American Indian Movement History and Profile

The American Indian Movement (AIM) started in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1968 amid rising concerns about police brutality, racism, substandard housing and joblessness in Native communities, not to mention long-held concerns about treaties broken by the U.S. government. Founding members of the organization included George Mitchell, Dennis Banks, Eddie Benton Banai, and Clyde Bellecourt, who rallied the Native American community to discuss these concerns. Soon the AIM leadership found itself fighting for tribal sovereignty, restoration of Native lands, preservation of indigenous cultures, quality education and healthcare for Native peoples.​ â€Å"AIM is difficult to identify for some people,† the group states on its website. â€Å"It seems to stand for many things at once—the protection of treaty rights and the preservation of spirituality and culture. But what else? †¦At the 1971 AIM national conference, it was decided that translating policy to practice meant building organizations—schools and housing and employment services. In Minnesota, AIM’s birthplace, that is exactly what was done.† In its early days, AIM occupied abandoned property at a Minneapolis-area naval station to draw attention to the educational needs of Native youth. This led to the organization securing Indian education grants and establishing schools such as the Red School House and the Heart of the Earth Survival School that provided culturally relevant education to indigenous young people. AIM also led to the formation of spin-off groups such as Women of All Red Nations, created to address women’s rights, and the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media, created to address the use of Indian mascots by athletic teams. But AIM is most known for actions such as the Trail of Broken Treaties march, the occupations of Alcatraz and Wounded Knee and the Pine Ridge Shootout. Occupying Alcatraz Native American activists, including AIM members, made international headlines in 1969 when they occupied Alcatraz Island on Nov. 20 to demand justice for indigenous peoples. The occupation would last for more than 18 months, ending on June 11, 1971, when U.S. Marshals recovered it from the last 14 activists who remained there. A diverse group of American Indians—including college students, couples with children and Natives from both reservations and urban areas—participated in the occupation on the island where Native leaders from the Modoc and Hopi nations faced incarceration in the 1800s. Since that time, treatment of indigenous peoples had yet to improve because the federal government had consistently ignored treaties, according to the activists. By bringing attention to the injustices Native Americans suffered, the Alcatraz occupation led government officials to address their concerns. â€Å"Alcatraz was a big enough symbol that for the first time this century Indians were taken seriously,† the late historian Vine Deloria Jr. told Native Peoples Magazine in 1999. Trail of Broken Treaties March AIM members held a march in Washington D.C. and occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in November 1972 to spotlight the concerns the American Indian community had about the federal government’s policies towards indigenous peoples. They presented a 20-point plan to President Richard Nixon about how the government could resolve their concerns, such as restoring treaties, allowing American Indian leaders to address Congress, restoring land to Native peoples, creating a new office of Federal Indian Relations and abolishing the BIA. The march thrust the American Indian Movement into the spotlight. Occupying Wounded Knee On February 27, 1973, AIM leader Russell Means, fellow activists, and Oglala Sioux members began an occupation of the town of Wounded Knee, S.D., to protest corruption in the tribal council, the U.S. government’s failure to honor treaties to Native peoples and strip mining on the reservation. The occupation lasted for 71 days. When the siege came to an end, two people had died and 12 had been injured. A Minnesota court dismissed charges against the activists who participated in the Wounded Knee occupation due to prosecutorial misconduct after an eight-month trial. Occupying Wounded Knee had symbolic overtones, as it was the site where U.S. soldiers killed an estimated 150 Lakota Sioux men, women, and children in 1890. In 1993 and 1998, AIM organized gatherings to commemorate the Wounded Knee occupation. Pine Ridge Shootout Revolutionary activity did not die down on the Pine Ridge Reservation after the Wounded Knee occupation. Oglala Sioux members continued to view its tribal leadership as corrupt and too willing to placate U.S. government agencies such as the BIA. Moreover, AIM members continued to have a strong presence on the reservation. In June 1975, AIM activists were implicated in the murders of two FBI agents. All were acquitted except for Leonard Peltier who was sentenced to life in prison. Since his conviction, there’s been a large public outcry that Peltier is innocent. He and activist Mumia Abu-Jamal are among the most high profile political prisoners in the U.S. Peltier’s case has been covered in documentaries, books, news articles and a music video by the band Rage Against the Machine. AIM Winds Down By the late 1970s, the American Indian Movement began to unravel due to internal conflicts, incarceration of leaders and efforts on the part of government agencies such as the FBI and CIA to infiltrate the group. The national leadership reportedly disbanded in 1978. Local chapters of the group remained active, however. AIM Today The American Indian Movement remains based in Minneapolis with several branches nationwide. The organization prides itself on fighting for the rights of Native peoples outlined in treaties and helping to preserve indigenous traditions and spiritual practices. The organization also has fought for the interests of aboriginal peoples in Canada, Latin America and worldwide. â€Å"At the heart of AIM is deep spirituality and a belief in the connectedness of all Indian people,† the group states on its website. AIM’s perseverance over the years has been trying. Attempts by the federal government to neutralize the group, transitions in leadership and infighting have taken a toll. But the organization states on its website: â€Å"No one, inside or outside the movement, has so far been able to destroy the will and strength of AIM’s solidarity. Men and women, adults and children are continuously urged to stay strong spiritually, and to always remember that the movement is greater than the accomplishments or faults of its leaders.†

Child s Reasoning And Problem Solving Development

When a baby is born, the baby’s brain contains billion of neurons that will grow into neural synapses. These neural synapses, in turn, turn into â€Å"skills† such as learning how to hold a bottle, how to write or draw, or how to ride a bicycle. These skills require hardwiring so that the skill can be learned and embedded in the brain. The phrase â€Å"use it or lose it† closely ties to a young child’s brain synapses that are not wired together through stimulation are lost throughout adolescence. A child’s brain is more susceptible to this loss than an adult because their brain is still raw. A child’s brain is like building a house—it needs to have a foundation and experiences and interactions to help build the structure. When a child is given love and language-enriched experiences, the child will be able to acquire language, reasoning, and planning skills, because the child’s brain synapses are wiring together. Improving Child’s Reasoning and Problem-Solving Development Child’s Reasoning According to the article, Fostering Children’s Reasoning and Problem Solving, Whittaker (2014) explains that young children are capable of developing reasoning and problem-solving skills. Their skills then support their later development and learning and early childhood educators can foster these developments. These skills are fundamental for lifelong development and without the proper education, children will lack understanding of reason and will not know how to cope with extreme or severeShow MoreRelatedPiaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development1100 Words   |  5 Pages Piaget s theory of cognitive development, that he developed in 1936, explains how a child constructs a mental model of the world (McLeod). 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Promotion Strategy Free Essays

