The Effects of Technology on Humans Social Media

Introduction and History Social media refers to all the internet sites that are used for non-official interactions. There are various forms of social media depending on the name of the site and the kind of interaction it supports. Facebook, Skype, Twitter and Badoo are some of the commonly used social media forms (Gentle 2012 p. 34).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Effects of Technology on Humans: Social Media specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order to differentiate between social media and other forms of interactive media, one can look at the kind of language used; for social media there is no official language or professional language to be used. The various forms of social media have their own different origins although all of them began with two friends trying to contact each other over the internet which led to the creation of a site in which they later added their friends (Watts 2009 p. 57) Uses of Social Media and Why People Use Social Media Social media permits interaction with fewer rules unlike other forms of media. People do not like following rules and it is the reason they are attracted to social media more than other forms of media. It also facilitates free sharing of ideas, life issues and other forms of communication between two or more friends who are far from each other (Shirky 2008 p. 42). Cost is another important factor people consider when choosing a medium of communication. Most social media sites have cheap and attractive rates compared to other forms of media hence people prefer to use them. Flexibility of social media is a great aspect that makes it easy to use since it is accessible any time (Van Dijik 2013 p. 31). Today you can communicate with a friend who is miles away from the comfort of your living room using your smartphone. Friends use social media to catch up on chat sites. Social media provides a platform to advertise events, invite friends and family for functions, hold discussions on various life matters without people having to meet physically and even transact business which attracts a huge number of customers (Watts 2009). Who Uses Social Media and How Social media is commonly used by young people. Research shows that as one gets old their attention draws away from social media. The following table shows the various age brackets and their corresponding percentages of time on social media. The information is obtained from various surveys and researches conducted by scholars interested in social media. Mostly social media is used for unlimited interaction among people (Shirky 2008 p. 98). Age bracket Percentage of daily time spent on social media 13-19 years 75% 20-26 years 52% 27-40 year 34% 41-70years 5% 70- 120 years 0.0001% Advantages of Social media It is less costly as compared to other forms of communication. An example is putting up a funeral announcement on broadcast media costs a lot of money for a two minute announcement on radio and one will be required to shorten the message which may lead to distortion of the message. On the other hand, you just need to purchase internet bundles to access social media and post your announcement (Van Dijik 2013 p. 78).Advertising Looking for assessment on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fewer procedures are used in social media making it flexible unlike other forms of media. It can be accessed from any part of the world with good network coverage. Sharing professional ideas over social media facilitates career development. It also enhances time saving since people do not have to meet physically to communicate (Gentle 2012 p. 46). Disadvantages of Social Media Social media is addictive and people end up spending several hours on social media. It also allows children to access immoral material like pornographic sites which lead to indecent societal norms. It takes away the soc ial life of an individual as it becomes hard to talk to people face to face once one is used to doing it over social media. Furthermore, the cost of using social media may seem low but the cumulative use of social sites is expensive in the long run. More so, the social media is a hunting ground for perverts such as paedophiles and cyber swindlers (Watts 2009 p. 67). My Opinion In my opinion using social media in a controlled way is right. One should avoid viewing sites that may lead to their moral decay. It is also not wrong to use social media when one is free but it is wrong to abandon your duties so as to have a glimpse of your favourite sites. I recommend that people use social media in the right way and at the right time. Conclusion It is evident from the analysis in the article that social media has taken root in our society and it has both positive impacts and negative impacts on one’s lives. One should ensure they benefit more from using social media and reduce the ne gative impacts. Thus, the best ways of using social media should be adopted if we want to reap most of its benefits. Works Cited Gentle, Anne. Conversation and Community: The Social Web for  Documentation.  Laguna Hills, CA: XML Press, 2012. Print Shirky, Clay.  Here Comes Everybody. New York, NY: Penguin Press, 2008. Print.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Effects of Technology on Humans: Social Media specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Van Dijik, Jose. The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2013. Print. Watts, Duncan. Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age. London, UK: Vintage, 2009. Print. This assessment on The Effects of Technology on Humans: Social Media was written and submitted by user Kali F. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

