Computer Supportive Cooperative Work Essay

Research Question How can businesses in the United Arab Emirates make use of computer-supported-cooperative work (CSCW) in order to enhance productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets? In this regard, this research study will look at various businesses in the UAE and assess their level of using computer technology in their business operations. In addition to this, the study will identify factors and variables that affect the level of using computer technology in businesses in the UAE. Likewise, it will also assess the features and benefits of using CSCW as it applies to businesses in the UAE. Through this parallel analysis, a better understanding of how CSCW may be implemented in the business environment in the UAE will be explored. Introduction to Dissertation The economy of the United Arab Emirates is a wonder. From being too dependent on oil, it managed to diversify its economic performance through the revenues from oil and gas. Beginning 2005, it was able to overcome its budget deficit and replace it with a surplus. The industries being developed in the country includes the telecommunications and banking, even the stock markets of the UAE are developing and growing. Given these growth of these industries, it is very important to ensure that the growth is sustainable and that these industries should be able to compete both in the domestic and international markets. This is because of the increasing globalization of the economies of the world. Ensuring competitiveness, better productivity and efficiency mandates the need to use all available resources. The information technology revolution and the ever increasing popularity of the Internet are revolutionizing the way that businesses are being run all over the world. Given this scenario, the businesses in the UAE can no longer ignore the fact that they have to compete using every technological means available. The framework of computer supported cooperative work will help them achieve this level of competitiveness, productivity and efficiency in the market. Brief Literature Review The United Arab Emirates is in a very good position in the Arab world today. It is showing the great potential for growth. However, it has been noted that the Arab world is not maximizing the use of computers and internet technology. This trend has a negative impact in the sustainability of business undertakings and in the overall economic growth. Given the widespread use of computers and information technology all over the world, businesses in the UAE have a tendency to lag behind their competitors who are using these technologies. The overriding intention for using computers and information technology, hence, is twofold. For one, computers and the Internet help enhance the overall communication scheme of any company—coordination, and the provision of directives are easily accomplished. On the other hand, computers and the Internet also help businesses gain important information that will help in the overall improvement of the business. Using computers also empower the employees of any given company and enhances the level of output and coordination that they have with their colleagues (Hayes & Walsham, 2000). Timely and accurate communications will lead to greater efficiency of business operations. In turn, greater efficiency will lead to better productivity. It must be noted, however, that improving productivity should still be coupled with other business processes, which may or may not be aided by the use of computer supported cooperative work. When productivity is enhanced, then profits will go up, enabling the company to save and divert these savings to the accumulation of capital or increasing their base of operations. This can then be used as the spring board for UAE companies to boost their competitiveness, and quite possibly, embark on a strategy to extend their operations to other countries in the Gulf region and in the world. In implementing CSCW in the UAE, however, both the technical and non-technical aspects should be considered. Under the technical aspect, the software for CSCW should be chosen carefully. It should be flexible, and easily adaptable to the particular contexts of the people using it (Dittrich & Lindeberg, 2003). In the context of the UAE, such software should take into account the language of the people working there. It should also demonstrate cultural sensitivity wherever possible. In addition to the technical aspect, the non-technical aspect of implementation of CSCW should also be undertaken. Issues of training, organization culture, leadership and matching suitable employees to their areas of expertise in the framework of CSCW should be considered. In this regard, Ackerman (2000) took note of the social-technical divide that pervades CSCW frameworks. As such, the norms for the interactions between people should not be taken over completely by the norms of human-computer interactions. In a society such as the UAE, this is of particular importance in putting CSCW to work in the business settings. Although this proposal has presented a brief literature review, the final study will follow the following outline. First, the literature review will delved with the recent revolutions in the area of information and communication technologies and the driving forces behind this revolution. In addition to that, the impact of this revolution to the economy will be explored. Varian, Shapiro, and Farell’s (2004) The Economics of Information Technology is a good starting point on the forces driving this revolution as well as the effects of this revolution in businesses around the world. From a macro perspective, this literature will then focus on the performance of the UAE in terms of integrating telecommunications in the society, especially in business settings and operations. Ayish (2005), conducted a study of 20 organizations in the UAE and their usage of internet in propagating information within the organization and to the world. In addition to this, the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2006, published by the United Nations (2006) will help the researcher understand the overall situation of the prospect of growth in the way that UAE citizens and organizations use computers and information technologies. The literature review will also look at the various research methods and approaches used in analyzing the use of computers in various organizations in the country. Data Collection and Data Analysis This study will make extensive use of the case study as a research method. This research method will delve deeply into the strategies being used by companies in the UAE to ensure productivity and efficiency. Special attention would be given to the computers, information technology systems and the internet that they are utilizing. The product and services of these companies will also be analyzed in relation to the market where they are serving. Corollary to this, the immediate economic environment and competitiveness of these companies will be analyzed through content analysis and by going through secondary data. As such, the needs of these companies will be identified and analyzed alongside the trends in the market. Moreover, their needs for the use of computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW). The benefits of using the CSCW will also be analyzed. These will then be applied to the setting of the various companies under consideration with the interest of arriving at a framework that integrates the use of CSCW in the overall business operations in such a way that the productivity and efficiency of the business firm is enhanced. In other words, the variables that this study will look at and measure are: (1) the level of reliance of companies on computer and other related technologies; (2) the effectiveness of the communication and coordination processes that the organization uses to deliver products and services; (3) the responsiveness of the employees of the organization in using CSCW; (4) the impact of external trends and situations in the organization’s drive to achieve its targets; and (5) the suitability of CSCW for the use of business organizations in the UAE. The study will use a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods to achieve a greater level of reliability and validity. According to Johnson and Onwuegbuzie (2004), the mixed-method kind of research draws upon the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative analysis, which enables the researcher to draw upon several methodologies in measuring the variables of the study. The results of this study will be collated, compared, and analyzed. These data will be presented through various visual presentations such as tables, graphs and charts for easy reference. This will make comparisons and analyses easier and will make plainer the relationships between the variables and factors that shall have been identified by this study. The relationships between variables shall be highlighted. Presentation of Analysis and Outcome of Study   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The result of the methods employed will be presented in an easy to understand manner, and in tables or matrices where possible. Such an analysis will help highlight the relationships between the variables identified in the study. These variables will then be used to formulate a set of guidelines that will help business organizations implement CSCW in their organization. Through this set of guidelines, they will be able to make the transition and implementation as smooth as possible and they will be able to avoid the pitfalls in conducting such an endeavor. Significance of this Study The expected outcome of this study is a set of guidelines or framework for the integration of CSCW in the operations of business firms with the intent of enhancing their productivity and efficiency. Such a framework would be very helpful for firms that are operating locally in the UAE, as well as for those that conduct operations abroad. It would also set the foundation for future work exploring this same issue. Through the framework that will be established by this study, the global competitiveness of companies in the UAE will be enhanced. Moreover, those who are not already reaping the benefits that computer support cooperative work offers can begin to explore it and not long after, they will be able to use it. Seen from a wider perspective, the use of CSCW in the business organizations in the UAE will help make businesses more viable in this kind of situation. Structure of the Study   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The different parts of this study, together with their brief descriptions may be found in the section below. Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Introduction will contain basic information about the subject matter, about the research questions and topic under investigation, as well as the environmental context in which the study may be situated. The Literature Review   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Literature review presents the findings of articles and books written on the subject. Through this, the major points, observations and debates in the research topic will be explored, thereby making the researcher familiar with the research topic. Research Design   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is in this section that the methodology, the research tools will be outlined so that the researcher will have a definitive guide as to the way that he will get the important data for the analysis of the research topic and question. Summary of Results   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Based on the research design, the kinds of data that will be collected and the summary and salient points of the summary should be presented in graphical format such as tables and graphs. Analysis and Recommendation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Based on the results generated, the data will be analyzed and the trends and relationships between variables will be established. Lastly, an action point or call to action may be instituted in this last part of the paper. Reference Ackerman, M. S. (2000). The Intellectual Challenge of CSCW: The Gap Between Social Requirements and Technical Feasibility. Human-Computer Interaction, 15 (2-3), 179-203. Ayish, M. (2005). Virtual Public Relations in the United Arab Emirates: A Case Study of 20 UAE Organizations’ Use of the Internet. Public Relations Review, 31 (3), 381-388. Dittrich, Y. & Lindeberg, O. (2003). Designing for Changing Work and Business Practices. In Patel, N. V. (Ed). Adaptive Evolutionary Information Systems, (pp. 152-157). Hershey, PA, IGI Global. Hayes, N. & Walsham, G. (2000). Competing Interpretations of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work in Organizational Contexts, Organization, 7 (1), 49-67. Johnson, R. B. & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed Methods Research: A Research Paradigm Whose Time Has Come. Educational Researcher, 33 (7), 14-26. United Nations (2006). World Economic Situation and Prospects 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2007 from http://www.un.org/esa/policy/wess/wesp2006files/wesp2006.pdf. Varian, H. R., Shapiro, C. & Farell, J. V. (2004). The Economics of Information Technology: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Balance Sheet and Income Statement Commentary Essay