string(85) " while others concentrate on the Lifetime Service Guarantee offered by Ford dealers\." Table of Contents Sr No. | Title| P No. | 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Promotion Strategy or any similar topic only for you Order Now | Introduction| 2-5| 2. | Promotional Mix| 5| 3. | Sales process| 7-8| 4. | Advertising| 9-13| 5. | Other Methods| 14-15| 6. | Public Relations| 15| 7. | References| 18| Introduction What is promotional strategy ? Promotional strategy is the function of informing, persuading, and influencing a consumer decision. It is as important to non profit organizations as it is to a profit oriented company like Colgate-Palmolive. Some promotional strategies are aimed at developing primary demand, the desire for a general product category. For example, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board promotes natural cheese through advertisements without referring to any particular cheese maker. But most promotional strategies are aimed at creating selective demand, the desire for a particular product. Land O’ Lakes campaign—†The taste that stands above. Land O’ Lakes 4-Quart Cheese†Ã¢â‚¬â€is an example. The objectives of promotion, the components of the promotional mix—personal selling, advertising, sales promotion, and public relations are discussed, and finally, the factors that influence marketers’ decisions in selecting a promotional mix are explained. Objectives of Promotional Strategy Promotional strategy objectives vary among organizations. Some use promotion to expand their markets, others to hold their current positions, still others to present a corporate viewpoint on a public issue. Promotional strategies can also be used to reach selected markets. Most sources identify the specific promotional objectives or goals of providing information, differentiating the product, increasing sales, stabilizing sales, and accentuating the product’s value. An organization can have multiple promotional objectives. The National Pork Producers Council has developed â€Å"The Other White Meat† promotional campaign primarily to position pork as a white meat rather than a red meat. Other goals of the campaign include increasing the sale of pork and informing consumers that pork is low in calories and cholesterol, high in nutrition, easy to prepare, and versatile. To illustrate the versatility of pork, one advertisement in the campaign features 21 different pork dishes and offers consumers a free booklet for those and other pork recipes. Providing Information In the early days of promotional campaigns, when there was often a short supply of many items, most advertisements were designed to inform the public of a product’s availability. Today, a major portion of advertising in the United States is still informational. A large section of the daily newspapers on Wednesdays and Thursdays consists of advertising that tells shoppers which products are featured by stores and at what price. Health insurance advertisements in Sunday newspaper supplements emphasize information about rising hospital costs. Industrial salespeople keep buyers aware of the latest technological advances in a particular field. Fashion retailers advertise to keep consumers abreast of current styles. Promotional campaigns designed to inform are often aimed at specific market segments. Warner Bros. Records, for example, created a compact disc advertisement targeted at the baby-boom generation. In explaining the purpose of the ad, a Warner executive said, â€Å"We believe that most boomers are unaware that our classic recordings of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are on CD along with the current releases. The ad informs baby boomers that Warner releases not only contemporary recordings but also some of its best albums from previous years, including those by Fleetwood Mac, Van Morrison, and ZZ Top, on compact discs. Included in the ad is a list of classic recordings now available on compact discs. Differentiating the Product Marketers often develop a promotional strategy to differentiate their goods or services fro m those of competitors. To accomplish this, they attempt to occupy a â€Å"position† in the market that appeals to their target customers. Promotions that apply the concept of positioning communicate to consumers meaningful distinctions about the attributes, price, quality, or usage of a good or service. Positioning is often used for goods or services that are not leaders in their field. The advertisement for Murphy’s Oil Soap in Figure 13. 2 is part of a promotional campaign The Murphy-Phoenix Company uses to differentiate its household cleaner from its much larger competition. While market leader Mr. Clean and other large competitors such as Top Job are promoted as â€Å"tough on dirt† cleaners, Murphy’s Oil Soap is positioned as a gentle household cleaner. The positioning strategy is carried through in other ads in the campaign, in which caretakers of churches and opera houses emphasize the soap’s gentle cleaning attribute. Increasing Sales Increasing sales volume is the most common objective of a promotional strategy. Some strategies concentrate on primary demand, others on selective demand. Sometimes specific audiences are targeted. In an effort to build the sales volume of its bodywear, Danskin developed an advertising campaign targeted at women age 18 to 44. Advertisements in the $3 million campaign, helped boost the sales of Danskin’s adult garments by 30 percent in one year. The campaign theme—†All the World’s a Stage†Ã¢â‚¬â€communicates the message that Danskin garments can be purchased not only for exercise and dance but also as everyday apparel. Stabilizing Sales Sales stabilization is another goal of promotional strategy. Sales contests are often held during slack periods. Such contests offer prizes (such as vacation trips, color televisions, and scholarships) to sales personnel who meet certain goals. Sales promotion materials—calendars, pens, and the like—are sometimes distributed to stimulate sales during off-periods. Advertising is also often used to stabilize sales. Hotels are crowded on weekdays with business travelers, but these people go home on Friday. So many hotels promote â€Å"weekend packages† at lower rates to attract tourists and vacationers. A stable sales pattern allows the firm to improve financial, purchasing, and market planning; to even out the production cycle; and to reduce some management and production costs. The correct use of promotional strategy can be a valuable tool in accomplishing these objectives. Accentuating the Product’s Value Some promotional strategies are based on factors, such as warranty programs and repair services, that add to the product’s value. Many Ford Motor Company advertisements promote specific car and light truck models. Some ads, however, are designed to promote Ford’s 6-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, while others concentrate on the Lifetime Service Guarantee offered by Ford dealers. You read "Promotion Strategy" in category "Papers" These promotions point out greater ownership utility to buyers, thus enhancing the product’s value. The Promotional Mix Firms use various elements to achieve their promotional objectives. Promotion consists of two components: personal selling and nonpersonal selling. Personal selling is a promotional presentation made on a person-to-person basis with a potential buyer. Nonpersonal selling consists of advertising, sales promotion, and public relations. The promotional mix is a combination of personal selling and nonpersonal selling. Marketers attempt to develop a promotional mix that effectively and efficiently communicates their message to target customers. Personal Selling For many companies, personal selling—a promotional presentation made on a person-to-person basis to a potential buyer—is the key to marketing ffectiveness. The promotional strategy of Merrill Lynch, a financial services firm, focuses on its 12,000-person sales force. Selling was the original method of promotion. Today, selling employs over 6 million Americans. The sales function of most companies is changing rapidly. In some cases, the change has been only cosmetic, such as when the t itle salesclerk is changed to account representative but the job function remains the same. Yet, many firms are making significant changes in their sales force. Sales duties have been expanded, and in some instances, the function itself has changed. The primary trend is toward increased professionalism on the part of sales personnel. Today’s sales people act as advisors to their customers, helping them utilize more efficiently the items they buy. Sales Tasks Sales tasks vary significantly from one company or situation to another, but it usually includes three basic tasks: order processing, creative selling, and missionary selling. Order Processing: The task of order processing involves the receipt and handling of an order. Needs are identified and pointed out to the customer, and the order is processed. The handling of orders is especially important in satisfying customer needs. The Willamette Industries advertisement points out that the firm’s salespeople take a customer-oriented approach to order processing. They check the quality of the products their retail customers receive, know their customers’ market, and ensure that products are available when customers need them. Route sales personnel for such consumer products as bread, milk, and soft drinks are examples of order processors. They check a store’s stock, report the inventory level to the store manager, and complete the sale. Most sales jobs have at least a minor order-processing function. It becomes the primary duty in cases where needs are readily identified and acknowledged by the customer. Creative Selling: Sales representatives for most industrial goods and some consumer goods are involved in creative selling, a persuasive type of promotional presentation. Creative selling is used when the benefits of a good or service are not readily apparent and its purchase is being based on a careful analysis of alternatives. In new-product selling, sales people need to be very creative if initial orders are to be secured. Missionary Selling: An indirect form of selling in which the representative markets the goodwill of a company or provides technical or operational assistance to the customer is called missionary selling. For example, many technically based organizations, such as IBM and Xerox, provide systems specialists who consult with their customers. These people are problem solvers and sometimes work on problems not directly involving their employer’s product. A person who sells a highly technical product may do 55 percent missionary selling, 40 percent creative selling, and 5 percent order processing. By contrast, the job of retail salespeople may be 70 percent order processing, 15 percent creative selling, and 15 classifying a particular sales job. The Sales Process Years ago, sales personnel memorized a sales talk provided by their employers. Such a canned sales presentation was intended to provide all the information the customer needed to make a purchase decision. The entire sales process was viewed as a situation in which the prospective customer was passive and ready to buy if the appropriate information could be identified and presented by the representative. Contemporary selling recognizes that the interaction between buyers and sellers usually rules out canned presentations in all but the simplest of sales situations. Today’s professional sales personnel typically follow a sequential pattern, but the actual presentation varies according to the circumstances. Figure 13. 