5 Marketing Techniques That Will Increase Your Traffic

5 Marketing Techniques That Will Increase Your Traffic We’re all familiar with the product upsell. You’re paying for your coffee and the clerk asks if you’d like a bagel to go with it. Or, you’re trying to check out online and the website keeps offering you new deals to consider. These are upselling and cross selling techniques. When done right, they work. When done poorly, they annoy the heck out of people who just want to give you their money so they can go on their merry way. You don’t want to annoy people who are trying to give you money. What if you applied some of these same marketing techniques to your content? Could you get more traffic, more readership, more leads? And, more importantly, could you help your readers more than you are now? 5 Offbeat Marketing Techniques That Will Increase Your Traffic The Difference Between The Two Upselling is not the same as cross selling. What is  cross  selling? Cross selling has to do with related products. It’s selling a customer something that they might be interested in based on what they’re already buying. Amazon does a great job with cross selling, letting you know what products customers typically purchase with the item you’re looking at. Getting a new external hard drive? You might be interested in this USB cord. Buying a new TV? You might be interested in a sound bar. What is upselling? Upselling is when you aren’t so much interested in selling a customer a product related to the one they intend to buy, but instead want to sell them a higher-end version of it. Purchasing Samsonite luggage? Why not consider Louis Vuitton. The motivation and method behind these sales approaches are quite different. How do you use  them? When you cross sell, you hone in on what the customer needs, and offer additional products or services because you think they could be a help. Upselling is less about what the customer needs and more about painting a rosy picture of how the more expensive item has more value for them. Cross selling is helpful. Upselling relies more on the narrative. Both meet a kind of need, the former being a real need and the latter being a felt need. Neither will work if all you do is list features during the sale. It’s additional value (cross selling) vs. higher value (upselling). It’s lateral (cross selling) vs. vertical (upselling). How To Apply Upselling And Cross Selling Techniques To Your #ContentMarketingPutting It To Work In Your Content Let’s say that your readers are your customers (because they are). Getting new customers costs much more than keeping the ones you already have, even though most of us get caught up in focusing on getting new ones. According to the book Marketing Metrics (hat tip: GrooveHQ), selling to a new customer carries a probability of 5–20%. Selling to an existing customer sits at 60–70%. Upselling and cross selling take an existing customer and extract more value from them. These techniques  also make for a happier customer, particularly if you’re really hitting their needs and providing help. 5 #MarketingTechniques make for a happier customer, especially if you are hitting their needs.#1. Be A Good Listener These two marketing techniques rely heavily on listening to your customer. You’ve heard the recommendation to pay attention to what’s being said to customer support to get ideas on content to create. You should also use what you’re learning there to spot where upselling and cross selling might work. The key here is not to listen so that you can sell, but to listen to see if you have a solution to offer. When an upsell or cross sell is done correctly, you make a profit, yes, but more importantly, you create a deeper relationship with the customer. #2. Be Specific With Your Offer A good in-post call to action (CTA) is one that makes sense and taps into the likely needs of the reader. Offering a free laundry detergent sample pack in the middle of a post about marketing makes no sense. On this blog, we like to offer related ebooks and worksheets that go along with the content for those readers who want something to print out and use offline. Upselling and cross selling must make sense for the specific customer and situation. It cannot be a blanket approach. For example, when you are buying a candy bar at a Big Box store and the clerk at the register sees a prompt on his computer and asks, in monotone, if you’d like to apply for a store credit card and save 10%. 10%. On a candy bar. Or when you are trying to check out of an online store and you have to go through page after page of â€Å"add this! do you want this?! get this!† and none of the offers have anything to do with what you want to buy. Upselling and cross selling work best on an individual level, or an audience-specific level. Unrelated and nonsensical attempts at upselling and cross selling numb your customer to ever buying. #3. Sell Benefits, Not Features People buy things to solve problems. That’s it. Granted, they might buy things that â€Å"solve† a problem in a roundabout or seemingly unrelated way (e.g. buying expensive clothes because of a self esteem issue, or shopping because of boredom), but the gist of it is that we spend money because there is a problem that needs solving. Features might solve problems, but they need to be translated into benefits in order for customers to see what problems they solve. Neil Patel uses GoDaddy as an example (and boy, does that company like to do the upsell) of mistaking features as the selling point. From the QuickSprout blog. â€Å"How To Upsell Your Customers† Patel points out that GoDaddy tends to sell based on features without really explaining why these features are a benefit. The customer isn’t clearly told why these might be useful. Take a look at your CTAs at the end of your blog posts and email. Are you selling the benefits or the features? Do you tell your readers why they should do something, or just telling them to do it? #4. Use Social Proof Social proof can be helpful for upselling and cross selling. Think of how Amazon lists what other shoppers who looked at a product also bought. Or the small â€Å"#1 Seller† flag on products that are sometimes more expensive. Knowing that other people went for the upsell and the cross sell convinces people it’s probably safe to do so, too. And nothing upsells like seeing a more expensive product getting five stars when the cheaper version you were looking at has only three. Consider testimonials and star rating systems for your content, products, and services. They do some of the upselling for you, if you simply make them visible at a crucial moment and location. #5. Create Content Bundles Apps such as Uberflip and Storify (or even our very own #CoChat summary blog posts) indicate that readers like to see content bundled into one place. That’s great news if you’re looking to upsell and cross sell. Creating a bundle of products makes the upselling and cross selling much easier, because your customer can easily see that they are getting added value. Bundles are particularly good for cross selling. Why not pull together several products that are related and show the customer that they can get the bundle for less than they’d get all three separately? Copyblogger talks about pulling together content bundles out of your digital content, suggesting several possible approaches: Find similar content product types. For example, put together a collection of your best ebooks, or your most helpful worksheets. Bundle them into one download. Find similar content topic types. Offer an ebook/webinar/download on the same topic. Make an â€Å"Everything You Need To Get Started Blogging† bundle. Connect with other content creators. Bundle your content, products, or services with someone else’s content, products, or services. It’s good buzz for both of you, and a good way to find an audience with who you choose to partner with. Add services to your bundles. Consider adding a service, such as consulting or an audit, along with your content bundle. â€Å"Get our ebook on landing page copy, and a free copy audit of one landing page.† Bundling your content is part of repurposing it. You give a second life to the individual pieces of content you already created.

Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt in Criminal Trials

Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt in Criminal Trials In the United States court system, the fair and impartial delivery of justice is based on two fundamental tenets: That all persons accused of crimes are considered to be innocent until proven guilty, and that their guilt must be proven â€Å"beyond a reasonable doubt.† While the requirement that guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt is meant to protect the rights of Americans charged with crimes, it often leaves juries with the momentous task of answering the often subjective question - how much doubt is â€Å"reasonable doubt?† Constitutional Basis for Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Under the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, persons accused of crimes are protected from â€Å"conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime with which he is charged.† The U.S. Supreme Court first acknowledged the concept in its decision on the 1880 case of Miles v. United States: â€Å"The evidence upon which a jury is justified in returning a verdict of guilty must be sufficient to produce a conviction of guilt, to the exclusion of all reasonable doubt.† While judges are required to instruct juries to apply the reasonable doubt standard, legal experts disagree on whether the jury should also be given a quantifiable definition of â€Å"reasonable doubt.† In the 1994 case of Victor v. Nebraska, the Supreme Court ruled that the reasonable doubt instructions given to juries must be clear, but declined to specify a standard set of such instructions. As a result of Victor v. Nebraska ruling, the various courts have created their own reasonable doubt instructions. For example, judges of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals instruct juries that, â€Å"A reasonable doubt is a doubt based upon reason and common sense and is not based purely on speculation. It may arise from a careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or from lack of evidence.† Considering the Quality of Evidence As part of their â€Å"careful and impartial consideration† of evidence presented during the trial, jurors must also evaluate the quality of that evidence. While first-hand evidence such as eyewitness testimony, surveillance tapes, and DNA matching help eliminate doubts of guilt, jurors assume - and are typically reminded by defense attorneys - that witness may lie, photographic evidence can be faked, and DNA samples can become tainted or mishandled. Short of voluntary or legally-obtained confessions, most evidence is open to being challenged as invalid or circumstantial, thus helping to establish â€Å"reasonable doubt† in the minds of the jurors. Reasonable Does Not Mean All As in most other criminal courts, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court also instructs jurors that proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a doubt that leaves them â€Å"firmly convinced† that the defendant is guilty. Perhaps most importantly, jurors in all courts are instructed that beyond a â€Å"reasonable† doubt does not mean beyond â€Å"all† doubt. As Ninth Circuit judges state it, â€Å"It is not required that the government (the prosecution) proves guilt beyond all possible doubt.† Finally, judges instruct jurors that after their â€Å"careful and impartial† consideration of the evidence they have seen, they are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant actually committed the crime as charged, it is their duty as jurors to find the defendant not guilty. Can Reasonable Be Quantified? Is it even possible to assign a definite numeric value to such a subjective, opinion-driven concept as reasonable doubt? Over the years, legal authorities have generally agreed that proof â€Å"beyond a reasonable doubt† requires jurors to be at least 98% to 99% certain that the evidence proves the defendant to be guilty. This is in contrast to civil trials on lawsuits, in which a lower standard of proof, known as a â€Å"preponderance of the evidence† is required. In civil trials, a party might prevail with little as 51% probability that events involved actually occurred as claimed. This rather wide discrepancy in the standard of proof required can be best explained by the fact that persons found guilty in criminal trials face far more severe potential punishment - from jail time to death - compared to the monetary penalties typically involved in civil trials. In general, defendants in criminal trials are afforded more constitutionally-ensured protections than defendants in civil trials.   The Reasonable Person Element In criminal trials, jurors are often instructed to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not by applying an objective test in which the defendant’s actions are compared to those of a â€Å"reasonable person† acting under similar circumstances. Basically, would any other reasonable person have done the same things the defendant did? This â€Å"reasonable person† test is often applied in trials involving so-called â€Å"stand your ground† or â€Å"castle doctrine† laws that justify the use of deadly force in acts of self-defense. For example, would a reasonable person have also chosen to shoot his or her attacker under the same circumstances or not? Of course, such a â€Å"reasonable† person is little more than a fictional ideal based on the individual juror’s opinion of how a â€Å"typical† person, possessing ordinary knowledge and prudence, would act in certain circumstances. According to this standard, most jurors naturally tend to consider themselves to be reasonable people and thus judge the defendant’s conduct from a viewpoint of, â€Å"What would I have done?† Since the test of whether a person has acted as a reasonable person is an objective one, it does not take into account the particular abilities of the defendant. As a result, defendants who have shown a low level of intelligence or have habitually acted carelessly are held to the same standards of conduct as more intelligent or careful persons, or as the ancient legal principle holds, â€Å"Ignorance of the law excuses no one.† Why the Guilty Sometimes Go Free If all persons accused of crimes must be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and that even the slightest degree of doubt can sway even a reasonable person’s opinion of a defendant’s guilt, doesn’t the American criminal justice system occasionally allow guilty people to go free? Indeed it does, but this is entirely by design. In crafting the various provisions of the Constitution protecting rights of the accused, the Framers felt it essential that America apply the same standard of justice expressed by renowned English jurist William Blackstone in his often-cited 1760s work, Commentaries on the Laws of England, â€Å"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.†

Definition of Curriculum Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Definition of Curriculum - Research Paper Example The curriculum development and proper allocation of curriculum to the academic area forms an important part of this process. This paper aims to define and analyze curriculum and its importance and application in the nursing field. The definition of curriculum is defined by different researchers in different ways. The existence of curriculum and its relative importance, however, cannot be ignored in any field. Traditionally curriculum was defined as the path and lessons of study or the material being taught. Others like Oliva(2005) believe that curriculum points towards and makes its way to achieve some ‘purpose’. In the modern era, the definition of curriculum is widened and comprises a body of knowledge and procedures to define the objectives and results (Ellis 2004, p. 4). Regardless of the prevalent differences in the definitions of curriculum, it is evident that curriculum is designed and used with a motive to increase learning and working efficiency, determining and communicating goals and providing a path to move in order to gain knowledge about certain subjects and matters. In the field of nursing, curriculum plays a vital role in explaining the nature, extent and scope of the profession. The practices are related to the health and require closer attentions by the practitioners, hence, curriculum and active learning helps in understanding the peculiar tasks. The nursing area requires higher attention to every task assigned, practice performed and care given (Iwasiw et al. 2009 pp. 4-7). Curriculum in nursing practices and learning environment helps in identifying the potentially risky areas and an insight to resolve those issues. In the nursing practice, curriculum provides detailed analyses of the situations that may arise in the practical application of the learned concepts. These practical areas like hospitals and other healthcare service providers use the theoretical understanding as a key to proper nursing care. The internship requireme nts of nursing curriculum helps in developing the initial practical working experience in the nurses. Such requirements are helpful in training the nurses under the supervision of highly qualified and experienced healthcare practitioners. In conclusion, it can be said that the curriculum provides a good informational and practical structure to train nurses. The requirements and rules of curriculum help in understanding the aim of the profession, legal responsibilities and theoretical knowledge of the concepts related to the field. Bibliography Ellis, A. K. (2004). Exemplars of curriculum theory. Larchmont, N.Y: Eye on Education. Iwasiw, C. L., Goldenberg, D., & Andrusyszyn, M.-A. (2009). Curriculum development in nursing education. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Oliva, P. F. (2005). Developing the curriculum. Boston: Allyn and

Sigtek Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sigtek - Case Study Example om majority owner, Telwork, on the distinctive nature of core competencies of Sigtek, in contrast to other subsidiaries; and (5) implementing a management (organizational change) in the midst of the implementation of the TQ program. It is therefore deduced that the root cause of the dilemma is the lack of awareness of Telwork, Signet’s corporate parent, to make a comprehensive assessment of the applicability of the TQ program, which should cater to the needs and demands of Sigtek. Alternative Courses of Action 1. Status Quo. Do Nothing: John Smithers could just go with the flow and not institute any changes, in addition to those that were already implemented. As proposed by Richard Patricof, the newly appointed general manager of Sigtek, to keep teaching the TQ program. Pros: There would be limited resistance to change as all needed changes have already been implemented. Cons: Potentials for greater decline in morale and decreased productivity and satisfaction. Smithersâ€℠¢ job could be in danger if no significant improvements resulting from the implementation of the TQ program would result from his teaching. The performance of his department could continue to decline and would reflect negatively on his ability as the Engineering Services Manager. 2. Focus on teaching TQ to the line workers and solicit their inputs and comments towards improving quality in their respective areas of operations. Pros: There were evidence of holistic support from line workers and their inputs on areas that need improvement are most valid given that they are directly involved in operations. Any remarkable suggestions that would improve productivity, performance, and satisfaction would evidently support the validity of the TQ program. Cons: Their suggestions should be supported by higher management to ensure that workable areas of improvement should be undertaken and implemented, as required – otherwise, it would only prove that management is not serious about the TQ program. This could be costly and time consuming. Recommendation: Option 2, focus on teaching TQ to the line workers due to the advantages that would be realized which would affirm the validity and effectiveness of the TQ program. References Rosegrant, S. (1998). John Smithers at Sigtek. Harvard Business

Han China and Gupta India Essay Example for Free

Han China and Gupta India Essay Han China differed from Gupta India politically, developing a strong bureaucratic system while India allowed local rulers to stay in control, but the Guptas focused more on trade and made more intellectual achievements than China, especially in mathematics. They established empires that were successful, but also distinct in their own ways. Although these two civilizations were notably different politically, economically, and intellectually, both were successful in bringing prosperity to their empires. During the Han dynasty, China successfully improved its bureaucracy, but in India local rulers maintained regional control. India’s territory never grew to be as large as China’s, so different forms of government were needed for each civilization. Han China retained the centralized government formed by the Qin, and expanded the bureaucracy. The bureaucratic system suited China, because it was able to support the civilization as it expanded into a large empire. The emperor Wu Ti created civil service examinations for his bureaucrats, which could be taken by any male. Wu Ti also urged Confucianism in order to gain support, as it urged respect for the government. On the other hand, India lacked an extensive bureaucracy, and local rulers were allowed to keep control as long as they remained loyal to Gupta authority. Because of its separated regions, it was very difficult to politically unify India. Similar to China, the Gupta rulers turned to religion to strengthen support for the government. In contrast to China, they favored Hinduism because they claimed to be appointed by Hindu gods. Additionally, Hinduism encouraged the rigid caste system. The empires were also similar because political power was given to landowners. Although the Gupta period is considered the golden age of India, providing its greatest period of political stability, it never developed the solid bureaucracy that Han China did. Although trade is vital to any civilization’s success, India emphasized trade far more than China did. China’s economy focused on extensive internal trade, while India developed more maritime trade. Trade gradually became more important during the Han dynasty, focusing on luxury items for the upper class such as silks, leather, and jewelry. Internal trade was made easier by the standardization of currency and circulation of copper coins. Han rulers expanded the empire, which allowed trade with more places. Some merchants even took profitable trips to India. Even though they were important, trade and the merchant class did not become the focal points of Chinese economy. This was due to the emphasis on Confucianism, which frowned upon a life devoted to moneymaking. On the other hand, the Guptas established a strong economy. It was partly based on technological sophistication, new inventions, and production. For example, Indian artisans were the first to manufacture cotton cloth, calico, and cashmere. In these areas, India and China were rivaling, but the India’s economy became more vigorous. Merchant activity was greater in India than in China, with merchants at a relatively high caste status. They traveled by land, and also by sea, increasing maritime trade. Han China and Gupta India’s economies can be compared as firmly agricultural, both relying on a large peasant class, organized into cooperative close-knit villages. Han rulers regulated agricultural supplies by storing extra grain and rice in good times, preventing price increases when harvests were bad. The Gupta period in India was known for its wealth, which was due to extensive trading both internally and by sea, as opposed to Han China’s economy, which relied more on technological innovations. The Hans and Guptas both made many important intellectual achievements, but there was more academic success in India, especially in mathematics. The Chinese studied astronomy, calculating the movement of planets, as well as observing sunspots. During the Han dynasty, scientists invented a seismograph to register earthquakes. In addition, they actively researched medicine, studying principles of hygiene that would support longer lives. Generally, the Chinese focused their studies on practical findings, such as discovering how things worked. They studied the mathematics of music that led to advances in acoustics. Like China, Indian scientists also progressed in astronomy and medicine. Many astronomical discoveries were made, such as the calculation of the solar year, the circumference and daily rotation of Earth, a theory of gravity, and the discovery of seven planets. In medicine, hospitals also stressed cleanliness, like China. India surpassed China in mathematical discoveries. Scholars created a numbering system and the concepts of zero and negative numbers. Mathematicians also calculated square roots and a more accurate value of pi. These advances in both civilizations were possible because of support from the government. In China, the government sponsored intellectual life, organizing research in astronomy. The Guptas had a vast university center in Nalanda featuring lecture halls, libraries, and an observatory. This supported the new discoveries that were being made. Both civilizations made important intellectual achievements that were advanced by world standards, but Gupta India especially excelled in mathematics. The Han and Gupta dynasties were both successful periods in China and India. Their success was due to different causes, because their societies were very unlike each other. China’s government centered on its strong bureaucracy developed during the Han dynasty, while India never advanced a decent bureaucratic system. Both civilizations had strong economies, but India focused more on over-sea trade than China did. Also, Gupta India made more intellectual achievements particularly in science and mathematics. The Han and Gupta periods were similar in some ways, but their civilizations showed distinct differences politically, economically, and intellectually.

