US Bank Corp. Analysis

The two Institutions chosen or comparison are Wells Fargo (WFM) and Bank of America (BACK). To evaluate the overall strength the major assets, liabilities, capital, risk, liquidity and operating decisions of the three chosen institutions will be discussed. Balance Sheet Analysis Out of the three banks US bank is the smallest in regards to assets with Bank of America being the largest followed by Wells Fargo. When comparing total assets to total liabilities USB finds itself in the weakest position having a total debt to total assets ratio of 0. 11 . Commercial banks are known to leverage themselves highly and leverage Is normal in the Industry.However In comparison to BACH'S ratio of 1 . 124 and Wife's ratio of 0. 89 this relatively high leverage Is a cause for concern. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp†¦ Chairman Sheila Fair has advocated for the US Bank to reduce their leverage to half believing that their financial position poses too great a risk. The industry averages for long t erm debt to equity and total debt to equity ratios are 64. 36 and 177. 19 respectively. In respect to this, US Bank finds itself taking the middle ground between Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Wells Fargo seems to be In equity ratio of 84. 6, well below the industry average. The most indebted institution would be Bank of America who's ratios of 120. 09 and 249. 67 are well above the industry average. US Bank in comparison has a long term debt to equity ratio of 67. 93 which is right around the industry average while their total debt to equity is far below it at 139. 98. Despite being in good position relative to the industry and the two chosen similar financial institutions in these metrics, this indicator should be held with skepticism as many believe that all commercial banking institutions are unreasonably leveraged.One of the reasons for US Banks highly leveraged position ay lay in the management's decision to acquire more banks through IBID-assisted deals. It is stated that, â€Å"In total, the firm has acquired $35 billion of banking assets through these deals at minimal costs. † Though these deals have been stated to be not significant enough to pose such a threat. They are still campaigning to acquire even more assets. Assets All three companies have real estate loans as their largest asset category. This includes residential loans, commercial real estate, and other loans secured by farmland.These loans can be considered safe as they are secured with liens on the reporter however they are illiquid and would be considered a long term asset. Wells Fargo has the largest amount of real estate loans as a percentage of their assets at 35. 81%, followed by US Banks 32. 18% and finally Bank of America's far smaller 20. 97%. All the banks second largest assets are debt securities over one year and they all have similar sizes as percentage of total assets. Commercial and industrials are the third largest asset for Wells Fargo and US Bank and they hold s imilar sizes as percentage of assets.Bank of America's third largest asset however is trading assets which should be more marketable. Much of the securities held by US Bank are not held for sale which makes them susceptible to interest rate risk. It is unclear how much of the banks loans use a floating interest rate but we can assume which would better help determine the risks involved. With US Banks fairly high percentage of real estate loans and commercial and industrial loans which are usually long term these risks to the bank are significant. The largest liability for the three financial institutions are interest bearing deposits.Wells Fargo holds the largest proportion at 50. 14% followed by US Bank at 47. 70% and then Bank of America at 32. 0%. US Bank holds and Wells Fargo have similar proportions of this liability. While these liabilities accrue interest the banks do have to expect frequent cash outflows from this. The three banks third largest liabilities are interested-bea ring deposits with US Bank having the largest proportion of 23. 36%, followed by Wells Fargo at 21. 93% and Bank of America at 18. 97%. These proportions seems relatively similar to each other but with US Banks higher proportion they should be weary.These interested bearing accounts are likely to be checking outs and while they do not accrue interest you can expect frequent editorials from customers which should keep them weary of loaning out too much money. Finally all three banks have listed other borrowed money as their third capitalized leases. Bank of America has the largest proportion of 14. 24%. Next is US Bank with 13. 66% and then Wells Fargo with 9. 62%. These proportions also seem quite similar too each other. Interest Revenue, last Quarter US Bank largest source of revenue is on fully taxable income on loans and leases at 44%.This proportion is comparable to Bank of America that accounts for 41% of their revenues. What is surprising is the large mount of revenue Wells Fa rgo receives from interest and fees on which accounts for 76% of their revenues. While US Bank only receives 42% of its income in the same category. Interested Revenue, Last Quarter The largest sources of interested income for the chosen financial institutions vary greatly which makes it difficult to compare US Banks position in comparison to the other financial institutions.The largest category listed in sources of interested income for US Bank was stated as unspecified at 18% and 19% for Wells Fargo. The largest source for Bank of America is investment banking fees and commissions. Expenses Last Quarter Largest Expenses US Bank amount % of expenses Interest on other borrowings & trade Lab 987,000 2 Interest on time deposits Cash from operating activities has been steadily increasing which is a good sign but so is cash from financing activities which is much larger. As commercial bank it can be expected that they finance their operation with a significantly large portion of debt. H owever in combination with their highly averaged position with their competitors this could be a cause for concern in their financial viability. Corporate Risk Profile: As a company that operates in the financial services, U. S. Banks largest exposure of risk comes from credit risk, operational, residual value, interest rate, market, liquidity and reputation risk.U. S. Bank has spent many years working to perfect managing these risks. For credit risk, U. S. Bank has incorporated â€Å"well-defined, centralized credit policies, uniform underwriting criteria, and ongoing risk monitoring and review processes for all commercial and consumer credit exposures† (SEC. Gob). US Bank has developed a very strenuous and extensive procedure in order to evaluate the credit risk that it handles on a day to day basis. Another way US Bank manages its credit risk is â€Å"through diversification of its loan portfolio and limit setting by product type criteria and concentrations† (SEC.Go b). US Bank divides its overall loan portfolio into three separate segments to, following the â€Å"don't put all your eggs in the same basket† theory. The three portions of the portfolio consist of commercial lending, consumer lending and covered loans. The risks associated with commercial lending include a rarity of factors including many risks associated with the borrower's business such as industry, geography, the loan's purpose, how the borrower will repay, debt capacity among others.In order to prioritize these risks and keep them all organized, US Bank assigns risk ratings to these characteristics in attempt to create the ability to focus on specific risks depending on importance. As far as the consumer lending sector goes, this encompasses â€Å"residential mortgages, credit card loans, and other retail loans such as revolving consumer lines, auto loans and leases, student loans, and home equity loans and lines† (SEC. Gob). The risk characteristic of this secti on of the portfolio is focused on the borrower and their keenness to pay off the loan as well as prior repayment history.The 3rd portion of the loan portfolio is the covered loan segment. Before touching on the risk of this venture, it must first be noted that there are loss sharing agreements between US Bank and the IBID that ultimately â€Å"reduce the risk of future credit losses to the company' (SEC. Gob). The risks that are associated with covered loans are â€Å"consistent with the segment they would otherwise be included in had the loss share coverage not been in place† (SEC. Gob). Another important aspect of US Bank to take into account is the sub-prime lending side of the banking industry.

Argumentative Essay on Tattoos

Many students especially college students do have a tendency of tattooing their bodies as they believe that tattoos are beautiful and acts as an identification mark or it may have a great meaning in their lives. Many youths especially the black American teenage boys and superstars have many tattoos all over their bodies. Some tattoo themselves just because their friends in the neighborhood or at school have tattoos thus I can argue that tattooing is an act of peer pressure.There are so many question asked on the importance of tattoos that’s why scholars have researched and wrote argumentative essay on tattoos that try to answer the many questions. There are variety of argumentative essay on tattoos that show the best methods that tattoos are drawn on peoples bodies outlining the methods which are less painful that the others and those whose tattoos are more visible and attractive than the others. Other argumentative essay on tattoos shows the pricing of various types of tattoo s and the people who are professionals in tattooing and why people should hire there services than others.This argumentative essay on tattoos are even published and sold in bookshops and social places that the youth frequently visit. Advertisements are everywhere in billboards to show the most well drawn tattoos the place where the tattooing is done and who does the tattooing as well as the pricing. This has become a booming business in some parts especially the urban centers were the tattooing services are easily accessible and were the influence is rampart. Some teenagers buy the argumentative essay on tattoos to show their friend and convince them how tattooing is fashionable.