5 shows that seven steps can be identified in the sales process: prospecting and qualifying, the approach, the presentation, the demonstration, handling objections, the closing, and the follow-up. Prospecting and Qualifying: In prospecting, salespeople identify potential customers. They may come from many sources, such as previous customers, friends, business associates, neighbors, other sales personnel, and other employees in the firm. A recent study indicated increased advertising in business publications results in more prospects for salespeople promoting industrial goods and services. In the qualifying process, potential customers are identified in terms of their financial ability and authority to buy. Those who lack the necessary financial resources or who are not in a position to make the purchase decision are given no further attention. The Approach: Salespeople should carefully prepare their approach to potential customers. All available information about prospects should be collected and analyzed. Sales representatives should remember that the initial impression they give prospects often affects the prospects’ future attitudes. The Presentation: The presentation is the stage at which the salesperson transmits the promotional message. The usual method is to describe the good’s or service’s major features, highlight its advantages, and cite examples of consumer satisfaction. The Demonstration: A demonstration allows the prospect to become involved in the presentation. Demonstrations reinforce the message communicated to the prospective buyer. In promoting some goods and services, the demonstration is a critical step in the sales process. Paper manufacturers, for example, produce elaborate booklets that their salespeople use to demonstrate different types of paper, paper finishes, and graphic techniques. The demonstration allows salespeople to show art directors, designers, printers, and other potential customers what different paper specimens look like when they are printed. Handling Objections: Many salespeople fear objections from the prospect because they view them as a rebuke. Actually, such objections should be welcomed, because they allow additional points in support of the sale and to answer questions the consumer has about the good or service to be presented by the sales representative. The Closing: The closing is the critical point in selling—the time at which the seller actually asks the prospect to buy the product. The seller should watch for signals that the prospect is ready to buy. For example, if a prospect starts discussing where the new equipment would fit in the plant system they are inspecting, it should give the sales agent a signal to attempt to close the sale. Effective closing techniques might be that the salesclerk can ask the prospect directly or propose alternative purchases. Or the salesperson may do something that implies the sale has been completed, such as walking toward a cash register. This forces the prospect to say no if they do not want to complete the sale. The Follow-Up: After-sale activities are very important in determining whether a customer will buy again later. After the prospect agrees to buy, the salesperson should complete the order processing quickly and efficiently and reassure the customer about the purchase decision. Later, the salesperson should check with the customer to determine whether the good or service is satisfactory. Many firms employ telemarketers to conduct post-sale activities. Telemarketing: is a personal selling approach conducted entirely by telephone. Telemarketers employed by the Apple Bank for Savings in New York make follow up calls to customers to measure their reaction to the bank’s services. Telemarketers also perform other functions in the sales process. At Apple Bank, they handle customer inquiries and help market the bank’s financial services. For example, telemarketers call customers when their certificates of deposit are about to mature and suggest other savings alternatives. Advertising For many firms, advertising is the most effective type of nonpersonal promotion. Advertising is a paid, non personal sales communication usually directed at a large number of potential buyers. Firms in the United States account for about half of worldwide advertising expenditures. U. S. marketers spend more than $100 billion each year, or about $420 for each man, woman, and child. The nation’s leading advertisers are Philip Morris; Procter Gamble; General Motors; Sears, Roebuck; and Ford Motor Company, each of which spends more than $1 billion on advertising annually. Advertising expenditures can vary considerably from industry to industry and company to company. In the nonresidential general building contracting industry, for instance, advertising spending amounts to only two-tenths of 1 percent of sales. At the other extreme is the retail mail-order house industry, which spends 14 percent of sales on advertising. Types of Advertising The two basic types of advertising are product and institutional. Product advertising involves the selling of a good or service. Advertisements for Nike Air shoes, Marriott hotels, and Packard Bell computers would be classified as product advertising. Institutional advertising: involves the promotion of a concept, idea, or philosophy, or the goodwill of an industry, company, organization, or government entity. For example, Texas promoted tourism with the theme: â€Å"Visit a country where the natives are friendly and the language barrier is easily overcome. Institutional advertising by profit-seeking firms is called corporate advertising. A form of institutional advertising that is growing in importance, advocacy advertising supports a specific viewpoint on a public issue. Its purpose is to influence public opinion and/or the legislative process. Advocacy advertising is used by many nonprofit organizations. For example, advertisements by the National Rifle Association support Americ ans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms and speak out against the passage of gun-control laws. The Chemical Bank advertisement an example of a corporate advocacy advertisement. The ad expresses Chemical Bank’s viewpoint concerning a current law that prohibits commercial banks from competing in the securities underwriting market. Advocacy advertising is sometimes referred to as cause advertising. Advertising and the Product Life Cycle Product and institutional advertising can be subdivided by its purposes: to inform, persuade, or remind. Informative advertising, intended to build initial demand for a product, is used in the introductory phase of the product life cycle. When Johnson ; Johnson introduced its Acuvue disposable contact lens—the nation’s first disposable lens—it launched a massive advertising campaign directed at consumers and eye-care professionals to explain the health benefits of using the new product. Persuasive advertising attempts to improve the competitive status of a product, institution, or concept. It is used in the growth and maturity stages of the product life cycle. The Kinder-Care advertisement in Figure 13. 7 is an example of persuasive advertising. Since it was established in 1969, Kinder-Care used informational ads that promoted the centers’ hours and programs. But now that the company has grown to almost 1,400 centers and competitors such as La Petite Academy, Children’s World, and Gerber Children’s Center have entered the market, Kinder-Care has shifted to a persuasive advertising approach. The theme of the campaign—†The Joys of Kinder-Care†Ã¢â‚¬â€promotes the idea of trust, which the firm’s marketing research indicated was parents’ major child-care concern. One of the most popular approaches to persuasive product advertising is comparative advertising, which makes direct comparisons with competitive products. Numerous companies have used comparative advertising in recent years. The Pepsi Challenge is an example of comparative advertising. Pepsi-Cola ads have used blind taste tests in which a majority of consumers choose Pepsi over Coca- Cola. Although Coca-Cola still leads the soft-drink market, the Pepsi Challenge helped increase Pepsi sales considerably. Reminder-oriented advertising, used in the late-maturity and decline stages of the product life cycle, attempts to keep a product’s name in front of the consumer or to remind people of the importance of a concept or an institution. Soft drinks, beer, toothpaste, and cigarettes are products for which reminder-oriented advertising is used. The Association of Railroads used an advertisement that began: â€Å"Today’s railroads, America’s great untapped resource. † Even police cars in some areas of the United States carry reminder-oriented themes such as â€Å"We protect and serve. † E. D. Bullard Company designed the poster shown in Figure 13. 8 to remind workers of the importance of wearing hard hats. Advertising Media All marketers face the question of how to best allocate their advertising expenditures. Cost is an important consideration, but it is equally important to choose the media best suited for the job. All media have dvantages and disadvantages; these are discussed in the sections that follow. Newspapers: Newspapers, with 26 percent of total advertising volume, are the largest of the advertising media. 9 Because newspaper advertising can be tailored for individual communities, local advertising is common. Newspapers also reach nearly everyone in the community. Other advantages are t hat readers can refer back to them, and they can be coordinated with other advertising and merchandising efforts. In fact, advertising is considered the third most useful feature in newspapers, after national and local news. A disadvantage is the relatively short life span. Television: Television ranks second overall to newspapers with 22 percent of all advertising volume, but it is the leader in national advertising. Television advertising can be classified as network, national, local, and cable. Television has a significant impact on potential customers despite its high cost. Mass coverage, repetition, flexibility, and prestige are other advantages. The medium’s ability to reach huge audiences was demonstrated vividly by the 1989 Pepsi commercial featuring pop singer Micahael Jackson. The firm spent $5 million to beam the commercial to 250 million viewers in 40 nations, from Finland to the Philippines. The ad was pulled because of Michael Jackson’s image and legal problems. ) In addition to high cost, its disadvantages include the temporary nature of the message, some public distrust, and lack of selectivity in the ability to reach specific target market segments without considerable wasted coverage. Direct Mail: Direct mail is the third -leading advertising medium, with about 17 percent of total advertising expenditures. Its advantages include selectivity, intense coverage, speed, flexibility, complete information, and personalization. On the other hand, direct mail is extremely costly. It is also dependent on effective mailing lists, and it sometimes meets with consumer resistance. Radio: With 99 percent of all U. S. households owning on average five radio sets, radio is another important broadcast advertising medium. Radio, which accounts for 7 percent of total advertising volume, can be classified as network, spot, and local advertising. Advantages of radio are immediacy, low cost, targeted audience selection, flexibility, and mobility. Disadvantages include the short life span of a radio message and a highly fragmented audience. Magazines: Magazines account for about 5 percent of advertising volume. Modern Maturity, with almost 20 million subscribers, is the nation’s largest magazine in terms of paid subscriptions. It is followed by Reader’s Digest and TV Guide, each with about 17 million subscribers. Advantages of magazines include selectivity, quality reproduction, long life, and prestige. The main disadvantage of magazines is that they lack the flexibility of newspapers and broadcast media, but the appearance of local advertising in various regional editions of national news magazines suggests that this problem is being overcome. Outdoor Advertising: One percent of total advertising expenditures are on outdoor advertising such as billboards. Its strength is in communicating simple ideas quickly. Other advantages are repetition and the ability to promote goods and services available for sale nearby. However, the message must be brief, and there are aesthetic considerations. Other Media Options: Other media include advertising in movie theaters and on airline movie screens. Recently, several firms such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Chrysler, and Hershey placed ads on videocassette movies. Many firms display their advertising message on trucks, while others use transit advertising. An advertising vehicle gaining in popularity is the hot-air balloon, used by organizations such as Maxwell House, Coors, Eastman Kodak, and the states of Maryland and Connecticut. These alternative media can be employed separately or in conjunction with advertising campaigns using more traditional media. Can you name the candy the space creature picked up in the film â€Å"E. T. â€Å"? Reeses Candy company’s sales of Reeses Pieces went through the profit ceiling for this exposure. As such, many other companies now pay thousands of dollars for this type of theatrical exposure and advertising. Sales Promotion Sales promotion consists of the forms of promotion other than advertising, personal selling, and public relations that increase sales through one-time selling efforts. Sales promotion was traditionally viewed as a supplement to a firm’s sales or advertising efforts, but now it has become an integral part of the promotional mix. Expenditures for sales promotion total more than $100 billion each year. Point-of-Purchase Advertising (POP) Point-of-purchase advertising (POP) consists of displays and demonstrations promoting an item at a time and place near the location of the actual purchase decision, such as in a retail store. Video advertising on supermarket shopping carts is an example. POP can be very effective in continuing a theme developed by some other aspect of the firm’s promotional strategy. Specialty Advertising Specialty advertising is the giving away of useful merchandise such as pens, calendars, T-shirts, glassware, and pocket calculators that are imprinted with the donor’s name, logo, or message. Because the items are useful and are often personalized with the recipient’s name, they tend to be kept and used by the targeted audience, giving the advertiser repeated exposure. Originally designed to identify and create goodwill for advertisers, specialty advertising is now used to generate sales leads and develop traffic for stores and trade show exhibitors. Trade Shows A trade show is often used to promote goods or services to resellers in the distribution channel. Retailers and wholesalers attend trade conventions and shows where manufacturers exhibit their lines. Such shows are very important n the toy, furniture, and fashion industries. They have also been used to promote the products of one nation to buyers from another. L. A. Gear used a trade show extravaganza to let retailers know about its diversified product line. The company, which originally produced a line of teenage fashion athletic footwear, expanded its offerings to include 80 women’s shoe styles, a men’s and a children’s line, and an apparel collection. But most retailers carry a limited number of L. A. Gear styles compared to those of nationally recognized brand names such as Nike and Reebok. To build its brand recognition among retailers, L. A. Gear designed a trade show display replicating the city of Los Angeles, complete with a Beverly Hills Hotel and a 25-foot City Hall. The display includes a stage where dancers, gymnasts, and other performers entertained retailers attending the National Shoe Fair in New York and the Super Show, the trade show of the sporting goods industry. Don Wasley, L. A. Gear’s vice-president of promotion, said, â€Å"When we created this trade show booth, it was to let the retailers know we’d arrived. We wanted them to take us seriously. Other Sales Promotion Methods Other sales promotion techniques include samples, coupons, premiums, contests, and trading stamps. Most of these methods are used to introduce new products or encourage consumers to try a new brand. A sample is a free gift of a product distributed by mail, door to door, in a demonstration, or inside packages containing other products. Samples are particularly useful in promoting new products. PepsiCo used a novel sampling promotion to boost the market share of Pepsi Cola in Brazil. Young male students wearing T-shirts with the Pepsi logo dispensed Pepsi samples from refrigerated backpacks to beachgoers sunning themselves on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. The promotion supported PepsiCo’s â€Å"Taste of a new generation† advertising campaign in Brazil, where 50 percent of the population is younger than 20. A coupon is an advertising clipping or package inclusion stamps are similar to premiums in that they are redeemable for additional merchandise. Historically, they have been used to build loyalty to a certain retailer or supplier. Contests, sweepstakes, and games offer cash or merchandise redeemable by the customer. Offering what amounts to a small price discount, it can help get a customer to try a new or different product. Many retailers, including southern supermarket giant Winn Dixie, double the face value of manufacturers’ coupons. In a recent survey comparing various methods of consumer promotion, 83 percent of respondents said coupons increased the value of their shopping dollar. The respondents gave sweepstakes and other sales promotion techniques much lower ratings. A premium is an item given free or at a reduced cost with the purchase of another product. Premiums are most effective when they relate in some way to the purchased item. To promote its new cinnamon-and-raisin biscuits and increase overall breakfast traffic, Hardee’s fast-food restaurants offered the premium of a California Raisin figurine for 99 cents with the purchase of two biscuits. Sales during the four-week promotion increased 18 percent, well above Hardee’s goal of increasing sales 4. 5 percent. McDonals and Burger King promote theatrical releases through their â€Å"Kids Meals. † Trading as prizes to participating winners. The transit poster advertises an American Natural Beverage Corporation sweepstakes in which the grand prize is a 1957 Thunderbird Classic. The first person to spell â€Å"Cruisin†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ by collecting specially marked bottle caps from Soho Natural Soda wins the car. Public Relations Public relations is an organization’s communications with its various publics, such as customers, vendors, news media, employees, stockholders, government, and the general public. Many of these communication efforts have a marketing purpose. Johnson ; Johnson Health Care Company launched a five-year public relations campaign to educate the public on reducing childhood injuries. The Safe Kids program includes a free safety kit for children that contains Band-Aids and other J;J products. The firm hopes the goodwill generated by the program will not only enhance its image as a caring and concerned company but also translate into more sales. â€Å"Building our image builds our business,† said a J;J executive. 14 Public relations is often used to supplement advertising and personal selling efforts. In some cases, however, public relations is used as a dominant element in a firm’s promotional campaign. For example, in ddition to advertising, Paramount Pictures developed a public relations program to promote the Eddie Murphy movie â€Å"Coming to America. † The program was designed to change Murphy’s image and broaden his appeal beyond his hard-core, young male fans. In the movie, Murphy plays a romantic and humorous leading man, a departure from his familiar tough-guy role in previous films such as â€Å"Beverly Hills Cop† and à ¢â‚¬Å"Trading Places. † To stress the versatility of Murphy’s talent, Paramount prepared publicity releases for newspapers and magazines and sent electronic press kits to television stations. These efforts resulted in extensive media coverage for the movie. For example, several magazines featured Murphy in cover stories, and radio stations gave the movie’s soundtrack additional playing time. Selecting a Promotional Mix Selecting the appropriate promotional mix is one of the toughest tasks confronting marketers, but there are some general guidelines to assist in determining the relative allocations of promotional efforts and expenditures among personal selling, advertising, sales promotion, and public relations. These guidelines might be stated as a series of four rules. The first guideline is the decision whether to spend promotional monies on advertising or personal selling. Once this decision is made, the marketer needs to determine the level of sales promotion and public relations efforts. A second consideration is the market served by the good or service. For instance, a drill press is sold to the industrial market, so the manufacturer’s strategy must emphasize the sales force. By contrast, California Raisins are sold to consumers; an effective advertising campaign is important to consumer products like raisins. The third rule deals with the value of the product. Most companies cannot afford to emphasize personal selling in marketing a low-priced item and instead choose advertising for the promotional strategy of goods like toothpaste, cosmetics, soft drinks, and candy. Higher-priced items in both industrial and consumer markets rely more on personal selling. Examples include time-share vacation condominiums and Boeing aircraft. Finally, the marketer needs to consider the time frame involved. Advertising is usually used to precondition a person for a sales resentation. An effective and consistent advertising theme may favorably influence individuals when they are approached by a salesclerk in a store. But except for self-service situations, a salesperson is typically involved in completing the actual transaction. Advertising is often used again after the sale to assure consumers of the correctness of their selection and to precondition them for repeat purchases. Alternative Promotional Strat egies The selection of a promotional mix is directly related to the promotional strategy the firm will employ. The marketer has two alternative strategies available to meet these goals: pushing strategy or pulling strategy. A pushing strategy is a sales-oriented approach. The product, product line, or service is marketed to wholesalers and retailers in the marketing channels. Sales personnel explain to them why they should carry this particular item or service. The marketing intermediaries are usually offered special discounts, promotional materials, and cooperative advertising allowances. In the last case, the manufacturer shares the cost of local advertising of the product or line. All these strategies are designed to motivate wholesalers and retailers to â€Å"push† the product or service to their customers. The kiwifruit advertisement is an example of a pushing strategy. In it, the New Zealand Kiwifruit Authority suggests ways retailers can merchandise the fruit so consumers will buy it. A pulling strategy attempts to generate consumer demand for the product, product line, or service, primarily through advertising and sales promotion appeals. Most advertising is aimed at the ultimate consumer, who then asks the retailer for the product or service; the retailer in turn requests the item or service from the supplier. The marketer hopes that strong consumer demand will â€Å"pull† the product or service through the marketing channel by forcing marketing intermediaries to carry it. The General Foods advertisement for Maxwell House coffee in illustrates a pulling strategy. The ad announced a sales promotion that tied in with the Taste of Chicago outdoor food festival. Consumers who brought two empty coffee cans to the Maxwell House cafe at the festival received $6 worth of free food tickets. The consumer pull influenced Chicago-area retailers to prominently feature the brand at their stores. With consumers edeeming about 49,000 empty cans, the promotion was so successful it produced record sales and moved the Maxwell House brand from third place to first in the Chicago market. Most marketing situations require the use of both strategies, although the emphasis can vary. Consumer products are often heavily dependent on a pulling strategy, while most industrial products are sold through a pushin g strategy. References 1. Colton. M. Jo Ann (2000). The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Business Basics 101; Advanced Marketing Technologie 2. http://www. smallbusiness. wa. gov. au/marketing-promotion-strategy/#selling How to cite Promotion Strategy, Papers