On JB Hunt’s balance sheet for 2011 lists current assets of $513,542,000 and current liabilities of $438,515,000, yielding a current ratio of 1.17, which indicates the company, has $1.17 of current assets for every $1 of current liabilities. The previous year 2010, the current ratio was 0.91. This shows a 29% increase in the current ratio over the previous year. An organization with a current ratio of 2 or higher is usually viewed by lenders to be a safe risk for short-term credit. Based on the 29% increase in current ratio, JB Hunt is in a better position to obtain short-term financial than it was in 2010. However, it is still below the benchmark of 2 that lenders feel to be a safe risk. Under the economic circumstances of the past five years, lenders may take into consideration other factors such as comparing JB Hunt’s current ratio to that of other competing trucking companies. JB Hunt’s quick ratio for 2011 is 0.95 and for 2010 was 0.70. A quick ratio or â₠¬Å"acid-test† measures cash, securities, and accounts receivables of a company in comparison to its current liabilities. The quick ratio is especially important to companies that have a history of challenges with converting inventory into cash quickly. This difficulty could interfere with the company’s ability to pay its short-term debt. A quick ratio between 0.50 and 1.0 is typically perceived as satisfactory, but with a shadow of potential cash-flow problems. JB Hunt’s quick ratio improved by 36% over the previous year, which indicates the company, has improved its ability to meet its short-term obligations. JB Hunt’s debt to stockholders equity ratio for 2011 is 299% and 242% for 2010. This ratio evaluates the extent to which the company relies on borrowed money for its operations. A ratio over 100% indicates a business has too much debt and not enough equity to pay off the debt if they suddenly needed to do that. With a debt to equity ratio of 299%, JB Hunt has a significantly high level of debt when compared to its equity. Investors and lenders would most likely view the company to be too risky to either invest in or to lend money to. JB Hunt’s basic earnings per share ratio for 2011 is 1.07 and 0.79 for 2010. This ratio indicates the amount of profit the business earned for each share of outstanding common stock. The earnings per share ratio reveal earnings that potentially stimulate the growth of a company and provide funds, which can be distributed as a dividend to stockholders. JB Hunt’s basic earnings per share increased by 35% over the previous year, which indicates the company has money to reinvest to ignite further growth. JB Hunt’s return on sales ratio for 2011 is 94% and 92% for 2010. This ratio indicates if the company is keeping pace with or exceeding its competitors in producing income from sales and services. JB Hunt increased its sales ratio by 2% over last year. A 94% sales ratio is an extremely high number compared with the other three companies analyzed for this assignment. To determine how competitive this ratio is with the ratios of other trucking companies would require additional research and analysis of more companies, which is outside the scope of this assignment. JB Hunt’s return on equity ratio for 2011 is 45% and 35% for 2010. This ratio assesses risk by indicating how much a company earned for each dollar invested by shareholders. JB Hunt’s equity ratio of 45% is a profitable ratio especially since investors consider a ratio over 15% to be a reasonable return. In addition this ratio is an increase of 29% over the previous year. UFP Technologies (Plastics manufacturing) The 2011 balance sheet for UFP Technologies lists current assets of $58,040,394,000 and current liabilities of $9,465,304,000, yielding a current ratio of 6.13, which indicates the company, has $6.13 of current assets for every $1 of current liabilities. The previous year 2010, the current ratio was 47.62. This shows a significant increase in the current ratio over the previous year, which is due to assets acquired in 2010 due to an acquisition. An organization with a current ratio of 2 or higher is usually viewed by lenders to be a safe risk for short-term credit. Based on a current ratio that is more than 3 times what is considered to be a safe risk, UFP Technologies seems like it will have no trouble obtaining short-term credit should the need arise. UFP Technologies’ quick ratio for 2011 is 4.80 and for 2010 was 36.12. This company has an outstanding quick ratio that is 4 times what is typically perceived as satisfactory. Based on this ration UFP Technologies should have no problem with cash flow or with paying its short-term debt. UFP Technologies’ debt to stockholders equity ratio for 2011 is 29% and 38% for 2010. This ratio indicates that the company has a low percentage of debt compared to its equity and does not rely on borrowed money to run its operations. Investors and lenders would most likely view the company to be a safe investment or a safe company to lend money to on a short-term basis. UFP Technologies’ basic earnings per share ratio for 2011 is 0.77 and 0.72 for 2010. The company’s basic earnings per share increased by 7% over the previous year, which indicates the company has some money to reinvest for further growth. UFP Technologies’ return on sales ratio for 2011 and 2010 is 12%. There was no change in this ratio from the previous year. This ratio indicates the company may not be keeping pace with its competitors in producing income from sales and services. UFP Technologies’ return on equity ratio for 2011 is 17% and 18% for 2010. This ratio assesses risk by indicating how much a company earned for each dollar invested by shareholders. UFP Technologies’ equity ratio of 17% is a profitable ratio especially since investors consider a ratio over 15% to be a reasonable return. However, the ratio decreased by 5.5% over last which may be upsetting to shareholders who are looking for an increase in this ratio year after year and not a decrease. United Natural Foods, Inc. (Specialty food stores) United Natural Foods’ balance sheet for 2011 lists current assets of $8,444,492,000 and current liabilities of $463,421,000, yielding a current ratio of 18.22, which indicates the company, has $18.22 of current assets for every $1 of current liabilities. The previous year 2010, the current ratio was 1.37. This shows a 1,229% increase in the current ratio over the previous year. An organization with a current ratio of 2 or higher is usually viewed by lenders to be a safe risk for short-term credit. With a current ratio of 18.22 United Natural Foods would definitely be view favorably by lenders if the need arose to seek short-term credit. United Natural Foods’ quick ratio for 2011 is 0.59 and for 2010 was 0.44. The quick ratio is especially important to companies that have a history of challenges with converting inventory into cash quickly. A quick ratio between 0.50 and 1.0 is typically perceived as satisfactory, but with a shadow of potential cash-flow problems. Althoug h a quick ration of 0.59 is an improvement over last year, this number is still low and indicates United Natural Foods may experience financial difficulty, which could interfere with the company’s ability to pay its short-term debt. United Natural Foods’ debt to stockholders equity ratio for 2011 is 61% and 98% for 2010. This ratio evaluates the extent to which the company relies on borrowed money for its operations. A ratio over 100% indicates a business has too much debt and not enough equity to pay off the debt if they suddenly needed to do that. With a debt to equity ratio of 61%, which is a decrease of 37% over the previous year, United Natural Foods has significantly decreased its dependency on borrowed money to fund its operations. This makes the company more appealing to either investors or lenders since the reduction in this ratio indicates the company is less of a risk than it was a year ago. United Natural Foods’ basic earnings per share ratio for 2011 is 0.80 and 0.79 for 2010. This ratio indicates the amount of profit the business earned for each share of outstanding common stock. The company’s basic earnings per share increased by 1.2% over the previous year, which indicates th e company is moving in the right direction toward increasing the earnings per share so that it can reinvest in the company and grow the company in the future. This percentage is actually a good indicator of grow considering the state of the economy over the past 5 years. United Natural Foods’ return on sales ratio for 2011 and 2010 is 3%. This ratio indicates the company is maintaining the status quo and produced the same amount of income from sales and services this year that it did last year. This could be due to the volatile economic conditions preventing new customers from shopping at United Natural Foods because they need to find way to cut costs. United Natural Foods’ return on equity ratio for 2011 is 9% and 11% for 2010. This ratio assesses risk by indicating how much a company earned for each dollar invested by shareholders. United Natural Food’s equity ratio for 2011 decreased by of 2%, which is a disappointing number for shareholders. Investors consider a ratio over 15% to be a reasonable return. Wells Fargo (Mortgage Company) Wells Fargo’s balance sheet for 2011 lists current assets of $1,313,867 million dollars and current liabilities of $920,070 million dollars, yielding a current ratio of 1.43, which indicates the company, has $1.43 of current assets for every $1 of current liabilities. The previous year 2010, the current ratio was 1.48. This shows a 3.4% decrease in the current ratio over the previous year. An organization with a current ratio of 2 or higher is usually viewed by lenders to be a safe risk for short-term credit. Based on the current ratio, Wells Fargo is a risky company for any lender. Under the economic circumstances of the past five years, lenders may take into consideration other factors such as comparing Wells Fargo’s current ratio to that of other competing companies. Wells Fargo’s quick ratio for 2011 is 0.07 was 0.11. A quick ratio or â€Å"acid-test† measures cash, securities, and accounts receivables of a company in comparison to its current liabilit ies. A quick ratio between 0.50 and 1.0 is typically perceived as satisfactory, but with a shadow of potential cash-flow problems. Wells Fargo’s quick ratio is 0.43 points below the minimum level of satisfactory. This company is severely at risk of not being able to convert inventory into cash quickly and may end up defaulting on its short-term debt. This is a risky company for investors and lenders. Wells Fargo’s debt to stockholders equity ratio for 2011 is 827% and 884% for 2010. This ratio evaluates the extent to which the company relies on borrowed money for its operations. A ratio over 100% indicates a business has too much debt and not enough equity to pay off the debt if they suddenly needed to do that. With a debt to equity ratio of 827%, Wells Fargo has an astronomical level of debt when compared to its equity. Investors and lenders obviously view this company as a business to avoid. Wells Fargo’s basic earnings per share ratio for 2011 is 1.50 and 1.18 for 2010. This ratio indicates the amount of profit the business earned for each share of outstanding common stock. The earnings per share ratio reveal earnings that could potentially stimulate the growth of a company and provide funds, which can be distributed as a dividend to stockholders. Wells Fargo’s basic earnings per share increased by 27% over the previous year, which indicates the company may have some money to reinvest back into the company for growth. Wells Fargo’s return on sales ratio for 2011 is 48% and 36% for 2010. This ratio indicates if the company is keeping pace with or exceeding its competitors in producing income from sales and services. Wells Fargo increased its sales ratio by 12% over last year. A 48% return on sales ratio is a high number. This ration indicates that the company is making strides to be competitive again. Wells Fargo’s return on equity ratio for 2011 is 11% and 10% for 2010. This ratio assesses risk by indicating how much a company earned for each dollar invested by shareholders. Investors consider a ratio over 15% to be a reasonable return. A ratio of 11% is disappointing to investors. However, it is a slight improvement over the previous year. So the company may be working on pulling itself back up and learning how to become profitable and attractive to lenders and investors once again. References Raibom, C.A. (2010). Core Concepts of Accounting (2nd ed.). : John Wiley & Sons Inc.. Annual Reports, http://www.sec.gov, date retrieved 06/28/2012

Using either the Family or Religion, analyze the development of Essay

Using either the Family or Religion, analyze the development of African American culture before the Civil War - Essay Example In the pre-war era, myriad dynamic changes got experienced in the bid that most of the religious practices changed as from one aspect to the other. This gets historically retrieved from the acts between the 18th and 19th century. Most importantly, the African-American religion changed dramatically2. In relations to the changes experienced in the religion, there were overwhelming convictions that were indispensable. This essay aims at exploring and describing the development of African-American culture in the means of worship3. Initially, the Africans blended their detailed religious practices with the European American elements or worship. This is because their rituals were rather complex and unsuitable to the North American environment. For instance, practices by the African Americans that could have had the basis of ancestral worship and spirit possession were greatly underpinned by the Native Americans and the European Americans4. Some of the common traits of worship that would have proven hard to change in the African American culture included the call-response form of preaching. It shows the might of the African Americans in terms of faith; however, all these practices form the starting point of the American Revolution. Of course, it involves the already settling African Americans5. African-Americans were initiated and accepted in the society as slaves. The pre-American revolution sessions get depicted to have accommodated most of the slaves out of the Christianity helm. That is; very few of the slaves got the chance to engage in Christian practices. The steering factor of this kind of societal structure was because the holders of plantations in which the slaves worked stopped them. According to the Native and European American, granting the blacks the rights of worship could have fostered equality amongst them. Accordingly, the Gramsci notion of hegemony commenced its domineering even towards the beliefs of

