People of the Kalahari: the Kung Culture Essay

The people of the Kalahari have a very peaceful way of living. They are secluded from the rest of the world, so they live very different lives. In order for them to survive in the Kalahari, they have to be good at hunting and gathering foods. Because the kung people live in small groups of people that consists of at most 15 huts in the dry season and 20 huts in the rainy season it is important to them to have peace among the people. They have very little crimes and or violence. Stealing is not a problem because when food is gathered, and game is killed everyone gets a portion. There is no need for stealing because the people share. Trust between the people is very strong. Every day the Kung people will gather around the fire and talk and have discussions. Because there is little crime among the people, there is no need for discipline. But on rare occasions that there is a crime, everybody will gather and have a group discussion. As they talk around the fire, they make sure to discuss things that both or upset them. When something happens, that stirs emotions like anger, hate, or jealousy they make sure to figure out what has caused it and to fix it to keep the peace. The Kung people are nomadic; they never stay in one area for very long. In the Kalahari water is an essential part of life, without it you could not survive. And since there is little water and it barely ever rains, the Kung people have to be near water. They move their villages to places that have water at reasonable distances that they can walk to. The people can’t drive to the super market or to a restaurant when their hungry, life is harsher than that in the Kalahari. If they need food, they have to hunt or gather it. The Kung people are excellent hunters. They use poison tipped arrows to shot their game. The poison tipped arrows are used as a sedative and puts the animal to sleep, and eventually kills it. But because the poison is slow acting, the people have to stalk their prey until it dies. The people are gatherers; they gather foods like roots, berries, fruits and nuts. The people of the Kalahari are a very peaceful culture. To survive they have to know the land and experts in hunting and tracking their prey, and gathering foods inorder to survive in the Kalahari.

Grapes of Wrath (Sin&Virtue) Essay

Through out John Steinbeck’s controversial novel, The Grapes of Wrath, the protagonist are faced with a daunting idea; that there is no ‘good’ and ‘bad’ forces in the world. Grapes of Wrath was published in an era filled with discrimination, hate, and fear directed at the fleeing â€Å"Okies†; in the early 1930’s the midwestern states where decimated by a foreseen but still devastating Dust Bowl. The reader joins the main characters, the Joad family, as they travel across the country hoping for work in a foreign state; California. Through out their trip they seem to come to believe that â€Å"there ain’t no sin and there ain’t no virtue† just people doing what people do. Yet the more they seem to believe this, the more the reader begins to see that there is in-fact a drastic flaw in their ideology. People do do horrible and good things, but those are what prove that Sin and Virtue do exist. The Joad family are, as a whole, virtuous. Although they sin frequently in during the course of the novel, they are not unscrupulous people. They prove throughout the novel that you can still be virtuous and be a sinner, that these two things do exist. When Tom Joad attacks a man for killing Jim Casey he â€Å"bust[s] his head†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg. 532), and although his action of killing the man may not be virtuous, the fact that he was trying to defend a friend was. Another character that is virtuous, although he doesn’t believe in virtue or sin, is Jim Casey. He takes the blame when a man talks back to a police officer, in order to save the Joads when Tom helps the man. (p.g. 362) And for all that virtue the reader witnesses by the dirty, dubiousâ€Å"Okies†, sin is still seen in the good upstanding citizens of this novel. Steinbeck portrays the Migrant farmers as a bath of misunderstood wanderers, while describing the local citizens as hostile assailants. The police always seem to be out to get the farmers, and the the average man and woman turn their back’s on their struggles. Strikes are constantly being broken that could help the farmers survive, and the lack of support migrants receive in this time period cripple any chance the â€Å"Okies† have at feeding their families and surviving their ordeal. At government run camps, created to help the abused farmers, local towns try to destroy the camps that they believe are killing their livelihood. Most people sin in this book simply by the way the treat the non-natives, ignoring their fellow man in their time of need. And while men like the kind truck driver, buying candy for poor children, can be found they are extremely rare. The idea that sin and virtue don’t exist is truly ridiculous. Both can be found in every aspect of life, and are deeply rooted in the core of this book. John Steinbeck uses the characters arguments of the lack of theses things to expose the truth. That all actions are based from sin and virtue.

A Commitment to Strengthening the US Housing Market

While the subprime mortgage crisis and foreclosure crisis is shocking many Americans, the truth is that it has been looking at us for several years. The US government not only helps to solve this problem but also prevents future events by creating a control system that reminds us when the real estate market is overheating. This article outlines the steps the government can take to help people who need it. The U.S. government should establish a foreclosure relief fund (FRF) for individuals who faced foreclosure during the economic crisis. The mission of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to provide everyone with a strong, sustainable, comprehensive community and quality affordable housing. HUD uses houses as a platform to strengthen the housing market, strengthen the economy, protect consumers, meet the demand for high-quality affordable rental housing, and improve the quality of life, without discrimination We will build a comprehensive and sustainable commun ity. Established in 1951, the National Credit Counseling Foundation (NFCCÂ ®) is the largest non-profit finance advisory body in the United States and offers the longest service period. The mission of the NFCC is to advance the national fiscal responsibility agenda and to build the capacity for its members to provide top quality financial education and advisory services. The Council for Certification (COA) is an international independent nonprofit human service certification body. Their mission is to cooperate with human service organizations around the world to improve service provision by developing, applying, and promoting certification standards. Reform and strengthen the federal midfield house. The government has reformed the use of the Residential Re-entry Center (RRC), often referred to as halfway dormitory, to provide housing to about 80% prisoners in the last month of federal judgment. The ownership and management of RRC has been fully privatized since the early 1980s, and BOP relies on a combination of commercial groups and nonprofit organizations. In November 2016, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced a memorandum to instruct the BOP to use the purchasing power to thoroughly reform the individual market. In particular, this memo states that BOP sets clear and unified standards for all RRC providers, expands the collection and dissemination of RRC performance data, and is more efficient and efficient for federally re-entry services To explore alternate models that can produce market.

International law, environment and multinational enterprises (MNEs) Essay

International law, environment and multinational enterprises (MNEs) - Essay Example Responsibilities of MNEs Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) are â€Å"enterprises which own or control value-added services in two or more countries† (Jones & Dunning, 1997). In other words, a multinational enterprise controls components of its organizational structures across two or more nations. This implies that such an organization will have to adhere to two or more legal jurisdictions. In this sense, a multinational can be viewed from the point of dealing in two countries, the home country and the host country (Morschett et al, 2010). Thus, every multinational will have to set its global standards from the perspective and requirements of the home country. This becomes the basic system of standards that it will adhere to in its drive to expand into other nations and territories. When it expands to other nations, it will have to also become sensitive to the local requirements and adhere to it. This brings up the issue of internationalisation versus nationalisation. An MNE will have to examine the right blend it will undertake in order to honour the legal and ethical requirements of a given nation. Will it have to adhere to the standards of the home country or the host country? Living by home country standards can mean loss of opportunities and potentially offending local partners. Adhering to host country standards could also lead to international condemnation and serious reputational issues if they are revealed in the home country thereby presenting the company as hypocritical. This inherent issue with MNEs are materialised strongly in environmental and human rights issues. These two major issues come with a room for potential conflict in deciding whether to internationalise or nationalise. How should a US or British firm operate in a nation where human righ ts are not respected? How should a European firm set its environmental reporting standards in a nation where those standards are seen as a sheer waste of money? All these are dilemmas that need to be handled in the expansion bid of an MNE. As identified in the introduction, the presence of international laws makes some of these things much easier to handle. Without them, there will be serious variances in the way MNEs behave and this will lead to double standards and serious implications for poorer countries and countries with lower human rights and environmental standards. Environmental Footprints Environmental footprint refers to the effects of an organisation's operations on the natural environment (Mares, 2007). The environmental footprints refers to the resultant effect of an business' operations on the natural environment. It involves the residual and sometimes unintended degradation of the

Tardiness to Class Interpretations and Recommendations Essay

Tardiness to Class Interpretations and Recommendations - Essay Example Sports, theater, and history all show low levels of tardiness, while gym, math, and science show the highest rates of tardiness. A third trend is between GPA and tardiness—the two are inversely proportionate. Students between the GPA 3.5-4.0 have the lowest rates of tardiness, while the tardiness rate rises as the GPA gets lower. Based on the data, many students clearly have difficulty attending class on time. The problem of tardiness should not be undermined. William Chandler Bagley explains in the classic education book, Classroom Management: its Principles and Technique, â€Å"the habit of tardiness is worse than occasional absence because it is apt to be carried over into later life and to cause the individual no end of trouble in its eradication† (77). As such, the problem of tardiness demands remedies. While students may currently arrive late to class with few repercussions, such consequences will be more severe as the students enter into adulthood and the workforce. The trend between tardiness and grade levels can be explained as a result of â€Å"senioritis.† Though this term has been used somewhat lightly, schools are beginning to show little tolerance for seniors who show a noticeable disinterest in their studies. USA Today writes in one article, â€Å"this year there may be serious consequences—including having college acceptance withdrawn—for those who don’t finish with a strong academic record† (Mamlet and VanDeVelde 1). The article further recommends parent intervention if they notice signs of increased absence or tardiness. Seniors who believe their academic efforts are pointless in the last semester are more likely to be late to class than juniors, whose academic performance is being judged by universities. The link between tardiness and type of class is likely due to a student’s interest in the course. If a pupil is genuinely interested in the material, they will want to show up on

