Preliminary International Marketing Report Research Paper

Preliminary International Marketing Report - Research Paper Example It is no big doubt that it is hard for external products especially from the developing nations to sell in the American economy (Scott, 2010). Two articles: Smartphones in the U.S.: Market Analysis and Samsung GALAXY S4, S4 Active and S4 Mini, Companions for every business attempts to explain how the Samsung, a Korean company has struggled to win over the smartphone American market. The company has faced stiff competition from American local smartphone manufacturers and other foreign companies that are also struggling to penetrate the market. Samsung announced the release of its Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge at the beginning of the year 2015. This is the newest and latest version of the Samsung Galaxy S series with some added traits into the global market. The company confirmed that the smartphone has created a difference on the Galaxy S6 that is curved on the edge. The company notes that the design change is aimed at creating a supplementary screen space allowing of notifications (Scott, 2010). The two articles presents various theories regarding business and penetration capacity of business into a region. Conquering of the American market in the smartphone section special recognition and specialization in terms of market segmentation, cultural issues, target markets and apposite tackling of barriers. The process of smartphone packaging, features, design elements and competition factors are considerable inputs that must be placed in action, market entry methods, legal issues, and ethical issues. The American and South Korean trade relationship is typically good and has been a conducive recipe for business growth between America and South Korea. American or U.S culture is dominantly a western culture, but Korean culture has dominance of dominance Asian culture influence. The American economy is bigger and more powerful than the Korean economy. Korea has teamed up with most developing nation to promote international treaties and respect laws regulating

Consider the impact of the Vietnam War on American culture Essay

Consider the impact of the Vietnam War on American culture - Essay Example B. During this period TV was an important medium for information; news reports of the war telecasted the gory details which reinforced the feeling of redundancy of the war among the Americans, resulting in antiwar protests and demonstrations. III. Effects of advancement A. Cambodian invasion in 1970 resulted in antiwar demonstrations in college campuses all over American. In a few days time, deaths of students occurred in large number. B. The redundancy of the war added with thousands of American soldiers getting killed in war fueled the antiwar sentiments among the young Americans. Large number of young Americans left the war to burn their draft cards. This became a national sensation due to wide coverage by the television. IV. Evolution of the advancement A. In Vietnam, the increasing intensity of the war created psychological problems among the American troops which resulted in drug consumption among them. The hippie culture was reflected back home in American among the youth when they protesting against the war by blocking roads and government buildings for days, singing songs and consuming drugs. B. Music industry developed vastly during the Vietnam era with hundreds of songs getting recorded in single years. Music like rock ‘n’ roll albums that were conceived during that era are popular even after several decades have passed. V. Conclusion A. The hippie culture among the youth created antiheroes in the society who influenced the culture for a generation. B. Popular music of different genres during that era established both the antiwar views and the prowar statements. Music was adopted by the young antiwar protestors as a way of voicing their views. Introduction and Thesis Statement The Vietnam War was a long running combat between the nationalist forces and the United States with the alliance of South Vietnam. The war was more a strategic movement by America to curb communism, and the nation’s involvement was in all terms unofficial st atus. The American troops dispatched under the official purpose of military training to the South Vietnamese troops. The war had a huge impact on the music and culture of America. Events that Led to the Advancement The war, which apparently seemed redundant to the general Americans, had a great impact on them. It has divided the American people like no other war has done. The atrocities of the war were telecasted on the TV, the unspeakable violence induced people to distance themselves from the war. The costs incurred during the war affected the nation’s economy for decades after the war ended. During the mid twentieth century America got involved in the Vietnam as it felt threatened by the growing influence of communism. However, the young generation of that period did not see any concrete reason to feel threatened, and as such, the Vietnam War did not seem a necessity. Moreover, atrocities and millions of American soldiers getting killed and maimed were telecasted in TV whi ch was viewed in every American home. The war was often characterized as the living-room war or the television war. During the course of the war, the events in the battlefield were telecasted in a systematic manner. It was an era when televisions were rapidly becoming a forceful medium of news for the Americans. According to a survey in 1964, the American people had equal trust on newspapers and televisions for information. By 1972, another survey

Southwest Airlines Essay Example for Free

Southwest Airlines Essay Marketing is a vital part of any business and is an integral component of selling any product. Whether the business is a small mom and pop operation or a world leader, marketing is a part of the business. Because there are many ways to fulfill the needs of the customer, a straight-forward approach is to consider the four Ps of the marketing mix. This paper will examine the marketing mix and give examples of the marketing mix as it pertains to Southwest Airlines. The four elements of the marketing mix are product, place, promotion and price. Product is the good or service sold to satisfy a customers needs. Place involves all of the decisions required to make the product or service available in the target market, or customers, place. Promotion is the process of informing the target market of the product. Finally, the fourth element of the marketing mix is price. Price setting includes components such as analysis of price setting by the competition as well as analysis regarding acceptance or rejection of prices by the identified market (McCarthy and Perreault, 2002, pp. 48 50). The United States airline industry is very competitive. Following the attacks on September 11th, there have been several airlines that have gone out of business or have filed bankruptcy. Southwest Airlines has been able to stay in business and out of bankruptcy. Southwest Airlines is the only major airline to be profitable for the past 20 years (McCarthy and Perreault, 2004, p. 7). This is in part to their marketing department. Southwest Airlines is an airline with a creative marketing department. The airline industry in the United States has seen many changes of the years. In the early days of air travel, only the wealthy could afford to fly. Flying to a destination was a luxury and not a part of everyday life. Today there is a wide variety of airlines and appeals to a wide variety of consumers. Southwest Airlines distinguishes its products and services from the competition through its marketing campaigns. The Dallas-based airline carved its niche in short-haul flights with low prices, reliable service, and a healthy sense of humor (Armstrong, G Kotler, P., 2005, p.318). This humor is a major theme in the marketing campaign. Southwest distinguishes  itself as a fun airline, known for humorous in-flight commentary from pilots and cabin crew members (Armstrong, G Kotler, P., 2005, p.318). Southwest has brought the place aspect of the marketing mix to all consumers. The place aspect of the marketing mix is where and when to deliver the product. Southwest Airlines uses various avenues for this. One area is providing an 800 number for the consumer to check pricing and availability. Another avenue used is the internet. Southwest Airlines has won several awards for their internet site. The internet site allows the consumer to visit Southwest from anywhere there is an internet connection. So, if you are at the library, office, internet cafà ©, or on a portable device such as a Blackberry, Southwest is there. Southwest has become known as a low cost airline. Through research, Southwest found there is a need for a low cost, no frills airline. Price was important to the consumer when choosing an airline. A poll taken by Airliners.net surveyed, 31% ranked ticket cost as the most important factor when choosing an airline (Airliners, 2006). For the price element of the marketing mix to work, Southwest streamlined its operations. By lowering their costs, Southwest can offer lower fares than their competition. For example, Southwest used one type of aircraft, Boeing 737s, all equipped with the same flight instruments. By doing so, Southwest saves time and money in training their employees on only one type of equipment. Management can substitute aircraft, reschedule flight crews, or transfer mechanics quickly. The tactic also saves money through lower spare-parts inventories and better deals when acquiring new planes (Kotler Keller, 2006, p. 427). The final P of the marketing mix is promotion. Southwest promotes its services is a variety of methods. Television commercials air during highly viewed hours such as sporting events or popular television shows. These commercials usually have a humorous tone as well as information on the latest special. Southwest latest marketing tool is named Ding. Ding is a computer program which allows the consumer to be notified of specials.  Notifications of the specials occur at various times of the day and may occur multiple times per day. The icon for this is a tail of a Southwest plane and appears in the system tray (lower right hand corner of a computer screen). When the specials arrive the icon changes to a piece of mail over the tail section of the plane and a sound occurs. The sound is the Ding tone heard in the Southwest television commercials and in the cabin of the airplane. The consumer can click on the icon to launch the software. The screen appears with the details of the latest special. These specials are market specific and are focused on time availability. The public relations for Southwest speak to the character of the company. Southwest sponsors various charitable events and the employees, including the CEO, volunteer for various events. The charity work Southwest does also aids in the promotion of the company. The consumer may feel the company is good because of its social responsibility. The four elements relate to an organizations marketing strategy. Marketing is just one element of an organizations overall business plan. By understanding the product which the organization is producing, the company will be able to determine materials needed, staffing needed to produce the product, and establish the cost to produce the product. Marketing should not take over production, accounting, and finance of an organization. Marketing should be included in these functions to aid in direction and coordination. Understanding the cost of the product will allow the organization to price the product. The price of the product may vary. The reason for the varying in price is based on the customer perceived value of the product. A product with a higher price tag is generally perceived as a better quality product, while the inverse is also true. An organization should price a product at the point which will benefit the organization best. Marketing is an important element for any business. By analyzing the four Ps of product, price, place, and promotion, an organization can have a successful marketing campaign. Whether the business is a small mom and pop organization or a major corporation such as Southwest Airlines, marketing can play an important role in its success. Understanding the marketing mix will put an organization on the road towards this success. References: Airliners. (2006). Passenger Survey. Retreived March 9, 2006 from http://www.airliners.net. Armstrong, G Kotler, P. Marketing: An Introduction, Seventh Edition. (2005). New York: Prentice Hall. Kotler, P Keller, K. Marketing Management, Twelfth Edition. (2006). New York: Prentice Hall. McCarthy, E.J. Perreault, W.D. Basic Marketing: A Global Managerial Approach. (2002). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies. McCarthy, E.J. Perreault, W.D. Marketing: Principles and Perspectives, Fourth Edition. (2004). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies

Things Fall Apart Chapter Summary Essay Example for Free