Using adsorbing process to capture CO2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Using adsorbing process to capture CO2 - Essay Example International and domestic policies and legislation require industrial plants with significant CO2 emissions to install carbon capture and storage technologies to immobilize carbon dioxide from the input and output/flue gases (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2008). Carbon dioxide can be captured before and after the combustion of the fossil fuels. The first step is to separate CO2 from the other gases in the mixture (called flue gases) using several techniques (Figure 1). The basis of the techniques is to trap or immobilize carbon dioxide on special surfaces or by dissolution in special solvents. The immobilized CO2 is then concentrated and/or contained, followed by transport through pipelines to storage facilities, mostly deep geologic formations (Metz, Davidson, de Coninck, Loos, & Meyer, 2007). In fossil fuel plants, the most common technique used is the absorption of carbon dioxide using chemical and physical means. Other methods are adsorption on solid surfaces, use of low temperatures (cryogenics), membranes and microbial systems. Adsorption is gaining users as new innovations become available. In industrial plants, adsorption is commonly used to remove impurities from gas mixture streams as in hydrogen-rich gases resulting from gasification and steam reforming during ammonia synthesis (John Mathey Catalysts, 2010). In the adsorption process, the gas mixture is introduced or passed through a bed of solids that selectively adsorbs CO2, allowing the other gases to just pass through. When the adsorbent bed is fully saturated with CO2, the feed gas is redirected to a clean adsorption bed, while the loaded bed is regenerated to remove the CO2. This is the basic adsorption process. After the adsorbing process, the adsorbed compounds should undergo desorption, or the process of removing the compounds from the adsorbing surface. The process of desorption should also regenerate the adsorbent material. For regeneration of the

DQ-4-Terence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

DQ-4-Terence - Essay Example The new information threatens the regulatory requirements as they provide conflicting information. Concerns though have risen to whether the different uses of internet guidelines are beneficial to the organization and whether the new patterns should align or contradicts the general communication patterns from the body. Investigations into this inquiry are therefore the paramount objective of the paper, articulated through discussions and evidence from the scholarly articles by different researchers. Organizational structure determines the operational policy and the work process of any company that the business employs. Actions as the managerial reporting, movement of knowledge, decision-making process and dissemination of information are the essential components ensured by the organizational structures (Im, Hong & Kang, 2011). The structures whether they move within the organization and between the groups levels has no inherent of being better than the other. Rather, the structures have their sole benefit to the organization that suits them well in a particular situation (Wixom & Watson, 2012). Information flow in the major organizations has been structured on a departmental level and organizational level. The corporate level can be referred to as the flow of ideas within the organization that is inherent from the other organizations branches. The department heads use their own internet rather than sharing a broader network in the whole group. The organizational level uses a different internet in communication to other regions. Many individual will argue that it’s due to the independent nature employed by the organization to ensure each unit performs to its best. Whether the idea of separating internet usage within and between the groups’ levels remains a question for debate? Operating with the same policies and work procedures means the organization has similar goals and objectives to accomplish and why separate their internet

Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7

Immigration - Essay Example Another set of immigrants was the involuntary transferred slaves from Africa for labor supply to both agrarian revolution and the industrial revolution developments. While agricultural revolution attracted immigrants to rural agricultural areas in America, the later industrial revolution concentrated the immigrants in urban centers. The immigrations however had mixed impacts. While they facilitated economic developments through explored resources, they elicited significant, though controlled social animosity, especially across racial differences (Kennedy, 1996). The current immigrants to the United States are however majorly from Asia and the Latin America, though caused by the same factors as the earlier immigrations, high population growth in host countries, and economic opportunities in America. The current immigrants are however not as economically efficient as the earlier European immigrants. As a result, current immigrants, due to poor skills significantly pose more economic challenges though less social complications are registered (Kennedy, 1996). Kennedy’s argument therefore identifies the same economic drivers of immigration in the two periods, exploration of economic opportunities in America. This is particularly because America promises more opportunities than the immigrants’ countries of origin. Immigration into America has also not been as high as those in other countries have, and continues to induce net economic benefits. Consequently, America ‘can therefore still afford’ to be a nation of immigrants because of the net derived economic benefits. Kennedy, D. (1996). Can we still afford to be a nation of immigrants? Comparing yesterday’s immigration with today’s, a historian is struck by the unprecedented nature of our present situation. The Atlanta Monthly (273.5)

Globalization College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Globalization College - Essay Example Still, globalization transforms natural environment and cultural spheres of all countries brining new threats and financial capitals. There are different views and understandings of the problem of global warming, its significance and threat for the population (Friedman, 2000). The progress of globalization increases environmental degradation and extension of wild life. Improved transportation facilities and immigration led to occupation of new territories and lands. The world has yet to face a more important environmental policy decision than that to be made about controlling greenhouse-gas emissions. Striking a balance between the implied threat and those immense costs is an imposing challenge. The relationship between pollution and global warming is a complex one (Bengtsson and Saito 2003). The progress of globalization leads to technology exchange and increased production. The result is increased pollution in all geographical areas of the world. Assessments of the impacts of global climate change are frequently based on estimates of biophysical changes, particularly potential changes in agricultural yields and water resources. The direct approach traces the impact of a specific change in a physical input variable (such as temperature) on yields or biomass, and then, through a series of steps, to impacts on economy and society. This type of assessment relies on (and is often limited to) physical models of the climate, water balance, and vegetation growth. The main problem is that this policy would deepen economic differences between the countries and worsens the situation in developing countries. Concerns over the ramifications of the flexibility mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol remain, less developed countries have become less skeptical and more receptive as the st ructure of the mechanisms evolves and as understanding of the mechanisms and their potential benefits to less developed countries becomes clearer. The principal concern appears to revolve around the possible imposition of emissions targets or other additional obligations on less developed countries. Meanwhile, less developed countries called for unremitting efforts to combat climate change by adhering to the established principles and goals, and implied that less developed countries would welcome an agreement on the implementation of the Kyoto mechanisms. The central piece of the Kyoto Protocol is, of course, its legally binding emission commitments for Annex I Parties which, assuming compliance, will together lead to a reduction in emissions from 1990 levels for that group of parties of around 5.2 per cent (Wade et al 2006). The worldwide publicity that proposed carbon taxes are drawing merits some special attention. From at least one standpoint, a tax strategy in the climate context is easier to defend than taxes in the more familiar contexts of domestic water or air basin pollution. As we saw, in those situations taxes were complicated by the fact that damage from the same chemical agent can vary considerably, depending on the point of release-whether upwind or upstream of a large population center, for example.

Emerging Business Themes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Emerging Business Themes - Essay Example However, the brand has taken on some decay with evidence of human rights violations being committed in the factories that are supplying the product There is some evidence that these violations have occurred without Nike having created any attempts towards improvements on their own in order to increase their profits. While Nike promotes its goods under the brand mythology of good health, environmental awareness, and a sense of a social conscious, there has been a significant number of reports of human rights violations that violate these representations. The Nike corporate website has a great amount of detailed information regarding codes of operation and codes of ethics that create an image of corporate and social responsibility. The following code of ethics is on the website, creating a specific structure in which social responsibility is promoted. Our code of ethics for employees is called Inside the Lines; it defines the standards of conduct we expect of all our employees. Every y ear, employees are required to verify that they have read and understand Inside the Lines. We operate a global toll-free Alertline for employees to report in confidence any suspected violations of the law or our code of ethics. Any reported concerns around accounting, auditing or internal control are communicated to the Audit Committee of the Board. We expect our suppliers to share our standards and to operate in a legal and ethical manner. While Inside the Lines covers the behavior of Nike employees, our Nike Code of Conduct covers contractors who manufacture Nike-branded products. It directs them to respect the rights of their employees, and to provide them with a safe and healthy work environment.2 The framework that is provided by this code allows for a revelation about the intentions of the company to emerge, which is then countered by the actions that the company has made. As the company has taken advantage of the global marketing opportunities, it has also taken advantage of the lesser regulatory practices in labour, thus putting the company into a paradox against its own branding. While there have been a great many advances in Nike towards behaviours that are more socially responsible, the company still has the shadow of irresponsibility on a global level, thus creating a taint on the brand. Sustainability There are a great many ways in which the word sustainability can be used towards creating socially responsible organizations. Environmental sustainability is one of the most ways in which sustainability can be defined. As well, social responsibility in the way in which employees are treated, the issues of human rights made a priority within an organization, is another way in which sustainability is achieved. According to Bitsch, â€Å"Social sustainability is typically broadly defined to include human rights and social injustice, corporate governance, and labour rights and treatment†.3 Furthermore, a business is responsible to keep up on the l atest interpretations of human rights and to adhere to keeping safe and secure those workers who are under their management.4 Nike has had serious issues regarding violations of human rights issues and more so concerning violating the spirit of correcting those issues. In Bulgarian factories, when serious human rights

Annotated Bibliography Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Annotated Bibliography - Research Paper Example Shocking too is that almost half the group had undergone some form of mental or physical abuse. According to Alsbjer (3), the experiences that the AAS users had from school were in most cases negative and were accompanied by LDs (learning difficulties), boredom, as well as concentration problems. The current circumstances of the interviewees included theft, illegal possession of weapons, crimes such as assault and wife battering, and abuse of other drugs. Their stories on the development of drug use varied significantly taking into account social background, onset of drug use, relationship to use as well as experience of the effects of AAS. Initially, all patients had experienced positive AAS effects, but with time the negative consequences overrode them. It was found out that all of them were given to excess gym training and combined this with steroids an indicator that the use of AAS has a close relation to gym training. This source’s only bias is the dwelling mostly on adults and their current endeavors to recover from AAS abuse and addiction. This shortcoming can be countered or covered by arguing from the point of view that those under observation give accounts of having started the abuse of steroids in their adolescence or teens. The source fails to consider the possibility of teens from well off families starting to use steroids as a matter of peer pressure and to enhance their looks albeit citing social difficulties and mental issues as the cause. This possibility is factored in, in most of the other sources. The audience for the material in this source would specifically be AAS users to help them understand the hidden reasons behind AAS use from the interviewees’ accounts of their stories. This source is appropriate for my research by providing some effects of AAS use such as acting as a gateway to abuse of other drugs, as well as connection to criminal activities. This source h as

