Brand Community

During the last fifteen years, there are many popular subjects: relationship marketing and brand building,etc.These hot subjects encourage interaction and speed up the incubation of new sources of disciplinary growth: Brand Relationship(the relationship between consumer and brand).In Brand Relationship theory sysytem,more scholars focus on the relationship between consumer and brand, but Muniz and O’Guinn(2001) did more research on the relationship among consumers, and put forward a new brand concept – Brand Community. This concept comes from â€Å"consumption community†,which was first proposed by historian Daniel Boorstin(1974), ‘in the modern era of high mobility, people look not only to communality of consumption behavior but also to neighborhood as a basis for feelings of community.’ The same as consumption community, brand community is also initiative and drive of individuals’ co –operating at the beginning, after that, enterprise start to take advantage of the power of brand community to build brand loyalty and brand equity, therefore, brand community is becoming a new weapon of marketing. In this essay, I make literature review surveys on scholarly articles, books relevant to brand community, providing a description, summary and critical evaluation of brand community. Firstly, discuss the origin and definition of brand community. Secondly, summary the research status and the dynamic natures of brand community which are different from consumption community, briefly introduce three main features of brand community. Thirdly, illustrate evolution of brand community model. Fourthly, case study, use case of Starbucks to explain the implications of brand community. Finally, conclusion and the prospect of research. 1 Demarcation of Brand community 1.1 Origin of Brand community During the last few years, there is a trend that academic research on consumption activities moved away from considerations of individual to a focus on communal. The word ‘community’ was used frequently. ‘consumption community’ (Boorstin, 1973). ‘Subcultures of consumption’ (schouten and McAlexander, 1995). ‘Band community’ (Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001; McAlexander et al., 2002).These communities are referred to as ‘social collectives’ (Greenwood, 1994). ‘Life-mode communities’ (Firat and Dholakia, 1998) and‘neo-tribes’ (Cova, 1997). Brands provide the linking value to some individuals who wants to become member of these communities. These communities seize the idea that people have relations with other people and such relationships are constructed around a fulcrum acted by brands. Harley Owners group(HOG)is a good example of the brand providing such linking value(Fournier et al.,2001).There are more and more descriptive studies detailing the features of such communities: Star Wars fans (Brown et al.,2003); Sun’s Java Center community (Williams and Cothrel,2000) and Nutella(Cova and Pace, 2005). In a word, communities are expected to provide benefits for the organisation: they affect brand equity and create a stable base of loyal, enthusiastic consumers (Muà ±iz and O’Guinn, 2001; McAlexander et al., 2001). Actually, it is not easy for a brand to establish a community. Brand-centred communities may typify themselves to open up a utopian place in the contemporary world.Kozinets (2001) noted that ‘impossibility and dreamness together with deep motivational power and desire’ While utopianism enables customers to engage with reality rather than merely escape into fantasy (Geoghegan, 1987).Which means transform and subvert are the two abilities of utopian (Maclaran and Brown, 2001).Members and the relations among them compose a community. McAlexander and Koeing (2002) identify communities on the basis of identification among community members(a neighborhood, a leisure pursuit, an occupation and devotion to a brand).Brand community is a new type of community, different from traditional community, can form a strong image, a lengthy history around brands.Actually,it is a community established with brand-centric 1.2 Definition of Brand community Because brand community is a new concept, there is nounified definition in academia, but we can define it from two parts: narrow and broad meanings. Narrow meaning is represented by Muniz and O’Guinn. Based on the research on some brands, such as Ford Bronco, etc.Muniz and 0’Guinn (2001) noted a brand community is a no-geographically bound and specialized community based on a structured set of social relationships among admirers of a brand. It highlight the point connection of brand community is brand not region, and brand community has three essential markers (Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001). Bagozzi (2006) noted that brand community is consumption community with common enthusiasm for a certain brand or certain good social cognition (environmental protection), the members realize collective objective or express the common emotional and commitment through common action. Substantiallyï ¼Å'this is as the same as Muniz and O’Guinn’s definitionï ¼Å'they both emphasize the expressions of emotion and action from a certain brand McAlexander (2002) expended this conceptï ¼Å'the broad meaning of brand community is a connection network with focal customer as centre, besides brand relationship, there are many other relationships. This concept emphasizes the Consumers’ all-round experience of brand. Upshaw and Taylor (2001) made a broad explanation to this conceptï ¼Å'they documented that all the stakeholders who have relationship with the brand (including employee〠customer〠stockholder〠supplier and strategic partnered) compose brand community. 2 Basic theory and concept 2.1 Research Status Brand community is becoming an increasing popular topic in brand management research; however, the short-lived time leads to its present research is preliminary, and mainly focused on the concept, features, origin, impact and modes, etc. For example,Muniz and O’Guinn(2001)claimed that brand community has three essential features of community: consciousness of kind, rituals and traditions and moral responsibility. Schau and Muniz (2002)reported the value of brand community image is important to consumers identify centified;Schmitt , Rogers and Vrotsos (2003)described the performance of brand community in Jeep,BMW and many other vehicle brands;Hoeffler and Keller (2002)noted the improving consciousness of brand community is in favor of enhancing brand equity based on consumers; McAlexander , Kim and Roberts (2003)researched the relationship between brand community and consumers satisfaction, consumers loyalty, and claimed that consumers loyalty is not only affected by customer satisfaction, but also by brand community. Belk and Tumbat noted that it is not easy for a brand to establish a community.(Schouten and McAlexander, 1995; Kozinets,2001;Muniz and Schau,2005).There are many scholars focusing on virtual community, documented the classify of community and marketing strategy (McWilliams , 2000 ; Monica , 2000 ; Wind , Mahajan and Gunther ,2003). All above research enrich the brand community theory, but there is a serious problem: research only stays on statical concept ,feature and primary implication phase.Muniz and O’Guinn said the future of research is to know how brand community change in different social situation. 2.2 Dynamic Natures Consumption community and brand community are different on several dimensions:firstly,Muniz and O’Guinn(2001)noted that brand community is non-geographically bounded, they may be either scattered(Boorstin,1974),or geographically concentrated (Holt,1995).Geographical concentration is the dimension of social context. To be more exact, interactions within a brand community may be rich in social context. Communication may be predominantly face to face,nediated by electronic devices(Boorstin,1974).Members may have a number of information about each other(gender,age and background).There is little understanding of movement along this dimension. The temporal stability of a community can be asset to marketers in as much as legerity equates with a long-term, stable valuable market communities can share useful consumption experiences. (Arnould and Price, 1993). 2.3 Three main features 2.3.1 Consciousness of kind This feature includes two sides: legitimacy and oppositional brand loyalty.Muniz and O’Guinn noted that members feel an significant connection to the brand and toward each other, even they are strangers, members feel they know each other, â€Å"the link is more important than the thing †(Cova,1997,p307).They also can distinguish who is the real member by judging whether he is familiar with and in favor of the brand, not just because of chasing fashion to use product of the brand.Sometimes,brand community members build community to share common experience and brand connotation to fight with other brands. That means community will become more solidarity when facing with threats (Muà ±iz and O’Guinn, 2001). 2.3.2 Shared rituals and traditions The main point of this feature is shared consumption experience. It consists of celebrating the history of the brand and sharing brand stories. The transmission of brand community is life-affirming to establish its culture. At the same time, brand history is brand community’s cultural equity. Sharing brand stories playing a significant role in brand building and maintaining. It strengthens consciousness of kind among brand members and contributes to imagined community. It also reinforces members ‘identity to the brand and help members learn more about communities’ value. Ads play a significant role in brand community rituals and traditions. Members are concerned with ads as they display the brand to those outside of the community, and themselves (Muà ±iz and O’Guinn, 2001). 2.3.3 Moral Responsibility Its definition is â€Å"a sense of duty to the community as a whole and to individual members of the community† (Muà ±iz and O’Guinn, 2001).There are at least two traditional communal missions: the first one is integrating and retaining members, there is the presence of a social moral consciousness in traditional communities, they recognize the bounds of what is appropriate and inappropriate, right and wrong. Another is assisting in the use of the brand. Assistance is to help community members, both known and unknown, repair the product or solve problems. Assisting is one of the places in which computer-mediated communication offers a great deal of information (Muà ±iz and O’Guinn, 2001).According to the primary nature of the relationship, the assistance offered between individuals sharing a communal bond is specialized (Wellman, 1990; Wellman and Wortley, 1990) 3 Evolution of Brand Community model 3.1 Traditional Brand community Model Boorstin emphasized the relationship between product (brand) and customer in consumption community model (figure 1).Customers look brand as the promise enterprise made for the products function value and image. Enhancing brand means the contract between enterprise and customer. To satisfy different needs from different target market, different brands need different brand positioning, even the same brand, with the changing of customers’ need, also need change brand positioning. Therefore, Boorstin took the perspective that consumption community is customer-centric, the development of brand should stick to customers’ need as the guide. 3.2. Triangle Brand community model Muniz and O’Guinn ,who are the initiator of the theory of brand community, enrich the relationship model of â€Å"customer-brand†, emphasized brand as intermediary (figure 2).With the development of social economy, customers are not confined to need for product (material level), they are not only concentrating on the function value of products own, more concentrating on consuming the product can give them symbolic significance and emotion interests. The similar experience and shared emotion among community members give them more emotion value than product function value. Brand community Triad Model break through the single dimensionality in traditional â€Å"customer-brand†, concentrate on the relationship among â€Å"customer-customer†. Weakness is that the brand will be influenced not only by customers belong to itself, but also by customers belong to other brands. For example,Many customers will interview the website and forum before purchasing products, they can find information about many other brand customers. 3.3. Brand stakeholder relations model Upshaw and Taylor came up with a new Masterbrand Community model based on Brand community Triad Model. Their opinion is all the stakeholders with brand should include employee,customer,stockholder,supplier and strategic partnered.compose brand community(figure 3).A good brand image is the base of community, while these stakeholders play an significant role in maintaining brand image and reputation, only be kind to these stakeholders ,can brand have attraction. It is the motivation of brand community. This model organizes many factors which can influence brand to build and maintain the harmonious relationship between them. Although this model emphasizes that many kinds of stakeholders are important to brand building, it involves too many complicated relationships which is not easy for analysis and research. Besides, this model strengthens brand’s core position, neglect customers playing an important role in brand building. 3.4. Focal customer model Based on Muniz and O’Guinn’s brand community theory (2001), McAlexanderï ¼Å'Schouten and Koening (2002) put forward Focal Customer Model. This model emphasizes brand, product, customer and marketer are important factors to compose brand community, and bring four relationships into brand community: customer and enterprise, customer and product, customer and brand, customer and customer. This model’s feature is highlighting the focal customer playing linking role in brand community. Besides Muniz’s â€Å"relationship among customers†, they added product, brand and marketer. Although this structure is more comprehensive, it has drifted â€Å"brand community† raised by Muniz, which studied the relationship among customers. McAlexander’s opinion actually is another closely related topic-brand relationship. A research specialist in brand relationship field, Fourier (2001), expended the relationship between brand and customer to four relations as McAlexander’s model. Based on new product diffusion theory, focal customer is playing an opinion leader during product diffusion process, they are the base of enterprise. So, when enterprices want to attract new customers, also should pay more attention to focal customers’ satisfaction and loyalty. 3.5 conclusions The premise of research on brand community is better understanding of brand community models. From the focus of the study,Muniz’s and McAleXander’s models focus on customer, while Upshaw’s model focus on brand, the difference is that former model studied the role customer playing in brand building, the later studied all the factors can influence brand. From the range of the study, Upshaw’s mode is very comprehensive, but too complex; it is difficult to consider all types of relations in one study at the same time. That is the reason why it is seldom used.Muniz’s and McAlexander’s models are more useful, but from the logicality of study, their models did not distinguish the importance of all types of relations, that is to say, they did not tell us which relation playing an important role in brand community. 4 Case study: The success and failure of Starbucks Founded in 1971, Starbucks has the fastest growth rate of any company in the history of retailing. (George and Pierce, 2007)Starbucks sells mainly coffee, and even were it the best coffee in the world it would still only be coffee. The question spontaneously arises, however, why is Starbucks today a brand to be counted among the elite of mythical brands? What has made the consumer pay a premium price for something they would normally have paid significantly less for? The answer can be found in the fact that Starbucks’ marketing approach goes far beyond the tangible component of the product by infusing coffee with new symbolic values and brand community. A high quality of coffee, widespread locations and commercial partnership agreements have undoubtedly contributed to the company’s growth, but these elements are not sufficient to make a brand a global myth, an authentic icon of postmodern society. An exchange from the movie Duplex illustrates the bohemian image Starbucks has acquired as a place where writers and other intellectuals are welcomed as part of a specific community. In the film, a young wife, played by Drew Barrymore, turns to her writer husband and says †Well, what if you got out of the house for a little while and went to write at, like a Starbucks or something? † †It would be nice not to have to write at Starbucks with all the other novelists,† replies the young man, played by Ben Stiller.It is precisely this which is the true essence of Starbucks: a place which evokes symbolic values and brand community values which go beyond coffee and the products sold and which makes a sign a metropolitan legend. It is feeling part of a community like that of the writers looking for success quoted in the film, and many morebesides,which makes consumers identify with a place where, when it really comes down to it, what you mostly do is just drinking cof fee. A person who habitually goes a sort of community to do so not just to drink a cup of coffee but to access a sort of community where they find values, models and behaviors which they tend to recognize themselves in. While Starbucks continued to enrich its context with new meanings and values, other competitors continued to simply sell coffee (Shu-pei Tsai, 2005), Starbucks’s performance demonstrates how, by enhancing the atmosphere and making the place of consumption a space linked to trendsetters and not the minority fringe of the population, by creating a sense of belonging and community, it is possible to achieve success even when satisfying routine needs. As Volli says, Starbucks â€Å"is together closed and secret but also open and public, it shows and hides at the same time, it simultaneously exercises modesty and seduction, the secret and the recall†(Volli,1998).Starbucks has known how to invest a new way of communication ,strongly centered on the communicative processes among members of its brand community and between its members and the outside world. There is no perfect in the world,with the development of society,economy and many other aspects,Starbucks also should face with some shortage and challenge.The greater standardization of the â€Å"structures† has slowly made them lose the bohemian charm which the first points of sale had, and that aroma of coffee which represented the heart of the brand community offering in Starbucks has progressively weakened. The sensory connotation which immediately hits you when you enter a Starbucks and which creates around it a relaxing atmosphere similar to that felt in a club of people who share the passion for coffee, is gradually getting weaker. But the problem is not limited to reduced olfactory involvement, if anything it involves the fact that the chain is losing its soul of the past, becoming more and more like a conventional chain and losing that atmosphere which was so dear to its founder of a small neighborhood ship, whose emotive warmth can generate particularly intense experiences. We could say that this is one of the risks which companies which have been able to build real communities around their brands find them having to face. When the brand becomes as developed as Starbucks, its audience widens and new consumers, with characters different from those of the community’s original members, take possession, thus reducing the initial followers’ feeling of belonging. Infact, belonging to a community satisfies the desire of individuals to share common aspects with other individuals and in that way express their distinctiveness from other social groups. When those very people they are trying to distinguish themselves from try to become part of the community, it is necessary to know how to manage this process by trying to preserve the symbolic consistency of the brand rather than adapting it to the new context. This is a natural process: the company does not live so as to remain in the ghetto of the niche; it is in development a growth that we find the preservation of its vital functions, but the process must be handled with extreme care, avoiding compromising the good and the unique that has been built.

Hyundai Creative Brief

I. Market Info a. In September 2012, Hyundai had sales of 11,403 with YTD sales numbers reaching 107,612. This accounted for a 12. 9% Canadian market share to date. The YTD for September 2012 sales of the electric vehicles available in Canada are as follows: Nissan Leaf – 196 units (up 367% from 2011), Mitsubishi i-MiEV – 165 units , Chevrolet Volt – 927 units (up 548% from 2011). Of the 1,305,538 cars sold to date in Canada, electric car sales accounted for 0. 0099% of total car sales. According to these numbers, Canadians are not embracing electric cars at a significant rate, however the World Wildlife Fund of Canada is aiming to have 600,000 EV’s on Canadian roads by 2020, accounting for 10% of all car sales. The WWF intends to do this by: * highlight environmental benefits of EVs * support improved access to EVs and EV infrastructure achieve competitive pricing with conventional vehicles * expand travel freedom for EV users with infrastructure and trav el partnership options * provide Canadians with positive EV information and experiences Government agencies have also offered incentives for buyers and owners of EV’s for example; the Ontario government is offering a rebate between $5,000 and $8,000 as well as a Green license plate which enables owners to use High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes, even if there is only one person in the vehicle as well as future access to public recharging facilities and parking at GO station and government lots. . Brand Profile Hyundai vehicles run the gamut from budget cars to luxury sedans to commercial trucks. South Korea's leading carmaker, Hyundai Motor produces compact and luxury cars, SUVs, minivans, trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles. Its cars are sold in 180 countries through some 6,000 dealerships. Hyundai generates about half of its sales in South Korea, but its vehicles are also popular in emerging markets such as China and India. The company operates a dozen manufacturing plant s in China, the Czech Republic, India, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and the US. Hyundai also owns a 34% stake in Kia Motors.Some key benefits of the Hyundai brand are: * Modern, premium, affordable mentality towards car design * Hyundai backs their product with an excellent warranty and service. * Heavy investment in design and promotion * Focus more on explaining a car's history, its value and its strengths, rather than just talking about price Hyundai’s brand reputation hasn’t always been the greatest and has only increased within the last 5 years or so as Hyundai made the switch from making cheap, economical cars to affordable, modern, premium and reliable cars that are fun to drive, luxurious and backed by an excellent warranty.Some issues Hyundai faces are: * Poor reputation in regards to reliability * Poor reputation in regards to build quality * Not known for making sporty or luxurious cars * Overcoming well-established brands such as Toyota, Honda and VW c. Bran d Proposition – Hyundai’s brand slogan â€Å"NEW THINKING. NEW POSSIBILITIES. † reflects the will of Hyundai Motor Company to create new possibilities to benefit the world and its people by encouraging and developing new thinking.All members of Hyundai have the brand slogan deeply engraved in their hearts as they move forward in their effort to provide new values and experiences desired by today’s customers through innovative ways that are unique to the brand, driven by new thinking about customers and cars. d. Brand Position – Hyundai’s brand direction â€Å"Modern premium† does not just mean luxury cars; it is about providing new values and experiences to yet more customers of today through ways that are unique to the brand and which go beyond what customers expect by combining exceptional performance with reasonable price and emotional elegance.Being simple but perfect, staying faithful to the basics yet different from the others, and not forgetting the big picture while paying attention to the smallest details; developing cars that cater to the diverse lifestyles of customers and propose an advanced automobile life and culture; enriching the lives of customers who have an active and positive approach to life—that is the Modern premium of Hyundai Motor Company. e. Positioning Statement – For the Earth-conscious, high-mileage driver who wishes to be whisked away in a safe, fun and environmentally responsible way.Hyundai Fuel-Cell powered cars will get you where you need to go, regardless of the distance, with very little impact on the environment and your wallet, giving you the confidence of knowing you’re the smartest person on the road. f. Competitor’s Profiles Honda – YTD for September 2012, Honda owned 9. 0% of the Canadian market. Some Honda brand strengths include: * Well known for reliability * Consumers will buy a Honda regardless of their level of luxury, sportiness, features or price. * Loyal customer base/repeat buyers * Consumers will rarely shop around if their first choice is a HondaBrand weaknesses include: * Have rested on their laurels * Very few innovative or exciting products * Redesigned the 2012 Civic after 1 model year because of lack of innovation * Rely on brand loyalty to drive sales Honda utilizes the same media as most other prominent brands in the industry. They have a strong presence both online (through social media websites as well as their own homepage) and in print (many ads in newspapers and magazines). They also invest heavily in televised ads and billboards. Honda has positioned themselves as â€Å"a company built on dreams.And these dreams inspire us to create innovative products that enhance human mobility and benefit society. † Toyota – YTD for September 2012, Toyota owns 11. 8% of the Canadian market. Toyota brand strengths – * Synonymous for reliable cars * diversified product range * highly targeted marketing and a commitment to lean manufacturing and quality * Loyal customer base * Customers will rarely shop around before purchasing a Toyota Weaknesses – * Massive recalls and lawsuits over the past few years * Boring styling and performance Recognized mainly for economy and not performance * Slightly older buyer demographic Toyota utilizes all of the traditional methods of media, much like Honda does. * Print * Social Media Networks * TV and Billboards * Own homepage g. Target Market Profile – * Similar to early adopters of hybrids, early adopters of EV’s will be young, very high income individuals — adoption is already being popularized by high-profile celebrities * Average incomes are expected to be in excess of $200K HHI who already own one or more vehicles Early Majority Profile * View the product as â€Å"Green and lean† * Top purchaser influence is: Reliability * Household income: $114K * Gender: 67% Male * Location: Urban and Suburban * Ages 40-45 Non-adopter profile * View the product as â€Å"Expensive† * Household Income $54K * Gender: 49% Male * Location: Suburban and rural Barriers to Adoption Include – * Price and cost of ownership * Familiarity with â€Å"clean† technologies * Size of the vehicle(too small) * Fuel cell infrastructure * Brand II. IMC Objective This IMC campaign must address the issue of the barriers to adoption that fuel-cell powered automobiles face.The IMC campaign must prove to the consumer that the high initial cost, range of the vehicle, fuel-cell filling station infrastructure and most importantly, that green technologies much different than the standard gasoline engine should not be a barrier to adoption as the cost of ownership is relatively low, the environment benefits greatly from zero-emissions vehicles, fuel-cell powered vehicles do not limit range like electric vehicles do and that a fuel-cell powered vehicle is a viable, and just as convenient al ternative to the gasoline-powered car. ——————————————- [ 1 ]. www. goodcarbadcar. net/2012/10/september-2012-canada-auto-sales-brand-rankings2. html [ 2 ]. http://www. goodcarbadcar. net/2012/10/september-2012-ytd-canada-auto-sales-rankings. html#more [ 3 ]. http://www. northumberlandview. ca/index. php? module=news&type=user&func=display&sid=17939 [ 4 ]. http://news. ontario. ca/mto/en/2010/06/ontario-paves-the-way-for-electric-vehicles. html [ 5 ]. ttp://worldwide. hyundai. com/WW/Corporate/CorporateInformation/BrandSlogan/index. html [ 6 ]. http://worldwide. hyundai. com/WW/Corporate/CorporateInformation/BrandSlogan/index. html [ 7 ]. http://www. goodcarbadcar. net/2012/10/september-2012-canada-auto-sales-brand-rankings2. html [ 8 ]. http://corporate. honda. com/about/ [ 9 ]. http://www. deloitte. com. br/publicacoes/2007/MFG. Gaining_Traction_customer_view_of_electric_vehicle_mass_a doption. pdf

I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing Essay

1. In the memoir the passage reveals Ritie’s self image. She characterizes herself as unappealing she does not see beauty within who she is. Ritie’s childhood led to her insecurities. When she was younger her parents took her to move with her grandparents. She believed her parents dishonored her. Ritie did not find her skin beautiful. She believed white was beauty. She was an uncomfortable in her own skin. She tried to become someone she is not because she knew how everyone view and felt about her. Since her childhood she received her appearance. Ritie kept her identity intact by not letting peoples judging and views influence her. 2. After years of separation Ritie’s relationship with her mother is respected. She respects her mother for who she is. Ritie sees her mother as a strong women, she knows her mother will also love her for who she is. Ritie admires her mother she looks up to her. Her love for her grandmother is more of mother daughter bond. Ritie’s role model is her grandmother and she is proud to say it. She sees her momma as a strong powerful person. She is tough but loving. Ritie’s wants to become like her grandmother, she loves her. 3. Maya knew she was different. She knew she did not fit in with the other girls in school. She did not feel that she was equal with everyone else she felt as she did not belong with the other children. She did not associate with anyone. She would isolate herself in a store. She barely socialized with any children. She stayed away from children her age even others. A comparison to race was when she was younger her tooth ached. The dentist was not willing to work with her. He was very racial and only worked with white patients. Ritie’s family copes with racism by not letting it affect them. They ignored, they maintained their dignity. 4. At the end of the memoir Ritie learns what might seem right to you will not always be viewed the same with others. For one to hare greatness they must go through obstacles. She learns everyone has the own definition on what is wrong and right. Ritie applies this when she had her baby she grew up and it gave her confidence in her baby. She always did what was best for her baby. 5. Why the Cage Bird sings shows that there is always a light at the end of a tunnel. When there’s darkness and disadvantages there is always hope to find your path. It shows they had to deal with negativity and racism but they took that and turned it into positive. The title relates they went through many struggles but in the end they can be free. 6. Adversity in the story delt with abandonment, racism, childhood trapped, unacceptance, also religion. In Mayas case she and her brother were sent to live with their momma in Stamps, Arkansas. She always had it in her mind that her parents were not alive. When she found out they were she had the feeling of abandonment she felt that they did not want her. When Mayas dad comes to get them she does not want to leave. She got use to Stamps. She overcomes her adversity by realizing her parents were going through a difficult situation. 7. Lessons can be learned about the South. Situations are never easy but you have to make the best of it. In life we are always going to struggle but we must stay strong and not let it get the best of us. There are always going to be people who judge you or don’t accept you. But if you know who you are and where you come from that’s all that matters. Another lesson is when should not try to be. Someone we are not we must appear ourselves because no one is perfect. We all have insecurities about ourselves but we should love who we are. Natasha De La Cruz Grade: 10 Title: â€Å"Bless Me, Ultima† Author: Rudolph Anaya 1. During the World War 2 actions occurred in this novel. In the novel a women lost her sons due to the war. Gabriel had both of her sons fighting in the war which was also significant hat occurred was a veteran shoot Chavez because he was affected by the war. 2. The characters adapt to the landscape because of the family’s different life livings. Antonio had to live two different life styles. His mother’s families were simple farming people. It was easier for them to farm everything was more nourishing. His father’s family was rougher around the edges. They were more independent and the land was harder to work with. Both families had their own values. 3. A movie that relates to this novel is Ruby Bridges. Both Ruby and Antonio go through struggles in their life to make something out of them. The film is about a young six year old African American girl who had enough potential to get into a better school for a better education which was in an all Caucasian school. Around that time racism was still around. Ruby was the only African American girl in her class, which then led problems to the parents of the children in her class. No one accepted her in the new school except her teacher. Throughout the beginning she had faced crowds of white citizens against her physically and emotionally. One day she was encouraged by her teacher and her mother who gave her strength and she made it through. She became significantly important in the civil rights movement.

Early Childhood Ed 415 Assignments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Early Childhood Ed 415 Assignments - Essay Example students in persevering to understand complex text; [e]ngag[ing] all students in rigorous non-fiction reading; [and] [e]ngag[ing] all students to ‘sleuth read’—to reread and revisit [the] text for answers† (â€Å"Creating Common Core Comprehension Connections,† 2014, pgh. 3). 1. Where does your curriculum come from? Frog Street curriculum is also called Innovative Curriculum. It focuses on addressing the need for young learners to move and interact with their environment. 3. How do you adapt your curriculum to all learning styles? The curriculum is flexible for learners who are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. There are plenty of opportunities for children to see, hear, and explore their physical space. 4. What is your behavioral plan of action? If, after several attempts at unruly behavior—such as biting, which is common at the two-year-old level—a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) will be implemented, where a record is made of the time, date, and circumstances surrounding the negative behavior. With redirection and refocusing, it is hoped that the behavior can be corrected. 6. Do your students and parents know how to get around campus? Students need to be guided by teachers because the school can be confusing for two’s to navigate. Parents are very familiar with the setup of the school, however. 7. Do you feel like your curriculum is age and individualized appropriate? The curriculum is age appropriate and adapted to suit childrens’ individual needs. Daily sheets are provided for parents describing what their child(ren) has/have done throughout the day, recording what they ate at meals and when they used the potty or were changed. 8. What assessments do you use? Is your assessment appropriate for all students? Assessments are done twice a year, once in November and once in May, since this is a year-round daycare. The assessment is appropriate for all students in six sections of the 2-year-old class (A/B, C/D, and E/F).

Executive Dilemmas in the Information Age Assignment

Executive Dilemmas in the Information Age - Assignment Example CEOs strive for clarity of their visions for an organization and this clarity influence behavior of employees towards attainment of the goals of their organizations. CEOs also exercise authority in communicating their expectations of employees in order to help them act in line with the desired organization’s culture (Baltzan, 2013). Modeling is an effective way in which CEOs effect desired changes and maintain good patterns of behavior. A CEO, for example, recommends and implements ways of rewarding and encouraging behaviors that are in line with an organization’s culture. Technology enhances the efficiency and productivity of the systems of organizations from all industries and executives from non-technological industries need to be aware of how to capitalize on this advantage. The awareness of technology can help executives from non-technological industries to employ the technology appropriate in helping customers interact better with the organization. Executives from non-technological industries need to worry about technology because of its potential to hasten the pace of organizational change lest they lose control of the direction of change (Tsai, 2003). Technology is highly dynamic and subsequent technological advancements pose new challenges and opportunities to businesses. Continuous learning alerts executives on indications of such challenges and opportunities and helps them device response course of action. Additionally, being dynamic with technological knowledge would help executives make decisions about how much resources should be allocated to technology. Advancement in technology causes changes in the cost of purchasing and maintaining technological equipment and without knowledge of these changes, executives can either overspend or under-spend. Decisions regarding technological sustainability require executives to have current

Article review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article review - Essay Example Apparently, however, words are what have constantly maintained the remarkable philosophies of conservatives and liberals alike, not their translation into real action. On restating the position of Prof. Tony Judt, T. Sowell observes that agreement with ‘leaving individuals the maximum space with which to live and flourish as desired’ is in keeping with the common idealistic knowledge about liberalism. Originally, the latter pertains to the principle of signifying the right to freedom and equality and most liberals advocate views that are key concepts to facilitate understanding of liberal democracy, constitutionalism, human rights, and fair elections among the relevant fundamental ideas, Justice O.W. Holmes, nonetheless, occurs to have vividly expressed contradiction according to the prevailing truth that natural perception or instinct cannot deny as it takes place. For him, things must be thought of, not words, as if to imply that liberals ought to cease dwelling in the tradition of intellectual endeavor which rather maintains beliefs within abstract realms yet lacks the capacity to exhibit such complex thinking through an actualized form.

Conslusions on the psychological Affects of same sex parents ont he Essay

Conslusions on the psychological Affects of same sex parents ont he psychological development of Children - Essay Example However, there remains an important gap in the current literature regarding the social responsibility of the laws and court systems on the development experienced by children in the aforementioned families and how these culturally discriminating forces affect the sense of security that is necessary for successful growth. Therefore, the purpose of the proposed study is to examine previously recorded research that can be associated and correlated to determine the affect of living in a household that is not universally accepted as legitimate. By studying the research of a variety of topics related to this issue, a conclusion will be made in regard to the impact this issue has on the psychological influence on children raised by same-sex parents. Findings from this research will help clarify the social responsibility that may or may not be neglected by the current legal system. Findings from this research will help clarify what steps may be recommended to governmental agencies and law ma kers that will ensure the security and safety of these children in order to provide a more stable and secure environment to promote a successful development within the family structure. The issue of familial rights within homosexual partnerships have raised sociological questions that have proponents for and against marriage between couples of the same sex. As families of non-traditional forms are being created and sustained, the issue of child development within a non-traditional structure becomes a relevant social issue. The study of children who are raised in families that are comprised of two same sex parents who are also life-partners can answer questions of the affect that a non-traditional parental pair can have on the psychology created by that environment. In order to study the psychological affect of two parents who maintain a homosexual relationship on a child who is raised by those parents, one must take into consideration

Health Issues in Corrections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Health Issues in Corrections - Essay Example Studies show that most women who are admitted into the correction system are in their child-bearing years and a good number of these women are mothers who have history of gynecological problems (Fearn and Parker, 2005). In fact, a good number of these women are young mothers who have been subjected to abuse by their partners (Fearn and Parker, 2005). In most cases, women who are brought to the correction facilities are in poor health and are suffering from different types of physical and mental problems. The emergence of inequity in delivery of healthcare services to inmates coupled by the increasing number of women in incarceration and complexities of the health problems that these women often face make it difficult for the correction system to provide these women with adequate healthcare (Harrison and Beck, 2005; Marquart et. al., 2009). The fact some correction facilities now have a ballooning number of inmates and some of the inmates require special medical care put strain on the healthcare system within the correction facilities (Marquart et. al., 2009). Although the correction system has considerably improved since the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Estelle v. Gamble (1976)1, there are still a number of things that need improvement in the provision of healthcare services to inmates. ... II. Defining the Cause of the Medical Problems Faced by Prisoners There are many reasons why prisoners, especially women, face several cases of medical problems. Most inmates who are in prison suffer from a number of health issues but the most compelling reason for this situation is that most of these people who are in prison already have a history of poor health. According to Green et. al (2009), the life course perspective of both male and female inmates often involves health problems stemming from their socio-economic status and lifestyle before and during incarceration. For instance, in 1998, about 24 percent of women who were admitted to the correction system had a history of mental health and 78 percent of these women have suffered physical and mental abuse before their incarceration (Harrison and Beck, 2005). The gender specific cases of physical and mental abuse made women more vulnerable to certain types of mental conditions which often manifest when they are under stress or are confined inside a correction facility (Green et. al, 2009). Aside from the effects of gender specific abuse, health problems that are mostly associated with African-American women are also prevalent. About 37 percent of the women who are incarcerated are African-American who has history of hypertension and diabetes (Harrison and Beck, 2005). The health problems of these women can be traced back to their socio-economic status prior to their incarceration. According to Harrison and Beck (2005), about 50 percent of the women who were admitted to the correction system are mothers who have been unemployed during the month of their arrest and incarceration and out of this number,

An Insight into Berger's Analysis of Holbein's Ambassadors Essay

An Insight into Berger's Analysis of Holbein's Ambassadors - Essay Example He feels that the spectators should understand the difference between the art and the viewers that helps them to distinguish between reality and illusion. However, his understanding has given more meaning to the art. Thesis: Art is a form of representation of current life style. It means reflecting all the social aspects from social to political, is what Berger’s analyses. As far as Holbein’s Ambassadors is concerned, Berger is straight forward in clearly illuminating the notion of slave trade, colonialism and sexual domination. His observation also shows that he is not behind illusion. He clearly illustrates the truth of art that carries just the illusion. But the same art gives more implications apart from being a form of painting. Berger’s initial step in analysing begins with a hint about the oil painting tradition of the Renaissance. He then points out how the trend of art that took different meaning under the power of modern advertising and wealth of the ru ling class. Berger is keen in focusing on the individualism or male dominance, class bias, etc. He makes a remark that any work of art of any era tends to reflect the expectations and demands of the ruling class. Art history confuses the meaning of an art work then reveals its real politics. Due to this opinion he refers to the texture, flooring, clothing, objects as part of the wealthy and capitalistic class and their interest. At this point it appears true that the art of Ambassadors does not show any emphasis on the other common people, expect the skull that has been presented in an abnormal fashion. Berger would like to interpret the skull image as highly mystical. Mystical might also refer to the slave trade during that period. When content appears less important, the techniques used in the art justifies the commercial aspect, for example the texture of the cloth, instruments and books used by the Ambassadors etc. This quality isolates the work from other oil painting art. Diff icult explanation of surfaces and fabric in the painting focusing on the wealth is an indication of the demands made for the artist. So, the artist had to concentrate on the status of the men portrayed rather than pertaining to art. Aydemir supports this aspect by referring to the cool position of the men in the art as â€Å"a specific modality of the self-display of masculinity, of appearing as recognizably masculine without too hard, without the effort tainting the projected image† [p-60] When we look at the Ambassadors from the viewpoint of what it conveys about society, such as the look of men or what their eyes conveys, the relationship between them and the things surrounded by them will make a different impact to the readers. In such a condition, the inspiration to touch and feel will not dominate. Berger’s interpretation on the relation between the men and the rest of the world, says that they focus on something of which they are not interested. The objects betw een them were intended to explain their position in the world. When years pass by the tradition transforms to different standards. So our interpretation also changes according to the contemporary knowledge. This point too appears to be acceptable though the artistic features have not been interpreted here. Berger seems to consider the appreciation of art only as a transmission of emotion. The emotion is then provoked by the image from the perspective of past experience. Hence artistic appreciation is limited in his analysis. The pictures

APP5Hinton,N-Environmental Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

APP5Hinton,N-Environmental - Essay Example Malaria, which is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium is transmitted through infected mosquito bites. The disease can be detrimental if it’s kept untreated till a stage that the blood supply to vital organs is disrupted (WHO, 2009). The World health Organization has released some alerting statistics with regard to the outspread of Malaria. Their reports estimate that on an average one child dies every second because of malaria. As per the records of 2006, there were 247 million cases of malaria of which one million accounted to death (WHO, 2009). The most of these cases were from the African lands. Another alarming reality is that almost half of the worlds’ population is at risk of malaria (WHO, 2009). Taking an account of the economic damage that the disease causes, it has been estimated that almost 1.3% slow down is caused in the economic growth of countries with high rates of malaria incurrence (WHO, 2009). Up to 40% of the total budget for public heath is With re gard to all these dangers, it becomes much important to control mosquitoes, which are the vectors of the disease (WHO, 2009). The role of DDT thus becomes of much relevance. The reasons that have been pointed out in favor of DDT being preferred over other 12 recommended insecticides are its longer residual efficacy, the spatial repellency and the irritant effect (WHO, 2007). Resultantly, rather than killing the mosquitoes, they are repelled to the outdoor surroundings (WHO, 2007) However, the use of DDT has been proved to have many long term health effects coupled with damages to the environment, wildlife and the ecology in totality. There are a number of scientifically relevant researches which have confirmed the irreversible damages caused by DDT. The hydrophobic nature of the chemical makes it strongly absorbed to the soil and the green environment. This can cause irreversible damage to the organic base and the structure of the

Wild Style Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Wild Style - Assignment Example t in the film depicts how the development of modern culture struggled during their birth and corruption of such at that age would mean no culture today. There is more than just music to be learned from the film of Wild Style that is highly attractive even today. Many more people can learn from the characters that were used, their behavior and so forth. This after all is the purpose of creating films, to educate people about a certain subject that is familiar to the eye but understood differently by the minds. Culture is a fashioned way of doing things that define a certain group of people. In this case, the culture is Hip hop that can be described as having minor subcultures that define it in the entity; Graffiti, Djing, Break dancing and MCing (Gale). In the film, Lee Quinones acting as the character of Zoro is a graffiti artist whose neighborhood, the Bronx, is the source of hip hop culture. In fact, Hip hop was confined to the generation region, that is, the Bronx (Staff). The Dixie Club was featured in the (Wellman) film and was where the performers would showcase their talents or show (Rosen). This is the same way that people come to form a community, and the result is the birth of a culture. In the film, the culture was already there, it was only developing with the exchange of ideas. The streets of the Bronx are can-sprayed all over by unknown graffiti artists who take to the walls and windows for their exhibition. The environment created by the neighborhood creates a harboring pl ace for such talents as was realized in the case of Zoro. Indeed, the culture of Hip Hop has come a long way from back then where it was in a small region. Now this culture has grown into an international style that has been transformed through factors of time and different environment. Music is more than just a mere hobby for passing time or appeasing the mind; it is a way of expression and a tool of communication (music 1). Rap scenes at the Dixie Club by various talents

Refraction Essay Example for Free

Refraction Essay Refraction BY gupta979 Refraction refers to the bending of the transmitted light at the interface between two transparent materials. The angle of refraction depends on the angle of incidence and the relative speeds of the light in the two different media and can be found from the relationship [pic] From this equation we see that the direction in which the light is bent depends on whether it is going from a slower to a faster medium or vice versa. Index of refraction The index of refraction of a medium is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium. By definition, n = 1 in vacuum. In all materials n 1. The frequency of light does not change as it goes from one a medium of one index of refraction to another. This means that the wavelength changes with the speed. Thus, the wavelength is smaller in a medium than in vacuum. From the definition of the index of refraction, we can rewrite the relationship etween the incident and refracted angles as or This equation is known as Snells law of refraction. Example The index of refraction of a glass is n = 1. 6. A ray of light is incident upon the glass surface at an angle of 300. What is the angle of refraction into the glass? Solution: approximately n If the wavelength of the light in air is 520 nm (green), what is its wavelength in the glass? What is the frequency of the light? (2 slow fast incident reflected refracted

Significance of External Factors in Business Economics

Significance of External Factors in Business Economics Contents Introduction Social factors and their significance when it comes to business-economics Legal and Political Legal and Political Factors in the SLEPT analysis Economic factors and their influence on business economics Technological factors and business economics Conclusion References Introduction Maintaining the current market share, or being capable of growing in terms of market share, in this continuously changing world means that businesses cannot afford to stand still. In order to keep ahead in the face of increasing global competition, companies must closely follow developments in their external environment, which consists of: society, legal systems, economic factors, These factors are interrelated and are capable of significant change. The industry chosen in order to analyze these factors and to which extent firms should take these factors into account is the airline industry. The external environment in which airlines operate is particularly volatile and difficult. All the factors mentioned above have a great impact on the airline industry in particular. Therefore the airlines industry is deemed to be an adequate proxy for the analysis. In an attempt to analyze the external factors in order to evaluate how and to which extent companies should assess these external factors the SLEPT method will be used, i.e. an investigation of the Social, Legal, Economic, Political, and Technological influences on a business. Furthermore the reactive and anticipatory approaches will be discussed to evaluate which is more useful. In this report the following airlines will be used to explain the theory supplied: United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. These were chosen, because of the differences in size and ways of operating. Social factors and their significance when it comes to business-economics By Rink Sikkes Social factors consist mainly out of cultural factors and social trends, namely health consciousness or consumer lifestyle. They also consist out of demographic factors, for example age distribution and population growth. Every culture has different wants and needs, so when a business just focusses on only one culture or group of people, other cultures might feel left out and they will be less attracted to the company its service or product. For this reason a business needs to modify its business strategy to a large variety of cultures. To achieve superior customer service Virgin Airlines has done research into cultural diversity and they offer their staff training in cultural awareness. This way they are able to identify every cultural nuance affecting customer satisfaction.[1] This suggests that businesses have to put a substantial amount of effort into focusing on cultural diversity as they can increase customer satisfaction when they do that. It is crucial that businesses make their customers feel save when they use their products or services. Businesses can lay emphasis on their safety in order to attract more customers. When businesses are struggling to guarantee safety they attract fewer customers; the 9/11 attacks had a sizable impact on Virgin airlines and United Airlines, as the public was frightened to travel by airplane as there was a serious terrorism threat. Especially US domestic flight revenue decreased enormously right after these attacks, but when the threat decreased the revenues increased again.[2] This shows that security has a significant effect on business economics. When a lifestyle of a substantial amount of consumers shifts into a new phase, a company might suffer a severe drop or a sudden surge in market share depending on how the company focusses its product or service. For instance; Virgin Airlines offers the option to hire an extra seat for extra personal space. This is a great opportunity for couples who want some privacy during a flight, or families who demand extra space for their children. There are also certain shifts that cannot be influenced, but have a large influence on business-economics, For example the increased popularity of traveling abroad has been very beneficial for British Airways and Virgin Airlines, but they have not had any influence on this sudden shift in lifestyle, so lifestyles of consumers have a large impact on business economics A business can focus its services and products on people that have a certain amount of health consciousness, but it can also alter its products so they are attractive for any customer regardless of their health consciousness. For example; Virgin airlines and British airways have to account for obese customers that might take more room and more fuel. To remain profitable, they are obliged to either induce a so called fat tax, where customers have to pay more when their weight is above a certain level, or sell the customer a second seat because they do not fit in a single seat. As we have demonstrated, every single one of these factors has a major of impact on business-economics. They are also essential for the success of businesses since the lives of customers revolve around these factors. A business should adapt its strategy proactively to these factors in order to increase its profit and market share. Legal and Political Legal and Political Factors as external factors By Catello Alvino Political and Legal factors Political and legal factors (which are closely related to each other) heavily affect businesses, profoundly influencing their modus operandi. When new laws and regulations are approved, companies and corporations are forced to change their business strategies, sometimes with considerable effects, sometimes with almost any consequence. In the following paragraphs, some example of laws and regulations affecting businesses are being analyzed. Tax policies Tax policies can seriously change the amount of profits that a firm is able to make. It is well known that each country applies a different tax policy, thus offering endless possibilities for a firm to choose its headquarters location, considering the pros and cons of each single situation. Firms having strong relationships with their national government, might be able to get tax exemptions and improve their competitiveness towards their international rival; In fact, in the Russian Federation, in 1997, the flag carrier Aeroflot enjoyed a tax exemption by their government on the purchase of four Boeing aircrafts. This for sure reduced the operating costs for Aeroflot and increased their competitiveness towards the other Eurasian companies who may not have enjoyed the same privilege. Another example of tax policies affecting the businesses is the tax increase on the airlines industry that occurred through the years, especially in the US. It is shown in table 1 that taxes have considera bly gone up, thus increasing the ticket price and losing some customers who cannot afford a flight ticket to certain destinations anymore, often deciding to switch to train travel. Table 1, source: http://www.airlines.org/Pages/Government-Imposed-Taxes-on-Air-Transportation.aspx Trade Unions Trade Unions are a great achievement conquered by the working class in the last two centuries but a sometimes, unpredictable danger for companies. If not handled carefully, working class leaders, especially in western countries where concepts of democracy hold, can seriously damage a company performance. Companies need to engage into a stable relationship with them in order to avoid sudden stoppages of their services, which can lead to serious profit losses. For example in 1985, United Airlines experienced a 29 days long strike which resulted in huge losses in revenues. The company negotiators were able to restore the firm normal functioning only after multiple discussions and trade-offs with the workers’ representatives. This of course could have been avoided with a proactive behaviour, making sure that working conditions were optimal, or moving the company to a country where trade unions are easier to manipulate. Wars and changes in international relationships For companies operating outside their national borders, good and stable relationships between countries are crucial. A war or a diplomatic misunderstanding can turn into a forced exit from some markets or in a loss of revenue. Before deciding to operate in a certain foreign country, a firm should deeply analyze the on-going relationship with its government. Moreover, once they decide to be in business with this hypothetical country, they should be ready to react to any possible event modifying the national political situation. This can turn extremely necessary for companies operating in unstable countries like Southern American, or Eastern European countries. For example, with the recent outbreak of a serious protest in Venezuela, potential airlines passengers may think twice before deciding to travel there. This change in public opinion has for sure reduced the revenue of many companies, including United Airlines, which provides flights from the US to the capital city, Caracas. Economic factors and their influence on business economics By Sybren Dijkstra The economic factors constitute a highly important phase of strategy development for business economics, since economic factors have direct impact on the potential attractiveness of various business ventures. It is highly likely that the economic factor will have a substantial effect on business economics, however it is very hard to take all the variables into account. A direct reactive approach is considered wise when it comes to the economy. Multiple variables, which cover a large part of the economy will be discussed in this section in order to test the hypothesis: personal wealth, competition and governments. The effects of changes in personal wealth can have a substantial effect on business economics globally. Personal wealth is a combination of multiple variables, such as GDP per capita growth,interest rates, inflation rate, unemployment rates, fiscal policy, and monetary policy. Personal wealth can therefore be used as a proxy for the economy. For example, when the interest rates rise people are more likely to safe their money and that affects to which extent people are willing to consume. When comparing the amount of passengers carried (figure 1) and the world GDP per capita (figure 2) they seem to be correlated. The image is confirmed by the revenue stream in figure 3.The hypothesis that a decrease in personal wealth directly affects revenue, hence business economics An equally important part of the economic assessment is identifying potential competitors and ascertaining strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and possible strategies. Knowing your competitors, remains to be one of the key factors to success. Weaknesses of competitors can signify external opportunities, while major competitive strengths can pose key external threats. The more competitive information is collected, the easier it becomes to outsmart the competition. Virgin Atlantic proved this point. It had a marketing budget less than a third of what British Airways had for marketing, due to focused advertising and outsmarting the competition Virgin Atlantic was able to publish a profit of 68 million pounds, while British Airways had to report a 401 pound operating loss in 2009. Governments form the last, but equally, important part of the analysis, since they have the power to implement and alter economic policy. Governments create the legislation and frameworks in which businesses compete with one another. From time to time the government will change these rules and frameworks forcing businesses to change the way they operate. Business is thus keenly affected by government policy. The airline industry for example had to cope with higher landing charges as well as additional taxes imposed on the air—travelling public directly affecting the revenue and profit. Combining these three factors in the economic assessment in the SLEPT analysis suggest a confirmation of the hypothesis stated at the beginning of this section. Personal wealth, used a proxy for state of the economy, might be directly affecting business economics. Competitors and governments are also capable of directly affecting business economics. This suggests that the economic factors require a pro-active attitude, since it’s crucial to stay ahead of competition and that this can only be done by staying up to date on the new policies and the state of the economy. Technological factors and business economics By Ewan Tauran Technological factors affect business economics in a wide variety of ways. They play a strong role in the external environment of a firm and should be carefully assessed. Technological progress can reduce costs, improve quality and lead to innovation. These developments generally benefit both firms and consumers. However, the effects of technological progress can be very diverse. Failing to keep up with technological trends can cause serious economic damage. The assessment of technological factors is crucial for high-tech industries such as the airline industry. The constant development of technology caters to the growing need of firms to meet issues of sustainability and safety. As mentioned earlier, there are increasingly strict legal rules regarding the materials that need to go into aircraft construction in order to make them safer and more resistant to fire hazards. The rules regarding emission and climate effects are also becoming increasingly strict. Due to technological progress, airline industries can adopt newly developed technologies and conform to these new laws and regulations. As mentioned before, airline industries also encounter another issue; that of increased safety needs and wants by consumers resulting from the terrorist attacks of 9/11.[ET1] In this specific case, adopting new air transportation security technology can help airline industries address these safety issues. Though[ET2] it is the case that the airline industry employs technology extensively in its operations, they rely on aircraft producers such as Boeing and Airbus for their aircraft. With respect to aircraft technology, airline industries are limited to these aircraft producers. Therefore it is important for firms to take advantage of technological advancement in other elements of their operations. An example could be to employ more advanced technology in the front office of an airline industry. This can improve customer service which can result in an increase in ticket sales and consequently overall revenue. Another factor that should be taken into account by firms is technological advancement with respect to social media. Currently, social media is becoming increasingly important to firms all over the world as an effective marketing tool. Airline industries should realize this and adapt to the changing circumstances regarding this global trend. Technological advancements do not always have positive effects on business economics. For example, technological progress with respect to communication and the exchange of information can have serious effects on the demand for air transportation. Technological innovations such as videoconferencing limits the need for face-to-face meetings in business, consequently making the need for air travel obsolete. Individuals who live far apart geographically no longer have to visit each other physically when the opportunity to communicate digitally presents itself as a decent low-cost alternative. Due to the rapid development of technology, firms should stay focused and adapt quickly in order to survive in an increasingly competitive economic climate. At the moment, technology progresses so fast that it is becoming increasingly hard for firms to promptly adapt. Firms who fail to adapt can miss out on all of the potential positive effects from technological advancement and as a consequence lose market share[ET3]. Conclusion When taking all the SLEPT analysis factors into account, they seem to suggest that each and every factors should be taken into account and that each factor requires a pro-active approach. Firstly, the social part of the analysis demonstrates that each and every single one of these factors has a major of impact on business-economics. They are also essential for the success of businesses since the lives of customers revolve around these factors. A business should adapt its strategy proactively to these factors in order to increase its profit and market share. Secondly, the research done on political and legal factors also suggests that these factors require a pro-active attitude towards these factors. Thirdly, the economic analysis suggests that the economic factors require a pro-active attitude, since it’s crucial to stay ahead of competition and that this can only be done by staying up to date on the new policies and the state of the economy. And lastly the technological part of the analysis suggests that due to the rapid development of technology, firms should stay focused and adapt quickly in order to survive in an increasingly competitive economic climate. At the moment, technology progresses so fast that it is becoming increasingly hard for firms to promptly adapt. Firms who fail to adapt can miss out on all of the potential positive effects from technological advancement and as a consequence lose market share[ET4]. However the research for this report does not cover all industries, just the airline industry was used as an example, also the cost of keeping up with all these factors would be astronomical. To come up with a more definitive conclusion more research is required. References IATA. (2014).FACT SHEET: Industry Statistics .Available: http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/fact_sheets/Documents/industry-facts.pdf. Last accessed 30 April 2014. Indexmundi. (2011).GDP per capita (PPP) (US$).Available: http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?v=67c=xxl=en. Last accessed 30 April 2014. 1 [1] http://www.intersperience.com/images/Virgin Atlantic Case Study.pdf [2] http://seekingalpha.com/article/120335-domestic-air-travel-lowest-since-postminus-9-11 [ET1]I need to change this sentence. [ET2]Paragraph is missing a proper topic sentence [ET3]Conclusion needs more body [ET4]Conclusion needs more body

Factors that Influence Fear of Crime

Factors that Influence Fear of Crime Introduction Today, fear of crime has become a very prevalent and burning issue in the society. There are many people today who express their fear and anxiety over crime and, their concern for being victimized. There are certain factors that shape the level of fear of crime and being victimized of the people. It includes gender; age; any past experience related to crime that an individual can have which could have happened where one lives; ethnicity, etc. There are different ways in which people react to crime. These ways include protecting themselves, avoiding crime, and trying to prevent victimization by not holding anything for which they could be victimized (Will and McGrath 1995). The media also plays a vital and critical role in shaping the amount that people hold of fear of crime. This is due to the reason that media cover crime stories in a very extensive as well as disproportionate way. Although not everyone is a victim of crime but criminal acts touch everyones life (Gray et al 2008). Gender is a significant factor in shaping the level of fear of crime among individuals. It is a known fact that women fear crime more than men. The amount of fear also varies with the age of the individuals, location, social context, TV viewing habits, neighbourhood structure of the individual, and ethnicity. The research problem for the study is to understand the influential factors that shape the view that individuals hold of fear of crime including protection and precaution methods. The research also sheds light on the difference in perception of men and women regarding the fear of crime and what influences that difference. Significance of the research Fear of crime has a huge and profound impact on any society. The choice of people regarding where to live, socialize and shop depends on their relative perceptions of the safety of their neighbourhood, towns and cities. There are different scenarios related to crime against the person of which people are fearful of. The most fearful scenarios differ for men and women. Women are more fearful of crime and being victimized rather than man (Jackson 2006). The research identifies the role of social construction that influences the perception of men and women regarding the fear of crime. Fear of crime can be a result of the latent influences and perception of the individual that he forms of the surrounding environment. The research is significant in terms of these perceptions and factors that influence people, both male and female regarding their personal safety and fear of being a victim of the crime. The research will help in gaining a deep knowledge and understanding of these influentia l factors for fear of crime, and differences in fearing crime by men and women. Research Questions The research questions for the research study are as follows: What different influential factors shape the perception of fear of crime and being victimized of both male and female? Do the social construction surrounding men and women impact their perception and degree of fear of crime? What are the measures used for avoiding or preventing of crime and being a victim and difference in these measures for men and women? Pertaining to the above mentioned research questions, the objectives of the research are framed as follows: To identify different influential factors shaping the perception of fear of crime among men and women. To understand the social construction around men and women, and its impact on their perception of fear of crime. To identify the precautionary measures taken by people for preventing or avoiding crime and difference in these measures for men and women. Review of the past research Fear can be defined as the term that involves a variety and a mix of confused feelings, estimations of risks, perspectives, and thus have different meanings and applications for different people. Crime is a natural phenomenon in the society and the latter cannot be freed from it fully at any time. Fear is a natural response from society and people towards crime. Wynne (2008) mentions the increasing importance and concern for fear of crime in past few decades among criminologists, media, policy makers and general public. There is parallel growth in sensitivity for being a victim of crime and fear of being a victim of crime. Influential factors in fear of crime Scott (2003) mentions that crimes that have an immediate effect on people living in society, such as burglary, robbery, etc. creates a higher degree of fear among individuals rather than the crimes done on a larger scale and on long-term basis. There is no universal definition for fear of crime. It can be defined in various ways, such as a sense of personal security in the society or the community, an emotional response to possible crime that could be violent or any physical harm. Doran and Burgess (2011) argue that constraining daily activity patterns by people due to fear of crime highly influences quality of life. All those affected by fear of crime have the chances of succumbing to the exclusion or social isolation. There is a consistent finding for the relationship between fear of crime and gender. Women are more likely to suffer from fear of crime in comparison to men. There is different meaning of fear of crime for men and women. Men are most likely to be fearful of assaults; women have the highest fear of crime about sexually motivated harm or attack. Shadow of sexual assault is a concept that explains the fear of crime of females. Undoubtedly, women are most concerned about rape and sexual assault, but according to Ferraro (1995), women are fearful of other offences that could occur as a consequence. For instance, women are more fearful about burglary into their home than men; the reason being the probability of occurrence of a sexual attack (Wynne 2008). Furthermore, Gabrosky (2008) claim that rape is considered as a high profile attack that attracts extensive media coverage. This can have a shadowing effect on the perception of women for other kinds of crime against the person. The author led to the conclusion that in order to reduce the fear of crime among women, there must be reduction of fear of being raped. Another influential factor for the fear of crime among individuals is age. There are contradictory findings for the relationship between fear and age. Moore and Shepherd (2007) argue that while previous studies showed elderly people as the most fearful people in the society, recent studies are reporting the opposite of the earlier findings. This shows contradictory findings for the relationship between fear and age. Scott (2003) mentions that older women are less fearful than the younger women for sexual attacks. Moreover, since old people avoid going outside more at night, they are less exposed to fear of crime than their younger counterparts as the young generation spend more time out of their house, and thus are more fearful of assaults. However, elder people are most afraid for mugging and breaking into the house. Physical and social limitations of elderly make them feel vulnerable to the crime. Being a victim of burglary or robbery creates a high level of fear among people of all age (Farrall 2008). Wynne (2008) states that perceived risk of fear of crime has also a relation to the neighbourhood incivilities. Drunken behaviour and alcohol consumption publicly adversely affect the inhabitants of the place. Individuals leaving in an area of neighbourhood incivilities have more constrained daily life activities and behaviour. There is reduced natural surveillance in these areas which increase the level of fear among people and make them adopt constrained life behaviour. Zebrowski (2007) argues that there is also a significant relationship between fear and risk. If an individual thinks of anything that can expose him to the chance of being a victim of a crime, then the perceived risk is high. The chances of being a victim and the assessment of the crime rates in a particular situation and at a particular place evokes fear and perceived risk of being a victim of crime against the person. However, risk is not objective and is shaped by the social and cultural influences. Farrall (2008) sheds light on the role of media, interpersonal communications and knowing a victim in shaping the level of fear of crime among individuals. There is significant effect of hearing stories from people regarding events of crime, media coverage and personal knowing of victims in raising the level of fear of crime and perceived risk of victimization. This leads to an increase in anxiety and the fear of crime. The indirect experience rather than the direct experience plays a more critical role in increasing worries and anxieties about victimization, and fear of crime because media as well as interpersonal communications are obvious resources of getting access to second hand information about the crime. Gender differences in fear of crime Kinsella (2011) states that the patriarchal ideology and the subordination of women are the factors that contributes to the high degree of fear of crime among women. Characteristics, such as independence, autonomy, etc. are considered as inappropriate for women and in the eventuality of a women becoming a victim of crime, these ideas are further mobilized. The above-mentioned characteristics also frame the socialization process for women and the fear of crime among women is related ideologically to the characteristics of feminism that they are being taught in the society. However, Fetchenhauer and Buunk (2005) have stated in their study that women have a higher degree of fear of crime than men, while the rate of victimization among women is less in comparison to their fear of crime against the person. Females are more fearful of every event ranging from burglary, rape, sexual assault, mugging in the street to any kind of physical injury. These gender differences can be attributed to the sexual selection which favours status and risk-taking fights among men, and protection and caution among women. The power control theory assumes that the men are educated to be risk-taking and fearless, while women are educated to be risk-avoiding and fearful. However, the more level of fear of crime in females cannot be attributed to the social stereotypes of male and female. It is the sexual selection of characteristics that leads to the gender differences in fear of crime. Research Methodology Research methodology is an important part of the research report as it gives the explanation of the methods used for the collection of data and the logic behind these methods. Following sections determine the research methodology for the study. Research Approach Deductive research approach is selected for the research study so as to accumulate large volume of qualitative data in respect of the perception of fear of crime among men and women and influential factors that shape the level of fear of crime among individuals. Deductive research approach is helpful in collection of more specific data about the research objectives. It is also helpful in coming to the specific outcomes from generalized results (Crowther and Lancaster 2008). Research Design It assists in identification of appropriate set of research methods that meet the identified research approach well (Creswell 2003). It signifies the base of the research methods used for collection of information related to the topic of the research. It refers to the overall strategy which is chosen to conduct the research and integrate different components of the study. It acts as the blueprint for the research study collecting, measuring and analysing the data. In order to make a comprehensive research, primary and secondary data from the identified and selected resources is taken into consideration. Exploratory research design is the design type selected for the study as it explores the influential factors and social construction behind the fear of crime among individuals. It leads to obtaining background information on the research topic and explain the existing concepts. Research methods Research methods help in collection of relevant data for the study. Both primary and secondary research methods are used for the research study. Primary research method includes semi-structured interviews of sample. In semi-structured interviews, respondents are given the chance to feel free about what is important to her rather than what is important to the interviewer. The interviewer also remains flexible and adaptable to the situations in which he is interviewing the sample (Bryman and Bell 2007). The secondary research method selected for the research study is review of the past research. The data is collected from authentic and reliable sources from internet including journal articles, books and other authentic sources over internet (Cooper 1998). Sample selection Appropriate sampling is essential for organizing the collection of data in an effective way. It has to be based on unbiased approach so as to justify the approach for data collection and improving the reliability and validity of the collected data for reaching final results (Denzin and Lincoln 2000). Interview Respondents: A convenience sample was adopted for the research study, consisting of 3 men