Things Fall Apart Chapter Summary Essay The novel begins with the introduction of Okonkwo, a young man famed throughout for his strength as well as other personal achievements. At the age of eighteen, he had brought honor to his village by overthrowing Amalinze, the cat. Okonkwo was a tall man, with bushy eyebrows and a wide nose. His father, Unoka had always been a failure and a debtor. He was more interested in playing his flute than working in the fields. Because of this, his family never had enough to eat and he became a source of shame to Okonkwo. Once when a neighbor called Okoye had come to him to request him to return his money, Unoka had laughed at him and said that he would first pay the others whom he owed more money. After his fathers death, Okonkwo, though young, won fame as the greatest wrestler. Since then, he has become a wealthy farmer, with two barns full of yams. He also had three wives and two honorific titles and was a great warrior. Everybody respected him in the village for his achievements. Chapter 2 Okonkwo had just prepared for bed when the town criers voice is heard. The message is that every man of Umuofia is to meet at the market place the following morning. He wonders whether Umuofia will go to war and thinks how fearful his father was of war and how he himself has been a great warrior in the past, bringing home his fifth human head. The next morning, the marketplace is full of people, and Ogbuefi Ezeugo, a powerful orator, informs them that a daughter of their village had been murdered by some men from Mbaino, the adjoining village, when she visited its market. An ultimatum is given to Mbaino, asking them to choose between war and an offering of a young man and a virgin as compensation. Okonkwo is sent to negotiate. Umuofia is highly feared by its neighbors for its power; therefore Mbaino chooses the latter proposal and Ikemefuna, a young lad of fifteen and a virgin are sent to Umuofia. The girl is sent to the murdered womans husband to replace her and Okonkwo is requested to keep the lad for the time being while the villagers decide what to do with him. Okonkwo hands over the lad in the care of his most senior wife, mother of his oldest son, Nkoye. Ikemefuna is frightened, as he does not understand why he has been separated from his family. Chapter 3 This chapter reveals more details of Okonkwos fathers failings and his justification for despising him as he does. At a disadvantage, Okonkwo had not inherited a barn from his father like other young men and had to start with nothing. Once on a trip to the consult the Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves to find out the reason for his miserable harvest, Unoka was told that it was because of his laziness and not because he had offended the gods. Unoka was so ill-fated that even his death was an undignified one. He died of a swelling in his stomach and his limbs, a type of disease that resulted in his banishment. Therefore, he was carried into the forests and left to die. This made Okonkwo feel even more ashamed of his father. Another story reveals Okonkwos first signs of ambition and the desire to outlive his fathers legacy. While still young and supporting his mother and sisters, Okonkwo approached a wealthy man, Nwakibie, to earn his first seed yams. Nwakibie gave them to him, knowing him to be trust-worthy and hard working. It was Okonkwos bad luck that there was a great drought that year followed by very heavy rains. Both of which contributed to the failure of the seasons harvest. But Okonkwo was a fighter and he survived that year. Chapter 4 Okonkwo was respected by all for his industry and success. In the beginning the boy was afraid, and missed his family. But being a boy of a lively nature, he gradually becomes a part of Okonkwos household. Okonkwos son Nwoye was always with him wherever he went. Okonkwo also becomes fond of him, but he never shows his emotions, as he considers affec tion to be a womanly sign of weakness. When Okonkwo goes to his fieldsto plant the harvest, he takes Nwoye and Ikemefuna with him but he rebukes them if they are slow in understanding what he wants them to learn quickly.When the rains begin great care has to be taken of the young plants. The children then sit around the cooking fire telling stories, or they sit with their fathers, roasting and eating maize. It is during the period of rest that the friendship between Ikemefuna and Nwoye becomes even stronger. Chapter 5 The Feast of the New Yam is now approaching. It takes place just before the harvest and is an occasion of thanksgiving to the earth goddess, Ani. The night before the feast, the old yams are disposed of and on the new year, all the cooking pots are thoroughly washed before being used for the new crop. Yam foo-foo and vegetables soup is prepared. Guests are invited to partake of the food. The walls of the house are decorated with designs and the women and children anoint and decorate themselves. Okonkwo is no t very enthusiastic about the feast. He would rather work in his fields. His suppressed resentment regarding the feast explodes when he thinks that somebody has cut one of his banana trees. When he discovers that the culprit is his second wife, Ekwefi, he beats her and then shoots at her with his gun but fortunately, he misses. In spite of Okonkwos outburst, the festival is celebrated with great joy by his family. On the second day, there is a wrestling contest in which Okonkwo participates. Okonkwos wives prepare the evening meal and the food is served by each of their daughters. One of his daughters, Ezinma, discusses the forthcoming wrestling contest. Okonkwo is particularly fond of this daughter, but as usual does not show his love for her. Chapter 6 The wrestling contests are to be held on the second day of the festival. Everyone from the village gathers to watch these contests, as they are great sources of pride for the villagers. It begins with boys of fifteen or sixteen who provide some entertainment before the more serious matches. One of the winners is the son of Obierika, a friend of Okonkwo. Ekwefi, Okonkwos second wife, loves the wrestling matches and remembers how she fell in love with Okonkwo when he beat the great wrestler, Cat. Although she was married at the time, she left her husband once she found out Okonkwo had enough money to marry her. Ekwefi meets Chielo, the priestess of Agbala, the oracle, who asks about her daughters health. The last match is between Okafo and Ikezue, the leaders of the teams. The earlier year, there had been a draw as they had the same style of fighting but this time, a fierce match ensues and Okafo wins the match. The people sing his praises, carrying him on their shoulders. Chapter 7 Ikemefuna has been living in Okonkwos household for three years now. He is like an older brother to Nwoye and has taught him how to be more manly. Okonkwo is glad that Nwoye is developing fast into manhood and he encourages both boys to be masculine and violent. He tells them stories of conquest and violence and they all make derisive comments about women. Nwoye participates in these activities yet still enjoys his mothers stories more than his fathers yet he tries to please him and so goes to his hut at night. Months pass, and then the locusts arrive in the village. This arrival is an unexpected one, but the people rejoice because locusts are considered to be very tasty and delectable. When the locusts swarm in and cover the entire area, the villagers slowly creep out and collect as many