Treaty of Versailles Essay Example for Free

Treaty of Versailles Essay As solders on the battlefields celebrated, families reunited, and the unlucky ones mourned, the war was finally over, as of 11 o clock on the morning of November 11th in 1918 (Vaughan, 1-2). The solders that survived came home, and the unlucky ones did not; some families united, and other families mourned for their loved ones. Everybody started celebrating the end of the first major war, where so many young lives were lost; so many people were permanently scarred for life or suffered horrible war-injuries (Vaughan, 1-2). The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty formed at the end of World War I, which many historians say caused the next major war, WWII. The reason for this, they say, is because of too many harsh laws included in the treaty, which put the full blame of Germany. Germany was blamed, because they lost the war, and so every other country used them as easy scapegoat, for all of the damage and loss of lives that had just happened. Of course as the scapegoat, Germany was forced and had to pay huge amounts of reparation fees and had to give up most of their land for no real apparent reason (Vaughan, 1-2). All of these heavy burdens and mistakes were just being thrown on the Germans and their nation for no other reason than the fact that they had lost the war. Germany did not even start the war, at a matter of fact (abid). Two month later, after WWI, leaders gathered in Paris to make a treaty, the treaty of Versailles. This treaty like all treaties in history, was to help maintain peace and to prevent war. But in this case, it is not the same. The treaty actually encouraged war, than to prevent it (nv.cc.va.us). In a palace near Paris, France called Versailles, the new treaty was created. Named after the place it was written it, the treaty of Versailles was supposed to have a goal, which was of course to maintain the peace for as long as possible, like all treaties ever made. But which of course, less than twenty years went by, until the whole world experienced the biggest and deadliest war that they had ever seen, WWII (Mayer, 3365). This deadly war, WWII, affected at least every country in the world in one way or another and  the death number was in the millions. So therefore and obliviously the treaty did not do a very good (Vaughan, 1-2). The leaders who met to sign the treaty were known to the world as the Big Four, basically because the fate of Germany was put into their hands, and later the fate of WWII. This Big Four included these popular leaders: Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the president of the United States at the time, David Lloyd George (1863-1945), who was the prime minister of Great Britain, Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929), who was the premier of France), and finally, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando (1860-1952), the premier of France. Another name, which was not with or in the Big Four was Ulrich Von Brockdoff-Rantzau (1869-1928), and he was the leader of delegation; foreign minister who was given the treaty on behalf of Germany. He was the person who had to accept the terms or Germany would be completely annihilated (learn.co.uk). Many historians ask if the four leaders or idealists were, in definite seeking a just and lasting peace, or were they more concerned with vengeance and assurances of national security (Vaughan, 1-2)? The historians that said this quote thought that the leaders only were concerned with vengeances, and not assurances of national security, which they probably were. Many people say that the leaders were not trying to punish Germany for the cause of war, because everyone already knew that Germany in fact did not cause it, but actually were trying to help themselves to free German land and their money. Nobody really knows what were going in the minds of the Big Four, except for them, but everyone does know that whatever it was, it caused a great deal of tensions and, between Germany and the rest of Europe. (abid) A great example of a person trying to get free land at the time the treaty was being made was Georges Clemenceau, the premier of France. He wanted to detach the Rhineland, and wanted to post that in the treaty, but the president of the United States at that time, Woodrow Wilson, knew what he was up to. He knew that the premier has been looking for a way to annex Saar Basin from Germany from in which rich resource would be taken from (bbc.co.uk). The one and probably the only one positive result from WWI, was the beginning of the League of Nations, formed and organized by Woodrow Wilson, of the United States. Woodrow formed this organization which supported a way for nations and leaders throughout the world, to come together and talk instead of fight. It was a way to prevent war, basically. Woodrow Wilson invited all countries to join the league instead of use arms. Unfortunately many did not join and the idea thus became weak, just like the organization (learn.co.uk). In fact the person who created it, Woodrow Wilson withdrew from his own organization. This was after some of the other leaders wanted the organization to be restricted and not welcome Germany or other weak countries. These leaders liked Woodrows idea, except they wanted it to be an exclusive organization, and did not have the same idea as Woodrow did on this. So without the U.S. or Russia, the organization became weak, until of course W.W.II, where it was brought back up again. The League of Nations was and still is today, one of mankinds attempts to find a means of abolishing war, and maintaining peace for as long as possible (learn.co.uk). The League of Nations was a way for leaders all around the world to talk about the problem at hand, instead to quickly take arms, and cause violence. Thus this is one of mankinds attempts to maintain peace and avoid violence throughout the world. This peace treaty was acclaimed as the single official document that had the most influence on shaping the events (Vaughan, 3). The events that Vaughan was talking about, was of course WWII, and the treaty was famous, or acclaimed for causing or shaping the next war. Somewhere between the first major war, and twenty years after that, the next major war, the treaty took affect. People, mostly the Germans felt betrayed and vengeful, because of the presented treaty. In those twenty years, the treaty of Versailles was ignored and not in any way enforced by anyone. The treaty basically did not have any positive value and instead only had negative affects. For example, it made all German citizens angry, and lead up to dictatorship, or Hitler. Therefore many say that the treaty caused more harm than good, if any good at all (abid). The treaty statements would have been harsh and difficult for anyone, not just Germany, to handle. The treaty was composed of exactly 440 articles, maps, and illustrations which all commanded or told Germany what to do and what to give up (lib.byu). The list of the changes was long and harsh. The Big Four were busy making changes and playing with Germanys eastern borders, such as Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Rumania, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Estonia, and the Rhineland (Mayer, 3365). All of these were either taken away from Germany, or were affected in some way by the terms of the treaty, as stated in Articles 27-30. The four leaders did not just want reparations, which were high enough, but even wanted to punish their enemies by taking away their land. Some countries were annexed away completely, and others were taken away from only in some parts, and all of the annexed areas were distributed among the countries that won. Ports, waterways, and even railways, all of which were German property, in the beginning, were now divided equally (Mayer, 3365). Also, the treaty talks about reducing Germanys military, naval and Germanys air-force (Articles 159 through 213), but of course since the treaty was never enforced, Hitler, who comes into play much later, does not even pay much attention to these rules (momo.essortment). On September 14, 1930, the new Nazi party was elected, and whenever Hitler, the ruler or dictator of the party, broke a rule stated in the treaty, the Germany people liked Hitler even more, because they despised the treaty. So thus everyone encouraged Hitler to build up his army, airplanes, and submarines (momo.essortment). How did Hitler come into power, and cause the deaths of billions around the world, ask historians. Or more important, how did this the treaty of Versailles affect Hitler or make him popular with the people? Well, the money was a big problem. The leaders made Germany deeply into debt, with their high-reparation fees. This of course would lead Germanys economy to  be dangerously low (Cecil, 20). The German money value decreased and the affect of that made many go into poverty. Many were asking why pay so much, even if their country did not start the war. Many lost jobs or committed suicides even, because problems were so bad (abid). So that is why the people hated the treaty of Versailles so much, especially since the treaty told them that money was not enough, and Germany had to give away their land, for free. This treaty caused not only bitterness at first, but made Europe grow a continued tension [that lasted] for the next two decades (Vaughan, 2) The treaty caused these tensions which builded and grew larger in the people, which resulted in a huge war, WWII. The people grew hatred, and did not know who to blame for all of this. Their hatred and anger turned on their government, which currently was the Weimar Republic (bbc. co.uk). During the time period of 1919 and 1923, the uprisings and trouble grew larger. Many revolutions and protests happened in the streets, all against their government. Groups like the communists, and others, like the right-wing nationalists tried to take advantage of this opportunity, by trying to overthrow the government and rule it for themselves [Everyone] blamed the government for accepting the treaty and tried to overthrow [them] (bbc.co.uk). The people or citizens did not know who to blame for the punishment that was put on them for no reason, so the people turned on their own government, and blamed them. At this time, where these uprisings were happening, a person by the name of Adolf Hitler was currently working as a spy at several anti-Semitic groups, in 1919. After fighting in WWI and suffering from poison gas, he was looking for some extra money and a temporary job from the German army, so he went and spied on these groups. Only two years later though, in 1921, his interest grew; he joined the party and soon became their leader (bbc.co.uk). As leader, Hitler tried to get as many people to join his party, as possible. He did things like change the name of the party, which included words like socialists, and nationalists so that the name would attract more people. Also he spoke to mass-audiences, and made speeches on how he would revive Germanys respect, and rule Germanys empire for more than 1,000  years (abid). Eventually, he got elected into power with the help of a friend, Paul von Hindenburg. But after he died, Hitler took the chance and became the new consensus successor or dictator. He had obtained full control over the country. After taking care of some business and eliminating those who opposed him (other parties and government institutions), he put Mein Kampf, his first plan, into full affect. This plan, was world domination and Hitler outlined this to his army generals, on November, 1937 (remember). Hitler did not just want to conquer more lands or get back the land stolen from them, but from his anti-Semitic values that he learned while working as a spy, he created dozens of death camps wherever his empire expanded to. Millions of people send to these death traps to die, and the only reason that they were sent to die was because they were considered inferior. Inferior, meaning a different religion, race, etc. (remember). Jews, homosexuals, and even the mentally handicapped were all targeted, considered to be inferior in the eyes of the racist Nazis, were all killed because of who they were, and for no other reason than that(abid). So in conclusion, did the so called peace treaty help in maintaining peace or bringing about conditions that helped Adolph Hitler rise to power to get revenge. German citizens thought that that all the stuff that Hitler was doing such as expanding Germany and killing millions was just or right; was just a common reaction from the many harsh laws inside the treaty. The people never thought that Hitler was too out of line, because they might have been too vengeful themselves or didnt have anything else on their mind, except hatred. Of course, not until the end of WWII, did everyone find the death camps, and what Hitler was really doing behind their backs. Adolph Hitler opposed the treaty while he was in power, and was supported by the Germans for so long, because of that, say historians (remember). For instance, every time he broke a law from the treaty, such as increasing his army, or expanding his borders, he would became more popular with his own people. Hitler played a significant role in causing World War II, less than twenty years later the terms of the treaty were written (abid). The person who wrote this quote told an obvious fact, Hitler did not jut play a significant role in the war, he basically caused the entire war himself. The  treaty of Versailles had ended WWI, in which millions of people, mostly young, fought and died in the belief that they were defending their homelands, their families, and their people, would soon cause another deadly war, this war even more deadlier than before. Millions of young lives and fellow citizens believed in slogans that yelled to them. Loud slogans on posters and bulletins yelled and predicted WWI to be, the war to end all wars, or the war to make the world safe for democracy (nv.cc.va.us). WWI was named these two things at the time, probably to enlist more and more people, but which of course both did not come true. WWI was not the war to end all wars, nor was it, the war that made it s afe for democracy.

Influence of Magazines on Beauty | Cross-Cultural Analysis

Influence of Magazines on Beauty | Cross-Cultural Analysis INTRODUCTION Beauty is not concrete and may vary from culture to culture changing over time and shifting according to location. Beauty is an image which has been created by society to which woman and men have had to subject themselves to be real. The ideology of beauty or what is accepted as being the right appearance has been created by society and largely propagated by media. For United States of the 1950s Marilyn Monroe was the pinnacle of beauty which soon changed to Twiggy in the 1960s. While porcelain skin is valued in China, scarification of the skin and decorating it with tattoos is considered as a status symbol in Africa. Thus the physical attributes and ideas attached to beauty vary across cultures. Womens magazine industry is understood as a monolithic meaning producer, circulating magazines that contain messages and signs about the nature of femininity that serve to promote and legitimate dominant interests. (Anna Gough- Yates). A majority of feminist critics argue that media is responsible for establishing and promoting gender differences and inequalities in society. In respect media persons are considered responsible for reinforcing capitalism and patriarchy; manipulating society to attain increased circulation figures. Magazines are a great source, to study the society. Recording changes, from the purely fashion magazine couture age of 1920s, to lifestyle and home of the 1940s when domestic help was rare and woman to a personal interest in their homes. To New woman of the 1980s when woman began to work alongside men in almost every field to do it yourself of the 20th century with soaring costs and economic downturn. Magazines reflect revolutions in society and influenced the opinion of women across nations. Given the increase in trade to Asia and the spread of the beauty industry across nations, there is limited study available on how people are depicted internationally in the fashion magazines. Previous research has established that womans magazines can act as agents of publicizing gender stereotypes and beauty ideals like size zero and institutionalizing conventions like photographic poses. (Rudman and Verdi, 1993; Griffin, Viswanath, Schwartz, 1994). Yet little research has been done on the differences in representation of women internationally and locally. POWER OF IMAGES One must establish what people are looking at before one can hope to understand why under the conditions peculiar to them, they see what they see Rudolf Arnhein (Arnhein 1977:4) An image is that stimulus or representation that compels us to cognition, interpretation and personal preference. If we understand that the market is image based than we also begin to understand the importance of vision in understanding management in the information society. Images are where visual communication starts. Jonathan E. Schroeder confirms in his study of media that visual consumption is critically important for understanding contemporary consumers. Today marketing professionals are sensitive towards global customers and realise that they are enthusiastic consumers of images. Brand image, corporate image and self image are significant economic and consumer values and that global market culture is largely the construction of symbolic environments. (S. E. Jonathan, 2002) This is of great importance especially in the 21st century as the importance of marketing management and consumer research in this century may shift from problem solving to problem recognition from productio n of goods to the production of images (S. E. Jonathan, 2002) Through time marketers have learnt that markets are global which should translate into local approach. But when companies globalise they become more production driven wanting to sell more thus having common promotional strategies across cultures, sticking to one single image, hardly realising that there may be global products, but there are no global people. There may be global brands but there are no common global motivators to buy those brands. (M. De Mooij, 2009). Many brands have with the help of technology and communication tried to globalise nations. But technology has not brought a global village in which consumers all behave the same. GLOBAL MEDIA Globalisation is best defined as the crystallization of the entire world as a single place (Robertson, Ronald. 1990. Mapping the Global Condition: Globalization as the Central Concept. Theory, Culture and Society 7) Due to the success of global brands writers have predicted an unavoidable colonization of world culture by internationalised brands that would most definitely lead to demise of local cultures. However there is also evidence that suggests social relationships and values in local culture are resistant to the negative effects of globalization. On one hand globalisation is expected to destroy local cultures and bring about homogeneity while on the other hand it is also the reason for the revival of local cultural identities from various parts of the world. Today the expansion of western cultures values and ideas has reached the far corners of the world, right to Asian countries like India and China which have been dominant till the 21st century. Now that these countries have become important players in the world market, counter expansion of values and culture can also be seen. Over the past few decades there has been a rapid expansion of global brands in the media sector more than ever in the area of womans fashion magazines. Local editions of Elle, Harpers Baazar and Vogue are now being published in Asia. The internationalization of a magazine is not a new phenomenon although until quite recently the most popular womans magazines have been published locally. Harpers Bazaar, a U.S magazine launched itself in U.K. in 1929 (Anna Gough-Yates, 1993), Elle a European magazine began publishing its first edition in Japan in 1960s while Vogue a U.S magazine entered the Indian market in the 21st century. However the establishment of an integrated global media market only began in earnest in the late 1980s and did not reach its full potential until the 1990s. (Herman and Mc Chesney ,1997, p10) The latest NRS (National Readership Survey) figures suggest that the total readership market in U.K. for the months of July and December 2008 has risen by 10% since last year, while the total market for womens lifestyle and fashion magazines has grown by 7 %. (IPC Advertising) A similar trend was observed in USA where magazine subscription reached a ten year high in 2008 and with the total number of magazines published reaching 20,590 the total percentage of subscriptions also increased by 1.4% (MPA Magazine Publishers of America, ABC) Comparatively in Asia according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers the Asia/Pacific magazine market excluding Japan is projected to grow by 7.2% annually, reaching $20.7 billion by 2010, Advertising is also expected to rise by 5% annually to $8.1 billion in 2010. This means theres plenty of potential for countries in South Asia, where advertising spending is just about 0.34% of GDP. Until now foreign brands were allowed only 26% ownership when venturing into Asian countries. But in 2005 most of the Asian countries levelled the field for non news publications allowing 100% foreign direct investment. (D. Ruth, 2007, Forbes) In an age looking towards the internet for all information and goods there is a risk that print media and magazine subscriptions may fall contrary to predictions. A recent research conducted by PPA marketing suggests that the internet does not have any harmful effect on peoples desire to read offline, in fact in some cases reading websites encourages them to read magazines. Out of 1500 adults between the age of 18- 34 surveyed online revealed that peoples expectations and goals from each medium depends on the subject matter and for the subject of beauty and fashion print magazines are an obvious choice. Also the idea of owning a piece of fashion history through the beautifully photographed and styled images in fashion magazines makes print media a lucrative choice. With fashion going cross cultures, print media being the apparent choice of the masses to keep them in trend and the governments giving publication houses the clear there is nothing stopping international fashion magazines going local. Like all the other global media, magazines use many different strategies to cross the borders. The main reasons for crossing borders are saturation of home markets and to generate revenue by providing international consumer brands with advertising vehicles that reach into the expanding foreign markets'(Dr. Katherine Frith, 2006,pg4-5). For example Condà © Nast which has a portfolio of 127 magazines in 23 countries had to close down Mademoiselle in November 2001 due to competition, flagging sales and saturation of magazine houses. Markets with rising economic rates like Asia and Middle East, as a result have become a target for westerns producers of beauty and fashion magazines. FASHION MAGAZINES AND THEIR IMPACT Many women across cultures are influenced by general trends in fashion and follow although at a distance the fashion industry. The relationship between consumers and trends is complex but it is mediated by fashion magazines. The difference between international fashion magazines and their local versions is that the international issues tend to carry a predominance of images for multinational products. (Shaw, 1999). Such magazines are growing in popularity in Asia and this popularity has bought about a change in perspective regarding the depiction of woman and products in local magazines. Griffin, Viswanath, and Schwartz(1994) found in a study comparing images in weekly U.S. news magazines (Time and Life) to weekly Indian magazines (India Today and Illustrated weekly of India), that many of the western advertising principles and poses for women were being conveyed across nations. They confirmed that female models in India were taking on poses that related closely to gender portrayals of the advanced western nations. A recent analysis of magazines international and local in China by Frith, Cheng and Shaw (2004) suggests that Caucasian models are more frequently shown in seductive dresses than Asian models. Feminist critiques like Kates, Shaw and Garlock (1999) would argue that western magazines are cultural institutions that represent women in a problematic and often unacceptable way although attractive female bodies and sexual content have for long been used in the west to draw consumers to a product and generate interest. Comparing this to the representation of woman across cultures with reference to the few studies conducted on the topic; Griffin, Viswanath and Schwartz (1994) concluded that the use of Sexual pursuit as a theme was used three times more often in American magazines than magazines in India. In conservative Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia only Caucasian women were used in Lingerie advertisements (Frith and Mueller, 2003). Any magazine wanting to be resonant with its target audience needs to represent the social norms and cultural values of the given society. International magazines like Vogue and Elle although have publishing houses in Asian countries most often train their employees in the west. The result being that the forms of representation and especially that of woman can take on a globalized look. As Kyung-Ja Lee,(2000, pg 86) has rightly said for thirty years, media have been taken to task for reproducing and reinforcing stereotyped images of woman. Yet unfair representation of woman in media still prevails worldwide. Sex stereotyping has been so deeply ingrained, even glorified, that the woman themselves have become desensitised to their own inferior portrayal. The prospects appear even gloomier as the globalisation of media progresses Previous researchers have noted that the images of models used in magazines have been extensively retouched to represent the ideal of beauty that is unattainable for all but a very few people.(Greer,1999). By showing models that are uniformly thin, flawless and perfectly proportioned the media may contribute towards low self esteem and unhappiness among woman and give rise to problems like eating disorders.( Gauntlett, 2002) Media is also considered a large contributor to the global increase in plastic surgery to change physical appearance among young girls (Lee, 2007). With most models used in international magazines being white the publications are rarefying the ethnic beauty ideals. In fact the obsession with whitening products may be a result of this overuse of White models in Asian publications. Finally as global media takes readers away from local publications and changing Asian beauty ideals it is important to study the impact of international beauty ideal on local consumers. The Asian society has predominantly been a conservative society yet with the onset of westernisation this society is changing and adapting itself. But as Marieke de Mooij states, product usage or acceptance does not change overnight, as peoples behaviour is stable . A new idea or concept is only accepted when it is consistent to a change in society and does not imply a fundamental change in culture. Essay 2: THE VOGUE IMPACT This essay will discuss Vogue magazines cover page and its relationship with its brand identity. Can the brand successfully globalised by altering its cover page image, based on cultural and social variants in each of its markets? Would standardisation of the brands cover page images and visual identity help to avoid criticism on its entry into a new market? VOGUE BEGINING Started in 1982 Vogue magazine is predominantly an American cultural phenomenon. It began as a social weekly periodical and nurtured into a professional and confident monthly publication under the leadership of Condà © Nast which took over vogue in 1909. Primarily as a lifestyle magazine catering to both men and woman Vogue has come a long way to be at the pinnacle as the fashion magazine for woman in vogue (David, A., 2006). In an age where French fashion was considered the ultimate Vogue managed to put American Couture on the map. Under the Condà © Nast umbrella the magazine not only managed to become a brand name in its own country but also exported fashion ideas to the world. Today Condà © Nast which has a portfolio of 127 magazines in 23 countries believes Vogue to be its cash cow. At present there are a million fashion and beauty magazines such as In Style, Elle and Cosmopolitan circulated around the globe, but in times of crises citizens all over turn to Vogue to confirm the latest fashion news. With readership and subscription levels of about 220,000 a month for the British Vogues, 133,000 a month for the French Vogue and American Vogue, at 1.2 million a month Vogue is the leading magazine in the business of fashion. (IPC Advertising reports) The once small publication eventually became an international phenomenon with issues being published in more than 12 countries. YEAR OF LAUNCH COUNTRY /EDITION 1916 British Vogue 1918 Spanish Vogue 1920 French Vogue 1924-1926 Argentinean Vogue 1928 German Vogue 1964 Italian Vogue 1975 Brazilian Vogue 1994 Singapore Vogue 1996 Korean Vogue 1996 Taiwanese Vogue 1999 Japanese Vogue 1999 Latin American Vogue 2000 Greek Vogue 2005 Chinese Vogue 2007 Indian Vogue Since its birth the magazine has strived to serve the society by portraying an example of proper etiquette, beauty, composure and fashion. The magazine not only plays a role in setting latest trends but also records the changes in cultural thinking, actions and clothing through its images. Looking at Vogue through the ages it can be clearly seen that it is also a documentation of the changing roles of woman, and the influences of cultural ideas and politics over time. The power the Vogue magazine has over generations of women has inspired many new magazines like Cosmopolitan and Glamour; all interested in its market share. In spite of this great quantity of magazines circulating around the globe, considering circulation figures and media impact no other publication has managed to accomplish the lasting power and success of Vogue. (David, R., 2007) VOGUE IMAGE Self definition has always been crucial to vogue. (David, A., 2006). Throughout its first 30 years vogue editors and illustrators made use of the French meaning of vogue, defined in the first dictionary of the Acadà ©mie Franà §aise (1694) as the impulsion or movement of a galley or other ship by the force of rowing. It was only in the 18th century that vogue and fashion were listed as synonyms (Fà ©raud 1787–8). Since its first issue Vogue magazine has been personified as a youthful young woman. The magazines first cover presented itself in the disguise of a debutante, a young socialite. When Condà © Nast bought the magazine in 1909 he brought it into line with other successful publishing ventures and in just over a decade, circulation went from 14,000 to 150,000 while advertising revenue soared from $76,111 to two million dollars (Robinson 1923: 170). He modernised the magazine not just the content but also the cover. He replaced the black and white drawings of the front cover with commissioned, lavish, stylised and signed illustrations. This change helped to attract attention to the magazine and increase circulations. As an advertising man, he understood the value of having a visual brand or logo and Nast revived the original Vogue trademark, a distinguished little sketch which immediately became known as the Vogue girl (David, A., 2006). This first Vogue girl was just an illustration cla d in a fancy dress with the than fashionable leg-o-mutton sleeves. Her unnatural ivory white skin, snow white wig, tiny waist and voluptuous bosom, was directed at the fantasies of the magazines readers (David, A., 2006).The Vogue girl represented the heritage of those Americans who wished to be different from the New World Americans and was constantly seen as wearing historical costumes and heirlooms. Than too the new world American woman aspired to look like her. All this changed in the 1920s when the Vogue girl was changed to an illustration by Georges Lepape. This new image was more streamlined and represented the woman at the heights of fashion in the 1920s. Vogue had gone from importing fashion to exporting it. As times changed so did the magazine cover from illustrations to photographs, making models like Cindy Crawford and celebrities like Madonna a household name. This change in its image was a response to the internationalisation of the magazine. Today the vogue cover girls are the most glamorous, exotic, unusual and popular persons of the moment. The trend being more towards actresses than models dressed in the heights of fashion, styled by the best stylist and clicked by A-list photographers they are every girls aspiration and every boys fantasy. Like its cover girls the magazines is considered to be glamorous, glossy and trendy. (Alexandra Shulman, Vogue U.K. editor). Despite of having these factors common among them, the vogue covers are dissimilar in many aspects depending upon its country of publication. CULTURE AND CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR Anglo –Saxon psychological research states that the concept of self and personality are the basis of Western consumer behaviour. The words identity or personality have no fixed meaning in the Asian culture. A global brand needs to consider the cultural differences to truly succeed in the world field. A number of research experts and cultural studies suggest that a brand should think global, act local. This is based upon the theory that the way people think and perceive any brand or image is guided by the framework of their own culture (Mooij, M, 2009). The observation of Japanese individuality as a sign of westernisation of the country is a misconception of many global brands. For more than a decade international magazines have been accused of standardising a beauty ideal across the globe with disregard to the individual cultural and beauty ideals of the host country. For a short duration the values and attributes of a foreign or global personality might have a strong attraction, but ultimately people return to their own local values and culture. For a Brazilian woman the emphasis is on her bottom, um corpo de violà £o which literally means a guitar shaped body is most desirable. No matter how many international magazines showcase buxom beauties, the Brazilian woman would ultimately want a bigger bottom as the point of attraction is the sweet swing of the hips. The illustration of a desirable Japanese woman in The memoirs of a Gesha suggest, that the Japanese appreciate soft delicate feminine features, small feet and long hair cut in layers. A slim slender graceful body is more desirable than a curvaceous one. In Islamic countries the body is considered a n obstacle in viewing ones true beauty. Any bodily decorations or changes are considered a veil over the inner beauty and the Hijab is another veil to conceal these changes so that the womans only public identity would be her inner self. For the Greek it has been symmetry in structure and features, based on Platos ideas that, beauty is that which irradiates symmetry rather than symmetry itself. The Nuba tribe in Sudan like dark skin and hairlessness. On studying traditional Indian paintings it can be concluded that the Indian ideals of beauty in a woman is voluptuousness, with the belly and hips being of prominence.( Ei, 2008) The image and identity associated with woman of different geographical locations are deep rooted in their respective cultures. The beauty ideals and a womans self image in any culture can be understood by studying its paintings, sculpture and artistic representations. Today the artistic or idealistic representations of women are magazine covers, images and pho to spreads. These covers are also considered a mode of advertisement for the magazine within that culture. As Steve Taylor has rightly put in his book 100 years of magazine covers it is hard to identify another cultural artefact which embodies an advertisement for itself in such a powerful way. Magazine covers can be breathtaking, beautiful, confrontational, resonant, heartbreaking, stimulating, irritating and uplifting. At their best they come together as a kind of spontaneous street level exhibition, publicly displaying the work of some of our best creative talent, featuring what is most admirable and dismissible about the modern world, communicating the people and events that shape our culture. Apart from a mode of advertisement of todays culture a magazine cover plays a dual function of advertising the magazine brand itself. An impressive cover encourages people to flip through the magazine and buy it. (Alexandra Shulman, British Vogue editor). Getting the magazine cover right is not only ethically important but also financially important to the magazine in order to develop brand loyalty and increased circulations. Thus making it important to study magazine covers as a mode of advertisement and part of the marketing mix, for a magazine publication. MAGAZINE COVERS AS BRAND VISUAL IDENTITY It is a common assumption that an advertisement would be effective if the viewer decodes the advertisement successfully, if there is a significant transfer of attributes. (Mooij, M., 2009). Thus while developing one idea for a global brand or one single motivator for different cultures, one should not assume that the responses would be alike too. An idea being interpreted accurately by the consumers would only happen if the senders and receivers share one culture. If they do not share the same cultural values it may result in misunderstandings and demeaning of brand value within that culture. For example consider the inaugural Vogue covers of India and China. The Indian Vogue cover was styled by the magazines British fashion director while the Chinese vogue was styled by French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld (China economic net and Fashion week daily dispatch). The covers were not rightly decoded by the consumers and received much criticism. Whereas the covers for the preceding months styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania the fashion director for Vogue India was highly appreciated.(Fashion week daily dispatch) The essence of a brand is that it is a name in the memory of consumers. It is a perceptual map of positive and negative associations, a symbolic language, and a network of associations. (Mooij, M.,2009). Vogue with its launch in many Asian countries received much negative associations with its local issues. The local Asian issues of Vogue are considered small ripples in the big pond of Fashion magazines (Armstrong ,L, 2009) and they could never manage to create the impact that American vogue or Italian Vogue have managed to create world over. Vogue India or Vogue China might be sold worldwide but it is not necessary that consumers in all countries consider them global brands. One theory suggests that a global brand is a brand that is strongly associated with its country of origin (Mooij, M., 2009) and for Vogue its been America. This can be considered positive if the country of origin has a stable global identity. With American values becoming ambiguous and Vogue bifurcating into mul tiple countries over time its core identity may be threatened. The idea of incorporating local aesthetics with their global image might dilute the brands global image. STANDARDISATION A multinational companys personality and identity are the biggest factors influencing consumer (Eales, 1990 as cited in Melewar,T.C, Saunders, J., 1998). Unrestricted global trade, a competitive marketplace and the fast technological developments have created a situation where consumers dont just buy the product they also buy the company that produces it. The brands character, its identity, its image and the confidence it inspires in them help in making the choice between two almost similar product offerings in the market. At the centre of any business and its projected image is its corporate visual identity system. The elements of this system are: name, symbol, and/or logo, typography, colour and slogan (Dowling, 1994). These elements help to sell the company to consumers and its stakeholders. Corporate identity programs have risen due to globalisation (Ind, 1992). The changing business tactics, geographical locations, variations in cultures and changing markets have all encouraged companies to change their corporate identity. As companies begin to operate on an international basis, the image that they acquired as national producers often becomes inappropriate (Mills, 1988 as cited in Melewar,T.C, Saunders, J., 1998). Some international companies adopt a unified brand image in spite of government and consumer displeasure. The degree of de-standardisation of any company depends upon the strength of the host countries culture, government policies and target market. (Mooij, M., 2009). The decision to standardise a brand image also depends upon the competitive edge derived in either keeping activities central or decentralizing them. However a brand like Vogue that has a truly global orientation needs to express consistent brand values wherever it chooses to compete. Thus making its worldwide image more recognisable for its homogeneity than not. A major component of a corporate identity is the corporate structure. (Strong, 1987) According to Ind (1992) there exist two corporate identities, one that is the organisational structure and the other that is the visual structure. The Visual structure is concerned with the branding of the product, and how it appears to the consumers. (Gray Smeltzer, 1985 as cited in Melewar, T.C., Saunders, J., 1998). The basic concern with the visual structure is the degree of centralisation and decentralisation. Thus the basic problem faced by Vogue is whether to sell an identical product image to all its consumers or to make modifications as per the local differences. A global brand can be a mass brand satisfying a common product need in all the countries or it can be a brand catering to a common niche in all the countries. Vogue magazine has two options, being a global brand it could standardize the brand and the brand image across the globe so that the Indian woman reading the Indian Vogue would feel equal to the French or American woman reading their respective Vogues. The other option it has is to go local, differentiate between its offerings and treat each market as an individual and not a global product while standardising its visual image, giving the impression of a common brand. Researchers argue that standardisation of a brand helps the company to achieve a uniform image internationally which in turn increases sales.(Buzzell, 1968, Hovells Walters, 1972 as cited in Melewar, T.C., Saunders, J., 1998) . Others were of the opinion that standardisation makes consumers familiar with the product, its services, business diversities and competitive distinction thus helping to establish a uniform corporate image.(Peebles et al ,1977 as cited in Melewar, T.C., Saunders, J., 1998). Cosmopolitan for example is known around the globe to address personal and sex related issues as it does not change its editorials and articles depending on culture. The band logo/ font type, position or style does not differ according to geographical locations. The brand has achieved a sense of standardisation by not having a distinct country name printed on its cover unlike Vogue. The research on global corporate visual identity systems by T.C. Melewar and John Saunders (1998) proved that firms with highly standardised corporate visual identity systems (CVIS) saw themselves reaping more reward from their CVIS than did those with low CVIS standardisation. All custom

Essays --

Inequality can be traced as far back as possible. It can also be described as disparity. This disparity can be in terms of income, wealth, class etc. Economic inequality can be described as the disparity between income of individuals or household within and outside a country. When â€Å"income inequality† is mentioned, most people think about it in a within the country context, but in a world that is becoming more integrated, economic inequality between countries is becoming more relevant. In a world where other people’s income and wealth affect our perception of life, one might ask the question, â€Å"is economic inequality the biggest issue of our time†. The history of economic inequalities between countries can be traced back to the 18th century and has taken different forms since then, especially, in the 19th century till date. Firstly, the Lorenzo curve. This is a model use for measuring inequality. It was developed by Max Lorenz in 1905. The Lorenz curve is usually in a form of graph on which the cumulative proportion of income is plotted against the cumulative proportion of population on the in which their axes ranges from [zero (0) to one (1)] or [0% to 100%]. The Gini index, another method of measuring inequality is derived from the Lorenz curve. The Lorenz curve is shown in the graphical illustration (figure 1) below. The first calculation of inequality across world citizens were done in the early 1980s (Berry, Bourguignon and Morrisson, 1983; Grosh and Nafziger, 1986). This is because in order to calculate global inequality, one needs to have data on (within country) national income distributions for most of the countries i n the world, or at least for most of the populous and rich countries. But it is only from the early to mid-... ...5) is shown below. Above are the steps (faster growth of smaller countries, global redistribution and 21st century trilema) that makes up part of future possibilities of global economic inequality. If A and B, then no C. Migration is the outcome of current unequal globalization. If B and C, then no A. Unequal globe can exist if people do not know much about each other’s living conditions or costs of transport are too high. (Milanovic, 2011, p. 56) If A and C, then no B. Under globalization, people will not move if income differentials are small Described above, is the economic inequality between countries. Points explained under this topic include the history, current information, trends and its future directions and with these points explained above, one might still ask, â€Å"is economic inequality the biggest issue of our time?† and if so, how can we solved this?. â€Æ'

The Importance of a Good Supervisor Essay examples -- Business Managem

Nurturing a child is comparable to supervising employees. They are both two of the most crucial roles any one can perform, however only a small number of people are satisfactorily taught or qualified to do them. For the most part people learn by trying different alternatives with varying amounts of achievement. This paper will describe the role of a supervisor in a typical organization, covering three traits of an effective manager and how these traits fit the four functions of management. This paper will also examine the relationship between managers, supervisors, and employees, and how these relationships assist in guiding organizations to achieve their maximum potential. Finally, this paper will assess and describe the importance of finding the right employee and the challenges supervisors face in a multicultural society. The functions and responsibilities of a supervisor will vary based upon the duties that the supervisor was appointed to oversee. Components such as the supervisor’s trade, business and division all play a part in establishing the duties and responsibilities. There are many roles a supervisor may have in a standard organization. As a supervisor motivates, nurtures, and guides people as they work, a supervisor will distinguish the best people for the job (Cassidy & Kreitner, 2010, p. 9). Communicating in writing or orally to others, delivering information competently to meet the needs of the audience is another important role of a supervisor. They need to give their total attention to others’ responses, taking the time to absorb the views, ask questions if needed and then adjust procedures in accordance to those responses. There are many traits that a supervisor should possess. Effective ... ...otential. Finally, this paper assessed and described the importance of finding the right employee and the challenges supervisors face in a multicultural society. Works Cited Cassidy, C., Kreitner, R. (2010). Supervision: setting people up for success. p. 8-199. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Daft, R. (2010). Innovative management for turbulent times. Chapter 1, p. 8. South-Western Cengage Learning. Retrieved from http://www.ppt2txt.com/r/9d2a1ad4/ Erickson, R. (27 July 2005). How to hire the right employee for the job and your company. Retrieved from http://www.googobits.com/articles/1810-how-to-hire-the-right-employee- for-the-job-and-your-company.html Moglia, T. (Author). (1997). Supervising for success: A guide for supervisors. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/Doc?id=10058839

Chinese Economic Reform :: essays papers

Chinese Economic Reform Two years after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, it became apparent to many of China's leaders that economic reform was necessary. During his tenure as China's premier, Mao had encouraged social movements such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, which had had as their base ideologies such as serving the people and maintaining the class struggle. By 1978 "Chinese leaders were searching for a solution to serious economic problems produced by Hua Guofeng, the man who had succeeded Mao Zedong as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader after Mao's death" (Shirk 35). Hua had demonstrated a desire to continue the ideologically based movements of Mao. Unfortunately, these movements had left China in a state where "agriculture was stagnant, industrial production was low, and the people's living standards had not increased in twenty years" (Nathan, Andrew J. China's Crisis pg. 200). This last area was particularly troubling. While "the gross output value of industry and agr iculture increased by 810 percent and national income grew by 420 percent between 1952 and 1980; average individual income increased by only 100 percent" (Ma Hong quoted in Shirk, Susan L. "The Political Logic of Economic Reform in China." Berkeley pg. 28). However, attempts at economic reform in China were introduced not only due to some kind of generosity on the part of the Chinese Communist Party to increase the populace's living standards. It had become clear to members of the CCP that economic reform would fulfill a political purpose as well since the party felt, properly it would seem that it had suffered a loss of support. As Susan L. Shirk describes the situation in The Political Logic of Economic Reform in China, restoring the CCP's prestige required improving economic performance and raising living standards. The traumatic experience of the Cultural Revolution had eroded popular trust in the moral and political virtue of the CCP. The party's leaders decided to shift the base of party legitimacy from virtue to competence, and to do that they had to demonstrate that they could deliver the goods. This movement "from virtue to competence" seemed to mark a serious departure from orthodox Chinese political theory. Confucius himself had posited in the fifth century BCE that those individuals who best demonstrated what he referred to as moral force should lead the nation.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Restoring the Character Ethic

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Restoring The Character Ethic By Stephen R. Covey While I was reading ‘The 7 habits of highly effective people’ by Stephen R. Convey, many things were running through my mind. Stephen R. Convey’s words encourages us to live our life by some specific â€Å"principles† which can represent our overall effectiveness as a human in individual or social context. This book helps us to know â€Å" How our habits can affect our character† and â€Å" How our character can affect our destiny†. I am completely agree with Steven R. Convey’s The 7 habits of highly effective people’s principles and will try to evaluate their significance in general life. There are 7 habits mentioned by Steven R. Convey in his book by adopting them in our everyday life we can become highly effective people. He defined Habits as the combination of Knowledge, skills and desire. By adopting all these habits in our everyday life, mentioned in his book, we can move through the maturity continuum day by day. Initially, according to first three habits of Convey, we move from dependence to Independence (private victory) and later by four habits we move from Independence to Interdependence (public victory). In his words, â€Å" How we apply a principle will vary greatly and will be determined by our unique strengths, talents, and creativity, but, ultimately, success in any endeavour is always derived from acting in harmony with the principles to which the success is tied. † I like the Convey’s style of writing and the way he structured his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The words he used and the forms in which they are used are very simple and different from what we are used to seeing today’s literature. I think, this is one of the main reason why Stephen R. Convey is on the bestseller lists having sold more than fifteen Millon copies. Every single people in the world, who want to be a leader in personal and professional level want to know more about Stephen R. Convey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. PARADIGM The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People begins with the notion that every people perceive the world differently. They have their own unique â€Å"lens† to view the world, so; it’s nearly impossible to separate observation from the observer. In Convey view, all of us have our own paradigm. In general sense, paradigm is a way we see the world around us in terms of perceiving, understanding and interpreting, not in terms of visual sense of sight. Convey writes, â€Å" Depend on our way to see things, our behaviour and attitude change. The way we perceive things is the main source of the way we think and act toward that situation. † These paradigms are the main source for defining our behaviour and attitude towards any particular situation. I quite agree with his statement, that we cannot act and think outside of the paradigm in which we find ourself. It’s true that we cannot talk and walk differently than what we seeing and perceiving in any moment. We can try to change our outward behaviour and attitude for very little time but finally we have to find out actual paradigms from which those behaviour and attitude flows, because in the long run we can’t sustained same attitude and behaviour for paradigm different than the one where these attitude and behaviour actually belong. PARADIGM SHIFT Thomas Kuhn was very highly influential author who introduced ‘Paradigm Shift’ words first time into his own book: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn mentioned in this book that for every breakthrough in any field of human endeavour is start by breaking old and traditional paradigms. Convey tell this paradigm Shift as an â€Å"Aha† experience, when someone sees the picture from another view or angle. It has been observed that if a person is more bound to his initial perception, this ‘Aha’ experience is more intensive in his case. Its true in my case as well, I often felt this Aha’ experience many times in my life. Whenever my paradigm shifts, I see things differently, and because I see differently, I feel differently, and because I feel differently I behave differently. During this paradigm shift process, I don’t have to worry about controlling my behaviour and attitude; they change by themselves. According to convey, sometime s just a little knowledge is quite enough to examine our paradigm shift and sometimes people need life threatening experiences or complete role change in a their life to realise paradigm shift. As we know, many people want to be successful and effective in their respected lives. They have some desires, goals and dreams to full fill but they are reluctant to honestly examine our own paradigm. They are unwilling to look at the things in the way they supposed to look. This can be easily understood by the story of the manager, who was taking management training classes and seminars. Although, he was very friendly with his employees but he never seen any sign of loyalty and responsibility from his employees toward him. He knew, that if he took a day off from his work, his employees would spend all day by walking and talking around water cooler. Convey suggest the manager to ask some question to himself before asking anything to employees like, â€Å" Despite, having friendly behaviour of my, are they disloyal employees so bold to ask me why I am treating them like a mechanical objects? † Having Knowledge of our own paradigm is good in many ways. By knowing our paradigm can help us to understand how we can interact with others, and that will help us to know how they interact with us. So, Convey suggests, we must examine own paradigm, motives and character. In my opinion, Convey is right. In our life, sometimes we have to examine our own paradigm first, and then put feet on someone else shoes. INSIDE-OUT APPROACH There is one ‘Inside-out’ approach mentioned by Stephen R. Convey. This Inside-out approach says that, â€Å" Every self-help program should begin with the Inside of man. Which mean if you want to have happy marriage relationship; we must start from ourself to cherish our relation. We shouldn’t expect or wait for our partner to do something for our relationship. SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People suggest us to implement all 7 habits into our life for being an effective people. First three habits mentioned by R. Convey are habits of independence. They will help us to achieve private victory or self-mastery. The remaining habits mentioned by Convey are habits of interdependence or public victory. These remaining four habits help us to effectively work with others. And I think its quite true, an any individual person who might be very good independently, but he is not good enough to think and act interdependently could be good individual producer but he can’t be good team member or team leader. HABITS OF INDEPENDENCE Habit 1: Be Proactive Convey says, each person has two circles around him, first circle is circle of influence and second circle is circle of concern. He says, if you worry endlessly about outside of your circle of influence then you never be proactive. If we work within our circle of influence than we will be very proactive. Moreover, the more effective we become, the more our circle of influence will expand. He tells us to be proactive in every situation. We should take the full responsibility of our actions. We are fully responsible for whatever happens to us in our life. We should believe in ourself to shape up our future. We are the only one who knows our strengths and weakness. We can understand our abilities only in difficult problems because this problem makes us solve it by different-different approaches. And during this time we know more about our own physical and mental abilities and skills. I can elaborate this proactive-ness by giving my latest life experience. I enrolled in Leadership and Responsibility subject, for which I am writing this response paper. Our teacher Tom Anderson have told us before that, we have to one write 3000 words response paper after reading Stephen R. Convey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Although, I bought this book at the beginning of my semester but I never read it. I was thinking that I have plenty of time to read it. I started reading this book just before 3 week from my final date. And I knew, that my actual job was not to prepare this response paper of 3000 words. But, I had to read Convey’s 7 habits and applied them in my daily behaviour (Which I will do later on my summer vacations). Anyway, I was telling you about proactive-ness by my example. As you can see if I start reading this novel after few more days I won’t be able to submit my assignment on time. And, I might fail this subject. No one going to be responsible for failing this subject because I had my books on time and I had plenty of time. Just because I didn’t take my action on right time I could failed that subject. Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind â€Å"Begin with the end in mind† habits mean that whatever we do in our life, we should have clear picture about our goal. Convey says that some people start climbing the ladder of success and finally when they reach at the top they find that ladder was leaning against the wrong wall. As we all want to be very efficient and effective in our task. We can be very efficient but we can truly effective when we begin with the end in mind. And for setting ‘end in mind’ Convey suggests a process ‘Visualization’. Visualization is a process in which we visualize achieving our final goal like any athletic, performer and sales representative. Doing this process of visualization we create an internal â€Å"comfort zone† and when we find our self in final situation, we not find it completely foreign. It doesn’t scare us. In our daily life, mostly we all apply this habit of visualization in some extend. This visualization helps us to plan and schedule in advance before start our journey. As you can see in my previous example, I started reading this The7 Habits of Highly Effective People, just 3 weeks ago my paper submission due date. Otherwise, I have to request my lecturer to extend my submission date. I have visualised my plan and schedule in my mind before start reading my Stephen R. Convey’s book. Habit 3: Put First Things First After Habits 2 ‘Begin with the end in mind’ comes habit 3 ‘Put First Things first’. Perhaps after applying habit 2 or visualisation process we can have many things to do at same time. They all can be significant and can have positive impact on our life. But, probably we don’t do them because they aren’t urgent for us. We should know how & when we have to organise our priorities according to our needs. Sometimes we aren’t good in prioritising things and we realised the importance of it unless we end up in trouble paying for them. It’s really important for us to practice this habit as much as we can in our life. For example, my friends were calling me for going to night club with them on this coming Saturday, but going to night club is not so much important for me as much as I have to finish this response paper before its due date. So, finishing my Assignment on time is at the top of my priorities list. HABITS OF INTERDEPENDENCE Habit 4: Think Win/Win Convey points out that there are two kinds of people some are those who think Win/Win and other are those who think Win/Loss. The people who think Win/Win are those who are not selfish, they seeking mutually benefits for all. And people who think Win/Loss are those who are selfish. They always think about their own benefits, they don’t care about others. They believe that, ‘if I win, you lose’. People who think Win/Lose can be extremely effective, but they have trouble making good relationship. They people mainly focus on power and credentials, and sometimes these things drive other people away from them. To be successful, we should know, how to utilize strengths of others and how you can be benefits for them. We must find the Win/Win situation every time. Lets take an example of any organisation, in which business owner don’t share his profit with his employees. He enjoys all the profits generated by his employees’ hard work and dedication. He is thinking Win/Lose. So, what do you think, after sometime will his employees feel dedicative and cooperative towards him? I am sure he will not succeed in his business in long run, if he continuously being selfish. He should realised soon that overall performance will always good than individual performance. Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood In this habit ‘Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood’ convey suggests that, if we really want to think in Win/Win way than we should be very good listener. If we will not listen to anyone then how we will discover Win/Win deals. Most of the time we just pretend to be listening, actually we are busy in preparing our next sentence. In any communication we shouldn’t pretend to be active listener. In experts view, only 10% communication based on verbal, 30% by tones of our sound and rest 60% by our body language. In empathic listening, we usually use our ears with our eyes and heart. We can take an example of a Doctor, in his profession he should be very good listener. If any patient comes to meet him, he should have to listen him very carefully to know his problem and pain. If he won’t listen him carefully than this doctor can’t diagnose his patient properly. Habit 6: Synergize In Collins Dictionary, Synergy means the potential ability for individuals or groups to be more successful working together than on their own. This habit enclosed all the above habits mentioned above. After listening carefully to others we can combine and can work together for common goals. Convey says that we human have our own mental, emotional and psychological difference. And, for working together we should understand each other values completely so that no conflict will generate. When we work as a team member during any group assignment, we must ignore someone’s weakness and should strengthen his strength. Every group member has his or her different habit, values, behaviour and culture. So it’s common to have conflicts. By applying all the above habits (specially Synergize) we can resolve all the conflicts and work toward achieving our final assignment. Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw This is the last and most important Habit mentioned by Stephen R. Coney in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. As we have seen in Habit 3: Put First Things First, we must maintain Productivity (P) with future Product Capability (PC). â€Å"Sharpen the Saw,† means self –renewal. We must take out some time to harness our skills. Just like a machine, we will wear out very soon if we continuously work, so, we must take out some time to relax and learn new skills. It will improve us to be more productive in later stages. Convey defined four dimensions for personal renewal: Physical Renewal (do exercise, good food and control stress) Mental Renewal (Read, Visualize and Plan) Social or Emotional Renewal (Communicate with others) Spiritual Renewal (Religion, kindness, altruistic) CONCLUSION The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is a magnum opus written by Stephen R. Convey. The language of this book is very simple and easy to understand. I would recommend this book to everyone whether he is a man or woman, boy or girl and young or old. Convey has provided numerous life-based examples, which make this book easier to understand. In my view, he has done an outstanding job in trying to improve individual’s life. This book: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is a real source for empowering individuals, families, society and business. REFERENCES (1) Stephen R. Convey (2004), The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.