail stores within UK and Eire, Next directory, a direct catalogue and transactional website with over two million active customers and NEXT franchise which includes around 170 stores worldwide. Online shopping was introduced in 1999 and was first in home shopping in the UK. Like other retailers, NEXT has also suffered sales decline due to the recession but aim to carefully manage costs, whilst maintaining and retaining the talent and skills to ensure a positive position within market and emerge stronger than before. NEXT PLC also believes in the importance of maintaining healthy relationship with communities in which they operate and also work with charities to ensure their part in public welfare. NEXT is positioned firmly in the middle mainstream fashion market, targeting 25-45 year olds (upper, middle and lower middle class consumers) who are fashion followers. Easey (2009) maintained that fashion marketing is the application of a range of techniques and a business philosophy that centres upon the customer and potential customer clothing and clothing-related products and services in order to meet the long-term goals of the organisation. In recent years NEXT has been criticised about their marketing methods and has not been seen as a retail business wi th up to date marketing strategy. The word ‘strategy is used frequently and loosely, and is often no more than management jargon. There is obviously a deeper and more practical meaning to it. Strategy is about how an organization sets about getting to where it wants to get it is about setting, pursuing and achieving its mission and objectives (Thompson and Martin, 2005). Knowles (1996) maintains that applying the concept of strategy to an organization implies that the organizations managers try to allocate resources, establish policies and procedures, assign responsibilities and give direction to the organization. Strategic planning is a precise discipline and a process designed to fully utilize the collective expertise of the decision makers through a facilitated process which results in a strategic plan. In the following paragraphs, current in depth marketing strategy of NEXT PLC will be thoroughly discussed. 3.SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS As discussed earlier, success of an organisation in todays competitive world depends on to a large extent on strategy formulation and implementation. An analysis of the internal and external environments provides a look in towards building and developing current and future strategies. Situational analysis is a planning step which helps us examines the current situation of our organization and its external environment so that we can identify and agree on major issues which affect how we plan for the future. SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate a firms strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in a project or business venture. Strengths and weaknesses are considered to be internal factors of the organisation while opportunities and threats are considered to be external factors as opportunities or threats lie in the external environment. This analysis is called as SWOT analysis (Stahl and Grisby, 1997). In order for a firm to carry out SWOT analy sis it needs careful and critical examination of these various internal and external factors which are often unique to an organisation depending on the type of business. After a SWOT analysis has been performed the managers are able to formulate a strategic plan which comprises of objectives and subsequent strategies. Next always seeks to give the price, value and quality products and services, the upper hand when turning towards customers. Next aims to provide an inclusive high level of service to all customers, whether they shop in high street, shopping centre or retail park stores, the Next Directory, or online through our website. This can also be seen in the way the company sees the importance of its personnel in relation to its customers. NEXT PLC needs to look into the future for improving the customer care by streamlining activities. It also wants to continue the same success pathway it has had in the last 5 years which is demonstrated by (Verdict, 2009). 3.1 INTERNAL ANALYSIS Internal factors are those factors which influence the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation. These strengths are internal to the organisation, its strategies and its position in relation with their competitors (Mercer, 1999). Given below is an internal analysis of Next plc. 3.1.1 Structure In terms of structure, Next plc operate on a centralised system. Their target market is 25-45 year olds (Next, 2009). The company logo ‘next in lower case signifies a different approach, more trendy. There are3 main channels of distribution used by next to ensure their products reach the desired customers: Next has around 500 stores in the UK which acts as its main point of sale. (Next plc, 2009). Next directory which is an online web portal which allows customers to buy products through the web site. There are almost 2 million active next directory customers (Verdict, 2009). Around 170 international stores make up the third channel of distribution. 