and 3 women for analyzing the influential factors in shaping the level of fear of crime among individuals. Six persons residing in the capital city of Australia were invited to participate in the study. The researcher chose to utilise a sample from a singular geographical location so as to reduce the potential for a skew in reporting on the fear of crime due to divergent crime statistics and experiences in different geographic locations. The interviews were conducted via telephone, using a semi structured interview technique (Fink 2005). Another semi-structured interview was conducted with 3 men and 3 women face-to-face from same geographic location of Australian capital city for identifying the differences in perception of fear of crime among men and women and gender differences in concern. Data Analysis Approach The data collected from the semi-structured interviews is analysed qualitatively by recording the interview and transcribing the data into transcripts so as to analyse the data and arrive at findings of the research (Jackson 2008). Analysis of the collected data is done by explaining the findings and factors theoretically with the help of use of transcripts of both the interviews. Reliability and validity of the data In order to make the research reliable and valid, voluntary consent was obtained from respondents so that they can actively get involved in the research process. The personal information of the respondents is kept confidential other than gender and age as these are crucial for finding and analysis of the collected primary data. The credibility of the analysis is maintained by recording the data while interviewing the participants and maintaining the confidentiality of the participants without including personal bias in the analysis section of the research study (Bergh and Ketchen 2009). Findings and analysis The findings are analyzed with the help of use of transcripts and coded data so as to attain the objectives of the research in light of the research problem and questions, and enabling the researcher to get an idea about the influential factors in fear of crime and gender differences in perception of crime against the person. Analysis of the interview questionnaire In regards to the question regarding currently adopted measures for making the house and oneself secure, most of the respondents used deadlocks for doors and kept windows and doors locked when they are out of the house. Those having kids are more concerned about the security of their kids. Use of alarm and living in a good neighbourhood preferably an apartment are other methods used by them to make them secure. As one respondent said, I live in an apartment block and deliberately chose one where you have to get buzzed in through an intercom system. I think that living in an apartment with neighbours around means that if something happens to me people will be around to help, it is obvious fact that neighbourhood provides natural surveillance. Similarly other response, I live in a secure apartment complex. I chose this complex because it has secure car parking. It also has a security system that stops people getting into the common areas indicates the same influential factor of good ne ighbourhood and natural surveillance. Fear of particular crimes All the female participants had the highest fear of being raped and sexual assault followed by home invasion which is again an outcome of being vulnerable to any kind of physical injury or assault by the invader. As said by one female respondent, I would be scared if someone broke into my house, because you never know what they are going to do to you if they are confronted. You are so vulnerable in your own home in that situation, shows sexual assault is most fearful scenario for women. For men, home invasion and mugged in the street are particular crimes they have fear of. In home invasion too, the fear of rape of daughter or wife is high rather than stealing of things or valuables as is evident from this response, I am worried about my wife and kids being attacked and raped. Age and fear of crime It can be analyzed from responses that there is a relationship between age and fear of crime and fear of type of crime varies with age, especially women. Young women are fearful of sexual assaults while elder individuals both male and female are worried and anxious over someone breaking into the house and being mugged in the street. As said by one old-age respondent, We are seen as easy targets for young people. What also surprises me is the willingness of young people to use violence and weapons in crimes, it can be analyzed that age-old people are fearful of crime because of their social and physical limitations. I dont worry that much about it happening to me but I really worry about the kids- this particular response by a middle-age women also shows they become less fearful of sexual assaults but have other worries for being a victim of the crime. Middle age individuals also worry about their growing age and, thus growing vulnerability of being a victim of crime as can be observe d from this specific response: They like to target all old people but they do horrible things to older women. Role of media in perceived risk of being a victim All the respondents said that the stories they hear of the crime, media coverage and knowing the victim personally have influence their thinking of likelihood of being a victim of crime. Specific responses, such as, I read the news on line and watch the TV, so I am pretty conscious of what is happening with people being attacked in the city, my girlfriend getting attacked really scared me, I am pretty involved with my kids school, so I hear a lot of stories through there, Im scared of all this because the world is just so crazy these days and so much bad stuff happens and I hear about it all the time, throws light on indirect experiences as a major factor in influencing the fear of crime of individuals. Relationship of neighbourhood and fear of crime Most of the respondents were in agreement that a good neighbourhood provides natural surveillance and they are comparatively less worried due to living in a good area. One of the respondents gave specific answer: Say if you lived in a neighbourhood where crime is off the chain then yeah, you would be scared of it whether you were a man or woman. But like me, I live in a pretty chilled area where not much bad stuff happens. It can be analyzed that living in a good neighbourhood lessens the fear of crime in both men and women. Likewise, a bad neighbourhood increases fear and anxiety as mentioned by one of the female respondents, When I take my dog for a walk around the neighbourhood, I often see youths hanging around in groups drinking and smoking and get quite scared that they might try and mug me. Gender differences In regards to the query whether women are more fearful than men, all three female respondents agreed that women are more fearful; the reason is social construction, more expression of feelings and concern by women, and physical limitations. Male respondents also agreed to the point which shows that females are more worrisome than males. For the question of impact of stereotype of women being weak on fear of crime, all female respondents agreed that it is a fact and it has an impact on their level of fear of crime. One male respondent was neutral and said that anybody could defence in that situation, while two of them said that men can face the situation more bravely. It can be inferred from the responses that social construction and stereotype of women being physically weak contributes significantly in framing the level of fear of crime. For the question of likelihood of being a victim of crime, both male and female respondents said that they do not continuously think of being a victim, but females showed concern for being more careful and cautious when going out alone in night as can be observed from the following responses: I dont think it is that likely. I am quick to add that I dont think it is likely if I avoid places and things that increase my risk of being a victim, said by a male respondent, My work requires me to work long hours, so I guess the risks are a little bit higher because of that, I tend to go out a lot more on my own to meet up with friends; so yeah there are times I think I am more likely to have something happen, said by female respondents. In response to the question for reason for different behaviour of women and men over fear of crime, most of the respondents said that the social construction and the masculine factor of not admitting fear even when one possesses it makes women express more about the fear of crime than men. However, one of the respondents mentioned the role of ones education, set-up and kind of person one is, in holding different behaviour of fear of crime. It can be analyzed from the above responses that societal construction and difference in behaviour of men and women regarding being manly and feminine are influential factors for gender differences in fear and crime. Discussion and conclusion From the analysis of the primary responses and secondary research, it can be inferred that there are certain influential factors in shaping the fear of crime among individuals. As identified from the responses, good neighbourhood reduces the risk of being a victim of crime, while the same is enhanced in vice-versa situation. Wynne (2008) has also mentioned the significance of natural surveillance and neighbourhood incivilities in shaping the level of fear of crime among individuals. Fetchenhauer and Buunk (2005) throws light on women fearing more of crime than men arising from the sexual selection that favours risk taking behaviour men and protective behaviour of women. Primary research also confirms the fact that women worry more of fear of crime than men and is due to the natural attributes of male and females. Primary responses also shed light on gender differences in worst case scenario for occurrence of crime. While men are mostly concerned of home invasion and being robbed or mugged in street, women were most fearful about sexual assaults followed by burglary. Zebrowski (2007) supports the finding stating that women also feel worried due to consequence of other crime scenarios, such as burglary, where woman could also face a sexual attack. Role of media and other indirect experiences of crime increase the level of anxiety among individuals as mentioned by Farrall and Lee (2008). Primary research supports the finding as it is analyzed that most of the responses pointed towards media stories, heard stories and personal knowing of a victim having influenced their level of fear of crime. Patriarchal ideology of society and subordination of women to men leads to women fearing more than men (Kinsella 2011). Findings from the responses are in coherence with the secondary research as most of the respondents agreed that women stereotyped as being weak and subordinate contributes to their level of fear of crime. As Moore and Shepherd (2007) speak of older women being less fearful than younger women of being sexually assaulted, findings from interview also points on more likelihood of young women being victimized due to sexual assault or rape. However, social and physical vulnerability increases in old age leading to more fear of crime, which is also supported in the study by Doran and Burgess (2011). It can be concluded from overall research that influential factors in the framing of fear of crime among individuals include age, neighbourhood, gender differences and stereotypes, and indirect experiences of crime through media, interpersonal communications and knowing of a victim of crime. Fear of being victimized is higher in females than males and this can be attributed to the societal construction and natural sexual selection that favours risk-taking attitude of men, and risk-avoiding and protective attitude of women. Limitations of the research The research study is confined to a single geographic location due to which the results cannot be generalized to other societies or geographies. The comparison of the responses of one geographic location with another was not done. Personal judgment of the respondents and variation in individual opinions while responding was another limitation of the research. The primary data is collected by using interview method. In this research work, the interview has been conducted with only 12 individuals in Canberra. This is another point of limitation as this would create problems in driving relevant findings and generalizations. All in all, the limitation involved in this research is low sample population for interview purpose. Future Recommendations There should be inclusion of more than one geographic location so that comparison can be made between geographies regarding the fear of crime which can also help in generalization of the result. To collect more and more precise data about the research problem, it is recommended to use only authentic and reliable sources to collect general information and further use this information for finding specific outcomes in more appropriate way. The sample size should be selected taking into consideration the purpose of the research so as to arrive at more authentic findings and results in respect of the research problem.