Latest Trends on Global and China Atm Industry Essay

Firstly the report describes the background knowledge of ATM, including ATM(Automated Teller Machine) CRS(Cash Recycling System) Concepts Classification production process technical parameters; then statistics Global and China 15 Manufacturers ATM CRS product 2010-2016 Capacity production cost price production value Gross margins and other relevant data, statistics these enterprises ATM CRS products, customers, raw materials, company background information, then summary statistics and analysis the relevant data of these enterprises. and get Global and China ATM CRS 2010-2016 production market share, different Type ATM production market share, Global and China ATM demand supply and shortage, Global and China ATM 2010-2016 production price cost Gross production value gross margins, etc. At the same time, the report analyzed and discussed supply and demand changes in ATM market and business development strategies, conduct a comprehensive analysis on Global and China ATM industry trends. To Have a Copy: http://www.allmarketresearch.com/wiki/global-and-china-atm-industry-2013-deep-research-report.php Finally, the report also introduced 5000 Sets/year ATM project Feasibility analysis and related research conclusions. In a word, It was a depth research report on Global and China ATM industry. And thanks to the support and assistance from ATM industry chain related experts and enterprises during Research Team survey and interviews.

Analysis: Computer Repair Shop

A computer repair shop chooses to back up the users data if there is an issue with the owners computer software. Then they just reinstall the operating system. What the computer repair shop doesnt do is reinstall the users applications.There are good and bad things about doing business this way. Some of the pros are it is less time consuming, all of the users pictures, music, videos, and documents will be backed up, and the computer will end up getting fixed. Doing it this way is less time consuming and that is both good for the computer repair shop and for the customer. Having everything backed up and the computer getting fixed are probably the two most important things to the owner of the computer.Despite all of the good things of fixing the computer of software problems by backing up the computer and reinstalling the operating system there still are some cons. There is not really any cons for the computer repair shop. However, for the user they might not like the fact that the per son repairing the computer will not reinstall the users applications and programs.A user who just uses their pc for browsing the internet and checking emails wont need a backup or any applications reinstalled. Someone who needs their documents for work will need all of them backed up but will probably not need their applications installed for them because they can just do it them selves.

Pop Culture Experience (Counseling is my subject area) Assignment

Pop Culture Experience (Counseling is my subject area) - Assignment Example In the African culture, marriage is sacred and solidifies relationship amongst communities and even nations. Nigerian culture and by far African culture celebrates the rains, harvests and birth of children which ushers new life and lineage continuity. Marriage is a rite of passage but the way Johnny is portrayed in this song is completely opposite to what young men go through during initiation period (Alade, 2013). A young man is not allowed even to touch a lady before marriage as it is believed it can bring bad omen to the family and embarrass the community at large. Johnny is accurately portrayed in this song due to civilization that is being experienced in the African continent. Western civilization and the unstoppable wave of globalisation has introduced many practices that were not there in the African culture including dating that was never heard of in the yester years. Kenny Rogers hit song â€Å"Coward Of The County† was out in 1979 single in the album Triple Platinum Kenny (Roland, 1991). The song is about Kenny Rogers’s nephew, Tommy, whom everyone in his County regarded a coward and nicknamed him yellow because he never stood up for himself to show the County what he was made of. His dad had died in prison ten years before this song and he had forbidden him to do the things he had done that got him jailed (Roland, 1991). From the lyrics, Tommy’s dad advised him that ‘turning the other cheek’ is not a sign of weakness and that in confrontations he should ‘walk away’; until this one day when Tommy’s girlfriend was raped by The Gatlin Brothers and he had to break his father’s promise by beating all the three brothers leaving them unconscious in the barroom (Roland, 1991). The three brothers in this song, The Gatlin, who are the minority, do not re-present the dominant culture in any society. They felt strong in the County

The Inside Story of Wal-Marts Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Inside Story of Wal-Marts Success - Essay Example Wal-Mart has initiated its business from the United States and expanded its stores nearly in every corner of the world that include countries such as Puerto Rico, Canada, China, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Argentina and many more. Wal-Mart is a place where one can find all the varieties of the needy stuff from clothes to shoes, cleaning supplies, health and beauty support, food, home decor, electronic appliances, automotive, in fact, everything. In other words, Wal-Mart can come under the terminology of a convenient one-stop store that is available at the best prices an individual can think (Soderquist, pp. 1-9). Sam Walton is the mastermind that lays behind the concept of Wal-Mart, which came into appearance roughly a few centuries ago, which is comparatively a young but very well established and entrenched company. Their strategic sales and planning are the unique and inimitable features that have not only provided them an edge over all their competitors throughout all these years but also made them the biggest retailers in the history of the world. The capability and talent of Sam Walton for discounts retailing have been the most successful strategy that has heightened the image of the Wal-Mart and made them stand on the top position for its tremendous sales in the retail business. Indeed, the innovative implementation of these strategic decisions is the chief component that makes Wal-Mart a flourishing company. However, the ultimate goal of Wal-Mart has always been to keep prices lower than the average cost, so that the customer can save a significant amount while shopping at Wal-Mart (Bergdahl, pp. 38-42). Customers, employees or associates and the community were the top priority for Walton. The phrase ‘Customer is always right’ was one of the deepest viewpoint and philosophy regarding the customers that are still in practice until the current day.

Public health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 22

Public health - Essay Example substantial amount for these trials, the funds that are supposedly earmarked for these could be channeled to other priority and urgent health concerns, such as greater access to health care of marginalized groups and improved availability of least expensive medicines to more people, as needed. In evaluating a particular illness or disease, consumers are more alarmed at information that indicates that the illness significantly affects more people at a defined time frame. The apparent reason for this is that these illnesses that could be easily spread and inflicts a greater number of people are more risky and dangerous; since these illnesses are not immediately treated, as required. As such, consumers are more alarmed at health information which discloses greater vulnerability of a defined population according to risk factors and the extent of immediate exposure and contraction; for fear that they could be afflicted with these illnesses. As such, health organizations are always vigilant on new illnesses that could develop into an epidemic or pandemic

E Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

E Business - Essay Example This report will focus some major e-business concern that the Sage administration can use to assess the ROI on e-business implementation. The report will also focus various aspects of the business that will have a positive impact on adapting the suggested e-business model. Putting it simple Dave (2009, p. 4) states, â€Å"E-business has introduced new opportunities for small and large organizations to compete in the global market place.† The trend of using information in getting the competitive advantage is getting more and more acceptability by intelligent business managers. In a fast pace business environment today the intelligent use of information can provide an edge in decision making process. Business profitability heavily relies on the decisions that the management has to takes in nick of time. A good decision can bring more business to the company and a bad decision can play havoc with the business. The sell-side of boutique business has special concern for ensuring an d maximizing its item display management. Moreover, the emerging trends in fashion industry can have a very positive impact on decision making process. The increasing number of young online users is of special interest for boutique business as it can promote its business objectives rather easily by engaging this lot. Dave (2009, p. 4) has also pointed out this when he states, â€Å"In 2006, the global number of internet users passed 1 billion for the first time and in many countries over half the adult population is online.† The e-business model is a complete solution. It includes several internal and external system modules to cover the business operations. The internal system modules such as Human Resource Management (HRM), Finance, Stock Control or Inventory Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Supply Chain Management (SCM) etc and the external system modules such as Customer Care Management, Display Services, Orders Management, Trends Management System etc. form part of this e-business model. These internal and external systems are part of Knowledge Management (KM) system which provides decision support to the managers. Wei et. al.(2011, p. 235) has pointed out the use of this KM model, â€Å"By support of basic system modules, perfect KM could finish the process to collect, arrange, spread and apply the knowledge.† The e-business model for boutique is supposed to provide decision support through focused and targeted information for sell and buy side operations of the business. Some basic features and recommendations of such KM system are outlined in the following lines; (a) The system development phases should be properly outlined and a strict timeline should be followed for gradual migration on e-business information systems. (b) Priority should be assigned to the modules which have a direct impact on business growth. (c) E-sell (the selling side of the e-business) must offer the convenience that can move the customer to e-bu siness and customer should find it easy, effective and rapid to purchase goods online then coming all the way to boutique outlets. (d) E-sell order placement should be very convenient and proper feedback mechanism should be in place to keep close contact with the customer. (e) The objective of facilitating customer should remain the top priority of e-sell system and it functional aspect should not cause delay. (f) The customer time engagement should be minimized. (g) The minimal input required forms

