Writing a Blog for my second Lecture ( About consumer behaviour) Essay

Writing a Blog for my second Lecture ( About consumer behaviour) - Essay Example That’s why cognition familiarises the customer to the product, making him to be at ease on it. When this happens, the consumer eithers accept or rejects the information being processed in his mind. This is like passing by a Burger King store and feeling suddenly hungry. And then burger pictures flash on your mind. Before you know it, you’re in front of a crew taking your order. I have learned that consumer behaviour also goes beyond consumption of tangible products. It also depends on their use of services, experiences, ideas and many others (Hoyer and MacInnis, 2010, p.6). Like the products, services like going to the doctor or taking aerobics have been perceived and recognised inside the consumer’s mind, and therefore taking on with the decision of going there. The use of advanced communication technological devices is very popular in the advertisements today. It has been perceived as a must in our generation. Environmental influences are indeed many. However, recognising our own resources, needs and values when purchasing a product still rules out (Kardes et al, 2008, p.57; Blythe, 2008, p.19). This will help us gain satisfaction in meeting our

Perceptual Maps Essay Example for Free

Perceptual Maps Essay Perceptual Mapping, as defined by Miguel Mauricio Isoni and Cid Goncalves Filho (The Strategic Use of Perceptual Maps in Corporate Reputation Analysis: an Empirical Survey), is a â€Å"strategic management tool that offers a unique ability to show the complex relationship between marketplace competitors and the criteria used by buyers when making purchase decisions and recommendations. † Usually, perceptual maps is plotted through a two dimensional plane, thus it is capable mainly of comparing four factors affecting a certain market product. To come up with a perceptual map, product analyst would perform its designed three part methodology. A. The Three Phases of Perceptual Maps as Used in the Simulation I. The Exploratory Phase In this first stage, we would get to know the origin of the need for the making of the perceptual plan (Isoni Filho). The simulation had started with the laying out of the situation of Thor motorcycles decrease in sales with their product CruiserThor, a 1500cc power cruiser priced at $25,800. Thor believed that the decrease in sales they analyzed in May 1, 201 was brought by the growing older of its target costumers (bracket 35 – 50 yrs old) that made them no longer interested with the lifestyle CruiserThor symbolizes. The age bracket of 21 – 35 years could not also be a replacement since they prefer more buying low-cost motorcycles for practicality reasons concerning with their young age’s small disposable income. As a recommendable solution, we need a new marketing plan. But in order to come up with a plan, we need to know the position of the CruiserThor in the market through a perceptual map. Since we had opted with making a perceptual map, we then need to choose four fundamental parameters CruiserThor gives the most concern. And we decided that they were the Lifestyle Image, Service Offerings, Price and Quality Engineering. We would also have a comparison of CruiserThor with its other competitor product and then conduct a market research to obtain CruiserThor’s representational ratings. II. The Descriptive Phase At this point, we would then need to make a survey with structured questionnaire and with representative sample that will be analyzed by Perceptual Mapping software (Isoni Filho). This could be in the form of four questions asking for a ranking from 1 – 10 that corresponds to the existing client’s perception to the selected four parameters. Does the CruiserThor made a great impact with your lifestyle? Does it possess the uniqueness you could not see with its competitor brands? 2. Does the engineering design compensate with its projected lifestyle image? 3. Does the CruiserThor priced right? 4. Does its included technical support and additional services suffice its total package? As these questions are filled up by the CruiserThor’s customers, dealers and distributors, we could then extract from it the public’s representational perception. The values that we had assigned are 9. 2 for the lifestyle image. 1 for the service offerings, 2. 95 for the service offerings and 7. 1 for the quality engineering. These figures had also been compared with the figures generated from two of CruiserThor’s competitors, Anzai and Espritique. These figures tell the current position of the product which would then be subject to review and/or revisions. III. The Presentation Phase For this last phase, we would present the maps to the managers (Isoni Filho), who would then give generalized interpretation with the marketing of the product with respect to its four factors evaluated. As the values had been analyzed, two possible solutions were suggested, to enhance the current positioning strategy or to totally change it. We may also opt to launch a new motorcycle that targets younger costumers. If ever you chose the last, you should then decide how it would be packaged with its features as opposed to the constraint of cheaper pricing. As a final decision, we would then stick with launching a new product, called RRoth that would accommodate a younger age bracket. This option would undergo several stages so as to determine its proper marketing mix to be used. These were deliberations on how would it be priced, how would it be handed down to its end-users, and how would it be promoted. The company’s team of analyst suggested with a $13M budgeted RRoth motorcycles that would be priced $13T $15T. They would use the help of their identified dealers and distributors to act as its middleman. They would also set-up exclusive showrooms. Promotions that would be done were to offer insurance and protection plans, to offer free test rides, to hire celebrities for endorsements, and to provide giveaway merchandise. Additional services were dealers training, customization options and financial services. Total cost of differentiation decisions was then accounted to be $11. 149T. B. Summary of the Different Marketing Components Used I. Relationship between differentiation and positioning of products and services Differentiation, as its word implies, is the offering of various products that tends to target distinct costumers from each other. This would help with covering all the possible customers’ individual needs basing on bracketing schemes just like age. In relation to this, positioning strategies for these various products need to be considered so as to not make them compete with each other (Positioning Defined). As an example, CruiserThor was designed to target possible costumers coming from the age of 35–50 yrs. old. To address the need to cover the market with younger age who may wish to avail a lifestyle imaged motorcycle but at a lower cost, Thor motorcycles decided to launch RRoth and it was positioned to attract the age bracket of 21–35 yrs. old who were less likely to had disposable incomes. II. The Impact of Product Life Cycle Production analysis through time had come up with a thinking that products have a life cycle (Product life cycle management, Wikipedia). Products start with the market introduction stage by creating a demand through different ways of promotion and information dissemination about its importance of use. The product may either benefit or suffer the existence of competition depending on the reaction of its target costumers. Products would then enter into the growth stage wherein it should develop a sense of profitability to its producers and sellers. Competition would usually increase as others would see its success in gaining a market share. As the products gain years being in the market, it would enter the maturity stage wherein the cost of production was minimized since publicity is less likely to be required. Final stage would be whether the product be stable or in a state of decline depending on the continuity of interest of its target costumers. References M. Isoni C. Filho. The Strategic Use of Perceptual Maps in Corporate Reputation Analysis: An Empirical Survey. Retrieved June 14, 2008 from www. isbee. org/index. php? option=com_docmantask=doc_downloadgid=33 Perceptual Mapping. Retrieved June 14, 2008 from http://www. populus. com/files/Perceptual%20Mapping_f_1. pdf Perceptual Mapping. Retrieved June 14, 2008 from http://www. iqlogo. com/library/perceptual-mapping. htm Product life cycle management. Retrieved June 14, 2008 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Product_life_cycle_management Positioning Defined. Retrieved June 14, 2008 from http://www. 1000ventures. com/business_guide/crosscuttings/positioning_main. html

The Destruction of Innocence in Shakespeares Othello Essays -- GCSE E

The Destruction of Innocence in Othello      Ã‚  Ã‚   One way, albeit a partial way, of reading the tragedy of 'Othello' is too see it as the destruction of innocence, trust, and idealized love by a cynical and maliciously motivated worldliness, which regards the very existence of innocence and beauty as its motivation: 'the divinity of hell'. Iago's manipulative malignity is a crucial factor in the tragic catastrophe but it also serves to highlight through contrast the alternative values in the play, amongst which one can include innocence and naivety. In the argument below innocence is understood to be inexperience of the world but also that which is separated from evil. Naivety has the meaning of gullibility, even folly but more positively is the condition of the child, trusting, artless and unaffected by the cynical questioning and deceit which characterizes the worldly. Shakespeare portrays naivety and innocence principally, but not exclusively, through the characterization of Desdemona and Othello, and through a whole range of dramatic techniques: their language, behavior, their interaction with other characters, the imagery applied to them etc. The portrayal of the qualities is a complex one which is significant in the following ways. Firstly, the vulnerability of innocence and naivety helps drive the play towards its tragic conclusion, although it is matter of debate whether the principal cause of the catastrophe is the vulnerability of innocence or the ingenuity of wickedness. Secondly, the values of innocence and naivety comprise values which are dramatized in opposition to those represented principally by Iago; each illuminates the other. This is one of the conflicts central to the dramatic action. The contrast betwe... ...'s Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 1-19) Bloom, Harold. "Introduction" Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (1-6) Hale, Steven. Class lectures. Georgia Perimeter College. April 20th -30th, 1999 Jones, Eldred. "Othello- An Interpretation" Critical Essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 39-55) Muir, Kenneth. Introduction. William Shakespeare: Othello. New York: Penguin Books, 1968. Neely, Carol. "Women and Men in Othello" Critical Essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 68-90) Snyder, Susan. "Beyond the Comedy: Othello" Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (page 23-37)

Black Boy Isolation Essay

In Richard Wright’s book, â€Å"Black Boy,† the main character who also narrates the story is Richard himself since the book is written from his point of view; we find out a lot about how Richard feels and get detailed accounts of how he reacts to the things that happen to him. Even though Richard tries hard to relate to all groups of people around him, he cannot because he is so different, so much more independent and strong willed than the masses around him, these and other forms of isolation help shape Richard Wright’s character throughout the novel. In Richard’s neighborhood when he lives with his grandma, the thing that separates him most from everyone else is religion. Richard decided he is an atheist at a very young age, which also demonstrates his ability to think independently, even under pressure. He is persistent and stands by his view, because he cannot relate to the one imposed on him. He says, â€Å"Perhaps if I had †¦ remained basically unaffected. (pg 112) Richard believes that religion cannot give him anything more than he already has, so he rejects it as pointless even though everyone around him is trying to persuade him to accept God or else â€Å"lose his soul† and countless other threats. But, Richard is strong and doesn’t pay attention to any of these threats, which in a way separates him from his entire neighborhood. This and going to a religious school where all his peers have dry personalities, contributes to his isolation as a child. And, since he does not believe that God cares about him, this may increase his loneliness even more. So Richard starts to look to other things, such as writing, as a way to create a world for himself in which he does not feel isolated. Another group that he feels very far from is his immediate family. Ever since Richard was little, he has been beaten, threatened, scared and hungry and he mostly associates these feelings with members of his family. Because of the lack of love around him, Richard cannot believe in true love, which is a scar for life. For example when he meets Bess he says, â€Å"I stared at her†¦ then I was sorry that I had said it,† (pg 218. ) When Bess tries to be nice to Richard he is shocked and cannot understand how some people can love so purely and simply. He also comes to realize that he has a very different understanding of the word â€Å"love† than Bess because he has never been loved by anyone nor had any real family life. So, his isolation from his family early in life becomes a handicap later when he is unable to accept true love, which isolates him even more from people in his dult life. The last and most important group Richard cannot relate to at all is the white community. He is so different from the other blacks; willing to question racism, independent, not wanting to be treated like everyone else and with a deep, unique understanding that racism is wrong. He also voices his concerns more than the other blacks, so he has to bear a lot of violence and putdowns throughout his life. He has a conversation about this with Griggs, an old schoolmate: â€Å"Do you want to get killed? †¦ don’t anybody act a damn bit like it. (pg 183) and then contemplates this idea: â€Å"It was simply †¦ my way with everybody. † (pg 185) This is the most important isolation in the book because even though it applies to all blacks it applies to Richard even more because he is different from the whites as well as the blacks. This makes him not part of either community; he cannot understand the way black people act like whites are superior and he cannot understand the way white people act like blacks are inferior. Richard is again isolated from everyone around him. In conclusion, because of the ignorance and intolerance of all the people around him, black and white, Richard can never relate to anyone, which makes him lead a very lonely and detached life. This in turn motivates him to find a better life, whether it would be in the North or in novels/writing. Because of this isolation and narrow-mindedness of people around him, Richard aspires to be someone and to prove to the people who don’t believe in him and his values that he will continue to be an individual no matter what.

Green Mountain Case Essay

Introduction Green Mountain Resort is a small resort that gives people a choice to buy vacation homes with the added luxury of golf, tennis and skiing. With Gunter as the new owner, his main issues were the high turnover rate. In such a small operation and the type of industry, the opportunities for promotion were few and Gunter was faced with the irony that if he reduced the turnover, there would be even fewer openings for advancement (Palmer, Dunford & Akin, 2009). This was due to the type of industry and the fact that the resort was a rural area. Green Mountain Resort Change Images There are six change images; each Gunter, the hospitality literature and the consultant have been described by an image. Gunter is the director (during the beginning of the story), he is the owner of the resort and he is the one who wants to change the turnover rate. The assumption is that change is a strategic choice that mangers make and the survival and general well-being of the organization depends on them (Palmer, Dunford & Akin, 2009). As the story went on Gunter became a mentor and began to change with the help of the consultant to more of a coaching image. The hospitality literature falls under the navigator. In the navigator image, control is still seen as at the heart of the management action, although a variety of factors external to managers mean that while they may achieve some intended change outcome, others will occur over which they have little control (Palmer, Dunford & Akin, 2009). The literature played a role of navigator as it identified turnover as a chronic prob lem that the industry endures and made several suggestions on how one can help reduce the effects. Lastly the consultant, he played the role of the interpreter as he was able to interpret the problem of turnover and how he was able to change the perspective of Gunter in a way that dissolved the problem. Instead of a problem turnover instead, became a way that the resort could use as a way to recruit talent. Assumption -Turnover Problem Each of these assumptions influenced prescriptions for dealing with the turnover problem. For example, Gunter only seemed to make the problem worse when he played the director when he attempted to solve the turnover as a problem, but when he changed the way he looked at the issue he became the coach and turned the problem in to an advantage. The hospitality literature was the navigator as it defined turnover as a problem that was considered chronic and something that must be endured in the industry. It’s prescription for dealing with the turnover problem included streamlining training, simplifying jobs and making the HR process more efficient. The consultant seemed to make the allow Gunter to look at the ‘problem’ from a different perspective. He mentioned in that if you do not try, try and try again, but if at last you don’t succeed then try something different and that is exactly what Gunter had to do. Change Image- Turnover Problem Another image that can be applied to the turnover problem is the nurturer. Like a parent’s relationship with a child, future outcomes are nurtured or shaped, but the ability to produce intended outcomes at the end of the day is severely limited because of the impact of much wider, sometimes chaotic forces and influences (Palmer, Dunford & Akin, 2009). The turnover problem is something (like a child) that is not going away, especially in the hospitality industry. Gunter had to accept the issue and try and work with it rather than against it. With the new insights to advertise Green Mountain Resort as a company that they ‘recruit high-potential people, offering them promise of rapid career development’ helped bring new insight to the turnover problem (Palmer, Dunford & Akin, 2009). Conclusion Conclusions that I drew from the statement ‘if we only draw upon one particular frame, then this will take us away from thinking about what is going on from an alternative perspective?’ would be that a single structure can effectively make it impossible to come up with innovative solutions. The Green Mountain case showed that it is not enough to believe that a problem can have different solutions. Rather the problem can be enhanced rather than gone completely. Conclusion This case has changed the way I look at problems. You cannot always make a problem go away and there are times where you may need help and calling someone in to give the problem a fresh set of eyes to see what they suggest may be exactly what the problem needs. Gunter at first was looking at the high turnover rate as a problem and that he wanted to lower the rate. Being in the hospitality industry high turnover is almost a given. After calling in the consultant Gunter realized that he need to change how he handled the turnover rate. He did this by advertising his company and a company that hired well educated employees that were likely to advance their career quickly. By doing this he helped employee grow and always had applicants wanted to be hired so they could grow as well. References Palmer, I., Dunford, R., & Akin, G. (2009). Managing organization change. (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin

8 Convenient Life Hacks for the Workplace

8 Convenient Life Hacks for the Workplace How do those people at work who always seem to have the right thing to say or do in any situation do it? How do people seem so confident and polished, when you always feel like you’re falling apart at the seams? Their tricks might be simpler than you think. It’s often the littlest things that make the biggest impact. Here are some convenient life hacks, pulled from real people who’ve used them in actual offices, to help you navigate your work life and come out on top.1. Dropbox your resumeEver been caught with your pants down and not had a copy of your resume when you really needed one? If you’re on the go, you can rest assured that you can email or print your resume directly from your phone if you use a service/app like Dropbox.2. Always type in the address lastYou’re writing an important professional email. You’re nervously wording everything perfectly. Make sure you don’t accidentally hit send before you’ve had a chance to lo ok it over. Make the address part the very last thing you type in. That way you always know you’re sending out a perfect, proofread product. No accidents! You can also set up (in Gmail based clients, anyway) a 5-10 second send delay, which gives you the chance to â€Å"undo† when you’ve sent too soon.3. Be the whiteboard heroSome numpty wrote on the office whiteboard in permanent marker? Rather than stare at whatever they wrote for the rest of your career, go over each mark with a normal whiteboard marker. Something magic happens between the two ink types that will make it possible to erase both together. For bonus points, charge admission to your magic trick.4. Take a chill pillIf you’re starting to feel overwhelmed and exhausted, even before you get to work, try building 2-5 minutes to yourself into your morning routine. Just sit with a cup of water, juice, or coffee and do nothing. Don’t even strategize about your day. Just be. You’ll fee l more rested and invigorated when you actually get back to your routine.5. Pay it forward–for yourselfWe’ve all had it happen: finish a job interview, walk outside, and realize immediately all the brilliant things you should have said. Write them down! Immediately and thoroughly. Then keep them for your next interview. 99.9% of it will be reusable, and very valuable. If you don’t get this job, you’ll have a great boost for the next.6. Hold your tongueIf we screw up, or we’re five minutes late, or we don’t have the document ready, it’s a knee-jerk reaction to preemptively apologize and offer up an explanation (read: excuse). Next time, hold on to it unless you’re asked for one. They might not have even noticed you were unprepared and the excuse will only serve to highlight what you did or didn’t do. Plus, nobody wants a reputation for making tons of excuses.7. Do the dirty deedOne way to distinguish yourself at work- and make yourself a hero- is to figure out the particular task or set of tasks that everyone else seems to avoid or hates to do, and do that. Well. Your niche in the office will be secure- even indispensable. And you’ll be the most popular employee around.8. Treat others how you would treat your bossSeriously. It is a little bit about popularity. Treat all of your coworkers, even your subordinates, as though they were the ones deciding about your raises and promotions and vacation requests. You never know who will make the difference in your career as it develops.â€Å"flair:’Careers Work

A Modern Family Essays

A Modern Family Essays A Modern Family Essay A Modern Family Essay A Modern Family The situation comedy on television that I choose to study, which I believe highlights family values and functions, is ABC’s â€Å"Modern Family†. As the title suggests this is based on what we might perceive as the current, everyday family. I have watched this show with mixed emotions since its inception but these are only my observations about the show, no one can know what the writer’s background is and from what mindset they are coming from. The show is about the â€Å"New† version of your basic family tree, but being a modern version there are several differences from an â€Å"Ossie Harriett† family show. They give us as many of the different types of family dynamics as possible in a thirty minute program. We have the patriarch of the family as a divorced older man with a second marriage to a younger woman. It doesn’t hurt that the younger women is a Latin bombshell with a young son. This shows to me the almost typical family with divorce being common place in our society. Then you have the patriarch’s married daughter with an adolescent acting husband and several children living at home. Last but not least, we have the patriarch’s gay son and life partner with their adopted Asian daughter. Sadly this just shows to me that society accepts this behavior as normal, not the abomination it is according to the Bible, adoption is a beautiful thing but why do they ruin it by having a to portray a gay couple. Just as an example, one episode reflects on the family’s reaction to the children of the married daughter walking in on their parents having sex. Of course the kids freak out and claim they are scared for life and the parents freak out because they remember being scared by seeing the same thing with their own parents but the kids come to the realization that at least their parents are together and still â€Å"doing it†, unlike many of their friends whose parents are no longer together. The married daughter talks with her father about the reasons why he never spoke with her about the same situation when she was young. He admits that they just didn’t communicate with their kids like parents do today. This sitcom does try to deliver the concept of togetherness in family, support for one another and the tightness that family bonds can bring. A unique use of confessional interviews gives us an insight into what the individuals are really thinking. They talk to an unknown cameraperson about what they were really thinking or doing instead of what we actually saw on camera. The â€Å"mockumentary† style gives the viewer the real skinny on what’s happening. This mocking part of the show does give a little negativity to the program, because it shows how the family member might not actually like what just happened or was said but they truly did not confront the other family member. â€Å"Modern Family† seems to focus more on how the families interact with one another, more so then how they interact with the outside world. They do cover some if not all your typical family values but unfortunately they are worldly based not Godly based values, so we have all the worldly negative influences. They have â€Å"good† messages each program but not â€Å"Godly† messages. I wouldn’t say that this program has had a positive or negative influence on my personal view of what a family is, it’s just shown me more so how callous we as a society have become to many of the Biblical teachings, in the name of entertainment.

No Medical Degree No Problem for These Five Healthcare Jobs

No Medical Degree No Problem for These Five Healthcare Jobs Healthcare is one of the world’s fastest growing industries, promising everything from high pay to job security to workers entering the field. According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), total employment in occupations related to healthcare is expected to skyrocket by 11 percent - a total of 15.6 million jobs - in the decade between 2012 and 2022. Let’s countdown five of the most promising healthcare jobs that don’t require a medical degree. 5. Pharmacy TechniciansMinimal educational requirements - a high school diploma or its equivalent - and a growth rate of 20 percent over a 10-year period earn pharmacy technicians a spot on this list.Working alongside pharmacists in pharmacies, grocery stores, drug stores and hospitals, pharmacy technicians help pharmacists with the dispensation of prescription medications.Most pharmacy technicians learn through on-the-job training, although there are some secondary education programs. Some sta tes require that pharmacy techs complete a training program accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.4. Dispensing OpticiansWith a projected growth rate of 23 percent between 2012 and 2022, the number of jobs for workers in this field is predicted to rise by nearly 16,000 during that same period of time.Dispensing opticians work in stores that sell visual aids, including glasses, contact lenses and other optical goods. Based on prescriptions from optometrists and ophthalmologists, dispensing opticians are responsible for fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses, as well as assisting customers in deciding on the right products.The median annual salary for dispensing opticians is just over $22,300, although the top 10 percent may earn nearly $53,000. In addition to a high school diploma, on-the-job training is usually sufficient to obtain a position as a dispensing optician.3. Dental AssistantsA projected growth rate of 25 percent between 2012 and 2022 earns denta l assistants a spot on the list of fastest growing healthcare careers.Depending on where they work, dental assistants may be responsible for a wide range of tasks - from scheduling appointments to taking X-rays to providing patient care.While there’s no single path to becoming a dental assistant, some states do require graduation from an accredited program as well as the passing of a state exam. Additionally, many community colleges offer year-long certificate programs, as well as two-year programs which convey an associate’s degree. The typical dental assistant school curriculum include a mix of classroom, laboratory and clinical work.Dental assistants earn an average salary of $34,500, although top earners may bring home nearly $50,000.2. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular TechnologistsWith a job outlook projected at 39 percent, these imaging experts are expected to be in great demand in the coming ye ars.Largely employed in hospital settings, diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians are trained in the use of special equipment in order to create images and conduct tests used by physicians to diagnose medical conditions as well as to aid during surgical procedures.With an average pay of $60,350 per year, these professionals do require some formal education and qualifications, such as an associate’s degree and postsecondary certificate. Some diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians choose to pursue bachelor’s degree programs in sonography and in cardiovascular and vascular technology.1. Home Health AidesA projected growth rate of a staggering 48 percent between 2012 and 2022 earns home health aides the top spot on this list. Requiring less than a high school diploma and a short period of on-the-job training, home health aides can expect to enjoy unprecedented job security in the years ahea d.Working in a variety of settings, home health aides help people - from seniors to the disabled or cognitively impaired - who require assistance with basic daily activities.As more and more seniors make the choice to age in place, home health aides will become an increasingly vital part of the healthcare system. And while the current median salary is just under $21,000, the increased need for these workers is expected to drive pay upward.While doctors may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of healthcare professions, there are plenty of other career paths for aspiring members of the healthcare industry. Each of these five professions offers extraordinary job security, along with educational and training requirements far less strenuous than the ones imposed upon doctors. The result? Unprecedented opportunities for people looking to get a foot in the door of the in-demand healthcare industry.

Needle stick injuiries among support and ancillary staff in a national Dissertation

Needle stick injuiries among support and ancillary staff in a national hospital - Dissertation Example Despite these injuries being common, they are often under reported and in many places, both health care and non-health care workers are unaware of safety methods to prevent these infections. Globally, needle stick injuries are the most common cause of blood-borne infections among health care workers (Wilburn and Eijekamans, 2004). More than 35 million people worldwide constitute health care work force and they represent 12 percent of the working population in the world (Wilburn and Eijekamans, 2004). It is estimated that people working with them as non-health workers are even more in numbers (NHS, 2008). While health care workers are exposed to several biological hazards including blood-borne pathogens and airborne pathogens directly, non-health workers too are at risk of exposure. In addition to pathogens, both health and non-health workers are also exposed hazardous chemicals like sterilizing agents and disinfectants which increase the risk of development of dermatitis, asthma, car cinogens, reproductive toxins, etc (Wilburn and Eijekamans, 2004). ... ent among healthcare workers, which are a potential source for transmission of various diseases like Hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus. These injuries are also a potential source of transmission of prion-related diseases. The risk of transmission of hepatitis C with needle stick injuries is 3 percent, for hepatitis B is 30 percent and for HIV is 0.3 percent (Elmiyeh et al, 2004). The transmission from the patient to the healthcare worker through the injury depends on the viral load of the patient and also on the amount of blood that passes from the patient to the healthcare worker. Other infections which are transmissible through needle stick injuries are malaria, syphilis and herpes (Wilburn and Eijekamans, 2004). Management of needle stick injuries should follow state, national and international protocols. From various studies, especially the study by Thomson and Murray (2009), it is evident that only 3 percent of those who suffered from needle stick injuries follo wed any policy, be it either reporting or prevention of disease. The first aid for contaminated sharps injury must be encourage bleeding and washing with soap and water. The type of injury and the status of the patient must be discussed with local public health consultant immediately who will conduct an urgent preliminary risk assessment. In case there is risk of HIV infection, post exposure prophylaxis must be initiated as soon as possible, ideally within one hour. This is estimated to reduce the risk of transmission bu 80 percent. Post exposure prophylaxis must initiated much before the reports of the donor are available. Post exposure prophylaxis is a 28-day treatment with triple combination of antiretroviral drugs. it is associated with significant complications and needs follow up

Written assignments Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Written assignments - Assignment Example One of the major marketing concepts of a brand is communication; properly communicated brand enhances the establishment of brand’s position, shields the brand from competition, and promotes the brands market performance. The brand has products that are driven from the consumer needs and are managed through the three basic stages including; introduction, elaboration and fortification. As such through this approach, it has been possible for the management to obtain a means of product-market introduction, elaboration and fortification. This has been done over a long period of time hence enabling the brand to be leading provider of soft drinks worldwide. The brand has employed the concept of functional needs thereby enabling it to solve consumer problems. This concept enables the brand to solve the consumers’ externally generated problems such as thirst. It also employs the symbolic concept that enables one to feel associated to a certain class or group of people. To some extent the brand also employs a mixture of symbolic, functional, and experimental concepts hence it brings a universal benefit to the consumers. Despite of its multiple concepts, it has been able to put forth a strong image and a strong brand management mechanism that has enabled it to stay ahead of all of its competitors. The concepts selected for this brand has made it possible for it guide its market positioning decisions. The concepts employed have provided a basis for the determination of its market boundaries and expansions (Peter 9). The way in which the brand concept and its image is being managed over a long period of the life of the brand has created trust on the brand among the consumers. Throughout the three management strategies which include; introduction, elaboration, and fortification, ‘positioning strategy as a marketing concept has enabled consumers to understand

Ethics and International Politics - 'What, if any role ought scholars Essay

Ethics and International Politics - 'What, if any role ought scholars and practitioners of international politics envision for morality & justice in the international realm of the political - Essay Example This, therefore, creates a need for applying ethical theories that can ensure a clear line between practical and moral issues in the international relations scene. As a result, there have to be some individuals such as scholars and practitioners who determine the direction of morality and justice. In this paper, I will examine the roles scholars and practitioners of international politics envision for morality and justice in the international realm of the political. Morality and justice in the international realm is a responsibility that requires a sense of duty in all the key players. According to Kant (1988), everyone has an obligation to assume the introduction of justice in terms of the arrival of perpetual peace and the ethical commonwealth. Morality can only be ascertained on the grounds that endless development of the capacity of humans to do good is a fact under consideration. All in all, sense of responsibility and duty in all humans are what directs us to assume the development of the world, bearing the concept of justice in mind (Kant, 1988). As such, since justice can be some necessity, then moral actions can no longer be regarded as noble, but rather rational. This is because of the need to act according to the projected development of the world’s gradual just system (Rakic, 2010). There is a wide distribution of potential in units of the realm, some of which has more potential than others and thus determines the shape of the realm, as well as poses the problems that the not so capable ones have to handle. This position, in one way or the other, creates tragedy between international politics and oligopolistic sectors of a unit’s economy. This is because the major actors with immense potential control the actions of the others with no potential. According to Frost (2003) and Mayall (2003), scholars of politics and international relations need to consider tragedy on a more serious ground than they have

Coursework assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Coursework assignment - Essay Example business to compete more successfully in the world marketplace and in its excellent development tool for its workforce (PRASAD, 2012: 24).The International Human Resource manager is thus supposed to consider a number of aspects when working in multinational aspects, which includes; laws of the country, the culture of people, and work conditions for expatriate as well as the local employees, and pay expectations. Human resource practitioners and managers usually encounter problems, for a number of reasons, when sending employees on international duties and projects sometimes with disastrous results (HALVERSON, & TIRMIZI, 2008: 9). A different major reason could be that HR managers send employees on international duties without offering them the necessary training or allowing a period for the transitional phase (ILES, & ZHANG, 2013: 67). During this period, the human resource managers need to develop the necessary and required leadership skills for their employees, according to the employee’s level of authority in the host country, come up with the structures, and obtain the human resource as well as the international procedures and policies of the organization in place, which is also applicable for HR managers when sent on international duties. Companies are directed by people who have features and basic expertise which allow them to bond with the firms as well as people involved with the business. Human resource managers are thus supposed to be able to meet the numerous difficulties of performing their commitments. Human resource managers thus presume a number of roles which entail being a supervisor, figurehead, representative, and the allocator of assets as well as the resources (WILTON, 2013: 7). They put down and achieve the firm’s objectives by planning, ordering, directing as well as controlling (NOE, 2013: 127). The human resource managers are also concerned with the global alignment and coordination of international HR policies as well as

The growth of internet gambling and the implications for regulation Essay

The growth of internet gambling and the implications for regulation and harm minimisation in Australia - Essay Example Based on the discussion and analysis, it has been analyzed that Australia has become one the major countries in online gambling industry. The economic benefits which gambling industry has been providing to Australia stopped the government to pursue the effective harm minimisation programs. Today, online gambling has increased the concerns for Australian regulators because of the increasing problem gambling, crime rate etc. Even the harm minimisation programs have been unsuccessful to curb the growth of increasing internet gambling. It can be projected based on the current growth of internet gambling that soon gambling will become the largest industry of Australia and concerns will further increase. If Australian government pursues stricter legislative framework and other strategies to stop the growth of internet gambling, it forgoes the huge economic benefits. If Australian government keeps pursuing the current strategies then current growth will keep its pace. On the other hand, if Australian government introduces more flexible policies, then economic issues can increase however, the government can enjoy huge influx of revenues. Therefore, in which direction Australian government should go, completely depends on the long-term economic strategies of the government. However, one important thing which this research essay has highlighted is that growing online gambling does have significant implications for Australian government and harm minimisation. In the beginning, all original forms of gambling were prohibited however, gradually all of them were legalised. The online gambling started in Australia in 1996 in the Northern Territory and in 2001, when the federal government legalised internet gambling, Interactive Gambling Act 2001 was introduced. (Hsu, 2006). Since then gambling industry of Australia is expanding and growing very rapidly and it has even created a lot of challenges for the Australian economy. What Australian Government has been Doing to Control O nline Gambling in Past? Internet gambling has established new challenges for the regulators because unlike traditional casinos, the online gambling websites cannot be closed (Schwarz, 1999). Therefore, because of the nature of online gambling, it could be only controlled through government regulations. Even after legalising gambling, Australian Government has always remained concerned to monitor and control online and traditional gambling. The Australian Government has taken the regulatory responsibility of online gaming and according to Interactive Gambling Act 2001, government has made domicile online gaming site illegal for the Australian residents and these websites only target the oversees community. However, despite the control through regulations and legislations, Australian Government is facing problems in control the internet gambling market in Australia (Fabiansson, 2010). Australian Gambling Regulation controls gambling in Australia. With the growing online gambling, Aust ralian Government introduced Australian Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001 which bans online gambling in Australia. According to this Act, offering interactive gambling service to an individual physically present in Australia is an offense. If a person commits this offence, he is subject to a penalty of $220,000 per day if he offers services to individuals and penalty of $1.1 million per day if he serves corporate bodies. Moreover, online wagering and lotteries are not prohibited (Humphrey, 2008). The online gambling costs are increasing and to minimise harm from gambling activities, harm minimisation strategies are in place. To achieve harm minimisation, Australian Government has adopted three strategies; first, through direct regulation of internet gambling sites; second, covering online gambling within the broader gambling regulation framework; third, achieving harm minimisation through non-regulatory approaches (FAHCSIA, 2009). Growth in Online Gambling in Australia The Austral ian economy realised the growing trends in traditional and internet gambling with the increase in household spending on gambling. With the expansion of gambling in Australia, the proportion of money spent on gambling per household also increased from 1.7 percent in 1982-1983 to 3.2 percent in 1997-1998 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2000). In 2002-2003, around Australian $18.54 million were spent on internet gambling in Austr

Coursework assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Coursework assignment - Essay Example business to compete more successfully in the world marketplace and in its excellent development tool for its workforce (PRASAD, 2012: 24).The International Human Resource manager is thus supposed to consider a number of aspects when working in multinational aspects, which includes; laws of the country, the culture of people, and work conditions for expatriate as well as the local employees, and pay expectations. Human resource practitioners and managers usually encounter problems, for a number of reasons, when sending employees on international duties and projects sometimes with disastrous results (HALVERSON, & TIRMIZI, 2008: 9). A different major reason could be that HR managers send employees on international duties without offering them the necessary training or allowing a period for the transitional phase (ILES, & ZHANG, 2013: 67). During this period, the human resource managers need to develop the necessary and required leadership skills for their employees, according to the employee’s level of authority in the host country, come up with the structures, and obtain the human resource as well as the international procedures and policies of the organization in place, which is also applicable for HR managers when sent on international duties. Companies are directed by people who have features and basic expertise which allow them to bond with the firms as well as people involved with the business. Human resource managers are thus supposed to be able to meet the numerous difficulties of performing their commitments. Human resource managers thus presume a number of roles which entail being a supervisor, figurehead, representative, and the allocator of assets as well as the resources (WILTON, 2013: 7). They put down and achieve the firm’s objectives by planning, ordering, directing as well as controlling (NOE, 2013: 127). The human resource managers are also concerned with the global alignment and coordination of international HR policies as well as

Examine the view that marketing theory and concepts portrayed in the Essay - 2

Examine the view that marketing theory and concepts portrayed in the traditional marketing literature have only limited application in guiding small business ma - Essay Example of the products that are sold through the help and facilitation of distribution channels, word of mouth approaches and formation of brand personalities and so on and so forth. When it comes to an understanding of the working methodologies of small and large businesses, there is a direct change which is manifested as per their working mechanisms and related undertakings. What we aim to study is to discern the fact that small and large businesses do it differently both from the short term as well as in the long run. Thus kicking off the debate in the line of the business size, the first and foremost understanding is of delving into what marketing concept actually is. The sales concept is basically making sure a product is produced and hence sold through proper distribution channels while on the other hand a marketing concept entails the pre-production activities related with a product, selling and marketing it extensively when its on the shelves of the retail outlet and looking after the post purchase dissonance, if any there is found. Similarly, customer satisfaction would mean their retention and eventual further selling of the product. Hard sell of the product can come under the marketing concept but then again soft sell is a strategy that tries to smoothly get into the purchase cycles of its intended customers and hence make a sale. The evaluation of the marketing concept is made possible due to the hard line policies drafted by the people who were in charge of carrying out the sales concep t which was simply to produce a product and thus sell it, without gaining proper insight as to whether or not this product met the intended requirements of the customer or it had some defect which needed to be repaired at the earliest. Now the aspect of hard sell and soft sell could be equally true for the small and the large business entities since the small business cannot just focus on the soft sell approach as it has to get its message through to the relevant target

Behavior Problem Essay Example for Free

Behavior Problem Essay The management of disruptive behavior problems is a familiar concern for many schools. Student’s behavior problems are challenging at all levels in school in recent years, behavior difficulties in school have increased, teachers seem to be unprepared to deal with these problem. According to C. E. C. P (1998) â€Å"Difficult student misbehaviors, reported by teacher include violation of classroom rules, being truant from school, blaming others for problems, irresponsible behavior, and destruction of property. p. 21) Given the seriousness of these behaviors, teacher are spending disproportionately more time on behavior problems that take away from instructions, compromising learning for both the student with the behavior difficulties and rest of the classroom. Therefore, teachers need to formulate a plan to help students with their behavioral problems so that the learning and teaching process happens actively and smoothly. 2. 0 Behavior Problems 2. 1 Definition of behavior, problem, and behavior problem. Behavior Behavior defines as the manner in which one behaves / The actions or reactions of a person or animal in response to external or internal stimuli. One of these actions or reactions: a hormone . . . known to directly control sex-specific reproductive and parenting behaviors in a wide variety of vertebrates (Thomas Maugh II). (Cited from American Heritage Dictionary) Problem Problem defines as any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty/ a question proposed for solution or discussion / difficult to train or guide. cited from dictionary. com) Behavior Problem So basically behavior problems have both of the elements of behavior and problem. Which defines as a n action or reaction of a person to external or internal stimuli which involves qoubt, uncertainty or difficulty. 2. 2 Types of behavioral problems. There are 11 most common types of behavioral problem that a teacher might encounter in schools. (KidsBehavior (UK). mht). They are; a)Aggressive Outburst b)Biting peers or objects c)Pulling peers hair d)Banging their head )Hitting their peers f)Pinching their peers g)Always being absent to class h)Using violence in classroom i)Lying/ blaming others j)Usage of vulgar/abusive words k)Stealing Not only behavior problems distract the attention in a classroom but also behavior disorder. Behavior disorder is a much more severe problem than behavior problems. This is because behavior disorders are hardwired in the students system. There are many types of behavior disorders and among them are a) autism, b) post-traumatic stress disorder and many more. Unfortunately, a teacher would not be able to help these types of children because this type of children needs special attention. Therefore, if a teacher recognizes any kind of behavioral disorder in a child, the teacher should inform to his/her parents as soon as possible. As concerning with behavioral problems, there are number of methods/strategies techniques available to cure them. Teachers should know these methods/strategies/techniques in order to help the students to mend their behavior problem and to help the school from facing displin problems. The term for this methods/strategies/techniques is Behavior Modification 3. 0 Overcoming Behavior Problems with Behavior Management and Behavior Modification 3. 1 Definition of Behavior Management and Behavior Modification. Behavior management skills are particularly of importance to teachers in the educational system. Behavior management is all of the actions and conscious inactions to enhance the probability people, individually and in groups, choose behaviors, which are personally fulfilling, productive, and socially acceptable. Behavior modification is the use of empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques to improve behavior, such as altering an individuals behaviors and reactions to stimuli through positive and negative reinforcement of adaptive behavior and/or the reduction of maladaptive behavior through positive and negative punishment. 3. 2 Behavior Management 1) Behavior management is applied at the group level by a classroom teacher as a form of behavioral engineering to produce high rates of student work completion and minimize classroom disruption. ) â€Å"Contemporary behavior modification approaches involve students more actively in planning and shaping their own behavior through participation in the negotiation of contracts with their teachers and through exposure to training designed to help them to monitor and evaluate their behavior more actively, to learn techniques of self-control and problem solving, and to set goals and reinforce themselves for meeting these goals. – (Br ophy (1986)) ) The most common practices of this behavior management rely on the use of applied behavior analysis principles such as positive reinforcement and mild punishments 4) This principle follows the Operant Conditioning system by B. F. Skinner, which is to describe the effects of the consequences of a particular behavior on the future occurrence of that behavior. There are four types of Operant Conditioning: Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Punishment, and Extinction. Both Positive and Negative Reinforcement strengthen behavior while both Punishment and Extinction weakens behavior. ) Examples of situation whereby the teacher uses the two main types of operant conditioning. 3. 2. 1 Positive Reinforcement Definition: Is an attempt to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future, an operant response is followed by the presentation of an appetitive stimulus. Example of situation in a classroom on how to use positive reinforcement. A teacher who uses positive rein forcement will constantly and consistently praised the students, ignored small infractions and was encouraging no matter what answer the students get. Once one student was totally off track with his answer and the teachers response was no, but you are thinking and that is what I enjoy seeing you think, listen to others and try again. Every minute or two the teacher was saying something positive. 3. 2. 2 Negative Reinforcement Definition: Negative reinforcement occurs when a behavior is reinforced by removal of a stimulus. The word negative does not mean unpleasant. It means a stimulus is removed or subtracted from the situation as a form of reinforcement Example of situation in a classroom on how to use negative reinforcement. Suppose your teacher said you could skip the final exam by studying an extra chapter and taking a quiz on it. You might study an extra chapter (your studying behavior would be made more frequent) because of the promise of an unpleasant stimulus, being removed (no final exam) Another example: If a student is trying to be the centre of the limelight by disrupting the classroom the teacher can use the avoidance strategy or punishment strategy as a negative reinforcement to the student. 3. 3 Behavior Modification The principles of using behavior modification are: ) To develop a new behavior b) To strengthen a new behavior , c) To maintain an established behavior, d) To stop inappropriate behavior, and finally e) To modify emotional behavior. (Adapted from: Krumboltz, J. , Krumboltz, H. (1972). Changing childrens behavior. New York: Prentice-Hall. )   There are 3 main principles to develop a new behavior which are i. Successive Approximation Principle: ( To teach a child to act in a ma nner in which he has seldom or never before behaved, reward successive steps to the inal behavior. ) ii. Continuous Reinforcement Principle: (To develop a new behavior that the child has not previously exhibited, arrange for an immediate reward after each correct performed it incorrectly. iii. Discrimination Principle: (To teach a child to act in a particular way under one set of circumstances but not in another, help him to identify the cues that differentiate the circumstances and reward him only when his action is appropriate to the cue. ) B : To strengthen a new behavior There are 2 main principle in strengthening a new behavior. i. Decreasing Reinforcement Principle: (To encourage a child to continue performing an established behavior with few or no rewards, gradually require a longer time period or more correct responses before a correct behavior is rewarded. ) ii. Variable Reinforcement Principle: (To improve or increase a childs performance of a certain activity, provide the child with an intermittent reward. ) C :To maintain an established behavior There is 1main principle in estbablishing a new behavior . Substitution Principle: (To change reinforcers when a previously effective reward is no longer controlling behavior, present it just before (or as soon as possible to) the time you present the new, hopefully more effective reward. ) D :To stop inappropriate behavior There is 3 main principle to stop inappropriate behavior i. Satiation Principle: (To stop a child from acting in a particular way, you may allow him to continue (or insist that he continue) performing the undesired act until he tires of it. ) ii. Extinction Principle: (To stop a child from acting in a particular way, you may arrange conditions so that he receives no rewards following the undesired act. ) iii. Punishment Principle: (To stop a child from acting in a certain way, deliver an aversive stimuli immediately after the action occurs. Since punishment results in increased hostility and aggression, it should only be used infrequently and in conjunction with reinforcement. ) E : To modify emotional behavior There is 2 main principle to modify emotional behavior ) Avoidance Principle: ( To teach a child to avoid a certain type of situation, simultaneously present to the child the situation to be avoided (or some representation of it) and some aversive conditon (or its representation) ii) Fear Reduction Principle: (To help a child overcome his fear of a particular situation, gradually increase his exposure to the feared situation while he is otherwise comfortable, relaxed, secure or rewarded. ) CONCLUSION The effective use of behavioral and cognitive strategies in the classroom may appear daunting even to experienced teachers. However, changing your behavior and strategies is often the most efficient and effective means of improving all types of classroom behaviors Through practice comes proficiency. The building block of emotions and behavior likely contains the largest and most diverse set of problems encountered in the classroom. By first understanding these problems and seeing the world through the eyes of your students, and, then developing and using a set of i strategies on a regular basis, problems of emotions and behavior can be effectively managed and changed in the classroom and also behavior problems can be mended.

Compaq Proposal: Pros and Cons

Compaq Proposal: Pros and Cons (1) Do you support Fiorinas proposal to acquire Compaq? What are the pros and cons? Will you the merger with Compaq bring HP closer to Dell, or IBM? Assuming that the merged new HP can overcome some issues, we would support Fiorinas proposal to acquire Compaq because the following benefits would outweigh the negatives. Pros The merger would create a full-service technology company capable of doing everything from selling PCs and printer to setting up complex networks in entire categories. PCs: The merger would improve the economics and innovation of their PC business to compete with industry leader Dell. Server and Storage: As a result of the acquisition, their combined server and storage product lines would give new HP a significant boost due to fully covered product categories and technologies to compete with IBM. IT service: The combined firm would have 65,000 IT architects operating in 160 countries. The new HP would be leading position in both mission-critical service and multivendor support. Financial Benefit: The merged firm could eliminate redundant product groups and cost in marketing, advertising, and shipping. According to the plan, the merger would generate $2.5bn in annual cost savings by mid-2004. Cons HPs business portfolio will be worse due to increasing exposure to an unprofitable PC business. here are many overlapping units that have no complementary benefit. HPs management has no experience with huge merger. The merged balance sheet would be worse than that of a stand-alone HP. The acquisition would make a firm with total revenue only slightly less than that of IBM. The merged firm would become a stronger competitor for IBM in the server market, and Dell in the PCs business. In conclusion, the new HP would be in a position to compete with IBM and Dell across its entire product line. (2) Why was the board so divided on this issue? What grade would you give HPs board in the way they handle this complicated strategic issue? The main reason that the board was so divided on this issue is the conflicts in the interests between the management and shareholders of HP. For the management team, as mentioned in question 1, CEO Fiorina was hired to execute an e- service strategy which could help HP to meld the independent businesses into a powerful and profitable whole. But the performance of the business turned out to be frustrating. The sales growth kept declining and the share price trailed substantially especially in year 2001 when the states met with big recession and 911 attack. The management team must take some actions to turn the situation around. In this case, merger with Compaq became crucial for HP to reverse the tide. But on the other hand, the shareholders of HP led by Walter Hewlett, the director, oppose to this acquisition. They considered the merger would destroy shareholders benefits. From the date the proposed merger was announced, Hewlett-Packard stockholders have lost $7.0 billion relative to an index of comparable companies.[1] Also, the dramatic reduction in the earnings forecast for Compaq since the announcement means that HP stockholders are getting too little of the merged company relative to HPs contribution to earnings. Furthermore, when compared to a stand-alone HP, the combined firm represents a lower credit rating with greater equity risk and a higher cost of capital. In this case, considering the big conflicts between the board members on this merger, we would grade C to HPs board in the way they handled this complicated strategic issue. (3) Why did Walter Hewlett vote for the deal in the board room, and vote against it as an inventor? Walter Hewlett had not choice and had to do like this. As an investor, he believed that the merger would destroy the share holder value. He believed that 1) the merger would dilute HP shareholders interest in the profitable printing and imaging business and increase their exposure to an unprofitable PC business and therefore the HP business portfolio would be worse; 2) the integration risk was rather substantial; 3) There would be negative and 4) There wont be a significant improve of the company position. He personally opposes this transaction and had voiced his opinion for many times. Despite Walters opposition, the CEO insisted to pursue the deal. Actually, if Walter vote against in the board room, the agreement could not be signed without renegotiation, which might result in HPs having to pay a higher price. Since the merger would be approved even without his vote and he felt that it was his duty to negotiate the lowest possible price. He was forced to vote for the deal in the board room. That is why Walter Hewlett voted for the deal in the board room, and voted against it as an investor (4) What is your assessment of the role played by third parties consultants, investment bankers, analysts, and institutional investors in this deal? The third parties played significant roles in this deal by either advising for or against it. There are the following third parties: Consultants (McKinsey and Accenture) who evaluated strategy and operations due diligence of H-P and Compaq, respectively. Without positive findings from these consultants, the merger process might not have happened. Investment banks (Goldman Sachs and Salomon) who advised merger for H-P and Compaq, respectively. The investment banks provided financial aspects such as exchange ratios. With the financial analyses, both boards were able to approve the merger. Other investment advisors were hired (Laurence Hoagland, FFL, Booz-Allen) to independently evaluated merger for Hewlett Foundations, the Trust, Packard Foundation. The findings from these advisors were used to fight against the mergers. Institution investors in the end played critical roles in determination of the merger. Strongly opposed the merger, Hewlett lined up several important institution investors (the Trust, Foundations, Packard families etc) to fight the merger. By going public to announce his opposition and the analyses from investment banks, he had significantly impacted the investors. Although the merger was approved by 51.4% of votes, the marginal approval votes showed the deeply divided institution investors on the merger. A key third party was ISS without favorable evaluation from ISS, the merger would be highly likely to fail. Analysts opinions also affected investors. Again, analysts were divided on the merger, with some analysts were in favor of the deal, others were not. (5) In Exhibit 6, Goldman Sachs performed a contribution analysis and listed some implied exchange ratios. What are the pros and cons of this approach in determining the exchange ratio in a stock-for-stock deal? What about the historical exchange ratio analysis in Exhibit 7? The approach followed is a standard industry practice where the following are excluded: gains/losses from synergies acquisition accounting such as reconciling GAAP, IFRS standards financing adjustments such as tax or debt servicing benefits Hence, the contribution analysis provides a useful side-by-side comparison of each companys contribution to various line items on the combined business income statement. Also, it helps in obtaining a range of exchange ratios that ultimately help in finalising the appropriate exchange ratio during the actual merger deal offered to the stockholders. However, since the approach doesnt factor the premium paid to the stockholders of the acquired company and misses the expenses accrued due to merger process, there is a danger of mis-valuation. Appropriate adjustments need to be done in the final value to reflect the same. Moreover, forecasted revenues post-merger are subject to the realisation of the assumptions in the valuation model used. Exhibit 7 shows that the historical implied exchange ratio is closest to 0.6325 when 3-month high data is considered. The table also shows that a premium is being paid in the range of 10-18% over and above the fair price as indicated by the implied exchange ratios. (6) Large technology mergers had a history of failure. What are the common risks in large technology deal? Common risks: Frequent changes of the industry The technology industry is highly competitive and marked by frequent product introductions, continuous improvement in product performance characteristics, and fierce competition. The companies should quickly tailor their product and service offerings to satisfy the new taste of customers, so that to operate profitably. However, merger deals often take a very long time to prepare until being finally completed. It would result in inappropriate strategy to beat the target when deals are done. Changes in business portfolio According to the article, most botched tech mergers involved companies trying to buy their way into new business they knew little about. Marketplace is changing, with the increasingly changes in divergent products demand. The large tech mergers would possibly fail to maintain the profitable strength and establish as good brand image as before in new acquired areas. Also, too much time and cost are spent on acquisition would inevitably delay the research for new emerged product, which leaves chances for rivals to compete for customers. Cultural conflicts Differences in culture between two large tech mergers are also responsible for the failure. After the acquisition, each of the two firms may prefer the old way of working style and operating strategies. This would lead to the conflicts and negative effect in implementing plans and actions. Intellectual loss Intellectuals are the biggest assets in technology companies. Product research and innovations are heavily relied on the personnel. High turnover rate of employee, which is resulted from the unsatisfied working environment and unfair payroll, would also be the risk for merger failure. Bibliography Professor Cong Wang (2010), FIN6170A Mergers Acquisitions, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, MBA course material The New York Times, Hewlett-Packard in Deal to Buy Compaq for $25 Billion in Stock (http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/04/business/hewlett-packard-in-deal-to-buy-compaq-for-25-billion-in-stock.html?pagewanted=1), September 2001 CNET news, HP to buy Compaq for $25 billion (http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-272519.html), September 2001 E-Commerce Times, Analysts Applaud HP-Compaq Merger (http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/18917.html), August 2002 Channel Web, Walter Hewlett: The Consequences of the HP-Compaq Merger (http://www.crn.com/it-channel/18827986;jsessionid=0JJA0XBMKGC13QE1GHRSKH4ATMY32JVN), March 2002

Shakespeare’s Creativity Essay -- Literary Analysis, Twelfth Night

Shakespeare’s Creativity In William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the art of music appears in the opening of the speech as the unhappy and lovesick Orsino tells his musicians, â€Å"If music be the food of love, play on† (I.i.1) In the speech that follows, Orsino asks the musicians to give him so much musical love i.e. food that will â€Å"surfeit† and cease to yearn for love any longer. Shakespeare uses music in opening line of play and at the end by Feste singing his song. It reveals that Shakespeare has presented on stage a romantic comedy which is not detached from our everyday reality. Thus songs are used by Shakespeare with surfeiting desire not only for the purpose of entertaining the audience but also closely linked to the play’s theme. Defining Music Music, as commonly in the English Oxford Dictionary is the â€Å"art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds to produce beauty of form, melody† or â€Å"the vocal or instrumental sound produced by practical exercise of the art of music†. Music is also described as â€Å"a musical composition or a performance† which can be seen in Shakespeare Cymbeline: â€Å"I haue assayl’d her with Muscikes, but she vouchsafes no notice† (II.ii.37). Shakespeare also uses music as the â€Å"cries of a pack of hounds on seeing the chase† (IV.i.105) in Midsummer Night’s Dream. Music in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night opening speech is written as â€Å"MuÃ… ¿icke† in the EBBO version whereas it is spelled â€Å"music† in our class text. The word â€Å"music† has been spelled differently throughout the years. Shakespeare uses the word â€Å"music† differently in his plays, such as: â€Å"musickes,†  "musique,† and â€Å"music.† The word â€Å"music† is spelled differently in the OED and in the song, with different alphabetic but pronounced the same way.... ...are’s writings. Edward W. Naylor writes in his essay that, â€Å"this is the more satisfactory, as no subject in literature has been treated with greater scorn for accuracy, or general lack of real interest, than this of music†. Music is the only topic that the audience and the readers view with content and a smile on their face. Shakespeare’s musical references are mostly found in comedies, but the musical stage direction that is presented in tragedies is due to the military nature or politics that bound the play. Shakespeare knew the impact of music on the society and during his time. Naylor also suggests that music â€Å"was considered an essential part of a clergymen’s education† and this notifies the value music held in the society. In the Duke’s case, â€Å"If music be the food of love, play on†, music seems to be rigorous and the musicians perform it with peacefulness.

Semantics: The Power of Language

Language is a phenomenon which allows human beings to interact in a meaningful way with one another.   Language began as a rudimentary system of hieroglyphics and has evolved into a highly complex system of the spoken and written word.   As language in both spoken and written form has developed, so has man’s understanding of it.   This understanding of both words and sentences has evolved along with the language itself and with the people who use it to create meaning.Word formation has occurred throughout time through several processes.   Words were developed initially through other languages, through etymology and then progressed into the formation of new words altogether, which can occur through a variety of means.   Next, words are arranged into sentences which carry both literal and implied meanings which can be based upon sounds and even the previous knowledge of those conversing.   In many ways, word economy has resulted by adopting new words from existing wo rds or from portions of existing words in an effort to simplify language.The process of economized words, which are words formed from existing words which then become commonly understood words in the language, is a major way in which the words of the language are formed.   Coinage is a process of inventing completely new words from a source which seems to embody its meaning. One way in which this occurs is to create the word kleenex from the brand name of Kleenex (instead of tissue) and xerox as a verb after the Xerox brand of copy machines.   Furthermore, eponyms can be created from individuals’ names such as to hoover from Hoover who invented the vacuum cleaner and the concept of the sandwich from the Earl of Sandwich (Yule, 2006).Another process of economizing words is called blending.   Blending occurs when the beginning of one word is combined with the ending of another word.   This new word then enters the language as an original word.   For example, a blended word for the product of gasoline made with alcohol is gasohol.   The meal which is a combination of breakfast and lunch has become represented with the word brunch.   Of course, this process can occur with the beginnings of two words as well.   The word modem is a blend of modulator and demodulator, and the new concept of Spanglish is the blending of English and Spanish (Yule, 2006), made even more popular by a recent motion picture of the same name.By blending words together, the meaning from the original words is already intact.   Thus, the meaning of the resulting word does not have to be suddenly relearned.   The meaning already exists because the words already exist.   In this way, the economy of the English language is maintained without the need for learning new definitions and uses.A third process of word economy is referred to as clipping.   With this process, a longer word is reduced to a shortened form of itself. This shortened from, like blending, carries the same meaning as its original.   The only difference is the shortened form of the word.   For example, the word facsimile, with its proliferation of used, has become shortened in modern language to the word fax.   Likewise, the word condo represents its initial longer form of condominium.Words that are reduced to a single syllable and then joined with an –ie or –y are a type of this process known as hypocorism.   Words like movie for moving picture, bookie for bookmaker and hankie for handkerchief are examples of this type of word economy (Yule, 2006).   This type of word economy is popular in England, where the word television has even been shortened to the popular, telly.As the process of word economy develops, some words are backformed.   Backforming is a type of word economy because it uses the same root of a word to convert it into a different part of speech.   One basic word root becomes the basis for two or even three words.   This process tak es a form of a word and reduces it to another form.For example a noun can be reduced to a verb.   From the word television, a noun, comes the verb televise.   The verb babysit was derived from babysitter.   Basically, in English, words that end in –er comprise the noun forms while the same word minus the –er make up the verbs.   An example is worker to work or player to play (Yule, 2006).   This particular backformation becomes a pattern in language, thus repeating itself over and over with new words without any additional units of meaning.This change itself is known as the process of conversion.   This process changing verb phrases into nouns and vice versa.   For example, if a secretary is ordered to print out a form, the resultant form is known as a printout.   If a company wants to take over another, they initiate a takeover.This can happen in the other direction as well a dirty room can be converted into the verb to dirty, as in â€Å"the boy dirt ied the room.†Ã‚   It can even occur from adjectives as well.   A person who is in a ballpark often, such as a player, may become a ballpark figure.   Thus a noun becomes an adjective (Yule, 2006). Again, it is easier to learn, understand and use a language if the meanings can be used in multiple situations.Anther popular method of creating words is through the use of acronyms.   These are word forms that result from the initial letters of a set of words.   A CD is the acronym for a compact disk.   A PIN is a personal identification number.   These words are constantly added as the result of different jargon such as that of business, international relations and education (Yule, 2006).   For example, NASA, INTEL, and RAM are specific to particular industries and would not exist if it were not for those industries.Finally, some words are created by combining two or more of the above techniques.   For example, English borrowed the word delicatessen from the German language and then clipped it to the Americanized deli.   The words snow and ball were compounded into the noun snowball and then converted to the verb – to snowball.   Adding the suffix –ish to the acronym formed from White Anglo Saxon Protestant results as WASPish (Yule, 2006).   All of these words now become an integral part of the language which people widely understand and use as part of their daily language.Beyond the mere creation, usage and understanding of words is the combination of words into sentences.   Many argue that words themselves would not be meaningful without the construct of a sentence to give it basic background.   Individuals generally communicate through sentences which are basically formed with a subject, verb, and a complete thought, as students are taught throughout school.   Thus, forming words into syntactical patterns and creating a context in which they are used is vital to understanding both written and spoken communication today.However, many linguists also argue that conversation can be understood in its reduced form based upon certain inherent techniques.   This enables individuals to understand conversation that is not composed of perfectly constructed sentences.   In this way, a person can understand a word as a sentence because they already understand the context of the meaning in which the word was spoken (Palmer, 1981).   Thus, sentences, too can be economized just as words can.Fragments of sentences that are closely linked in meaning can be combined in such a way that some parts of the sentence is omitted.   This is known as an elliptical formation.   One way that this happens is through analyzing both the surface structure and the deep structure of meaning.   The surface structure is a literal meaning of the sentence, while the deep structure is the figurative, implied, abstract meaning of the communication itself which may depend on former knowledge by the partners (Palmer, 1981) . Both structures are necessary to understand communication, but the deep structure may help the individual differentiate between various meanings in context.The two types of language features that are inherent in this process are prosodic and paralinguistic features.   Prosodic features deal with actual sounds of the language such as tone, stress, volume, rhythm etc.   Paralinguistic features include the visuals of language, such as the speaker’s facial expressions, gestures, etc (Palmer, 1981).   Thus, both the way the communication sounds and the visual cues of the speaker can contribute to a fuller understanding.Tone and stress is used by speakers to indicate which part of the sentence is to be given the most emphasis. This emphasis indicates the most important information of the system.   Speech acts can serve a variety of functions even while the same sentence is being uttered.   These purposes can be warnings, threats, promises, pleas, etc. and can change the meaning of any sentence.   Sentences can be insinuations which carry some inherent truthfulness in them.   The sentence/question â€Å"Do you still beat your wife?† insinuates that the subject has at one time been a wife-beater, which suggests an accusation which the speaker intends for the listeners to realize (Palmer, 1981).Other meanings are based on the relationships between the individuals.   Some conversation is meaningless and carries no specific information.   Other sentence meanings can be derived simply from its grammatical structure.   Finally, sentence meaning can be based on how the sentence is said.   Ultimately, the sentence that is truth-conditional is not concerned with grammar but with the meaning of the proposition of the sentence.   Is it based in truth or not?   For example, if someone is cited directly, that is considered more truthful than if he is cited indirectly, even though both may not be formally proven within the context of the p articular sentence (Palmer, 1981).   Ultimately, the ambiguities of language and the situations in which it exists, create the problems of interpretation which depend upon so much more than the mere words.The spoken language is far more complex than the written language.   Palmer (1981) gives four ways in which this is true.   First, human beings spoke long before they wrote.   Second, a child learns spoken language far earlier than he learns how to write.   Third, human beings speak for more during their daily lives than they write.   Finally, writing can be converted to speech without much loss; however, this process cannot happen the other way around (Palmer, 1981).The tone and stress of words was mentioned earlier as a way to decipher emphasis in spoken communication.   Combined with pitch, or the rise and fall of words, people can gain even more meaning from the exchange.   If a particular word of syllable is accented, the listened gains a particular set of mean ings which may be different if another word or syllable is accented.   This information unit (this tone group of pitch, accent, etc) counts more to the listener in terms of understanding the meaning than does the simple grammatical components of the sentence (Palmer, 1981).Rises in pitch are concerned with certain types of meanings, like indecision or questions, while falls in pitch are more concerned with statements.   Likewise, certain emotions can be expressed through intonation as well.   These meanings may vary from language to language (Palmer, 1981).The topic and comment of an utterance represents these differences.   The topic is basically the main informational unit of the sentence while the comment is the opinion or emotion attached to it.   These two units may, generally, be distinguishable from one another (Palmer, 1981).Word order is one way in which these distinctions are made.   The word at the beginning of the sentence generally indicates the topic of the sentence.   Manipulation of word order can indicate the topic and its emphasis (comment).   The example give in Palmer (1981) is â€Å"The man over there I do not like very much.†Ã‚   Similarly, new information in a sentence is usually given more toward the end of the sentence and is accompanied by a rise in pitch (Palmer, 1981).Thus the ordering of the words and the rise and fall of their pitch can give indication to the meaning.Other utterances are less a function of giving new information and more a function of naming an action.   These actions can be explicit, which literally name the act, and implicit, which do not.   Certain presuppositions are contained within implicit actions.   These actions may not be obviously named, but they are known because the listener is familiar with the context of the utterance.  Ã‚   This presupposition can be contained in other remarks as well, such as â€Å"John drank another beer,† which implies he has had at least on e drink.   The author asserts that it is difficult to make a distinction between what is explicitly stated and what is presupposed (Palmer, 1981).Finally, implications may be even more far removed from the explicit meaning of the words.   For example, if a person makes a statement â€Å"It’s hot in here,† he may be actually implying that he would like someone to turn on the air conditioner.   The conversation is reduced in that the individual does not have to fill in the intermediate information for the listener (Palmer, 1981).   A question of â€Å"Did you take out the garbage?† may be followed by â€Å"It isn’t Thursday† would have no meaning to anyone who didn’t know that the garbage man comes on Thursday.   However, a married couple would have the perfect understanding of this exchange because of their shared context.Spoken English and written English are composed of words, which have been produced from a variety of sources and through a variety of processes.   In addition, these words are arranged in such a way as to give them the power of meaning in context.   While written conversation is more in tune with grammatical constructions, spoken language also carries the nuances of tone, stress, pitch, volume and even implicit meanings.   Thus, meaning can be derived from words, sentences, sound and visual cues and even an implicit understanding of context.Word economy has created more words from current words while preserving the meanings.   This reduces the need for new words to be invented and aids in the process of understanding.   In addition, the same concept can be applied to sentences.   The original grammatical meaning of the sentence can be expressed by sound and visual cues from the speaker in many different ways.   As a result, the meanings may be multiple while the actual words that make up the sentence remain the same.   Clearly, the evolution of both written and spoken language is a dynamic force that will continue for all time.ReferencesPalmer, Frank R. Semantics. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1981.Yule, George. The Study of Language. 3rd ed. Cambridge : Cambridge UP, 2006.

Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal Essay

This film pictures events and unknown facts about the life of the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal. When I am watching the film I understand the story clearer than reading it, the scenes played in the film made my mind and vision clearer. They’ve explain the life of Rizal clearly even though some information is not that important but still they are saying it for the student’s or the viewer can understand more the life of Rizal. In watching the films I’ve realize the things that a man can do. The film started from Rizal telling what had been his life as a young boy was. Unlike any boy, Rizal came from a rich family which can be considered as principalia. His parents were considered to be a good example in their own ways. He had a big family with 10 siblings, nine sisters and one brother named Ponciano. Rizal was describe as a young boy whose eagerness to learn was of undeniable. At his young age of nine, he was asked to live in manila to study. He took entrance examinations and finally schooled at prestigious campuses in Manila by that time. He studied first at Ateneo de Manila University then continue it at University of Sto. Thomas. Rizal also continued his studies abroad and he was able to visit many countries. Rizal demonstrated great talent in literature, philosophy and also in arts. He received awards in some contests that he joined and successfully won the major ones at times. As a student, I can say that Rizal was very hard working and dedicated. He was an engineer, sculptor, painter, ophthalmologist and a writer. I can’t believe that a man can be that good, a man can do many things, and a man can defend his own country. He will not achieve all of that without his friends, of course.

“Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy Essay

The poem, â€Å"Barbie Doll†, is about a girl who was growing up in a society which regard highly of female beauty. The title illustrates that most females were expected to be like Barbie dolls. These dolls cast pressure on the girl to be like supermodel. In this story, the girl failed to meet the standards of society and viewed as a social outcast.The first paragraph describes a growing girl who was presented with dolls, miniature GE stoves, irons and lipsticks. This will ensure that the girl will know which gender roles she should be and not too deviate from the accepted social custom. The mood of the poem changes when the author describes, the magic of puberty. Here, it refers to a time of emotional crisis that the girl went through as she matures. She is constantly teased for not looking like the typical Barbie dolls. The second paragraph began with mentioning the girls positive aspects, such as She was healthy, tested intelligent, possesses strong arms and back and abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity, These sentences portray the girl image (female) to male characteristics. The tome in the poem changes again when the author stated, the girl went to and fro apologizing, and everyone still say she had a fat nose and thick legs, the society again, scorn at the ugly appearance of the girl. In the third paragraph, line twelve to sixteen, the girl is expected to fake her natural behavior, emotion and characteristics. The fan belt was used to exemplify that one cannot endure the pressure placed by society to meet their standards and will wear out eventually. Consequently, she cut off her nose and legs. Therefore, the last paragraph expressed her death as consummation at last. Dont she look pretty? Everyone said. In this line, the author wants the reader to make good judgment to the senseless situation in which society judge beauty to female. I think that children, especially boys, are not born with hatred or feelings of enmity towards female who have physical figures below social standards. They are all programmed that way by selfish or ignorant male adults. If these male adults can only take a look at themselves and see that all they have done is to destroy. The lives of their opposite sex, driving down their  self-esteem to the deepest pit, then this society will be a better place to live in.

Mechanical Principles, Complex Loading Assignment

Mechanical Principles, Complex Loading - Assignment Example 27). There occur changes in dimensions when a body is subjected to an axial force. Considering a bar of length l, breadth b and thickness t, it changes dimensions to l+Éâ€"l, b+ Éâ€"b and t+ Éâ€"t respectively (Gere & Goodno, 2012: P. 27). When subjected to an axial force, whether compressive or tensile, then, The Bulk Modulus of a solid material is the ratio of direct stress exerted on a body to the volumetric strain exerted on the same body, provided both are kept within the elastic limit of the material of which the body is made of. As thus, it is the resistance of a body to compression under uniform force (Gere & Goodno, 2012: P. 42). As such, one parameter be worked out if the others are known, and therefore, there is no further need for complicated derivation of each formula. However, on its own, the Elastic Modulus can calculated from the formula: Modulus of Elasticity (elastic modulus) can be defined as the ratio of shear stress to the shear strain exerted on a body. As thus, it denotes a body’s ability to undergo temporal elastic deformation when a force is exerted on it. Modulus of rigidity of a material refers to its ability to resist angular change that is bound to occur when the body is exposed to external stresses. The stresses may lead to the formation of an angle in relation to the original position of body. As such, the modulus of rigidity is the coefficient, or measure o resistance to the formation of this angle (Gere &Goodno, 2012: P.

The Breakfast Club Film Review Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Breakfast Club Film Review - Coursework Example The plot is basically about teens and growing up pains. The five main characters in the film are Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), John Bender (Judd Nelson) and Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy) who are brought together one Saturday morning at the Shermer High School library for â€Å"detention† – a kind of penalty imposed on each one of them for having done an unacceptable deed. Each of the characters come from different cliques, and are of different types of individuals – the wrestler, the prom queen, the nerd, the outcast and the rebel – but as the story unfolds, they find out that they actually have similarities, common angsts and can actually be friends and confidantes. From strangers, the story ends with some discoveries, transformations, and finally, some kind of connection between these teens. At first glance, the film seems to be a boring one with much talk and not too much action t aking place. The issues brought up by the characters are just too petty and would just send the viewer to shake his/her head in disbelief. As the movie goes along, however, the viewer gets to know more about the characters and it would be unlikely for anyone not to identify with the issues these youngsters faced.

Business Culture Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Culture Environment - Essay Example His mission does not include trying to transform the Chinese business culture or their society. So taking a very hard and principled stance is never a great business strategy. A sound business strategy is one that is pragmatic, realistic and with a clear profit motive and wealth maximization for the company's stakeholders. [Ref. 2: "Profit Motive" by Murphy Warren.] This is even more so, because by winning one moral victory at a very high cost, there is no guarantee that it will bring greater benefits to the joint venture in the future. There is no guarantee that it will lead to a change of heart and a change of culture of your Chinese partners. There is no guarantee that even the same people with whom you negotiated this protracted conflict, will even be there by the time the joint venture moves forward into its next stage of progress, considering that most of the key employees belong to the state and the communist party, and can be re-shuffled or transferred to other positions at any time. The problem with a joint venture is that the more time you lose in the beginning over smaller issues, the lesser time you are left with by the time you confront larger issues. [Ref. 3: "Effective International Joint Venture Management" by R.C. Wolf] Since the joint venture was already off to a bad start with an eighteen-month delay, the pressure was bound to increase as the negotiations progressed to other areas of the venture. During negotiations, the TNT manager must take it into account the experiences of his competitors, and how they are dealing with such problems. In business, you cannot afford to ignore your competitors' behavior and their strategies, while you remain trapped in your own personal beliefs or biases. Excessive loss of time gives opportunities to the competitors to occupy the space that has been left vacant by you. The fact that the negotiations of TNT with the Chinese lasted five years before the joint venture could see the light of the day, speaks eloquently about its dismal performance. There is no way to justify such an inordinate delay merely by explaining the extremities of the Chinese culture. The TNT manager learned about the Chinese culture the harsh way, which proved too expensive for the joint venture. He ought to have done his homework well in advance, and been fully aware of what to expect from the Chinese. Without a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Chinese culture, it would waste a lot of time in gathering one's learning and experience, which is what happened with the TNT manager. The biggest strategic error of TNT was to put such a man in-charge of the negotiations with the Chinese, who had apparently no past experience in dealing with them. Such a valuable joint venture definitely needed such people on the team of TNT who had either worked for many years in China, or alternatively, who were men of Chinese origin working in the west for many years. In other words, the joint venture needed negotiators who understood both sides intimately. ANS. 2: The TNT case is an outstanding example of cultural misunderstandings and miscommunications. Its