The South Carolina nullification crisis, under President Andrew Essay - 1

The South Carolina nullification crisis, under President Andrew Jackson, split the Democratic Party in two - Essay Example The Existential Fallacy is passed because there is no particular conclusion from two universal premises. This argument passes all six tests for validity. It passes the Equivocation Fallacy because there are only three terms used in the exact same way. It passes the Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle because the middle term is distributed in the second premise. It passes the Illicit Major and Illicit Minor Fallacies because the major term is distributed in the first premise and in the conclusion. The argument passes the Fallacy of Exclusive Premises because there are not two negative premises. It passes the Affirmative Conclusion from a Negative Premise Fallacy because the conclusion is negative. Finally, it passes the Existential Fallacy because there is no particular conclusion from two universal conclusions. This argument is valid based on the fact that it passes all six tests for validity. The Equivocation Fallacy is passed because there are only three terms used in the same way. The Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle Term is passes because the middle term is distributed in the first premise. The Fallacies of the Illicit Major or Illicit Minor are passed because any term distributed in the conclusion is distributed in the premises. ... No protective tariffss(d) could be nullifiedp(d). Mood, Figure, and Latin Name: EAE-2 Cesare Venn Diagram: This argument is valid based on the fact that it passes all six tests for validity. The Equivocation Fallacy is passed because there are only three terms used in the same way. The Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle Term is passes because the middle term is distributed in the first premise. The Fallacies of the Illicit Major or Illicit Minor are passed because any term distributed in the conclusion is distributed in the premises. It passes the Affirmative Conclusion from Negative Premises Fallacy because the conclusion is negative so there is no affirmative conclusion. The Existential Fallacy is passed because there is no particular conclusion from two universal premises. Third Argument: No nullifiersm(d) supported protective tariffsp(d). Some South Carolinianss(u) were nullifiersm(u). Some South Carolinianss(u) did not support protective tariffsp(d). Mood, Figure, and Latin Name: EIO-1 Ferio Venn Diagram: This argument is valid because it passes all six of the tests for validity. It passes the Equivocation Fallacy because there are only three terms used in the same sense. The Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle is passed because the middle term is distributed in the first premise. It passes the Fallacies of the Illicit Major and Illicit Minor because the major term is distributed in the conclusion and in the first premise. The Fallacy of Exclusive Premises is passed because there are not two negative premises. The Affirmative Conclusion from Negative Premises is passed because the conclusion is negative. It passes the Existential Fallacy because there is no particular conclusion from two

Analysis and evaluation of strategic choices in the airline industry Essay

Analysis and evaluation of strategic choices in the airline industry - Essay Example According to Barrett (2010), the airline industry has embraced mergers and acquisitions that have seen leading airline companies combine, or even own other companies in the quest to expand their investment, as well as, counter the ever changing environment; of this type of business venture. In the period of 2004-2011, a number of Mergers and acquisitions were encountered in this industry. For purposes of proper and effective analysis, few cases have been chosen in this study and will be looked at in the following section. According to Transatlantic airline alliances (2010), the airline industry can be described as complex and volatile; major crises face this industry like, fuel prices, world and regional economies. MERGERS AND ACQUISATIONS Mergers in the airline industry are a reality in the business world. A number of mergers have been experienced in this industry notably with the popular airlines as well as the smaller airlines. According to Barrett (2010), history has shown that s ubstantial airline mergers yield inconsiderable results at their best. This paper looks at two mergers that occurred in this industry between the years 2004 and 2011- merger of British Airways-Iberia and the Continental-United merger. This paper aims at evaluating the strategies behind these decisions, projected achievements and what prompted the companies in this industry to come up with the ideas of mergers and acquisitions. On critical analysis of the above mergers, various reasons can be deduced for coming up with the merger strategy. British Airways mergers and acquisitions The tough global economic situations being experienced has seen British Airways get into mergers and acquisitions as a way of trying to remain on board. British Airways has made four acquisitions, has taken no... The intention of this study is merger in the airline industry. A number of mergers have been experienced in this industry notably with the popular airlines as well as the smaller airlines. History has shown that substantial airline mergers yield inconsiderable results at their best. This paper looks at two mergers that occurred in this industry between the years 2004 and 2011- merger of British Airways-Iberia and the Continental-United merger. With a rise in joint ventures and strategic alliances popularity, their complexity and range of alternatives also increases. Thus, there is profound necessity for advisers to alert the parties in the airline industry the probable occurrences in the future. There is also need to understand the various circumstances and structures associated with these ventures and alliances. Structures of ventures include; an incorporated company, partnership and trading trust. Strategic alliances are less formal; also they might involve collaboration agreement. All ventures in general have one thing in common which, involve the fundamental aspect of a relationship working. Joint ventures and strategic alliances have continued to be in style world wide across all industry and specific to the airline industry. Notable points in the realization of effective and strategic achievements in this area are; legal advisors of mergers and acquisitions have the obligation of keeping up date with the ways and changes of the idea at hand. This will ensure that companies get to know both the profit and the risks behind getting into mergers and acquisitions, as well as, combined ventures and strategic alliances.

Ethics in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ethics in Business - Essay Example With respect to the case of Hugo seeking to present his opinion with regards to the new product line that is being marketed, this specific analysis will focus upon three distinct questions and the means through which an ethical interpretation of this specific issue can be affected. Accordingly, the first question will be concentric upon representing the ethical issues that are demonstrated and coming to an ethically reasoned course of understanding with respect to the best practices that could be exhibited by Hugo. The second question focuses upon the most challenging aspects of this analysis and the use and application of ethical theory to make the relevant decisions. Finally, the third question helps to review the experience and provide a discussion and analysis upon how the course module has helped in affecting an ethical decision-making structure within sections 1 and 2. It is the further hope of this author that the analysis will be useful in not only representing the overall le vel of knowledge which was gained within the course but also helping to craft a very realistic and likely scenario that could have a great deal of relevance with regards the way in which future ethical business decision-making is engendered. Question 1: Firstly, rather than being overwhelmed by the complexity of this specific case, it is necessary to understand that a seven step utilitarian method of understanding can be applied to the marketing approach and concerns that Hugo represents. This seven step approach includes the following: the representation of the facts, the representation of the ethical issues, a discussion of the alternatives, a discussion and representation of the stakeholders, and analysis of the ethical alternatives, a discussion and analysis of practical constraints, and a discussion and analysis of which actions to take and why. Firstly, with regards to a discussion of fact, it must be understood that Hugo has already presented a profound level of research whic h helps to denote the fact that individuals who are measurably less attractive than average experience a great deal of physical and psychological harm throughout the course of their lives. The psychological harm is oftentimes in direct due to the fact that individuals within society actively judge them and determine themselves as somehow better than those who are physically less appealing than they are. By means of comparison, the physical drawbacks that had previously been denoted are oftentimes secondary and in direct; resulting from the fact that an individual who experiences the primary censure and ridicule that society is able to pour upon them for being physically less appealing than their counterparts can have a litany of different negative impact upon the overall health and longevity of the individuals. This oftentimes takes place with regards to an increased level of heart disease, high blood pressure, and a litany of different issues. Secondly, the ethical issues involved in this case necessarily are concentric upon the question of whether or not a particular marketer has an ethical responsibility to represent their products in a thoughtful and societally conscious manner. From a review of history, it can and must be noted that marketers helped to engender and promote biases, norms, and/4 sexism, racism, or levels of xenophobia. Accordingly, one does not need to look into the distant past to realize that marketers

Strategic Management - Integrative and Analytical Tools Assignment

Strategic Management - Integrative and Analytical Tools - Assignment Example This is to ensure customers satisfaction is achieved while the profitability of the company remains sustainable throughout its operations. In order to effectively analyze the new markets, several tools and techniques will be employed so get a comprehensive market picture. These tools include the SWOT Analysis and PEST Analysis. A SWOT analysis is a universal tool used for assessing the internal position and capability of a company in relation to the prevailing market environment. SWOT is an acronym for the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing a company. The internal advantages of the company are analyzed and the vulnerable points are analyzed. This can be presented in a matrix form as shown below (Figure 1). The scrutiny of the strengths as well as the weaknesses will focus on the four internal areas of the company including the financials of the company, marketing capability, manufacturing and the organizational structure. The threats and opportunities will however seek to look at the environmental factors such as the markets economic situation, social factors and technological advancements. The value of a SWOT analysis is the ability of the results to determine the value of the company as stated by Neubert (2013). This will therefore assist in maximizing the strengths identified while minimizing the weaknesses to take gain of the opportunities accessible and conquer any looming threats to the business. The major benefits of using SWOT for analysis is the fact that it is simple to use and it requires minimal costs and training. PESTLE Analysis is used solely for analyzing the external factors that might affect a strategic business move. It is an acronym for Political, Economical, Social, Legal and Ecological factors that might affect a strategic move. The analysis of these factors therefore enables a business to formulate the best strategy of approaching global markets

Assingment 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assingment 3 - Assignment Example A favorable relationship allows the manager to have a task structure that is highly formed and he is able to punish or reward the employees. An unfavorable relationship is usually associated with a poor task structure and the leader has limited authority. 3) Positioning power-, this variable usually measures the amount of power and authority that a manager perceives the organization has granted him for the purpose of rewarding, directing, and punishing of subordinates. Positioning of managers usually depends on the increment of the decision making power of employees. Path goal is a theory that was developed in order to describe the way leaders are able to support and encourage their followers in the achievement of goals that have been set by making the path of success easy and clear (House, 1996). The leader in this case is supposed to, This type of leadership involves the consideration of the follower’s needs, showing concern for their wellbeing and the creation of a working environment that is friendly. This will include the increment of the self-esteem for the followers and enhancing job roles to make work more interesting. This usually works best in a scenario whereby the work is hazardous, boring, or stressful. Directive leadership is the kind of leadership whereby the leader tells the followers what is supposed to be done and helps in guiding them along the way. This will include schedules for specific work and specific time. This involves the consultation of followers and asking for ideas and considering them in the process of decision-making. This approach usually works best in a situation whereby the followers are experts in a certain field. This involves the setting up of goals that are challenging for self-improvement and at work. In this case, high standards are usually expected and demonstrated. The leader should show faith in capabilities of the follower. This approach is best in a complex job