The concept of a contract Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The concept of a contract - Case Study Example However, it was later viewed that lack of proper operational performance and improper management of DB, resulted in the failure of the overall project (USA Gov, 2013). Critically observing, it can be identified that DB had intentionally overlooked its implied obligation to maintain transparency and systematic order in its service delivery process. Tactfully, DB withdrew from performing any written contractual promises, which was overlooked by the other two parties involved in the contract. Certainly the absence of firm verbal intimation regarding the offer and acceptance of the contract along with specific proclamations of clauses to be adhered by the parties involved had been a major setback for the sufferer, i.e. SCT (USA Gov, 2013). However, given the legal guidelines of having a viable contract SCT can take legal directions even with the non-availability of any written proof to the contract. Considering, the fact that DB had delivered the services demanded through the contract by SCT, it can be affirmed that a contractual relationship existed between DB and SCT. 2. Ethics in legal decision making plays a vital role, as it helps in taking legal decisions, which are accepted within the societal context. Legal terms between the two parties owing to contractual agreement inculcate ethical considerations for effective completion of the contract. In a contractual agreement, ‘Breach of Confidence’ plays a vital role in assuring both the parties to undertake ethical measures within this particular contractual relationship. Critically, observing, it can be ascertained from the case study that two of the contractors of DB have violated the legal implications of ‘Breach of Confidence’. Considering the case scenario, it can be observed that two external contractors of DB have leaked some vital information relating to a contract of their company with a Taiwanese’s firm. The case further states that the two external contractors conveyed t he client i.e. SCT about the DB’s failure in meeting the requirements of the Taiwanese’s firm, which leads to a greater monetary loss of the parent company. However, owing to the aforesaid scenario, it can be comprehended that ethical and legal implications can be implemented complying with the disloyalty of the two external contractors. In this regard DB can firstly terminate the contract with both the contractor under the ‘Breach of Privacy Law’. Concerning with the abovementioned act, it implies about the authority of an organization to create its own privacy rule while making sure that minimum standards are applicable to protect the private information of the company (Andrews, 2011). Secondly the company can take legal action that would restrict the two contractors from conducting such illegal activity. Additionally, the company could also ask the legal advisor to undergo a detailed investigation about the whole scenario and make decisions accordingly. However, the company can ask the legal body to charge monetary fines pertaining to the breach of confidentiality as a legal implication. Considering the aforesaid scenario it can be apprehended that ethical consideration the company could have provided them their salary which would have restricted them from taking such illegal steps (Australian Government, 2012). 3. Critically, examining the case scenario, it can be comprehended that DB has violated numerous rules and regulations associated with the contractual agree

Where to Invest Housing Vs Stock Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Where to Invest Housing Vs Stock Market - Essay Example This also means that the investors have to rationally decide investing into different markets and instruments which coincide with their investment preferences therefore, choosing between investing into stock market or housing market is based on such investment preferences. It is generally believed that prices in housing market tend to inflate at the time when stock market performs better. This correlation suggests that a high performing stock market tend to improve the overall economic environment which also supports other markets. However, what is also important is the fact that while considering making a decision to investing into housing or stock market is dependent on the returns offered by the alternative investments at the acceptable level of risk. (Blake, 2000). Therefore, if all other things do not change; investor will make a decision where return is higher and risk is minimum. What is however, most critical is the fact that investors often face dilemma when the respective risk profiles of markets start to show greater volatility. It is very well known that making an investment into stock market is the riskiest investment because stock markets, historically, have shown greater volatility, hence greater risk, over the long period of time.

Coffee delight Essay Example for Free

Coffee delight Essay I agree with Lisa’s view to a certain extent that the marketing budget is the most important component in the marketing plan. Harry has set a market objective of two million subscribers by 2015; a target that is very ambitious to achieve a fifth of the forecasted market share which is seen as very unrealistic with a basic marketing budget and Robert media plc will need to do a higher proportion on research than normal which will cost a lot more than usual. Another reason why the marketing budget is so important is that Roberts’s media is changing from print format to digital as they seek to achieve their object of increasing ROCE to 8%. Digital media is a new market for the business and therefore will need extensive research to see what the target markets’ needs and wants are. Although the marketing department had previously won awards for the way it promoted print magazines, but was concerned that the new technology would require a very different approach. As digital is completely different to print media, it obviously needs research conducted. However, Harry is being stubborn and dismissive stating that the marketing budget is un-important and will not provide additional funds. This could therefore mean that the businesses target the wrong people and that their objective to increase the ROCE to 8% could be dented and un-applicable. The rivals of Roberts media plc are already one step ahead of the business as they were already launching their own digital magazines within the next sic months and had already started their marketing campaign. This will have a big effect on the Roberts media as their targeted customers are already being targeted by rivals which could therefore mean fewer sales in the future. As the business is behind its rivals, a big promotional campaign will be needed in order to attract potential customers away from rivals. A big promotional campaign will require a big marketing budget but is what is needed in order to out beat its competitors in the race for customers. However, I agree with Harry not to provide addition funds to the marketing budget as the financial situation of the business is not very stable at this moment in time. The return on capital has fallen from 10% to 2% meaning that it will not be wisely to invest as it’s not really worth it to invest. Along with the poor state of ROCE, the current ratio is also in a bad state fallen from 1. 5:1 to 0. 5:1. This means for every 50p of current assets the business had ? 1 of liability. Having such a poor financial position will rupture the finance available and will need to use the scares finance available wisely. To conclude, I certainly agree with Lisa that the business’s marketing budget is the most important feature on the marketing plan. This major change from print to digital will cost a lot and will be in need of a big marketing budget to be successful. Also, Roberts media is already behind its rivals on its marketing and therefore will need something big to attract customers. Finally, Harry has set a very ambitious objective and therefore it will need a big marketing budget to be able to fulfil its purpose. Although the financial state of the business is poor, harry will need to help its marketing team and provide which they feel what is needed as the long run.

Multi-Layered Security Plan Essay Example for Free

Multi-Layered Security Plan Essay Protecting sensitive or confidential data is paramount in many businesses. In the event such information is made public, businesses may face legal or financial ramifications. At the very least, they will suffer a loss of customer trust. In most cases, however, they can recover from these financial and other losses with appropriate investment or compensation Having information of different security levels on the same computer systems poses a real threat. It is not a straight-forward matter to isolate different information security levels, even though different users log in using different accounts, with different permissions and different access controls (Red Hat, Inc. 2006). Below I have listed the IT infrastructure of Richman Investments along with recommendations in each infrastructure on levels of security that should be implemented for a more secure network. IT Infrastructure Affected 1. User Domain: The people who access an organization’s information system. * The first thing that should be implemented is a mandatory Computer Security training session to educate the users on the proper use of work computers. 2. Workstation Domain: Users (most) connecting to the IT infrastructure. * The workstation domain comes with its own problems such as unauthorized access to the system, the way to fix this problem would be to implement access policies and guidelines. 3. LAN Domain: A collection of computers connected to one another or to a common connection medium. * Implement second or third level identity check to gain access to sensitive systems, applications, and date. Keep all hardware in a secure location with access only with proper ID. 4. LAN-to-WAN Domain: Link between the Wide Area Network (WAN) and the Internet. * Conduct post configuration penetration tests of the layered security solution within the LAN-to-WAN Domain. Test inbound and outbound traffic and fix any gaps. Also, apply e-mail server and attachments antivirus and e-mail quarantining for unknown file types. Stop domain-name Web site access based on content-filtering policies. 5. WAN Domain: Wide Area Network (WAN) connects remote locations to the Local Area Network (LAN). * Encrypt confidential data transmissions through service provider WAN using VPN tunnels. 6. Remote Access Domain: Connects remote users to the organization’s IT infrastructure. * Remote Access Domain, Being that the users are off site it is hard to say that the users password information has not been compromised. In such cases when abnormalities are spotted or data is accessed without proper authorization, data should be completely encrypted to prevent any sensitive materials from being sold or presented to the open market. 7. System/Application Domain- Holds all the mission-critical systems, applications, and data. * Develop a business continuity plan for mission-critical applications providing tactical steps for maintaining availability of operations. Perform regular rigorous software and Web-application testing and penetration testing prior to launch.

Multidisciplinary Care Worker

Multidisciplinary Care Worker M2 In Mrs Cs case a she has to be provided a key worker who would be working with her by ensuring that all her need is met and also involve other multidisciplinary team and inter-agency team within the health and social care setting to take part in conducting a care plan for Mrs C during the her care planning process. The care worker would get other discipline and agency involve in Mrs Cs case because she was bought from the hospital into the care home so therefore they know much about her medical condition and the type of care she require; it also ensure that beneficial approaches are devised in order to meet her specific needs, and also improve her state of well-being. The following groups of multidisciplinary team and inter-agency would be involve in Mrs Cs case; Multidisciplinary team include Radiographic This team are very important member involve in the care planning process Mrs C, this team provide certain level of care for Mrs Cs case because they only provide limited care as they use X-ray to diagnose the type of arthritis together with the signs and symptoms of her condition. After Mrs C has been diagnosed to have Rheumatoid arthritis different member of the multidisciplinary team were working hand in hand with one and other to find the suitable medical service and treatment that would help improve Mrs Cs condition without any complications. Physiotherapist In most cases skeletal disorder like Mrs Cs Arthritis, exercise and physiotherapy is very important in order to prevent her joint from becoming so stiff, ease off pain and keep her muscles active. Furthermore her key worker in the care home where she has been taken into can also organise other form of treatment apart from visit from her physiotherapist could be a session of massage, infra-red heat treatment and hydrotherapy (exercising in water) this cold be on once a month basis. Doctors/GP The GP and the Doctors is important member because they provide medical history for other teams involved in Mrs Cs situation. Furthermore they also carry out countless consultation session with Mrs C in order to control and monitor her blood pressure and prescribe necessary medication and treatment that would be best suit her condition. After the GP has pass the information to the necessary team involve in Mrs Cs case during her time in the hospital the practitioners would use this information to plan how they would meet her specific need and include the necessary agency that help in planning her care needs. Nurses The nurses is also involve in medication process because they are in involve in giving medication and provide medical support that Mrs C require in order to improve her health statues this is done effectively by making sure that they work hand in hand with practitioner involve and making sure that they have effective communication skill and good team work within themselves as it help with the type of care service that thy would be proving for Mrs C. Interagency team Family and friends Come visit her from time to time, this would help reassure her and help keep her confidence as seeing her family and friends around her regularly would her improve in health wise. Interpreters and translators Would help her communicate with the care provider, the translators and the interpreters would help express and rephrase what shes saying in her language since she doesnt understand English. This service would help the care provider know what she needs as an individual and they would know what to do in order to meet and specific need. Activity officer They organise different activities of which Mrs C can get involve in. this could include a day out to the park or take her to day care centre for people who has the same disease has she does. Doing this would help her improve the way she view and value herself within the care home, more so seeing other people with the same condition or worse would help regain her self-esteem and self-image. Social worker The welfare of Mrs C is very important so therefore by ensuring that she gets the sufficient help from other disciplines and agencies. The social worker visit Mrs C from time to time in order to check on her and see how her health is improving and also they would review her condition to see if the care home is staying is suitable for her and if its any beneficial for her staying there or not. Multidisciplinary and inter-agency teams contribute to the care planning process carried out for Mrs C, all these member of team are including in the assessing and implementing the specific medical treatments that would best suit Mrs Cs situation. The multidisciplinary and interagency team come together in order to provide a best form of care for Mrs C they do this by communicating using the holistic approach on whatever step they are going to take concerning Mrs C. The two team identify the specific needs of Mrs C and then compromise and set satisfying goals that they all feels would best meet her needs with high standard and considering her rights, choice, values and belief. D1 Evaluate the role of multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working in social care Multi-disciplinary and inter-agency team provide and contribute optimistically in improving service users health and well being, using the care plan would make it conducive for them to collaborate amongst themselves. Both sets team come together at the start of every care planning process for all individual receiving care within the health and social care setting and the three to six months care assessment intervals and the evaluation process for each service users based on the particular changes made. According to Nolan et al (2005) â€Å" the changes do not have to be major, but they can have a significant impact on the persons life†. However, multi-disciplinary and inter-agency team working help with the improvement of the care planning process, on the other hand it has both positive and negative impact on the way care is provided for people receiving care service. The positive impact multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working together help create interdependence; this means that everyone in the team all depend on one another. Multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working within the health and social care setting is that each member of the team has a key role to play in improving the health well- being of an individual within receiving health care service. Forth most no one role is more important than another as they all work hand in hand with one an other to provide a competence and effective team working by making sure that they provide a high standard of care to the service users at all time. The main important factor of the role of multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working enables everyone involve in providing care to bring and combine their skills and expertise within the multicultural society of which increases the opportunities to learning and new experience, all of which would contribute to an improvement in health and social care experiences, system and structures because they all implement their different skills to create a better way of providing good standard of care for the public. According to Mason et al (2007) there are wide range of medical advancements that have originated aboard and are now being used to improve medication and treatment services in this country†. With so many different medical team working together from different country it has help with the improvement and advancements of care provision for people undertaking care service in the UK, so therefore multi-disciplinary and inter-agency team has really improve with the service provide a nd more so it has crate a better team work and communication skill amongst the health care service provider. The negative impact of the role of multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working in social care is that the whole process of them working together doesnt always work because not every member of the team talk to one and other so therefore there would be some few communication breakdown due to lack of information. Further more, when there are too many teams working together the patient they are working would be affected because different member of the team sees them. For example; for someone who is suffering for a chronic condition having to see different consultant would be really difficult situation for them because they would have to adapt to different doctors each time they have appointment and sometimes the consultant they have to see might not have went through their document to know their medical statues so therefore he or she might ask the patient to tell him or her about the main reason why they are there. This could be as a result of lack of information or because the entire co nsultant are from different department or organisation the information isnt fully pass across to necessary people that are meant to know. Furthermore due to several agency working with the service user the appointment system is bad because the time set isnt conducive for the patient so therefore they find it difficult to cancel or made known that an appointment has been cancelled. Reference: Stretch B (2002) Unit 1, BTEC National Health and Study. Oxford: Heinemann Health and Social Care, Series editor: Beryl Stretch, 2007

Cadbury’s :: Business and Management Studies

Cadbury’s Departments Inside a business there are many different functional departments all created to help the company in its organizational methods. There are many different departments involved with Cadbury’s, as there are in any business all used for different functions. These are:  · Marketing and Sales  · Finance  · Administration and IT support  · Operations  · Research and Development  · Production  · Customer Services  · Human Resources Many of these all blend in together on the area of their focus but still all play an important part in the running of the business. The three departments that I will be focusing on are Marketing and Sales, Operations and Administration and IT support. Marketing and Sales The main things that are dealt with in the marketing and sales departments are:  · Market Research, both primary and secondary research  · Promotion  · Advertising  · Sales There are the four P’s of Marketing and Sales, Promotion, Price, Product, Place. Market Research Primary Research Market Research is identified as one of two, either primary research which is studies that have not taken place before or secondary research which is using research that has been carried out before. Primary Research involves things such as asking people questionnaires on their views and opinions of a particular product or sector. Many of these have taken place before for Cadburys and I have been asked in stores and around the Bournville site to fill out a quick questionnaire. I browsed the Cadburys website and found an online questionnaire referring to the site. See appendix . Secondary Research Secondary Research, otherwise known as desk research, is looking through information that all ready exists. This takes place often for Cadbury’s also as they always look through old information to discover what the customers want and how preferences have changed throughout the years. If information is collected from a book you must create a bibliography and write down the name of the book and the author so that you do not take credit for their work. See appendix . Promotion Promotion is making customers aware of their businesses products. There are many ways of doing this including; showing customers how it will meet there needs, persuading customers to buy the product, making sure customers know where they can purchase the product and the cost of it and of course giving information about the product. Promotion can also occur as testing a product out before you think of purchasing it or even lowering the prices as low as they can go to raise interest in them. In some cases promotion can even be the one on one explanation of the product and the support needed if problems arouse. See appendix . Promotion is seen everywhere like billboards, bus

camp hill riot :: essays research papers

Camp Hill the day that lasted 72 hours On October 25, 1989 more than 1,300 inmates at the Camp Hill State Correctional Institution rioted. The rioters took at least 8 hostages, lighting 4 fires and caused millions of dollars in damage. More then 35 staff members, 5 inmates, 1 firefighter and 1 state trooper sustain injuries in the worst uprising in Pennsylvania history. Inmates returning from an exercise yard in the late afternoon overwhelmed correctional staff and seized hostages. Inmates were reportedly upset about overcrowding and suspended privileges. They set fires, which destroyed more then half of the 31 buildings and took hostages who were not only guards but also other inmates who were not willing to join in the rioting. The riot ended through negotiations and the inmates were confined to their cells. The superintendent informed news and officials that the riot was over. The next day the superintendent met with the inmates to discuss their grievances. Unknown to the superintendent or staff many of the cells which the inmates were confined to were not secure permitting the start of a second riot later that day allowing prisoners to escape and take more then 17 more hostages and injuring 138 officers. About 800 troopers were on the scene during the peak of the riots with hundreds more en route to begin shift changes as the riots continued for a 3 day period. Negotiations were again attempted, but the riot finally ended when state police forcibly entered the compound. The biggest problem at Camp Hill was that it was originally designed for juveniles but was transitioned to adult offenders with no consideration for the inadequacy of the physical facility or the necessary training. At the time the riots began Camp Hill’s capacity was 1,826 but housed more then 2,600 inmates running at a 142% capacity.

A Princess Life along the Silk Road

Susan Whitfield’s semi-fictionalized stories of about 10 selected people who once lived along the Silk Road gives us a clearer picture on how does the culture goes during its golden days of trading. China protected these ancient interconnected trade routes through all means. Such physical evidence of this protection they gave was the building of its Great Walls that then disallows intrusion of bandits within China’s proclaimed boundaries. This made the half part of the merchant’s journey half-safe.So as to ensure that their commodities would reach their final destination, China made pacts to their neighbor states who could give them military assistance. To strengthen these pacts, beside of the China’s promise to pay their purchases with silk, its ruler’s gave some of their royal princesses as a tribute to the neighbor states majesty. Looking ahead†¦ A Princess Life along the Silk Road Susan Whitfield’s Life along the Silk Road, a semi-fi ctionalized story of 10 selected people who once lived along the Silk Road gives us a clearer picture on how does the culture goes during its golden days of trading.China protected these ancient interconnected trade routes through all means. Such physical evidence of this protection they gave was the building of its Great Walls that then disallows intrusion of bandits within China’s proclaimed boundaries. This made the half part of the merchant’s journey half-safe. So as to ensure that their commodities would reach their final destination, China made pacts to their neighbor states who could give them military assistance. To strengthen these pacts, beside of the China’s promise to pay their purchases with silk, its ruler’s gave some of their royal princesses as a tribute to the neighbor states’ majesty.Basing on surviving scripts about some historical personages of China, Whitfield had retold the princesses’ experiences through Taihe and her Princess Tale. The journey of Taihe, an imperial princess started in the autumn of 821. Taihe was the sister of the Tang emperor by that time and daughter of its predecessor. Taihe needed to travel westward to meet and be wed with the Kaghan of the Uighur. Taihe was the fourth princess that been sent to their so-called â€Å"land of the nomads†. Taihe could not refuse since it became a tradition to their empire to send a â€Å"tribute† to the Kaghan or emperor of the Uighur.She was not the original princess to be sent by that time, but due to the unexpected death of the former Kaghan, her elder sister Princess Yong’an had escaped her turn and rather made a decision to become a Daoist priestess. To honor the original agreement, Taihe replaced her to marry the next Kaghan. Though Taihe had never left her country before, she was denoted as very familiar with the many influence brought by neighbor states like of Uighur. She was a good horsewoman like any other palac e ladies and she uses this skill in her playing of polo, an import from the western origin. On her journey, she was riding a Bactrian camel.Female attendants of Taihe during their journey rode with Ferghana horses which are said to have mythical strength. These horses are few, that is why China still has to import cavalry ponies from Uighur. That is why Taihe was made as a tribute. During the journey, Taihe uses personal ornaments like her jade pins from Khotan, and decorations made of tortoiseshell from Vietnam and lapis lazuli from Badakhstan. She has her Buddhist rosary beads made of amber, probably coming either from the Baltic or northern Burma. She carried perfumes and breath freshener, many originating in India.She was fond of playing the Kuchean music which she could continue to enjoy in Kaghan’s palace. By her time in China, western music was extremely popular and its tunes were adapted with Chinese lyrics. Before her journey, she was also thought with the whirling d ance, which is usually performed by Sogdian girls. Though all of this are only influences, and she is very much unaware of how would be her life with the Uighurs, as she remembered the words by a Chinese princess sent to the west as a bride eight hundred years ago, â€Å"My family married me to a lost horizon†¦ I wish I were a brown goose and could fly back home.† As she continued her journey throughout the dessert, she could do nothing but to be dressed and be brought with food by her attendants. When they managed to passed an oasis they could then recharged their supplies that made their journey faster. At each known camp wherein they could build their tent, princess Taihe could then take a rest. After that they would again proceed with their travel but sometimes they were hampered by bad weather along the road. The lunar new year is approaching when then had reached the borders of the capital of the Uighur, Karabalghasun near the left bank of the Orkhon river.It was d eep winter by that time but it was more of warmth because of the glamorous welcome of the Uighurs to the princess. She was offered with wines, tea, and fruits served more delicate than in the Chinese court. But she noticed that the silverware used is only an imitation from those coming from Persia. But all in all, there were only few flaws and more of extravagance brought by the luxuries of the Uighur. She was first taught with Uighur traditions by the sent Uighur princesses. And then the journey delegation of Chinese ministers selected a suitable day of her wedding with the Kaghan.She had first her Chinese dress influenced with a Turkic fashion at the beginning. As of the Chinese tradition, her hair was elaborately styled and the toes of her red embroidered slippers were curled up so that it could be seen peeping out below the robe. But she was requested to wear Uighur clothes in the ceremony. At the first part of the ceremony, she wore an ordinary Uighur dress and bow to the Kagha n at his tent. After that, she changed clothes with a Uighur exquisite dress, though it had many features contrast to the Chinese tradition. Then the ceremony proceeded as she and the Kaghan presented themselves with the Manichean clergy.Finally, they had been legalized as husband and wife and princess Taihe was then entitled to be the khatun, queen of the Uighur. She did not only symbolize the alliance of China and the Uighur, her khatun position gave her a power in the Uighur court. But she felt mad when Tanim ibn Bahr, an envoy sent by the leader of the Arab forces in Transoxania had failed to mention her when his husband let him stop over in Uighur. Many other things then had happened after years had passed but it all ended with Taihe’s going back to China when the Uighur had a civil war.