locusts as they can catch during the night. They are then roasted and spread to dry. It is then eaten with palm oil.Nwoye is terribly upset by the death and feels similar to the time when he had been crossing the forest and heard a thin wail of an infant. Nwoye had known that twins who were born were considered evil and were hidden in earthware pots and thrown into the forest. Hearing the wail, something had given way inside him. Hearing of Ikemefunas death , the same feeling rises in him. Chapter 8 Okonkwo is unable to forget Ikemefuna and drowns himself in palm-wine to mitigate his sorrow. When his daughter Ezinma brings him food, he finds himself wishing that she were a boy. He berates himself for being so weak and lamenting Ikemefunas death. Finally, after three days he rouses himself from his sorrow and goes to meet his friend Obierika. Obierikas son Maduka had won in the wrestling combat and is a promising lad and worthy of his fathers pride. Obierika had refused to accompany the rest of the village in killing Ikemefuna. On being asked why, he replies that he had something better to do, and that this deed would not please the Earth because of the mens actions. But Okonkwo disagrees with him. At that point, Ofoedu enters with the news that an elder, Ogbuefi Ndulue of Ira village had died but the drums had not been beaten because his trusted wife Ozoemena, hearing of her husbands death, had died too. According to custom, Ndulues funeral was to be held off until his wifes burial. The two men disapprove of the close relationship that this man had with his wife and wond er how such a warrior in battle could be so weak in his marriage. They also discuss the loss of prestige that goes with one of the titles for tapping wine out of palm trees. Feeling better after their talk, Okonkwo goes home, and then returns in time to help Obierika bargain for the marriage-price of his daughter. The daughter, Akueke has been suitably dressed for the occasion. The dowry is bargained upon and settled at twenty bags of cowries. Food is then brought in and the men make small talk. The first mention of the white man is made, but it is more in jest as the word for leper means white skin. Chapter 9 Okonkwo finally sleeps well after three nights but is roused out of his sleep by Ekwefi, his second wife, who tells him that his daughter, Ezinma is dying. He goes out to collect leaves and bark to ease the childs fever. Ezinma is the center of her mothers world as Ekwefi has suffered a great deal, having lost nine children in infancy. They had tried all they could to discover what the problem is but all the medicine man could say was that sh e kept giving birth to an ogbanje, a child who dies young because an evil spirit possesses it and re-enters the mothers womb to be born again. By the time Ezinma was born, Ekwefi had lost her will and accepted her fate with resignation. When she lived for six years, her mother realized that she may stay and loved her with all her might. She thought that her troubles had ended when Ezinmas iyi-uwa was unearthed, but now she is ill again. The iyi-uwu was supposed to break the connection between the objanje world and Ezinma. Okonkwo brings in a bundle of grass, leaves, roots and barks of medicinal trees, puts them in a pot and boils them. Once it is cooked, he rouses Ezinma and makes her sit beside the steaming pot to inhale the steam. A mat is thrown over her head. When the mat is removed, she is bathed in perspiration. Soon she falls asleep after lying on a mat. Chapter 10 A very dramatic public ceremony is described in detail that involves meting out justice. On the village commons, folks gather, with elders sitting on stools and the rest of the village men behind them. Nine stools are placed for the egwugwu to sit. Egwugwu represent the spirits of their ancestors and are respected members of the community who can d ispense justice in trials. Women stand on the edges of the circle, looking in the direction of the egwugwu house. A gong is loudly blasted and the guttural voice of the egwugwu is heard. When he makes his appearance, it is very dramatic as he wears a fearful looking mask and pretends to scare the women. Along with him, nine other masked men emerge. Okonkwos wives notice that one of the egwugwu walks with a springy step such as Okonkwo does. They also notice he is absent from where the elders sit.After discussion among the egwugwu, Evil Forest returns with a verdict. He tells Uzowulu to bring wine to his wifes family and beg his wife to return to him. He also expresses disgust at Uzowulus cowardice in beating women and askes him to accept his brother-in-laws offer. Afterwards, one elders discusses the trivial nature of this case and another says that Uzowulu would accept any decision other than the egugwu. Next a land dispute is discussed. Chapter 11 One night, Ezinma and her mother are sitting in their hut having their supper. Ekwefi is telling a story about a tortoise and birds which explains w hy the tortoise shell is uneven. When she finishes, Ezinma begins her story. Half way through, she has to break off because they could hear Chielo, the priestess of Agbala prophesying, and calling to Okonkwo. Chielo then enters the hut and insists on talking Ezinma with her since Agbala wanted to see her. Carrying Ezinma on her shoulders, she takes off into the hills. Ekwefi follows her doggedly, though the path is very dangerous and risky. Finally they reach the caves and Chielo enters with Ezinma. Ekwefi is frightened of what might be happening inside. Behind her, she hears a footstep, and finds Okonkwo, who has followed behind her. Both of them wait together outside the cave for Chielo to reappear, and Ekwefi is grateful for his presence. Chapter 12 Okonkwo and Ekwefi wait for Ezinmas exit from the cave but it is not until the early morning hours that Chielo appears with Ezinma. She doe not acknowledge either of them, but simply walks straight to Ezinmas hut and puts her to bed. The parents follow behind. That day there is a festive air in the neighborhood as Obierika is celebrating his daughters uri, a part of the betrothal ceremony, where the bridegroom brings the palm-wine for the b rides family, her kin, and extended family. Every family carries some food to the wedding house and the brides mother is responsble for preparing the food for everyone. Tripods are exacted for the fire, and food is being prepared by the women. Ekwefi is tired from the night before and waits until Ezinma wakes up and eats breakfast. Okonkwos other wives leave to help prepare the food. By afternoon, two pots of palm-wine arrive from the in-laws house. Later, the in-laws arrive each carrying a pot of wine. In all, fifty pots are received which is a respectable number. Kola nuts are offered and the betrothal is finalized. A great feast is laid out and everyone partakes in it happily. In the