Saudi Arabia in the 19th Century: Customs, Culture, and Traditions

The development of Saudi Arabia as a state revolves around different historical, cultural, and societal changes that transpired in the 19th century. The period is considered important in the nation’s history because it establishes the political, economic and social sphere. That is why to better understand Saudi Arabia’s history one must look at these areas to appreciate the role of history and people in the development of a nation. Given these aspects, Saudi Arabia in the 19th century caters to the developments that shaped the country to become a modern state and includes areas related to religion, culture, and lifestyle. Political and Economic History To better identify Saudi Arabia in the 19th century, one must look at its political and economic history. Through this process, it can be seen how the country evolved into a modern state and what factors remained important in shaping what Saudi Arabia is now. Tracing its political structure, Saudi Arabia was influenced by the Ottoman Empire and the Al Saud Wahhabi emirate particularly in the area of Najd (Al-Rasheed, 2002, p. 14). The process here then revolves around the different campaigns of Saud as he sought to expand the territory conquering different areas. Among successful campaigns during the 19th century were Mecca, Medina, Egypt and Syria (Weston, 2008, p. 103). The second influential aspect of change in Saudi politics takes into account the development of the second Saudi State. From the period of 1824-1887 there were military campaigns that have sought to legitimize expansion and influence of the al-Saud family and promote the Wahhabi legacy among communities in the Middle East. Though these political campaigns were not as wide, it provided stability among territories that each family/group controls. In particular, Weston (2008) provides that â€Å"it kept the Wahhabi movement alive, ready to influence Muslims again in the twentieth century – and in the twenty first† (p. 107). On the other hand, the economic developments during the 19th century revolved around conventional trading patterns and barter. Prior to the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia, the 19th century featured trade involving caravans’ transportation of agricultural goods among different areas. Specifically, spices are traveled into specific trade routes and create opportunities among different merchants to sell items (Saudi Embassy, 2010). Also, there are also various goods that are most sought after by different communities especially the rich ones. Saudi Embassy (2010) points out that â€Å"these items included almonds from Taif, dates from the many oases, and aromatics such as frankincense and myrrh from the Tihama plain† (p. 1). Lifestyle, Trends, and Community Development Looking at the lifestyle and trends of the Arab people in the 19th century, it can be seen that people determine their identity according to the factions they belong to. Since specific boundaries and determination of the state at that time has not yet been established, groups and communities continue to be a way to differentiate one from another (Federal Research Division, 2004). This then enables better ways for people to communicate and interact with one another. Also, this is used to create associations and relationships with different tribes and pattern lifestyle according to this idea. Similarly, since the inhabitants of the Saudi Arabia live in the desert, they had to equally adjust to the weather and climate. Due to this, their clothing and manner of travel among communities remain to be the same. Specifically, people wear long piece of clothing both in the body and head to protect them from the harsh winds, hot sunlight, and cold weather at night (Long, 2005). At the same time, they also wear sandals to keep them cool and comfortable during travels and their daily work. Moreover, groups also take care of camels because it serves as an instrument for travel and trade (Long, 2005). With regards to community development, it can be seen that settlement continued to occur along the oases present in the Saudi Arabia’s desert. Here communities are sustained by the availability of drinking water and also serve as protection against other tribes who may pose as a threat to the security of its inhabitants (Al-Rasheed, 2002). Likewise, the place is used to develop food supplies and sustain community growth. Under this process, this provided stability among communities and helped them develop a specific customs, traditions, and culture. Specifically, Saudi Embassy (2010) argues that â€Å"settlements became more permanent, leading to the foundations of what we call civilization – language, writing, political systems, art and architecture. Religion and Culture It can be argued that the spread of Islam in the Middle East particularly in Saudi Arabia served as an important process that shape the culture of communities and groups within the region. Specifically, customs, traditions, and how people behave is rooted in the rules provided by the Koran and the Muslim faith (Federal Research Division, 2004). These Islamic rules and expectations provided believers a guide on how to live their life and determine establish relationships with other people. Seeing this, it can be argued that Islam provided a huge mark in the Middle East and shaped how people interact and relate ideals with one another. In particular, religious customs revolved around the five pillars of Islam. These five pillars symbolized how people should interact with one another and become good followers of Allah (Long, 2005). One concrete example of this is the practice of Hajj. This involves an obligation for any Moslem to visit the holy city of Mecca and renew their religious commitment to their faith (Al-Rasheed, 2002). Other expectations also include the manner of worship, observance of fasting and abstinence during Ramadan. Lastly, Moslem culture can also be seen in Muslim art and architecture. Their influence help shaped the depiction of the arts which includes poetry, dance, literature, and language. Specifically, the development of a universal language in the Middle East (Arabic) created opportunities to unify and create communities of faith. In essence, these common elements shaped the further development of Saudi Arabia’s culture in the 19th century and strengthened how people identify themselves (Long, 2005). Important Personalities One important personality who was essential in the development of Saudi Arabia as a modern nation state was Shaikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. It can be seen that he both a leader and scholar of the Wahhabi faction. During his leadership, he sought to promote the restoration of the traditions and customs of the original principles of Islam (Weston, 2008). His influence provided the necessary means to create unification among different communities and sought to establish order on how Muslims view the teachings of the Koran and applying it in their religious life and other affairs such as politics. Another important figure during this era was Muhammad bin Saud. He was the emirate of Diryah. His contributions to Saudi Arabia’s history was that he founded the first Saudi state and coordinated his efforts in protecting and pursuing the restoration of the Islam among the Muslim communities in the Arabian peninsula (Saudi Embassy, 2010). Through his effort he was able to stabilize the region until his defeat in 1818 with the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. The last relevant figure that shaped Saudi Arabia’s political history in the 19th century was Turki bins Abdullah Al-Saud. He was the one responsible for creating the Second Saudi State and legitimized the formulation of specific laws and mandates that are still applied today (Weston, 2008). Through his leadership, he transferred the capital city from Diryah to Riyadh and sought to re-establish the control of territories lost during the fall of the first Saudi State (Saudi Embassy, 2010). His efforts remain to be crucial because he started the transformation of Saudi Arabia into becoming prosperous and successful on various aspects related to economic growth and political stability. Conclusion To conclude, the 19th century proved to be an important period for Saudi Arabia politically and socially. This is because it is in this time that the nation state was created. Similarly, this era shaped the ability to shift and develop new political ideals and the birth of a nation state. This also was an important time for redefining the tenets of Islam as it applies to Saudi’s culture and beliefs. Lastly, the leadership of key political figures served as important channel in establishing balance and control in areas of politics, economy and society, shaping the region during the period. All these elements in turn are all beneficial to what Saudi Arabia is today in both the Middle East and the World.

Seeking Acceptance to MBA Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Seeking Acceptance to MBA Program - Essay Example I come from an entrepreneurial family, in [city name goes here], India. My father owns and operates four manufacturing companies; I would like to use the skills I acquire through your MBA program to help my father compete globally and increase the success and scope of his businesses. My wife also has created and grown a number of businesses here in India, and I currently advise her on growth opportunities. An MBA education would allow me to further expand the types of expertise I give for her business endeavors. My own ventures have been filled with great accomplishment. Professionally, my current assignment involves creating a unified business process to consolidate 17 operating systems into one system for ASB Bank, one of the Australian region's largest financial institutions. This has been a gratifying undertaking, not only for the progress made under my tutelage but also for the exposure it has given me to the Kiwi culture in New Zealand. Additionally, I have established the Indian subsidiary and served as chief technology officer and director of operations for Spokane, Wash.-based Magnetic North. I made and executed strategic decisions for the company, developed and managed vendors, evaluated business plans, proposals and potential partners, among numerous other tasks. Before that, I was a consultant for Setu Software. This was an opportunity that brought me to Boston, Mass., and the chance to manage a staff of up to 18 workers, many of them older and more experienced than myself. After more than two years there, my entrepreneurial zeal drove me to start my own business, Amps Consulting, for technical consulting and projects. A recessionary economy and reduced capital spending, though, forced me to close the business after eight and a half months. Despite the setback with that particular business, I remain energetic, passionate, and motivated to set the world on fire with my next start-up. I have the ideas in particular that I wish to incubate into reality: 1. I want to develop a dynamic, open, wireless MICRO-NETS platform and the accompanying protocols, tools, and services. This ambition already is on solid footing; in 2004, I submitted a business plan for the venture to the Indian Institute of Technology, and advanced to that competition's final phase in the technology category. 2. I want to further develop my eDecisions/eStrategy/eManagement methodology, which is a framework for electronically making complex and far-ranging strategic decisions for large business enterprises. 3. I want to establish an online of business of producing specialized, customized T-shirts. Manufacturing would be done in China, while technology, operations, and customer support would be done in India. I foresee a global market for this product line. Although the T-shirt business may be considered overdone as a concept, I believe that I have developed a unique idea, and one that has incredible potential for growth and profit. As you can see, my experiences, my entrepreneurial spirit, my leadership potential, and the global perspective I possess position me perfectly as a successful participant in your MBA program. I have the ideas and the passion, but it is the experience I would gain through your program that will help

Article or Case law Search Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Or Case law Search - Article Example In general, the antitrust litigation involves hospital. This article by Feinberg mediates private antitrust suit(2009) explains the recent underlying issues and developments in the antitrust edict with respect to the hospital physician relations, hospital relations and hospital payer relations just to mention but a few (Jossey, 2009). The core question that has long not been answered in these areas is the manner to which public relations and government determine the competitiveness for the services offered by hospitals. It is worth noting that hospital competition can lead to social benefits, which in turn depends more on legislations and regulations than on courts. It follows that the antitrust law has pivoted the shaping of the contemporary medical markets. One of the most pertinent thing that experts point out as an influence cause by the antitrust law is the ushering in of the era of medicine as a ‘valued’ business. Of late, research has discovered that lawsuits against the medical centers make up the lion’s share of antitrust litigation. Between the year 198/5 and 1999, the article affirms that the hospitals defended sixty one percent of the total 394 medical antitrust disputes (Jossey, 2009). It was at this time that the court decides to issue a formal opinion, where it stated that the hospital were only six percent plaintiffs. According to the author, this numbers understated the burden of hospital’s antitrust litigation (Jossey, 2009). This understate came about due to the information that the files gave out. It is noted that the claims of the files did not gear up the publication of the judicial opinion. In this regard, the antitrust perspective explains that hospitals are merely business organizations that bear the mandate of providing medical services. Undoubtedly, these services entail combinations of advanced technology, physical facilities, and lastly the specialized human capital. All the above forms the nature of the regulatory