The Good, The Bad And The m ouldy Essay Example for Free

The Good, The Bad And The m ouldy Essay Introduction: In 2008 a YouTube video of a lady displaying a McDonald’s cheeseburger which she had kept for 4 years, went viral. A normal McDonald’s cheeseburger which had been exposed to the elements had kept in the same state for 4 years. No mould or mildew was found on the meat patty, the only thing that was slightly wrong was the burger bun which had become stale and was beginning to crumble. The composer of the video then compared McDonald’s fries which had been around for 4 years, to sliced potatoes which had been cut 3 months ago. The McDonalds fries were perfectly intact, they still had an oily, salty and greasy feel. However, the potato cuttings were covered in mould and were incredibly hard and in an attempt to snap them in half, they did not flex at all. If ‘real’ potatoes aged like that, why wouldn’t McDonald’s fries (the main ingredient being potatoes). This leads to the main experiment, if a McDonald’s burger doesn’t age, would a burger from home prepared ingredients be any different? My experiment consists of purchasing a regular McDonalds cheeseburger and then preparing a homemade cheeseburger using the same ingredients. The homemade burger must have the same dimensions as the McDonalds burger and share the same characteristics. For example, the weight of the McDonalds beef patty must be equivalent to that of the butcher-bought patty for the homemade burger. As all McDonalds patties are frozen, the butcher patty must be cooked in advance, frozen and then defrosted on the day of the burger preparation. The McDonalds burger will be purchased within the same hour as the homemade burger will be prepared. Even though an hour is an insignificant amount of time, I do not wish for the results to be altered in any way. The two burgers will be placed in two identical containers for 30 days. The burgers will be monitored every day and must only be handled with gloves on. Once the 30 days are up, the two will be weighed and examined to see if there are any changes to either burger. Depending on whether or not the McDonalds burger decays, I plan to conduct a survey and propose the question to 20 – 30 people â€Å"If cost was excluded from the equation, would you purchase a McDonalds burger over a burger from a takeaway shop made with reliable ingredients? † This question will be asked before the experiment takes place and once again after the 30 days. References: Adriana Velez, (January 3, 2013), Cheeseburger That Stayed Exactly the Same After a Whole Year Raises Alarm, http://thestir. cafemom. com/food_party/130975/cheeseburger_that_stayed_exactly_the * More to be decided for further research Aim: To determine whether a home-prepared cheeseburger will be in the same state as a McDonald’s cheeseburger after 30 days. Hypothesis: The burger made from natural ingredients will show signs of decomposition as opposed to the McDonalds burger which I believe will stay in the same state (based on previous research). Variables: Independent Variable – The burgers used for the experiment. One will be purchased from McDonalds, the other will be prepared at home, using butchers meat and store bought ingredients. *Note: Different cooking oils may be used to prepare the meat patty Dependent Variable – The amount of days which the two burgers will under examination (30 days). Also the weight of the two beefs patties before and after the experiment. Controls – The two containers in which the burgers will be situated. They will be in the same environment (a dark room). The two burgers must weigh the same and have the same portion of ingredients. Risk Assessment: Whilst preparing the homemade burger, proper cautions must be taken to avoid injury. Following proper safety guidelines while using the stove to prepare the patty is most important. As the experiment goes on, touching the burgers for examination will be required. Proper safety gloves must be worn to prevent any form of mildew or mould from making contact with the skin. Equipment List: * McDonalds cheeseburger (freshly cooked) * Ingredients for homemade burger (butcher’s meat, cheese slice, tomato sauce, chopped onion, burger bun, pickles) * Cooking utensils (frying pan, spatula). * Two identical air-tight containers * Safety gloves * Scales * Camera * Journal (to document observations) Method: Step 1: Prepare homemade burger using listed ingredients and freeze for 2 to 3 days. Step 2: Defrost burger, cook patty and purchase a plain McDonalds cheeseburger. Step 3: Place burgers in two separate airtight containers and place in a location which each container receives an equal amount of light, heat, etc. Step 4: Conduct a survey by proposing the question â€Å"If cost was excluded from the equation, would you purchase a McDonalds burger over a burger from a takeaway shop made with reliable ingredients?† to 20 – 30 people. Step 5: Observe the two burgers each day for 30 days, taking note of any change. (Handle only with safety gloves) Step 6: Collect findings and present results. Step 7: Briefly outline results to the same 20 – 30 people who were surveyed and ask them whether their views have changed at all. Step 8: Research the health benefits of home prepared meat as opposed to commercial, processed meats. Results: Photos and descriptions of the burgers will be presented in the form of a journal. Weight of the burgers will be presented in a line graph designed in Microsoft Excel.

How would a Scholarship Assist Me After Graduation Essay Example for Free

How would a Scholarship Assist Me After Graduation Essay In my findings, it is not just enough to have enrichment of goal, fervency of passion and the keeping of focus, there is the place of vital impact played by pecuniary support from guardian(s) to actualize the desire. I strongly believe many brave and highly intelligent ones have been choked out of their academic dream in life after graduation. Statistical findings have unarguably revealed that financial incapability in one of the factors responsible for thwarted vision in academic excellence. I am very proud to note however, that our school is making part of her contributions in easing students’ financial burden as a responsible institution in the society. The scholarship is a gesture I really appreciate whole heartedly. I do forward this scholarship application to passionately appeal for my consideration in the grant in order to survive hardship in my future pursuit of academic excellence. See more: how to write a scholarship essay Being a promising member from a home with single mother who had lost his father as early as age five, I have only being struggling with ways out of incessant hopelessness, deprivation and unavoidable emotional abuse. I have labored assiduously with my parent to make both ends meet; during summer, I work at Boys and Girls Club to save some fund for school and trying hard to work-out element of laziness from exacerbating the poverty. Sooner after my graduation with me and my two other sisters in studying in college, the financial stress for our mother would climax. The cost of education even in a low grade school with the cheapest environment is overwhelming despite how hard I try to save. My two sisters also need optimum care to cater for their more demanding feminine nature. So huge are my worries despite the strong zeal to pursue academic excellence which I currently demonstrate in school for being among the top 10%. With the hope of scholarship aid, I look forward to a redemptive future from excellence incapacitation. In the college, the scholarship will assist to continual keep focus and meet up the grant expectation.