night, the young men start singing, the bride dances and everyone is gay. Chapter 13 In the middle of the night, the sound of a drum and a cannon announces the death of Ogbuefi Ezendu, the oldest man in the clan. Hearing this, Okonkwo remembers his last words to him about Ikemefuna and shudders. The whole village attends the funeral as Ogbuefi was a man with three titles, an achievement that was rare. Since he was a warrior, the funeral abounds in warriors, dressed in raffia skirts. Once in a while an egwugwu spirit makes its appearances from the underworld. Some of them are quite violent and terrifying and often threatening. The most terrifying one is shaped like a coffin, and a sickly odor emanates from him. The funeral is very befitting of a noble warrior. Before the burial the warriors dance, drums are sounded and guns are fired. A frenzied feeling fills the air as people bemoan the loss of Ogbuefi. The air is full of the smell of gunpowder. In the midst of this ceremony, a cry of agony is heard. Ezudus son is found lying dead in the crowd shot by Okonkwo who fired his gun and accidentally hit pierced the young boys heart. Okonkwo knows that killing a member of ones own tribe is a crime against the Goddess of the Earth and therefore he is banished from his village for seven years. He and his family escape to the village of his mother called Mbanta. After daybreak, the men, dressed in garbs of war, set fire to his house, not due to vindictiveness, but to cleanse the land that Okonkwo had polluted. Obierika, his friend, mourns his friends calamity.

Definition Of The Four Factors Of Production Commerce Essay

Definition Of The Four Factors Of Production Commerce Essay Natural Resources sometimes called land consists of all the gifts of nature. This includes mineral deposits, water, arable land, vegetation, natural forests, marine resources, the atmosphere, sunshine and animal life. They are a fixed supply. If we want more of them, their availability cannot be increased. It is possible to exploit some of the resources, for example, minerals. Once the minerals are used, they cannot be replaced. Labour is defined as the exercise of human mental and physical effort in the production of goods and services, where humans are rewarded in the form of an income. The quality of labour is depends on the size of the population and the portion that is able and willing to work. The quality of labour, which is described by the skill, knowledge and health of the workers, is important. Capital is made up of manufactured resources, such as machines, tools and buildings which are used in the production of other goods and services. It is those tangible things that are used to produce other things. These resources do not have an unlimited life. Entrepreneurship is the availability of natural resources, labour and capital is not sufficient to ensure economic success. These factors of production have to be organised by people who see opportunity and are willing to take risks to producing the goods, believing that they will be sold. These people are called entrepreneurs. They are the driving force behind the production. They are the innovators, the initiators, who take initiative. They believe that their ideas will make a profit. 2.1 The Four Factors of Production in the Economy 2.1.1 Natural Resources To improve the use natural resources we can implement regulations to protect the natural resources like forests which will increase tourism; encourage farming to grow vegetables and fruit; the investment to improve the technology to mine minerals; and find ways to improve the usage of our natural resources. 2.1.2 Labour The labour regulations restrict entrepreneurship, enable government sponsor, enable employment, regulate minimum wage, maintain standards of working conditions, and ensure safety conditions. 2.1.3 Capital We can encourage foreign investment, investments in infrastructure to enhance production easier, for example road maintenance and encourage of loans for new businesses. 2.1.4 Entrepreneurship To encourage entrepreneurship the change can start in schools whereby economics can be introduced as part of the curriculum, encourage businesses to have open days for students to learn how the business works, develop and have tools that enhance entrepreneurship. 2.2 The Four Factors of Production in our Organisation 2.2.1 Natural Resources For the organisation, there are no natural resources that are used. 2.2.2 Labour Employing individuals who have the qualifications, the mental effort, knowledge and brain power, to fit the organisations culture and values will enhance the business. Training will empower and enhance the employees to do their job effectively. BankSeta assists in improving and up-skilling employees in the financial sector. It is important to taking care of the well-being of the employees for example, having a canteen for employees where the food is easily accessible and safe and time to go and buy lunch and to ensure employees get the relevant training so that they are efficient in their job. There are two types of physical energies in the organisation Sales and Admin. Sales bring in the business so the Admin can do their job. The organisation is reliant on clients for the business to grow. Admin run the day-to-day admin and they are dependant on the external energy. 2.2.3 Capital In the previous premises, the parking was not easily accessible, the building could not accommodate all the employees, there were not enough working stations and the technology was not up to standard. In the new building the technology and software have been upgraded. The organisation needs to ensure that the systems are suitable for the Banking sector. Suitable working stations are installed, which will enhance the well-being and working environment of the employees. The building and meeting rooms have been built to enhance the clientele and interaction with clients. The building projects the organisations values and culture. The organisations brand and reputation has been built on RMB and it continues to build its reputation through its client services. 2.2.4 Entrepreneurship The organisation encourages innovations. There is an innovations blog where employees can submit their ideas to management where all ideas are taking in consideration. The organisation is flat structured and open plan Managers are open to their employees and provide constant feedback. Employees are empowered and encouraged to take control of their own development. Employees live and believe in the organisations values and culture. The organisation is developing self sustaining systems. The organisation is current implementing the care and growth model which is focused on caring and growing the employees as individuals. 