Regulation Of Auditing Profession In UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Regulation Of Auditing Profession In UK - Essay Example He says that the need to furnish useful information to shareholders with due integrity nurtured the growth of auditing professionalism in the UK. Anderson et al. (1996) corroborate that in the United Kingdom, the professional accountants from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales generally performed the external audit of all the listed companies even before the legal requirement was actually imposed on companies to get their financial statements audited from qualified accountants. It therefore suggests the need and criticality of auditing profession in the UK corporate environment, where the shareholders are desperately relying on the profession to carry out a check on the utilisation of their investments. Auditing profession in Britain captures every sector of the society and dominates the regulation no matter how often this profession has been found to be involved in corporate scandals. Regardless to what happens to both the sides i.e., the shareholders and ma nagement, this profession remains to be the beneficiary class (Sampson, 2004). The level of professionalism demonstrated by the auditing firms enhances the importance of a keen eye that needs to be placed over the auditing profession in the form of regulations. Cousins et al. (2000) emphasise that the shareholders and investors coming from the general public in UK have been victims of corporate scandals owing to audit failures and the oversight of auditing firms. The auditors in UK are proficient enough in their profession to play around.... onal accountants from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales generally performed the external audit of all the listed companies even before the legal requirement was actually imposed on companies to get their financial statements audited from qualified accountants. It therefore suggests the need and criticality of auditing profession in the UK corporate environment, where the shareholders are desperately relying on the profession to carry out a check on the utilisation of their investments. Auditing profession in Britain captures every sector of the society and dominates the regulation no matter how often this profession has been found to be involved in corporate scandals. Regardless to what happens to both the sides i.e., the shareholders and management, this profession remains to be the beneficiary class (Sampson, 2004). The level of professionalism demonstrated by the auditing firms enhances the importance of a keen eye that needs to be placed over the auditing profession in the form of regulations. Cousins et al. (2000) emphasise that the shareholders and investors coming from the general public in UK have been victims of corporate scandals owing to audit failures and the oversight of auditing firms. The auditors in UK are proficient enough in their profession to play around with the standards set by the regulatory bodies. Hence, it is increasingly important to continuously revise the efficacy of standards in protecting the shareholders' interest. One of the major causes behind such exploitation of professional influence is to a great extent brought about by the concentration of 'auditing power' among a few firms in UK. Arnold and Sikka (2001) illuminate that UK accountancy profession is highly dominated by a handful number of firms

Classical and Human Relations Theories Essay Example for Free

Classical and Human Relations Theories Essay Critically evaluate the classical and human relations approaches of management theory. Your essay must clearly define the term ’’ management theory’’ and include industry examples to illustrate your answers. The purpose of this essay is to provide a critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the classical and human relations theories of management giving some industry examples which supports their applicability and importance or otherwise. â€Å"‘Critical evaluation is the skill of assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a piece of work, and of understanding the importance of its contribution to the subject’. Hulme, J.A. (2004). For the benefits of in-depth analysis we will look at the classical scientific of F. W. Taylor (and not the classical administrative approach of say Weber), identifying expert supported strengths and weaknesses of his approach. Equally, we will look at Herzberg’s human relations theory of motivation. Classical management was rooted on the belief that employees have only economical and physical needs, and that social needs and need for job-satisfaction either dont exist or are unimportant. Accordingly, this school advocates high specialization of labor, centralized decision making, and profit maximization. The humanistic (or human relations) school recognized people as a special sort of resource. They not only work for the organization – they are the organization. Mary Parker Follett succinctly defined management as the art of getting things done through people. Management theory can be defined as a body of general principles on how best to manage a business or organization to achieve its goals and how to motivate employees to achieve highest possible performance. F. W. Taylor (the father of scientific management) was the intellectual leader of the efficiency or classical movement. According to him the main object of management ‘should be to secure the maximum prosperity for the employer, coupled with the maximum prosperity of each employee’. For employers ‘maximum prosperity’ not only means large profits but overall development in the enterprise to a state of permanent prosperity. Taylor was, therefore, driven to ask why is there so much antagonism and inefficiency? He suggested three causes: (1) the fallacious belief by workers that massive increase in output will ultimately lead to their unemployment; (2) the defective systems of management which make it possible for workers to restrict output so as to protect their interests; (3) effort- wasting methods of work. The aim of scientific management to him was to overcome these obstacles by a systematic study of work to discover the most efficient methods of performing the job, and then a systematic study of management leading to the most efficient methods of controlling the workers. As Taylor puts it: ‘What the workmen want from their employers beyond anything else is high wages and what employers want from their workmen most of all is low labour cost of manufacture†¦.the existence or absence of these two elements forms the best index to either good or bad management.’ (Pugh Hickson, 1996) Taylor, therefore, propounded four principles of management: Development of a true science of work to replace the old rule-of thumb; those fulfilling optimum goals would earn higher wages; failure would result in loss of earnings. The Scientific selection and progressive development of the worker: Every worker can be trained to be ‘first- class’ at some task. The mental revolution in management: He argued that the major resistance to scientific management came from management as workers are all too keen to learn to do a good job for a high rate of pay. The constant and close cooperation of management and workers: Every job is divided into various tasks each of which is done by a specialist- this system he calls ‘functional management’. He also formulates the ‘exception principle’ where management reports only details deviation from the expected norm. In support of his approach, it has been argued that Taylor laid the foundation for the development of other management systems for decades to come. His thinking has been developed into what is now called Work Study or Industrial Engineering. Taylor’s focus is understandably narrow as he was writing from scratch. Few managements have been willing to put into practice one of his basic tenets that there should be no limit to earnings or bonus- most incentive schemes are restricted. This may inhibit the ‘mental revolution’ Taylor sought. The focus on division of labour leads to increased efficiency and productivity. This can be seen in many operations ranging from fast food to large industrial facilities e.g. MacDonald’s or the car industry. Ford is said to have adopted his approach in 1913. Taiichi Ono of Toyota, father of JIT acknowledges his debt to scientific management. The autocratic style of leadership also ensures a unity of command, clear lines of direction and control for a better focus on the job at hand. During his time, the work force was not highly educated or trained. For many, the opportunity to obtain a secure job and a level of wages to provide for their families was all they expected. Taylor, like the other classicists, have been criticised in that he heavily relied on experiences with large manufacturing companies enjoying stable environments. It may be unwise to generalize from those situations to others especially to young, high-technology firms of today that are confronted daily with changes in their competitors products. Taylor assumed that workers are only motivated by money and that productivity is the best measure of how well a firm is performing. These assumptions fail to recognize that employees may have needs unrelated to the workplace or may view their jobs only as a necessary evil. His approach tends to ignore informal relations as characterized by social interchange among workers, the emergence of group leaders apart from those specified by the formal organization, and so forth. When such things are not considered, it is likely that many important factors affecting satisfaction and performance, such as letting employees participate in decision making and task planning, will never be explored or tried. Taylor’s approach aim at achieving high productivity, at making behaviors predictable, and at achieving fairness among workers and between managers and workers; fails to recognize that several unintended consequences can occur in practice. A heavy emphasis on rules and regulations may cause people to obey rules blindly without remembering their original intent, defeating their objectives. The theory was dehumanising work processes – stripped jobs of skill and judgement, treating workers as machine parts. Organizations are influenced by external conditions that often fluctuate over time, yet his approach presents an image of an organization that is not affected by external influences. The Human Relations theories of Management The primary functions of any organization, whether religious, political or industrial, should be to implement the needs of man to enjoy a meaningful existence. Frederick Herzberg (Pugh Hickson, 1996) Frederick Herzberg (1923-2000), an American psychologist, conducted research on 200 engineers and accountants that led him to develop the two-factor theory of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Herzberg’s two-factor theory separated the elements of a job into those serving economic needs (‘hygiene’ and maintenance factors/Adam) and those meeting deeper aspirations (motivational factors/Abraham). He also relates job satisfaction and dissatisfaction to mental health. The motivators include responsibility, a sense of achievement, recognition, promotion and job attraction. These things are likely to motivate workers and are related directly to the job. The ‘hygiene’ factors include company policy and procedures, supervision, pay, work relationships and working conditions. These factors can only reduce job dissatisfaction and they are not directly linked to the job. Making sure these factors are acceptable to the labour force prevents dissatisfaction ra ther than causing positive motivation. The ‘Adam’ factor seeks the avoidance of dissatisfaction and the ‘Abraham’ factor is linked to job satisfaction. Their absence will not cause dissatisfaction but will reduce job satisfaction. Man has the above two sets of needs explained Herzberg in a later book (work and the nature of man); his needs as an animal to avoid pain and his needs as a human to grow psychologically. A lack in one cannot be compensated by fulfillment in the other. Herzberg therefore advocates for an industrial engineering approach which would design the ‘Abraham’ factor into jobs. This he called job enrichment to produce an effective utilization of people and to increase job satisfaction. When a worker does more hours at work to save money for a holiday it is a movement, not motivation. From this, Herzberg suggested that reward based systems including bonuses, could only provide movement rather than long term motivation. The main criticism of Herzberg’s research was the fact that the sample he used consisted of only two hundred accountants and engineers. It was also overly simplistic and blurs the distinction between satisfaction and motivation. Being pleased with doing a more challenging set of tasks does not necessarily mean it will increase motivation. It was also suggested that his research understated the role of groups and teams within the workplace. This is because groups and teams can generate a great deal of motivational influence. Even though Herzberg’s work has its criticisms, his ideas have been shown to be valid in practice. This is evident in businesses because a pay rise or change in working conditions is rarely enough to produce a labour force that is highly motivated. It has also been shown that if workers perceive a wage increase to be inadequate or working conditions are less than ideal it can have major consequences on the business and its operations. (The annual series of strikes by LU workers springs to mind). Conclusion As Oliver Wendel Holmes quoted, When we want to know what is going on today or want to make sure what will happen tomorrow, I will look back at the past. One theory will not fit all businesses at all times, naturally. But management theories are useful in that they formulate principles of best practise. Their relevance will depend on the socio-economic, cultural and political environments in which they are applied. ‘The gurus have all the answers, but all the answers are different. No one knows the problem’ . (Owen, Jo, Management stripped bare, 2012, 3rd ed.) References Hulme, J.A. (2004). Critical Evaluation: A Student Guide. Psychology Review, 10, 6-8. Pugh Hickson, (1996) Writers on Organizations, (5thed) George, Claude S.1968. The History of management thought (1sted). Englewood Cliffs: N.J. Prentice-hall Herzberg, F. (1959) Mausner, B; Snyderman, B. the motivation to work, NY Herzberg, F. (1966) Work and the nature of man, world publ. Herzberg, F. (1976) Managerial choice: To be efficient and to be human, Dow Jones, Irwin Owen, Jo, (2012) Management stripped bare, 3rd ed.