An information booklet providing guidance and explanation on research Coursework

An information booklet providing guidance and explanation on research techniques and methodologiesdesign suitable for an area of professional practice - Coursework Example Risk analysis and risk assessment are concepts that are interchangeable and they form the basis of risk management. It's an ongoing process where: Assets are identified and valued. Vulnerabilities associated with an asset are identifiedand their severity is assessed. Threats are identified and chances of their occurrenceare assessed. The threat and vulnerability relation isexamined which might result in the manifestation ofany risk. Policies are used in accordance with the impact of thisrisk manifestation. Existing controls are defined and corrective actions areproposed so that the impact of any risk is reduced to thelevel that can be accepted for a particular environment. So Risk Management can be defined as a continuous process of planning, implementation of those plans , promoting awareness and monitoring of security measures to mitigate, transfer, eliminate or control to an acceptable level. Various objectives of the risk management process include: The aim of risk management is "reduce business exposure by balancing counter measures investment against risk"(Birch&McEVOY,1992;45) The purpose of risk management is "to minimise the expected loss"(Suh &Hun,2003:150). The goal of risk management is "select risk mitigation, risk transfer and risk recovery measures so as to optimise the performance of an organization"(Jacobson,2002;1) IMPORTANCE OF RISK MANAGEMENT It is easy to manage an organisation when all things are at its place, but during crucial times of risk management, the job becomes tough. Then comes the tough managerial Decision Making. Cooperation is required in such times from all the sectors of the company. Treating risks after...Both the words sound daunting, but they have simple meanings in the field of research. Epistemology can be defined as the "study of knowledge and justified belief" .When epistemology is considered as" the study of knowledge", it is concerned with questions like: what are the sources of knowledge what are the conditions of knowledge What are the structure and limits of knowledge. When it epistemology deals with ' justified belief", it asks questions like what makes beliefs justified Whether justification is external or internal to one's mind to sum it up, Epistemology deals with the creation ok knowledge and dissemination of knowledge. "Any research can be affected by different kinds of factors which, while extraneous to the concerns of the research, can invalidate the findings" (Seliger & Shohamy 1989, 95).The primary responsibility of any good researcher should be controlling the factors that might hamper the validity of a research. This map draws the metaphor of a journey through the road which shows how research is similar to a journey that begins from conceptualisation and the aim and ultimately the journey ends at the conclusion. To achieve expertise in Risk management for..,the research approach, application and the appropriate research questions are vital.

How well trained teachers are in educational technology Research Paper

How well trained teachers are in educational technology - Research Paper Example nd and properly utilized with the use of technological devices such as laptops, projectors, iPads, slideshows, and various softwares amongst thousands of other devices and programs. Moreover, it is vital for students to be aware of how to properly utilize these devices to improve their educational learning and to enhance their understanding. This makes it further essential for teachers to be fully trained in using such devices and educational technology in order to facilitate the learning process (Mumtaz, 2000). As some teachers belong to older generations or some are technology-aversive, a large proportion of teachers have usually been found to be unable to properly use programs such as Microsoft Office, statistical software, and technological devices such as computers and projectors in general. Therefore, while it is important to judge how well teachers are able to communicate with students, nowadays, it is also just as important to judge whether they can use information technology effectively (Mumtaz, 2000). This study aims to analyze and determine whether teachers belonging to higher education institutes are able to properly use educational technology (computers, projectors, microphones, and software) to facilitate the learning process and how well-equipped these teachers are in the use of this technology. The study will focus on the teachers of the Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) in the local area and determine how these teachers are in the use of information technology and educational technology. The study will then aim to analyze the data on local teachers’ technology competence reasons and will aim to compare and it with previous literature regarding teachers’ competence in information technology. The participants of the study will include male and female teachers between the ages of 21 to 60 employed at BISD. Five teachers will be chosen from each school through random stratified sampling. A total of six teachers will be analyzed for

Trends toward Western-style China and India Essay

Trends toward Western-style China and India - Essay Example marketers of today should understand that, to attract the large youth dominated markets, they must then provide the goods and services that are interesting to the youth and hence these goods and services must focus on music, fashion, technology and other factors that are influencing to the youth. Both companies from India and China emphasize on the importance of value differentiation in developing their competitive advantage strategies. The consumers in these emerging markets prefer value and are willing to consume more of the goods, which they believe are of quality, safe and have utility. In addition, these consumers are shifting upscale and ready to pay more for goods with integrity, reliability and desirable features that are made from high quality material and components (White, 2012). Therefore, it is evident that the old paradigm when consumers preferred price to all other factors is fading in these markets and consumers are shifting gears in their preference and tastes. Thus, this shift seems to be a new critical factor for marketers in in these emerging markets and a wake call to companies to produce new and better products meeting the consumers’ demands, taste and preferences, which ultimately would lead to customer brand loyalty. However, companies in the United States emphasize on the importance of a standardized marketing strategy, which involves marketing consumer goods in a uniform and consistent way across all the marketing mix. These companies view this strategy as the most influential and effective approach to developing competitive strategies. For instance, some companies in the United States standardize all aspects of their goods while others on the other hand standardize a few elements of their goods. However, whichever way or approach the companies use, they are able to make cost savings and ensure consistency of their goods globally (White, 2012). The consumption style of the West involves increased sensitivity to the different economic

ORGANISATION AND BEHAVIOUR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

ORGANISATION AND BEHAVIOUR - Essay Example Out of various strategies, and techniques that are used to enhance greater productivity of human capital, motivation is a valuable psychological tool that promote people to be high performers. The first part of the assignment talks about the motivational theory in practice at Tesco, and explains concepts of change and leadership styles in relation to the motivational theory. Tesco is UK’s leading grocery and general merchandising retailer operating through more than 2000 stores in UK alone (Tescoplc.com, 2012). Motivation and Non-financial motives Schermerhorn, Hunt and Osborn (2005) defined motivation as â€Å"forces within an individual that account for the level, direction and persistence of efforts expended at work† (p. 120). An individual can be motivated by a number of different factors such as pay, reward, appreciation, promotion in the work, better working condition and so on. When an individual is motivated by any such method, he is mostly found to work harder and show sincere gratitude towards his job task and thus to be highly productive and be high performer. A company may use various types of non-financial motives such as 1) promotion, 2) safety at work, 3) reward and recognition, 4) better working condition, 5) health support, 6) education for children, 7) friendly atmosphere within the workplace, 8) organizational learning, 9) cooperation and 10) multicultural workplace. Effects of unmotivated workforce ... A company may use various types of non-financial motives such as 1) promotion, 2) safety at work, 3) reward and recognition, 4) better working condition, 5) health support, 6) education for children, 7) friendly atmosphere within the workplace, 8) organizational learning, 9) cooperation and 10) multicultural workplace. Effects of unmotivated workforce Unmotivated workforce will not work harder and therefore they will not be high performers or high productive in the workplace as compared to those who are motivated. Unmotivated workforce will not help the company create a brand loyalty among the customers as they are very likely to make mistakes and this will adversely impact the business. Unmotivated employees are found to show increased absenteeism and high turnover which in turn affecting the quality of business operation. Tesco benefiting from motivated workforce At Tesco, the management is highly concerned about customers as well as staff. The company supports its staff with its s pecially adjusted work and life balance through rewards and recognition. Flexible working, reduced health expenses, membership in gym, competitive salary, staff discount and company’s share options are some of Tesco’s attractive motivation incentives it offered to its people. From these incentives, Tesco has been benefiting to create trust and respect among its people. At Tesco, the motivated staffs are found to be in a partnership relation with managerial staff and thus they effectively accomplish their expected goals (The Times 100, 2012). Taylor’s motivation theory as not relevant to 21st century According to Taylor’s motivation theory, people are motivated by financial incentives as he argued that people worked purely for money. In early years, Taylor

HR Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

HR Management - Essay Example Even though man material and machine are some of the essential resources needed for an organization, mobilization or effective utilization of these resources is possible only with the help of the human resources. Cross cultural business or international business is growing day by day because of the huge popularity of the globalization, liberalization and privatization policies. All the countries realized the importance of foreign direct investments in their economic growth. Many of the big organizations which faced saturation in their home country are currently trying to exploit the opportunities in international market and as a result of that international business is growing rapidly today. The growth of international business brought many new challenges to organizations and the communication problem is one among them. Human resource management department is responsible for formulating necessary strategies needed to avoid communication problems in international business. Culture and communication plays a vital role in international business and hence the training given to an employee/ manager before an overseas assignment must target cultural and communicational differences between the native country of the employee and the target country. When organizations move into foreign markets they must adapt to communication, culture and human resource issues. Domestic business and international businesses have more differences than similarities. It is easy to start a business in the home country whereas it is difficult to establish a business in a foreign country because of the difficulties in communicating with different stakeholders in the foreign country. This paper briefly analyses different communication problems faced by companies while engage in international business and the HRM strategies needed to overcome it. Before the establishment of business in another country, the entrepreneur must know some basic facts about the target country. The political, social, cultural, legal and economical aspects of the target country could be entirely different from that of his home country. For example, suppose an American company is trying to establish a business unit in China. China is a communist country whereas America is a democratic country. English is the official language of America whereas that of China is Mandarin. The Chinese economy is developing at a much faster rate than that of America. Human rights and freedom of expression are less valued topics in China whereas these things are extremely important in America. There are many other areas in which America and China vary drastically and the HRM strategies should account for all these differences before establishing a business unit in China. David A Victor (2009) has proposed his famous LESCANT model for knowing more about the communication issues in international business. According to him Language, Environment, Social organizations, Contexting, Authority, Nonverbal communication means, Time concepts etc of different countries are different (Victor) In America, English is the official language whereas in China, it is Mandarin. The importance of language in the communication process cannot be neglected while formulating HRM strategies in international context. If communication is the body of an organization, then language is the blood of it. In an organizational set up, communication can take place between the organization and the