3. The South Africa Foreign Trade (Imports and Exports) In this section of the assignment, I refer to the Trade Report October 2009 submitted. The basic indicators section indicates the trade per capita which is the estimated trade of goods and services over the last three years based on the population. The GDP is measured in nominal terms and with market exchange rates. The trade-to-GDP ratio is the estimated trade of goods and services over the last three years based on the GDP. The real GDP are exports and import of goods and services of data at constant prices. The ranks in the world trade of merchandise and services are defined as members as individual traders and as one trader. In my opinion the percentage drop from 2007-2008 was from the Wall Street financial fall in 2008, which affected the percentage drop from 2007-2008 of exporting of goods and services. As we had the FICA and KYC regulations in place, this protected us. The percentage drop from 2007-2008 of importing of goods and services, in my opinion, reflected the fact that the importers were being cautious and they were concerned that the locals wouldnt ha ve the funds to buy goods and services. Consumer spending per household decreased. The merchandise trade is broken up into three sections Agricultural products, Fuels and mining product and Manufactures. In my opinion the percentage drop from 2007-2008 of merchandise exports was caused by the financial fall of Wall Street. The merchandise imports percentage from 2007-2008 stayed constant. For South Africa, I feel that we have not been as affected as much as other countries. The country felt the recession in 2009. Exporting and Importing of: Agriculture which consists of raw materials and foods such as vegetables, fruit, maize, sugar. In my opinion we export the best grade of our food and sell the rest to the locals. This increases the production of GDP and the economy. We should increase our export of agriculture. We import fewer foods and products into the country. Fuels and mining products which consists of other minerals, fuel and ores and non-ferrous metals. In my opinion we should not export that much. This should decrease. We should rather increase our skills and knowledge so that we can export the end product. This would increase our GDP and the economy. For example, gold: we export most of our raw gold and import the end product because we do not have the skills and knowledge to make the jewellery. The constant decrease and increase of fuel prices affects the economy and people spend. The percentage of imports, in my opinion, is acceptable as this keeps the balance of the economic production levels. Manufactures which refers to steel, iron, chemicals, other semi-manufactures, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, clothing and other consumer goods. In my opinion the percentage of exports should decrease as the country should use these materials to build the economy of the country. In building the status of our country, this would increase our economic growth. For example, building houses. The exporting keeps our foreign exchange inline with other countries. If the exporting decreases, the importing will decrease. In some instances, it is better to import the parts to be assembled locally than to import the end product. For example, in the Operations, Implementation Management and Sustainability, the lecturer gave an example of a company who saved on overall costs by importing the parts and assembling it locally instead of importing the end product. South Africa has very innovative people and we should start believing in what we have. When government or investors do not see th e potential of the innovative ideas, the innovators end up selling their ideas to other countries and end up importing the end product. We should spend more time in investing in these innovative ideas as this will increase our economic growth. Commercial Services Trade, which refers to construction, finance, computer, insurance, communication, cultural and recreational services, information, other businesses, royalties and other fees. In my opinion the percentage of exports and imports indicates that there is a lack of interest, interaction and investment in South Africa from other countries. Transportation in my opinion the percentage of exports is acceptable. The percentage of imports indicates that we lack the skills and knowledge to sustain our transportation. Travel the percentage of exports indicates that locals prefer to travel to other countries instead of our own. We should improve our tourism locally to encourage the locals and foreigners to explore South Africa. This country has so much to offer. Other commercial services in my opinion the percentage is acceptable. We are losing people who have the skills and knowledge in industries like medicine, engineering, technology and construction to other countries. We should be retaining these skills to build a better country. We should be investing in developing in our people, empowering them so that they have pride in themselves and are proud of their country, so they can make it a better place to live. 4. The Banking Sector, Organisation, Department and I The organisation forms part of the banking sector. The banking sector is linked to economic growth through enhancing the access to financial services, and increasing competitiveness of domestic financial markets both of which reduce the costs of financing. The basic role that the banking sector plays in the process of transferring savings to borrowers is risk sharing, providing liquidity, information and improving efficiency. If the financial markets are well developed, they improve the availability of funds to support borrowers and channel the funds to where the rates of returns are higher. Positive effects like this can increase the economic growth by larger capital accumulation with lower cost of financing and increased efficiency. But in some countries, the financial markets are not developed and market failures exist everywhere. By improving the access to financial services and the efficiency of financial go-between, which can reduce the cost of financing the banking sector, stimulates capital accumulation and economic growth. The role of money replaced the barter system. Each person could trade whatever he or she produced for one common thing. Money means a set of common prices can be established. Money is a medium of exchange between individuals and a way to distribute the ownership in society. It is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts. Money is used for everyday spending and saving for the future. Saving money for future use is to ensure that the values of the savings do not decrease but increase overtime by through investments and earning of interest. Money helps our economy to work more smoothly, it has three key roles: A medium of exchange A unit of account or a standard of value A store of value for future use The characteristics of money: Durable Not easily produced by people Relatively scarce Not too scarce Easily transported Divisible The organisation needs to ensure that their products are inline with their competitors and maintain the supply of money and borrowing from clients. The Learning Solutions (LS) Department is in the process of becoming a self-sustaining system. We are working well together and have the same focus and goals. At our yearly meeting, we discuss the past year what we have accomplished, what obstacles we came across, how we can improve, what changes we would like to see and what our focus and goals will be for the coming year. We had looked at the functions of the Human Resources (HR) department and determined that there were common areas and functions that the HR department had. The LS department was a closed system and had no interconnections with them. The HR department have three subsystems namely, People Development, Administration and New Recruits. The overlapping of work areas are the new recruits and the people development. Changes needed to be made. The changes that HR department made: Administration is an open and closed system, they have confidential information that should not be shared with other employees (salaries and medical aid) and the employees submit general administration / queries New Recruits is an open and closed system, they too have confidential information that should not be shared with other employees (agreements between the Bank and employee) and information about the new recruits will be shared with the LS department People Development is an open and closed system, they have a good relationship with all the managers and know where employee development is required and this information will be shared with the LS department The changes that the LS department made: Develop a open relationship with the New Recruits team Develop a open relationship with the People Development team In making these changes we are enabling the growth of knowledge and empowerment in the employees. The employees are enabled to be efficient at their job. In being efficient and knowledgeable, they will enhance the growth of our clients and their investments which will assist the growth of the economy. Each individual contributes to the economy. How can I contribute to the economy? I need to understand my financial status and increase my wealth. I need to determine what money I save and invest for the future and invest in my country. I need to sustain my knowledge and personal growth. I need to be aware of the countrys financial status. I need to balance my needs with the available resources. 5. Inflation Consumer Habits and Behaviour The definition of inflation is the rise in prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. When price levels rise, the unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. It is an erosion of the purchasing power of money. Inflation occurs when the price increase of goods and services are recorded over a period of time. The general price level is measured by the Consumer Price Index. As the price levels rise, the consumer habits and behaviour are affected. Consumer behaviour is the study of when, why, how and where people do or do not buy goods and services. It is about understanding the consumers buying decision-making process in an attempt to understand peoples wants. Habitual patterns of spending that consumers have over a period of time are the best thing that can happen to a brand. For this to happen there are two conditions that need to satisfy the consumer the brand in question must fall into a product category that elicits a low level of involvement from the consumer when considering purchasing the product and the consumer becomes a satisfied customer when buying the product the brand should deliver on what was promised. For the brand to be a part of the consumers habit, the critical requirement is the delivery of value on the first purchase. Inflation occurs when the demand for goods and services increase and the supply remains unchanged or the increase of cost of production which pushes up the price level. How does this affect the consumer? It is dependant on the affordability of the consumer. For example, in the beginning of the year 2008 I bought 6 chocolate muffins at Woolworths for R10.99. In 2009, the costs had increased to R24.99 for the same product. Due to the price increase, I no longer buy the chocolate muffins. 6. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics Microeconomics is the study of how household and organisations make decision to allocate limited resources. It examines the behaviour affect of the supply and demand of the goods and services which determines the prices which in turn determine the supply and demand of the goods and services. Macroeconomics deals with the performance, structure and behaviour of the entire world. It looks at indicators such as GDP, unemployment rates, price indexes to understand the whole economy functions. If the micro and macro economical performance was sustainably improved, the changes to the consumer behaviour would be: For Micro: Our environment would be more stable There would be overall well-being and enjoyment in individuals, less stress Depending on the individuals mindset, there would be more investment and spending The wealth of individuals would grow Decrease in crime Decrease in immigration of individuals Increase of skilled individuals Downfall is that there would be overspending and more debt For Macro: The economy would be more liquid There would be a growth in external investors The country would be more productive and innovative Increase of tourism Increase of entrepreneurship and resources Increase of the well being of the country Decrease of poverty 7. Conclusion Each one of us on an individual level has an affect on the economy, which affects the organisation, which affects the country. If the organisation wants to grow they need to have good leadership skills and delivery of goods and services. In my opinion the improvement of the economy starts with oneself. I have a good understanding of my own finances and how I can increase my wealth. I have realised that I need to improve my understanding of my organisation and how it affects the economy of the country. I need to improve my understanding of the economy of the country.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The story is told through the eyes of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, who is the age of six in the beginning of the tale. She tells the story in sequential order for the period of three summers. Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch She narrates the story describing her life between the ages of six and nine.   She is a tomboy and well educated, mainly due to her father, and she has an optimistic view of the world and people around her. She lives with her widowed father, older brother and their black cook. Atticus Finch Scout’s father is a lawyer in Maycomb and is descended from a well-respected local family. He has had to raise his children alone and has instilled in them a strong sense of morality and fair play.   During the 1930’s there were great problems between the races, and he was one of the few committed to attaining equality for both blacks and whites.   He agrees to defend a local black man charged with rape which exposing himself and his family to anger from the white community. Jeremy Atticus ‘Jem’ Finch Scout’s brother is four years her senior, but is her constant playmate at the beginning of the story.   Towards the end of the tale he moves into adolescence and is shaken badly by the evil and injustice, which he witnesses during the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson A black sharecropper who is accused of rape of a white woman, a member of the Ewell clan. Calpurnia The old family cook of the Finch family, she is a stern disciplinarian and provides a link between the white world of the children and her own black community. Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley A recluse who has never set foot outside his house for fifteen years who becomes a source of intrigue for the children, adding fuel to their fertile imaginations. The Characters seem very real to me . The situations and lessons learn in the book ,seem as if I was there myself. Also the framing of the black man, shows the racism that I've read about in other books. Also what I've experienced myself before. The main conflicts of the story involve Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Boo has been shut away from the world by his father and then later his brother through an incident which occurred fifteen years earlier when he stabbed his father with a pair of scissors. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The story is told through the eyes of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, who is the age of six in the beginning of the tale. She tells the story in sequential order for the period of three summers. Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch She narrates the story describing her life between the ages of six and nine.   She is a tomboy and well educated, mainly due to her father, and she has an optimistic view of the world and people around her. She lives with her widowed father, older brother and their black cook. Atticus Finch Scout’s father is a lawyer in Maycomb and is descended from a well-respected local family. He has had to raise his children alone and has instilled in them a strong sense of morality and fair play.   During the 1930’s there were great problems between the races, and he was one of the few committed to attaining equality for both blacks and whites.   He agrees to defend a local black man charged with rape which exposing himself and his family to anger from the white community. Jeremy Atticus ‘Jem’ Finch Scout’s brother is four years her senior, but is her constant playmate at the beginning of the story.   Towards the end of the tale he moves into adolescence and is shaken badly by the evil and injustice, which he witnesses during the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson A black sharecropper who is accused of rape of a white woman, a member of the Ewell clan. Calpurnia The old family cook of the Finch family, she is a stern disciplinarian and provides a link between the white world of the children and her own black community. Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley A recluse who has never set foot outside his house for fifteen years who becomes a source of intrigue for the children, adding fuel to their fertile imaginations. The Characters seem very real to me . The situations and lessons learn in the book ,seem as if I was there myself. Also the framing of the black man, shows the racism that I've read about in other books. Also what I've experienced myself before. The main conflicts of the story involve Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Boo has been shut away from the world by his father and then later his brother through an incident which occurred fifteen years earlier when he stabbed his father with a pair of scissors.

Protecting the Privacy of Individuals on the Internet Essay -- Interne

Protecting the Privacy of Individuals on the Internet Over the past decade the world has gotten much smaller due to the electronic communication the Internet has fostered. While this promotes business and international relations, problems arise regarding the protection of individuals’ personal information. Many countries around the world have developed privacy policies and laws protect an individual's information in the realm of electronic communication. Universal enforcement gets complicated because the Internet is not restricted to one country; it’s worldwide. As a result, concerns arise regarding the compatibility of various countries' privacy policies. This paper will discuss the current legislation in place for various major countries1, the existing conflicts between these countries’ policies and the implications these conflicts hold for the protection of privacy on the Internet. To begin, consider how countries handle the privacy of individuals in general, not exclusively in the electronic environment. Most countries around the world protect an individual’s right to privacy in some respects, because â€Å"privacy is a fundamental human right that has become one of the most important human rights of the modern age†2. Definitions for privacy vary according to context and environment. For example, in the United States Justice Louis Brandeis defined privacy as the â€Å"right to be left alone†3. In the United Kingdom, privacy is â€Å"the right of an individual to be protected against intrusion into his personal life or affairs†¦by direct physical means or by publication of information†4. Australian legislation states that â€Å"privacy is a basic human right and the reasonable expectation of every person†5. Regardless of varying definitio... ...21. 20 Cranor 29. 21 Country Reports 22. 22 Privacy Act of 2003. Wesley C. Maness. 23 October 2003. yale.edu/classes/cs457/Wesley_Maness.ppt> slide 1. 23 Wesley Maness slide 48. 24 Privacy and Human Rights 2003: Overview 9. 25 Privacy and Human Rights 2003: Overview 9. 26 TRUSTe Unveils European Union Safe Harbor Privacy Seal Program. Dave Steer. 1 November 2003. page 1. 27 Privacy and Human Rights 2003: Overview 10. 28 Privacy and E-Government: Privacy Impact Assessments and Privacy Commissioners – Two Mechanisms for Protecting Privacy to Promote Citizen Trust Online. Paige Anderson and Jim Dempsey. 1 May 2003.http://www.privacyinternational.org/survey/phr2002/ page 1. 29 Privacy and E-Government 3. 30 Privacy and E-Government 7. 31 Privacy and E-Government 7. 32 Privacy and E-Government 7.