3.1.2Culture Jackson and Shaw (2009) define culture as the attitudes, values, standards and behaviours of a group that are often defined by nationality. According to Vignali et al, (2008) culture is made up of both abstract elements such as values and ethics, and material components such as cars and foods, which allow us to describe, evaluate and differentiate cultures. Approximately 30% of the clothing bought in the UK is from MS, Arcadia and Next (Jackson and Shaw, 2009). They further state that during 2006 Next lost their market dominance. This means the culture affects consumer behaviour to a great deal. However Next plc, was one of the first to develop and adopt an internet based shopping branch as a high street retailer (Next plc, 2009). Next operates on a role culture concept with which they have a principal board committee which includes the audit committee, remuneration committee and a nomination committee which work on their own in the company (Next plc, 2009). 3.1.2.1Cultural Web Stories: These are the past events and what people talked about inside and outside the company (Mindtool, 2009). Rituals Routines: The daily behaviour and actions of people that signal acceptable behaviour (Mindtool, 2009). Symbols: These are the visual representations of the company (Mindtool, 2009). Organizational Structure: This includes both the structure defined by the organization chart, and the unwritten lines of power and influence (Mindtool, 2009). Control Systems: The ways that the organization is controlled (Mindtool, 2009). Power Structures: The pockets of real power in the company (Mindtool, 2009). 3.1.3Value Chain core competencies Value chain is a framework for identifying where value is added and costs are incurred within a company. It embraces the key functions and activities within a company or organisation such as NEXT (Thompson and Martin, 2005). Core competencies: NEXT make use of an Internet based home shopping and has also established a good brand posture with individual style, beautiful design, excellent quality and affordable price (Next, 2009). NEXT stores are specious and they also make use of standalone lime stores. 3.2 EXTERNAL ANALYSIS The external factors may be threats to one organisation while offering opportunities to another such as technological change, legislation, socio-cultural changes, etc. It can also include changes in the market place or competitive position (Mercer, 1999). 3.2.1 Forces Influencing the Market Porters five forces is a model that helps marketers to analyse the competitive environment by identifying five major forces that continually impacts on organisations. These forces are: Bargaining power of suppliers Bargaining power of consumers Threat of entry into the market by new entrants Threat of substitutes into the market Level of competitive rivalry amongst existing firms (Porter, 1980 cited by Jackson and Shaw, 2009) The bargaining power of our suppliers is very low and the prime problem exists in achieving the quality we ask from our suppliers. Most suppliers only deliver into this market, yet can also change to other markets (professional clothing) that are less profitable and the level of competition is great. With the availability of many suppliers, this force acts positively but can affect the quality aspect of NEXT brand name if suppliers are changed on regular basis. For the consumer bargaining power, there is not much leverage from their account: their money spent on clothing per person is not substantial enough when compared with, our total sales and their total spending budget (Next annual report, 2008). As, per person spending power is not huge it does not provide customers any bargaining power. NEXT can also consider this force as positive but needs to be aware of the customer demands in order to maintain this positive nature of the force. The threat of new entrants is rather low, yet, as said before, the German ESPRIT company is trying to enter the market. This is an exemption, because ESPRIT has a lot of resources that make this possible as well as a lot of experience. In words of product differentiation they are in the league of Levis and others (Verdict, 2009). These brands have extra benefits: Image and superior quality. This force acts as a positive force, as the threat of new entrants is low for NEXT plc but caution needs to be taken in order to maintain this force as positive. The products that can reduce our sales in the form of substitute products or services are not there, however a ‘threat of Internet portals and other forms of home shopping does exist. This is not a severe threat for the company as it already is active in this channel of selling. The discount retailing of A-brands e.g. Levis in outlets through parallel imports can be a problem. New internet portals and other home shopping forms are the only form of substitution threat to NEXT, but as they have been achieving a huge amount of success with NEXT directory and Ventura (Nextplc, 2009), this force does prove to be positive for them. There is some rivalry in the ranks of the market, for there are declining sales due to a decreasing market. In order to attain customer base, companies have increased their discounts and that leads to the destruction of the market. The main cause for this is the fact that people do not want to pay the full price amount of the products and companies have to suffice with lower profit margins. NEXT is the second largest clothing retailer in UK but has also suffered a decrease in sales. While most