Regional distinctions in 17th and 18 century colonial society Essay

Regional distinctions in 17th and 18 century colonial society - Essay Example Regional distinctions in 17th and 18 century colonial society There are major differences between the 17th and the 18th centuries, in various fronts. A similarity in the economic front between the centuries is that the economy was agriculture dependent. The labor force in the 7th century was mainly indentured servitude comprising of white servants while this changed in the 18th century to slave labor, with African who were imported. In the social stratification front, the Southern planters were on the top of social class with large crop farms and the small farmers with less land coming in second. The Europeans were at the top of the social cadre, with the Native Americans and the Africans following in that order. The wealthy whites could hire the poor Europeans for indentured servitude, while the Africans belonged predominantly to the slave class. Colonies were formed based on religious beliefs, with the growth in religious freedom being higher in the 18th century than it was in the 17th century. The regions of New England and the Middle coloni es were less economically prosperous compared to the Chesapeake Bay Colonies and the Lower South. Organization of the labor force was such that there was more freedom for laborers in the New England and the Middle colonies, as opposed to the other two regions. This labor force freedom was more in the 18th century more than in the 17th century. 2. How Tobacco cultivation shaped the maturation of colonial society in the Chesapeake 1620-1775. The introduction of tobacco as a stable crop occurred in 1613. The decision to cultivate Tobacco as a staple food shaped the maturation of the colonies by introducing slave labor to replace the indentured servitude that was being utilized before in cotton farming (Eric, 107). Tobacco became the basis of the southern economy, since the introduction of became more economical than the contraction of the white to work for a fixed period. This saw the enactment of slavery law of 1641, which allowed the farmers to own slaves. Social stratification was t he basis of production of indentured servants, since they would come from overpopulated European areas with poor people. The rich lived in spacious tracts of land, where they could hire the poor whites to work on their farms. However, servants were more economical to use since it was cheaper than the cost of obtaining slaves. Therefore, the labor force was made of more indenture servants and a few slaves. The demography had less indentured servants because they died more, creating an allowance to own more slaves who were overworked to death in some regions such as the Caribbean, while those on the American colonies were bred to perpetuate the slave population. The economy of the south later changed from depending more on tobacco to relying on cotton, rice and indigo (Eric, 92). Slaves replaced the indentured servants by the end of 17th century and early 18th century, as the indentured servants became more and more scarce. 3. Major differences in British North America, between17th an d 18th centuries. There are major differences observed in British North America, between the 17th and the 18th century. Accessibility of slave is one of such differences. While in the 17th century the accessibility of slaves was a tough task for the British colonialist in the North America, it became quite easy in the 18th century (Eric, 22). This changed the use of slaves where the most used Indian slaves in the 17th century were replaced by the African slaves who became the major source of labor in the 18th century. Another major difference between the centuries is the racial attitudes. In the 17th century, racial attitudes were more flexible as compared to the 18th century (Eric, 283). In the 17th century, the African slaves