Blood, Sweat, Tears and Oil: The mistreatment of the Ogoni People by R

Blood, Sweat, Tears and Oil: The mistreatment of the Ogoni People by Royal Dutch Shell and the Nigerian Government Introduction Nigeria, located in West Africa, is a densely populated nation of over 100 million people. Since the nation’s independence from Britain in 1960, the country has been in the hands of various leaders ranging from religious to staunchly militant. Nigeria is the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world and it has one of the largest deposits of natural gas (Wiwa, 2001). Oil accounts for ninety five percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earning and one-fourth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product comes from oil. A large percentage of this oil is located in the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta, located in eastern Nigeria, is the third largest wetland in the world covering 70,000 square kilometers and accounts for 7.5% of Nigeria’s land mass (www.nddconline.org). About twenty million of Nigeria’s one hundred million people reside in the Niger Delta and forty different ethnic groups live in the region. Oil development by large industries, such as Shell, and lack of support from the Nigerian government has left many people in the Niger Delta at a severe disadvantage. Most notably the Ogoni people, who are the minority in the region, have suffered from devastating exploitation. Oil was discovered in the Ogoni region in 1958 and after an estimated 900 million barrels with an estimated value of $30 billion were extracted in the area, there is very little to show for it in the Ogoni community. Economic loss, environmental loss, exploitation and murder are all direct consequences of the occupation of major oil companies, namely Shell, in the Ogoni region. This paper aims to bring to ... ...d. Austria: OPEC Fund, 2003. Amanyie, Vincent. The Agony of the Ogoni in the Niger Delta: A Case Study. Nigeria: Horizon Concepts, 2001. Azaiki, Steve. Inequities in Nigerian Politics: The Niger Delta, Resource Control, Underdevelopment and Youth Restiveness. Nigeria: Treasure Books, 2003. Civil Liberties Organization. Ogoni: Trials and Travails. Lagos, Nigeria: Civil Liberties Organization, 1996. Douglas, Oronto and Ike Okonta. Where Vultures Feast: Shell, Human Rights, and Oil in the Niger Delta. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 2001. Niger Delta Development Commission. www.nddconline.org Wiwa, Diana. â€Å"The Role of Women in the Struggle for Environmental Justice in Ogoni.† Delta, No.3 , October 1997: 11 Wiwa, Ken. In the Shadow of a Saint: A son’s journey to understand his father’s legacy. Canada: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001.

Whole Foods Strategy

The company I will be presenting is Whole Foods, case number seven. Whole Foods is a supermarket chain based in Austin, Texas which emphasizes natural and organic products. As of September 2009[update], the company operates 302 stores: 291 stores in 38 U. S. states and the District of Columbia; six stores in Canada; and five stores in the United Kingdom. External assessment: There are over one hundred thousand grocery stores in the United States, with a wide variety of types. Stores range from very small neighborhood stores, to huge two hundred thousand square foot stores. Currently, the only major competitor to Whole Foods is Trader Joe's. As of 2008, they had roughly 300 stores in twenty five states are still growing. Most of their stores are located in California and the upper east coast, and some single stores spread out across the United States. Trader Joes usually has lower prices than Whole Foods, but their stores are generally smaller in size and in selection. Another supermarket that is new to the industry, but growing at a rapid pace is a Wegmans. With over 70 stores in the New York area, this store had 4. billion dollars in sales in 2008. Wegmans is consistently rated near the top of Fortunes annual list of the 100 best companies to work for. With the organic foods market growing at such a fast pace, new stores, small and large are always popping up. A couple examples include the Fresh Market chain which has 86 stores in 17 states, and the Central Markets which have 8 stores in Texas. In addition to the unique, organic centered grocery stores, companies such as Walmart, with over 100 billion dollars in sales, compete for the same customers that Whole Foods does. Kroger and Safeway round out the list of the highest grossing grocery stores in the country. Due to the economic downturn, Whole Foods has tried to lower some of its pricing to compete with all of the other growing stores in the market. SWOT: Strengths: Despite the economic downturn, Whole foods has a strong financial performance. Revenues have grown by a rate of 17 percent over last year and this increase was driven by 14 percent square footage growth, excluding the recently acquired Wild Oats locations. Whole Foods recorded sales per gross square foot of $923,an increase of approximately 7 percent over last ear. The Strong revenue growth has helped the company to pursue its expansion plans and improve its bargaining power in the market. The company has also grown through mergers and acquisitions, with approximately 32 percent of its existing square footage coming from take-over’s. In August 2007, Whole Foods merged with Wild Oats markets. Since the organic foods retailing industry is mostly comprised of small local chains, mergers have provided the company access to locations and they have retained experienced team members. The company offers a broad product selection in all its stores and its larger stores, also have catering services where customers can purchase made-to-order foods. Whole Foods emphasis on fresh food gives the company an edge over its competitors who usually just offer packaged foods; this large product portfolio allows the company to address multiple customer segments. Weaknesses: The company has a weak international operation with just three stores in Canada, and six in the UK. The company’s operations in the UK and Canada are not yet large enough in purchasing and distribution, resulting in relatively high product prices. Also, Whole Foods relies heavily on word-of-mouth publicity, which is a disadvantage in comparison to its competitors who use print, television and online media. The company spends small amounts on advertising and marketing compared to its competitors. In 2007, the company spent 0. 5% of its total revenues on advertising. Opportunities: Natural and organic food products are one of the fastest growing categories in food retailing. There is growth in the demand for organic foods because of the increasing preferences among consumers for healthy food. The US organic food market grew by 12. 3% last year to reach a value of $15. 9 billion and is expected to hit 24 billion this year. Although organic products represent just about 2% of the total food and beverage sales in the US, the market is growing approximately 20% annually. More consumers are preferring natural, fat-free and healthy food products. Food items containing trans-fat are losing market share to low calorie, low fat, natural and organic products. Increasing customer preference for organic foods is likely to impact the company’s sales, given its leading market position in the organic grocery segment. Threats: Whole Foods’ competitors include natural foods supermarkets, specialty supermarkets, warehouse membership stores, small specialty stores and restaurants. In addition, some traditional and specialty supermarkets are also expanding more aggressively in marketing a range of organic foods, thereby competing directly with Whole Foods for products, customers and locations. For example, Wal-Mart announced that it will focus on the organic segment. They aim to become the low-price leader in organics, not just in food but clothing, electronics and other household products. Wal-Mart has already doubled its organic range in fresh produce, dairy and dry food items during 2006. Some of these competitors have greater financial or marketing resources than Whole Foods, and may be able to provide greater resources to promoting and selling their products. Increased competition may have an adverse effect on profitability as the result of lower sales, lower gross profits and/or greater operating costs such as marketing. Discussion of Strategic Alternatives: Faced with unprecedented economic challenges and numerous competitors, Whole Foods needs to take an aggressive approach to offset any challenges. By anticipating continued interest in healthy eating, Whole Foods should target children as their new customer base with the development of an organic line of products designed for children. With increased competition and economic conditions in the state they are, Whole Foods needs to expand their marketing strategy towards a more broader, interactive one. The use of Facebook and Twitter could be useful tools on the local, and global level to communicate with current and future customers. Whole Foods needs to also continue its commitment to the environment. Expanding on already in place programs, such as eliminating disposable plastic bags, charitable donations and green power use, Whole Foods should take part in programs that promote animal welfare on farms and ranches. Value perception is one of the most important strategies that needs to be focused on if Whole Foods is going to overcome competing with low cost competition . Providing coupons, budget conscious recipes, and money saving tips are what customers value. A in store value guide can help customers locate the best deals in the store. Along with a friendly and educated staff, these strategic alternatives can provide Whole Foods with the tools necessary to overcome the challenges it currently faces.