of its competitors struggled from the declining market Next manage to increase its market share and during the present recession they maintain their stand in the market (scribd, 2009) 3.2.2 Political, Economic, Social and Technological (PEST) analysis: All organisations operate in market places that are affected by forces outside their control ( Jackson and Shaw, 2009, pp 300).Factors considered within the macro environment affect not only the company but all the other members of its micro environment, namely its suppliers, consumers, etc ( Easey, 1995). An analysis of the external factors that influence the firm is known as the PEST analysis i.e. Political, Economic, Social and Technological. Political Politics will affect both the producer and the consumer in various ways (Bohdanowicz and Clamp, 1994). A stable political surrounding is the basis for long-term decisions. The United Kingdom, as a Member State of the European Union, fulfils this prerequisite. The government has to act within a definite political framework to achieve the conditions of the European Union and this guarantees NEXT PLC a higher scope of economic actions. Another advantage of the European Union is the open transfer of goods. This makes it easier for NEXT to sell their products in the different European countries. There are no trade barriers that aggravate sales and it also provides as a means of direct form of participation within the foreign markets (Hines and Bruce, 2001). Economic Vignali et. al, (2008), express that economic trends are extremely important for the business and that they depend to a great extent on the governments politics. Investments in Europe for NEXT PLC are very interesting. The British currency nowadays is exceedingly strong (ex., 2009). This is due to the independence of the British pound to the Euro and has several effects. First, foreign investments for NEXT are relatively inexpensive, and second, it is costly for outside firms to establish in the United Kingdom. The effects of exchange rates also need to be monitored closely. The devaluation of the sterling in 1992 led to a rise in the cost of imports to UK while making manufactured items more competitive. However, many countries are reluctant to engage in trade because of these reasons. In the face of a truly difficult trading environment it is a case of survival of the fittest. Being good is not good enough, retailers have to be exceptional and stand out from the crowd. (Verdict 200 8). Chief executive of Next states â€Å"The outlook for the consumer economy remains challenging and as we have said before, the first half will be particularly tough (Wilson, 2009) Social Changes in lifestyle and opinions influence the demand and the way of selling products (Vignali et. al, 2008, pp. 364). Key Note (2009) estimates that in the year 2036 more than 64.9 million people will be living there. This statement would mean two possibilities. This means a lot of new customers for NEXT PLC but the age of the population is increasing. On the other hand, the social structure has changed dramatically. The progress in medical service and the self-awareness of living leads to increasing life expectancy. Following development of sex education and rising numbers of career women, the birth rate has dropped. These reasons are responsible for declining figures in the NEXT 20 to 40 year old target group. Bohdanowicz and Clamp, (1994) analyse that young people no longer feel the pressure to be married or have children, and therefore many are living a single life or are cohabiting. Technological As in all areas of industry new technology is making great inroads to improve quality of life and increase speed and quality of manufacture (Easey, 1995).The age of Internet and the reception of new media reveal a lot of potential opportunities for NEXT to boost profit. Some companies in the United States already offer online-orders where the customer can exactly define his wishes and measurements, and send it to the place of production. 48 hours later he receives his package. Using this method the companies can react instantly to changes in behaviors. Social networking site facebook also provides as a means of information and education and also helps in advertising for NEXT PLC (Facebook, 2009). Some new entrants in UK market such as Zara use latest technology body scanners and follows fast fashion which is contrasting to NEXT. 4. SWOT Strength: 1. Performance in recent years. (Verdict, 2009) 2. Next Directory sales. (Verdict, 2009) 3. Good promotion. 4. Powerful design philosophy. Weakness: 1. Overpriced. (Verdict, 2009) 2. Profit margin declined than previous years. (Verdict, 2009) 3. No celebrity brand ambassador. (Verdict, 2009) 4. More formal wear than average. Little underwear.(Verdict, 2009) Opportunities 1. Optimize store space. (Verdict, 2009) 2. Consolidate internet marketing and buying. (Verdict, 2009) 3. Expansion into new markets. (Verdict, 2009) Threats: 1. Marks and Spencers biggest competition. (Verdict, 2009) 2. Arcadia and Primark trying to overtake. (Verdict, 2009) 3. Target market reduced. 