Android vs IOS free essay sample

Introduction A mobile operating system is the system used to operate a smartphone, tablet, PDA or other digital mobile devices. With over 243million iPhone’s been sold to date (segall, 2012) and over 500million android phones (Knight, 2012) it is fair to say that both IOS (Apple’s mobile platform) and Android (Google’s mobile platform) are the two most popular/common operating systems currently on the market. The high demand for these two systems makes them number one and two in the Smartphone market share (Velazco, 2012). With both systems being so similar and having so much to offer it is hard to decided which one can be given the title as ‘best operating system’. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Some features are effective for some but not all. With both systems offering similar features, there are often accusations that Android is in fact a stolen product and the reason the two are so similar is because the Android idea stemmed from Apple’s IOS (Lynley, 2011). These accusations have been proved to be just that, ‘accusations’. As according to public reports and surveys, many of the android features are said to run more smoothly and effectively than IOS. IOS IOS was released in 2007 as a mobile operating system for the iPhone and iPod touch (Bohn, 2011). With new generations of the system, IOS is now able to support all Apple hardware. Unlike other mobile operating systems, IOS is blocked and unable to be used on non- Apple hardware (apple, 2012). With the launch of the new generation IOS 6 in 2012 more features were added to the already impeccable list. As well as the basics of telephone calls, Mail, camera and web browser. IOS offers media player, YouTube, facetime, maps, Siri, and Appworld, just to name a few (apple, 2012). The user interface is based on the concept of direct manipulation, using multi touch gestures (insight, 2012). Users take control of the system using a mix of hand movements such as sliding, tapping, pinching and the reverse pinch. Some applications even respond by a simple shake to the system. IOS allows the switch from Portrait to Landscape to be done in one simple rotation. Simply rotate the iPhone, ipad or iPod in the direction of your choice and the contents of the screen follows. An app (application) is a computer programme. Apps allow the device to do almost anything within technical reach (BBC, 2012). IOS allows general members of the public to create and add apps to the store, meaning that today there are over 500,000 available apps in Apple’s built in appstore and more than 25billion apps have been downloaded worldwide. Functions and Features Siri Siri is a popular app owned by IOS. It almost works as a personal assistant, allowing the user to make voice commands. Siri can be asked to do things by talking normally. It can be told to make voice calls, schedule meetings send messages and even more technical things such as inform of weather and time (apple, 2012). Multitasking Multitasking is a function used to access more than one app at the same time. For example using the media app audio can still run in the background whilst moving onto another app. This multitasking feature was only introduced in the 3rd generation of IOS after users were finding unethical methods known as â€Å"jailbreak† to unofficially multitask (Whitham, 2012). Do not disturb The do not disturb feature provided by IOS puts a stop to any notifications or calls when you do not want to be disturbed. When you decide to deactivate the don not disturb setting it makes you aware of all the notifications or calls which were missed (Klosowski, 2012). Face time Face time allows video calling between Apple users using Wi-Fi or cellular data services (apple, 2012). Android Android mobile operating system was introduced commercially in 2008 (Mag, 2012). Android is designed for touch screen devices such as smartphones and tablets and is a development made by Google in conjunction with Open Handset Alliance (android, 2012). Google released android as an open source meaning that it can be used by many different manufacturers. Samsung, HTC and Asus are some of the users of Android (Anon., 2012), using the platform to develop their on-going range of smartphones and tablets. Samsung has recently introduced the galaxy s3 using androids most up to date system known as jellybean. Other users of jellybean (android 4.2) come from HTC’s newest smartphone HTC one and also Samsung’s tablet known as the galaxy note. Before the updated version of androids 4.2 jellybean, we saw android icecream sandwich, Honeycomb, Gingerbread, Froyo, Éclair, Donut, Cupcake and Beta (android, 2012). With each new release android has offered something bigger than the la st, it is now â€Å"faster, smoother and more responsive† than ever (developer, 2012). Major features on the new version of jellybean consist of multiple users, expandable notifications, beam photos, widgets, Google now and gesture type smart keyboard. A widget is one mini app on the desktop which once opened contains several other apps. Android widgets come in all different shapes, sizes and ranges. To date there are over 700,000 apps available on android (Hildenbrand, 2012). Functions and Features Multiple users The multiple user function allows more than one user to use the device, but keeps individual user information, setting and content separate like a PC desktop. Currently this feature is only available on android tablets (Ohear, 2012). Google Now ‘Google now’ works as a computerised assistant. It uses Google now cards which provide information such as journey times to work including any traffic, popular nearby places, your favourite team’s score and many much more useful information (Anon., 2012). Offline voice dictation This is a form of voice typing with an advantage of working even whilst offline (Lawler, 2012). Android Beam Beam allows the easy transfers from android to android. By simply touching two android smartphones or tablets together images, videos, music, webpages and many more can be transferred (mobileunlimited, 2012). Market Share command Tablets and smartphones are increasing more and more in popularity. IOS and android are the two biggest competitors in this market (Kirk, 2012). With the growing generations of iPhone’s, ipads and iPods alongside the ever changing versions of Samsung, HTC and Asus smartphones and tablets there is no surprise that the consumer figures have been on the rise since 2011. In 2011 there was a 57.7% increase in the sales of smartphones than 2010, bringing the total to approximately 472million units sold worldwide (Gartner, 2011). Android dominated the smartphone market share in 2011 with 52.5% compared to IOS 15% (Islam, 2011). Although worldwide IOS’s figures are low, when you look at some of the individual countries figures on a whole the percentage is a lot higher. For example in 2011 the market share for IOS in the US was 36% (8.3million out of the overall 23million). While the US android share was 58%. In 2011 (Arthur, 2012). In 2012 there has not been too great of a shift in figures for IOS and android in the smartphone market. So far worldwide 75% of the market share is owned by android and just 14.9% owned by Apple. The last 10% is owned by falling platforms such as Blackberry’s RIM (Yarow, 2012). Not included in these figures is the percentage for the tablets owned by the platforms. By the 3rd quarter of 2012 Apple had sold approximately 14 million ipads giving them a total market share value of 56.7%. Google owned tablets were close behind with 41% (Fingas, 2012). Analysis of IOS and Android It is fair to say that there are many similarities between the IOS platform and Android platform. But the few differences that stand are enough to make consumers choose between the two. When the Android powered Galaxy Nexus was compared to Apple’s IPhone 5 there were quite a few noticeable differences. One minor difference that left Android at a slight advantage over IOS was the way notifications were handled. The notification process was a lot more user friendly on the Nexus as users were able to pick and choose which notifications they would like to clear from the list and which they would like to save till later. On the iPhone it was pretty much only keep them all or clear them all as an option (pocketnowvideo, 2012). Another feature that worked to android’s advantage when these two smartphones were compared to each other was the ‘play store’. Google’s playstore is the equivalent to Apples appstore. However Google’s play store gives the option of downloading apps, music, books and movies all in the same place whereas with apples appstore each of these are placed within different apps meaning the user has to go in and out of the app required (pocketnowvideo, 2012). Also as part of Google’s playstore search process, if you enter a search that comes up with plenty of options the user is able to scroll through many of the options at the same time unlike the appstore where if a search comes up with many options the user has to scroll through each option one by one until they come across the one of choice. Overall when it came down to Google’s playstore and apples appstore, playstore was a lot faster and easier to navigate (pocketnowvideo, 2012). The web browsing experience was very positive when tested on these two platforms IOS was at a slight advantage when it came to speed in loading the web browser; however the scroll mechanism was a lot more efficient and steady on the android. Android’s ‘Google now’ was tested against IOS ‘Siri’ (pocketnowvideo, 2012). Both features had minor step backs whether it is speed or voice recognition but overall Google now was more consistent. More discoveries where made when apples latest tablet the ipad mini was compared to android powered Nexus 7 tablet. Both tablets are the smallest in size for android and IOS with the Nexus being 7 inches and the ipad mini slightly wider at 7.9inches. The first advantage goes to the Nexus for compatibility (pocketnowvideo, 2012). The small size means that the user is not only able to carry it in a bag or  briefcase, but it is actually small enough to fit in most pockets. Testing the web browser performance on both these tablets, the ipad came out on top. The scroll and pinch gesture was recognised more easily on the ipad and overall it was slightly quicker. Voice recognition and performance was once again tested using ‘Google now’ and ‘Siri’. Overall android came out on top with Google now being a lot faster and informative. Application Developers An application developer is the person responsible for taking a basic concept or idea through the process of becoming an app. There are several different approaches to application development but the main concept is to identify, create and define the application requirements (Anon., 2012). Consideration needs to be made to data structure and solutions to any application problems need to be solved. Customer requirements are also a major part in developing applications. With there being so many apps available already, market research needs to be carried out to make sure any new apps will be beneficial. IOS developers As IOS is a closed Operating system, the only way in which to develop apps for Apple is to use the software development kit (SDK) and Xcode. Everything needed to develop apps for iPhone, ipad and iPods is provided in Xcode. It includes features such as a source editor, graphical user interface editor and many more (apple, 2012). Conclusion Taking into account all the research findings and analysis within this report it is clear to see that there is a very fine line between the two mobile operating systems Android and IOS. Overall the IOS platform appears to be very consistent and steady but with it being a closed system it is fair to say that ideas to reinvent this platform and take it to the next level are slim. Android is on the rise matching IOS in everything it already provides and taking it even one step further to ensure that it comes out on top as the most popular platform. Consumers are excited to see what else is yet to come and whether the improvements and alterations that have already been seen within these operating systems can continue. With android opening its  system to allow tweaks and suggestions from big branded manufacturers, they could be in the running to keeping the title as best mobile operating system.