Gender Bias In Education Education Essay

Gender Bias In Education Education Essay At the heart of the gender bias conundrum are questions of male marginalization, stereotypes and gender identity and female subordination. These concepts will be explored throughout this paper as the basis for gender dialogue. At one of the spectrum is a gendered curricula and at the other end teaching. Studies on gender in the Caribbean has focused largely on issues surrounding gender differential curricula and access(on students more than teachers)This paper focuses is an attempt at both sides. Gender can be defined as set of behaviours, roles and positions which can be socially and culturally attributed to men and women. Gender is constantly shaped through social and cultural experiences which are expressed through the attitudes, value and behavioural characteristic of interpersonal intereaction.(2002, Leo-Rhynie and Pencle). The gender process is a difficult one which commences at birth and is continuously reinforced throughout life. The idiosyncracies demonstrated by gendered groups in society has implications for the identities adolescents develop and to a large extent determine the careers and lifestyles chosen. Gender bias implies some form of preference, inclination and prejudice for one sex over another. Education (that is access, enrolment, participation, performance and achievement) emerges as the arena in which both academic analyses and popular perception locate male marginalization.(2003,Barriteau, p.326). Feminist theorists like Sadker (1994) believe that whilst girls and boys sit in the same classrooms, using the same books, listening to the same teacher, they receive different education. In fact, upon entering school, girls perform equal to or better than boys on nearly every measure of achievement, but by the time they graduate high school or college, they have fallen behind. (Sadker, 1994) However, discrepancies between the performance of girls and the performance of boys in elementary education leads some critics to argue that boys are being neglected within the education system: It is no wonder Errrol Miller posited his maginalization thesis indicating the biases that existed in education and gender socialization However, if it is that males are marginalzed leading to fewer graduates from secondary and tertiary institutions;how is it possible that they are the ones selected for executive positions?Central to this discourse is the concern that men are missing from the higher echelons of the family, classroom and laborforce.(2006, Lindsay). Schools serve as an important agent of socialization in society. There are gendered rules and regulations that are reinforced in schools.Teachers play a pivotal role in accepting behavior that are socially appropriate and rejecting the inappropriate ones. Their roles serveas models in creating gender identity. In a study of British schools (1988,Mahoney) noted that giles had already started practicing their secretarial role for their male counterparts, as they were expected by the boys to provide eraser, ruler and writing materials. In one classroom a boy left his seat and walked across the room to have his bandage fixed by a girl. This provided practice for boys to dominate and the girls to find strategies of resistence. Pencle(1994) observed the sexual division of labour in one jamaican classroom where girls were assigned indoor duties of sweeping and dusting while boys ran errands outside and lifted furniture. From an early age gender stereotypes were instituted in childrens lives by the various agents of socialization(church, family and school responsible for educating boys and girls. Literature is another area where the reinforcement of stereotpical views are orchestrated and administered. According to Pencle Leo-Rhynie (2003), textbooks à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦provides an inaccurate view of society to young people, a view which devalues the role of women.(p.204).They further cited research done by King and Morrisey(1988) whose examination of contemporary text history, geography and social studies utilized by teachers and students in preparation of the Caribbean Council Examinations(CXC); concluded that these books reinforced conventional societal views of patriarchy and male domination. The language in the books did not include women and exhibited them as playing passive, subordinate and menial roles. Additionally, Whitely(1994) ananlysed Integrated science books used in lower grades of Jamaican schools. He discovered that considerable male bias in these texts and questioned the influence it had on girls choice of studying science. Pencle and Leo-Rhynie asserted that the programmes pursued by girls reveal and obvious attraction to the helping professions such as teaching and nursing. Education has been considered as the key vechicle of mobility and social change in the Caribbean. Thus, education is a tool of persuausion and has been instrumental in gender role socialization and thus gender identity. Teachers have played an enormous role in the process so much so that the historiography over the last 30 years have given much attention to what is coined as the feminization of the teaching profession (Downes, 2003, p.303). Errol Millers Marginalisation of the Black Male and later Men At Risk was an empirical analysis of schools teachers in Jamaica in the period 1837 to 1990. Millers underlying thesis is that men have a right to the resources of the state and society over and above women. Many theorist have labeled Millers thesis as flawed as male marginality has stemmed from gender biased methodology rather than from reality. Lindsay, 1997). She believes that the marginalization thesis is a reinforce of the age old patriarchal mandate that women are a inferior and l esser being. Barritean(2003, p350) ciites Chevannes, whose work on coeducation and performance contradict many of Millers assertions of male performance, underachievement and education. Chevannes conclude that there are biases operating in the selection of certain subjects as opposed to others, and there is no evidence to suggest that girls routinely out perform boys, but ample evidence of gender performance both ways in specific subject areas. At very early ages, girls begin defining their femininities in relation to boys. One study of a third grade classroom examined four self-sorted groups of girls within the classroom: the nice girls, the girlies, the spice girls and the tomboys. Through interviews researcher Diane Reay found that nice girls was considered a derogatory term indicating, an absence of toughness and attitude. (Reay, 2001) Furthermore, the girlies were a group of girls who focused their time on flirting with and writing love letters to boys, the tomboys were girls who played sports with the boys, and the spice girls espoused girl-power and played rate-the-boy on the playground. Reays research shows that each of the groups of girls defined their own femininities in relation to boys. (2001) The Reay study further demonstrates how socialization of girls occurs at the school level by tolerating different behaviors from boys than from girls. Assertive behavior from girls is often seen as disruptive and may be viewed more negatively by adults. In Reays study, the fact that the spice girls asserted themselves in ways contrary to traditional femininity caused them to be labeled by teachers as real bitches. (2001) This reinforces the notion that girls misbehavior to be looked upon as a character defect, whilst boys misbehavior is viewed as a desire to assert themselves. (Reay, 2001) Clearly the socialization of gender is reinforced at school, Because classrooms are microcosms of society, mirroring its strengths and ills alike, it follows that the normal socialization patterns of young children that often lead to distorted perceptions of gender roles are reflected in the classrooms. (Marshall, 1997) Yet gender bias in education reaches beyond socialization patterns, bias is embedded in textbooks, lessons, and teacher interactions with students. This type of gender bias is part of the hidden curriculum of lessons taught implicitly to students through the every day functioning of their classroom. In Myra and David Sadkers research, they noted four types of teacher responses to students: teacher praises, providing positive feedback for a response; teacher remediates, encouraging a student to correct or expand their answer; teacher criticizes, explicitly stating that the answer is incorrect; teacher accepts, acknowledging that a student has responded. The Sadkers found that boys were far more likely to receive praise or remediation from a teacher than were girls. The girls were most likely to receive an acknowledgement response from their teacher. (Sadker, 1994) These findings are confirmed by a 1990 study by Good and Brophy that noted that teachers give boys greater opportunity to expand ideas and be animated than they do girls and that they reinforce boys more for general responses than they do for girls. (Marshall, 1997) Gender bias is also taught implicitly through the resources chosen for classroom use. Using texts that omit contributions of women, that tokenize the experiences of women, or that stereotype gender roles, further compounds gender bias in schools curriculum. While research shows that the use of gender-equitable materials allows students to have more gender-balanced knowledge, to develop more flexible attitudes towards gender roles, and to imitate role behaviors contained in the materials (Klein, 1985) schools continue to use gender-biased texts: Once teachers have recognized their gender-biased behaviors, they need to be provided with resources to help them change. In their study focusing on how the effects of a gender resource model would affect gender-biased teaching behaviors, Jones, Evans, Burns, and Campbell (2000) provided teachers with a self-directed module aimed at reducing gender bias in the classroom. The module contained research on gender equity in the classroom, specific activities to reduce stereotypical thinking in students, and self-evaluation worksheets for teachers. The findings from this study support the hypothesis that female students would move from a position of relative deficiency toward more equity in total interactions. (Jones, 2000) This demonstrates that teachers who are made aware of their gender-biased teaching behaviors and then provided with strategies and resources to combat bias are better able to promote gender equity in their classrooms. However, beyond changing their own teaching behaviors, teachers need to be aware of the gender bias imbedded in many educational materials and texts and need to take steps to combat this bias. Curriculum researchers have established six attributes that need to be considered when trying to establish a gender-equitable curriculum. Gender-fair materials need to acknowledge and affirm variation. They need to be inclusive, accurate, affirmative, representative, and integrated, weaving together the experiences, needs, and interests of both males and females. (Bailey, 1992) We need to look at the stories we are telling our students and children. Far too many of our classroom examples, storybooks, and texts describe a world in which boys and men are bright, curious, brave, inventive, and powerful, but girls and women are silent, passive, and invisible. (McCormick, 1995) Furthermore, teachers can help students identify gender-bias in texts and facilitate critical discussions as to why that bi as exists. Departments of education should be providing mandatory gender-equity resource modules to in-service teachers, and gender bias needs to be addressed with all pre-service teachers. Educators need to be made aware of the bias they are reinforcing in their students through socialization messages, inequitable division of special education services, sexist texts and materials, and unbalanced time and types of attention spent on boys and girls in the classroom. Until educational sexism is eradicated, more than half our children will be shortchanged and their gifts lost to society. (Sadker, 1994). With the emergence of feminist movements and human rights groups, steps have been taken to address gender bias, a historical bias that has pervaded humanity for centuries. The creation and utilization of gender neutral terms and the entrance of men in tradionally females roles and women in male roles has been greeted with mixed feelings. There is still much to be done to correct the imbalance, a st ep which will require the merging and coming together of many social groups that have defiantly kept the barriers.

soliloquies in the merchant of venice :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Merchant of Venice† is a play that relies on soliloquies to advance the plot, create mood and atmosphere, and to develop character among all the actors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I am here to prove how this happens in two different soliloquies and show you why Shakespeare put them into the play.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My first soliloquy is from Lancelot Gobbo and it is taken from Act 2 Scene 2.I know that Lancelot is a secondary character, but this speech is really important in the outcome of this scene. He is talking about if he should run away from his master, who just happens to be Shylock. This soliloquy has all the makings of what a soliloquy should do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It creates the mood that Lancelot (Shylock’s jester) is having alot of troubles trying to decide whether to run away or not. It must have alot to do with how Shylock treats him since he calls Shylock â€Å"a kind of devil† and also says that he can’t handle being â€Å"ruled by the fiend.† He must have really been mistreated under Shylock’s care to go as so far as to run away from him. It creates the mood of sadness and hatred in Lancelot, and a dark evil kind of feeling towards Shylock for what he has done.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It develops the character that Lancelot is a hard working man who is just trying to make a decent living but cannot because of the way he is being treated by Shylock. It also shows us that Shylock may be the character that, in the play, is the character to fear. We don’t know the details of what Shylock did to Lancelot so we have to cut him a little slack. But whatever he did to Lancelot has made him very angry and disgruntled.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And it develops the plot by starting off the main reason for this scene which is for Bassiano to get into the picture and for Gratiano to ask him if he can go to Belmont with him. It gets to this stage by Old Gobbo asking Bassiano if he will employ Lancelot, which he agrees to. It also tells of what to expect from Shylock in the later scenes which is unheartedness and ruthlessness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My second soliloquy is taken from act 3 scene 2. In this scene Portia asks Bassiano to wait a few days to before he makes his choice on which casket to open in order to see if he will be able to marry Portia, but Bassiano refuses and wants to make his choice immediately. He makes his choice and

American Attack on Omaha and Utah Beaches During D Day :: World War II History

American Attack on Omaha and Utah Beaches During D Day It was 1944, and the United States had now been an active participant in the war against Nazi Germany for almost three and a half years, nearly six years for the British. During that period occurred a string of engagements fought with ferocious determination and intensity on both sides. There is however, one day which stands out in the minds of many American servicemen more often than others. June 6, 1944, D-Day, was a day in which thousands of young American boys, who poured onto the beaches of Utah and Omaha, became men faster than they would have ever imagined possible. Little did they know of the chaos and the hell which awaited them on their arrival. Over the course of a few hours, the visions of Omaha and Utah Beaches, and the death and destruction accompanied with them formed a permanent fixation in the minds of the American Invaders. The Allied invasion of Europe began on the 6th of June 1944, and the American assault on Utah and Omaha beaches on this day played a critical ro le in the overall success of the operation. (Astor 352) An extensive plan was established for the American attack on Utah and Omaha Beaches. The plan was so in-depth, and complex, its descriptions detailed the exact arrivals of troops, armor, and other equipment needed for the invasion, and where exactly on the beach they were to land. Before the landings were to begin, the coastal German defenses had to be adequately prepped, and softened by a combination of a massive battering by United States ships, and bombing by the United States Air Force. Between the hours of 0300 and 0500 hours on the morning of June 6, over 1,000 aircraft dropped more than 5,000 tons of bombs on the German coastal defenses. As soon as the preliminary bombing was over, the American and British naval guns opened fire on the Normandy coastline (D' Este 112). A British naval officer described the incredible spectacle he witnessed that day: "Never has any coast suffered what a tortured strip of French coast suffered that morning; both the naval and air bombardments were unparalleled. Along the fifty-mile front the land was rocked by successive explosions as the shells of ships' guns tore holes in fortifications and tons of bombs rained on them from the skies. Through billowing smoke and falling debris defenders crouching in this scene of devast ations would soon discern faintly hundreds of ships and assault craft ominously closing the shore.

Political Knowledge and Civic Engagement Essay -- Socioeconomic Status

The economic level also strongly effects on if young people have computer or not; also to have DSL or router for internet service also depending on how much money you have. B. K. L. Genova and Bradly S. Greenberc, 2006 indicated that the population with higher socioeconomic status their trends to political information a faster rate than lower status segments, so that the gap in knowledge between them trends to increase rather than decrease Age effects how University students rate credibility in online news and the students found online news more credibility than old media (Bucy, 2003),. Delli Carpini & Keeter, 1996 young people with high levels of education have higher political knowledge and civic engagement (Delli Carpini & Keeter, 1996). Speech researchers in this field have indicated that socio-economic status is another factor in assessing political knowledge and civic engagement, especially income; consequently, those with greater incomes are more engaged both civically and politically activities, and they are much more knowledgeable about politics issues than other groups with low income status (Delli Carpini & Keeter, 1996, p. 215; Schlozman & et al., 1999, p. 433). but the negative correlation between exposure to political comedy shows and age according to (Xiao Xia cao.2008, p, 56) in his study about the moderating effects of age and education in exposure to political comedy shows and its relation with political knowledge in 2000&2004 primary election campaigns in America but he found positive relationships between education " young people with high degree education more than lower level of educated " in political knowledge and political participation. Indeed, regarding the gender issue, the Internet allows the expr... ...g access to news and gaining information. Instrumental sites such as search engines, social contacts through e-mail, blogs, and Facebook, as well as the discussion of taboo topics are just some of the uses; along with entertainment, sports, and search for moral guidance and religious advice through religious websites (Bunt, 2009; Hofheinz, 2005; Abdulla, 2007 in Dominika and Sisler,210.p.3). -in Egypt and according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics the young people age (15-29) years as 2008 statistical were (35.5) million as (33.31%) of the total population and the gender ratio among Egyptian young people 103 males per 100 females; whereas the number of Internet users from young people (376.2) million (8.60%) men and (2.39%) women, this mean Men more likely to use and access the internet than women and this maybe for cultural reason .

Kantian Ethics

After reading the Oil rig case, it is evident that the case presented an all too common example of violating sound ethical business behavior where humans are subjected to ill treatment, unsafe work condition, and total disregard for their welfare. In this paper, I will attempt to apply the Kantian Ethics principles to this case in order to determine what went wrong in this situation. Kantian ethics followers believe that motive is one of the most crucial elements to be analyzed when trying to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong in everyday situations.According to Immanuel Kant, the founder of Kantian ethics, a moral action is one that is performed out of a sense of duty and which is based on a sense of knowing what one â€Å"ought† to do under certain circumstances; therefore, a morally acceptable action is one that is never motivated by reward. One of the fundamental beliefs of the Kantian Ethics is the need to protect the employees and consumers by advocating that profit is not an end in itself. The above mentioned belief emphasizes the fact that organizations should not engage in exploiting consumers and employees for the sole reason to make profits.As such, and based on the Kantian Ethics guiding principles, the Stratton Oil Company is committing unethical acts against the African employees. The company engages in profit maximizing by exploiting the African laborers for long hours with poor living conditions, unsafe work environment, and mediocre evacuation plans. The Workers on this oil rigs, both on land and off-shore, are routinely exposed to health and safety hazards in an attempt to cut cost and maximize profits. The management team failed to implement a culture that fosters the employee's best interests.By putting a value on human dignity, the company has disdainfully treated its employees as a means to an end. The managing team regarded the risks associated with running this rig as acceptable which most definitely constitutes a major problem for Kant and his followers. Furthermore, Kant emphasizes that profits must be utilized to better the livelihood of all stakeholders to include but not limited to the shareholders, employees both African and Expatriates, the consumers they serve, and the environment they operate within.In this case, the company did not invest in the well being of the many African laborers as compared to the few expatriates. The company is not willing to spend additional funds to provide helicopter rides to the local employees for example, and continues to allow for eighteen hour boat trips following long working days at sea. Also, due to poor budgeting decision, the company elected not to provide proper medical attention to the locals and allowed for extreme medical measures such as finger and limb amputation as compared to reconstruction surgery provided to the expats.Obviously, the company recognizes the importance of preserving one's body organs but chose to implement policies that guarantee a better quality of life for some and the worst for others. Kant's second Categorical Imperative: (Humanity or End in Itself formulation) implies to â€Å"Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end. would require safe working conditions, a decent wage for all people, and no discriminating treatment of foreign employees. The Stratton Oil Company has not behaved as law-making members of a kingdom of ends. Instead, they allowed a series of abuses in order to make a greater profit. Another aspect where this case fails the Kantian Ethics model is the fact that employees are also expected to work in a democratic manner where they are continuously contributing to all business decisions.The Kingdom of Ends principle implies that employees not only have a right to whistle blow but in fact it is their duty to do so. Kantian theory instructs people to act i n harmony with universally accepted rules. I believe that Kant would want an individual to stand firm in telling the truth, regardless of personal outcome. In our case, the Expats are violating an important Kantian Ethical principle by not reporting the unethical practices enforced by the company and encouraged by the expats themselves.Turning a blind eye to such practices not only goes against the primary goal of the Kantian philosophy but also would violate the basic virtues of honesty and courage. The Expats are in fact looking the other way in fear of loosing their current luxurious status, and even worst fearing the possible retaliation from the company. Throughout his writings, Kant explained that a business organization should be regarded as a manifestation of a moral community which, in turns, emphasizes the need for employers to treat their employees with care and with the upmost respect.Given the horrible living conditions provided to the African laborers as described in t he given case, it is evident that the Stratton Oil Company had built the African oil rig site on total disregard to any sense of community. Such observation is based on the clear disparity between the mediocre living conditions provided to the African laborers as compared to the luxurious living quarters provided to the few expatriates. Generally speaking, the life of an oil rig worker is unique in several respects.Workers spend few weeks at a time on the rig per stint and then transported back to land for about the same period off. Since the rigs are typically located hundreds of miles from the shore, it can be an isolating experience that some aren't emotionally equipped to handle. The management team recognizes the need for a better social life since, undeniably, provided the luxurious setup for the expatriates on one side, and totally disregarded the need for similar social amenities for the African workers.This case also brings to light an important ethical dilemma linking the business to the Environment. Of course, Kant would give the environment legal rights rather than moral rights (Paul Taylor’s point of view) which makes perfect sense when explaining the nature of the relationship between business and the environment. Businesses should always follow environmental law as this is something that can be universalized. In other words, I would think that Kant would urge the company to use the environment in moderation due to the Universalizability principle.In our study case, some conscientious shareholders concerned with the environmental impact of these rigs have complained indicating the seriousness of the environmental violations currently practiced by the company. In conclusion, in this area of business ethics, it is obvious that the company is using the African labor market in an attempt to maximize profits from the use of cheap labor. I would argue that Kant would disagree with such practice: my first reason is that Kant said you cannot use t he workers as a means to an end.Furthermore, they should be treated equally to those expatriates' workers from the western hemisphere. Several conditions must be satisfied in order to use the available foreign labor such as: i. Workers must freely choose to work with no added pressures from the local authorities, a common practice known all over the third world countries. ii. The work should be ‘meaningful’ and provide opportunities for all employees regardless of the country of origin. iii. All workers should be allowed to develop morally and physically. iv.The salary must be fair among all the employees based on the working conditions and qualifications. v. Finally leisure activities of some sort should be equally offered to all employees. In other words, applying the duty and goodwill to this case, will solve the issue of foreign labor exploitation and help establish a morally responsible company with solid sustainable goals. However, it is worth nothing that it is i mpossible to totally apply this theory to business ethics given the nature of Kantian ethics which makes it unrealistic to create firms not be driven by profit but rather by duty. Kantian Ethics After reading the Oil rig case, it is evident that the case presented an all too common example of violating sound ethical business behavior where humans are subjected to ill treatment, unsafe work condition, and total disregard for their welfare. In this paper, I will attempt to apply the Kantian Ethics principles to this case in order to determine what went wrong in this situation. Kantian ethics followers believe that motive is one of the most crucial elements to be analyzed when trying to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong in everyday situations.According to Immanuel Kant, the founder of Kantian ethics, a moral action is one that is performed out of a sense of duty and which is based on a sense of knowing what one â€Å"ought† to do under certain circumstances; therefore, a morally acceptable action is one that is never motivated by reward. One of the fundamental beliefs of the Kantian Ethics is the need to protect the employees and consumers by advocating that profit is not an end in itself. The above mentioned belief emphasizes the fact that organizations should not engage in exploiting consumers and employees for the sole reason to make profits.As such, and based on the Kantian Ethics guiding principles, the Stratton Oil Company is committing unethical acts against the African employees. The company engages in profit maximizing by exploiting the African laborers for long hours with poor living conditions, unsafe work environment, and mediocre evacuation plans. The Workers on this oil rigs, both on land and off-shore, are routinely exposed to health and safety hazards in an attempt to cut cost and maximize profits. The management team failed to implement a culture that fosters the employee's best interests.By putting a value on human dignity, the company has disdainfully treated its employees as a means to an end. The managing team regarded the risks associated with running this rig as acceptable which most definitely constitutes a major problem for Kant and his followers. Furthermore, Kant emphasizes that profits must be utilized to better the livelihood of all stakeholders to include but not limited to the shareholders, employees both African and Expatriates, the consumers they serve, and the environment they operate within.In this case, the company did not invest in the well being of the many African laborers as compared to the few expatriates. The company is not willing to spend additional funds to provide helicopter rides to the local employees for example, and continues to allow for eighteen hour boat trips following long working days at sea. Also, due to poor budgeting decision, the company elected not to provide proper medical attention to the locals and allowed for extreme medical measures such as finger and limb amputation as compared to reconstruction surgery provided to the expats.Obviously, the company recognizes the importance of preserving one's body organs but chose to implement policies that guarantee a better quality of life for some and the worst for others. Kant's second Categorical Imperative: (Humanity or End in Itself formulation) implies to â€Å"Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end. would require safe working conditions, a decent wage for all people, and no discriminating treatment of foreign employees. The Stratton Oil Company has not behaved as law-making members of a kingdom of ends. Instead, they allowed a series of abuses in order to make a greater profit. Another aspect where this case fails the Kantian Ethics model is the fact that employees are also expected to work in a democratic manner where they are continuously contributing to all business decisions.The Kingdom of Ends principle implies that employees not only have a right to whistle blow but in fact it is their duty to do so. Kantian theory instructs people to act i n harmony with universally accepted rules. I believe that Kant would want an individual to stand firm in telling the truth, regardless of personal outcome. In our case, the Expats are violating an important Kantian Ethical principle by not reporting the unethical practices enforced by the company and encouraged by the expats themselves.Turning a blind eye to such practices not only goes against the primary goal of the Kantian philosophy but also would violate the basic virtues of honesty and courage. The Expats are in fact looking the other way in fear of loosing their current luxurious status, and even worst fearing the possible retaliation from the company. Throughout his writings, Kant explained that a business organization should be regarded as a manifestation of a moral community which, in turns, emphasizes the need for employers to treat their employees with care and with the upmost respect.Given the horrible living conditions provided to the African laborers as described in t he given case, it is evident that the Stratton Oil Company had built the African oil rig site on total disregard to any sense of community. Such observation is based on the clear disparity between the mediocre living conditions provided to the African laborers as compared to the luxurious living quarters provided to the few expatriates. Generally speaking, the life of an oil rig worker is unique in several respects.Workers spend few weeks at a time on the rig per stint and then transported back to land for about the same period off. Since the rigs are typically located hundreds of miles from the shore, it can be an isolating experience that some aren't emotionally equipped to handle. The management team recognizes the need for a better social life since, undeniably, provided the luxurious setup for the expatriates on one side, and totally disregarded the need for similar social amenities for the African workers.This case also brings to light an important ethical dilemma linking the business to the Environment. Of course, Kant would give the environment legal rights rather than moral rights (Paul Taylor’s point of view) which makes perfect sense when explaining the nature of the relationship between business and the environment. Businesses should always follow environmental law as this is something that can be universalized. In other words, I would think that Kant would urge the company to use the environment in moderation due to the Universalizability principle.In our study case, some conscientious shareholders concerned with the environmental impact of these rigs have complained indicating the seriousness of the environmental violations currently practiced by the company. In conclusion, in this area of business ethics, it is obvious that the company is using the African labor market in an attempt to maximize profits from the use of cheap labor. I would argue that Kant would disagree with such practice: my first reason is that Kant said you cannot use t he workers as a means to an end.Furthermore, they should be treated equally to those expatriates' workers from the western hemisphere. Several conditions must be satisfied in order to use the available foreign labor such as: i. Workers must freely choose to work with no added pressures from the local authorities, a common practice known all over the third world countries. ii. The work should be ‘meaningful’ and provide opportunities for all employees regardless of the country of origin. iii. All workers should be allowed to develop morally and physically. iv.The salary must be fair among all the employees based on the working conditions and qualifications. v. Finally leisure activities of some sort should be equally offered to all employees. In other words, applying the duty and goodwill to this case, will solve the issue of foreign labor exploitation and help establish a morally responsible company with solid sustainable goals. However, it is worth nothing that it is i mpossible to totally apply this theory to business ethics given the nature of Kantian ethics which makes it unrealistic to create firms not be driven by profit but rather by duty.

Dorian Gray and the Theme of Beauty

Commonly deformity is symbolic†¦ whether it represents the good and purity in someone or the corruption in their very soul is a different story. In the book, â€Å"Dorian Gray† by Oscar Wilde, deformity is used to symbolize the corruption and degradation of Dorian’s soul. Dorian’s own beauty could be considered a deformity and this deformity destroyed Dorian’s life. He has an unnatural, surreal beauty and it’s this beauty that causes him to become so evil and corrupted. It’s the reason behind his madness. He actually traded his soul to keep his youth and beauty; â€Å"†¦If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that- for that- I would give everything! I would give my soul for that! † His beauty was so symbolic because it was pure, innocent and divine at the beginning of the novel yet it ended up causing the decay and destruction of a young man’s life. Though his looks should have been a gift it became a curse that corrupted his soul and destroyed his life. He became too obsessed with his looks and thus lost his soul. When Dorian saw the portrait painted he soon begins to loath it because â€Å"I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day in June†¦ I am jealous of the portrait you have painted of me. † He in turn wishes that he was to stay young and beautiful and the portrait was to show all the signs of aging and sin. This is the beginning of Dorian’s troubles. He goes through his life looking young and innocent but all the sins he commits shows on the canvas, â€Å"The terrible portrait whose changing features show him the real degradation of his life†¦He had a secret pleasure of the misshapen shadow that had to bear the burden that should’ve been his own. Any time Dorian does something sinful, selfish, cruel, or falls to temptation it all shows up on the canvas to mar his idyllic beauty. â€Å"A sense of infinite pity, not for himself, but for the painted image of himself, came over him. It has altered already and would alter more. For every sin he committed, a stain would fleck and wreck its fairness. † Dorian knew that his soul was being corrupted because he could see it on the painting, but he took no notice. Since the signs of sin don’t show up on him (but rather the painting) he participates in immoral temptations, He uses the painting as an outlet for all his desires. One example of his corruption is when he is cruel to Sibyl Vane; that is the first act of evil he commits and it’s when the first sign of deformity shows on the painting. Dorian only loved Sibyl for her acting and when she acted badly in Romeo and Juliet, even though she did it because she loved Dorian enough to learn that true love isn’t what she had been acting, he completely abandons her and breaks her heart. He said that, â€Å"There is always something ridiculous about the emotion of people whom one has ceased to love. Sibyl Vane seemed to him to be absurdly melodramatic. Her tears and sobs annoyed him. As soon as Dorian got home he first noticed that the portrait changed, it revealed his cruelty. It was described that â€Å"The face appeared to him to be a little changed. The expression looked different. One would have said that there was a touch of cruelty in the mouth. This was the beginning of the corruption of Dorian’s soul, the corruption of the painting. He was unnecessarily cruel to Sibyl Vane and his soul was changed as a result; the deformity of the mouth on the painting was a visual resemblance to Dorian’s soul and the corruption it was beginning to feel. Dorian Gray was the definition of beauty; he was pure, innocent and stunning but he had a soul as corrupt as the seven deadly sins. He traded his soul to stay young forever but in turn a portrait of himself was a visual representation of his soul. Over time it grew deformed and hideous and this showed that Dorian’s own soul was also becoming deformed, corrupted and hideous. The degradation of the painting shows that corruption of the soul is a type of deformity.

AirAsia-Sustaining Competitve Advantage Essay

AirAsia was established in 1993 and began operations on 18 November 1996. It was originally founded by a government-owned conglomerate, DRB-Hicom. By ‘Flying Low-Cost With High Hopes’, AirAsia started out as a Malaysian government-controlled, full-service regional airline that offered slightly lower fares than its number-one competitor, Malaysia Airlines (â€Å"MAS†). On December 2, 2001 the heavily-indebted airline was bought by former Time Warner executive Tony Fernandes’s company Tune Air Sdn Bhd . He took over the debt-ridden airline for the symbolic sum of US$0. 26.  Despite the air-travel downturn following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, Fernandes believed that the timing for entering the airline market was just right, as aircraft leasing costs had dropped sharply and experienced staff were readily available due to airline layoffs. Moreover, the acquisition was welcomed by the Malaysian government, which hoped to boost the under-used Kuala Lumpur International Airport (â€Å"KLIA†). Fernandes restructured AirAsia into the first no-frills, low-cost carrier (â€Å"LCC†) in Asia, and the new business model was a huge success. The company is a Malaysian low-cost airline headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. It is Asia’s largest, and the world’s best, low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. AirAsia group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to 78 destinations spanning 25 countries. Its main hub is the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Its affiliate airlines Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia Japan have hubs in Don Mueang International Airport, Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, Clark International Airport and Narita International Airport respectively. AirAsia’s registered office is in Petaling Jaya, Selangor while its head office is at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Asia’s leading airline was established with the dream of making flying possible for everyone. Since 2001, AirAsia has swiftly broken travel norms around the globe and has risen to become the world’s best. With a route network that spans through to over 20 countries, AirAsia continues to pave the way for low-cost aviation through their innovative solutions, efficient processes and a passionate approach to business. Together with their associate companies, AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, Philippines’ AirAsia Inc and AirAsia Japan , AirAsia is set to take low-cost flying to an all new high with our belief, â€Å"Now Everyone Can Fly†. Focusing on the low-cost, long-haul segment – AirAsia X was established in 2007 to provide high-frequency and point-to-point networks to the long-haul business. AirAsia X’s cost efficiencies are derived from maintaining a simple aircraft fleet and a route network based on low-cost airports, without complex code-sharing and other legacy overheads that weigh down traditional airlines without compromising on safety. Guests continue to enjoy low fares, through cost savings that they pass on to their guests. AirAsia X’s efficient and reliable operations are fully licensed and monitored by Malaysian and international regulators, and adhere to full international standards. AirAsia X is committed in offering X-citing low fares, X-emplary levels of safety and care, and an X-traordinary in-flight and service experience to all our guests – spreading the amazing AirAsia experience to X-citing destinations in Australia and Greater Asia. In August 2011, AirAsia agreed to form an alliance with Malaysia Airlines by means of a share swap. The alliance was struck down by the Malaysian government, in effect voiding the agreement of both airlines. On 2 April 2012 Air Asia had their first flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur. By early 2013, AirAsia had seen a steep increase in its profitability. The year-on-year comparison had shown a 168% increase in profits as compared to 2012. For the quarter ending 31 December 2012, the airline’s net profit stood at 350. 65 million ringgit (US$114. 08 million). Despite a 1% rise in the average fuel price, the airline had recorded profits of 1. 88 billion ringgit for the full financial year 2012. In February 2013, AirAsia submitted an application to the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board, through its investment arm, AirAsia Investment Limited, to seek approval for commencing its operations in India. AirAsia wanted to take up a stake of 49% in the airline, which was the maximum allowed by the Indian government at that time. AirAsia initially invested an amount of 50 million United States dollars in the airline. The airline wished to begin operations from Chennai and expand it’s network in South India, to where AirAsia already operated flights from Malaysia and Thailand. AirAsia’s Strategy [pic] AirAsia’s success has taken flight through the continued confidence of the company’s guests who prefer a no-frills, hasslefree, low fare and convenient option in air travel. The key to delivering low fares is to consistently keep cost low. Attaining low cost requires high efficiency in every part of the business and maintaining simplicity. Therefore every system process must incorporate best industry practices. In order to make this possible, AirAsia do implementing several key strategies. First is stressing on Safety. Safety is the single most important criteria in every aspect of the operations, an area that AirAsia will never compromise on. AirAsia complies with the conditions set by regulators in all the countries where the airline operates. In addition, AirAsia partners with the world’s most renowned maintenance providers to ensure that its fleet is always in the best condition. AirAsia has committed itself to a program of reducing risks and hazards normally associated with our industry through a Safety Management System. This commitment is extended to ensure the full integration of a safety culture, safety policy and safety objectives in a proactive approach to aviation safety. In short, AirAsia’s Safety Management System is not just an add-on but a core part of its business process. It is the way the company’s do business. The critical safety functions of senior management are in the areas of strategy and leadership. Senior management will provide a vision for safety management and provide adequate resources to achieve this level of safety. Second is ensuring high aircraft utilization. AirAsia’s high frequency flights have made it more convenient for guests to travel as the airline implements a quick turnaround of 25 minutes, which is the fastest in the region. This has resulted in high aircraft utilisation, lower costs and greater airline and staff productivity. Efficient Fleet, AirAsia continues to invest in new aircraft. As of the end of 2008, the Group received a total of 56 Airbus A320 aircraft and the deployment is as follows. Malaysian operations has received 46 and is now a fully Airbus A320 aircraft feet. Thailand operations has received six and Indonesian operation, four. AirAisa’s fleet is among the youngest in Asia and they will get even younger as they take delivery of 14 Airbus A320 aircraft and retire nine older Boeing 737-300 â€Å"Classics† aircraft in 2009. These Airbus A320 are ultra modern, more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft with unparalleled levels of passenger comfort, serviceability and reliability. They have received positive feedback that that passengers love this aircraft. These aircraft have reduced operational cost significantly and helped to deliver strong profits. Third is offering low fare but no frills. AirAsia targets guests who are prepared to do away with frills such as meals, frequent flyer miles or airport lounges in exchange for fares lower than those currently offered without comprising on quality and service. Guests have the choice of buying exclusively prepared meals, snacks and drinks from their in-flight service at an affordable price. While onboard AirAsia the best thing to do, of course, is to eat and drink. They are offering a vast selection of food and drinks without punching a hole in your wallet. Fourth is ensuring streamline operations. Making the process as simple as possible is the key to AirAsia’s success. The company is working towards a single aircraft fleet, which greatly reduces duplicating manpower requirements as well as stocking of maintenance parts. There is only one class seating, which is first class, and passengers are free to sit where they choose. Fifth is ensuring lean distribution system. AirAsia offers a wide and innovative range of distribution channels to make booking and traveling easier for its guests. AirAsia’s ticketless service provides a low cost alternative to issuing printed tickets. The company have worked very hard through countless hours of research and development to ensure that their istribution system is, simple. ‘Simple’ is a relative word when you are catering to the needs of millions of people across the world. AirAsia have developed a comprehensive, yet simple distribution system. One that is capable of handling the most technologically savvy customer to the most technologically deprived. The company’s website www. airasia. com is available in seven languages and their call centre is conversant in the major spoken Asian languages. For those always on the go, they can book a flight using mobile phone at www. mobile. airasia. com. The company have recently upgraded their self check-in machines with a simpler and more powerful version. The transaction takes not more than two minutes to complete. This new machine also has an advanced security feature which effectively cuts the risk of fraud. Other than that, the company have also expanded their web check-in facility to all stations and destinations. Customer can now use the web check-in facility even if they have baggage (previously web check-in was only for passengers without baggage). Sixth is point to point network. The Low Cost Carrier model shuns the hub-and spoke system and adopts the simple point to-point network. All AirAsia flights are shorthaul (four hour flight or less). The underlying business is to get a person from point A to B. On Time Performance, nothing irks airline passengers more than a delay. Often, these delays are caused by factors beyond the company’s control. This leading low fare airline in the Asia has been expanding rapidly since 2001, to become an award winning and the largest low cost carrier in Asia. With a fleet of 72 aircrafts, AirAsia flies to over 61 domestic and international destinations with 108 routes, and operates over 400 flights daily from hubs located in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. To date, AirAsia has flown over 55 million guests across the region and continues to spread its wings to create more extensive route network through its associate companies, Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia. AirAsia with the ordinary symbol but with strong brand, â€Å"now everyone can fly† nowadays has been phenomena in Airlines industry especially in Asia region. AirAsia is one of the airline companies who more focused with the strategy how to reduce inefficiency and make it low possible fare in the world. With the cost-efficiency, low complexity and profitability are always the cornerstones of building a strong business. According to Dawna and Blaise (2005), the most successful carriers came to dominate their hub markets allowing them to exert greater control over pricing and capacity. This is what AirAisa successfully done. Till date, AirAsia had received many awards and recognition form various parties. The achievement was not only given to the company itself, but also to Ybhg. Dato’ Tony Fernandez as well. In 2010, he was awarded as Masterclass Global CEO of the year. (See Appendices).

The Consumer Complaint Behavior

The consumer complaint behavior, CCB in short, is an area of research which deals with the identification and analysis of all the aspects involved in the consumer reaction to a product or a service failure and the consequent perceived dissatisfaction. A growing interest for CCB starts appearing toward the middle of the '60s as a particular aspect of a general attention for consumer behaviors and attitudes. Consumer satisfaction, dissatisfaction and consumer complaint behavior, in particular, are three distinct, but highly correlated subjects investigated by marketing and consumer studies.Real marketing problems can be considered at the origin of these studies. The growing competition in the market, the developing consumerism, the importance given to quality, performance and satisfaction, the emphasis given to customers, considered at the Centre of a product or of a service, bring researchers to inquiry about the complex mechanisms which determine customer satisfactions or dissatisfac tion and what are the consequent consumer behaviors.At the same time, as the research is deeply rooted in real life, the findings of the studies are aimed at identifying and suggesting managerial and practical solutions directly applicable to markets or services. As far as CCB research is concerned, the main aspects investigated can be summarized according to the some questions. The proposed list is anything but exhaustive: 1. Why do people complain? 2. Why do people not complain? 3. To whom do people complain? 4. Facing an unsatisfactory product or service, what are the possible reactions available for a customer? . Are there any differences in CCB according to the product or the service investigated? Being a Customer Relationship Manager of a luxurious hotel in Penang I received a mail from Mr. Stanley. He and his family stayed at my hotel last week. He has complained that the quality of food served was not satisfactory, hotel staff very impolite and not helpful and his computer n otebook and some cash was missing from his hotel room. Also he has criticized the hotel staff members that they do not listen to his complaint patiently. Firstly, I will send Mr.Stanley a letter of apologize and tell him about we will take further step even when full resolution is likely to take longer because fast acknowledgment remains very important and this action helps to build rapport with customer, the ? rst step in rebuilding a bruised relationship. In this letter I would not argue with Mr. Stanley and the goal should be to gather facts to reach a mutually acceptable solution, not to win a debate. Arguing gets in the way of listening and seldom diffuses anger. Next, I will show that I understand the problem from his point of view.Seeing situations through his eyes is the only way to understand what he thinks has gone wrong and why he is upset. Service personnel should avoid jumping to conclusions with his interpretations. Besides that, I have to clarify the truth and sort ou t the cause. Mr. Stanley says my hotel staffs are impolite, the food served is not satisfied and hotel members didn’t listen to his complaint, it may result from inefficiency of service, misunderstanding by Mr. Stanley, or the misbehavior of a hotel staff or third party. If I’ve done something wrong, I will apologize immediately. The more Mr.Stanley can forgive me, the less he will expect to be compensated. I would not be defensive because acting defensively may suggest that my hotel has something to hide or is reluctant to explore the situation fully. Furthermore, I will provide Mr. Stanley the bene? t of the doubt because not all customers are truthful and not all complaints are justi? ed. However, he should be treated as though they have a valid complaint until clear evidence to the contrary emerges. Because Mr. Stanley miss some cash money and computer notebook from his hotel room so careful investigation is warranted.Because the amount involved is not small, it ma y be worth haggling over a refund or other compensation. However, it’s still a good idea to check records to see if there is a past history of dubious complaints by the same customer. Propose the steps needed to solve the problem. When instant solutions aren’t possible, I will tell Mr. Stanley how my hotel plans to precede shows that corrective action is being taken. It also sets expectations about the time involved and I should be careful not to overpromise. I have to keep Mr.Stanley informed of progress because nobody likes being left in the dark and it may cause uncertainty breeds anxiety and stress. People tend to be more accepting of disruptions if they know what’s going on and receive periodic progress reports. Moreover, I have to consider compensation. When Mr. Stanley do not receive the service outcomes he believes he has paid for or have suffered serious inconvenience and loss of time and money because the service that hotel provide are failed to delive r to him, I might offer an unconditional money back guarantee and tell Mr.Stanley if at any point during the search process he is unhappy with progress, simply address the fact with us and if we are still not 100 percent satis? ed after that discussion, I will cheerfully and unconditionally refund every cent he has paid as a retainer. No quibble, no hassle, guaranteed period. This type of recovery strategy may also reduce the risk of legal action by an angry customer. Service guarantees often lay out in advance what such compensation will be, and hotel should ensure that all guarantees are met.Whatever is promised in the guarantee must be totally unconditional, and there should not be any element of surprise for the customer. The guarantee has to easy to understand and communicate to Mr. Stanley so that he is clearly aware of the bene? ts that can be gained from the guarantee. Meaningful to Mr. Stanley in that the guarantee is for something important to him and the compensation shou ld be more than adequate to cover the service failure.Guarantee has made must easy to invoke It should be easy for the customer to invoke the guarantee and it also have to easy to collect on because If a service failure occurs, the customer should be able to easily collect on the guarantee without any problems. Lastly, guarantee has to be credible and be believable. Persevere to regain Mr. Stanley goodwill. When Mr. Stanley has been disappointed, one of the biggest challenges is to restore his confidence and preserve the relationship for the future. Perseverance may be required to defuse is anger and to convince him that actions are being taken to avoid a recurrence of the problem.Truly exceptional recovery efforts can be extremely effective in building loyalty and referrals. Also I will check the service delivery system and pursue eminence. Because Mr. Stanley has left, I should check to determine whether the service failure was caused by accidental mistakes or system defects. I ne ed to take advantage of every complaint from Mr. Stanley to perfect the whole service system. Even if the complaint is found to be a result of a misunderstanding by Mr. Stanley, this implies that some part of my communication system is ineffective.But while we discussed the importance of professional complaint handling and service recovery, we have to acknowledge that not all complaints are honest. When ? rms have generous service recovery policies or offer guarantees, there is always the fear that some customers may take advantage. Also, not all complaining customers are right or reasonable in their behavior, and some may actually be the cause of complaints by other customers. We refer to such people as jaycustomers. Every service has its share of jaycustomers. Jaycustomers are undesirable. At best, a ? rm should avoid attracting them in the ? st place, and at worst, a ? rm needs to control or prevent their abusive behavior. Let us ? rst describe the main types of jaycustomers befo re we discuss how to deal with them. De? ning a problem is the ? rst step in resolving it, so let’s start by considering the different types of jaycustomers. I’ve identi? ed seven broad categories. The Cheat – There are many ways in which customers can cheat service ? rms. Cheating ranges from writing compensation letters with the sole purpose of exploiting service recovery policies and cheating on service guarantees, to in? ating or faking insurance claims and â€Å"ward robing†.The Thief – Those customers who always wishes to payless or not to pay, these may be like travelling in public transport freely, or not paying restaurant bills and others – firms to be prevented from such customers use many tips because if company is not taking actions against such people; other customers would also have intentions to behave in such manners. The Rulebreaker – Those customers who don’t obey rules of company or country like breaking traf fic rules – even though it costs them sometimes a lot but they do because they feel pleasure in behaving such manners†¦.Company should ensure that rules are to be followed. The Belligerent – Expresses resentment, use to abuse employees verbally or even physically. It causes demotivation of employees if company doesn't react upon such customers because for everyone in this world SELF RESPECT is most important thing, Guards/Security are their best solutions, Company should also guide their Front line staff to deal with such uncertain circumstances†¦ The Family Feuders – Customers who gets in detailed arguments with other customers about company of any kind.The Vandal – Those customers who always makes hurdle for company like pouring water in ATM, writing on walls, in cybercafes deleting windows files or other software. The Deadbeat – These are not like thief but close to them, these are those who pays the amount but after creating such prob lems for company, like I’ll pay tomorrow, they know that they have to pay but they try to delay as much as they can. Encouraging customer feedback provides an important means of increasing customer satisfaction and retention.It is an opportunity to get into the hearts and minds of the customer. In all but the worst instances, complaining customers are indicating that they want to continue their relationship with the firm, but they are also indicating that all is not well and that they expect the company to make things right. Here, service firms need to develop effective strategies to recover from service failures so they can maintain customer goodwill. That is vital for the long-term success of the company.Having professional and generous service recovery systems does not mean â€Å"the customer is always right† and that the ? rm is open to customer abuse. Rather, it is important for the bene? t of all too effectively deal with jaycustomers. (1782 words) References www . google. com www. wikipidea. org http://deni9ek. blogstudent. mb. ipb. ac. id/files/2011/12/CHAPTER-13-CASE-3. pdf http://www. scribd. com/doc/51888732/Services-Marketing-Lovelock-Wirtz-Chaterjee-Ch-13

International Marketing Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Marketing Report - Essay Example Sony is one of the leaders in the entertainment industry as it manufactures entertainment gadgets like video games, televisions, and many more. According to Interbrand top a hundred Global Brands in the year 2011, Sony emerged position thirty-six among other a hundred brands. It is also among the top a hundred effectively managed companies across the business world (Koontz & Weihrich, 2006:104). This was because of its renowned heritage of creativeness and innovativeness. Sony boasts of having products in the electronic, games, entertainment, and in the provision of financial service sectors. In this regard, this essay will delve on a critical analysis of Sony’s marketing mix across the international markets. Further, it will highlight the International Process Theory that correctly describes Sony’s internationalization with supportive evidence. Lastly, it will discuss the extent to which Sony’s company country of origin influences consumers’ perception of Sony’s products by giving proper justification. Sony and the marketing mix Marketing mix is a business-marketing tool, which encompasses the four Ps in the influencing of consumers towards accessing a company’s products and services for the attainment of its goals and objectives (Lamb et al, 2008:148). The four P’s are price, place, promotion, and product that when mixed reflect the nature of different services within a market. Sequentially, Sony Company has managed tot use this marketing tool in the diversification of its products and its price range to favor its consumer base. Additionally, Sony has capitalized on favorable places in which they distribute there products and have implemented various promotion strategies to increase awareness of its products to its target market. Product In essence, a product is anything presented to a market for the market to be aware of its existence, after which they will buy, and then use it to satisfy either a want or a ne ed (Richter, 2012:29). A certain number of factors influence a products uptake within a market that may range from the brand name that a market associates its products to a number of others. In addition, the packing aspects of the products and the safety standards applied within the use of the product also influence the sale of products. Remarkably, the style, packaging, quality, and warranty associated with the product are attributes that also propagate a consumer towards buying of certain products within a market setting. For instance, consumers tend to access products from company’s who offer variety and improvement in the quality of already of already existing goods in a market. In this regard, Sony Company offers a number of products to the electronic, games and entertainment fields. For instance, the company manufactures television screens and projector, cameras, home theatre systems, computer hardware, mobile phones, and car entertainment devices. Additionally, Sony is a manufacturer of home recording devices, storage media, and charging devices. Ideally, Sony has further divided some of its products in to other sub categories especially on the television products. This has made the company able to service its market thorough the innovation of tailor made products that suit their various clients. These customers include households, offices, and public gatherings. Ideally, their products are able to meet the needs of their customers without financial