Use and develop systems that promote communication Essay Example for Free

Use and develop systems that promote communication Essay Review the range of groups and individuals whose communication needs must be addressed in your own work job role. As an early years practitioner communication within the role is an essential skill required in any setting and is the foundation in which we are able to find out information needed for different purposes. Having an excellent communication scheme allows for a great team and a successful setting, there are many different means to communicate with others, some of these are: Verbal Body language/Non-verbal Sign Pictorial Written Assisted Personal Organisational Formal Informal Public Communication affects everyone within a nursery setting and therefore is a crucial part of managing a nursery. There are many groups of people that we interact with while carrying out our day-to-day duties. All members of staff such directors, managers, teachers, teaching assistants, cleaning staff rely on many different forms of communication to assist with their individual job roles. All job roles come with different responsibilities and without clear and constant communication between them; tasks and team moral will be affected. As a manager there are many techniques and approaches we can apply to ensure that all members of staff are involved and communicated with in the appropriate manner. For example; 5-minute communication meetings each morning, weekly meetings with line managers, team building days, email accounts etc. Children within the nursery, are an essential part of our daily routine and communication with them is of an equal value, however involves a different approach. Read more:  Essay on Use Communication Systems to Promote Partnership Working There are many important factors to be taken into consideration when communicating with children; firstly, it should always be age appropriate, taking into account the language we chose and the  level of the class. Secondly, what are we trying to achieve from our lesson, and finally, how do we respond to the children trying to communicate to us. These factors or techniques should always be considered throughout our day with the children, with some key examples being; circle time, stories, singing, role-play, messy play etc. Parents of children who com to the nursery, play a huge part within a nursery setting and clear communication with them is vital at all times to development a good partnership. Different techniques and approaches within a nursery setting should be applied to ensure that all parents gain clear and concise communication in the correct way. When dealing with parents on a day to day basis, communicate allows teachers and management to build a good relationship between the children’s nursery and home life, therefore allowing us to put them at ease and help them to understand and be apart of the nursery’s vision and ethos. It is very important to understand that communication does not just involve talking to someone, but about making them feel comfortable to approach a member of staff with any questions, queries or complaints. As management within a nursery it is a requirement to discuss and work closely with all members of staff, parents and children. Therefore it is crucial to have excellent communication skill in order to deal with situations that may involve individuals from outside your nursery. This will assist with the day-to-day running of the nursery, allowing everyone to keep up the high standards. There are many different external personnel groups that a setting will interact with and as a manager ensuring strong communication with them is key. There are various ways of communicating with these groups and again finding the correct approach is paramount. For example; contacting them by telephone, e-mails, setting up meetings within the nursery or at their organisations, reports, recording books etc. 1.2 Explain how to support effective communication within your own job role. While managing a nursery, it is essential that the management build good positive working relationships with everyone they communicate with, having the ability to be able to talk openly, honestly and clearly, creating an atmosphere of trust and respecting the needs of others while interacting with them. Within a nursery the management will take on a vast amount of roles and responsibilities throughout their daily routine, and so should  adjust their approach to communicate in different circumstances if and when needed. Changing communication approaches when developing these relationships with others should help deliver the message effectively. Here are some examples of roles which management will undertake: advising, instructing, welcoming, observing, informing etc. Management use a variety of different communication methods (shown above in 1.1) to help with the multiple roles they contend with on a daily basis. There are many reasons to be an effective communicator within a nursery, as this will allow the manager to delegate tasks to others, conduct meetings, deliver presentations, supervise, manage appraisals, report, build a team, negotiate and interview etc. Bearing in mind that being a good and effective communicator is being able to adapt their style to the situation and being able to respond in sensitive and empathetic ways to those who they are communicating with. As well as supporting others to become an effective communicator, they should role model effectively and reflect daily on their own communication skills. 1.3 Analyse the barriers and challenges to communication within own job role. Effective communication is paramount to running a successful nursery and the management team should always build strong and positive relationships with the people they may communicate with. If these relationships are not built, communication may become limited and will not be communicated on a meaning full level with the group or individual delivering or receiving the message, which may begin to create conflict between them. It is vital that the group or individual shows respect for one another while being communicated to as this will help keep in the effectiveness of communication. There are several barriers, which may affect clear and effective communication between a group and an individual making communicate ineffective. Ensuring these barriers are solved the management need to find the correct approach to overcome them. Some of the barriers that a nursery may be faced with are listed below. Firstly, the difference in culture, values and language is a major barrier within applying effective communication as this could block any important information getting through to the appropriate person, and therefore affecting the purpose involved. Communicating with the correct language Being aware and knowing the importance of respecting the cultural  differences could help the manager, group or individual deliver or receive highly effective communication. ‘By developing a respectful curiosity about the beliefs and practices within all service users’ lives, we are able to communicate in more meaningful ways.’ (Miller 2006). Secondly, negative feeling towards others has a big impact on the way communication is delivered or received. As a human being, liking and getting along with everyone is not expected and during a working nursery environment interacting with this barrier is incredibly common. Part of negative feelings can also be affected by body language when communicating with others, as it can be shown easily through actions without speaking. ‘Non-verbal communication can have up to five times the impact on a person’s understanding compared to words. (Argyle 1978). For example, the attitude, appearance and behaviour of the individual show clear signs of negativity. However, working alongside others is a top priority of the managers daily roles and keeping things professional is a major plus when dealing with different situations and is vital to ensure that speech and body language match in order to deliver the message. Finally, a barrier that could challenge effective communication is an inappropriate environment that is being used, could lead to others not understanding the message. Occasionally, the message could be distorted when the environment is too noisy, to hot or cold and crowded etc. Distractions could have another giant impact in the environment as some people may be easily unfocused on the communication given and so could present to the manager poor work. Therefore, ensuring that the nature of environment is appropriate for the communication being delivered or received is an essential part of effective communicate and a successful nursery. For example, staff meetings are in a large enough area for the number of staff with appropriate seating, temperatures in the area are correct, mobile phones turned off in meetings, quiet area to ensure effective communication etc. 1.4 Implement a strategy to overcome communication barriers. Evaluating and reflecting on previous communication with others supports the management to improve and change their communication strategies if needed, allowing them to identify and take adequate action. For example, within my class, I communicated with a teaching assistant (who is of a different  culture) explaining prep work I will need for the following week. She did not understand the content of the things I was asking and so I changed my communication method, writing and drawings examples on paper. In respect to cultural, values and language barriers, (an external barrier) staff training should be given, specifically on all types of communication and different strategies they could use in regards to different situations. Some examples that we use in my nursery are; staff training on using home-school communication books with parents, using their nursery e-mail accounts and checking them daily, having parent teacher meetings, using there teaching assistants effectively- having a meeting with them weekly and communicating with them using written communication if verbal has not been successful. Also training to raise awareness of cultural and religious differences within a nursery. The internal barrier is the body language used when communicating with others; here managers need to be aware of how they present themselves to parents, other members of staff and external services. Reflecting on this each time they are in different situations will allow room to improve in the following situation. ‘Through the development of your self-awareness you can resolve past and current issues and, by doing so, you can improve on your skills in the role of manager’. (Geldard and Geldard 2003). A technique to improve body language as a manager is through ‘SOLER’ (Egan). Use different means of communication to meet different needs. There are a vast amount of communication methods, which need to meet many individual needs, a range of these are verbal, non-verbal, sign, pictorial, written, electronic, assisted, personal, organisational, formal, informal and public. Some of these methods are listed in more detail below. Verbal Communication- During nursery routines verbal communication is used daily, as most staff discover important information this way. However, this is sometimes not enough as verbal communication can also become complicated due to the meaning of words used and how they are perceived between cultures, leading to a possible ineffective form of communication. ‘The words we use alter depending on the situation and the people involved and, because of this, we can never be sure that a word has the same meaning for two people’. (Porritt, 1990). The words managers use are very important and are as equally important as the tone of voice, pitch, volume, rhythm and timing that are included within the conversation as it can affect the way the message is delivered. For example, talking to an adult like they were a child and receiving tuts and sighing back, shows signs that the individual does not feel comfortable with the way they are being spoken to. This is called paralinguistic communication, which allows us to see signs through the individuals sounds that they may reply, for example, sighing, coughing, tutting, yawning etc. Non-Verbal Communication- This form of communication uses different factors that we can see without using any kind of speech or sounds. Below is a table containing examples of the different factors individuals may come across  when using non-verbal communication. Facial Expression Our facial expression communicates emotions unless we train ourselves to mask our feelings. Burnard (1996) argues that it is important to be congruent- if you say you are angry while smiling, it gives a confusing mixed message. Eye contact and gaze The way we look into another person’s eyes during conversation is what is known as eye contact. If somebody can hold eye contact through a conversation, it can communicate a level of confidence and willingness to communicate fully. Some of the people we communicate with will have a very low level of eye contact, which might communicate a lack of ease with the conversation or a lack of confidence. It is a good idea to reduce the level of our eye contact to reflect theirs, otherwise it can feel threatening. The appropriateness of maintaining eye contact differs according to culture. Gestures Gestures are movements of your arms and hands that accompany speech. Gestures can help communication, for example, pointing at the direction a person needs to go in can add emphasis to the communication. However too much gesturing can be distracting. Body position, posture and movement. The body position of a client can tell you a lot about how they are feeling- if they are hunched over, with arms and legs crossed, they are probably feeling quite anxious. Rogers (1980) recommends that we relax and it is important not to appear too formal and distant. However if we are too laid back in pour posture, we could appear disinterested. Sitting with our arms and legs can appear closed off and defensive. However, in some circumstances, it may be a good idea to mirror the body posture of the person we are with. Personal space and proximity Two to three feet distance between the chairs is about right for me; however I have noticed that some client’s push their chairs back as soon as they sit down in the prearranged chairs. I assume that space does not feel comfortable to them. People seem to have their own invisible boundaries  which change according to who they are interacting with and how comfortable they feel. Porritt (1990) calls it a bubble that surrounds us. Clothes The clothes we choose to wear say a lot about us. Dressing too informally and too formally can alienate us from our clients. Therapeutic touch  Touch can be a contentious subject. On the one hand there is evidence of touch having therapeutic benefits; on the other it can be misinterpreted and seen as an invasion of a person’s personal space. Bonham (2004) suggests it may be appropriate and supportive for staff to touch when clients are distressed as it may validate the degree of their suffering. He suggests that appropriate places to touch in this situation are hands, forearms, upper arms and shoulders. (Tina Tilmouth, T. et al., 2011). Sign- Using this form of communication is key to those who have hearing impairments and is made up of many gestures, using mainly hands and arms in different signals to communicate. There are different methods of using sign for communicating these are British sign language (BSL), makaton, which helps support speech and baby sign language, which helps communicate with babies and toddlers who have not yet developed their language skills. Pictorial- With this method, communication is primarily through pictures and drawings to communicate effective messages to others. Pictures and drawings are easy to understand and remember, which is why children are shown them from an early age allowing them to understand different instructions. Written- Within a nursery setting, written communication is used a numerous amount of times throughout daily routines. These can be written reports, notes, and e-mails etc. Written communication allows us to be accurate and keep information up to date, while maintaining clear and effective communication. ‘Written communication should be accurate, in detail, up-to-date non-judgemental and legible so that others are able to read it. We also need to comply with confidentiality guidelines and, as such, all forms of written communication must be kept safely.’ (Donnelly and Neville 2008). Electronic- Several methods of electronic communication that could be used within a nursery setting bearing in mind confidentiality are e-mails, telephone calls, text messaging, web pages, social networking sites, forums and video chats. Some explanations of these methods placed  below. 1. E-mails are the most quick and convenient method of electronic communication within a setting as messages can be sent to an address immediately, alerting the receiver that they have a new message waiting. The receiver can then reply as soon as possible therefore a shorter amount of time for response is predicted. Adding attachments and links may also be included in the mail, showing various images, videos, notices, letters etc. As e-mails are passed back and forth to individuals or groups the conversation between them will preferably be saved, therefore information needed in the future can always be received as long as it has not been eased. 2. Telephone calls and text messages are another electronic communication method and can are used vastly within a setting. Telephone calls along with e-mails are one of the biggest communication methods used in any organisation, and can be used both formally and informally. Telephone calls can have disadvantages, however others could be overheard, also the individuals cannot pick up on non-verbal signs shown by the other person. Text messages are easy and informal and can immediately be delivered to one phone or a group of mobile phones, they can also be quicker than a telephone call. A text message could be used instead of a telephone call as it can stop a conversation being overheard. 3. Within a nursery setting, promoting high standards is essential and creating a website could help communicate how excellent the setting is to others. Therefore, another electronic communication method is web pages. Creating a web page for a nursery can help provide others seek information needed about the setting. Web pages can contain different information allowing others to view, for example, text, multi-media files including images, sounds, games etc. Web pages can store this information for a good period of time. 4. Social networking sites have become a main electronic communication method over the last 10 years and are a very popular way to communicate with others. A social networking site is made up of individuals that create a profile and build connections with others by a particular type of interest, such as, ideas, values, trades, fashion etc. A nursery setting may become  part of an online social networking site creating a page about the nursery to maintain effective communication with parents, bearing in mind confidentiality at all times. 4.1 Explain the legal and ethical tensions between maintaining confidentiality and information sharing. Confidentiality and sharing information is information shared from one individual to another or even to a small group, this information is not to be shared with others and is of the up most importance when dealing with staff, parents and children within a nursery setting. Confidentiality permits parents to have a sense of trust in members of the nursery staff. Polices are set out for staff to respect and obey daily throughout there routines however, staff only have the right to know relevant information not all, and if this is breeched serious action could be taken. To ensure all staff members understand the policy on confidentiality, training and appropriate guidance and support should be given when needed. (Beauchamp and Childress 1994), defined ‘Confidentiality as ‘keeping secret’ information given to a person by another. Infringement occurs when that information is disclosed to someone else without the giver’s consent’. Within a nursery setting, all confidential files are kept within a locked cabinet and staff are obliged to keep parent and child information confidential at all times, however confidentiality can be broken when a crime has been committed or when the member of staff believes it is about to, malpractice has occurred, child abuse is suspected, to help prevent suicide, or misconduct has occurred, and only sharing the information to the professionals who need to know. If by law, confidentiality is breeched, then the manager has the right to take disciplinary and/or legal action.

The Concept Of Rural Marketing In India Economics Essay

The Concept Of Rural Marketing In India Economics Essay The concept of Rural Marketing in Indian economy has always played an influential role in the lives of rural population of India. In India, except few metropolitan cities, almost all the districts and industrial townships are well connected with rural markets. Though rural marketing is a new concept and ideology in the arena of marketing, it has left a strong feeling among the people that without giving appropriate weight to rural areas and its development, it could never be possible to ensure the overall growth and well being of the country. Since past few years considerable developments are taking place to reconstruct the rural part of India. Many corporate houses have entered into the field of rural marketing to contribute in rural development of the country. Godrej, Birla, ITC, Reliance and many others has established rural retail hubs as a result of that economic status has been significantly improved. Farmers are getting access to market to sell their product as well as keeping themselves updated and informed regarding the going on trends of market. * Assist. Professor, Rajarshi School of Management Technology, U.P. College, Varanasi The rural market in India is not a separate entity in itself and it is highly influenced by the sociological and behavioral factors operating in the country. The rural population in India accounts for around 627 million, which is exactly 74.3 percent of the total population. The concept of rural marketing in India is often been found to form ambiguity in the minds of people who think rural marketing is all about agricultural marketing. However, rural marketing determines the carrying out of business activities bringing in the flow of goods from urban sectors to the rural regions of the country as well as the marketing of various products manufactured by the non-agricultural workers from rural to urban areas. To be precise, Rural Marketing in India Economy covers two broad sections, namely: Selling of agricultural items in the urban areas Selling of manufactured products in the rural regions Some of the important features or characteristics of Rural Marketing in India Economy are being listed below: With the initiation of various rural development programmes there have been an upsurge of employment opportunities for the rural poor. One of the biggest cause behind the steady growth of rural market is that it is not exploited and also yet to be explored. The rural market in India is vast and scattered and offers a plethora of opportunities in comparison to the urban sector. It covers the maximum population and regions and thereby, the maximum number of consumers. The social status of the rural regions is precarious as the income level and literacy is extremely low along with the range of traditional values and superstitious beliefs that have always been a major impediment in the progression of this sector. The steps taken by the Government of India to initiate proper irrigation, infrastructural developments, prevention of flood, grants for fertilizers, and various schemes to cut down the poverty line have improved the condition of the rural masses. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently talked about his vision for rural India: My vision of rural India is of a modern agrarian, industrial and services economy co-existing side by side, where people can live in well-equipped villages and commute easily to work, be it on the farm or in the non-farm economy. There is much that modern science and technology can do to realise this vision. Rural incomes have to be increased. Rural infrastructure has to be improved. Rural health and education needs have to be met. Employment opportunities have to be created in rural areas. Go rural is the slogan of marketing gurus after analyzing the socio-economic changes in villages. The Rural population is nearly three times the urban, so that Rural consumers have become the prime target market for consumer durable and non-durable products, food, construction, electrical, electronics, automobiles, banks, insurance companies and other sectors besides hundred percent of agri-input products such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and farm machinery. The Indian rural market today accounts for only about Rs 8 billion of the total ad pie of Rs 120 billion, thus claiming 6.6 per cent of the total share. So clearly there seems to be a long way ahead. Although a lot is spoken about the immense potential of the unexplored rural market, advertisers and companies find it easier to vie for a share of the already divided urban pie. The success of a brand in the Indian rural market is as unpredictable as rain. It has always been difficult to gauge the rural market. Many brands, which should have been successful, have failed miserably. More often than not, people attribute rural market success to luck. Therefore, marketers need to understand the social dynamics and attitude variations within each village though nationally it follows a consistent pattern looking at the challenges and the opportunities which rural markets offer to the marketers it can be said that the future is very promising for those who can understand the dynamics of rural markets and exploit them to their best advantage. A radical change in attitudes of marketers towards the vibrant and burgeoning rural markets is called for, so they can successfully impress on the 230 million rural consumers spread over approximately six hundred thousand villages in rural India. What rural market buys? Rural India buys small packs, as they are perceived as value for money. There is brand stickiness, where a consumer buys a brand out of habit and not really by choice. Brands rarely fight for market share; they just have to be visible in the right place. Even expensive brands, such as Close-Up, Marie biscuits and Clinic shampoo are doing well because of deep distribution, many brands are doing well without much advertising support Ghadi, a big detergent brand in North India, is an example. Why Rural Market? The Indian rural market has a huge demand base and offers great opportunities to marketers. Two-thirds of Indian consumers live in rural areas and almost half of the national income is generated here. The reasons for heading into the rural areas are fairly clear. The urban consumer durable market for products like colour TVs, washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners is growing annually at between 7 per cent and 10 per cent. The rural market is zooming ahead at around 25 per cent annually. The rural market is growing faster than urban India now, says Venugopal Dhoot, chairman of the Rs 989 -crore(Rs billion) Videocon Appliances. The urban market is a replacement and up gradation market today, adds Samsungs director, marketing, Ravinder Zutshi. Reasons for improvement of business in rural area *Socio-economic changes (lifestyle, habits and tastes, economic status) *Literacy level (25% before independence more than 65% in 2001) *Infrastructure facilities (roads, electricity, media) *Increase in income   *Increase in expectations MART, the specialist rural marketing and rural development consultancy has found that 53 per cent of FMCG sales lie in the rural areas, as do 59 per cent of consumer durable sales, said its head Pradeep Kashyap at the seminar. Of two million BSNL mobile connections, 50 per cent went to small towns and villages, of 20 million Rediffmail subscriptions, 60 per cent came from small towns, so did half the transactions on Rediffs shopping site. Special features of rural market Unlike urban markets, rural markets are difficult to predict and possess special characteristics. The featured population is predominantly illiterate, have low income, characterized by irregular income, lack of monthly income and flow of income fluctuating with the monsoon winds. Rural markets face the critical issues of Distribution, Understanding the rural consumer, Communication and Poor infrastructure. The marketer has to strengthen the distribution and pricing strategies. The rural consumer expects value for money and owing to has unsteady and meager status of weekly income; increasing the household income and improving distribution are the viable strategies that have to be adapted to tap the immense potential of the market. Media reach is a strong reason for the penetration of goods like cosmetics, mobile phones, etc., which are only used by the urban people. Increasing awareness and knowledge on different products and brands accelerate the demand. The rural audience are however critical of glamorous ads on TV, and depend on the opinion leaders who introduce the product by using it and recommending it. Opinion leaders play a key role in popularizing products and influence in rural market. Nowadays educated youth of rural also influences the rural consumers. Rural consumers are influenced by the life style they watch on television sets. Their less exposure to outside world makes them innocent and fascinated to novelties. The reach of mass television media, especially television has influenced the buying behaviour greatly. Creating brands for rural India Rural markets are delicately powerful. Certain adaptations are required to cater to the rural masses; they have unique expectation and warrant changes in all four parameters of product, price, promotion and distribution. A lot is already emphasized on adapting the product and price in terms of packaging, flavouring, etc and in sachets, priced to suit the economic status of the rural India in sizes like Rs.5 packs and Re.1 packs that are perceived to be of value for money. This is a typical penetration strategy, that promises to convert the first time customers to repeated customers. The promotion strategies and distribution strategies are of paramount importance. Ad makers have learnt to leverage the benefits of improved infrastructure and media reach. The television airs advertisements to lure rural masses, and they are sure it reaches the target audience, because majority of rural India possesses and is glued to TV sets! Distributing small and medium sized packets thro poor roads, over long distances, into deep pockets of rural India and getting the stockiest to trust the mobility is a Herculean task. Giving the confidence those advertisements will support. Sales force is being trained to win the confidence of opinion leaders. Opinion leaders play an important role in popularizing the brand. They sometimes play the role of entry barriers for new products. The method of promotion needs to be tailored to suit the expectations of the market. Techniques that have proved to be successful are Van campaigns, edutainment films, generating word of mouth publicity through opinion leaders, colourful wall paintings. The Wide reach of television has exposed the other wise conservative audience to westernization. Panchayat televisions in Tamilnadu carries message that are well received and contribute to community development. Dynamics of rural markets differ from other market types, and similarly rural marketing strategies are also significantly different from the marketing strategies aimed at an urban or industrial consumer. This, along with several other related issues, have been subject matter of intense discussions and debate in countries like India and China and focus of even international symposia organized in these countries.   Rural markets and rural marketing involve a number of strategies, which include: * Client and location specific promotion *Joint or cooperative promotion *Bundling of inputs *Partnership for sustainability Client and Location specific promotion involves a strategy designed to be suitable to the location and the client. Joint or co-operative promotion strategy involves participation between the marketing agencies and the client. Bundling of inputs denote a marketing strategy, in which several related items are sold to the target client, including arrangements of credit, after-sale service, and so on. Media, both traditional as well as the modern media, is used as a marketing strategy to attract rural customers. Partnership for sustainability involves laying and building a foundation for continuous and long lasting relationship. Innovative media can be used to reach the rural customers. Radio and television are the conventional media that are reaching the rural audience effectively. But horse cart, bullock cart and wall writing are the other media, which can carry the message effectively to the rural customers.   Rural marketing is an evolving concept, and as a part of any economy has untapped potential; marketers have realized the opportunity recently. Improvement in infrastructure and reach, promise a bright future for those intending to go rural. Rural consumers are keen on branded goods nowadays, so the market size for products and services seems to have burgeoned. The rural population has shown a trend of wanting to move into a state of gradual urbanization in terms of exposure, habits, lifestyles and lastly, consumption patterns of goods and services. There are dangers on concentrating more on the rural customers. Reducing the product features in order to lower prices is a dangerous game to play. Rural Market: Areas with high level of expectation The Indian growth story is now spreading itself to Indias hinterlands. Rural India, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of the countrys one billion population (according to the Census of India 2001), is not just witnessing an increase in its income but also in consumption and production. The Union Budget for 2009-10 hiked the allocation for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) to US$ 8.03 billion, giving a boost to the rural economy. This is in addition to the ambitious Bharat Nirman Programme with an outlay of US$ 34.84 billion for improving rural infrastructure. According to a study on the impact of the slowdown on rural markets commissioned by RMAI and conducted by MART, the rural economy has not been impacted by the global economic slowdown, according to a study by the Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI). The study found that the rural and small town economy which accounts for 60 per cent of Indias income has remained insulated from the economic slowdown. Moreover, rural incomes are on the rise driven largely due to continuous growth in agriculture for four consecutive years. Moreover, the rural consumer market, which grew 25 per cent in 2008 when demand in urban areas slowed due to the global recession, is expected to reach US$ 425 billion in 2010-11 with 720-790 million customers, according to a white paper prepared by CII-Technopak. That will be double the 2004-05 market size of US$ 220 billion. According to the study, while the durables market shrunk in urban India, the rural market is seeing a 15 per cent growth rate. Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sales are up 23 per cent and telecom is growing at 13 per cent. FMCG According to figures released by market researcher AC Nielsen, demand for personal care products grew faster in rural areas than urban areas during the period April-September 2009. Several FMCG companies such as Godrej Consumer Products, Dabur, Marico and Hindustan Unilever (HUL) have increased their hiring in rural India and small towns in order to establish a local connect and increase visibility. GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare (GSK) and Nestle and are now launching products specifically for rural markets. Anand Ramanathan, an analyst from KPMG, said, Till recently, most FMCG companies used to treat rural markets as adjuncts to their urban strongholds and rural consumers as a homogeneous mass without segmenting them into target markets and positioning brands appropriately. Retail The rural retail market is currently estimated at US$ 112 billion, or around 40 per cent of the US$ 280 billion Indian retail market, according to a study paper, The Rise of Rural India, by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Major domestic retailers like AV Birla, ITC, Godrej, Reliance and many others have already set up farm linkages. Hariyali Kisan Bazaars (DCM) and Aadhars (Pantaloon-Godrej JV), Choupal Sagars (ITC), Kisan Sansars (Tata), Reliance Fresh, Project Shakti (Hindustan Unilever) and Naya Yug Bazaar are established rural retail hubs. Pharmaceuticals /Healthcare According to a report by McKinsey, the rural and tier-II pharmaceuticals market will account for almost half of the growth till 2015. The tier-II market will grow to 44 per cent by 2015, amounting to US$ 8.8 billion. The health ministry is setting up a mechanism to screen people in rural areas for lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that in the case of diabetes, the government was working out a strategy to diagnose those in the age group 30-40 years in rural areas, for diseases. The multinational drug company, Sanofi-Aventis, has launched Prayas, a marketing initiative to market generics in rural areas and small towns. Through this initiative, the company looks to share medical knowledge with a body of practitioners and specialists in rural areas through workshops. Telecommunication A joint Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Ernst Young report reveals that of the next 250 million Indian wireless users, approximately 100 million (40 per cent) are likely to be from rural areas, and by 2012, rural users will account for over 60 per cent of the total telecom subscriber base in India. In a bid to acquire rural subscribers, most Indian telecom operators have started investing in infrastructure to roll out their services in these areas. Realising this as a huge potential, small Indian handset manufacturing companies, including Micromax, Intex Technologies and Karbonn, have lined up a marketing spend of around US$ 21.02 million for the financial year 2009-10. Infrastructure The World Bank has said that all-weather roads in villages in India have served to double the income of rural households, lift the literacy rate and increase land prices. Meanwhile, the Orissa government had decided to undertake an initiative to improve roadways in rural areas and upgrade 10,000 km of roads in rural areas. The decision was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa in December 2009. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned an amount of US$ 34.4 million to the government of West Bengal under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) XV. NABARD has also sanctioned a US$ 26.29 million loan to Karnataka for the construction of infrastructure projects, such as secondary schools, rural godowns, jetties, minor irrigation structures, roads and bridges, in rural areas. Automobiles Mahindra and Mahindra Group (MM) arm, Mahindra First Choice, has announced that it is to set up sales and service outlets in rural areas with the target of setting up 100,000 vehicles by 2015, according to MM President Rajeev Dubey. Meanwhile, motorcycle manufacturer TVS Motor Co. Ltd has said that it is depending on a far-reaching penetration of the rural market and the launch of new brands to boost the companys growth in 2010. Services Sector According to a report based on the 63rd round of survey by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), 60 per cent of the services sector enterprises in the country are located in rural areas. Of the 16.5 million services sector enterprises in India in 2006-07, 85 per cent were own account enterprises (OAEs) while the remaining 15 per cent were establishments. Seventy six per cent of the workers employed in these enterprises were employed in the rural areas of the country. Road ahead According to international consultancy firm Celent, rural markets in India will grow to a potential of US$ 1.9 billion by 2015 from the current US$ 487 million. Rural markets are growing at double the pace of urban markets and for many product categories, rural markets account for well over 60 per cent of the national demand. The success of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), which has so far trained 100,000 rural youth, has led the rural development ministry to request an increase in budgetary allocation for the project. Rita Sharma, Secretary in the Rural Development Ministry, has said that they had sought US$ 2.29 billion from the Finance Ministry.

sources of islamic terrorism :: essays research papers

Since I have only a textbook knowledge of Islam, I have to rely on other scholars and researchers for any insight into whatever connection there may be between Islam and Islamic terrorism. While terrorism - even in the form of suicide attacks - is not an Islamic phenomenon by definition, it cannot be ignored that the lion’s share of terrorist acts and the most devastating of them in recent years have been perpetrated in the name of Islam. This fact has sparked a fundamental debate both in the West and within the Muslim world regarding the link between these acts and the teachings of Islam. Most Western analysts are hesitant to identify such acts with the bona fide teachings of one of the world’s great religions and prefer to view them as a perversion of a religion that is essentially peace-loving and tolerant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Modern Islamic terrorism is a natural offshoot of twentieth-century Islamic fundamentalism. The â€Å"Islamic Movement† emerged in the Arab world and British-ruled India as a response to the dismal state of Muslim society in those countries: social injustice, rejection of traditional mores, acceptance of foreign domination and culture. It perceives the modern Muslim societies as having strayed from the â€Å"straight path† and the solution to all ills in a return to the original mores of Islam. The problems addressed may be social or political: inequality, corruption, and oppression. But in traditional Islam - and certainly in the worldview of the Islamic fundamentalist - there is no separation between the political and the religious. Islam is, in essence, both religion and regime and no area of human activity is outside its remit. Be the nature of the problem as it may, â€Å"Islam is the solution.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The underlying element in the radical Islamist worldview is anti-historic and dichotomist: Perfection lies in the ways of the Prophet and the events of his time; therefore, religious innovations, philosophical relativism, and intellectual or political pluralism are anathema. In such a worldview, there can be only two camps: â€Å"The House of Islam† - i.e., the Muslim countries and â€Å"The House of War† - i.e., countries ruled by any regime but Islam- which are pitted against each other until the final victory of Islam. These concepts are carried to their extreme conclusion by the radicals; however, they have deep roots in mainstream Islam.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While the trigger for â€Å"Islamic awakening† was frequently the meeting with the West, Islamic motivated rebellions against colonial powers rarely involved individuals from other Muslim countries or broke out of the confines of the territories over which they were fighting.

Characterization of Women in The Yellow Wallpaper and Desirees Baby

Characterization of Women in The Yellow Wallpaper and Desiree's Baby  Ã‚   There was a time (not so long ago) when a man's superiority and authority wasn't a question, but an accepted truth. In the two short stories, "Desiree's Baby", and "The Yellow Wallpaper", women are portrayed as weak creatures of vanity with shallow or absent personalities, who are dependent on men for their livelihood, and even their sanity. Without men, these women were absolutely helpless and useless. Their very existence hinged on absolute and unquestioning submission†¦alone, a woman is nothing. The setting of both stories reinforces the notion of women's dependence on men. The late 1800's were a turbulent time for women's roles. The turn of the century brought about revolution, fueled by the energy and freedom of a new horizon†¦but it was still just around the bend. In this era, during which both short stories were published, members of the weaker sex were blatantly disregarded as individuals, who had minds that could think, and reason, and form valid opinions. Also, in both tales, the characters are removed from society. In "Desiree's Baby", the plantation is bordered by a field and a bayou, isolating its inhabitants from the world. The narrator of "The Yellow Wallpaper" tells us, "Out of one window I can see a garden†¦out of another I get a lovely view of the bay and a little private wharf" (161). They are out in the country, where the modern city can't touch them, or begin to mold their sexist ways and old fashioned ideals into contemporary mindsets. This seclusion also ensures that no outside forces threaten the men's absolute and total control of their weak, defenseless charges. In addition to their surroundings, the homes themselves... ...no worth. It's very sad to think that a woman and a man could have ever thought this way. However, it's even sadder to think that some still do. Women everywhere suffer abuse, mental or otherwise, at the hands or their (pri)mates every day. They must find the strength in themselves and the confidence to know that THEY are the ones who determine their own fate†¦and to realize that no one has the right to put them down. Our foremothers worked hard to make sure that we had choices-- not obligations. And when we let someone else take those choices from us, they are really taking our freedom, and our life. Works Cited: Chopin, Kate. â€Å"Dà ©sirà ©e’s Baby.† 1893. 8 Apr. 2003 Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper." 1892. The New England Magazine. Reprinted in "Lives & Moments - An Introduction to Short Fiction" by Hans Ostrom. Hold, Orlando, FL 1991.