The Canterbury Tales Essays - Fiction, Literature,

The Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales Central Character: young Christian boy Point of View: Told by the Prioress in 3rd person Setting: Town in Asia Summary of the Plot: A young Christian boy 7 years old learns a new Christian hymn and sings it all of the time. He walked through a Jewish ghetto to and from school singing it. Satan tells the Jewish people that the boy was disgracing them and he should be killed. So the Jewish people catch him and slit his throat. His mother finds him dead, but still singing the hymn. The Jewish people are dragged by horses and then killed. Later, he is silenced when the grain is removed from his tongue. Nature of Conflict: Jewish boys don't want the Christian boy to sing anymore. Tone: A sad story of hatred between different religions. Style: informative, easy to read, simple Central events: A boy is killed by Jewish boys, but continues to sing Theme: The Jewish people are evil Evaluation: A story about religions told by a nun. It views the Jewish people are bad and the Christian people are good. The tale shows the Prioress' feelings for Jewish people.

Computer Viruses3 essays

Computer Viruses3 essays Almost every End-user in the world has heard of computer viruses and/or has had one at one point in time. Dont worry if you havent heard about them, you wont find it in your bloodstream. Unfortunately you may find one in your computer memory or disk storage. Some may be as benign as the common cold and others as deadly to your hard drive as the Ebola virus . ~ Usually defined as a malicious code of computer programming it is actually just another software, only written with not so noble intentions. ~ A computer virus is designed to install, reproduce itself and cause damage to computer files and data without the users knowledge or permission. ~ A computer virus can only survive and attack in computer memory, which is usually RAM and disk storage. ~ You will not find a computer virus in your monitor or keyboard. How will the virus invade your computer? ~ All viruses enter the system through two main points. ~ Disk drives may be any type (hard, floppy, CD and whatever you have). This makes anything you insert in your drive a possible source of infection. ~ The network adapter card is most likely your connection to the Internet. Viruses enter here most likely disguised as e-mail attachments. These attachments are often program files and office documents containing macros. Besides e-mail attachments, there are certain WebPages that contain harmful programming codes that may transfer into your computer as virus or virus-like codes. ~ After entering the computer memory, A virus often immediately sets out to multiply and spread duplicate copies of itself across the main data storage device. It does this by copying itself into as many files as it can on the disk drive. Later when users transfer or copy these files to their friends and colleagues, the virus can gain entry to all of their systems. If the virus has come this far on its path, the user may have permanent damage ...

Asian Management for Toyota Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Asian Management for Toyota - Case Study Example The automation (ji-do-ka) consisted of equipping machines with an automatic system to stop them in case of problems. Automation applied to operators who stopped their production line if they ran into problems, so that product quality could be guaranteed and the problem solved on the spot the number of workers per line was diminished through the kaizen (continuous improvement) of production processes. The Asian values of lifetime employment, seniority-based wages, and the company union form the triptych of Japanese-style industrial relations. The relationship between the union and management hinges on reciprocal trust as provided by the 1962 Management-Union joint declaration. The union had no more strikes after 1954. Collective bargaining was replaced by a summit conference organized by company administrators and union executives. Worker bonuses were paid twice yearly, and a retirement bonus was provided. Toyota's weaknesses are its aging workforce, the exit of the Japanese salary man and the end of the era of lifetime employment. ... This case relates closely to the general theories and practices in Asian Management Systems. First, Toyota's Human Resources Division prides itself in treating its workers and suppliers as part of a big family. This close relationship based on trust is seen in the entire production system. First, the company encouraged the workers to propose solutions to production problems. The increased profitability is shared by huge bonuses given to the workers at the end of the year. Second, the company gave them a sense of ownership over their workplace through participation in its improvement. Thirdl, they reinforced bonds among workers by encouraging them to discuss and reflect upon their work. Finally, they promoted leaders from the rank and file and helped them develop their communication skills. Human relations activities were aimed at promoting the manager's personal touch and it has a mentoring system within the company. Toyota helps its suppliers in their production processes, work orga nization, production costs, and product quality. Toyota chose suppliers for each new model. Toyota informed its suppliers of its quarterly production plan so that they could prepare themselves. By creating competent suppliers, Toyota is able to increase its price and quality competitiveness. Customer satisfaction and dealer satisfaction is important. Dealer contracts prohibited them from selling other brands. Toyota provides financial support on condition that they remained loyal. Each dealer signed an annual contract indicating sales per model. The role of the dealers consisted of getting the complaints, requirements, and desires of current and future customers, so that these factors could be taken into account in the design of new

The Universe Next Door Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Universe Next Door - Assignment Example The main question from the worldview to each individual is how do you view or see the world? In understanding worldview, therefore, there are beliefs and patterns taken by various people so as to try and explain these challenging phenomena. Some of them include the religious worldview, with the majority being the Christian worldview, scientific worldview, political worldview, culture and many different sub-categories in which one may decide to view the world, including relationships and business. In summary, the worldview can be seen as the conception of the world that is comprehensive from a particular standpoint (Holmes 5). My personal world view is Christian worldview. My personal beliefs and experiences have made me decide that the Christian worldview explains and makes me understand challenging phenomena in the world. In supporting the Christian worldview, there are various terms that have to be understood. The changing patterns and ways of life and the world at large are consid ered worldview according to personal assertion and observation. Christian worldview tries to explain this changing pattern hence making it is easy for me to understand and explain various things in my environment. It is important to understand the terms like reality, ignorance and informed view when trying to explain the Christian Worldview perspective. The reality of the world is usually expressed by the patterns affecting one’s daily life, people, therefore, develop beliefs and faith. Ignorance is taken to be the lack of knowledge or idea about something but has always been not accepted as an excuse for not understanding and judging what is right or wrong. Many people are ignorant since they do not have an informed view of what life is all about. People of this caliber live without goals, ambitions, visions, and dreams. An informed view can easily be acquired by gaining knowledge through relevant institutions such as schools. Such a view is further boosted by acquiring expe rience through day-to-day life. Whereas some of the worldview according to some people might have been acquired through learning, some can also achieve this knowledge through inheritance. The Christian worldview is composed of a culture passed down from one generation to another. The Christian worldview is based on what can be perceived to be normal, moral and logic. In reality, whatever one believes in is always true according to the context and the environment, but this is not always true in every places or instance (Walsh & Middleton 32). I find the Christian worldview to be true to the environment and the context of humanity. Personality towards worldview involves the ability to sense, think, know, and act to a specific reaction.  

Regression analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Regression analysis - Essay Example The change in the dependent value for a variation in the independent value is estimated in the regression analysis. Multiple regression takes into consideration all the assumptions of correlation. It takes place when the independent variable is dichotomy. In the above prescribed case, if the increase of men and women were to be considered separately; Multiple regression is used. In the case of linear correlation no power terms are found as it will not reflect curvilinear changes in independent variables. In the context of multiple regression the powers to the variables were found to represent the curvilinear variations in independent and dependent variables. Correlation is the percent of variance in the dependent explained by the given independent when all other independents are allowed to vary. In the final result the magnitude of r2 reflects not only the unique covariance it shares with the dependent, but uncontrolled effects on the dependent attributable to covariance the given in dependent shares with other independents in the model. For example in the above case the increase of male female population can be taken as covariance. 2. During the years 1790 to 1820, the correlation between the number of churches built in New England and the barrels of Rum imported into the region was a perfect 1.0.

Competition in Indias Textile Industry

Competition in Indias Textile Industry Factors behind increasing competition in Indian textile industry and strategically approach to gain competitive advantage globally. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The textile industry plays a pivotal role in the Indian economy. The country has produced legends such as Dhaka muslin, which was woven so fine and light that it could pass through a finger ring. But what is significant today is that this sector contributes substantially in providing employment and earning foreign exchange. The country is rich in natural resources such as cotton, jute and silk. The textile industry is the second largest employer, after agriculture, with a total workforce of around 35 million. India is next only to China among the worlds largest producers of textiles and garments. The industry is the largest foreign exchange earner, as the import content is insignificant compared with those of other major export products. Its contribution in exports is nearly 20 per cent. How many of us know that 85 per cent of the handlooms in the world are produced in India? The number of handlooms in the country is four million. The activities in textiles range from the production of natural raw materials such as cotton, jute, silk and wool to the manufacture of quality products such as cellulose fibre, synthetic filament and spun yarn. This is, perhaps, the only industry that is self-reliant and complete in value addition — from raw materials to the highest value-added products (Warrier, 2007). The textile industry occupies a unique place in our country. One of the earliest to come into existence in India, it accounts for 14% of the total Industrial production, contributes to nearly 30% of the total exports and is the second largest employment generator after agriculture. Textile Industry is providing one of the most basic needs of people and the holds importance; maintaining sustained growth for improving quality of life. It has a unique position as a self-reliant industry, from the production of raw materials to the delivery of finished products, with substantial value-addition at each stage of processing; it is a major contribution to the countrys economy. Its vast potential for creation of employment opportunities in the agricultural, industrial, organised and decentralised sectors rural and urban areas, particularly for women and the disadvantaged is noteworthy (www.economywatch.com). Against all these merits, an expert’s lament goes: It is difficult to find such a large-scale industry in the country that is so disorganised as the Indian textile industry. The industry is often plagued by obsolescence, unhealthy regulations and problems of labour. This emphasises the need for strengthening the management mechanism in the industry, to face the emerging international challenges. Common sense administration has its in-built constraints in a world where scientific management decides the destiny of industries in the modern global scenario (Warrier, 2007). The textile industry in India will face intensified competition in both their export and domestic markets. However, the migration of textile capacity will be influenced by objective competitive factors and will be hampered by the presence of distorting domestic measures and weak domestic infrastructure in several developing and least developed countries (www.economywatch.com). The challenges from global competition demand a scientific approach from properly trained management professionals who have specialised in this sector. Sickness and inter-sector contradictions that are a bane of the industry have to be solved through a wise approach and well-calibrated steps, to ensure healthy growth. Managers who are trained in traditional management disciplines will take a long time to get themselves familiarised with the special problems of the textile scene. A strong and competent cadre of trained mangers will help the continuous upgrading of knowledge and skills, fulfilling the need for maintaining a cutting edge in the world of intense competition (Warrier, 2007). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The proposed research intends to examine the increasing competition in Indian textile industry by focusing on the factors that have led to intense competition in the industry and formulate strategies that would help firms in the industry to gain competitive advantage at the global level. The key objectives of the research are identified as following: to identify the factors that have increased competition in Indian textile industry; to examine the nature of competition in Indian textile industry; to develop competitive strategy and provide recommendations to firms in Indian textile industry, so as to sustain the competitive edge in the global market. LITERATURE REVIEW Competitiveness: Definition Competitiveness is a widely used term and there are many definitions of it. The approach taken to competitiveness in this report is a pragmatic one, with the general idea that competitiveness means success in markets that translates into general increases in welfare(National Competitiveness Council Secretariat, 2006, p.1). The main concerns with respect to competitiveness arise from the developments of world markets. The main tendencies in international trade include rapid growth, globalisation, the growth of regional blocks, and the growth of foreign direct investment (National Competitiveness Council Secretariat, 2006). For the company, competitiveness is the ability to provide products and services as or more effectively and efficiently than the relevant competitors. In the traded sector, this means sustained success in international markets without protection or subsidies (Porter, 1990). Indias competitiveness Over a decade has passed since India embarked on liberalisation. There has been no dearth of fervent declarations affirming Indias determination to acquire the capabilities that will add to its competitiveness and enable it to be counted among other recognised global players (Gupta, 1998). However, has India been able to cash on inherent and acquired advantages in terms of competitiveness? Three different bodies assign three different grades to India: The 1999 World Competitiveness Year Book, compiled by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IIMD), shows that Indias ranking in international competitiveness, evaluated by applying 287 criteria, has gone up by two points from being 41st out of 46 countries in 1998 to 39th out of 47 countries in 1999 (Nancy, 1999). The survey conducted by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) for 1999 puts India in 53rd position of 59 countries in its Global Competitiveness Report, down from 50 in 1998, and 45 in 1997 and 1996. It uses 179 indicators under eight heads (openness, government, finance, infrastructure, technology, management, labour and civil institutions). The World Bank, which appraised the competitiveness 46 countries in 1999, places India in the 40th rank. In all these three evaluations, the rankings on certain specific parameters are more worrisome than the overall figures. Indias weakest areas in all the surveys include: uncertainty in government policies; infrastructural deficiencies; unsatisfactory corporate and financial management of both private and public sector enterprises; inept corporate boards; insufficient attention to human development; low productivity; undependable quality; inadequate customer orientation; and negligible investment on RD, with special reference to information technology. India is the fifth largest country in terms of gross national product (GNP) and purchasing power parity (PPP). It constitutes one of the fastest growing markets in the world and is counted among the richest with regard to cheap skilled labour, scientific and technological resources, and entrepreneurial talents. Therefore, the above image of India is quite enviable. To improve the competitiveness of Indian organisations on product design, quality and on-time delivery it has become necessary for them to look for innovations that produce maximum efficiency both within and beyond their operations (Sahay, 2000). Supply chain management is an integrating philosophy to manage the total flow of a distribution channel from supplier to ultimate customer. It is the management of upstream and downstream relationships – both within and beyond their operations – with suppliers and customers to deliver superior customer value at less cost to the supply chain as a whole. Effective supply chain strategies for creating competitiveness revolve around the on-time delivery of competitive quality goods and services, at a reasonable cost, involving the right business partners (Easton, 2002). Business challenges in the twenty-first century The information age competition has ushered in a new set of challenges for business competitiveness (Luftman, 1996). These include: Understanding customers. There is no escaping the fact that the customer in todays marketplace is more demanding, not just of product quality, but also of service. As more and more markets become in effect commodity markets, where the customer perceives little technical difference between competing offers, the need is for the creation of differential advantage through added value. Hence, it is increasingly becoming important to understand customers needs and wants and to translate these into a unique value-added business mission. Managing time compression. Time is the primary competitive motive of business in the 1990s. This does not mean, however, that other motives such as cost, quality, and service can be ignored. In fact, these are pre-requisites to sustain competitiveness. But the winning factor is provided by time-based competition, which becomes the highest priority to gain responsiveness and flexibility. Product life cycles are shorter than ever before, industrial customers and distributors require just-in-time deliveries, and end-users are ever more willing to accept a substitute product if their first choice is not instantly available. Mastering mass customisation. The driving force behind the importance of responsiveness and flexibility is the need and the wish to respond to virtually any customer request just in time. Mass customisation offers a viable solution. It involves the delivery of a wide variety of customised goods or services quickly and efficiently at low cost. The key to making mass customisation work is highly-skilled and autonomous workers, processes, and modular units, so that managers can co-ordinate and reconfigure these modules to meet customer specific customer request and demands. Mastering mass customisation is the step towards gaining a competitive edge and is driving new business models. Undertaking globalisation. There is an increasing trend towards globalisation. Almost every sector of business is influenced by global forces due to globalisation. In the global business, materials and components are sourced worldwide, manufactured offshore and sold in many different countries, often with local customisation. The challenge for the global company, then, is to achieve the cost advantage of standardisation while still catering for the local demand for variety. This has given rise to intense competition blurring the boundaries between domestic and global markets. Business, therefore, can no longer act as an isolated and independent entity in competitive world, the real test of competitiveness takes place in international markets (Salcedo and Grackin, 2000). There is a need to create value delivery systems that are more responsive to fast changing global markets and much more consistent, focused and reliable. Competitiveness and Textile Industry Clothing manufacturing in many developed countries has almost disappeared, probably more quickly than the ATC signatories imagined. The Japan Textile Importers Association now estimates that 87 percent of clothes on sale in Japan are imported: the American Apparel and Footwear Association estimates 89 percent of US clothes. Nonetheless, the apparel industry in rich countries is fundamentally different in 2002 from what it was in 1994, and this change affects the way in which the political debate around further liberalization is likely to occur (Flanagan, 2003). The countries India and Vietnam are viewed as strong competitors in future market share of textiles and apparel. Trade relations with Vietnam were non-existent in 1993. Since that time, a desire for closure to the war sees initial trade relations established. Thus, the data may be misleading due to this fact. India has been among the largest producers of cotton fiber since the days of yore. In the past India would export low-value items such as fiber or yarn to developed nations, which produced and manufactured fabric for clothing. However, because the profit margins are highest in the fabric and assembling for the apparel supply chain, the realization dawned to integrate vertically. India has emerged as a major sourcing base of cotton clothing worldwide and most of the leading US retailers such as Gap, J.C. Penney, and Nordstrom have set up sourcing offices in India (Tyagi, 2003). As government policy has become more strongly oriented towards trade liberalization, the industries have become progressively exposed, through multi-lateral and bilateral deals, to the full force of international competition from a growing array of international suppliers. At the same time, the emergence of large, sophisticated retail groups together with intense retail competition has found retailers exercising their bargaining leverage by squeezing suppliers for lower prices, and higher levels of service and product innovation. There has also been an increasing trend among large retailers to source direct or use foreign intermediaries (Flanagan, 2004). Market needs have become more changeable and fragmented, and consumers have become more discriminating with regard to product novelty, quality and value. Technological change has resulted in a broadening and a deepening of the financial and intellectual resources textile and apparel companies need to compete. Companies have been faced with making heavy investments in new technologies against the background of poor profitability, uncertain competitive outcomes and difficulties in gaining access to capital at non-discriminatory rates (Kilduff and Priestland, 2001). METHODOLOGY Research Design The statement regarding the nature of the problem identifies concepts that have to be explored and that would influence the data collection methods, the subsequent data analysis and reporting that would influence the data collection methods, the subsequent data analysis and reporting that are required (Hakim, 1997). In the light of this assumption the researcher meets with the task of constructing a research design, and analysing and interpreting data. The design of research study is based on the purposes of the research, if explanatory information is needed then a quantitative research is likely to be undertaken and if exploratory information is needed, then a qualitative research may be taken (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000). So far as the proposed study is concerned both exploratory and explanatory information is needed for getting the clear picture of the study problem, therefore both qualitative and quantitative research methods will be applied in the proposed study. Data Collection Methods In academic study the two most common methods of data collection are primary and secondary (Saunders et al, 2004). Therefore in the proposed study also both secondary and primary data collection methods will be applied. The sources of secondary data in the proposed study will be academic journals, trade magazines, Government of India Textile Ministry Reports, Indian Textile and Clothing Exports Association Reports, Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Reports, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Reports and various other related private and public reports. The primary data collection follows the procedure of data collection through interviews, questionnaires, observation, case studies, diaries, portfolios etc. In fact, such data is called primary, because it is the initial step, which the researcher has to take in order to begin research. The researcher can use one or more than techniques specified above to collect the data in the present study questionnaire based survey technique would be applied for collect primary data (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000). This technique is found instrumental in generating and quantitative data. For questionnaire based survey 25 managers (as sample) will be selected from Mumbai (India) based textile firms. TIME PLAN BIBLIOGRAPHY Easton, R. (2002), Seizing the supply chain opportunity in Asia, Ascet, Vol. 4. Flanagan, M. (2003), Let there be no doubt: quotas will go – almost everywhere, Apparel Sourcing in the 21st Century, pp.3. Flanagan, M. (2004), The ground rules for sourcing after 2005, Management Briefing, available at: www.just-style.com, No.February. Gupta, R. (1998), From liberalisation to liberation, paper presented at the 25th National Management Convention, All India Management Association, New Delhi, . Hakim, C. (1997), Research Design: Strategies and Choices in the design of Social Research, 5,Routledge, London. Kilduff, P.D.F. and Priestland, C. (2001), Strategic Transformation in the US Textile Apparel Industries, A Study of Business Dynamics with Forecasts up to 2010, College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, . Luftman, J.N. (1996), Competing in the Information Age: Strategic Alignment in Practice, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Nancy, L. (1999), World Competitiveness Year Book: methodology and principles of analysis, World Competitiveness Year Book 1999, IMD, Lausanne, . Porter, M. E. (1990), The Competitive Advantage of Nations. (New York: The Free Press). Sahay, B.S. (2000), Supply Chain Management in the Twenty First Century, Macmillan India, New Delhi, . Salcedo, S., Grackin, A. (2000), The e-value chain, Supply Chain Management Review, Vol. 3 No.4, pp.63-70. Saunders, M. Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2004) Research Methods for Business Students, 3rd Edition, Financial Times Prentice Hall Inc., London. Schiffman, L.G. and Kanuk, L.L. (2000), Consumer Behavior, Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. Tyagi, R. (2003), Apparel globalization: the big picture. [Online] Available on 5th October, 2007 from URL: www.allbusiness.com/manufacturing/apparel-other-finished-products-made/4400793-1.html Textile Industry. [Online] Available on 5th October, 2007 from URL:http://www.economywatch.com/business-and-economy/textile-industry.html National Competitiveness Council Secretariat, 2006, What is Competitiveness?. [Online] Available on 5th October, 2007 from URL:http://www.wtoconsultation.ie/ncc/reports/ncc/what.htm Warrier, B.S. (2007), Weaving out managers. [Online] Available on 5th October 2007 from URL: http://www.hindu.com/edu/2007/04/24/stories/2007042400050200.htm