5. GENERIC STRATEGIES According to Kotler 2004, strategy is the roadmap for achieving the envisaged goals. The strategic decision made by a commercial organisation is concerned with establishing the basis upon which it intends to compete, develop and sustain a competitive advantage and outperform competitors. Porter defined strategy as creation of a unique and valuable position involving different set of activities. Strategy can be formulated into 3 generic types Overall cost leadership Here a business aims at delivering its products at the lowest prices in the market and win a large market share. Such businesses require being good at engineering, purchasing, manufacturing and distribution. A disadvantage of this strategy is that some other company will eventually emerge with still lower costs. Brands may be able to achieve cost leadership at category level if they have sufficient market share (Jackson and Shaw, 2009). Focus- Here a firm concentrates on one or more narrow market segments. It first identifies such a segment and then pursues either cost leadership or differentiation in them. Differentiation- Here a business aims at achieving superior performance in an important customer area valued by a large chunk of the market. It could strive to be the service leader, the quality leader, the style leader or technology leader. Differentiation of one company from another is extremely important due to the ever changing customer demands (Oelkars, 2004).It is also considered as strategy based upon being different from the competition through a range of factors such as design, style, image, trend, product quality etc (Jackson and Shaw, 2009). NEXT prides in offering consistency of style, quality and value for money with a contemporary fashion edge for their target market. NEXT marketing departments have been taking a differentiation approach which has helped them achieve superiority above their competitors. NEXT has differentiated their products from their competitors on the basis of above qualities such as style, design, quality and value for money. However, in this ever changing fashion industry nothing can be permanent. On the basis of porters five forces discussed above NEXT have all the forces in their favour but there are few issues which they need to consider in keeping these forces on the positive side. NEXT needs to be aware of the risks of changing suppliers in case of conflict as new suppliers may provide good products with change in quality which can easily damage the brand name. Due to global recession, textile firms in Mauritius that supply Europes biggest high-street stores are looking forward to tough 2009 . With 10% decrease in sales, these stores fight among themselves to achieve better prices, which results in middle market stores to suffer like NEXT (Scribd, 2009). Only a small amount of internet portals threat has emerged for NEXT but their Directory has been a success and continues to do so (Verdict, 2009). 6. MIX MAP MODEL 6.1 MARKETING 4 PS The marketing mix consists of 4 Ps that are product, price, promotion and place. Product and Price are the product related elements where, price can also be consider as an element of its own. The other two are parts of the delivery system which is about delivering the physical product and the sales message (Mercer, 1999). Product: What business offers customers to satisfy their needs e.g. Quality. According to the mission statement of NEXT, their focus is providing high quality and beautifully designed product for their customers. For this reason maintaining and improving their quality and design of their products is very important for NEXT (nextplc, 2009). Price: Amount customers are ready to pay for products e.g. discounts. NEXT has been one of the known retailers to provide huge discounts on festive occasions, with discounts upto 70% on many products. It also provides special discounts for taller and plus-size customers (next, 2009). Being a mid-market retailer, in order to maintain its competitiveness it is very important for NEXT to provide special discounts schemes and offers during the festive seasons. NEXT also relies on linked selling, one of the biggest areas of sales. For example, it recommends fashion accessories to customers buying clothing online (next, 2009). Place: involves getting the product to the customers e.g. warehouse. Location of retail stores and shops has always been considered as the prime method to increase sales and growth. NEXT has always been one of the high street retail stores. It also has many different store types, eg flagship sores, factory outlets (nextplc, 2009). For this reason it is really important to have different location for customers to choose from. Promotion: It includes ways that encourage customers to buy a product e.g. magazines (Oelkers, 2004). NEXT hugely promotes a great deal of its products through magazines e.g Vogue and also produce great deal of discounts in store and on online shopping. It recently plans to introduce extra 16 billion pounds in advertising its products and online sales records 530 million pounds (Mintel, 2009). 6.2PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE According to Jackson and Shaw 2009, as with all types of product, fashion follows cycles and products follow the Product Life Cycle. In a broader sense, no product can go on selling forever. Once a product has been introduced into the market and accepted by consumers, it goes through a phase of growth, maturity and decline until it becomes obsolete. Stages of a product life cycle: Design Development Stage: This stage is undertaken ahead of the product launch. Design development costs create negative profitability as the sales at this stage are zero (Jackson and Shaw, 2009). Introduction: Introduction is a period of slow sales growth as the product is introduced in the market. Profits are non existent at this stage because of the heavy expenses done for the product introduction (Kotler, 2004). Growth: This is a period of rapid market acceptance and substantial profit improvement. Maturity: This is the period of slowdown in the sales growth because the product has achieved acceptance by most potential buyers. Profits decline or stabilize. Decline: Sales show a downward drift and profits erode. Although the PLC is an accepted underpinning of all marketing theory and practice, Jackson and Shaw 2009, cite the major problem for the fashion marketer to grapple with is the fact that the actual position of a fashion product on the cycle at any point in time is hard to define accurately. Hence an accurate mathematical model of the PLC is impossible. PLC is an important issue for NEXT as it provides growth for the company and has highest operating profit margin amongst its competitors (Verdict, 2009). It also has a increase in store size by 50% from 2004-2008 (Verdict, 2009). Therefore Next is positioned in growth stage of PLC with signs of improvement. 6.3BOSTON GROUP MATRIX As a visual tool for managing portfolios, the Boston Consultancy Group has developed a matrix known as BGM. The BGM offers a very useful map of the organisations products strength or weakness (Mercer, 1999). A typical BGM is given below. The matrix is in a four box quadrant layout. The horizontal axis is expressed as the market share of the business compared to that of the market leader, whilst the vertical axis shows the average annual growths rate of the market that the business is operating in. The four quadrants are called stars, question marks, cash cows and dogs, which explain how the business stands relative to the market leader. Stars are market leaders in high growth markets. They are generally expensive in terms of promotional expenditure (Jackson and Shaw 2009). Generally businesses start off in the quadrant of question marks. Cash cows operate in a market where the growth rate is less than 10 percent. Dogs are a decline stage where a small share of limited and stagnant market. Growth of NEXT has been an important issue for the company with a higher amount of concentration going towards increasing store size. Since 1997 the average store size has increase from 3500 sq. feet to 10,500 sq. feet (Verdict, 2009). In their mission statement Next aims to provide excellent quality and design for its customers and target younger market. Next chief executive admits 2009 being a tough year for NEXT. (nextplc, 2009). NEXT appears to be existing in between the dogs and question mark stage and needs to concentrate to achieve position to the other end of the BCG Matrix. 6.4 ANSOFFS MATRIX Ansoffs Matrix provides four different growth strategies by considering ways to grow via existing products and new products, and in existing markets and new markets. As seen in the diagram above; The Market Penetration strategy seeks to achieve growth with existing products in the current market segment, aiming to increase market share. Market Development strategy seeks to achieve growth by targeting existing products to new market segments. The Product Development strategy develops new products targeted to its existing market and the Diversification strategy helps the firm to diversify into new businesses by developing new products in new markets. With increasing number of new retailers entering the market NEXT has achieved a great level of success in maintaining their market share and has also grown their business in new products such as directory and online shopping (Verdict, 2009). NEXT has always been an innovative retailer, as it was the first retailer to introduce internet shopping in 1999 (nextplc, 2009). Since then it has introduced many new products and Next Directory has been a great success. 7. RECOMMENDATION On the above data analysis it is proven that NEXT has been one of the successful retailers in UK. It has grown immensely in the last decade both in regionally and internationally. Being the first clothing retailer to introduced online shopping; it has improved

Students Metacognitive Abilities Essay -- Education, Researchers and T

Literature Review Research on the Problem Researchers and theorists have sought the key behind getting students to learn for decades. For every theory placed on the table, there is another waiting to clear it off and replace it. This dichotomy can be challenging for teachers who are searching for the answers to help them reach their students especially when these students are asked to do mundane tasks like memorize. In addition, many teachers struggle to identify the root cause of their student’s struggles with material, and once pin pointed, they often find it difficult to address these causes. What are the exact challenges the students are struggling with? In her research, Nancy Joseph, believes the answer to this question lies in a lack of metacognitive ability in the students. â€Å"Your ability to plan, monitor, and evaluate your performance reveals sophisticated cognitive activity.† (Joseph, 2006) If the students are not capable of reaching this level of cognitive ability, they will not be able to grow with the difficulty of the class material. Each student learns best in his or her own way, and by understanding this â€Å"learners are able to use their academic strengths to develop additional skills and understanding, moving toward greater intellectual maturity.† (Joseph, 2006) Students cannot develop critical thinking skills as it relates to content if they do not possess the skill to think critically at all. The pathway to metacognitive ability begins with self-reflection. At the junior high level, students are unaware that the ability to be reflective is a skill that will carry them through life; not just in their current Language Arts Classroom (Joseph, 2006). Teachers are told almost daily about how important ... ...is difficult, and that they must be creative in finding ways to make easier for the students to understand. If they do not, then they will keep doing what they have always done, and continue getting the same results. I hope to examine parts of the studies that have already been conducted on these issues. I will be looking at the result of connecting games, social interaction, practice, direct instruction, indirect instruction, and to what extent a student’s metacognitive level has on their ability to memorize material such as prepositions. As Ellis noted, â€Å"the results of the research do not afford conclusions that can be readily applied to language pedagogy.† (Ellis, 2011) My attempts will be focused on a more general scope of application in the classroom, and I will try to bridge the gap between the research, theorists, and practical application.

The Great Depression in America Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Great Depression was a huge economic downfall in North America and involved many other industrialized countries of the world. The Depression began in 1929 and lasted for about ten years. Millions of people lost their jobs along with many businesses going bankrupt. The common misconception of the Great Depression is people think that the stock market crash was the main cause for it. There were many causes for the Depression; unequal distribution of money during the 1920’s was the main cause of the Depression. This unequal distribution happened on many different classes of people. The imbalance of money is what created such an unstable economy. The stock market was doing much worse than people thought during this period. This lead to the biggest stock market crash in our history. The misdistribution of wealth and the stock market crash caused the economy to plummet (Modern).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The stock market was bigger than ever in the 1920’s. Prices reached levels that people never dreamed of. At one point when the market was roaring in September 1929 forty percent of stock market values were pure air. This meant that investors thought that the stock market would go up because it had been going up. By 1928 and 1929 the Federal Reserve was worried about the high level that the stock market had reached (Galbraith 116). The Federal Reserve feared that the stock market might burst suddenly. If this did happen investment might fall, parts of the stock market might not be able to pay back debts, and even worse recession might result (Galbraith 118). The Federal Reserve in 1928 tried to make borrowing money for stock speculation more difficult and very costly by raising interest rates. All of the options that the Reserve tried had unfavorable risks associated with them. Many economists believed that the Federal Reserve was responsible for the recessi on. The stock market did crash on October 29 1929. The Federal Reserve tried to do to much to stop the recession and in return brought on the recession that they were trying to stop (America).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the stock market crashed in October this day was known as â€Å"Black Tuesday.† On this day Americans saw their stocks lose a tenth of their value. The exact reason for why the stock market busted on this day are unknown (Delong 1). The stock market cras... ...t of 1935, which raised personal income taxes on the highest income levels (America).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On December 8, 1941 the U.S. Senate issued a declaration of war on Japan. Germany declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941. Industrial factories were at first slow to convert into making military machinery. By 1942, 33 percent of the economy was devoted to the war effort (Modern). This gave society a sense of patriotism and devotion to one’s country. Between 1941 and 1945 the United States spent about $250 million a day in order to defeat their enemies. Federal spending was more than $320 billion over that period. That was two times as much money as the federal government had spent in its entire history up until that point. This government spending stimulated an industrial boom and stopped unemployment. By the end of the war in 1945, the farmer’s income had more than doubled. Corporate profits rose by 70 percent and the wages of the employees increased by over 50 percent. The most interesting statistic was that the earnings of the botto m fifth of workers rose to 68 percent. The Great Depression soon came to an end being swept away by the war (America).