MOTORBUS Company: Que Sera Sera Essay

I. Point of View This study should be observed in the perspective of Engr. Hermogenes Ancheta. His situation is very critical since all of the burdens of the Maintenance Department are lying on his shoulders. Therefore, the researcher should specifically view themselves as Engr. Hermogenes Ancheta in considering some solutions and recommendation and finally offer the proper, distinct and probable plan of action. II. Time Context Since the company will be fielding an additional 50 new buses in a month, Engr. Hermogenes Ancheta should settle all misfits and do the recommended plan of action within 30 days. That timeframe will give Engr. Hermogenes Ancheta the perfect decision that he can get to come up with a perfect solution. This problem needs a lot of thinking and analyzing. III. Statement of the Problem The MOTORBUS Company: Que Sera Sera is a route of bus from Manila via Isabela. Que Sera Sera means â€Å"What will be, will be†. Engineer Hermogenes Ancheta has just received his appointment papers from his new immediate superior, the Vice-President for Operations, he has been promoted from Assistant Manager to Manager of the Maintenance Department. After congratulating him from his promotion, his boss gave him a verbal directive that he should put some order in his department and make and make it work in the most effective and efficient manner as possible without incertitude. Engineer Ancheta has just passed the board examination for Mechanical Engineering when he joined Motorbus Company in 1993. By June 1995, he informed his former classmates at the University of Santo Tomas that he has promoted as Assistant Manager for Maintenance. He had promoted from Assistant Manager to Manager when Engineer Gaudencio Inductivo, who in turn to be at 62 years old. After the approval from VP for operations, the next day after the approval of Engineer Inductivo retirement, Engineer Ancheta received an appointment papers promoting him to be a Manager. By the time on his duty as a manager he inspect the storage room and he found the uneven supply of parts. Some parts were in excessive quantities and some important ones were inadequately stocked and the corner room contains a big volume of obsolete parts. The problem now is that how he handle the operation most effectively when he’s just new to his job, while there are 50 more buses added in the route for 100 buses will servicing the various routes assigned to Motorbus Company. IV. Statement of the Objectives To settle the disputes with the maintenance personnel To convince the maintenance personnel to not quit their jobs To innovate and improve the old method of purchasing To fix problems regarding inadequate, excessive and obsolete parts in the stock room V. Areas of Consideration Engineer Hermogenes Ancheta as a Mechanical Engineering Graduate he then work in a Motorbus Company as Assistant Manager of Maintenance Department. By the year 1993 when he joined the Motorbus Company, he passed the Board Examination for Mechanical Engineering course. He then informed his former classmate from University of Santo Tomas by year 1995 as he promoted Assistant Manager for Maintenance. The former Manager of the Department Engineer Gaudencio Inductivo, joined the company since it started the operations in 1989. A total of ten buses began plying the Manila-Isabela route. A maintenance unit was put up the Manila in Sampaloc. Another unit serves the Ilagan, Isabela terminal. Each unit has a full-time mechanic and one assistant. When a company bus comes in for repair, the mechanic diagnoses the various automotive systems in the bus and later produces a list of parts needing replacement. The mechanic sends the list to Engineer Inductivo, who, in turn, forwards the same to the company accountant for approval of the purchase request. Often times, Engineer Inductivo performs the actual purchasing himself. Later, he sends the purchased items to the mechanic who made the request. The maintenance units were operating normally until 40 new buses were procured by the company in 1993. Since then, every maintenance was so busy that they threatened to quit their jobs unless additional mechanics and assistants were recruited. By the end of 1993, each unit has a personnel complement of 5 mechanics and 5 assistants. But with current developments, the old method of purchasing was not improved. Purchase request started to embroiled, the file endorsed become discreet. Mechanic and drivers began complaining to the VP for Operations about the delays in the delivery of needed parts. The VP (Vice-President) for Operations immediately sent a note to Engineer Inductivo ordering that the problem should be resolved immediately. Engineer Inductivo was hard pressed and he could not offer an immediate solution. The next day, Engineer Inductivo informed the VP for Operations that he is requesting for the approval of his application for retirement as he is already 62 years old. The VP forwarded the request to the President with an endorsement justifying the request. On the same day, the request for retirement was approved. The next day, Engineer Ancheta received his appointment papers promoting him to Manager. During his first appointment as a Manager the first thing Engineer Ancheta did was to inspect the storage room for parts. He found out that the room was full of uneven supply of parts. Some parts were of excessive quantities, while some important ones were inadequately stocked. A corner of the room  contains a big volume of obsolete parts. At the end of the day, Engineer Ancheta was informed by the VP that the company will be fielding an additional 50 new buses within 30 days. This will mean that by next month about 100 buses will be servicing the various routes assigned to Motorbus Company. Engineer Ancheta is now mulling over how he will make the operations of his department as efficient and effective as possible. The areas of consideration are the ongoing disagreement with the maintenance personnel, the old system of purchasing applied in the company and the mountain of problems about the inventory of parts. VI. Assumptions â€Å"What will be, will be†, this is the meaning of Que Sera Sera was derived from a Spanish song. So, this is the word that really bind in his mind with the luck that came up with Engineer Hermogenes Ancheta that he became appointed Assistant Manager to Manager. For that case it will happen someday in advance that Engineer Ancheta will become the Manager of the Motorbus Company and that what will be happened after the retirement of Engineer Gaudencio Inductivo. For what happened to Engineer Ancheta is a time of luck that he knew someday he will become a Manager for he work a good Assistant Manager so the company President trusted him so much that he will be the next to be appointed as a Manager of Maintenance Department because he already knew how to run and operate the business pertaining to Motorbus Company most effectively in good service. As a new appointed Manager Engineer Ancheta work literally honest in his field of work so that the VP for Operations trusted him and for that time, the company will be fielding of 50 new additional buses. This means that the business was keep on growing for the President put the trust on Engineer Ancheta to handle the operations to make efficient and good service for the various routes using 100 buses assigned to Motorbus Company. This is what really the analysis that Engineer Ancheta is a successful upon doing his Job. VII. Alternative Courses of Action (ACA) For Engineer Ancheta since he’s just new on the job as appointed Manager, he must pondered on focusing in the operations of the Motorbus Company to be adequate enough to work with it efficient and more effective bus servicing through the Philippines. As a manager he must need to know the employee under his supervision like mechanic, asistant that they might work with no other reasons for them to give their support to the company. This is just giving him the idea that he need a better employee which has no other alternatives just to work with the company with their full time basis. For that reason they may work efficiently if they work together in helping each other in the company to support their needs to have a better foundation of Motorbus business infrastructure. They must conduct an additional training for the new employee that they may hire, just to make sure that the bus route will do a better service in travelling back to back to its destinations. The mechanic should had their support as a maintenance that every unit must be checked before they move on to their destinations. What will be, will be, that’s the theme that this company appparently symbolized. The determination of continous focus on the job is the best thing to do. VIII. Conclusion/Recommendation There you can see to it that the business shown an increase in numbers of buses and same as usual with the profit they will also gain a better than what they had recently when Engineer Inductivo’s in charge with the Management of the Motorbus Company. Aside from that, when Engineer Ancheta is appointed as a new Manager he’s now on his way to make a decision like a real boss of the company, for that case his order is the way that the President of Operations will be respected. For the President knew that he is  an honest manager to be appointed to handle the operations pertaining with the Maintenance Department. Furthermore, I recommend that they must need another hired of new employee since the addition of a 40 new buses to be added on the route assigned to Motorbus company. No one should be able to quit, that he must need to convince his employee under his supervision as a result of a good performance in the part of a workforce. IX. Plan of Action The first step for Engr. Hermogenes Ancheta is to set up a meeting on his department. In this meeting, he will lay all of his proposition for the problems present in the department. To settle the dispute on maintenance personnel, Engr. Hermogenes Ancheta must hire additional personnel and staff since the company needs more manpower in 30 days. For the improvement of the old method of purchasing, Engr. Hermogenes Ancheta Mallari is to ask his sons and to influence them and ask Lastly, to fix problems regarding inadequate, excessive and obsolete parts in the stock room, Engr. Hermogenes Ancheta must perform an inventory. If there isn’t enough supply, the department must list all of the inadequate tools. If there is an excess, there is choice of just putting it in the stock room or the department can also sell it to retailers. And for the obsolete parts, they must be sold to junk shops.

Free Essays on Civilization And Its Discontents

For many years Ireland has been internationally recognised as a nation who enjoy the odd tipple. You only have to browse through the various mementos on sale in such shops as Mary’s on O’Connell St, or O’Carrolls on Grafton St, to understand why this image of a boozy nation is so renound worldwide. We intentionally export the jovial image of the drunken leprechaun or of the old man sitting by the fire in his local nursing a pint of Guinness by the fire, yet beneath this humorous faà §ade lies a worrying social phenomenon. In the past decade alone there has been a significant increase in the alcohol consumption of this country whilst the figures for our European counterparts, like France, have reportedly dropped by a third. Ireland and Britain remain the only western countries where there has been an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed. A quarter of all hospital admissions in this country are drink related and over a half of the casualty admissions are for the same reason. At three point five billion euros, we spend more on drink than we do on the health service. According to a recent survey, Irish teens are the biggest binge drinkers in the European Union. Binge drinking is defined as â€Å"the consumption of five or more drinks in a row on at least one occasion.† In America where there has been a major decline in alcohol consumption in the past decade, their government and media have been aggressively pursuing the problem of alcohol abuse for some time. In recent years the Irish medi a have been following America’s footsteps. There is an increased frequency of articles focusing on alcohol abuse, many of which are littered with shocking facts to strengthen the impact. One such article revealed that drinking by college students alone contributes to 1,400 student deaths, 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assaults or date rape each year. This social phenomenon is not a recent development, but it is becoming pr... Free Essays on Civilization And Its Discontents Free Essays on Civilization And Its Discontents For many years Ireland has been internationally recognised as a nation who enjoy the odd tipple. You only have to browse through the various mementos on sale in such shops as Mary’s on O’Connell St, or O’Carrolls on Grafton St, to understand why this image of a boozy nation is so renound worldwide. We intentionally export the jovial image of the drunken leprechaun or of the old man sitting by the fire in his local nursing a pint of Guinness by the fire, yet beneath this humorous faà §ade lies a worrying social phenomenon. In the past decade alone there has been a significant increase in the alcohol consumption of this country whilst the figures for our European counterparts, like France, have reportedly dropped by a third. Ireland and Britain remain the only western countries where there has been an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed. A quarter of all hospital admissions in this country are drink related and over a half of the casualty admissions are for the same reason. At three point five billion euros, we spend more on drink than we do on the health service. According to a recent survey, Irish teens are the biggest binge drinkers in the European Union. Binge drinking is defined as â€Å"the consumption of five or more drinks in a row on at least one occasion.† In America where there has been a major decline in alcohol consumption in the past decade, their government and media have been aggressively pursuing the problem of alcohol abuse for some time. In recent years the Irish medi a have been following America’s footsteps. There is an increased frequency of articles focusing on alcohol abuse, many of which are littered with shocking facts to strengthen the impact. One such article revealed that drinking by college students alone contributes to 1,400 student deaths, 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assaults or date rape each year. This social phenomenon is not a recent development, but it is becoming pr...

British Petroleum History - Smart Custom Writing Samples

British Petroleum History - Smart Custom Writing Is Democracy The best Form of Government For All PeopleDemocracy is a widely acknowledged form of political government under which the power to govern is sourced from the people either by a conducting a direct referendum or through an election of various representatives. In the 5th century BC, the Greeks coined this system of government that vests all power to decide as to who shall rule squarely on the people. This system chiefly asserts on equality and freedom as its mainstream virtues. Therefore, citizens are viewed as having equal access to power and deemed as equal before the law. Therefore, every man is entitled to one vote with an equal weight. These rights and liberties practiced by the citizens within such a state are secured by a constitution. Although this system of government implies multiple freedoms to its citizens, it can end up failing and becoming cumbersome to the subjects if proper checks and balances are not put in place to constantly keep the leaders in track. Th erefore, an in-depth analysis of democracy has been carried out herein by evaluating the pros and cons of this system. (Strong, 1998) There are numerous merits as to why a democracy should be the system of choice in governance. First, smooth transitory changes can take place in government without violence. This is enabled through free and fair elections whereby the citizens determine the ruling authority by simple majority. Secondly, democracy prevents monopoly of any one ruling authority. This is since the incumbent government has to compete with other parties and personalities after expiration of its term. This therefore ensures that the ruling authority works for the people and towards their needs or leave office due to the failure to be re-elected. Thirdly, a democracy serves as motivational factor to the people. This is since the government is obligated towards its citizens. By carrying out of all its duties and goals set which are supported by the majority, the people feel appreciative and encouraged to work even harder towards attaining a better economic status. Finally, a democratic government makes the citizens have a feeling of participation and ‘ownership.’ They feel that the government has been legally elected by them and that it is theirs. They are able to express their freedom of choice and opinion through the ballot box or voting process. This has the capacity of enhancing nationalism. (Kukathas, 2004) Despite all these merits, there are various demerits and criticisms that have been put forward against democracies. These have been based on the irrational voters who are widely perceived that they are poorly informed on political, social and economic issues. First, democracies have been deemed to be politically unstable. Though the government is elected in by the majority, during its term, opponents and the media frequently challenge the ruling authority which could lead to a sudden change in the political support. This goes a long way in discouraging foreign investment and economic growth.   (Zorach, 2010) Secondly, democracies have been characterized by short terms. This is especially the case after elections and there is no clear winner leading to formation of coalitions due to the fact that democracies are not after the ideological match but the support of the majority. Any imbalance in the treatment of principal partners may lead to withdrawal from the coalition hence the collapse of the government leading to another election. Thirdly, the democratic governments are slow in responding to key issues in the society. This is because decisions are carried out through consensus rather than a unilateral system that would otherwise speed up decision making. Finally, governments elected into power during elections have been accused severally of vote buying and rigging. This is a way of appealing and influencing voters to vote for one particular party who might not be the most appropriate in ruling. A form of vote buying is the pork barrel whereby some political sectors are awarded specific special benefits whose costs are spread to all taxpayers. (Ratchasima, 2007) Despite multiple criticisms, democracies remain the most popular governments in the world. This is since they allow the citizens to openly express their views which are a vital need among humanity. Therefore, democratic governments can be viewed as the best form of governments.    References Kukathas, G. F. (2004). Handbook of Political Theory. Sage. Ratchasima, N. (2007, November 25). Democracy, and vote buying, returning to Thailand. The New York Times . Strong, M. H. (1998). Public Space and Democracy. University of Minnesota Press. Zorach, A. (2010, September 12). Democracy. Retrieved November 19, 2010

Market Research for Banking Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Market Research for Banking Industry - Essay Example However, situations changed and matters about financial growth caused a lot of individuals lose sight of the possibility of losing track of the development and falling off the trail towards freedom and financial progress. This is what has happened among bank industries as they face the world's most devastating situation of global financial crisis. The imbalance of monetary distribution has now caused many ordinary people who were basically the main clients of local bank branches are now opting to spend their money than save it since what they are earning now is just enough for their daily needs. Meanwhile, those who have better options of saving some of their earnings are becoming cautious about picking the right bank to which they are to invest their money in. In this regard, the banking industry has become a much sceptical commercial branch that needs to be supported through advancement and systemic progress at present so as to allow the smaller financial institutions such as local and rural banks to have at least a "say" in the current competition that they are involved in which practically includes the bigger names of larger banking organizations. In the study that follows, a proposal of a proper research on how bank consumers view their bank hosts and how they are able to choose over a lot of financial organizations offering them different options of service and saving shall be presented and discussed. This discussion is expected to have a great impact in the process by which smaller banking entities are able to operate successfully in the industry that they have chosen to join. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Formulation of Research Propositions 5 2. The Focus Group 6 3. Observations and Analysis 7 4. Interview Probe 8 4.1 Sample Population 13 4.2 Control of Variables Involved 13 4.3 Handling Ethical Issues 14 5. Case Study Presentation 14 6. Expectations 15 7. References 16 1. Formulation of Research Propositions Banks are of course are among the most important institutions in the human society today. Being the bonds that hold the finances of the people, they also stand as the epitome of the society's development when it comes to economic advancement. However, with the peak of the global financial crisis happening at present, it could not be denied that banks too have quite lost the attracting factor that they have on target clients years before the crisis began. With all these issues impending to affect the decisions of bank consumers, it could seen how the level of interest that the people have towards the intensity of their investments and how they are to manage their earnings that involves bank based investments have already decreased. Saving up money may be only a second priority to many as not so many have any spare budget to save in the bank anymore (WSB, 2009 , Internet) . Apparently, average families earn only as much as they could use for the day and have at least only 20% of their annual income actually dedicated to savings. (Rothbard, 1983, 45) Yes, although banks had been the worldwide economic backbone on the past, it could still not be denied that the entire procedure of taking into consideration the fact that this industry is already at its