Marketing Mix and the Brand Reputation of Nokia

Market Forces April 2008 Vol. 4 No. MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH MARKETING MIX AND THE BRAND REPUTATION OF NOKIA SYED EHTESHAM ALI College of Management Sciences PAF-Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology E-mail: [email  protected] com Abstract Pakistan’s mobile phone market is growing very fast. The most selling brand in the market is Nokia. A hypothesis was developed that the reputation of a brand is a source of demand and the competitively superior quality image justifies a premium price. In this survey we assessed the reasons for preference of this brand based on established parameters of marketing mix (the 4 Ps). The objective of this study was to measure the extent of preference of these parameters. For this purpose a questionnaire was developed and administered to 240 respondents. The alternate hypothesis that at least one of the predictor variables would have a linear relationship with the dependent variable brand reputation was accepted. R? is 0. 53, which indicates that about 53% of the variation on the dependent variable is explained by the predictor variable, which is significantly moderate. Among all the independent variables the slope for the product quality and promotion (advertising & communication) were higher than the rest. Regression coefficients for product quality and promotion (advertising & communication) were 0. 95 and 0. 85 respectively. This means that an increase in one rating (on the scale of five to one) of product quality and promotion (advertising & communication) would cause brand reputation to increase by 0. 95 and 0. 85 rating respectively. 1. 0. 0 OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure how elements of marketing mix and their relationship affect the brand reputation of Nokia mobile phone. Though the marketing mix concept such as product, price, place and promotion are very important in analyzing the marketing strategy, the scope of the study was mainly MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 15 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH focused on one aspect of brand equity i. e. brand reputation, the ultimate reflection of the correct blend of all marketing mix. 1. 1. 0 LITERATURE SURVEY 1. 1. 0 Brand Branding has an ancient history. It could be traced back to the times when the ancient Egypt brick makers used to stamped symbols on the bricks for identification and distinction purposes (Farghuhar 1990). Nilson (1998) on the other hand found that ancient farmers used to put symbols on the cattle with the help of hot iron, which meant burning. The word brand has been derived from the Scandinavian word â€Å"branna† that means to burn. In Swedish language the word â€Å"brand†, means fire. Thus when a producer put some marks or symbols on their product it will come in the category of branding (Nilson 1998). One of the advantages of strong brand name is that its helps in penetrating in a new market or a new market category. Globalization has created tremendous brand awareness and this awareness is not dependent on the availability of the products. Czinkota & Ronkainen 2001). For example in Pakistan, brands such as such as McDonald, Pizza Hut and KFC had very strong awareness even before they opened their franchises in Pakistan. 1. 2. 0 Brand Equity Brand equity is a relationship between customers and brands resulting in a profit to be realized at a future date (Wood 2000). Kotler and Armstrong (1996) were of the opinion that measuring brand equity is a tedious job. Nevertheless a powerful brand means high brand equity that helps in achieving ‘higher brand loyalty, name awareness, perceived quality, and strong brand associations’. Some of the major benefits of brand equity are brand awareness and consumer loyalty which helps in reducing marketing costs. Brand is an important equity; therefore, it should be carefully preserved by adopting strategies that would help in maintaining or improving brand awareness, perceived brand quality and positive associations. (Kotler & Armstrong 1996) Ambler and Styles (1997) are of the opinion that brand equity could be measured from two perspectives. One is â€Å"financial evaluation approach† and the other is â€Å"consumer-based approach†. The financial evaluation approach is related to the monetary value of the brand, and the consumer-based approach focuses on the brand itself that is how much value the consumers give to the brand. Brand equity is also considered as an accumulated profit that could be realized at a future date. The brand equity concept can also cause confusion, because of difficulty in measuring it (Ambler & Styles 1997). MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 16 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH Importance of brand equity demands need for more practical experience and comparative research to judge and validate the usefulness of brand evaluation methods (Farquhar 1990). The recent merger and acquisition trend has also increased the importance of measuring brand equity (Tauber 1988). The role of brands is now far beyond product differentiation or competing for market share. They are accumulated annuities which the firm can acquire from its balance sheet (Tauber 1998). Firms could have a strong competitive edge over competitors if they could create brand equity ‘through building awareness, image, and linking associations’ (Keller 1998). A stronger brand would always have a better understanding of needs, wants, and preferences of consumers than the brands that are not competitive. Thus stronger brands would help in creating effective marketing programs that could go beyond consumer expectations. (Keller 1998). Brand equity since last one decade has remained popular for attracting new market segments (Pitta & Katsanis, 1995). This phenomenon of brand equity has coincided with the newly emerged but equally popular phenomenon of brand extension (Ambler & Styles 1997). Research shows a two way relationship between brand equity and extension. A brand's equity could influence the success of extensions, and extensions could positively influence brand's equity. The result is that highly valued brand extensions are more successful. Consumers tend to choose those brands that have strong brand equity. This creates strong brand loyalty, and would make it difficult for the customers to switch to the competitors. Brand position of a firm is strongly dependent on the positive image of brands. Strong brands are a major source of differentiation and extending the same towards a specific product category is easier. Successful brand allows firms to demand high prices and are a source of barrier which makes it difficult for consumers to switch to other brands (Pitta & Katsanis 1995. 1. 3. 0 BRAND REPUTATION: According to Aaker (1991, 1996) and Kapferer (1997) both companies and consumers are watchful over the brand reputation of what they sell or buy. Every brand represents distinct values, creates a distinct profile in the minds of the customers in respect to what it stands for. For example in beverage industry Coca-cola stands for â€Å"refreshingâ €  and in car industry Volvo brand is perceived for â€Å"safety and comfort†. Similarly in the mobile industry Sony Ericsson is poised as â€Å"music and entertainment† etc. Globalization and advanced technology have made the market more competitive, thus firms, now, are more brand sensitive. They have observed that the consumer preferences have become homogenous because of globalization and the spread of technology. Thus, both the sellers MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 17 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH and buyers are paying attention to the brand reputation in terms of what they are buying and selling. A consumer during his lifetime undergoes a series of ever changing circumstances and situations. As a result his brand preference shifts with his changing needs. The brand attributes or features must fit to consumers’ need to maintain an ongoing permanent relationship with the brand. The consumers need to have a trust in their preferred brands for continued offering of the desired benefits. According to Browne (1998), if companies fail to ensure a trustworthy, stable brand reputation, the brand’s growth and market share will be affected. Thus a brand reputation is the image of superior quality and added value, which justify a premium price. A reputable brand is a strong asset, which benefits from a high degree of loyalty and stability for future sales (Kapferer 1997). Ultimate goals of highly reputed brands should be to strengthen their image. Low selling brands with low reputation should focus on tailoring their marketing mix and fixing the overall image problem (Baldinger & Rubinson 1996). Firms dealing with mobile handset are also concerned with the reputation of their brands, and how this would affect their international market share. Competition among the mobile companies has forced them to create a brand reputation in customers’ minds. The mobile telephone industry is comprised of mostly multinationals and has financial advantages in their cost structure. This advantage is not available to their purely domestic counterparts (Kapferer, 1997). Brand reputation in the mobile telephone industry is becoming crucial for consumers’ purchasing behaviors. Temporal and Lee (2001) argue that powerful brands are the ones that are built on reputation and this will not change, but would gain more importance in the future. Up Shaw (1995), agrees and claims that branding is the art of trust creation and therefore it is imperative for companies to build a reputable identity in order to maintain trust with their consumers. A highly reputed brand name is considered as a favorable and publicly recognized name that reflects merit, achievement, and reliability. According to Paul and John (1997), the attribute reputation is an estimation of the consistency, over a period of time for an entity. This estimation is based on the entity's willingness and ability to perform an activity repeatedly in a similar fashion and an attribute is some specific part of the entity – price, quality, promotion, distribution and other marketing skills. A brand is a relationship between reputation and promise. Moreover, reputation is a set of expectations. A brand is a combination of tangible and intangible attributes, symbolized in a trademark. If properly managed, brand creates influences and generates value. Temporal and Lee (2000) also define the brand MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 18 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH as a promise to the consumer of what the product, service, or company stands for, and for the kind of experience they can get from it. If the promise is delivered, customers will be satisfied and this will keep them coming back to a company’s product. Kotler (1999) defines three clear advantages, which brands offer to the consumers. Firstly, brands inform the consumer about the product quality. Buyers, who consistently purchase the same brand, are aware that they will get the same quality each time they purchase the product. Secondly, brand names simplify shopping for consumers, by enhancing their ability to find the products that match their wants and needs, as opposed to generic branding. Lastly, brand names allow consumers attention to be drawn to new products that are beneficial to them, since the brand is the first form of recognition. To become successful and hence profitable, brands must develop a positive reputation. A reputable brand is strong assets, which benefits from a high degree of loyalty and thus forms stability of future sales. (Rogerson 1983). Brand reputation involves a continuum ranging from an uncertain feeling that the brand is recognized at the market place, to a belief that it is the number one in the product class by customer (Aaker 1991). This continuum can be represented by different degree of brand reputation known on the market. The brand reputation can be good or bad, strong or weak. It crystallizes how people feel about the reputation based on whatever information they have about the brand. Some companies have not built any brand at all. We can say for the â€Å"unknown brand† that, for it, no reputation exists and it does not affect consumer-buying behavior on the market. 1. 2. 0 MARKETING MIX. 1. 2. 1 PRODUCT (Quality): (Quality): Product quality is an important determinant for the customers for choosing a brand that helps in the development of brand reputation. Quality belongs to the product perspective of a brand’s identity whereas perceived quality is how a brand’s quality is seen by the consumers. It is one of the key dimensions in Aaker’s brand equity model. A higher price is a sign of high quality to the consumers. Perceived quality is a source of consumer satisfaction it makes them to repurchase the product, which leads to loyalty. (Uggla 2001). MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 19 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH 1. 2. 2 PRICE (Affordability): (Affordability): Price influences the brand choice in two ways: (1) Seek the lowest price to avoid financial risk or (2) Seeks the higher price to gain product quality (Macdonald & Sharp 2000). For some consumers, the price is vital particularly when they are purchasing everyday products. Some consumer may choose a brand just because it has the lowest price, while other consumers may choose a brand just because it has the highest perceived price inferring that it is of high quality. 1. 2. 3 PROMOTION (Advertising & Communication): Communication): How can a company build its brand reputation through promotion? A promotion that provides incentives to try a new flavor or new use will be more effective if the brand is familiar and there is no need to combat a consumer skeptical of brand reputation (Pringle & Thompson 1999). Advertising acts as a major tool to enhance brand reputation. The purpose of advertising is to make the consumers to purchase their brands. Advertising is one of the most visible forms of communication. It creates a set of associations the consumers want to have about a brand. If advertising, promotion and packaging support a constant positioning strategy over time, the brand is likely to be strong (Aaker 1991). 1. 2. 4 PLACE (Availability): Firms rarely work alone in creating value for customers and building positive brand reputation. Consistency of supply and availability at convenient locations are vital for brand reputation. Any disagreement between marketing channel members on goals and roles may create channel conflict, which eventually could hamper overall reputation of the specific brand (Kotler, 2006). Reputation is a historical notion based on the sum of the past behaviors. It is prone to change over time and is a function of time. 2. 0. 0 RESEARCH QUESTION: The following research question has been formed in the light of the literature review. How do the mobile phone buyers perceive the brand reputation of Nokia in terms of marketing mix? 3. 0. 0 METHODOLOGY: MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 20 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH Based on the literature survey and the above-identified independent and dependent variables, a close-ended questionnaire was developed. Questionnaire was based on a total of 14 questions; seven were related to personal data and the rest were related to the subject study that is measuring brand reputation in terms of marketing mix. The sample size for the study was 240 and it was chosen non-randomly and was personally administered by my students. The analysis was inclusive of the measures of central tendencies and the measure of dispersion. The hypothesis was tested through multiple regressions. 4. SURVEY FINDINGS: 4. 1 MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCIES & DISPERSION: The respondents’ opinions on the determinants of marketing mix and brand reputation were obtained. The determinants for marketing mix were product (quality), price (affordability), promotion (advertising and communication) and place (availability). The determinants for brand reputation were favorability, public recogn ition, reliability and consistency. The summarized results related to the measures of the central tendencies and dispersion are presented below: Table Number One Measure of Central Tendencies Product (Quality) Mean St. Error Median Mode St. Dev. S. Var. Kurtosis Skew ness Range Minimum Maximum Sum Count 4. 74 0. 03 5. 00 5. 00 1. 13 0. 19 -0. 77 -0. 98 1. 00 4. 00 5. 00 1138 240 Price (Affordability) 3. 82 0. 03 5. 00 5. 00 0. 81 0. 18 -0. 39 0. 08 1. 00 4. 00 5. 00 1144 240 Promotion (Adv. & Communication) 4. 45 0. 03 5. 00 5. 00 1. 08 0. 29 -0. 18 -0. 82 2. 00 3. 00 5. 00 1107 240 Place (Availability) 4. 02 0. 03 4. 00 4. 00 1. 04 0. 23 1. 23 -0. 74 3. 00 2. 00 5. 00 1017 240 Brand Reputation 4. 89 0. 05 5. 00 5. 00 1. 16 0. 49 3. 69 -1. 09 3. 00 2. 00 5. 00 1117 240 MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 21 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH M ark e ting M ix viz. Brand Re putation 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Product Price Promotion Place Brand Reputatioon 4. 74 3. 82 4. 45 4. 89 4. 02 The respondents’ opinions on dependent variable brand reputation was the highest with a mean of 4. 89, whereas the rating on product (quality) ranked second with a mean of 4. 79 and the price (affordability) was the lowest with a mean of 3. 82. The standard deviation of respondents’ opinion on independent dimensions â€Å"price (affordability)† was the least (0. 1) as compare to the other dimensions. This indicates that there is less polarization and difference in the respondents’ opinion on the dimension â€Å"price (affordability)†. The standard deviation of respondents’ opinion on dimension â€Å"product (quality)† was the highest i. e1. 13 as compared to the other dimensions. This indicates that there is a high polarization of respondents†™ opinions on the â€Å"product (quality)† dimension. Skewness for all the determinants of brand reputation was negative except price (affordability)† with the value of 0. 08. The negative skewness indicates that the majority of the respondents’ opinions on the respective determinants were below the average level and the distribution curve is negatively skewed. 4. 2. 0 BRAND REPUTATION The respondents’ opinions were obtained in terms of favorability, recognizably, reliability, and consistency. The summarized results are presented below: TABLE NUMBER-2 REPUTATION OF NOKIA Most favorable Most Publicity Most Reliable Most Consistent MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 22 MARKETING MIX & BRAND Recognized 4. 01 4 3. 1 RESEARCH 3. 63 4. 5 4 3. 5 3 2. 5 2 1. 5 1 0. 5 0 4. 01 4 3. 1 3. 63 Most f avorable Most Publicity Recognized MostReliable Most Consisten The level of favorability and recognize ability of Nokia brand was the highest with a mean of 4. 04 and 4. 0. The perception on the consistency and reliability were found to be on the lower side with a mean of 3. 1 and 3. 63 respectively. 4. 1. 2 HYPOTHESIS TESTING: Literature survey suggests that, buyers perceive or build brand reputation of mobile phones in terms of (1) product (quality), (2) price (affordability), (3) promotion (adv. & communication) and (4) place (availability). Based on the theoretical framework, the following hypotheses were developed. H1o: Sufficient evidence exists to conclude that no linear relationship exists between Nokia’s dependent variable â€Å"brand reputation† and independent variables such as product, price, promotion, and place. H1A: At least one of the predictor variables has a linear relationship with the dependent variable â€Å"brand reputation†. STATISTICAL REPRESENTATION: The statistical representation of the above hypothesis is presented below. H1O: ? 1= ? 2= ? 3= ? 4=0 H1A: ? 1? ?2? ?3? ?4? 0 The above hypothesis was tested through multiple regressions for brand NOKIA and the summarized results are presented below. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 23 MARKETING MIX & BRAND TABLE NUMBER-2 MULTIPLE REGRESSIONS Regression Statistics Multiple R R Square Adjusted R Sqr. Standard Error Observations RESEARCH 0. 69 0. 53 0. 52 0. 44 240. 00 Df Regression Residual Total 4. 00 234. 00 240. 00 Coefficients Intercept Product(quality) Price(affordability) Promotion(Adv. & Comm. ) Place(Availability) 0. 72 0. 95 0. 27 0. 85 0. 34 SS 12. 01 13. 05 25. 06 Std. Error 0. 49 0. 09 0. 03 0. 03 0. 02 MS 3. 00 0. 06 F 53. 82 Significance F 0. 00 t Stat 1. 48 2. 61 7. 57 6. 83 7. 41 Pvalue 0. 14 0. 02 0. 00 0. 01 0. 00 Lower 95% -0. 24 0. 06 0. 16 0. 15 0. 13 Upper 95% 1. 68 0. 42 0. 27 0. 27 0. 22 R? or the brand NOKIA is 0. 53, which indicates that about 53% of the variation on the dependent variable is explained by the predictor variable which is significantly strong. Among all the independent variables the slope for the product and promotion are the highest, this means that as compared to other independent variables, product and promotion of Nokia b rand cell phone has stronger relationships with the dependent variable â€Å"brand reputation†. Regression coefficient for product and promotion are 0. 95 and 0. 85 respectively. This means that an increase in one rating (on the scale of five to one) of product (quality) and promotion (adv. communication) will cause brand reputation to increase by 0. 95 and 0. 85 rating respectively. The F-value is high and falls in the critical region that means variations of independent variables are unequal; this indicates that the results are not biased. Except for the coefficient of product and promotion, no other coefficient is statistically significant. 5. 0 CONCLUSION: CONCLUSION: MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 24 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH Based on the survey findings the following conclusions have been drawn: †¢ According to the respondents’ opinion the rating on dependent variable brand reputation was highest with the mean of 4. 9, whereas the rating on product (quality) was the second highest with a mean of 4. 79 and the rating on price (affordability) was lowest with a mean of 3. 82. The standard deviation of respondents’ opinion on independent dimensions â€Å"price (affordability)† was the least (0. 81) as compared to the other dimensions. This indicates that there is less polarization in the respondents’ opinion on the dimension â€Å"price (affordability)†. The standard deviation of respondents’ opinion on dimension â€Å"product (quality)† was the highest 1. 13. This indicates that there is high polarization of respondents’ opinion on the â€Å"product (quality)† dimension. Skewness for all the determinants of brand reputation were negative except for â€Å"price (affordability)† with the value of 0. 08. The negative skewness indicates that the majority of the respondents’ opinions on the respective determinants were below the average level and the distribution curve is negatively skewed. The alternate hypothesis that at least one of the predictor variables would have a linear relationship with the dependent variable brand reputation was accepted. R? is 0. 53, which indicates that about 53% of the variation on the dependent variable is explained by the predictor variable, which is significantly strong. The slope for product’s (quality) and promotion (advertising & communication) were the highest; this means that as compared to other independent variables, product (quality) and promotion (advertising & communication) of the Nokia brand cell phone have stronger relationships with the dependent variable brand reputation. Regression coefficient for product (quality) and promotion (advertising & communication) were 0. 95 and 0. 85 respectively. This means that an increase in one rating (on the scale of five to one) of product (quality) and promotion (advertising & communication) will cause brand reputation to increase by 0. 5 and 0. 85 rating respectively. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ ANNEXURE 1 Q1) Age: (in years) 15 – 25 QUESTIONNAIRE (DEMOGRAPHIC DATA) 26 – 35 36 – 45 46– above MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 25 MARKETING MIX & BRAND Q2) Qualification: ? Matriculation Others —-Q3) Gender: ? Male Q4) Marital Status: ? Single Q5) Profession: Market ing Teacher Q6) Income: Up to 20,000 above RESEARCH ?Intermediate ?Graduation Masters ?Female Married Banking Engineering Other(s) please specify†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 21,000 – 30,000 31,000 – 40,000 Doctor 41,000 and Q7) Please mark the area of your residence Sadder Defence Clifton Gulshan F. B. Area Nazimabad PECHS Other(s) — Rate the following statements in terms of your answer (5 being highly agreed and 1 being highly disagreed) MARKETING MIX Q8) Rate the brand reputation of Nokia brands in terms of â€Å"Product† i. e quality. 5 4 3 2 1 Q9) Rate the brand reputation of Nokia brands in terms of â€Å"Price† i. e. affordability 5 4 3 2 1 Q10) Rate the brand reputation of Nokia brands in terms of â€Å"Promotion† i. e. Advertising & Communication. 5 4 3 2 1 Q11) Rate the brand reputation of Nokia brands in terms of â€Å"Place† i. e. Convenience in availability. 5 4 3 2 BRAND REPUTATION Q12) I consider Nokia as most favorable brand in terms of brand reputation. 4 3 2 1 Q13) I consider Nokia as most publicly recognized brand in terms of brand reputation. 5 4 3 2 1 Q14) I consider Nokia as most reliable brand in terms of brand reputation. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 26 1 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH 5 4 3 2 1 Q15) I consider Nokia as most consistent brand in terms of brand reputat ion. 5 4 3 2 1 ANNEXURE 2 REFERENCES Aaker, D. A. , 1991. , Managing Brand Equity: Capitalizing on the Value of the Brand Name. NewYork: The Free press. Aaker, D. A. , 1996. , Building Strong Brands. New York: The Free Press. Aaker, D. A, 2004. Brand Portfolio Strategy, New York: Free Press. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 27 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH Ambler, T. , & Styles, C. , 1997. Brand development versus new product development: toward a process model of extension decisions. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 6(4), p. 222-234. Browne, K. , 1999. Nokia’s Brilliant Branding. Finance Week – South Africa. Vol. (22), p. 12-26. Baldinger, A & Rubinson, J. , 1996. , Brand Loyalty: the Link between Attitude and Behavior. Journal of Advertising research, Vol. (2), p. 84-97. Czinkota, M. & Ronkainen, M. , 2001. , International Business (6th ed. ). Fort Worth: Harcourt College. Farquhar, P. , 1990. Managing brand equity. Journal of Advertising Research, August/September) 30, RC 7 – RC 12. Keller, K. L. , 2003. Strategic brand management, Building Measuring and Managing Brand Equity, 2nd Ed. , Upper Sadle River. . Kotler, P, & Armstrong, G. , 1996. Principles of Marketing. (7th ed.. USA: Prentice Hall, Inc. Pringle, H. Thompson, M. , 1999. Brand Spirit: how cause related marketing builds brands. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Jean, N. K, 1997. Strategic Brand Management, Princeton: University Press Princeton. Kapferer, J. N. ,1997. Strategic Brand Management. 2nd. London:Hove. Kotler, P. & Armstrong, G. & Saubers, J. & Wong, V. , 1999. Principles of marketing. 2nd ed. England: Prentice Hall press. Kotler, P. & Keller, K. L, 2006. Marketing Management 12th ed. Indiana: Indiana University Press. Macdonald, E. K. & Sharp, B. M. 2000. Brand awareness effects on consumer decision-making for a common, repeat purchase product: A replication: Journal of Business Research, Vol. (48), p5-15. Nilson, H. T. , 1998. Competitive Branding-Winning the Marketplace with Value Added Brands. Chichester: Wiley,cop. Paul, H. & John, M. , 1997. Pricing Strategy & Practice. Bradford: 5(1),p. 25. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 28 MARKETING MIX & BRAND RESEARCH Pringle, H. & Thompson, M. , 1999. Brand Spirit: how cause related marketing builds brands: Journal of Marketing, Vol. (21), p. 61-78. Pitta, A. & Katsanis, P. L. 1996. Understanding Brand Equity for Sucessful Brand Extension. Journal of Consumer Marketing. 12(4),51-64. Rogerson, W. P, 1983. Reputation and Product Quality, The Bell Journal of economics, Vol. (2), p. 508-516. Tauber, E. , 1988. Brand leverage: Strategy for growth in a cost- control world. Journal of Advertising Research, ( August/September). 8, 26-30. Temporal, P & Lee, K. C. 2001. Hi-Touch Branding, Creating Brand Power in the Age of technology. Journal of Information & technology, 94(2), p. 67-86. Uggla, H. , 2001. What makes winning brands different: The hidden method behind the world’s most successful brands. The journal of marketing, 18(3), p. 24-41. Upshaw, L. B. 1995. .Building Brand Identity: A strategy for success in a hos tile marketplace. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Wood, L. , 2000. Brands and brand equity: definition and management. Management Decision, 38(9), 662-669. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 29

Heypih

Hones and Mauritius, or also known for short as H&M, is a big billion dollar Swedish fashion company which engages in designing and retailing fashion products from cosmetics, outwear and accessories for men, women and children. Operating all over the globe, throughout 43 countries with 2206 stores, there are various strategic issues which H&M need to address to keep the company moving forward and increase the market. H&M has a large international incumbents including Ezra being its most significant competitor.Ezra has not been around for nearly as long as H&M and it is already being considered a ‘serious challenge' which makes H&M questions the sustainability of the formula at hand. Using strategic management topics we can further discuss this issue. To begin the PASTEL Framework can be used in relation to strategic management and H&M. By using PASTEL we can categories environmental factors into specific key types, which are political, economic, social, technological, ecologica l and legal.These will help us to explain that environmental factors do not Just revolve around economic forces but other forces which have been mentioned and all are interactive with one another. Politics are forces both throughout the globe and in specific groups within areas which influence certain behavior and reactions. These influences can come from various political movements and concerned media. For example H&M in the past opened up a store in Israel's Jerusalem Malta Shopping Mall which is built in a previous Palestinian village of al-Malta.Since this village has been ethnically cleansed and caused those inhabitants to be referred to as refugees in their own land. This happened throughout the 1948 Naked and caused worldwide protest by activates at H stores. All those protests going on around the world gave a lot of negative reputation and unneeded attention to H. Even though the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm believed that opening the store in Israel would help tit ‘pea ce processes and profits' to H – it still did not affect the feelings of those protesting nor did it change the way H handled the situation at hand.Instead H turned a blind eye to a massive human rights violation and disregarded completely what was happening and this caused activists to begin the world wide approach of operation Boycott. Something similar did happen in the past with a different clothing brand named Mummy, but they did not follow through with their stores in Israel and till today will not open a store until the apartheid system is dismounted. Additionally, in reference to Section C, Article 3 of the Responsibilities of transaction corporations and other business enterprises (2003) H is actually breaching the regulations.It states that â€Å"Business enterprises shall not engage in nor benefit from war crimes, crimes against humanity†¦ Other violations of humanitarian law and other international crimes against the human person as defined by international law, in particular human rights and humanitarian law' Ecological factors in PASTEL framework is anything that falls under environmental issues which is definitely something relevant to H&M. H&M produces a special collection named the ‘conscious collection† using only sustainable materials.As mentioned on their website they are trying to push for fashion for the future. With these commitments come seven promises also stated on their website. Provide fashion for conscious customers Choose and reward responsible partners Be ethical Be climate smart Reduce, reuse, recycle Use natural resources responsibly Strengthen communities Under the PASTEL framework, technological is any influences that H uses for their material. Thanks to these, H was ranked number 21 out of 100 for the most label global brands according to inter brand in 2011, with a brand value of 16. Billion dollars. In comparison with close competitor Ezra ranked in at number 44 with 8 billion dollars' worth of bra nd value. This huge difference can partly be attributed to H&M's long term advertising campaigns with high-profile celebrities. In order to enhance the value of its brand name, H spends around 5% of its revenue on advertising. H has also established a strong social media presence. The company aims to become part of its customer's daily lives through its pages on Backbone,Twitter, Instating, Google+ and Youth as well as the Chinese social media networks Yuk and Sins Webb. Through these networks followers share ideas and opinions and get quick answers to their questions. This is important for this day and ages were people do not want to wait for too long. Also new fashion videos and catwalks are constantly uploaded to Youth with millions of views. The App for uses is also new which offers the latest collection and campaigns and find out what is new.In relation to strategic management it's important to note the Five Forces Framework hen determining the competitive forces. If an industr y has low competitiveness then there will be an expected high level of profit then in comparison to an industry with high competitiveness. H has high level of competitiveness with Ezra therefore their profit margin is close on a large scale. By using Porters Five Forces Framework we can measure 1) threat of entry 2) threat of substitutes 3) power of buyers 4) power of suppliers 5) extent of rivalry between competitors.In regards to competitors and rivalry, the competitive rival for H is Ezra and a substitute would be somewhere like Target/Smart. Ezra would be a very dominant organization to H with its products being very similar. A low differentiation between companies is also an issue as both are assumed to be similar when spoken about with consumers. The threat of entry works in H's advantage as they have different products which Ezra does not offer – for example the conscious collection. The threat of substitution is a big one for this industry as Ezra and H&M are very clo sely knitted.Firstly being price/ performance rations. Sara's products are slightly higher prices than H but overall the prices/performance ratio is very tight. SQ. Drawing on relevant topics in this unit, what do you consider to be H's rare and inimitable strategic capability/sis? Explain your answer. How do you think H&M can identify and leverage or exploit its rare and inimitable strategic capability/sis to achieve or sustain its competitive advantage and respond to the critical issue that you have identified in IQ?Upon research and further reading into the topic I would consider the fact H&M has its own range the conscious collection' reaching an audience of those who are have the want to help the environment to be its rare and inimitable strategic capabilities. H & M, is a environmentally conscious company, which provides economical fashion products around the globe (43 countries) in order to fulfill the seven commitments to the communities. The economic crisis was really stron g and it may increase the interest of the population for cheap and fashionable clothes.Not only has H found a gap in the fashion market, but they have found an up and coming issue and were able to reach it with a positive outcome. With all the issues worldwide, H knew it needed to invest its money into the right things to keep sales up and to also bring new sales in. With H having a big role in the fashion industry, they didn't want to come under any more negative scrutiny as this would bring a negative perception of the company. This is where the idea came across with the plan for using only sustainable materials for the release of the new range, the ‘conscious collection'.Along with this came certain commitments which included, adopting ethical practices, improving working conditions and using natural resources responsibly. The decision to introduce the range and commitments was structured very thoroughly through its strategic capabilities as these do have the ability to con tribute to a long term margin and also a competitive advantage. H&M followed ‘Tech' with the three generic types of dynamic capabilities as this has become the standard and most common practice in industries.The first point is ‘sensing where H has realized that there are new opportunities. No other fast fashion clothing brand has introduced an environmental friendly range at the moment in time so it was the perfect idea. Next point is ‘seizing is when H&M replaced the actual gap in the market with the line. Lastly ‘reconfiguring is basically what H are constantly doing with its update of the line. As new fashion comes in and out of season constantly, H need to keep its new line up to date.As you can tell H has big threshold capabilities which are needed for an organization to keep up to date with the requirements in the fashion market and with other competitors. In strategic management mindset using BRIO† is important to gain competitive advantage. To b egin with the product which has been introduced by H&M needs to be of value to the customers so it can generate higher revenue or lower costs to the business. So in this instance this product hadn't been introduced to the fast fashion oral so the value of it is quite and exciting for the industry.Therefore H&M with this product has taken advantage of its opportunities and threats, understands its value to customers and considered the cost. Next is the need of the product to have rarity. If a product is introduced which is valuable yet common throughout various competitors, then it's very unlikely it is going to be a major source of competitive advantage. Therefore it's important that the introduced line is something rare and will bring customers to the shop especially to view and purchase this line.As you can tell he strategic capabilities that allows H&M to be advanced is not as straightforward and simple as suspected. In this introduction to this line H&M did keep in the mind the next step being the Inimitable capabilities. If other competitors were to introduce something along the same lines they would find it difficult and costly to intimidate or even to substitute therefore would less likely be able to match up to H&M. Lastly H&M needs to be suitably organism to support all these capabilities.They already had the support of the formal and informal management control systems therefore they were blew to fully take advantage of the given capabilities SQ. Drawing on relevant topics in this unit, explain how H&M's culture as suggested by the ‘spirit of H&M' influences the current strategic position of H&M as well as its ability to respond to the strategic issue you have identified in IQ . An organizations culture is the behavior of those people within the organization and all the attachments to the meanings behind their behaviors.It revolves around their visions, language, assumptions, understandings, beliefs, habits, norms and values. It's basically how they do things from where they are in the organization. In any organization, culture has an influence over their strategy. Even the fact the fashion industry has a certain culture would affect the way H&M run their strategies including the different countries and cities H&M would have issues in relation to geographic based cultures due to the fact they have stores in all parts of the world.Each city would have its moralities and the usual way to do things from their knowledge which would differ from the same shop somewhere else. It's important for companies that run internationally to understand such differences H&M's hilltop's links in to the followed and believed culture. From day one H&M wanted to make fashion affordable for everyone so it was something they stuck by quite strongly. Throughout the years of passing through different managers and management styles – the company's culture still relieved on Reeling Persons style of sticking to central values and beliefs.Even the 7 codified core values for H&M link into the rare and inimitable strategic capability, and they are: 1) Keep it simple 2) Straight forward and open minded 3) Cost conscious 4) Constant improvement 5) Entrepreneurial spirit ) Team work 7) Belief in people Within H&M's spirit is the amazing way they really focus on their employee's involvement. Because H&M has this philosophy of participatory management the company is viewed as one with experimentation, trial-and-error learning, fast decision making, and willingness to take initiatives and try new ideas.These are the pillars of the company and without these; H&M wouldn't have the culture it has today. The active encouragement of this spirit is another key ingredient through all organization levels. This way, new things are encourages between purchasing managers and the understanding that mistakes are okay is followed through at all levels. Even managers in the front end of the business are encouraged to experiments with the interi or and exterior of the shop.Decoration, lighting, colors, clothes displays and even locating are swiftly changed depending on sales and preferences of customers. Although any new range which may be introduced must be bounded within H&M's core ideas and values, which the conscious range clearly does. ‘ One of H&M's major strengths are its fantastic brand imagine and the costs of purchases. H&M has established a strong culture which is self-motivating for employees by creating unity and a high skilled work place.The company benefits from a good image from the customers and they have a strong fame everywhere in the world thanks to its huge number of outlets. Also the prices that H&M offer to its customers are really competitive thanks to the cost saving management way of the company. H&M's environment has a very positive outcome throughout all levels of the business and this reflects solely on the complete imagine H&M perceives. The fact that employees get a say and get a chance to get involved in all levels makes it have such a constructive workforce.H&M has lots of freedom for employees to move around through levels of the organization but this has come under some scrutiny as there is no way to point the blame if something goes wrong. This doesn't work for everyone but for those who it does work for, it has a very motivational feel.

Analytical Paper: Justin Martyr, First Apology Essay

Justin Martyr was the Greek apologist of Christianity who lived in the 2nd c. A. D. He was famous for his two Apologies (the First Apology dates back to about A. D. 155, rediscovered in 1364 ), and the Dialogue with Trypho. Both Chadwick and Richardson called him one of the most prominent advocates of Christian faith due to the most genuine spirit and voluminosity. The First Apology is addressed to the emperor Antoninus Pius and his confidants. The eloquent speech, which sometimes resembles of Platonic dialogues or defensive declaration in classic court, explains to the hostile prevailing authorities the foundations of Christian theology from the point of a true believer. As Richardson noted, the work was not recklessly structured, so far as it was difficult for commentators â€Å"to find a clear outline. † There is a scheme of the Apology given in chapter 23, though it â€Å"is hard to follow through in detail. † However, Richardson observed a distinctive rhetorical scheme consisting of seven themes: Plea for a Fair Hearing (chs. 1 to 8), The Faith and Life of Christians (chs. 9 to 20), Superiority of Christianity to Paganism (chs. 21 to 29), The Argument from Prophecy (chs. 30 to 53), Paganism an Imitation of Christianity (chs. 54 to 60), Christian Worship (chs. 61 to 67), and Conclusion (ch. 68) (1953, 236). Thus, the First Apology topically consists of the appeal to the Pagan Emperors who used to prosecute early Christians, the description of Christian theological position, the comparison of Pagan and Christian faiths, the overview of Biblical prophecies in regard to Jesus Christ, the account of Christian traditions (Eucharist, prays, etc. ) and the summary of previous argumentations. Justin addressed the Emperor and his relatives as philosophers and lovers of culture in the name of people regardless of nationality being â€Å"unjustly hated and reviled† for their faith. The apologist evidently held the hearers for humans being able to follow reason. More than that, Justin Martyr called for the high reputation of the Emperor as the pillar of justice who could not send a criminal to death before conviction but, nevertheless, illogically did not pause to murder Christians. The author swept aside the suspicions that he would flatter higher authorities, or try to seek their indulgent protection. Instead, Justin suggested that the listeners should voluntary â€Å"give judgment according to strict and exact inquiry† without â€Å"prejudice or respect for superstitious men, or by irrational impulse and long-established evil rumor. † No doubt that the author built his argument as if he was a solicitor speaking before the trial jury. In evidence of his firm and sincere position of a Christian, he exclaimed, For we are firmly convinced that we can suffer no evil unless we are proved to be evildoers or shown to be criminals. You can kill us, but cannot do us any real harm. Justin’s discourse is founded on the concept of reason and truth. He juxtaposed the negative rule of custom to the positive guidance of truth. The apologist’s conceptualization of truth linked to the one of justice even at the cost of life, as well as to the most perfect embodiment of Reason, God. Justin warned his audience, â€Å"if those who learn [the truth] do not do what is right, they have no defense before God. † Chadwick stated that, according to the apologist, â€Å"the gospel and the best elements in Plato and the Stoics are almost identical ways of apprehending the same truth. † It seems to be true that Justin did not afraid to appellate to the authority of pagan philosophers, Plato and Socrates. The latter â€Å"made the race of men endowed with intelligence, able to choose the truth and do right, so that all men are without excuse before God, for they were made with the powers of reason and observation. † He was executed for denouncing the power of evil demons who seduced humans and made them act wickedly. Justin found that there were parallels between the Stoics’ catastrophic comprehension of the world and â€Å"the eschatological fire of God’s judgement. † Still, the Christian spirit proclaimed by Justin is closer to Plato’s teaching. For example, in regard to death and martyrdom the apologist seemed to echo the Greek philosopher in the utterance, â€Å"we are not troubled by being put to death, since we will have to die somehow in any case. † The Christian idea of eternal punishment for sinners and salvation for true and virtuous believers, when â€Å"the souls of the unrighteous will be punished after death, still remaining in conscious existence, and those of the virtuous, delivered from punishments, will enjoy happiness,† also seems to correspond with Plato’s ideas. It looks as if Justin assigned both philosophers and the prophets of the Old Testament to the one and the same position. He argued that Plato in his saying that, â€Å"The blame belongs to him who chooses, and God is free from blame,† sounded like the prophet Moses. The concept of Divinity as bodiless and formless substance having created the Universe traveled from one philosophic mind to another. Justin seemed to view the role of the Old Testament prophets in paving the road to the descending of Jesus Christ to people to redeem them of sins and evil. Justin wrote, â€Å"There were among the Jews certain men who were prophets of God, through whom the prophetic Spirit announced in advance events that were to occur. † One may assume that the apologist had knowledge of human psychology and community behavior. He assumed that â€Å"God testified in advance through the prophetic Spirit that things which are unbelievable and thought impossible among men would happen, so that when this should occur it would not be disbelieved, but received with faith because it had been predicted. † Citing the Bible, Justin analyzed the evidence from the Old Testament in regard to the events of the New Testament. He stated further that there were even more events to have been predicted by ancient prophets and there would be the second epiphany of Christ to Earth. Justin Martyr was a pioneer in underlining the Christian emphasis on spirit and dismissing human flesh as the driving cause for any acts and events. According to him, Christians were outstanding in their â€Å"longing for the life which is eternal and pure. † When the writer compared the pagan tradition of portraying gods as the objects of craft, he stressed that it was disgusting because of craftsmen’s licentious habits. He recalled ancient accounts of pagan gods living material life in contrast to Christian God who â€Å"has no need of material offerings from men, considering that he is the provider of all. † It is interesting to observe how Justin tried to build the hierarchy of three Christian deities: the Father, the Son and the Spirit. He made his best to explain that Christians honored Jesus as occupying the second place in the system, whereas the prophetic Spirit was in the third rank. He dwelt in details on the teaching of Jesus where people were taught to love and trust each other, live in purity and clarity of thought and deed. That formed a sharp contrast to the pagan traditions of prostitution, greed, lust and wilderness. Justin put Christianity superior to Paganism because Christian God let believers â€Å"not to consume by fire the things he has made for our nourishment, but to devote them to our use and those in need, in thankfulness to him sending up solemn prayers and hymns for our creation. † Christian God pursued the genuine truth and did not enjoy prejudices and human blindness in referencing to the truth. Involuntary, Justin sometimes made similar Christian and Pagan deities. However, he immediately tried to explain those analogies â€Å"as imitations of the truth inspired by the devil, who with foresight and sagacity has thereby tried to inoculate men against the gospel by caricatures of the Incarnation or of the virgin birth or of baptism and the eucharist. † What is the use of Justin’s First Apology in the Roman and modern period? First, he addressed plain people who craved after the main idea for their lives. Second, he integrated the new teaching in the sequence of human thought to change the outliving mode of political and spiritual life. Third, he was â€Å"utterly frank and open-hearted† in describing the emerging faith. So far as his theological contribution is concerned, Justin was artful enough â€Å"to piece together a mosaic providing a clear and surprisingly full account of his doctrines of God, Creation, Incarnation, Atonement, the Church, the sacraments of baptism and eucharist, and the Last Things. † Richardson admitted in his turn that Justin Martyr stood apart from other apologists in his warm and human tone: â€Å"Most of the other Apologists lead their reader to the door of the church [†¦] while Justin opens it and tells a good deal about what goes on inside. † Bibliography Chadwick, Henry. Early Christian Thought and the Classical Tradition: Studies in Justin, Clement, and Origen. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984. Richardson, Cyril Charles. Early Christian Fathers. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1953.

Candide. Everything Has a Cause Essay -- voltaire, philosophy

Pangloss is one of the most significant figures around Candide. His central philosophy that â€Å"things cannot be other than they are, since everything was made for a purpose† (Voltaire 20) has been attacked by Voltaire in Candide. Voltaire criticized Pangloss’s philosophy by using the story of Candide killing Baron’s son – Cunà ©gonde’s brother. Candide told Baron that he wanted to marry his sister, and Baron exclaimed to disagree. Irritated by Baron’s words, Candide killed him. Later Candide and his servant escaped, but they were caught by Oreillons and were ready to be eaten until Candide told them that he was not a Jesuit as he killed one Jesuit – Baron. Because of this, Candide was freed from being eaten, and he said: What grand people they are! What fine fellows! And what culture! If I had not been lucky enough to spit Lady Cunà ©gonde’s brother, I should infallibly have been eaten. What all is said and done, there is a sterling goodness in an unsophisticated Nature†¦ Candide believed that the effect of him not being eaten is caused by the fact that he killed Baron and hence he was naively â€Å"full of admiration† to those peoplongly influenced by scientific revolution, the spirit of skepticism, brought forward by Pierre Bayle, also showed to us that there is cause and effect. He emphasized that nothing can ever be known beyond all doubt, and being skeptic encourages people to discover people why things take place. In other words, people should begin to focus more on reasoning rather than accepting the fact that â€Å"natural force† affects our life. From scientific revolution to our current era of Enlightenment to the emergence of skepticism, cause and effect kept playing a great role in leading scientists and philosophers to move forward. Consequently, Voltaire’s attack of cause and effect seemed to be gossamer and powerless since in our daily life, cause and effect can help us understand things that happen in our life and its impact on everyone living in Enlightenment cannot be overlooked.

Morality of Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Morality of Abortion - Essay Example Therefore, the debate between the two groups continues endlessly. Since either party fails to shake off the context-specificity of abortion, the groups on either side of abortion makes them vulnerable to each other’s critiques (Marquis 183-187). Personhood, right to life, and ethics are several recurring keywords in both the pro and contra abortion debate. Often these themes serve as the grand principles of the attempts to validate the arguments of either party on the issue of abortion. But unfortunately, these themes themselves have been contaminated by the context-specificity. In his article, â€Å"A Defense of Abortion†, though Jarvis Thompson attempts to deal with the permissibility of general abortion, he mostly hovers around some specific contexts of abortion that may draw the readers’ emotional support, and then rational, to his stance on the issue of abortion. Indeed Thompson’s approach is to establish a person’s or a woman’s right to abortion from a pure ethical point of view. He argues that since an unexpected conception of a baby in its mother’s womb due to a rape or other cases is in direct conflict with its mother’s right to choose, the mother’s choice to abortion may proved to be mean and selfish according to the existing morals of a society, but she has the right to abort the baby. Thompson’s success lies in drawing a clear dichotomy between morals and ethics on the issue of the abortion. According to him, a mother’s right to choose to deprive her unborn baby from its right to life through abortion should be based on ethics, whereas her choice to allow the baby to live in her womb is a question of her and her society’s morality. Thompson’s propounded ethics asserts that if one’s right to choice does not come into direct conflict with another’s right to life, he or she cannot be held responsible for the violation of