Ad Reinhardt Abstract Painting 19601965 :: essays papers

Ad Reinhardt Abstract Painting 19601965 Ad Reinhardt's painting, Abstract Painting 1960-65, is at first glance' a black square canvas. The subject matter seems to be just what it is, a black painting. There are no people. No event or action is taken except for the fact that Reinhardt has made the painting. The title only provides us with the information that we are looking at an abstract painting. The only other information that the artist gives you is the time period, in which it was conceived, 1960 to 1965. In the least amount of words possible, we could describe the painting as an abstract color field. It is possible that a narrative is expressed through the piece, although, we can not be certain what it is. There is nothing narrated through conventional means in any way. The composition of the painting takes place with the square of the canvas. The square is approximately 5' x 5'. A black frame surrounding the painting protrudes approximately 4" off the canvas. There is a 1" inlay between the canvas and frame. From this square, Reinhardt breaks the composition into six equal squares in three even rows. Texture is no where to be found in the painting. No visual indication of the artist's brush stroke is present. No varnished glare is given off by the piece. The entire work, including the frame, is completely matte. The squares take up the entire canvas in a checkerboard type arrangement. Each square is a slightly different shade of blue-black. It almost becomes impossible to see the difference between each square. The middle squares in the top and bottom rows shift more towards blue than the rest of the squares. The division of these middle squares become more obvious than the others. When the painting is looked at from a distance, it is almost imposs ible to see any of the squares at all. When looking from a far, all a viewer can see is a blackish blue canvas. As you stare longer into the painting, a halo begins to form around the corners of the canvas, creating a circle inside the square. Once you look away from the canvas, the circle is gone. With this observation in mind, we could say that the painting most definitely relies on the viewer. A viewer is required to look at the piece for its full affect. We could say that the squares in the painting are self-contained.

Rhetorical Analysis: Proclamation of Rebellion

Proclamation of Rebellion On August 23rd of 1775, King George III issued A Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition after hearing news of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The document declared that the colonies were in an open state of rebellion and requested that all subjects of Great Britain report â€Å"traitorous correspondence† by anyone who may be involved so they could be punished. King George’s proclamation acted as an antithesis and undermined his remaining colonial moderate support.The purpose of the proclamation was obvious: King George III wanted to thwart the colonial rebellion by coercing them by means of intimidation, which is a form of an ethos appeal. However, the timing of the issuance of the proclamation and its diction reveal a seemingly desperate King George. King George III opened the proclamation with the use of a self-sealing conspiracy argument against the leaders of the rebellion when he referred to them as â€Å"ill designing. † He tried to create an outlet for the average colonial subject by calling them â€Å"misled. This also played into the conspiracy argument by making those same subjects doubt the American leadership they had followed up to that point. It seems as though he called the colonists to rethink their position by portraying Great Britain as their protector and guardian while labeling the colonial leadership as avaricious conspirators. These claims that Britain was still an excellent father figure to whom the colonists owed respect and deference were arguments of principle.However, it was clear that many colonists found incidences such as The Boston Massacre and The Battle of Bunker Hill indicated otherwise. Not only did The Battle of Bunker Hill display that Great Britain was not the colonist’s protector, but also that the British could be beaten. This loss painted a much weaker picture of King George. The proclamation was released just before King George would decline to receive the c olonists’ Olive Branch Petition.By declining to receive the petition, it was assumed that the King’s proclamation was his response. With that in mind, the remaining colonial moderates retained little hope that Great Britain and the colonies would remain united. King George’s proclamation labeled the leaders of the colonial resistance â€Å"dangerous and ill designing men† and listed the ways they had violated royal law. He also posited all the ways the Empire had correctly administered governance and rule over the colonies.It said that those who aided Britain in finding conspirators would be protected for their â€Å"loyalty and zeal† and that ignorance was not an option. Up to this point, ignorance of the relations between the colonies and Britain was the path chosen by many moderates who hoped reconciliation would be made. In his proclamation King George identified these moderates as well as Tory supporters and attempted to pit them against the à ¢â‚¬Å"conspirators. † This rhetorical act on the part of King George III and the British was an utter failure at achieving its intended goal.By that point, the relationship between the two parties had been violent for quite some time and colonial confidence in the King by his shrinking supporting minority was waning. He used self-boasting ethos appeals to the colonists (many of whom had already come to the conclusion that they didn’t like him) and hoped that they would essentially turn themselves in and give up. The worst part about the entire proclamation was that it completely crushed moderates who supported the idea that independence wasn’t the answer.