Free College Essays - The Character of Hester Prynne in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Character of Hester Prynne of The Scarlet Letter      Hester Prynne is a very well recognized character in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne.   She is a character about whom much has been written such as, Toward Hester Prynn, by David Reynolds, and The Scarlet A, Aboriginal and Awesome, by Kristin Herzog.   Reynold's essay dealt with Hester as a heroine, who is an artistic combination of disparate female types.   Herzog's essay dealt with the idea that Hester is both wild and passionate, as well as, caring, conservative, and alien.    Towards Hester Prynne, by David Reynolds, expressed Hester as a heroine composed of many different stereotypes of females from the time period Hawthorne was writing.   Hawthorne created some of the most skeptical and politically uncommitted characters in pre-civil war history.   Reynolds went on to say, His [Hawthorne's] career illustrates the success of an especially responsive author in gathering together disparate female types and recombining them artistically so that they become crucial elements of the rhetorical and artistic construct of his fiction (Reynolds 179). Hawthorne used ironies of fallen women and female criminals to achieve the perfect combination of different types of heroines. His heroines are equipped to expel wrongs against their sex bringing about an awareness of both the rights and wrongs of women.   Hester is a compound of many popular stereotypes rich in the thoughts of the time ...portrayed as a fallen woman whose honest sinfulness is found preferable to the future corruption of the reverend (Reynolds 183).   Hester was described by Reynolds as a feminist criminal bound in an iron link of mutual crime (Reynolds 183).   According to Reynolds, Hawthorne was trying to have his culture's darkest stereotypes absorbed into the character of Hester and rescue them from noisy politics by reinterpreting them in Puritan terms and fusing them with the moral exemplar.    Kristin Herzog had a somewhat different view of Hester in The Scarlet A, Aboriginal and Awesome.   She described Hester as both wild and passionate, and caring, conservative, and alien.   Herzog stated that The Scarlet Letter is a story set at the rough edge of civilization.   Hester is as much an outcast as any Quaker in the Puritan colony and she takes the colony's abuse laid upon her with a Quaker's dignity.   Herzog described Hester's Aboriginal characteristics as caring and conservative.   This aspect of Hester's femininity is not the only trait, however, which

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain :: essays research papers

It is my opinion that the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain should be taught in schools because this book is very well written and can teach many lessons. I think that the people in today's world, or maybe just the USA, try to be censor and shelter the children. I think that it is wrong to censor things, this book is supposedly wrong because it says the word nigger a lot and has death in it. I think that although the word nigger was used frequently in this book it showed the separation between the slaves and the owners and how Huck overcame this separation and saw through the societies views on niggers . Racism is now a very big issue but when the book was written African Americans didn't have the rights they have today and racism didn't exist. Twain wrote this book not having to worry about racism. In our day and time they want to censor out the words like nigger but that really would be wrong because it wouldn't be realistic, people need to know what it was truly like. Sheltering people from the truth Is the worst thing you can do. If kids don't learn about how slavery was then they won't truly understand where racism comes from. In the book there is much violence. "It's a dead man. Yes, indeedy naked, too. He's been shot in de back."(pg. 50) The book is better with violence because it becomes more interesting to the reader. It becomes more of a real life situation than just a fairy tale world where nothing goes wrong, because in real life things do go wrong and people do get shot and killed. It is hard to read these kinds of things with death that are gruesome but it helps form feelings for the characters. Also it was necessary for them to find the dead man so that Huck didn't have to worry about pap taking his money. In the scene where Jim finds pap we learn more about Jim and that he is a sensitive person and was cautious not to upset Huck by letting him see pap's body. Many people could have been offended by the stereotypes in this book. For example, "I see it warn't no use wasting words—you can't learn a nigger to argue."(pg. 78) In this example Huck stereotypes Jim as being a stupid nigger that can't learn anything.

Evaluation of Three Lesson Plan Templates for ELT

Teaching English as a Second Language (ELT) is a demanding job that is currently experiencing too few teachers to fill the jobs out there.   As more and more foreign students enter United States Schools, experienced teachers will be needed to fill these slots.   Thus, training ELT teachers is of the utmost concern for education departments in colleges and universities throughout the country.   Clearly, tools, strategies and support must be made available to these new teachers so that they can focus their time on teaching the students.   A good lesson plan template will go a long way in easing the burden on the ELT teacher. This essay will focus on the three lesson plan templates submitted for instructing ELT classes.   These templates will be analyzed and evaluated for the following components:   1) identification of lesson and objectives 2) strategies and methods, 3) equipment and materials needed, 4) use of technology, 5) reinforcement and enrichment, 6) structural format, 7) overall efficiency of use. These criteria are important in the development of a viable lesson plan and will aid new ELT teachers in preparing thorough and appropriate lessons.   After that, the lesson plans will be assessed based on their strengths and weaknesses followed by some overall suggestions for improvement for both the individual lesson plan templates and for all three templates together. General Description Visually this lesson plan provides a large writing space with topic indicators down the left hand margin, except for the date and time in the upper right hand corner.   This lesson identifies the basic class/date/time information.   Then it provides a spot for aims and new lexis.   It then provides a spot for needed equipment, materials and preparation before class begins.   Then the plan gives a two columned table for the method of the lesson and the time it will take.   Finally, the plan gives a spot for the homework and comments on the lesson. Strengths The strengths of this lesson include its inclusion of the new words to learn, which is important to the ELT classroom and the initial mention of the aims, which we can assume are the objectives.   The timing out of each part of the lesson on the table is also important.   One of the most valuable parts of the plan is its reflection section at the bottom.   Comments on the lesson are vital to reworking it for the next presentation. Weaknesses This lesson plan is spaced oddly.   It does not provide enough room for the method section.  Ã‚   Organization seems a bit off as well.   The equipment and materials separate the method of the lesson from its aims and new words of study.   It is hard to tell from the methods section what exactly will be happening; this leaves a lot for the teacher to write in on a daily basis. Suggestions for Improvement I would move the Methods section up under the Aims and New Lexis subheadings.   This way, the entire lesson is presented as a unit rather than broken up by the materials and equipment needed.  Ã‚   I would also consider moving the Before the Class heading to the top, so that it can be completed the day before.   After that, the lesson is still linear.   Also consider this – if the lesson always contains a section for, say, oral repetition of new words followed by visual images of the words, these two subheadings could be typed in to save time in writing out the lesson plan. General Description This lesson plan template uses six horizontal boxes. The first contains basic information like class, room number, date, time and length of lesson.   The second box is dedicated to the aims of the ELT process and includes four categories of these aims:   functional, structural, phonological and skills aims.   Then, the third box lists materials; the fourth box lists aids; and the fifth box provides for an evaluation of the procedure. Strengths The physical layout is very attractive and appropriate for showing clear divisions in the plan.   The separation of the lesson aims into categories is important and reminds the teacher that each lesson needs to meet each of these four components in order to make sure the ELT student fully grasps the concept being taught.   Again, a spot to evaluate the lesson, or components of it, is vital for future planning, and ample space is given for the teacher to do so in this particular lesson plan template. Weaknesses This lesson plan seems to misappropriate the use of space.   It seems that the largest amount of space should go to describing the lesson aims and method, but this does not happen here.   In fact, there is not place listed to describe the actual process and procedure of the lesson plan itself.   There is nothing to indicate what will be happening specifically during the class.   I am not sure how the word aids differs from materials, so this might be unnecessarily repetitive and take up space from other necessary information. Suggestions for Improvement This lesson plan must add a section for specifying each activity and the anticipated time for it.   Without that, there is no way to evaluate how well the lesson went and what changes might be made to it.   The first box is way too large.   That can be condensed by half. General Description The third lesson plan template takes the form of five vertical columns. Above the columns are spots for the general data of class, overall aim, date and time.   Beneath the columns are spaces to list homework and an evaluation of the lesson.   The six columns are labeled as follows:   Activity, Materials and Aids, Time Needed, Skills to be Practised, and Problems Anticipated. Strengths The vertical columns suggest a very linear organization.   Each activity listed in the first column can be tracked across each column, leaving no question as to the distinct identity of each separate activity.   This is the only lesson plan to do this.   Also, the spot to anticipate problems is also very insightful, as lessons rarely go as expected.   Once again, the teacher has a place to evaluate his or her lessons. Weaknesses Again, I think the order of the presentation is a little inefficient.   A reordering of the columns is suggested below.   Also, only one spot is given for an overall aim.   However, most lessons have additional, more specific goals and objectives as well. Suggestions for Improvement I would order the columns in the following way:   Time Needed, Activity, Skills, Materials, and Problems.   This seems to flow natural and will keep the teacher from backtracking.   I would also add a spot for more lesson-specific objectives in addition to the larger, overall aim. Overall Evaluation All of the lesson plans present are an excellent start in preparing a template to use in the ELT classroom.   However, a few additions might improve all of the lesson plans.   As a matter of housekeeping, it is a good idea to have a spot for students who are absent.   That way, make up materials can be collected and distributed very easily without the need to cross check the lesson plan with the attendance book. Next, I would suggest that a spot be added to each lesson plan for reinforcement and for enrichment.   It is entirely possible that some students will need additional work on the basic goals and aims while others master them quickly.   Thus, the reinforcement activities can re-teach the lesson to those slower to grasp it while the enrichment activities can give more challenging work to those that picked up the material faster than others.     Everyone will stay busy while the teacher focuses on those that are struggling. Most educators suggest reserving a spot at the beginning of the plan for review of previous material and again at the end of the plan to review the day’s lesson and preview the next day.   It is easy to forget these things; they can be very easily written into the plan.   One blaring omission in all three of the lesson plans was the omission of the use of technology. While this might be listed under materials, I believe that technology use, especially in the ELT classroom, is an integral part in lesson planning. Audio lessons, video lessons, even lessons on PowerPoint or computer programs used by the students are all significant strategies for students learning a second language.   It is a flaw to omit this design in the lesson plan as many teacher evaluation and certification instruments specifically seek them. Finally, it is always best to have as much space available as one can to write in.   I would suggest that the teachers widen the margins on the documents to that more information can be written in the spaces.  Ã‚     While the lesson plan is best kept to one page, the more writing that the teacher can neatly put on that one page, the better.   It is better to have too much information on the page than not enough. Organization is the key to success for all teachers, and especially the teachers of ELT.   Once the children enter the classroom, there is now time to try to make sense of a confusing or poorly written plan.   Not every plan will work for every teacher, so it may take some time to hit upon the very best template. The best advice is to have a space to write in things you do every day, such as review, homework, preview, reflection etc.   That way you will not forget to include that segment in your lesson.   It is important to keep track of time so that the class time will never be wasted.   Finally, the more specific the plan is, the easier it is to teach. Each of these three plans is certainly on track and with a few minor modifications, they will be ready to use in the classroom.                                                

Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain

â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tim O’Brien is a story based on the grunts of Vietnam. The fear, death, and dishonor experienced by soldiers in Vietnam. What about the heartbreaking struggles of gay generations past and present who have dealt with the war on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the threat of getting Human Immune Virus (HIV), and the â€Å"dishonor† of dying from an unknown disease? How many gay men and women have attended the funeral of a significant other or friend who has died of AIDS? Homosexual men and women have felt the threat of dishonor and judgments just like the soldiers of Vietnam. This paper compares the burden of the Vietnam soldier to those living and dying with AIDS. Gays have been in the military as far back as World War II, some may say as far back as the time of Julius Caesar (Goldwater). Tim O’Brien describes the pounds and ounces of the items that every soldier carried in combat as well as the personal weight of the items each man carried. Likewise, the gay soldier also carried the weight of the â€Å"P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gun, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches ,sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, two or three cans of water† and much more. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross was able to carry the 10 ounce love letters from his â€Å"friend† Martha. Could the gay soldier carry the weight of such precious cargo? No, the military may be screening for sex perverts, gay letters written in code, or fearing homosexual witch hunts conducted by superiors. â€Å"Humping† day in and day out through land mines just like every other â€Å"grunt or leg† in Vietnam. Soldiers; gay men and women not only went through the land mines of Vietnam, they have gone through the land mines of the 80’s, 90’s and today. Beginning in the 80’s with the advent of â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tel... Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tim O’Brien is a story based on the grunts of Vietnam. The fear, death, and dishonor experienced by soldiers in Vietnam. What about the heartbreaking struggles of gay generations past and present who have dealt with the war on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the threat of getting Human Immune Virus (HIV), and the â€Å"dishonor† of dying from an unknown disease? How many gay men and women have attended the funeral of a significant other or friend who has died of AIDS? Homosexual men and women have felt the threat of dishonor and judgments just like the soldiers of Vietnam. This paper compares the burden of the Vietnam soldier to those living and dying with AIDS. Gays have been in the military as far back as World War II, some may say as far back as the time of Julius Caesar (Goldwater). Tim O’Brien describes the pounds and ounces of the items that every soldier carried in combat as well as the personal weight of the items each man carried. Likewise, the gay soldier also carried the weight of the â€Å"P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gun, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches ,sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, two or three cans of water† and much more. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross was able to carry the 10 ounce love letters from his â€Å"friend† Martha. Could the gay soldier carry the weight of such precious cargo? No, the military may be screening for sex perverts, gay letters written in code, or fearing homosexual witch hunts conducted by superiors. â€Å"Humping† day in and day out through land mines just like every other â€Å"grunt or leg† in Vietnam. Soldiers; gay men and women not only went through the land mines of Vietnam, they have gone through the land mines of the 80’s, 90’s and today. Beginning in the 80’s with the advent of â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tel...

Digital divide Essay Example

Digital divide Essay Example Digital divide Paper Digital divide Paper Technology is becoming more and more important in all aspects of people lives nowadays, namely access to computers and internet. It Is believed that technology will guide businesses In the 21st century. However, It Is argued that It would be nonsense to strongly rely on computer when in fact, for the big portion of population, access to computer and internet is not a reality. The main purpose of this essay is to outline the advantage and disadvantages of improving the digital divide by firstly address all the factors or barriers that contribute to the digital divide issues. Next, It will come up with some alternative solutions of how digital divide can be overcome and lastly, this essay will outline all the advantages and disadvantages of bridging the digital divide. Interaction between human and the information technology is increasing greatly in the 21st century. The ability to access to information technology is significantly important for a person to actively take part in the economic, social aspect of the world. However, there are only 39% of world population have access to this technology (Refer to Appendix 1). The term Digital Divide has quickly become so popular that It has entered everyday speech as shorthand for any and every disparity within the online community. In this essay, the digital divide or digital split refers to the gap between the underprivileged members of the society, namely those who are poor; live in rural area or elderly, and those who are wealthy, and young people living in city and suburban areas who have the better condition to access to the computer and internet. (Norris P, 2001). There are many factors that contribute to the rate of digital divide. These are educations, income and race. It Is obviously that people who have higher level of education are more likely to use the computer and the internet. Based on statistic, it is notable that the higher the qualification of a person is, the more likely he or she use computer and internet (Refer to appendix B). The second factors affecting the digital divide are income. Not surprisingly, the amount of a persons income directly relates to the chance that he or she being able to use computer internet. That Is, those who earn over $75000 are 20 times more likely to have Internet access than those who earn a lower Income. Refer to appendix C). The last but not least factor Is race. The digital delve also varies along very specific racial line. Alternatively, white are the most likely race to use computer compare to Black and Hispanic. (Refer to appendix D). It is hard to imagine life without a computer, yet the majority of the population do not own one, that is 61% of the world population. Moreover, there are many barriers to internet and broadband adoption, such as lack of understanding. Many people with limited education have no knowledge about the benefit of Internet so they refuse to adopt one. The other barrier Is lack of necessary skills. There are people who might own computer and broadband but they have no idea how to effectively use them as they are unfamiliar with information technology or no confident to use them, they are mainly elderly people. In addition, affordability also amount to the barrier to computer and broadband adoption. The first two barriers can be easily addressed through government programmer or policies to Implement the necessary education about the usefulness of computer and 2014) It is extremely important to focus on bridging the digital divide. In our society, he distribution between the rich and the poor are already heavily unbalanced. It is believed that accessing to computer and the internet can even make the gap even more unbalanced. Why? This is due to the powerful advantages of those who have access to information technology. Those who are without access will be even poorer. Thus, there must be something being done in order to seal the digital divide gap. It is believed that it will not only be the cost of computer implementation but also the cost of literacy educated among those who are underprivileged. The digital divide is a tremendous and complicated issue. However, the obstacle is not insurmountable if it is put into specific tasks to be completed. Apart from the financial issues mentioned above, there are several strategies that could help minimize the digital divide issues. They are universal access, improving the current access by developing more community access centers, providing well trained technical staffs and change of society mindset toward technology. Firstly, universal access means that government should have some policy to support computer and Internet access for low income household. Also, the private sector should seek out to provide equal services and outwork to rural areas so that every person can Join. Secondly, it is a good idea to improve current access by developing more community access. Community access centers (Sacs) are a critical resource for those without access to computers and the Internet at school or work; those programs need to continue to receive funding in order to grow stronger. Thirdly, better trained technical staff should be provided. This is because technologies by themselves are not enough. Organization should seek out to train and develop more qualified, educated staffs. Those staffs need to be able to teach others as well. Lastly, society needs to change its attitude towards technology. At the moment, many people view computer and internet as unnecessary luxury rather than crucial necessities. This must be changed. They must be more open minded to recognize the power of information technologies and consider them as necessity for themselves and their childrens future. ( Digital Divide Issues) There are a lot of action should be taken in order to effectively bridging the digital divide issues. Yet, there are also many projects that are happening to take part in bridging the digital divide. The most successful project is One Laptop per Child (LOOP) (About One Laptop per Child, see appendix E) which is supported by the One Laptop per Child Association and the Cambridge based LOOP Foundation. This project basically gives children across the developing countries a good opportunity access to knowledge and opportunities to explore experiment and express themselves. With many strategies and technique that we aim to improve the digital divide, there are many controversies relating to the issue of bridging the digital divide. There are of course, many advantages regarding to improve the digital divide. The major arguments include improving economic equality, social mobility and democracy, and most importantly, contribute to economic growth. However, there are also some issues associates with bridging the divide. These problems can be summarized as costly, education expenses and arising concern of the negative effect to young children if we overcome the digital divide. Firstly, bridging the digital divide can improve economic equality. It is argued that a better access to the information and countries. A good example of this is telephone. Telephone is important for security and safety purpose. Safety and other emergencies such as in an event of accident might surely be handled well if the person has access to telephone. Besides, it is seemed to be that most of vital information for peoples career, insurances or safety is now provided through the internet. Even social welfare services are now usually processed electronically. Thus, less digital divide amount to better economic equality. ( Digital Divide Issues) Secondly, bridging the digital divide issue can contribute to better social mobility. Information technologies, namely computer and internet contribute greatly to people learning and career. Thus, the government need to emphasize on how to basically use computer and internet. Without those offers, the existing digital divide will not bring a fair condition to the children in the lower socioeconomic status. If developing countries were being exposed to computer literacy, it will lead them to development of their countries, working more efficiently and become more aware of the society. Thirdly, democracy is another advantage when relating to bridge the digital divide issues. It is no doubt that the increase in usage of internet may well lead to a more democratic society due to an increase in public participation and decision making processes. If underrepresented people are unable to participate in such forums, the digital divide will reinforce a socio- economic and socio-political divide. Those factors lead to the lesson that improving the digital divide will have great advantages for the current digital disadvantaged, as well as for the society in general. (Digital Divide Issues) Finally, the last and most important advantage of bridging the digital divide is it indeed contributes to economic growth. Bridging the digital divide will definitely be a faster way to economic growth for some less developed countries. Information technology usually tends to have a relationship with productivity empowerment. The effective use of CIT should give business of certain country a comparative advantage. Furthermore, if the digital divide was successfully closed, this would be an advantage when referring to more economic opportunity as more and more careers require a good use of computer skill. The smaller the digital divide is, the more economical opportunity a certain country may have. ( Digital Divide Issues) On the other hand, some problem eight arise from bridging the digital divide. As mentioned above, the main problem is the cost of bridging digital divide. There is no doubt that digital divide are seen as instrumental in meeting other human needs such as needs for food, needs for a Job, business needs, medical needs, needs for useful information and so on. A closer look will recognize that TIC are rarely goods in themselves but rather instrument in pursuit of other goals. People are living healthily, happily for millions years without CIT and they still do. CIT should be regard as an instrument in meeting other human, social, economic or political purposes. Thus, it is argued that resources available for CIT should be wisely spent on something that fulfill human basics needs such as building schools, hospital or to train more better teachers rather than supply a limited number of rural school with computer and internet connection. (Kingston K, Kumar D,2003) Moreover, the idea of bridging the digital divide might be seen as useless where organizations donate technology for underrepresented population but do not provide them with some specific guidance of how do they actually use those as shown a few problems of this project. One, this project seeks to impose technology with little appreciation of local needs or conditions. That is, those area where the laptop is donated do not yet need laptop, they need some other basic supplement such as food and education rather than technology. Secondly, this project only concerns with the provision of the hardware and software of the computers, but no inclusion of training material and supports. People in rural area might receive a handful of technology but they have no idea of how to use them. Leaning M, 2010) In addition, bridging the digital divide could lead to a negative impact on young children if care were not taken properly. Children are often regarded as digital naive. Wrong use of technology could lead to a significant change in behavior of children at early age. Thus it might not be a positive thing to let children exposed to technology at the early age. In summaries, the digital divide is a tremendous issue that should be look out for. Technology is vital to people lives nowadays, without technology, people will fall behind as we are now in the Information Age. Those who have technology will continue to develop and grow where those who do not have will keep on falling behind. Shortening the digital gap is essential. Everybody should be given an opportunity to access to and experiment information technology no matter where they live or how much they earn. Many actions have been taken so far and they are getting closer to seal the digital divide. There are some negative outcomes of bridging the digital divide beside the many positives. However as the benefits outweigh the issues; bridging the digital divide is highly desirable.

Housing Associations In Delivering Housing And Regeneration Social Work Essay Essays

Housing Associations In Delivering Housing And Regeneration Social Work Essay Essays Housing Associations In Delivering Housing And Regeneration Social Work Essay Essay Housing Associations In Delivering Housing And Regeneration Social Work Essay Essay Housing associations play an built-in function within the modern-day lodging market with many being taking providers of low-cost rented and joint ownership places besides being major subscribers in renewing deprived countries. Most of the work carried out by lodging associations is in partnership with other bureaus presenting a complex scope of critical public assistance services linked to authorities schemes aimed at bettering the quality of life of many vulnerable people. The essay in the first subdivision will specify lodging associations and sketch their function within lodging proviso and country regeneration. The 2nd subdivision will supply illustrations of regeneration activities drawn from two lodging associations, foremost being Amicus Horizon who are based in Surrey so Clapham Park Homes ( CPH ) who are affiliates of Metropolitan Housing Partnership ( MHP ) A ; Clapham Park Project a New Deal for Communities programme ( NDC ) . The essay will reason by sketching techniques each administration employ to incorporate Housing Plus into their patterns supported by a treatment on the challenges the latter face within their function as they extend their remit toward run intoing the diverse and of all time altering demands of vulnerable communities. ( Header: 1999:25 ) defines Housing associations as being charitable not-for-profit administrations that build, renovate, refurbish and manage or maintain belongingss. 1988 signalled a displacement in the function of lodging associations from being complimentary to chief lodging suppliers following the function antecedently controlled by local governments ; ( Cope 2002:11 ) suggests this interchange was due in portion to lodging associations expertise in meeting specific demands of specialized groups. During the 20 first century community sustainability became topmost on local authorization dockets ensuing in lodging associations working jointly with local governments and a assortment of regeneration bureaus that ascribed to a holistic attack towards cut downing societal exclusion. The function lodging associations play can be put into four classs which comprise accepting nominations of possible renters through either local governments, self-referrals or through a command system introduced in 2009 known as Choice-based leases. They besides provide low-cost lasting and impermanent rented adjustment to low income households and work jointly with other bureaus to assist occupants keep their occupancies. Their other activities involve them back uping independent life through Anterooms or inns designed to bridge the spread between, for illustration, a renter go forthing local authorization attention in chase of support to keep their independency and or their reintegration into society. Finally, they assist first clip purchasers with the purchase of belongingss through Home Buy enabling persons to portion ain and portion rent their places. The Home Buy strategy introduced in 1998, once known as Shared ownership, offers first clip purchasers the chance to buy belongings incrementally instead than purchasing the whole portion of a belongings outright. The benefit of this strategy is that persons can get down ownership of their belongings by buying every bit small as 25 per centum portions whilst go oning to lease the staying 75 per centum portion ; farther portions of the belongings can be purchased utilizing a method known as Stair-casing whenever their fiscal state of affairs improves. Consequently, the more portions renters purchase utilizing this method reduces the ratio of rental they pay whilst mortgage payments increase until the buyer secures entire ownership of the belongings. Housing associations modus operandi activities are funded via rental income and service charge payments made by those populating in their belongingss ; all excesss are reinvested into the concern to fund things such as fixs, care or to run into developmental costs. The balance of their support since 2008, has been provided by the individual lodging and regeneration organic structure for England, viz. The Homes and Communities Agency ; once the Housing Cooperation. Housing associations can besides borrow capital from Bankss for the exclusive intent of puting in belongingss to convey them up to the Decent Homes Standards 2010 to guarantee that their belongingss meet rigorous authorities criterions associating to construction, safety and insularity. This policy has been important in conveying about major betterments to many bedraggled countries such as was antecedently the instance with Clapham Park estate ; the underpinning rule is that every individual irrespective of background, is entitled to populate in a nice place at a monetary value they can afford www.dclg.gov.uk Housing associations have a duty to both their occupants and others they are contractually obligated to are required to be registered with the Tenants Services Association ( TSA ) , once the Housing Corporation, who regulate and monitor their activities to guarantee that their occupant s positions and sentiments help to inform their overarching policies, actions and processs. All lodging associations registered with the, , must show suited degrees of attesting there are accountable to both occupants and funding organic structures hence guarantee their processs substantiate attachment to this status is overt they are contractually obligated to. It every bit of import that lodging associations This and transparent in their operations and must instate processs that show they comply with their regulative codification which stipulate transparent and accountable ; it is besides, who regulate and monitor their activities to guarantee that they maintain transparence and answerability in conformity with. are required to show appropriate degrees of answerability to their occupants A ; others they are contractually obligated to and guarantee that their activities policies and processs reflect resident positions and sentiments. Basically through the proviso of capacity edifice and information that will assist renters to act upon how their places and environments are managed. www.tenantservicesauthority.org, The other regulative organic structure is the Audit Commission who ensures that lodging associations manage public financess expeditiously and are accountable to the populace and authorities. The Commission ensures that publicity of good pattern and high criterions are utilised when lodging associations are working with vulnerable groups www.auditcommission.gov.uk. Clapham Park s history. This peculiar estate was ill-famed for its highly high degrees of societal jobs, neglect and gross disrepair. However, following New Labours 1997 election win, the estate was awarded ?56 million from the DCLG ( Department of Communities and Local Government ) to transform the country over a 10 twelvemonth period as portion of New Deal for Communities ( NDC ) . These three old ages of community audience between the occupants and Lambeth Council followed, climaxing in 59.3 % of renters and 62.8 % of lessees electing Metropolitan Housing Partnership ( MHP ) to pull off their places following the stock the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer ( LSVT ) of the in 2006. A trade name new, occupant led lodging association, viz. Clapham Park Homes was created in 2005 to transport out much needed redevelopment work. The Clapham Park Project ( NDC ) worked with occupants to develop the Master program which defined schemes to convey the 2010 Decent Homes policy onto the estate in coaction with assorted bureaus from across the populace, private and voluntary sectors. The program besides community investing enterprises designed to assist communities improve their independent life accomplishments, generate employment chances and offer lodging related support to vulnerable occupants which harmonizing to hypertext transfer protocol: //www.renewal.net can assist to cut down jobs that can take to or exacerbate homelessness or institutionalisation. Participative democracy presented a first clip chance for occupants to play an active function in act uponing local authorities determinations, which harmonizing to ( Hawtin 1998 ) , is nucleus to successful regeneration as local input secures local support and therefore provides indispensable information that ensures that all members of the community are represented ( Hawtin et al 1998:45 ) . The Joseph Rowntree Foundation confirms this impression when they say that ; There will be no sustainable alteration unless communities themselves are given the power and duty to take action www.jrf.org.uk. Housing associations function in country regeneration As elective leaders of the CPP ( Clapham Park Project ) , MHP are responsibility edge to foremost, work under the way of the Clapham Park Board which consists of spouses from across the sectors. Second, they are to presume overall duty in sourcing appropriate stuffs, set uping communicating and information sharing systems, monitoring, measuring methods and the supervising of all elements of the undertaking. Third, to guarantee that the program works in conformity with specified demands agreed at the beginning ( Reiss 2001:38 ) . This undermentioned subdivision will look at the types of undertakings that have been set up by MHP and CPH to turn to societal exclusion and will look at the advancement made by Metropolitan since the stock transference. MHP function Efficaciously, the Master Plan comprises five key subjects which are headed by front line directors who regularly feed back advancement to the CPH proctor and rating squads and CPP spouses. All undertakings work in conformity with the Housing Plus agenda covering Business, Employment and Training ( BET ) , Health and Social Care, Community Safety, Neighbourhood Management and Education and Youth. Let us hold a brief overview of each constituent. BET This strategy works in partnership with Job Centre Plus and offers an employment and preparation service covering client attention and IT and free commissioned concern preparation classs. Its overall purpose is to increase the employability chances of local people. Health and Social Care Caters for the wellness demands of occupants through partnering with Lambeth PCT ( Primary Care Trust ) and offers a series of wellness direction programmes for people enduring with long term wellness conditions. They besides joined the Alcohol Project and offer advice on nutrition. Community Safety PCSO ( Police Community Support officers ) work in partnership with the Metropolitan Police and police the country as a agency of cut downing offense and ASB ( Anti Sociable Behaviour ) . Neighbourhood Management This strategy involves working with Lambeth environmental Services to better the physical environment of the country through advancing recycling and energy efficiency in understanding with Agenda 21. Education and Young person A programme that works jointly with local schools and young person nines and runs a series of gardening undertakings, and place work nines to assist raise the educational accomplishment of local kids. There is besides the In-volve programme, which helps to turn to communicating issues between immature people and their parents. This will be expanded upon on page seven. All of these programmes clearly demonstrate MHP efforts to associate with community investing and follow the demands of the Hosing Corporation and the Audit Commission in assisting to convey about sustainable alteration to Clapham Park. The inquiry that begs to be asked is, what has been achieved since MHP has lead the undertaking? Let us look at a few facts and figures. Since the stock transference, 90 per centum of occupants have reported satisfaction with CPH ( Clapham Park Homes ) service bringing. Two thousand eight hundred and 79 people have been helped to obtain places through Home Buy, ( MHP one-year study 2005-6: 7 ) . Crime has fallen by 18 per centum amongst young persons aged between 10s and 25 old ages old, ( Henry 2006:1 ) . Two hundred leaseholder occupants claim to bask better entree to services, ( Burke 2007:15 ) . Those are some of the success narratives of regeneration activity, but what about the challenges that lie within the field of lodging and country regenera tion? Challenges A recent Guardian newspaper article based on The Hills study makes for upseting reading. The study reminds us that despite all the attempts and accomplishments of lodging associations to renew countries, there still remain exceptionally high grades of homelessness and Hill blames certain factors for this crisis. Hill foremost claims that the bulk of societal lodging renters are in reception of benefits ; which he asserts is making concentrations of hapless people in peculiar countries. These groups are therefore prone to workless cape and ASB. Additionally, those same groups will neer be able to afford to buy their belongingss due to their deficiency of fundss. He makes three recommendations to undertake this job. First, that all lodging associations build and maintain belongingss that are of a high criterion, secondly, lodging associations should back up assorted income communities to assist interrupt up concentrations of hapless countries and eventually, recommends a call for major reform of societal security benefits through the beefing up of the welfare-to-work enterprise. ( Sampson 2007:6 ) . So now one can see that lodging associations are no longer merely lodging suppliers but as discussed earlier, are cardinal agents, used to convey about vicinity reclamation through strategic and co-ordinated joint-working. In other words, their remit extends beyond mere bricks and howitzer to encompass a more nurturing function. Amicus Horizon lodging association is an umbrella administration for a figure of RSL ( Registered Social landlords ) with whom they provide and manage places and services. Amicus aims to construct balanced and stable communities and make a safe and enterprising community, free from offense and a topographic point where people want to populate www.amicus-group.co.uk. They run a series of programmes under the streamer of Peoples For Action ( PFA ) which in likeness to MHP and CPH, nexus in with authorities enterprises that help advance commu nity wellbeing. The undermentioned subdivision will look at this in more item. The drawn-out function of lodging associations The ( People For Action ) PFA programme is headed by the PFA squad who deliver broad runing community based undertakings that consist of Regeneration Partnership A ; Consultancy. This undertaking supports local people with concern start up and entrepreneurship through partnering with local concerns. Neighbourhood Management A ; Regeneration, which focus upon bettering the external environment and green infinites, and eventually, the Community Investment Programme which perform finance direction programmes learning basic budgeting and lodging direction accomplishments. They besides provide a recycling furniture service for occupants who can non afford to buy furniture from high street retail merchants. The WIA ( Women In Action ) employment programme Teachs personal development and assurance edifice. This programme is specifically tailored to develop adult females who wish to work in male dominated industries such as edifice and building, but face exclusion and gender favoritism. Am icus are invariably seeking ways to develop and guarantee that they deliver best value to run into the demands of occupants and communitieswww.amicushorizon.org.uk ; besides in conformity with subdivision 13 of the Local Government Act 2000. Amicus Horizons efforts at regeneration seem to be successful, as their public presentation indexs suggest that they surpass their ain set marks for illustration ; they set a mark to back up 40 occupants to put up their ain concern but really helped forty four people into self employment. ( Amicus Horizon Annual 2005-6 ) . CPH ( Clapham Park Homes ) and MHP ( Metropolitan Housing Partnership ) are hammering frontward in their most recent In-volve undertaking which serves to assist parents pass on with their kids and therefore purpose to make better understanding within the place and better household relationships. Attached to this programme is a household residential weekend which teaches dialogue accomplishments and lessons on ethical motives and moralss. This programme is a new enterprise thought up by MHP in response to the increasing Numberss of ASB incidents that presently dominate the front pages of British newspapers. As society alterations, so do peoples demands and demands. More places are headed by individual parents and individual people ; society is easy accepting same sex relationships and co-habitation, people are populating longer, immigrants are traveling into vicinities and act uponing the traditional civilization of their countries, the list is by no agencies exhaustive. What is imp erative nevertheless is that lodging and services strive to run into the demands of this of all time altering society. So therefore, one can see that the of all time widening function of lodging associations is necessary in order to assist construct strong communities. Decision. Both MHP and Amicus Horizon study grades of positive alterations to the estates and vicinities upon which they have worked, through integrating Housing Plus and Decent Homes into their service bringing. They besides strive to widen their services beyond the function of lodging supplier. These claims may take one to oppugn the extent to which lodging associations should be more than merely lodging suppliers? But holding read the contents of this essay, one will see that there is strong grounds to propose that there is an absolute necessity for lodging associations to supply more than merely places. They must hence, provide the necessary support and accomplishments for renters to keep their places and independency. Equally, one must be aware of the challenges of unrelenting poorness that is so profoundly rooted within society, which unhappily is a lasting and unchangeable status. However, to counter-balance that fact, one can besides see that by supplying a more nurturing attack to their work patterns, lodging associations are possible innovators in taking the manner for making a more stable society as they continually strive to battle societal exclusion.

Company Analysis Paper (Starwoods Hotel and Resort) Research

Company Analysis (Starwoods Hotel and Resort) - Research Paper Example As such, the company plays a major role in world economy especially in America. The company embraces diversity in the provision of services where operates under nine different brands. The renowned brands that comprise this company include Westin, Le Meridien, St. Regis, Four Points, AloftSM Sheraton, ElementSM, and The Luxury Collection (Hospitality Net Web). Starwood capital is the mother company to Starwood Hotels and Resorts initially known as Starwood Lodging. Moreover, the company owns Starwood Vacation Ownership that offers high quality vacation services. The company’s mission seeks to offer high quality, affordable, and consistent products and services to its customers around the world. More so, their services seek to satisfy the needs of its customers. . The company equally has a mandate of adhering to the environment policy, respects the privacy of the customers and their personal information. The aspect of diversity applies in the operations of the company and forms the foundation to the success of the company. The company holds frequent company meetings where all the stakeholders attend. Most assuredly, the company boasts of a well-abled board and large group of volunteers that work together to guarantee the going concern of the concern. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is a company where everybody should invest. ... Internal Revenue Service gave an after-tax refund of $107 million that enabled the company to regain financial stability and record quarterly earnings of $339 million, or $1.78 a share in the year 2011 (Berzon Web). As a result, there was a 7.5% increase in total revenue amounting to $1.34 billion. At the same time, these results remained consistent even in this year where Starwood shares gained about 14 percent in value in the third quarter as lately seen in the New York Stock Exchange. Indeed, the share value of the company raised from 51 cents a share to 52 cents a share. This manifests an accelerating recovery for the company after the global recession. Indeed, in the year 2011, the demand for hotels surpassed the supply subject to many travelling businesspersons. Notably, last year the company reduced the price of the hotels due to the economic downturn that had lowered the demand. Nevertheless, now that the demand for the hotel rooms is rising tremendously, the company plans to increase the price and thus its high turnover. Indeed, it targets to record a 7% to 9% increase in total revenue per room this year. However, these statistics fall below the gains made before 2009. Actually, the company revenue declined with 20.7% because of the recession in 2009 (Berzon Web). Most significantly, the company has a better marketing strategy where it collaborates with credit companies like American Express to suit the financial needs of its customers. In addition, the company partners with 32 affiliated airlines all over the world to enable its customers redeem their points for flights. This creates a great competitive advantage over its rivals. The company has a corporate governance structure that seeks to maintain the highest standards of business conduct and corporate

Cognitive Dissonance Impacts Repurchase Intention Research Paper

Cognitive Dissonance Impacts Repurchase Intention - Research Paper Example The moments immediately after purchase, trigger a series of thoughts in the minds of customers. The consequence of losing other substitute choices and impact of gaining alternate choices together can produce mental irregularity, thus, compelling the customer to reconsider the insight of the purchase decision (Kassarjian & Cohen, 1965). Statement of the Problem Cognitive dissonance occurs when a purchaser becomes dissonant about his/her purchase decision. The research seeks to investigate the problem of cognitive dissonance to understand what aspects lead to dissatisfaction after a purchase decision. A dissonant consumer can return a product or discontinue use of a particular service. The concept of cognitive dissonance is much important for organizations because it can significantly impact on the customers’ post purchasing behavior (Hamza & Zakkaria, 2012). The major problem studied in this research is to understand the consequence of cognitive dissonance on the repurchase int ention of customers. The research findings in this paper will help businesses to understand better how to retain a customer by reducing the dissonance. The purpose of this research is to examine how cognitive dissonance among consumers can lead to a decrease in customer repurchase. Significance of the Problem The significance of this problem is prevalent in customer retention. Drege (1991) depicted that most companies have a customer acquisition strategy, but few companies have a customer retention strategy. Once companies acquire customers they do not develop a plan to keep them for long-run. Many times, it can be observed especially in retail segment that customer returns or exchanges product because of dissatisfaction. Thus, businesses suffer because the relationship they have with the consumer is not managed well. Businesses also face impact heavily from a lost sale, which results in acquiring a returned product that has lost its value. If there is a way to reduce the dissonance that a consumer feels after purchase behavior, it could lead to positive impacts for the consumer and businesses. The problem of dissonance also represents other significant issue concerning consumers that often experience of dissatisfaction, and failure to complaints result in silent departure of customers from using the company’s services. According to Chebat, Davidow, & Codjovi (2005), a silent loss can create negative impacts on companies such as losing a customer, along with their lifetime flow of revenue. The other negative impact silent losses have on companies is the inability to address the problem at hand. Dissatisfied customers who never protest are subject to multiple losses due to similar reasons. Companies cannot fix problems they do not know to exist. When companies fail to adhere to dissonant customers, they run the risk of harmful word-of-mouth reviews. There are only few investigative researches undertaken about the impact of cognitive dissonance and repurc hase intention of customers. Therefore, there is a requirement for increased number of experimental research where relationship between these two variables can be analyzed. This research can further be studied by analyzing respondents about the reason for remaining in good relationship with an organization for a longer period of time. Literature Review According to the observation of Leon, cognitive dissonance is related with the relationships about understandings of people.

The Russo-Japanese War. Japans Coming of Age Essay

The Russo-Japanese War. Japans Coming of Age - Essay Example attle hours before the formal declaration of war was delivered; Japan developed a tactic that was to become her hall mark years later (the "sneak attack.")4 Technically not a violation, because of the ultimatum, Japan mastered this diplomatic concealment tactic along with the same concealment tactic on the battlefield. The Battle of Mukden, in Manchuria saw the first uses of suppressive fire to help a "pincer" flanking movement encircle an enemy. A highly successful military tactic that has been widely used in numerous battles from WWII, to Generals Gaip's surrounding of the French at Dien Binh Phu, Vietnam. Even modern day generals, like American General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, used this tactic in Desert Storm I - "Hail Mary."5 The significance of these tactics are important only became they directly influenced the eventual outcome of the war. Of course the butchery associated with the battles and the willingness of the Japanese soldier to sacrifice his life in battle, has also led to scars on the Japanese people that will long stand in the minds of historians. The actual outcome of the war was not as significant as the perception the world had on that outcome. The statistics (Imperial Russia, Strength 500,000, Casualties 25,331 Killed 146,032 Wounded; Empire of Japan, Strength 400,000, Casualties 47,387 Killed 173,425 Wounded6) are skewed by the summary affects the perception had on Russia and Japan. From a statistical point, all must conclude that Japan lost and Russia won this war. Japan had 87% more fatalities than Russia and 29% more total casualties. From a body count Japan should surely have been considered the looser; however, that count alone does not signify the outcome. Most major battles were won by the Japanese (even though they may have had... Both powers, Russia and Japan, desired to increase their â€Å"sphere of influence† within the Asian continent, mainly at the expense of China. Japan had been forced to open its doors to Western influence by America in 1854 and the 250-year rule of the Shoguns was brought to a close by Emperor Mutsuhito (Meiji - enlightened rule - 1868-1912.) Feudal systems were abolished and western attitudes on trade were introduced and embraced. Japan desired to become a global leader like the European nations of that time. Russia, on the other hand, believed they had the strongest military in the world. It was recognized by other European nations that Russia was an established world power, with all the rights and privileges that afforded. Appearing as a world power, Russia had internal turmoil that was secretly plotting the loss to Japan in Asia that was to follow. The loss of the Russian Fleet and territories was not received well in Russia. With the loss of Russian prestige in the war th e esteem of the monarchy was also lost. The country’s coffers were drained by the cost of the expensive Trans Siberian Railroad project ending with this costly war. Japan on the other hand was seen as a victor. The nation was upset with many of the terms of the Treaty of Portsmouth but the world saw the Japanese as a growing power. More importantly the Asian countries noticed that another Asian country could defeat a large European nation. For Japan the territorial land grab was just starting. Each of Japan’s subsequent action fortified her belief in Japanese superiority and Asian Influence Rights led by Japan. This belief would culminate with the creation of the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere and ultimately be challenged 36 years later.

Corporate Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Culture - Essay Example Corporate culture also assesses on how to study the employee relations within the organization. This involves studying their attitudes, their interpersonal relationships, job satisfaction, and their overall commitment (Anthony, 1994, 23). Therefore, corporate culture mainly asserts the behaviour of employees and their commitment to the success of the organization. According to Willmott, the major concern of corporate culture should be winning the hearts and minds of the employees. This involves defining what they feel, what they think and how they end up acting in the organization. Willmott also asserts that the management should not only concentrate on the behaviour of the employees. Instead, it should also focus on changing their thoughts and feelings towards the organization (Willmott, 1993, 517). This can be argued form the point of view that; people are able to fake their behaviour, but they cannot fake their thoughts or their feelings. An organization should be concerned about the feelings of the employees because; employees are a major valuable asset to the organization. It is the employees who define the direction of the employees and thus, their actions are extremely crucial to the organization as a whole. Changing the thinking of the employees implies that they will have the organization at the back of their minds whenever they do anything. On the other hand, conforming of employees’ feelings implies that; the employees will always have the organization at their best interests (Clegg, Kornberger, Pitsis, 2008, 13). This is a case whereby; the employees cannot do or behave in a way that can cause harm to the organization. This also involves protecting the image of the organization as if it were their own. This implies that; once the organization has changed the minds and hearts of the employees, the employees will have all their eyes and ears open on behalf of the whole organization. Therefore, at no one point will the employees act without havi ng positive interests on the organization. However, the management is advised to implement change in the minds and hearts of the employees in such a way that the employees will also benefit from the change (Keller, 2008, 1). Willmott asserts that corporate culture requires employees to devote themselves to the organization and to its values and beliefs. Therefore, by encouraging employees to be devoted to the organization, the employees are consequently required to recognize and be concerned about the security of their employment in relation to their contribution to the organization. Corporate culture seeks to immerse the employees to the organization and thus, requires their full commitment to the operation of the organization (Willmott, 1993, 522). Willmott also provides that organizations will benefit more when they focus on changing the minds and the hearts of their employees. This implies that the management should focus on influencing the way employees think and feel about the organization. Different organizations apply different strategies of changing the thoughts and acts of the employees. However, still they all manage to achieve the goal of changing the minds and hearts of their employees. One key strategy that can help the management of an organization to change the thinking of employees is setting of the right example (Aiken, Galper, Keller, 2011, 51). This is usually the first step of achieving a different behaviour with employees. This is because; the employees will not change unless they first observe it from the leaders themselves. Therefore, the management should first lead by example. This way, it will be able to encourage employees to change too.

Paediatric Burns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Paediatric Burns - Essay Example In present times, even 90% burns patients are being saved while 25 years ago, even 50% burns was considered fatal. Research has evolved the best treatment approaches for burns including resuscitation with fluids, cleaning the wounds, replacement of damaged tissue with skin, control of infection and dietary supports. Incidence Among the leading causes, burns in children (below 9 years are identified as the third one among injury-related deaths (Green, 2010). Burns in children are usually caused at home (Anjali et al, 2009). Scald burns have the commonest incidence in children, 80%. They occur mostly over the upper trunk and upper arms (Anjali et al, 2009). Hot bath water caused 50 % of the scalds. In most cases, the burns could have been prevented. A lapse in parental supervision and curiosity of a child are the two reasons quoted for the tragic incidents. Occasionally the child may not be able to get away from the burning substance Child abuse is another sad cause (Green, 2010). Chil dren who are burnt have a tendency to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (Anjali et al, 2009). ... The coagulation zone lies in the center of the burn and has necrotic tissue. The ischemic zone indicates microvascular injury causing oxygen-deprived tissues and surrounds the coagulation zone. The outermost hyperemic zone shows vasodilatation as an acute inflammatory response to the injury near it (Green, 2010). Primary Survey The first few steps of nursing care help to stabilize the patient for further treatment. Assessment of the airway is especially important in children and the cervical spine is to be protected while doing so. If the child is not responding or if one feels that the airway is compromised, an endotracheal tube is better used as the airway is much smaller in children (Green, 2010). Evaluation of the respiratory status is the next step. The child’s chest must be exposed and the rate, extent, and quality of the respiratory movements assessed. The movements of the chest wall must be watched. The breath sounds must be auscultated bilaterally (Green, 2010). Child ren with burns on the chest will definitely have a compromised respiration. Oxygen must be given through a non-breathing mask to ensure 100% saturation (Green, 2010). A pulse oximeter would indicate the percentage of oxygen saturation. Inhalation is diagnosed by the singed hair on the eyebrows or nose. The pulse quality, rate and rhythm need to be assessed for a picture of the circulation status. When the patient is stable, the neurologic status may be assessed. Level of consciousness may be examined using the AVPU protocol by noting the response to verbal stimuli or pain. If neurologic status is compromised, hypoxaemia, carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke inhalation, drug abuse or an earlier medical problem must be suspected (Green 2010). The clothes of

Corporate Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Culture - Essay Example Corporate culture also assesses on how to study the employee relations within the organization. This involves studying their attitudes, their interpersonal relationships, job satisfaction, and their overall commitment (Anthony, 1994, 23). Therefore, corporate culture mainly asserts the behaviour of employees and their commitment to the success of the organization. According to Willmott, the major concern of corporate culture should be winning the hearts and minds of the employees. This involves defining what they feel, what they think and how they end up acting in the organization. Willmott also asserts that the management should not only concentrate on the behaviour of the employees. Instead, it should also focus on changing their thoughts and feelings towards the organization (Willmott, 1993, 517). This can be argued form the point of view that; people are able to fake their behaviour, but they cannot fake their thoughts or their feelings. An organization should be concerned about the feelings of the employees because; employees are a major valuable asset to the organization. It is the employees who define the direction of the employees and thus, their actions are extremely crucial to the organization as a whole. Changing the thinking of the employees implies that they will have the organization at the back of their minds whenever they do anything. On the other hand, conforming of employees’ feelings implies that; the employees will always have the organization at their best interests (Clegg, Kornberger, Pitsis, 2008, 13). This is a case whereby; the employees cannot do or behave in a way that can cause harm to the organization. This also involves protecting the image of the organization as if it were their own. This implies that; once the organization has changed the minds and hearts of the employees, the employees will have all their eyes and ears open on behalf of the whole organization. Therefore, at no one point will the employees act without havi ng positive interests on the organization. However, the management is advised to implement change in the minds and hearts of the employees in such a way that the employees will also benefit from the change (Keller, 2008, 1). Willmott asserts that corporate culture requires employees to devote themselves to the organization and to its values and beliefs. Therefore, by encouraging employees to be devoted to the organization, the employees are consequently required to recognize and be concerned about the security of their employment in relation to their contribution to the organization. Corporate culture seeks to immerse the employees to the organization and thus, requires their full commitment to the operation of the organization (Willmott, 1993, 522). Willmott also provides that organizations will benefit more when they focus on changing the minds and the hearts of their employees. This implies that the management should focus on influencing the way employees think and feel about the organization. Different organizations apply different strategies of changing the thoughts and acts of the employees. However, still they all manage to achieve the goal of changing the minds and hearts of their employees. One key strategy that can help the management of an organization to change the thinking of employees is setting of the right example (Aiken, Galper, Keller, 2011, 51). This is usually the first step of achieving a different behaviour with employees. This is because; the employees will not change unless they first observe it from the leaders themselves. Therefore, the management should first lead by example. This way, it will be able to encourage employees to change too.

Differential-Amp Circuits Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Differential-Amp Circuits - Lab Report Example From figure 2, the input signal was equal to the output signal (unity amplification), and in the same phase (the non-inverting amplifier); both the upper and lower Op Amps were buffer circuits. The value of output was 19.9V because the Op Amp was not ideal. V1a = V1d = 0.2V; V1b= 0V; V3a = 1.16V; V3b = -0.96V; V3d = 2.12V; Afd = 10.6; Afd % Error = 4.4%; R4 = 0.97kâ„ ¦; R5 = 0.97kâ„ ¦; Average of R5 and R4= 0.97kâ„ ¦; R6 = 9.80kâ„ ¦; R7 = 9.84kâ„ ¦; Average of R7 and R6 = 9.82kâ„ ¦ For better suppression or reduction of common mode gain, there was a potentiometer connected to the LM1458C op amps. The potentiometer maintained output voltage at OV when differential input voltage is not applied. The nulling potentiometer improved common-mode gain of small input voltage by availing even smaller input voltages, V1a=0.2V was suppressed to V3a=1.16V as seen in figure 3. A bridge was made for the generation of two different voltages. There was a difference in between measured and calculated voltages due to tolerance or level of uncertainty. The differential gain was obtained through the connection of bridge to respective inputs of the amplifier. The output voltages at the connected bridge were nearly similar to the unconnected bridge; this is because they are connected to the Op Amp inputs that have input resistance of not less than several hundred kâ„ ¦ (LM1458C has 2Mâ„ ¦); V1a was equal to V1b with voltage of 0.197V which corresponded to output 21.3V. The measured differential gain was 107.878. There was minimal signal picked as observed from the oscilloscope, this was due to drifting and DC offset. This problem was caused by low-frequency DC signal; since DC is zero frequency. We could have constructed a high pass filter with very low cutoff frequency so that the Electro Cardiogram’s signal not to degrade. So both large capacitor of more than 1Â µF and large resistor of more than 1Mâ„ ¦ should have been put in place. The instrumentation

The main one being superstition Essay Example for Free

The main one being superstition Essay How has Willy Russel portrayed Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons in Blood Brothers? How does he shape the audience response to the two women? I think the author has portrayed Mrs. J as a loving, caring person. She always involves her family when she thinks of life and just thinks of the simple things as luxury, this shows she is quite poor, she doesnt seem to have many things and she just wishes she could make her children happy. Shes always trying to support them and give them everything they want, for example in the catalogue she has tried to keep all the things she picked out from it but she doesnt have the money, it shows shes very soft towards her and her childrens needs, she just wants to get them everything they want but cant afford it, I love the bones of every one of them this shows she loves everything about them, every part of them. She seems to always buy things from the catalogue and always getting the consequences in return, this shows she never learns her lesson. Only mine until the time comes around to pay the bill. Then, Im afraid, what cant be paid must be returned. You never, ever learn, that nothings yours, on easy terms. This proves the point, the idea of having everything for her children is so tempting she just keeps on trying to pay, as though she has some hope that one day when it comes around, she will have the money to pay it. Easy terms is used by the narrator, easy terms means that you pay for something over time but the narrator is using easy terms for Mrs. Johnstone as there will be a price to pay, in the end you will have consequences to your actions, in this case she will pay for giving her child away. The writer uses these lyrics so that they can connect or relate to the audience because everyone has to pay for something in their life, it may not be something you want to do but in the end you have to, its showing that Mrs. Johnstone will always have to pay for what she has done. In the easy terms piece I think you could create a tear-rending scene by having Mrs. Johnstone in a apron or a maids dress to show she is very busy and she works a lot even though its probably not a well paid job. You could have her level with the babies to show the connection she has with them, she doesnt want to scare or intimidate them, she wants to mother them and putting her in this position will show what feelings she feels towards them. Then, Im afraid, this shows she is dreading the idea of what is going to happen. She should have a dreading, saddening face on and look as though she is about to burst into tears. I think the lighting should position a spot light on the babies and Mrs. Johnstone, concentrating on them and showing what is important. The volume of the music should move up and down to show her bursts of emotion but the sadness is shown with the quietness now and then. She is also thinking of her child when she swears on a bible; so that he gets all the things hes ever wanted or needed. We have seen Mrs. J as a kind, giving person and we give the response of sympathy. She has no money, no food, no normal, simple necessities, she just wants to have a care-free life and shes showing she is prepared to work hard for it. I think the author has portrayed Mrs. J as a pushy, selfish person. At the beginning we thought of her with sympathy, her husbands away, she has a big house with no family to fill it with and cannot have the joy of children. You start to see her side on how she has never had a child and craves one so badly that she even dreams of a child she never once had but then, the table turns and we she her bad side. We see her desperate side as she says that you have to swear on a bible, then we see that she is very pushy and selfish, when she says to Mrs.J that she wants the baby right now, this could mean that she doesnt want her to get attached to the baby, making it even more hers. Suddenly we see her pushy side when the baby is in the cot, Mrs. Lyons makes it clear that the baby is hers and that she is the mother from now on. Its even worse when we see she is firing her from her job, breaking a promise and even threatening her when she says she is going to tell someone, turning the blame to Mrs. J. We then see that Mrs. Lyons has a very dark side to her as she uses superstition against Mrs.J, knowing that, that is her weakness. In a way I can see her point of view, this is her chance to take what shes always wanted, to make her life perfect and she is never going to let it slip away since its so close to reach for. The response he is trying to get from the audience is a hated view, that she is a very terrible person and that she is doing all she can to get what she wants regardless of other peoples feelings. The play is about a number of things. The main one being superstition. Mrs. J starts the superstition in the play by telling Mrs.L to take the new shoes off the table because it is bad luck.

Managing Marketing Activities At Sainsburys

Managing Marketing Activities At Sainsburys J Sainsbury plc was founded in 1869 and at present day it operates a total of 890 stores comprising 547 supermarkets and 343 convenience stores all over UK. It jointly owns Sainsburys Bank with Lloyds Banking Group and has two property joint ventures with Land Securities Group PLC and The British Land Company PLC. The Sainsburys brand is built upon a heritage of providing customers with healthy, safe, fresh and tasty food. Quality and fair prices go hand-in-hand with a responsible approach to business. Sainsburys stores have a particular emphasis on fresh foods and it continuously strives to innovate and improve products in line according to customer needs. It serves over 19 million customers a week and has a market share of over 16 per cent. Sainsburys large store offers about 30,000 products and complementary non-food products services. TRENDS AND ISSUES: Competition Market. Rising Unemployment. Addition of internet preference and new stores required. Changing consumers awareness Decent awareness of products (Mintel 2008) (Euro monitors 2007) PEST ANALYSIS: Political: Corporation tax is essential for every business. In the UK, VAT increased up to 2.5% and for that reason customers or consumers have to pay more to purchase VAT related product. Sainsburys hundreds of products currently on promotion instore and online will also be exempt from any price increases as a result of the 2.5% VAT increase. (Sainbury 2010) So Sainsburys have to pay a large amount of corporation tax every financial year. From the corporation tax government can earn a lump sum amount. (ProQuest 2009) Economical: The rapidly increasing global food crisis have lead to increased food prices all over the world impacting greatly on the margins of the organizations leading to increased cost to consumers. Due to recession, the condition of super market industry is very bad and Sainsburys are no exception from that. Furthermore, the rising fuel costs have created more negative implications right throughout the supply chain of Sainsburys. Social: Due to Globalization every organization is trying to reduce the use of non recyclable items. Sainsburys are planning to plant more than 2 million trees within the next five years. At present UK Government is also putting more emphasis to consume organic food. This plantation strategy might help to increase the number of organic products in a yearly basis. (J-Sainsbury 2010) Technological: The Internet accounts for 8% of global advertising spend and is growing rapidly one of the greatest downsides of supermarket shopping are the queuing system. Self checkout machines, employed by Asda and Tesco, are proving positive results especially for customers who have to queue up for very few items. Furthermore, self checkout machines could help in Sainsburys opening stores for 24 hours which might help boost sales. Porters 5 Forces analysis: Competitive rivalry: Sainsburys has a market share of 14.9% in 2007, which is steadily increasing since its restructuring programme that started in 2004 (Annual Report 2007). This is a positive trend but it lags well behind the market leader Tesco, showing that there is considerable distance to cover. Tesco, Asda, and Morrisons are the three big supermarket chains in the UK retail sector. All of them have a different competitive advantage over their competitors. Sainsburys reach in the convenience stores makes it have a larger customer reach. Threat of entry: Barriers to entry are extremely high in the food retail market due variety of factors. Firstly, organized retail is amongst the most sophisticated sectors within the UK and needs a lot of investment, along with significant brand development, which takes years to establish (Doyle 2002). Secondly, retail is also at an advanced stage within the UK and most of the western world, which means there is less scope for new entrants to establish themselves. Local knowledge is extremely crucial within the food retail sector, something that is difficult for foreign firms to replicate. This is corroborated by the presence of few global supermarkets in UK. Threats of substitute Products: The retail market is always trying to converge and assimilate new innovations with respect to food products or alternative businesses, to make shopping an extremely pleasurable experience. This makes them extremely difficult to substitute The only major threat of substitute is an internal industry threat whereby one supermarket can lap up the business of other supermarkets. (Blythe 2006) . (ProQuest 2010) Power of Supplier: Supplier power is usually more complicated as it is difficult to categorise it. It can be argued that if supermarkets do not sell their products consumers will shift loyalties, making suppliers very powerful. However, if the products of big companies do not reach supermarkets, their sales volumes will be affected hugely. The relationship might change depending on the situation of the big branded supplier, for example, when sales of Cadburys dairy milk increased through the successful Gorilla ad campaign (Wiggins and Urry 2007) (Kotler 2006) Buyer Power: Buyer power is high in this industry simply due to the presence of so many competitors selling the same products. It is only differentiated in price and consumer loyalty and increasingly on green credentials. Moreover, the switching costs are low for consumers. As the economy goes further towards recession consumers needs are likely to be given more weight, increasing their power considerably. (Blythe 2006) (ODoherty 2008) Weaknesses Sales decreasing in the UK No good invention Strengths Great Quality Value Service Choice Sainsburys SWOT Analysis Threats Carryingcost is increasing Increasing basic rate of wages in UK Competitors are capturing their market Global recession Opportunities Competitive price strategy Opportunity of online shopping Growing up potential market (Sainsbury 2010) (Cobra 2010) Market Segmentation: One core aspect of Sainsburys activities is its focus on customer/market segmentation. Sainsburys divide their customer base into 10 separate segments. Customer intelligence is gathered through analysis of Nectar Card (formerly Reward Card) purchases. The things that made Sainsburys one of Britains best retailers, great food at fair prices and wonderful services, are as important to customers today as they ever were. Sainsburys have a great network of stores in excellent locations, and even through the recent troubles Sainsburys customer numbers were constant at about 14 million a week. (J-Sainsbury 2010) Marketing Objective: The business of Sainsbury is now focused very much on their Supermarkets and Bank following the sale and development during the year. The three key priorities such as decrease environmental impact of products reduce CO2 and misuse was developed in1988. These are based on environmental impact and considered the most important for the business. (Mintel 2007) To manage the significant environmental outcome which they have direct control and try to find to influence their suppliers and customers who can reduce the impact of their organization has on the environment. (ProQuest 2010) Marketing Strategy: Marketing strategy allows an organization to concentrate its limited resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage According to Kotler (2005), Marketing strategy is the marketing logic by which the business unit hopes to achieve its marketing objective. It shows how strategies for target markets and positioning build upon the firms differential advantages.Marketing strategy of Sainsburys is planned to acquire people from treadmill and into more adventurous eating. Below the band line Try Something New Today is launched in 2005. (Data Monitor 2009) Corporate Objective: Great food at fair prices Accelerating the growth of complementary non-food ranges and services Reaching more customers through additional channels Growing supermarket space Active property management Evolution of Marketing Mix: According to Kotler (2005)Marketing is the social process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others. Marketing mix is a shape of permutation which makes marketing. These components are advertising, quality, promotion offer, coverage etc. It is really important to analysis the target market. According to McCarthy (1960), these merged tools are classified as product, price, promotion and place which is well-known as 4Ps. To make the marketing mix, business has to gather the subsequent condition: The product has to have the correct component for example, it has to look high-quality quality and work well. The Price must be acceptable. Customers want to purchase numbers of product to make a healthy profit. The products have to be in the correct place and correct time. They are wanted is an essential operation to make sure that products arrive when and where. The target group needs to be prepared aware of the existence and availability of the product through promotion. Successful promotions assist a firm to increase  costs  over a better  output. Product: According to Kotler (2005), Product means the totally of goods and service that the company offers the target market. Core Product: According to Kotlar (2006), the most basic level is the core product, which address the question of what is the customer really buying? Core products or flagship products are a companys products which are most directly related to their core competencies. These products are then integrated into a variety of end products, either by the company holding the core product or by a second company to which the core product is sold to, and the end products are sold to users. Sainsburys provides lots of consumer product but Grocery, Fresh food and Fresh Vegetable are core products of Sainsburys because customers really like to buy these products. Actual product: Actual product has many attribute but five characteristics are the main characteristics, which are quality of the product, feature of the product, style of the product, packing and brand name of the item. Product variety: Sainsburys have lots of different products. Products are groceries, food and drink, kitchen appliances, electronic appliances, toys and games for the kids, sport and leisure appliances. (Sainsbury 2010) Quality: Sainsbury has different types of food range like Sainsburys kids; Sainsburys taste the different, Sainsburys basic, Sainsburys organic etc. Sainsbury has re-launched their be good to yourself range in January 2010 with over 60 new lines in the range. (Euro Monitor 2010) Design/Styling: Sainsburys offers different types of testy and healthy food and different types of new latest design for their customers such as kitchen accessories, electronic appliances, toys and games. Brand Features: Sainsbury also offers a range of well-known products and their own brand. Augmented Product: This product based on around the core products and actual products. Augmented product always provides supplementary consumer benefits and services. When any new product comes in the market then customers always like to watch that what the main benefit to satisfy their needs is. Advantages of Customer service: Sainsburys consists of additional service that support the customers need including assistance and offering training through the online or telephone. (Mintel 2009) Warranties Returns: Sainsbury gives the warranties and returns. It is depend upon the products that how many days customers will get warranties. Price: Competitive Pricing: At this time all supermarkets are in the competition. Sainsbury always offer to customers for their great products at fair price. Sainsbury has different types of food ranges. Sainsburys basics products, offer a variety of over 700 low price food and grocery items from different shapes and size. Sainsburys basic are still Sainsburys quality and value. Sainsbury offer 75 products for the Kids. Sainsburys Kids food range takes low price for the kids which are fresh and healthy for the kids. (Sainsburys 2010) Place: Place includes the company activities that make the product available to target consumers. (Kotlar 2005). The place of marketing mix is very essential to explain how and where product is being sold. Customers always try to find a place, where they can go easily to purchase their goods. Main Mission Outlet: Sainsburys has different types of store format for their customers. Sainsburys have 275 stores which are organized as a Main Mission outlets. This means they concentrate on providing for the weekly family shop. Main plus Outlet: Sainsburys 64 stores are in the Main plus outlets. These main plus are the especially big super markets and Main plus also known as a hypermarkets. They occupy in excess of 45000 square feet area and focus on a wider range of food products as well as more non-food items. Mixed Mission Outlet: Without the other stores Sainsburys have 124 stores which are known as a Mixed Mission outlets. (ProQuest) Home delivery service: Online home delivery is the great service and facility of Sainsburys. In the busy world, customers are unable to give time to go to the shops. So customers like to purchase through online. Online home delivery gives lots of facility, such as customer can chose different types of product and can purchase through debit and credit cards. Promotion: Sainsburys is promoting their stores in different way to make popularity for their customer. Sales Promotion: Sales promotion includes a wide variety of promotion tools designed to stimulate earlier or stronger market response (Kotlar 2005). The sales promotion can be direct as Push Strategy and Pull Strategy. Push strategy encouraging the channel to stock the product. Through the marketing channel, pull strategy encouraging getting consumer to pull the product from manufacturer. Sainsburys is making popularity through the sales promotion. Sainsburys schoolbags promotion is an example of a promotion that achieved business objective along with the environmental and social ones. (Mintel 2008) Advertising: Advertising is one of the promotion tools of marketing mix. In the marketing, the role of media or advertisement is very significant and its can create a demand for a product.Sainsbury has launched a new advertising promotion for summer 2010. The campaign featuring celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, plans to help Brits make their summer holidays taste grate and to get them excited about garden parties and barbecues and lush summer evenings. (Mintel 2010) Sainsburys use seamlessly integrated online and offline communication to promote Sainsburys To You home delivery services. A consistent communication was used to encourage reliable offer of  £5 off the customers first time online purchase through offline and online advertisement. (Kotlar 2005) Brand Awareness: The most important super market chain Sainsburys brand is shaped to provide testy, fresh and safe foods for their customer. ProQuest 2010) Nectar at Sainsbury: Sainsbury offers double Nectar point for their customer. For this nectar card, customer can get discount. If customer spend  £1 instore, can earn 2 Nectar point each purchase and 1 Nectar point for 1 liter of fuel purchase from Sainsburys fuel station. (Sainsburys 2010) Summer Special: Sainsburys always try to give offer promotion for their customer. They give some promotional offer to attract the customers for any special occasion such as summer special. (Sainsbury 2010) Instore Hot Offer: Every week Sainsburys provide plenty of great offers in-store across a wide range of products from fresh food to household essentials. Sainsburys Active Kids: Sainsbury launched Active kids to decrease levels of obesity in children and young adults through the exercise. Parents have to collect the voucher of Active kids from Sainsburys in-store which gives more confidence to children and parents to be more active and eat healthy. Online/website Bargains: Facility of online purchase is very popular to all customers. Generally they like to buy products from home. Sainsburys has facility of online shopping. So customer can select any item with price, features, availability and date of delivery. (Sainsbury 2010) Changes in Marketing Mix: When any company or organizations face lots of problem to increase their sales and profit, then they need to watch on their marketing mix and also they need to look their current problem along with sales and profit to improve their share market. Sainsburys also having some problem in their marketing mix. They have to give an effort to overcome the problem with applying new rules and strategy. According to marketing mix of Sainsbury, they have to change some rule by applying some new strategies. Such as: Focus on retail market in UK: Sainsbury can give the focus on their own product in the UK retail market for their customer, to give guarantee, value, quality and service. Sainsbury wants to restructure the relation with their core customer. Need more plan for food: Sainsburys is trying to take back their missing confident of customers query about excellent and reliable price tag. If Sainsbury will generate an innovative price strategy which is supplementary whet then Sainsbury will get more confidence to satisfy their customers. Stores restructure Programme: Sainsburys can focus on core grocery market but also in the growing non food sector. Sainsbury needs to up to date their old store and renewals through the latest system. This store up to date program will assist to save cost and also time. They have to change the total decoration of their old store to put successful element and stock Need more new store: Sainsburys aim is to increase its total sales area to around 2 million square meters, divide between grocery and non food ranges (including superstores, supermarket and hypermarkets) and 100 convenience stores. Sainsburys also takes some decision to build more stores out of its heartland in the South of England and areas where it is under represented such as Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Sainsburys decides to extend an additional 75 stores and refurbish 190 outlets. (ProQuest 2010) More close to customers: Sainsburys need to more close to customer through operating 24 hours open store. Also Sainsburys is controlling few 24 hours shop but to come closer to their customers, they have to extend their time, such as 24 hours shops. Price Cutting: Price cutting is the diminution of retail prices to a level low enough to get rid of competition. If Sainsburys wants more customers, so Sainsbury has to cut their cost evaluating with the other companies. CONCLUSION: Sainsbury is one of the biggest supermarket in UK for sure but according to recent financial crisis in all over world snatched its brand positioning while Tesco, ASDA, Waitrose are also down grading their sales performance in this recent years. Certain things like employment, tax rates, VAT, corporation taxes take major part to analyze the financial analysis of the company. But Sainsburys market condition is Good. While we looked in the marketing mix, Sainsburys have great potentiality to capture the wide market if they will change their some strategy. RECOMMENDATION: