Toyota Swot Analysis 2013

SWOT analysis of Toyota This is a Toyota Motor Corporation SWOT analysis for 2013. Company background NameToyota Motor Corporation Industries servedAutomotive Geographic areas servedWorldwide HeadquartersJapan Current CEOAkio Toyoda Revenue? 18. 583 trillion (2012) Profit? 283. 55 billion (2012) Employees300,747 (2012) Main CompetitorsBayerische Motoren Werke AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Co. , General Motors Company, Honda Motor Company, Nissan Motor, Tata Motors, Ltd. , Volkswagen AG and many other automotive companies. SWOT analysis of Toyota SWOT analysis of ToyotaStrengthsWeaknesses 1. Innovative culture 2. Brand reputation valued at $30 billion 3. Industry leader in manufacturing and production 4. Strong brand portfolio 5. The leader in â€Å"green† cars development1. Large recalls 2. Weak presence in the emerging markets OpportunitiesThreats 1. Positive attitude towards â€Å"green† vehicles 2. Increasing fuel prices 3. Changing customer needs 4. Growth through acquisitions1. Fluctuating fuel prices 2. New emission standards 3. Rising raw material prices 4. Intense competition 5. Natural disasters 6. Appreciating yen exchange rateStrengths 1. Innovative culture. Toyota is one of the most innovative auto companies and has a strong culture that is focused on constant innovation. The company was the first to introduce Kaizen, Kanban and Total quality Management systems widely in their organization. The company was the first to mass-produce and sell hybrid vehicles too. 2. Brand reputation valued at $30 billion. Toyota’s brand is the most valued automotive brand in the world. The company is known for its environmentally friendly, safe and durable cars that are sold in more than 170 countries. 3.Industry leader in manufacturing and production. Toyota was the first company to introduce lean manufacturing and total quality management practices in manufacturing process. For some time, the company was the only practitioner of these practices and had the lowest manufacturing and production costs worldwide. Although many manufacturers were able to replicate Toyota’s lean manufacturing system, the company is still one of the most profitable manufacturers in the world. 4. Strong brand portfolio. Toyota currently sells about 70 different models of cars under its namesake brand.This does not only increase brands awareness but also satisfies nearly every consumer group needs. Toyota’s flagship models are Corolla and Prius. 5. The leader in â€Å"green† cars development. Toyota understands that environmental friendly cars are the necessity nowadays. Consumers are more selective in terms of CO2 emissions and fuel-efficiency of the cars they buy and Toyota’s early move towards selling hybrid and efficient cars is the strength few competitors can match. Weaknesses 1. Large-scale recalls. Toyota had quite a few large-scale vehicle recalls over the past few years.The company recalled 9 mi llion vehicles in 2009-2010 and 7. 43 million cars in 2012. Such recalls does not only hurt the firm financially but significantly damages firm’s brand. 2. Weak presence in the emerging markets. Toyota’s main markets are Japan, US and Europe, while such emerging economies as China or India make only a small percentage of all Toyota’s sales. Due to poor presence in the largest automobile market (China), Toyota will find it hard to compete with GM that has huge market share there. Opportunities 1. Positive attitude towards â€Å"green† vehicles.Today consumers are more aware of the negative effects (air pollution) caused by cars. Large quantities of CO2 emissions intensify greenhouse effect and negatively impact the life on earth. Thus, consumers are more likely to buy new hybrid and electric cars that emit less CO2. 2. Increasing fuel prices. Increasing fuel prices open up large markets for Toyota’s hybrid cars as consumers shift towards efficient c ars. 3. Changing customer needs. By introducing new car models, Toyota could satisfy varying consumers’ tastes and needs and access wider customer group. 4. Growth through acquisitions.Toyota has successfully acquired other car companies in the past and should continue doing so to grow, gain new skills, assets and access to new markets. Threats 1. Decreasing fuel prices. There is high possibility that future fuel prices will drop, as more shale gas will be extracted. For this reason, fuel-efficient hybrid and electric cars will become less attractive to cost conscious consumers that are the main customer group for Toyota’s Prius model. 2. New emission standards. New emission standards introduced by the government would require more investments into producing cleaner engines.More investments mean less profit for Toyota. 3. Rising raw material prices. Rising raw material prices are especially important to automobiles manufacturers. Higher prices mean higher costs and les s profits for Toyota as the raw metals are the main components in car manufacturing. 4. Intense competition. Toyota faces more intense competition from other auto manufacturers more than ever. Volkswagen group is strongly growing and GM steps up after its reorganization to become more competitive than ever. 5. Natural disasters. Toyota’s has manufacturing facilities in Japan, Thailand, China and Indonesia.These countries, including others, are often subject to natural disasters that disrupt manufacturing in the facilities and decrease Toyota’s production volumes. 5. Appreciating yen exchange rate. Most of Toyota’s revenue comes from foreign countries. The profits earned abroad must be sent back to Japan and converted to yen. Appreciating yen exchange rate against other currencies means lower profits for Toyota. Sources: 1. Toyota (2013). Investors: 2012 Financial Results. Available at: http://www. toyota-global. com/investors/financial_result/2012/ 2.Toyota (201 3). Company profile: Overview. Available at: http://www. toyota-global. com/company/profile/overview/ 3. Interbrand (2013). Best Global Brands 2012. Available at: http://www. interbrand. com/en/best-global-brands/2012/Best-Global-Brands-2012. aspx 4. Pantong, K. (2013). Toyota investing on big things in Thailand. Available at: http://www. nationmultimedia. com/business/Toyota-investing-on-big-things-in-Thailand-30198606. html 5. Wikipedia (2013). Toyota. Available at: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Toyota#Hybrid_electric_vehicles

Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr Essay

There is no doubt that there are many similarities between Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry Thoreau though they did not live in the same century. King himself declared that he was greatly influenced by Thoreau’s essay on civil disobedient. The two civil right activists had similar ideas on justice in the society. It is also believed that Thoreau’s work was also influenced by Ralph Emerson who initiated the thoughts about transcendentalism in him. Although some people believe that King was more influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, the great Indian leader, it is important to note that the ideas of Gandhi were based on the ideas put forward by Thoreau. Moreover, King stated that while in college, he read Thoreau’s essay on civil disobedient which inspired very strong feelings on him (Arsenault, pg 62). The main difference between Thoreau and King is the context in which each one of them operated. It is also important to note that King was most vocal a century after Thoreau had left the scene. Thoreau was an author historian and a philosopher in the 19th century. One of his most famous books other than the civil disobedient essay was the Walden which had the main theme as simple living. Thoreau was also a white American since his grandfather was a Frenchman. He was opposed to the injustices against the minority in the society in the mid 19th century which included African Americans being used as slaves and the Mexican American war. On the other hand, King was a clergyman. He is considered to be the greatest civil activists in America in the 20th century. He was the leader of African Americans civil rights movement. In the mid 20th century, there was no slavery in the United States but the African Americans were segregated and discriminated by the dominant race. King mobilized African Americans in protest matches and civil disobedient as a way of fighting for justice in the society (Powell, pp 26). Despite the two activists working in different centuries, they changed the civil rights traditions of civil rights and reforms in the American society. Thoreau was the first person to introduce the idea of civil disobedient as channel of pushing for reforms in the American society. Since the publication of his essay on civil disobedient in the mid 19th century, his ideas have transformed activism in the whole world. The most famous influence of Thoreau ideas was on King’s letter which he wrote while in prison in Birmingham. In the letter, King states that Thoreau essay convinced him that not cooperating with what is evil is as essential as cooperation with what is good. This is a clear indication that King’s ideas on civil rights movement were directly borrowed from Thoreau’s ideas. The letter did not only support the idea on non violent civil disobedient in human rights protest but also expounded on the ideas introduced by Thoreau in the 19th century (Schroeder, pp 1). Thought the two activists had different views on the rights and freedom of all in the society, their views were based on the same idea. The basic idea was that the oppressed need to take an active role in the fight against their rights. They were more concerned about the unequal treatment of the minorities in the society either being enslaved or segregated. While Thoreau advocated for personalized rights, King advocated for public awareness of the freedoms and rights for the good of all (Chernus, pp 305). Though the letter from Birmingham by Martin Luther King Jr. was based on the same idea with the civil disobedient essay by Thoreau, the two authors were different on all aspects. However, this does not negate the fact that both played an important role in securing freedom for the African Americans. Thoreau aided in securing freedom for the fugitive slaves in the 19th century through his strong criticism against slavery while King led non violent protest matches and civil disobedient against the Jim Crows laws that segregated African Americans. They both held a strong position that unjust laws should be opposed by the masses (Powell, pp 26). The effectiveness of civil disobedient and peaceful direct action in the second half of the 20th century led by King was inspired by the effectiveness of the approach in India led by Gandhi. Thoreau’s ideas had been proved to be effective in India. King reintroduced Thoreau’s ideas into the American protest traditions which were very effective. The legacy of the two great men is still evident in the American society as well as other societies of the world today. It is common for environmentalists, civil rights activists and same sex marriage supporters to invoke the words of King and Thoreau to defend their positions (Powell, pp 26). It is indisputable that Thoreau in the 19th century and King in the 20th century played an important role in the fight for African American rights. They introduced the idea of civil disobedient in the American society which proved to be effective. Though both of them were radically different, there ideas on civil rights and civil disobedient were very similar.

The Connection between Management and Leadership Essay

The Connection between Management and Leadership - Essay Example The researcher states that being a leader is easy. Gaining followers is the easiest part of being a leader, but it is still tough for most people. Leading one’s followers is a different prospect though; it demands the maximum one can offer. A well-structured organization should have a pool of leaders and managers in order to be successful. In fact, what they actually need is a few first-class leaders and many brilliant managers. This shows the connection between management and leadership. It is far more difficult to be a leader than a manager. One can go to school and become an excellent manager, but there is no guarantee that reading motivational books and attending workshops can make one a leader. Managers are the persons tasked with the job of management (planning, budgeting, staffing, organizing, controlling and problem-solving). On the other hand, leaders create a path, guide people, inspire, and motivate. In this regard, it is easy to see that leaders interact with peopl e much more than managers do. A leader usually has to go out there and put his skills to the test because the followers always want to see them. On the other hand, a manager can perform his duties in absentia and still achieve a decent degree of success. A manager can sit in his office the whole day and employees will still recognize that he is around. This is possible but difficult in leadership. A leader has the heart, drive, and creativity while a manager has the determination, the logic and the mind. A leader is inspiring, innovative, courageous, flexible and independent, while a manager is analytical, authoritative, direct, consulting and stabilizing. Management and leadership play an important role in service delivery in organizations. Although they are similar in many aspects, they may involve different types of behaviors, skills, and perspectives.

Walmart Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Walmart - Research Paper Example Thus, the legacy of Wal-Mart began with this legendary entrepreneur and former military veteran Sam Moore Walton. He opened his first store in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Wal-Mart grew significantly in the 1970s (Murphy, 2008). The first Wal-Mart distribution and official Wal-Mart Home Office opened in Bentonville, Arkansas in 1971. Forbes magazine ranked Wal-Mart number one among competitors for the eighth year straight in 1983. Walton had invested 345% of the capital just to open the first Wal-Mart store. On April 5, 1992, Sam Walton passed away. Just before his passing President George H.W. Bush presented him with the Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at Wal-Mart headquarters, this award is the nation’s highest civilian honor (Soderquist, 2005). International success Ever since then, Wal-Mart grew to twenty four stores in Arkansas, and had already reached up to $12.6 in sales. By 1968, Wal-Mart had opened its stores outside Arkansas in Missouri, Oklahoma, Claremore and Sikes ton. To this date Wal-Mart International Operations expand a cross twenty six markets. However, it was soon known as the top most retailing outlet in the world. Wal-Mart had seen immense growth ever since it was opened. The strategies and the milestone were right on the track of perfection. The history of Wal-Mart is the perfect example to learn how to manage growth without losing sight of your values. Wal-Mart stock was offered for the first time in New York Stock Exchange in 1972 (Frank, 2006). With this infusion of capital, Wal-Mart grew to about 276 stores in 11 states within a decade. By the 1980’s, the Sam’s Club members-warehouse store was opened. Then the first Supercenter was opened in 1988, which features a complete grocery and 36 departments of general merchandise. The sales had grown immensely from $1 billion to $26 billion only in 1980. In the 21st century, there are 10, 185 Wal-Mart stores throughout the globe in 27 countries, 2.2 million associates emplo yed and more than 176 million customers a year. Internal and External analysis Walton knew that the major factor that has to be controlled is the payroll. If he wanted to continue keeping the costs down, he had to clearly look into the payrolls and the recruitment. Walton wrote in his autobiography, "No matter how you slice it in the retail business, payroll is one of the most important parts of overhead, and overhead is one of the most crucial things you have to fight to maintain your profit margin." The way Walton controlled the payrolls was to hire as less people as he could, and pay them more than he had to for that job (Robert, 2005). Because of this unique approach, Walton was always opposed by the unions and he had to fight them. He wanted to give the best life to all the Americans whether benefiting them with low priced goods or whether by employing them on a pay above average. His employees nevertheless accepted this and loves working with Walton. Even when Wal-Mart reached other countries, Walton used to travel country to country to keep in touch with his employees. He also gave his employees a stake at the company. He introduced a profit sharing plan that allowed the employees to put in a certain percentage of their wage in the stock purchase. As a truck driver stated that Walton told him 'If you'll just stay with me for twenty years, I guarantee you'll have $100,000 in profit sharing' †¦

Abuse of prescription of narcotics in primary care Dissertation

Abuse of prescription of narcotics in primary care - Dissertation Example Chronic non cancer pain in primary care and use of opioids (Nicholson & Pasik, 2007).  In the USA estimates suggest that 50 million people suffer from chronic non cancer pain, with 41% dissatisfied with the outcomes of their pain treatment. The frequent site at which these patients seek health care is from primary care. In the primary care environment prevalence of chronic non cancer pain ranges from 5% to 33% (Nicholson & Pasik, 2007).3) Extent of opioid misuse in primary care and causes (Von Korff et al, 2011).   True estimates of the extent to which prescription opioids are misused among primary care patients are not available, but the limited evidence from surveys conducted suggest that the prevalence of prescription opioid misuse in primary care could range from 4% to 26% (Von Korff et al, 2011)4) Primary care givers need to have adequate knowledge on preventing opioid misuse Salloum, 2010).   Though the true prevalence of prescription opioid misuse remains elusive the ind ications of high abuse of prescription opioids raises the relevance of prevention practices at the point of misuse (Ruiz & Strain, 2010).B.  Establish a working definition of prescription opioid abuse and identification of the characteristics of prescription opioid abuse    1)   According to Friedman et al p, 454, NUPM in a wide perspective may be taken to mean â€Å"the use of a scheduled prescription medication without the prescribing clinician’s knowledge† (Friedman et al, 2009).2) Characteristics of abuse of prescription narcotics (Liebschutz et al, 2010)... ry care patients diagnosed with chronic pain and prescribed opioids shows that the characteristics for PDUD in such patients include cigarette smoking, high severity of pain, personal and family history of substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and experience of a jail sentence (Liebschutz et al, 2010). 3) Caregiver knowledge and attitudes in the prescribing of narcotics for non cancer chronic pain (Srivatsava, 2007). Evidence coming from surveys conducted on care givers points to knowledge deficits in care givers and attitudinal issues acting as barriers to efficient management of pain. Quite often fear of addiction and misuse of prescribed narcotics is the basis of unsatisfactory management of pain (Srivatsava, 2007). 4) Patient perspective on prescribing of narcotics for non cancer chronic pain (Srivatsava, 2007). From the perspective of patients it is the care providers in the form of medical and nursing professionals that are knowledgeable on issues pertaining to emplo ying narcotics in the treatment of pain, and they expect that these professionals provide them with the appropriate information on narcotics in the treatment of non cancer chronic pain, to make it a useful part in their treatment (Srivatsava, 2007). II Theoretical Considerations (Not done as no guidelines received and not mandatory for the annotated outline) III Review of Literature A literature review matrix has been generated for effectively developing the literature review. 15 peer reviewed primary research articles relevant to the topic of the dissertation were selected. The inclusion criterion was that these articles were published on or later than 2006. The rationale behind such an inclusion criteria was to make the literature deliver the currently relevant body of knowledge on the

Acer in China Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Acer in China - Assignment Example The economic development in India is facilitated by both manufacturing and service sectors. Thus, Acer should make the fast move in conquering this market. This conclusion is based on the premise that the Indian market represents huge revenue and profit opportunity which remains largely untapped. Even though Acer is also bound to deal with numerous risks and uncertainties in its decision, this paper still believes that the business organization has already built strong presence in the smaller cities which can help it in succeeding in conquering India in contrast with the highly problematic Chinese market.The move to conquer India is warranted by the high demand in technological gadgets including personal computers which will support the growth in business process outsourcing. Acer should also need to make a quick decision in entering this market postponement will make it very late for it to establish a strong presence once larger and more efficient industry players abroad settle and gain strong foothold in the market. This is very possible noting the aggressiveness of top companies like Dell and IBM. Acer can gain a competitive advantage against this player recognizing its cost leadership strategy which is expected to appeal to the still highly price sensitive Indian market.Another reason why the Indian market should be pursued is the fact that the large market remains unsaturated.

Nutritional Therapy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Nutritional Therapy - Assignment Example In this assignment, where a dietary assessment would be undertaken of the micronutrients in my diet, and I will list all foods eaten in a three-day period in the second half of the week, where a weekend diet is also included. Although this provides a fair idea about the usual diet, this method has been criticized to be not totally accurate. This is because, the subjects either forget or are not totally truthful. They are also sometimes inclined to say they have eaten certain foods because they know they should have done so. However, in the absence of a more reliable method, this option is worth exploring. In this assignment, the collated data will be analyzed by a computer software programme to determine of the nutrient intake has been appropriate. It will accurately reveal any nutrient deficiencies from this dairy. Rice, white, long-grain, parboiled, enriched, dry; Vegetables, mixed, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt; Soup, vegetable beef, dry, mix; Chicken, meatless, breaded, fried; Fruit punch drink, frozen concentrate Rice, white, medium-grain, cooked; Vegetables, mixed, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt; Chicken breast tenders, cooked, microwaved; Soup, chicken broth cubes, dry; Desserts, flan, caramel custard, prepared-from-recipe When these steps are evaluated together, the dietician has the best possible opportunity to make an accurate nutritional assessment. ... Personal Food Diary Day 2 Meal Contents of the Meal Notes Breakfast Cereals, ready-to-eat, ALPEN; Milk, indian buffalo, fluid; Egg, whole, cooked, scrambled; "Apples, canned, sweetened, sliced, drained, unheated Lunch BURGER KING, Chicken WHOPPER Sandwich; Hot Cocoa Mix Rich Chocolate With Marshmallows Dinner Rice, brown, medium-grain, cooked; Potato salad, home-prepared; Beef, corned beef hash, with potato, canned; Vegetarian stew; Desserts, apple crisp, prepared-from-recipe Snacks Candies, NESTLE, AFTER EIGHT Mints Beverages None Food Groups Food Groups Milk and Dairy X X Meats X X Grains X Fruits X X X Vegetables X X X Other X X X Computer Analysis Personal Food Diary Day3 Meal Contents of the Meal Notes Breakfast Bread, wheat; Papaya nectar, canned Lunch Rice, white, medium-grain, cooked; Vegetables, mixed, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt; Chicken breast tenders, cooked, microwaved; Soup, chicken broth cubes, dry; Desserts, flan, caramel custard, prepared-from-recipe Dinner Rice noodles, cooked; Veal, ground, cooked, broiled; Fish, haddock, smoked; Vegetarian stew; Fruit salad, (pineapple and papaya and banana and guava), tropical, canned, heavy syrup, solids and liquids Snacks Snacks, fruit leather, pieces Beverages Alcoholic beverage, wine, table, white Food Groups Food Groups Milk and Dairy X X X X X Meats X X X Grains X X Fruits X Vegetables X X X Other X X X X Computer Analysis When these steps are evaluated together, the dietician has the best possible opportunity to make an accurate nutritional assessment. This information can then be used by the dietician or the nutritional

Promote In-Patient Safety Awareness between Staff and Inpatient in Dissertation

Promote In-Patient Safety Awareness between Staff and Inpatient in Regards of Incidence Misidentification at SMC - Dissertation Example Lack of managerial support, inability to develop a dynamic work environment, and failure to establish positive attitudes towards colleagues and the work itself were all found to lead to adverse outcomes in change implementation. Thus, improvement of managers’ performance along with the increase of staff members’ awareness and knowledge of wristband application practises and guidelines was emphasized in the project. Recommendations and implications for practise have been presented as well. Because the management was found out to be incapable of establishing a helpful environment for the members, it is important that training and support are provided for both the staff members as well as the management. In this manner, both parties can undertake the necessary transformations for improving a culture of safety through effective patient identification. Acknowledgments I would like to extend my thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Hala Bader Sulaibckh, for her support, encouragement, positive criticisms, confidence, and patience. Thanks also go to my thesis committee members, Dr. Jonathan Drennan and Ms. Kathrin Abu Zaid, for their time, guidance, and support. Extreme appreciation is extended to Asma Ahmed Al Arwalle for her support and willingness to help. Additional thanks goes to the Dr. Hala Sweed for her explanation and guidance during thesis journey. Also thanks goes to all the staff how welcoming me into their department. I was continually impressed by the level of care and compassion shown to the patients in the challenging Salmanyia Medical Complex (SMC) environment. A special thanks to those who participated in the project, for their spirited discussions and enthusiasm to make their hospital as safe as possible. I am also very grateful to Dr. Wafa Guirguis from the Ministry of Health as external advisor and evaluator for hospital clinical indicator for her help, keenness, and support in finding meaning in the measures. Last but definitely not least, t hanks to my family and friends, who’s determined, hopefulness was furtively appreciated. Table of Contents Page Abstract 3 Acknowledgements 4 Chapter 1 Introduction 8 1.1 Introduction 8 1.2 Rationale for carrying out the change 10 1.3 Summary 10 Chapter 2 the Literature Review 12 2.1Introduction 12 2.2 Inpatient Journey 12 2.3 Patient Safety 13 2.4 Flow of Inpatient Identification Information 18 2.5 Wristband Implementation: An Overview 20 2.6 Summary 23 Chapter 3 Methods 25 3.1 Introduction 25 3.2 Change process 26 3.3 Change model 28 3.3.1 Establishment of Urgency 30 3.3.2 A Guiding Coalition 30 3.3.3 Vision and Strategy 31 3.3.4 Communication 31 3.3.5 Empowerment of Members 32 3.3.6 Creation of Short-Term Wins 33 3.3.7 Consolidation of Improvements 33 3.3.8 Institutionalization of New Approaches 34 3.4 Summary 34 Chapter 4 Evaluation 35 4.1 Introduction 35 4.2 Current Situation before Change 35 Figure 1. Frequency and percentage breakdown: Use of IDs 37 Figure 2. Frequency and percentage breakdown: Reasons why IDs were not worn 37 Figure 3.Frequency and percentage breakdown: Name 38 Figure 4. Frequency and percentage breakdown: CPR 38 Figure 5. Frequency and pe

Models of Segregation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Models of Segregation - Essay Example That is, he observes the happenings in the human habitations and forms an idea about it, in his mind. And from the mind only, the idea flows out and transcribes into the written script. And, this paper will review one of the written scripts of Thomas C. Schelling called Model of Segregation. The main thesis of the paper as the title itself suggests is segregation, or if a simple word is used, separation. Both the words give wide range of meanings, which can be used on various occasions. But, segregation and separation will be normally used or set into motion, when a set of visible and invisible factors push an individual or a group to leave their current locations, where they were minority. That is, these factor, which pushes the individual from his/her place, is the same in most places, with little variation according to the situations. â€Å"There is segregation by sex, age, income, language, color, taste, comparative advantage and the accidents of historical location.† (Schelling 488). So, in the first page itself, the author sets the agenda of the paper by concentrating on one of the factors that is causing segregation. According to Schelling, the main issues which cause the movement of individual or groups from one set up to another, through the mode of segregation is the individual‘s personal behavior and choices. That is, each person will have a thought process which will be unique to him/her, and which might have got evolved in different settings. So, based mainly on that thought process, an individual will decide his/her racial leanings. But the problem will arise when that individual would form an opinion and, in some cases it could in a discriminatory form. Discriminatory in the sense some individuals would form an opinion and judge other individuals only on the basis of religion, status, education, race etc. This is a very undesirable thing to do and is fraught with danger. The transposition of individuals could not be stopped and the

Ethics in International Environments Essay Example for Free

Ethics in International Environments Essay The different changes that are happening in the society greatly affect the norms and practices of people, especially those that are involved in the business sector. The existence of globalization has paved the way for business organization to expand their marketing operations outside their local countries and try targeting new consumers that are situated in foreign nations. However, in doing so, business organizations have to take into consideration the differences among nations, especially when it comes to values, beliefs, culture, legal system, and many others. In line with this, respecting and properly addressing the differences among countries also entails properly applying the decisions and business strategy of the company in such a way that it upholds business ethics. Business ethics refers to the applied or professional ethics that is used in order to identify the morality or rightness of a decision or action in ethical issues that arise in business organizations (Crane Matten, 2007). In line with this, the case study of the British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) in marketing their Winfield brand in Asia should carefully consider the ethical implications of their market expansion to the welfare of the consumers in that part of the world and also the overall effects of it in the robustness of the company. Brief Summary of the Case Study The British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) is maker of Winfield, an Australian brand of cigarette. Winfield is available in countries such as: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, UK, and Europe. The main competitive advantage of Winfield as compared with other brands is the reputation that it has wherein it boost quality along with the concept of ‘more for less’, without being regarded as a ‘cheap’ brand. The brand has showed strong financial growth starting from its launch in Australia and other international market place. However, the stricter tobacco advertising restrictions has made it difficult for the organization to market and communicate to the consumers in order to sell Winfield. Due to this, the organization decided to enter the Asian market because their tobacco laws are not as strict as compared with the United States and Australia. BATA wants to maximize the potential of the Asian market before it begins banning cigarette advertising and tobacco smoking. In order to expand in the Asian market, BATA has to practice the multi-domestic marketing strategy. The multi-domestic marketing strategy entails that business organizations have to tailor made a marketing standard that adheres to the culture and personal preference of the target foreign market of the company (Kurtz, 2008). In relation to this, business organizations also have the ability to maintain the standard quality of the product by making sure that despite the differences in the marketing strategy, it still adheres to the core value and objective of the brand (Kitchen Schultz, 2001). Ethical Issues BATA has to address different issues when it comes to entering the Asian market. First, the organization has to identify as to what degree standardize policy on cigarette advertising and promotion has to be applied across borders. Second, BATA needs to find ways in order to establish a balance between ensuring ethical marketing activities and still gaining from the freedom of communication in some international market places. BATA has to reconcile whether a global marketing strategy or multi-domestic marketing strategy is the most effective marketing model that will benefit the organization (Kurtz, 2008). The organization has to face the ethical issue that comes with marketing and selling their cigarettes in the Asian market. BATA has to deal with the ethical dilemma that marketing Winfield in Asia might place the lives of people in danger because of ill effects of tobacco smoking. In addition, the organization also has to take into consideration the exposure of the marketing of Winfield to minors. Moreover, the reputation of the company should also be given utmost consideration because their image of giving quality products with a desire to give satisfaction to customers might be threatened by a wrong marketing move. Formulation of Alternative or Possible Solution In order to properly address the ethical issues that exist and others more that might arise, BATA has to analyze their decisions and actions through the Social Contract Theory (SCT). The Social Contract Theory pertains to a wide range of theories that try to explain the idea of how people willingly give a part of their right in order to form the state with the main purpose of ensuring social order. Every individual has their own respective rights, which they freely surrender a portion of to a higher authority usually the government, in order to prevent chaos and preserve order in the society (Crane Matten, 2007). In the context of international business ethics, the Social Contract Theory allows the establishment of a framework that will help address the ethical issues in relation with Winfield. The Social Contract Theory solves ethical issue by means of the following: (1) establish core principles that are related to the organization; (2) provides recommendations for various communities; (3) examine the appropriateness of marketing practices; (4) enables the theoretical foundation of norms and values (Crane Matten, 2007). Based on the Social Contract Theory, the possible solution entails BATA should identify specific and effective core value system for the organization. In order to properly identify the decisions and actions that the organization recognizes as ethical or unethical an outline of the core value system of the organization is necessary. Another important step is for the organization to implement the multi-domestic marketing strategy that will give importance to the specific preferences of different foreign markets. The organization has to tailor-made their marketing strategy to the needs of respective foreign countries. The appropriateness of the marketing practices of the organization should also be assured by means of establishing a separate department in the organization that will oversee that the marketing of Winfield adheres to the culture, preferences, and law of the foreign market it is being catered. Moreover, the norms and values of the company should be uphold by means of making marketing ads and other promotional materials that targets adults rather than minors. In addition, BATA should place warnings about the ill effects of smoking to the health of people in the very packaging of Winfield and also, in their marketing campaigns even if the law of the foreign country does not require such. BATA has to protect the reputation of the organization and one effective way of doing so is by effectively practicing corporate responsibility (Blownfield Murray, 2008). The organization has to be mindful of their duties and responsibilities to their consumers and the society as a whole. Recommendation The Utilitarian approach to ethics is a kind of normative ethics that assesses the morality or rightness of action based on its outcome. In utilitarianism, a decision or action is ethical when it yields the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people (Crane Matten, 2007). Based on utilitarianism, BATA has to give importance to the welfare of their consumers and not only the organization’s profit in order to make their business processes ethical. By means of establishing the core value system of the organization and also by making sure that the promotion of Winfield is focus on adults together with the corresponding health warning, BATA can be able to give the greatest benefit or happiness to almost all stakeholders that are involve. The organization will gain more profit and further develop their company by means of entering the Asian market. In addition, BATA’s greater corporate responsibility will further boost the reputation of the company. In the side of the consumers, they will have more variation when it comes to cigarette choices. The consumers are also properly informed by the company of the health risks of smoking, which will give them informed-consent on deciding whether they will smoke or not. References Blowfield, M. , Murray A. (2008). Corporate Responsibility: A Critical Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press. Crane, A. Matten, D. (2007). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. New York: Oxford University Press. Kitchen, P. J. , Schultz, D. E. (2001). Raising the Corporate Umbrella: Corporate Communication in the 21st Century. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Kurtz, D. L. (2008). Contemporary Marketing. New York: Cengage Learning.

Mystery Shopping In The Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay

Mystery Shopping In The Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay A client focal point has turned into extra significant in todays spirited atmosphere. Determining client pleasure is an instrument regularly used as well as too encouraged by additional modern edition of the superiority method necessities. An additional approach of determining the eminence of the tune deliverance is by production utilize of secrecy visitors, compliant personnel who perform as regular clientele although are accurately scrutinize what is obtainable fine in addition to what be able to be enhanced in the overhaul procedure as professed through the client. The reason of secrecy shopping revising is to assist focal point of the concentration of company administration on client overhaul enhancement by on condition that information on the procedures as well as the eminence of services it is only if. Mystery shopping revision is able to encompass the uncomplicated truthful surveillance of summits of auction or services spotlight predominantly on signage, hygiene, coming up instance, reply time, profitable signage, the state of tackle in employ, devotion to the companys principles. It might also extend as far as making purchase or enquiry, where the evaluator acts as if he or she was an actual or potential customer, on the basis of a simple of more complicated scenario. Mystery shopping revise engage the utilize of anonymity shoppers who will be qualified along with or succinct to scrutinize familiarity plus determine some client service procedure by performing as a potential client along with legal responsibility of a sequence of prearranged errands to assess analogous as well as reliable method. Mystery shopping procedures used might comprise, secrecy surveillance, visits, telephone calls, mail or fax, email or website visits. BRIEFLY DESCRIBE AND CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE USE OF MYSTERY SHOPPERS MYSTERY SHOPPING Mystery shopping is very practical in overhaul circumstances, for instance in banks, restaurants, shops, travel agencies, airlines, car dealers etc. The method mystery shopping is put into practice is somewhat universal: Unidentified personnel are used as ambiguity visitors The anonymity visitor is well taught as well as uses a predefined checklist The mystery visitor act like a standard purchaser After the visit to the examine summit the checklist is overflowing in as well as an appraisal description is predictable The valuation descriptions as well as the score on the checklist are used for reaction. The criticism has to guide to a figure of development issues as well as events. Generally mystery shopping is used by the souk investigate businesses for the measuring the trade check eminence as well as get together a few of the information concerning the services as well as goods. These mystery shoppers performs as customary universal consumers however they carry out precise errands similar to: purchasing of the goods, perform in a little method or make questions to the staff as well as subsequent to they write down a exhaustive description as well as present it to the institute. The performance of mystery shopping has been typical in the commencement of 1940s for measuring the workers truthfulness. At the same time as the mystery shopping, the tackles like videos, audios as well as feedback forms are the uncomplicated ones. Numerous companies determine in the use of the internet which is governed as well as permit the possible mystery shoppers to contribute by utilization of internet. The general spaces wherever the mystery shoppers leave is to the theaters of movies, banks, dealers of car, health clubs, restaurants, apartments, fast foods, etc. In UK, mystery shopping is utilized for criticism of the client services which are offered by establishment of restricted as well as the additional businesses whichever are non-profit similar to churches as well as links of accommodation. USE OF MYSTERY SHOPPERS Mystery shopping will be utilized for a variety of reasons. Most of the occasion, the objective is for calculating the excellence of the overhaul liberation to clients. In these circumstances the mystery guest can be paying attention on the acquiescence to explicit principles, guiding principle or anxiety, or the mystery guest is able to be inculcating to location the excellence of the overhaul on a level. If a mystery guest is also used to visit not only the own service locations but also locations of competitors, benchmarking becomes a way to judge your own activities against those. Other uses of mystery shopping are: Calculating efficiency of programmes Testing if workers luxury all populace in the similar means, or difficult alongside favoritism. To believe whether the vendor advocate our produce to a purchaser Is our product displayed outstandingly or as we identify to our legislative body. Does our home visiting salesman investigate the potential customers needs previous to introduction into a sales terrain or a meticulous model? Reports build very obvious what is departing incorrect Training programmes can be enhanced Development behavior can be paying attention on matters that are significant for the purchaser Good performance of workers can be satisfied. An resourceful mode of recognizing employees in necessitate of additional training A customary summing up of strengths as well as weakness which can be your accomplishment sketch A way of recognizing trade channels which are under-performing Because it is the majority cost-effective as well as supple client rapport administration instrument obtainable. It can be organized rapidly as well as reasonably. Moreover, it is a supple agenda so as to can be customized as well as squeezed on the soar, charitable the customer admission to incredibly existing marketplace explore devoid of exclusive set up costs Mystery shopping is additional similar to an X-Ray. It is a very well, grainy depiction of your commerce investigative and region of highest attention. One of the immediate benefits of a mystery shopping program is that the client states for all employees to see what the service criteria It is very helpful in the improvement and enhancement of the business and the good training can be given to the employees or the staff. IDENTIFY THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF USING MYSTERY SHOPPERS. BENEFITS OF MYSTERY SHOPPERS Mystery shopping programmes are exclusive as well as intended specially for every customer. Mystery shopping tune is backed up by gratis examination as well as overhaul assurance so by no means require worrying. Continuing effectual observing of the client overhaul levels in the association. Occasions are stick for the association to make sure their principles as well as strategies. Nurturing surrounded by the stakeholders, there is an accomplishment of the improved sympathetic in the case of awareness. To get better the purchaser overhaul as well as its procedures, augment the member of staff in staffing plus preservation levels. Mystery shopping is extremely critical intended for whichever type of industry. Mystery shopping is an imperative fraction of every industry towards growing its trade as well as client service. The skilled corporation forever draw patrons a bunch. The majority of the companies seek a lot of habits to get better their overhaul for the patrons. The administration is given with the information which is used to recompense the presentation as well as stimulate the workers who are standard as well as provide preparation as well as therapy to the workers who all require the enhancements. Mystery shopping assist in creating improved as well as extended relations with the clientele who are glowing fulfilled. Owners as well as executive of the industry are making available with the facts which are constructive in circumstances in the places of dispassionate information, tangible as well as enumerated. For the achievement of client overhaul as well as auctions, association is able to tendency the information intended for the expression. DRAWBACKS OF MYSTERY SHOPPING Sometimes mystery shopping is been visional as the intimidating to the workers, in that case workers sight the mystery shoppers as the examination by the administration additional than as a generate for the guidance as well as growth. Mystery shopping is appraised as a process but not the conclusion. Any association is supposed to be unbolting to their workers regarding their anonymity shoppers. Association has to state in feature detail the rationale of production work out as well as also charge crash of the solitude of checking as well as after that rightful the employees human rights. DRAW UPON RELEVANT ACADEMIC JOURNALS AND LITERATURE TO ENHANCE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE MYSTERY SHOPPER IS USED. Mystery shopping can be used for the grounding of the antagonism. The extremely innovative utilize of the mystery shopping is to organize for the exterior antagonism. To obtain the photograph of the condition of the workers ability for the client overhaul. It can be used for scrutinizing the antagonism. The strengths as well as weakness can be recognized through the anonymity customers. Mystery shoppers intelligence can be used as the additional method for arranging for the rivalry by observance an eye lying on the marketplace. This thought is been used frequently by bankers, garments retailers as well as superstores. The additional purpose of the vagueness shopping is to be acquainted with the high-quality workers as well as gratifying them. Giving emphasis to the exceptional client services would keep the customer faithfulness very important to allow the customer for investment its high-quality clientele. The workers who all sense the worth in addition to be documented resolve get ahead of their approaches which are high-quality to their clientele. The customer knows that a quantity of his workers valor be recruited by the rivalry as well as he required to build sure they know that he respected their hard work on the provisions behalf. The agenda of gratitude is an ever more motive of widespread for carrying out standard ambiguity shops. In general workers are reserved on the toes of the obscurity shopper to create them believe so as to any customer may be a secrecy shopper. If any member of staff is documented by the secrecy shopper as the most excellent member of staff, they are satisfied in various ways as well as the goals are been talented. Gratitude is been specified to the workers who are well familiar by the mystery shopper in the appearance of money or parking gap or any thing also. Normally the standard member of staff is specified the encouragement. Customer service assessments are stated in the appearance of the additional benefit. One of the mystery shopping is to calculate the preparation; the mainly customary is to how much the member of staff is required the preparation to accomplish. The first way is so as to the anonymity shoppers are send to assess the purchaser overhaul plane. In the chapter of two, assessment will be analyzed as well as expansion of the training agenda in favor of the workers is carrying out. The third phase, the secrecy shoppers will revisit for the assessment of the client overhaul position guidance. By this the association can determine the efficiency of the agenda of the instruction everywhere the training has in use the assessment will be prepared there. CITE AND ANALYSE CURRENT EXAMPLES OF THE MYSTERY SHOPPER FROM WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY Industries: Hospitality and Lodging The extensively business which is varied, the accommodation as well as generosity business will not only create up of resorts as well as hotels, as well as casinos plus sail appearances. Mystery shopping assists in provided that utmost awareness of the visitors, obedience of authoritarian, anticipation of defeat, security as well as physical condition as well as the demonstration of product which in turn will make the most of proceeds as well as earnings. The visitors are primary prioritized along with to make sure genuine purchaser overhaul knowledge as well as reliable, mystery shopping is indispensable. As a foremost obscurity shopping contributor, the cleverness overhauls appreciate the entire prospects which are positioned on the employees along with how it honestly pressures the estimations of visitors. There are healthy smoothed as well as high-quality programmes The primarily approaches the client overhaul wherever the aptitude overhaul the mystery shoppers will recognize so as to the generosity as well as the overhaul are the supreme of building their visitors not still take pleasure in other than also they approach back in the prospect as well as speak high-quality concerning their practices. The intelligences will assess the commerce as of the proviso summit to plow prove out. Will make sure all the belongings similar to, if the manager of the corollary was well-organized as well as how the employees are salutation fine or cheery well or not as well as if the grievances are concentrated polity along with tenderly or not. In each generosity industry hygiene is an indispensable principle. Exceeds as well as the hygiene be supposed to be meet on occasion or else visitors will by no means go back to the business yet again. Frequently visitors are expecting the spotless, contented surroundings to carry on their hang about. The mystery shoppers resolve assess the bistro, all visitor accommodation, health resort amenities as well as the community regions. The protection as well as sanctuary is obligatory whether the visitors are conscious of the requirements or not. The aptitude as well demeanor the observance location which is camouflaged along with exposed demeanors, elevators, fire exits, stairwells as well as fire extinguishers be obtainable otherwise not. Furthermore, they moreover appraise the hotels bistro as well as the kitchens intended for the rationale of sanitation, food storage space, hygiene as well as processes of managing. Every one of these assessments is support on the conformity of the employees members with their association measures as well as guiding principle based on their safety measures, preclusion of thrashing, and safety all the way through the possessions. Trade name symbol is extremely obligatory of whichever big hospitality industry. Astuteness overhaul will be modified from side to side an assessment agenda by provided that the investigative statistics to make sure for so as to every reliability which are desirable by the brand name principles. Inscrutability purchaser of the bistro will principally spotlight on the consequence of the visitors wherever the valuation of the workers will exist fretful. Immense overhaul as well as the enormous foodstuff of an attractive which is measured by the visitors as well as keep in mind to stay yet again. IDENTITY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENTS USING THIS QUALITY CONTROL TOOL Notify the workers concerning the agenda in proceed as well as get the contribution on survey which the customers will be utilizing. The agenda of the secrecy shopping resolve job improved if it is not like secrecy mostly for the staff, inform them in advance as well as let them be acquainted with what is predictable as of them. Forever put into practice the declarations as well as agenda are supposed to be endorsed in optimistic method. Ought to construct in no doubt to the mystery shoppers be recognizable by means of the information compilation, coverage, examination as well as regarding the propose to supply. Reflect concerning the managerial goals as well as objectives along with after that put the feedback form. The entire problems are supposed to be surrounded in so as to the anonymity shoppers can insert amplification by means of on the whole explanation. Put into practice the modifications which are effectual in performance as well as split the consequences through the group. For eternity, recompense the presentations which are high-quality. It augments the attention in the profession. Make it a large agreement whilst the anonymity shopper discovers a persons name of welcoming worker or the obliging member of staff. The entire design of the players is to construct the workers do the effects accurate. Mystery shopping intended for any big business it is an essential obsession. Mystery shopping is the momentous obsession to get better the industry as well as attractive it as well as for verdict the souk. Which ever corporation is capable will be fast in the most favorable numeral of clientele. Numerous companies will be annoying to get better their industry by the purchaser overhaul. Companies will go elsewhere in addition to discover the disadvantages wherever they are deceitful. A number of the administrators will do the furtively as well as a number of others will employ the populace to do the job. One of the best ways to augment the rapport by means of clientele is the inexplicable shopping. When employing the secrecy shopper, forever choose for the knowledgeable one or supposed individual. To assess the expanse you have completed what are the consequences as well as for which you seem for. The ambiguity shoppers most important purpose is to go to amass as well as has distress in cavernous which have complete the encumbrance in expansion of the superstore.

Men Giving Birth? :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Men Giving Birth? A leading British fertility expert, Lord Winston, says it should be possible for a man to carry a baby to term and then deliver it by a Caesarean section. In Winston's view, modern medical technology will soon allow homosexual male couples to bear children, or allow a heterosexual male to carry a child if his wife is unable to for medical reasons. "Male pregnancy would certainly be possible and would be the same as when a woman has an ectopic pregnancy -- outside the uterus -- although to sustain it, you'd have to give the man lots of female hormones," Winston told the Times. He will outline the concept in his new book, The IVF Revolution. IVF stands for in vitro fertilization. Winston acknowledges that there could be a few problems with the technique. Among other things, the man could experience internal bleeding -- and he might grow breasts. "I don't think there would be a rush of people wanting to implement this technology," he said. (1) Presently, researchers are now busy perfecting a reliable birth-control drug for men. A five-year study, conducted by the ANZAC Research Institute in Sydney, involved 55 men using hormonal injections and implants as birth control. None of the men's partners conceived and there were no side effects compared to other trials, which have been terminated due to unforeseen problems. The contraceptive works by inhibiting sperm production through injections of progestin every three months. Since this hormone also reduces the sex drive, testosterone had to be implanted under the men's skin every four months to maintain their libido. After a 12-month period, participants would stop the treatment to recover their fertility. "This is the first time a reversible male contraceptive that will suppress sperm production reliably and reversibly has been fully tested by couples," Professor David Handelsman, the study's director, was quoted by Reuters as saying. Melissa Dear, a spokesperson for the Family Planning Association, told CNN that she thought it was unlikely that the final product would be marketed in the form of an injection. "It's too awkward a method," she said. "This study has brought the reality of the male contraceptive pill one step closer, but we need to look at combining both hormones in a tablet form." She added that although the Family Planning Association welcomed the news, she anticipated that it would be five to 10 years before a male contraceptive was available commercially.

Wedding Toasts †Topics to Avoid :: Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Wedding Toasts – Topics to Avoid Don’t Mention Anything About â€Å"Milk† or â€Å"Cows† At the rehearsal dinner, one of the bridesmaids, who had been drinking, gave a toast. It started off just fine, but then she ended it with " thank God, sometimes guys do buy the cow even when they get the milk for free!" Don’t Blasphemy About a year ago, my fiancà © and I attended the wedding of my cousin. She married her college sweetheart, and the bridal party was made up mostly of their college friends. During the toast, the best man decides to talk about when he first knew the groom was going to propose. He says that he and the groom were in New Orleans celebrating Mardi Gras. He was surprised to hear about the upcoming proposal at that time, given that they were surrounded by women taking their tops off to get beads. The conclusion he comes to--and proceeds to tell the whole group of family, friends, and of course the bride's father--is that my cousin "must have better breasts than God." Don’t Comment on the Many Years it took for the Bride to Find a Sucker (Husband) At my wedding a year ago, my father gave a toast that went over like a lead balloon. He said (in paraphrase), "I've seen my daughter grow through the years and have had a few laughs, like the time she fell in the toilet as a small child. She was so mad at me for laughing at her, that I think maybe that's why it took her so long to find a man to marry." (I was 32 when I got married.) Remember, It’s a Wedding Toast, not an Esoteric Diatribe My husband's brother is well known for his selfishness. He was the best man in our wedding and gave the worst toast you could ever imagine. The speech was typed, single-spaced, on 5 pages, front and back. It lasted about 20 minutes and I (the bride) don't recall being mentioned once. The theme of the speech was "I'm losing my brother" and contained gems like "I can't believe he is getting married", "it's going to be so weird" and "we won't be able to hang out anymore". I was not welcomed to the family, not congratulated, not spoken to or looked at. And we get along just fine -- it wasn't intended to be disrespectful.

Italian comedy

Commiedia dell arte is a well known as a Italian comedy, this type of drama was highly popular during the 16th century. This act was usually performed on the side of the streets or in court venues. But the better acts and the more popular actors/ actress played in front of the kings and queens. But as most acts were performed on temporary stages on the side of stress the heavy relied on props and different costumes. The obvious objective was to make people laugh, as they had no TV or PlayStation’s back then they needed something to entertain them.The audience was able to pick up from each character’ dress the type of person he was representing. The use a lot of mask, props and always over exaggerate thing to make it funny. Commedia dell arte introduced actresses for the first time ever in theatre history, and that has a pretty big impact on today’s theatre. The most known modern day interpreters of the commedia tradition are the san Francisco mime troupe. Epic th eatre come widely popular around world was one.By the names of Max Reinhardt, Erwin Piscator, and most especiall) Bertolt Brecht. This style of thearte started up in Berlin during the ill-fated German â€Å"Weimar Republic† of the 1920s and early 1930s. After the rise of Hitler Brecht and other epic theater practioners were forced to flee persecution and arrest by the Gestapo, the style spread to the United States and Great Britain. Brecht wanted his audience to remain aware of what was really happening, he was very clear on how he wanted the audience to act.The focus of epic drama was to making the drama realistic, making people feel like they can relate to the performance, so they can understand what is happening. He Brecht would love to narrate every character because he believed that if he did so that the audience would relate better to the character and would have a better understanding. Epic theatre has had a massive influence in the western theater as in Britain how th ey became evident In the playwright of john Arden. Meldrama has a long history going back to the 18th and 19th century.Melodrama is a act the shows evil over come by good. Right through the play or tv show the character wont change the whole time, it will either be evil or it will be good. Melodrama is a Greek word melo meaning music and drama refers to a deed. The earliest uses of melodrama was late 1700s and early 1800s, but it was in the late19s century where melodramatic elements was taken to a whole new level. Rene Charles, Guilbert de Pixerecourt lived a melodramatic life and funneled it in to his plays. MELODRAMA EPIC DRAMA COMMIDEDIA DELL ARTE

Case Study: Swatch and the Global Watch Industry Essay

Introduction The Swatch Group had many early on successes due to repositioning strategies and a boost from acquisitions. On the surface, the Swatch Group was the world’s leading manufacturer of watches in the late 1990’s. They had 14 percent of the world market share and it appeared that gross sales and net profits were on the rise; however, under the covers, it was a much different story. Swatch was facing a myriad of issues that needed to be resolved in order for success to prevail. Management issues were plaguing Swatch; multiple key figures stepped down from the board in the mid 1990’s citing the CEO’s inability to listen to his staff. In addition to the management issues, Swatch was also facing fierce competition in many market spaces, including the largest consumer base space, the United States. In addition to lack of market penetration in the United States, Swatch had too many products, which equally distracted buyers and sellers. Lastly, manufacturing costs continued to soar in Switzerland, the Swatch Group’s home base. Other competitors were quickly cutting their costs by moving manufacturing overseas. The Swatch Group was at a crossroad; the strategy that had worked so well in the early 1990’s was no longer viable – the question now was what to do about it? Management Issues and Potential Resolutions Although Swatch faced many issues, internal dissension can be the quickest death of a company. Hayek needs to ensure the people chosen to replace the board member’s who stepped down are able to handle his leadership style. Equally as important as selecting a high-performing executive team, Hayek need’s to realize that traditional organizational principles of functional hierarchies will inevitably lead to rifts in management. This is a social issue that Hayek needs to address. If ex-board members continue to bad mouth Swatch it could have an impact on sales. To address this issue, Hayek needs to improve his leadership style and management model to actively involve his staff. As an employee, even an executive employee, being flat out told what you have to do all the time is often the ingredient for an unhealthy work environment, especially when trying to implement change. However, when  employees are involved in making a decision it is often easier to put into action th e decision that was made. There is sometimes a higher acceptance of the decision when it comes from the ground up and there is a higher probability that the decision will be executed efficiently. The outcome of such a change will inevitably be positive. When Hayek has more then one person getting together trying to solve a problem, he will have an increased chance at a better solution then if he were trying to solve it himself. The employees bring a lot to the meeting room with them. For instance, they may have â€Å"inside information† about why production is faltering. By creating a high-performing executive team that works as a cohesive unit versus â€Å"he has to be the big boss alone, and can never share opinions† unit, the Swatch Group should begin to see an improvement in the softer issues, such as employee satisfaction, higher executive employee retention, and a more open communication model. Competitive and Product Mix Issues and Potential Resolutions The Swatch group as a whole had an unparalleled ability to provide consumers with a wide range of products in all market segments. They could provide hi-tech watches that functioned as ski passes, fashion watches such as the Swatch, or an exquisite diamond studded precious metal watch – Swatch provided products at all extremes. However, certain product lines were more successful then others. The Swatch watch in particular was struggling to gain market share in the United States and elsewhere for several reasons including fickle consumer behavior and a product line that was daunting to consumers and resellers. The Swatch product was quickly loosing its competitive edge against other players such as Fossil, Guess, Timex and Seiko. Resellers were dropping like flies and consumers felt like Swatch had saturated the market with too many products. Worse of all, consumer perception was that Swatch was a fad. Swift decisions need to be made to reverse this before the brand becomes part of a MTV or VH1 â€Å"I love the 90’s† television show. Luckily, most of the decisions to be made regarding product mix have very little impact socially and ethically. Omega (part of the Swatch Group portfolio of brands), was facing a similar demise in the early 1990’s and successfully repositioned itself and became a major profit driver for the group. It achieved this by carefully selecting its marketing programs and drastically trimming its product line from 2,500 to 130. This strategy needs to be applied to Swatch, which focuses on the basic and middle-priced market. This is supported by the fact that the number of resellers dropped from 3,000 in the early 1990’s to 1,200 in 1998. Swatch needs to apply a SWOT analysis and determine which product lines are successful in this market space and drop the remaining products. In addition, the Swatch Group needs to look at their consumer base and determine if it would be profitable to launch a new product line that captures past consumers who have now progressed to the next stage of their lives and are desiring a more expensive and sophisticated watch. A marketing campaign needs to be chosen that helps attract new consumers in the basic and middle price market focusing on the smaller number of brands and a separate campaign should be created that focuses on keeping their existing customer base. These campaigns should be replicated to other countries to ensure the Swatch brand remains visible. Neither of these resolutions will be easy to implement; however, if done successfully Swatch will decrease their production costs because there are fewer product lines and increase their sales based on marketing campaigns to two separate groups: new customers and existing customers. Manufacturing Issues and Potential Resolutions Driven by high demand, offshore manufacturing centers are appearing throughout the world. Many of the Swatch Group’s competitors have switched their manufacturing to centers overseas and decreased their fixed costs, which resulted in an increase in profit. The Swatch Group had always remained committed to its home base, partly because their home base possessed centuries of expertise in watch making and partly because a timepiece cannot be stamped with â€Å"Swiss Made† unless at least 50% of Swiss manufactured products by value are present in the  timepiece. Although the mix of factors raising the possibility of outsourcing varies from company to company, there are a few themes that the Swatch Group needs to explore regarding the pressures to outsource. The Swatch Group needs to recognize that general concerns regarding cost and quality are the main drivers for outsourcing. In addition, outsourcing can turn a fixed cost into a variable cost, which will significantly help a company with varying volumes. Although most businesses can benefit hugely through outsourcing or manufacturing in another country, the Swatch Group needs to determine if it will be successful and profitable for them. Outsourcing a portion of their value chain is not a quick-fix response to production costs or performance lags. Additionally, the choices for outsourcing locations are many, they are not all equal, differing in several critical areas. Selecting the right option requires balancing factors such as cultural affinity, geopolitical risk, cost, and resource availability. To help narrow their focus in their analysis, initially, the Swatch Group should look to India for their outsource location. India has a large talent pool of skilled, experienced watch workers. These workers have hands-on experience supporting Titan industries. Titan is continuing to grow as a company and the pace of resource expansion is dramatically improving in keeping up with current as well as future technologies. Additionally, the Swatch Group should center their outsourcing attention to the assembly portion of the value added chain. This will ensure that 50% of the manufactured parts are still completed in Switzerland. The design, marketing, and most of manufacturing of the watches still remain where the expertise is located. The assembly of a watch is an extremely repeatable and easily controllable task, which will increase the success for outsourcing. Outsourcing assembly to India will have many positive effects for the Swatch Group. Cost reduction remains the primary objective of outsourcing; the Swatch Group will have the ability to provide a good at a lower cost and should be able to make the assembly cost more predictable and controlled. Ethically and socially, outsourcing has a caused many individuals and  increase in job insecurity. Lower labor standards in other countries are forcing many companies to outsource much of their manufacturing. This is especially unsettling for individuals who lack the skills to make themselves difficult to replace, such as in manufacturing. If the Swatch Group decides to outsource assembly, there will be no easy way to redeploy the assembly workers. They can setup a redeployment pool for those resources and try to redeploy them elsewhere in the company. However, if this is not possible, a business decision will have to be made to lay those workers off. The utmost sensitivity will be required as it is possible that generations of families have worked for the Swatch Group. The Swatch Group will need to carefully balance the outsourcing cost reduction possibilities with the social ramifications that may exist. Conclusion There are many issues facing the Swatch Group and there is no right way to solve any of the issues. Each issue comes laden with ethical and social consequences that will also impact the company. The Swatch Group will need to take steps to ensure that international integration does not cause domestic social disintegration. Regardless of how the issues are resolve, the greatest challenge is going to be finding the right balance between markets and societies. References Swatch and the Global Watch Industry

Psycholinguistic: Linguistics and Language Essay

This study seeks to determine the relevance of the behavioristic and cognitive approaches for Saudi learners’ acquisition of English as a foreign language (EFL). A special attention is given to learners in EFL programs at the University level. It also assesses the effectiveness of these approaches on student in translation program as well. One contention is that while behaviorist-inspired structuralist methodologies are best applicable at the beginning levels, transformationalist/cognitivist approach contributes tried methodologies to enhance the learners’ written and spoken skills in advanced stages. Advances in translation can be achieved through a study of the process of translation with an emphasis on a deductive rather than an inductive approach. INTRODUCTION Foreign language teachers have long been perplexed by a continuum of abundant psycho-linguistic theories. One approach is the traditional method to second/foreign language teaching and learning. This embodied the grammar translation method which developed at the end of the eighteenth century in Germany and spread throughout Europe (Howat, 1984). The second approach is the direct method that developed in the late nineteenth century as a reaction against the grammar-translation method (R. Carter, 1993). Prior to the time of Chomsky, â€Å"little was known about the process of second language acquisition, and thus (traditional approaches) were grounded in the linguistic, psychological, and pedagogical theories of their day. †(1) The author has conducted literature search through Educational Resources Index (Eric) was well as Languages Association (MLA) and Psychological. Abstracts (Psyclit). It has been noticed that some work, mostly dissertation, have dealt with the Saudi acquisition of specific linguistic features of L2, such as Morpheme acquisition Order (Al-Afaleg, 1991), Temporal Conjunctions (Noor, 1991), English Derivational Morphology (Al-Qadi 1992) Tense and Aspect (Farraj, 1995) and Second Language Relative Clauses (Maghrabi, 1997), and Studies on the psycho-linguistic theories of language acquisition, specifically in relation to the Saudi learner of English do not seem to exist. There are four major theories of language acquisition and language learning which many psycholinguists and applied linguistics are familiar with:Behaviorism, neo-behaviorism, cognitivism, and humanism. The purpose of this article is to examine two of these theories: Behaviorism (which is related to structuralism) and cognitivism (which is related to transformationalism) and then show the extent to which these two theories relate to language learning and particularly to Saudi learners enrolled in EFL and translation programs in King Saud University. STRUCTURAL (BEHAVIORISTIC) VIEW: The psychological theory behind behaviorist linguistics was founded by J. B. Watson (1942). (2) The extreme behavioristic stand-point is characterized by B. F. Skinner’s well-known study, Verbal Behavior (1957) which presents a theory of language learning even more firmly planted in the court of Pavlovian animal behavior than the language theories of the Russian behaviorist school which was itself greatly influenced by the work of Pavlov. The work that could be regarded as the basic doctrine of the structural school of linguistic theory was Leonard Bloomfield’s Language (1933). In this work, Bloomfield argued that the study of language could be pursued without reference to psychological doctrines and he took a firmly behavioristic line aimed at scientific objectivity. Bloomfield did not deny the role of meaning in language, but he objected to its importance in the study of language at a time when human knowledge of the vast range of semantic association attached to every linguistic form was so very little. Moreover, he viewed semantics as a subordinate element to the primary stimulus response relationship of verbal behavior. To Bloomfieldians†¦ â€Å"language is nothing but a habit that the child comes to learn by imitation. In their account of language acquisition, the child is exposed to linguistic data which he/she internalizes and then reproduces at a later stage. Language is thus learned from outside, we learn it in the same way that we learn other habits. Learning a language is not very much different from the laboratory mouse learning to expect to be fed each time someone rings a bell. †(3) They believe that, â€Å"a scientific theory must reject all data that are not directly observable or physically measurable. †(4). To the behaviorists, habit formation is brought about through repetition, mimicry, and memorization. Thus no clear distinction seems to be made between learning the first language and the target language. To them linguistic habits, generalization and associations have to be repeated using different data. Skinner (1957) based his whole theory of language acquisition and speech realization on the recognizable external forms of what Chomsky terms â€Å"input and â€Å"output† and makes no allowance for any internal process of the organism. Stimulus and reinforcement (or reward) from the input and the â€Å"verbal operant† (or response) forms the output. The structuralists, whose views are related to behavioral psychology, see language as a finite list of ordered elements to which one can attach labels. They undertake a systematic analysis of structure. The teacher depends on such structural description as the distribution and combination of elements into a chain of speech. It is based on the process of substitution, the replacement of one unit by another unit of the same grammatical class. They follow a taxonomic approach in teaching. Their view is characterized by the insistence that language is learnt by the strength of habitual association and by the context generalization (i. e. general association). It is more of an inductive rather than a deductive system. The Swiss scholar Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913), who is an associationist, believes that â€Å"all language items are essentially interlinked. †(5) He argues that â€Å"language was like a game of chess, a system in which each item is defined by its relationship to all the others†¦language is a carefully built structure of interwoven elements. †(6) TRANSFORMATIONAL (COGNITIVE) VIEW: The transformational (cognitive) theories, represented by Noam Chomsky have been acknowledged by linguists as a revolutionary contribution to linguistics, though Chomsky himself related his views to those of Hambolt and to rationalist philosophers of the Seventeenth Century such as Descartes. The school of thinking, which has developed around Chomsky’s ideas, has been variously termed â€Å"Cognitive†, â€Å"mentalist†, â€Å"generative† and â€Å"transformationalist. †His Transformational Analysis (1955), Syntactic Structures (1957), Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (1965), and Language and Mind (1968) are regarded as particular pioneer works of the new approach. The cognitivists reject the views of the behaviorists. They believe that â€Å"everybody learns a language, not because they are subjected to a similar conditioning process, but because they possess an inborn capacity which permits them to acquire a language as a normal maturational process. This capacity is by definition universal†¦the nature of language is such that it is impossible to explain it without postulating an innate mechanism of a fairly well-defined kind. †(7) They look for a universal grammar that contains universals relating to the deep-seated regularities characterizing all languages. For instance, subject and predicate, negative and adjectival forms are present in all languages because they are a universal feature, whereas the structuring and arrangement of these features belong to individual languages. The deep structure rules are limited by the grammar of each particular language. Universal grammar, according to Chomsky is â€Å"†¦a theory of the â€Å"initial state† of the language faculty, prior to any linguistic experience. †(8) To the cognitivist, children are born with an innate capacity for language development. The human brain is â€Å"ready† for language, in the sense that when children are exposed to speech, certain general principles for discovering or structuring language automatically begin to operate. These principles constitute, what Chomsky terms, a child language acquisition device (LAD). â€Å"A child uses its LAD to make sense of utterances heard around it, derived from his â€Å"primary linguistic data† hypotheses about the grammar of the language-what the sentences are, and how they are constructed. This knowledge is then used to produce sentences that, after a process of trial and error, correspond to those in adult speech: the child has learned a set of generalizations of rules, governing the way in which sentences are formed. †(9) Chomsky emphasizes the linguistic ‘creativity’, that is â€Å".. the ability of human beings to produce and comprehend an infinite number of novel sentences. †(10) Basic to this reason, Comsky believes that â€Å"Bloomfieldian linguistics was too ambitious in that it was unrealistic to expect to be able to lay down foolproof rules for extracting a perfect description of a language from a mass of data. It was too limited because it concentrated on describing sets of utterances which happened to have been spoken. †(11) Whilst the structuralist lays emphasis on the surface structure (patterns†¦etc.), the transformationalist lays emphasis on the processes of the deep structure; the stress is on learning to learn the development of a strategy of learning rather than the accumulation of information and rules. The structuralist tends to overemphasize the surface forms and the development of rules and to neglect the meaning. Unlike the behaviorists who believe that if there is a response there must be stimulus, the transformationalists (cognitivists) argue that language acquisition is autogenic and that the environment serves merely to trigger off a maturation process. Language comes primarily though the maturation that the environment triggers off and not through the environment itself. Erric Lenneberg, who is a cognitivist, also suggests that training is not necessary and that maturation is enough. His critical period hypothesis (1967) holds that â€Å"language acquisition must occur before the onset of puberty in order for language to develop fully. †(12) DISCUSSION Based on the contradictory views of the two schools, a brief discussion of how these views may relate to second language learning and teaching will be presented. This will be followed by a presentation (explanation) of the extent to which these views can apply to the case of the Saudi learner of English at the university level. From the preceding background, structuralism (behaviorism) seems to attribute the function of language to instruction and experience. A process of habit formation is brought about through repetition, mimicry, and memorization. There is a little difference between learning a first language and a target language. Linguistic habits, generalizations, and associations have to be repeated using different data. Cognitivism, on the other hand proposes that the processes of second language acquisition are not identical to those of the first language acquisition although there are similarities. One of the similarities could be that L2 may need to be learned at the same time as L1. Nevertheless, considering the question of universal and maturation, since acquisition of an L2 requires conscious control of learning and this cannot be handled at an early stage, transformationlists (cognitivists) hold that consciously controlled learning should be left to a much later stage, though there is no conclusive evidence to support this view. At this stage of analysis, it can be argued that, first, innate factors are less important for L2 learning than social factors of environment, motivation, and reinforcement. Second, a transformational system can perhaps operate with native speakers of a language, but although it is too complicated and may be confusing to be applied in second language/foreign language teaching, certain aspects may be useful. For instance, identification of kernel sentences which are similar in different languages, could be economical. Transformation could work from the comparison of these kernel sentences. Third, due to abstract characteristics of some of the cognitive views, the structural acquisition technique is probably more practical for formal learning in the first stages of the second language, and the cognitive technique may assume greater importance in the more advanced stages. Fourth, while some credence should be given to Chomsky’s language acquisition device (LAD), which explains why children invent new terms that mean nothing to adults, its limitations become real when dealing with adults learning a second language. That is when linguistic interference causes serious obstacles to second/foreign language learners. In such situation LAD will not be useful. Fifth, a structuralist method closely linked to Skinners’ stimulus-response-reinforcement theory of verbal behavior is the audiolingual approach which advocates the formation of the speech habits. Its feasible use can be realized through J. B. Carrol’s (1966) following basic terms such as: a) Speech is primary, writing secondary, so the habits that are formed in language must be speech habits. b) Automatic response is best achieved by constant repetition. c) Automatic response is best achieved by constant repetition. Offshoots of this theory are the language laboratory, structural drill, imitation, and memorization techniques. (13) Finally, cognitive theory advocates the development in the student of a conscious control of the psychological, grammatical, and lexical patterns of a given second language. This can be achieved through study and analysis of these patterns so that facility in using language stems from the teacher’s understanding of its structure. The structural approach (as it employs behavioristic means) has remained useful in the teaching of English as a foreign language, most importantly to help the learner acquire good language basis. For Saudi EFL learners, the use of drills at the phonetic level is of great help especially when dealing with segmental items that cause either interlingual or intralingual errors. A Saudi learner not only fail to produce the voiceless stop /p/ and the voiced fricative /v/ but tends to replace them with his L1 segments /b/ and /f/ respectively. Similarly, the velar nasal / / as a phoneme occurring at the final position of a word like â€Å"sing†, â€Å"long† which causes some difficulties for the Saudi EFL learner where he replaces it with the sequence of the two phonetic segments /n/ and /g/, and the alveo-palatal affricate /c/, occurring in words like â€Å"children† and â€Å"speech† where, instead, he transfers his Arabic alveo-palatal fricative /s/. Emphasis on drills will also enable the learner to reduce a possible interference of the Arabic syllable structure CVCV into the English structure. Since some Saudis tend to pronounce English words like â€Å"against† as *againist†, and â€Å"first† as *firist†. Structural (behavioristic) teacher can help in solving other problematic linguistic features such as agreement and word order which Saudi EFL learner encounter. Thus, patterns and exercises are needed to reduce erroneous forms such as *†He play, they buyed, talls buildings, and hypercorrections such as: * â€Å"He cans, and She musts†. The transformational cognitive orientation can be effective in the advanced stages of a foreign language acquisition. Thus, for Saudi students at the university higher levels, where advanced courses on linguistics and translation are offered, it is logical to assume that structural drills, repetitions, and memorization techniques will no longer be essential. At this level of advancement in the intimate knowledge of language and culture we may conceive a minimal level of interference from the native tongue (Arabic) of the learners. Yet, such aspects of the target language as deep structure and transformational rules will enable the Saudi learner to understand some of the idiosyncratic forms and ambiguous sentences. Transformational rules will reinforce the learner’s awareness of the syntactic and the semantic relations between various English linguistic patterns. Through these linguistic relations, learners can make inferences and develop some generalizations about the structure of English language. Communication strategies, conversation, and creative essay writing using cultural content will be more beneficial at these levels. With regard to the translation program, the analysis of source language texts that translators have to translate and the analysis of texts they have to create, a process of linking aspects from cognitivism with that of behaviorism should be observed. Negotiating the meaning of the source language text is not just a sociolinguistic matter; it is psycholinguistic as well. Saudi trainees in our translation program happened to have rendered the meaning of â€Å"They are into the habit of splitting straws† based on knowledge acquired through some behavioristic approach and produced a literal erroneous translation outcome. This means that there is always much room for the smaller scale experimentation on the factors affecting the text conversion process. The transformation of a text originally in one language into an equivalent text in a different language demands that the content of the message and the formal features and functional roles of the original text should be retained. In this regard the Saudi trainees translated the verb â€Å"laid† in â€Å"They laid him open to blackmail† without any reference to a likely secondary meaning that the verb â€Å"lay† might imply. This approach supports the belief that much of our experience of the external world of the senses and of the inner world of the mind is mediated by language and by the concepts stored in our memories. These factors refer to entities via the convention of language and do so variably depending on the medium of communication (language used). It is the process that creates the translation outcome and it is only by understanding that process that we can hope to help our Saudi trainees to improve their linguistic skills. Having said that, it is difficult to see how translation theories can move beyond the subjective and the normative evaluation of texts without drawing heavily on aspects from both behaviorism an cognitivism. Translation theories have made little systematic use of the techniques and insights of contemporary linguistics. With this fact in mind, Saudi translation trainees should be trained within a framework that combines features from all branches of cognitivism and behaviorism. This entails developing in the  trainees’ performance and competence a familiarity with and a competence in the use of the psychological and psycholinguistic models of memory and information processing on the one hand, and linguistic models of meaning, including meaning beyond the sentence on the other. Logic of the examples provided above asserts the validity of some aspects of the two psycholinguistic views. Cognitive approach may operate with some specific semantic and pragmatic aspects of L2 by means of exploring features as cohesion, conceptual and connotative meanings, speech acts and kinetics. Such features should, at this stage, receive due consideration. CONCLUSION From the above analysis proceeds that with regard to language acquisition, behavioristic theory can provide much useful information concerning verbal responses and reinforcement. But it is inadequate to account for innate and cognitive features. Transformational theory, on the other hand, provides much useful information on the basic nature of the organism and its internal processes, but makes little or no account of stimulus-response-reinforcement relationships. Unlike the cognitive approach, behavioral approach tends to manipulate the language and disregard the content. Despite the pedagogic significance of both theories, it seems that none of their approaches is complete in itself. For one reason, the nature of the Arabic language has significantly different phonetic and grammatical structure from that of the English language. Due to this difference and as advocated by Smith (1987) there are â€Å"†¦ far fewer areas of facilitation, and far greater areas of interference†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (14) The situation of the Saudi EFL learners at the university level requires an eclectic approach with combined aspects derived from the approaches stated earlier. This approach can guarantee more effective outcome at the pedagogical level. I believe the attitude, the age, and the aptitude of the learners are three factors that should be considered in second language acquisition. A combination of innate propensities and objective necessity create the most favorable attitude. All these factors, including the teaching strategies, stand for fundamental variables in learning a foreign language. Relationship between communicative exchanges and syntactic forms alert the translator to the mechanisms that link the highly abstract and universal proposition with the totally physical and context-dependent utterance or text. REFERENCES (1) Pica, T. P. Communicative Language Teaching: â€Å"An aid to second language acquisition? Some insights from classroom research. † English Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 2, 1988. , (p. 70) (2) Malmkjaer K. (Ed. ) The Linguistics Encyclopedia, Routledge, Longon, 1991. , (p. 53) (3) Kebbe, Z. M. , Lectures in general Linguistics, An Introductory Course, Arabic Academic Press, Aleppo, 1995. , (p. 14) (4) Op. cit,(P. 53) (5) Aitchison, J. , Linguistics, Hodder Headline, London, 1992. , (p. 24) (6) Ibid. (p. 24) (7) Wilkins, D. A. , Linguistics in Language Teaching, Edward Arnold, London, 1974. , (p. 168-169) (8) Slakie, R. , The Chomsky Update, Linguistics and Politics, Unwin Hyman, Ltd, London 1990. , (p. 19) (9) Crystal,. D. , The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Linguistics, Cambridge University Press 1987. (p. 234) (10) Op. cit. (p. 26) (11) Ibid. , (p. 26) (12) Brown, H. D. and Gonzo, S. , Readings on Second Language Acquisition, Prentice Hall. , p. 77, 1995. (13) Carrol, J. B. , â€Å"The contribution of Psychological Theory and Educational Research to the Teaching of Foreign Language†, in Trends in Language Teaching, Ed. , Valdmen, 1966. (14) Swan, M. and Smith, B. (Ed.) Learner English, Ateacher’s guide to interference and other problems, Cambridge University Press, 1987. , (p. 147) (15) Bloomfield, L. 1933 Language. London: Allen & Unwin. (16) Chomsky, N. Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press, 1965. (17) Chomsky, No. Syntactic Structures. The Hague: Mouton, 1957. Afaleg, O. â€Å"A Comparison of Morpheme Acquisition Order in Learners of English as a Foreign Language versus English as a Second Language: The Case of Adult Learners in Saudia. Diss. Indiana Univesity, Bloomington, 1991. (18) Qadi, N. S. , â€Å"Acquistion of English Derivational Morphology by Arab Speakers†, Diss. University of Georgia, Athens, 1991. (19) Farraj. , A. M. â€Å"Acquistion of Tense and Aspect in the English Based Inter-Language of Non-native Speakers†, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1995. (20) Noor, Hashim, â€Å"The Acquisition of temporal Conjunctions by Saudi Arabian Learners of English’, International Journal of Applied Linguistics, Vol. 3, N. 1 (p. 101-2A), 1993. (21) Maghrabi, A. â€Å"The Roles of Psycholinguistic Constraints and Typological Influence in the Acquisition of Pronominal Copies in Relativization by Arabic and English Learners†, Thesis, Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. , 1997.

Islamic Finance & Critical Success Factors Essay

I Would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who contributed their time and effort and provided their insight in enabling the compilation of this report, it is with much regret that all of their names cannot be mentioned individually here, however special mention needs to be made of certain individuals, without whose input this report would have not been possible. Mr Baratha Devanarayana course coordinator and project supervisor of the Advanced Diploma in Business Management programme at the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) for the support and advice given in content structuring and format design of the report. Would also like to mention Mrs Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia and Mrs Shamshed Akhtar, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan whose knowledge and valuable insight on the Islamic finance industry as leading professionals in the field have provided the basis on which the compilation of this report has been made possible. Executive Summary Islamic finance is a financial system based on Shariah law or Islamic law which mandates the prohibition of charging or payment of interest encourages risk and profit sharing between all parties to a contract and emphasizes the need of ethical investment which contributes to the greater good of society as a whole. Islamic finance is now one of the fastest growing financial segments in the international financial system today with an estimated annual growth rate of 15 to 20%. Industry assets worldwide are currently estimated to be between $1. 3 trillion and its industry assets and overseas portfolios are estimated to reach 4 trillion in the medium term. Diverse financial products and services, progress in developing regulatory frameworks and enhanced international linkages are driving industry growth. The critical success factors for Islamic finance to foster the growth of the industry, the application of these critical success factors and there potential applicability in the Sri Lankan context will be analysed, a comparison between Islamic finance and the conventional system on some basic indicators for competitiveness, social development and development finance will be made and the Sri Lankan and regional potential of Islamic finance will be analysed as the research undertaking of this study. The progress that has been made on certain aspects of the Islamic financial system both locally and globally, the importance of Sri Lanka fostering the growth of the Islamic finance industry are some of the issues discussed in this study. As a prelude to the research part of this study the recent developments of Islamic finance both globally and locally and the historical development of Islamic finance will be looked at to facilitate an understanding on how the system has evolved from a single institution a few decades ago to a global industry with a global presence spreading from the Middle East to Asia and the West.