Emersons Over-Soul :: Biography Biographies Essays

Emerson's Over-Soul A citizen of Concord, a denizen of philosophy, a certain Mr. Emerson has recently informed me of his observations of a peculiar phenomenon he dubs the Over-Soul. I wish to, rather than bicker over the particular, interpret the general meaning and nature of this universal specimen. Mr. Emerson thoughtfully maintains that we, as rational and sentient beings, do and shall, beyond dispute and by virtue of our existence, know a certainty when presented it. He further entertains that such carnal understanding of being can be derived from such works of Shakespeare, and of Plato, and of other white, predominately dead men. But what is this visceral comprehension, this indescribable wonder? And whence does it come? I shall maintain that it is meaning, and that it comes from intelligence. Herein I shall undertake to discover its origin, existence and implication. Meaning, of course, names neither time nor space an acquaintance. It lies entirely in the mind of the individual, yet is to be found in every perception. Meaning is the thing that masquerades as truth and relies on the soul. Only an individual mind can discern it, and the genuine man can find it under every stone, or in a true stroke of oil, or between two pages. Only meaning can we ever truly know. Every genuine person seeks it, and finds it. All potentially rational entities are capable of appreciating this meaning, and fencing with it. It captivates all true men, and it permeates the intelligent universe. I daresay that Meaning is the divine timber from which Mr. Emerson's Over-Soul is cut. The revelations, the insight, the common basis of conversation that he describes can derive from nothing other than meaning in the ultimate tracing. We see profoundly because we see meaning, and we experience the enduring meaning in the "mind that is grandly simple." Our common ground of humani ty is the appreciation of meaning. But what is the precise relationship of Meaning and the Over-Soul? No mere sentence can describe it, but I will attempt to characterize it. The Over-Soul is a continuous, ethereal entity that dances with intelligence; Meaning is a consistent abstraction that lurks in the mind. All laws derive from the Over-Soul, but the laws only exist because they have the perfection of Meaning. The Over-Soul visits, on occasion, her clients; but Meaning awaits her suitors. The Over-Soul is an active, while Meaning exists passive, waiting for life anew in each comprehending mind.

A Precise Thought on Hunger by Charles Dickens Essay

Great Expectations was published in 1861 when the flowering of the Victorian Age had been at its height. During this period England was afflicted by many problems emanating from the changes in feudal economy that failed to withstand the invasion of growing industries, explosion of population ,emergence of slums, unbridled exploitation and the simmering discontent. The theme involves an unhappy childhood, guilt and imprisonment, ruthlessness of law, the corrupting power of money, and above all, human loneliness. These themes are worked out by means of contrasts and confrontations –the instinctive sense of justice versus the legal system; the outcast versus society; willed isolation against human commitment, inherited fortunes versus personal achievement. In one sense, it would be proper to call the novel a â€Å"snob’s progress† towards self-realisation. On reading the great novel â€Å"Great Expectations† I felt too sympathetic & pity for a little boy called â€Å"pip† by Charles Dickens. He,from his early childhood had to face and undergone through many circumstances and situations which as if made him stand strong later in his days. The opening description of the death of his brother and sister; To five little stone lozenges,each about a foot and had never taken them out in this state of existence. Gave us a vivid picture of Dickens close observation on the most vital utterance of life that is â€Å"food† and â€Å"death†. One can understand easily that it was Dickens extreme irritation that made him jot about the prior â€Å"call† of nature that was â€Å"sufferings†. According to Dickens food and human are correlated to eachother. Food/Hunger stands as an identity that makes us work hard so that the minimum bread of ours can be earned. It led us to the hard and harder aspects of life where while going through we come across the utter darkness that is the universal â€Å"truth and reality of mankind†. Then again the just word â€Å"hunger† teaches us to explore new ideas & makes us discover things which are buried in the oldest â€Å"urn lying beneath the earth†. The preconceived dogmas of life calls â€Å"hunger† as an object that just gave pain & screwed the deeper realism of the world’s â€Å"sob and wail†. It was Dickens who enhanced and inspired us to think on a word ‘hunger’ that is perhaps the most alarming agenda of life. I think it was â€Å"he† who only fingered us the point of utter grief that actually provided us with relief and became universal. Dickens projected the term â€Å"hunger† as the reality of humans and psychological civilisation that generally produced an energy /stimulus to work for the betterment of oneself that equally helped the others. According to me â€Å"hunger† produced a â€Å"juice ‘that provided us with strengths and topped ourself. Yes it gave pain but it also made us complete. One got an opportunity to move on and face things as it is. The portion where we came across the lines ; My thoughts strayed from that question as I looked disconsolately at the fire rose before me in the avenging coals. Also taught us the truth and the pain that directly came out from the expression of a little boy who has just came to this world not too early. He added the word â€Å"food† into a column that showed us that for him â€Å"food† is a material that is too hard to earn. As he is just a little one and have not come across the harsh reality of life ,don’t you think that he has unknowingly fallen into the so called â€Å"cradle† of ill desires. Was he not being drived into the bitter beliefs? His age was too little to be termed as a â€Å"sufferer†. Last but not the least I would like to conclude that very beautifully Dickens compared the two terms â€Å"Suffer† & â€Å"Hunger† together. As one(hunger) stands for an epistemology of knowledge ,desire,lust and longing and the other( suffer) stood for the ultimate thet can never be avoided nor ignored but has to be faced,as we the â€Å"mere human beings are a framed puppet in the hands of them,†The Almighty†. Thank you.

Photosynthesis: Light and Plant

ESS Internal Assessment: Lab Report Aim: The aim is to measure the rate of photosynthesis of an aquatic plant (Cabomba species) at different light intensities. Hypothesis: If the distance between the lamp and the plant increases the rate of photosynthesis decreases because the plant requires light for photosynthesis to occur. Variables: Independent: The independent variable for this experiment is light intensity. In each trial the distance between the plant and the lamp will be increased, from 15 cm in the first trial to 30 cm in the second and then 50 cm in the third.Dependent: In this experiment we will measure the oxygen bubbles the plant releases into the water, per minute, to determine the rate of photosynthesis. Constant: * The species of plant (Cabomba) and the specific plant specimen is going to be kept the soma throughout the experiment because most different species or specimens may photosynthesize at a different rate to others. * The amount of water was also kept constant * The temperature of the water was kept constant at about 25 degrees Celsius (Room Temperature) as nothing was done to alter it throughout the experiment. The time periods were also kept constant as we did three trials of five minutes each and always measured the amount of bubbles per minute. Method: 1. Add Sodium Bicarbonate to the water 2. Put plant in water 3. Put the lamp at 15 cm for the beaker containing the plant specimen. Make sure this is measure accurately 4. Light the lamp at the same time as the timer is started 5. Observe, count and document how many oxygen bubbles were released by the plant Materials: 1. Water 2. Sodium Bicarbonate 3.Lamp 4. Glass Vile 5. Funnel Data Collection: Measure| 15 cm| 30 cm| 50 cm| 1| 4| 3| 4| 2| 5| 5| 2| 3| 5| 5| 2| 4| 3| 4| 3| 5| 6| 1| 4| Average | 4. 6| 3. 6| 3| Discussion: The results show, that on average, the further the lamp was moved away from the plant, the fewer bubbles formed. This is due to the fact that the lamp provides heat and light for the plant, to components that are vital for photosynthesis to occur. The bubbles in the water were oxygen bubbles that are released by the plant as it respires.As the lamp is further away the plant receives less light and therefore slows the rate of photosynthesis. With less photosynthesis the plant begins to release fewer oxygen bubbles. Evaluation: Our experiment went fairly well, however our results were not very accurate for various reasons. Firstly, the lamp we sued was a simple table lamp instead of UV light used to mimic sunlight. Therefore the light used was not an accurate imitation of sunlight. This may not have allowed the plant to increase it’s rate of photosynthesis to the fullest.Therefore the rates may have been lower then they would have been in the plant’s natural environment. The second factor that may have made our experiment less accurate was the fact that the lamp was not the only source of light hitting the plant. There was general ceil ing lighting in the room and a small extent of daylight falling on the plant. This can also have slightly manipulated our results, as we cannot be entirely sure if the rate of photosynthesis was solely influenced by the distance between the lamp and the plant and not by he other light sources in the room. We did not make any measurements of the temperature of the water or discuss the effects this may have had on the rate of photosynthesis. We also knew very little about the natural environment of the Cabomba plant. Therefore our experiment was not an accurate imitation of the plant natural process of photosynthesis, as we had to apply more components such as water temperature, proper lighting etc.We were very successful at measuring the amount of bubbles released per minute as we took turns and worked very successfully as a team, one member taking the time and the other watching and counting the bubbles, therefore we believe that our recorded results are fairly accurate. We also mad e sure that the lamp was always at the aforementioned distance from the plant specimen. Therefore I believe that our results were rather accurate given that they were recorded in a classroom environment. Conclusion: