Brand MAGGI Instant Noodles Essay

? Executive summary This report required spending great time on analyzing tones of marketing related information from innumerable sources of Nestle’s powerful Brand MAGGI Instant Noodles. All information was critical and needed to be evaluated with full concentration and determination, the study of MAGGI Noodles that was launched first in India in the year 1983, by Nestle Limited, which became synonymous with noodles. This research tries to find awareness of MAGGI Noodles. The introduction provides the company background, operational & other important information provided by the company, which would assist in taking the decision for the right brand extension strategy for MAGGI Instant Noodles. We have concluded that MAGGI, being the product leader with 68% market share. We have also covered up a very important aspect of marketing – Marketing Mix. Every company develops their product integrating all the marketing mixes to evaluate the feasibility of that product similarl y MAGGI Noodles define that. Introduction: Maggi is a Nestle brand of instant noodles, soups stocks, bullion, sauces and seasoning.   The original company came into existence in 1872 in   Switzerland, when Julius Maggi took over his father’s mill. At that time during industrial revolution in Switzerland  created factory jobs for women, who were therefore left with very little time to prepare meals. Due to this growing problem Swiss Public Welfare Society asked Julius Maggi to create a vegetable food product that would be quick to prepare and easy to digest. It was the first to bring protein rich legume meal to the market, which was followed by readymade soup based on legume meal in 1886. In 1863, Julius Maggi developed a formula to add taste to meals, which later paved the way for Maggi and other easy to make food products. Apart from two minute noodles Maggi also offers a range of product. However in India it was launched in 1980s by Nestle group of companies. Maggie had merged with Nestle family in 1947. Today, Maggi is particularly well known in India, New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Philippine and Singapore for its instant Maggi noodles. Current market situation : Market description: MAGGI Noodles is a food item so it might apparently seem that it follows mass marketing since everyone can eat it and there is no specific variable associated with its consumption. But smart marketers of Nestle did indeed undergo some market segmentation for their expediency and easier way to create consumer value and satisfaction. MAGGI Noodles Marketing Situation is described here- MAGGI Noodle is segmented according to, â€Å"Demographic Segmentation and Psychographic Segmentation†. 1) Demographic Segmentation: AGE (7-12 years) MAGGI Noodles segmented into age groups (covering all age generations). MAGGI Noodles flavors such as Curry, Chicken, Masala, Tomato etc are consumed heavily by all age generation especially children. Children and young people love these flavors and their mothers’ feels relief thinking they owned the best solution for their children’s hunger. The new addition or line extensions of MAGGI Noodles are: Maggi masala,Vegetable Atta Noodles and Dal Atta Noodles. These new products innovations have become favourate for both children, their parents and even their grandparents; covering all age generations. 2) Psychographic Segmentation: LIFE STYLE: MAGGI Noodles is also considerably segmented according to â€Å"life style and eating habits† of its consumers. Since MAGGI is positioned as â€Å"2-minutes-Noodles† thus the idea works in professional sectors with the people with tight schedules. At present, the students and the people in every professional sector suffer from lack of time. â€Å"Time† to them is a luxury; they don’t have much time for cooking. Hence, shrewd marketers of Nestle have absorbed this fact and introduced a product such as MAGGI Instant Noodles that is both a scrumptious snack as well as an amazing solution for people with busy life style and simple eating habit. MAGGI Noodles is the perfect product that can adjust or fit into their life style flawlessly. MAGGI Noodles product review- In this world of improvisation, innovation and advancement product is an abstract term. It refers to a problem solving tool. And when â€Å"hunger† is the situational problem then MAGGI is the tool to solve this problem. 1. MAGGI Product: Here, MAGGI serves as a â€Å"Packet Noodles and Cup Noodles†. In this it introduced variety of product, such as- Dal Atta noodles, Chicken MAGGI, Masala MAGGI, and Vegetable MAGGI. 2. Price: Nestle Ltd. has priced MAGGI in a way that keeps the fact about price sensitiveness of Asian developing countries in mind. It has an average cost per customer as its costs are allocated among greater number of customers buying the product. It can afford to provide such great benefits at low price because it has a low cost of production. 3. Sales: Its sales are rapidly rising. Since it is the pioneer in the instant noodles industry in Bangladesh and has been able to successfully launch its products, it has a high acceptance rate resulting in sales boost. Because sales of its single packs are very high, the overall sales statistics show escalating sales. MAGGI Product level diagram– A review of competition: Initially when Nestle introduced MAGGI in the Bangladesh market, it did not have any competitors, Now, it has a few competitors in the market as others waited to see whether the mass market will adopt the product or not. Customers who previously purchased MAGGI to satisfy needs are now addressed by the new product form that FU- WANG, Meridian, and Cocola Noodles etc brought into the scenario and thus MAGGI is getting very aggressive in their marketing tactics as they sense the new product form to be a threat. Here is short description about competitors: 1) COCOLA NOODLES: COCOLA Noodles are engaged in manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of various branded food products and condiment. Within the very short period of its entrance this brand has been enjoying second leading position in the market. COCOLA Foods Ltd. is focusing on improving the food habit of Bangladeshi Consumers through providing more ready to cook products and ready to eat as well. COCOLA is also exporting its products to Australia, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and many other countries to come into the list. Per packet cocola noodle: 18tk. 2) FU-WANG: FU-WANG instant noodles were introduced in the market by FU-WANG Foods & Beverage Ltd. It holds a market share of 18%. It is a new item in the FU-WANG family, as such, is the follower of the product leader MAGGI. Currently, we assume it is in the Growth Stage. From the beginning, FU-WANG always trying to maintain the best quality standard of its products. Since the ingredients are gathered from Bangladesh itself and it emphasizes on mass production (Family Packs, Premium Packs), its cost per customer is lower than that of MAGGI. Price: 4 cakes in one packet 65 tk. 3) MR.NOODLES: Mr. Noodles is a brand of instant noodles manufactured by PRAN. The brand is popular in Bangladesh it had been popular product category in the culinary segment since the launch of Mr. Noodles in 2011. Over the years, Mr. Noodles became a popular snack food product in Bangladesh. Claimed to be â€Å"Easy instant noodles†. Its price per packet : 15tk However, MAGGI’s competitive advantage is its product differentiation. It is very cheap and it provides good quality. Also it is the Market leader in its segments and has strong  brand loyal consumer base. With wide range of distribution channel and product marketed according to the need of consumer – MAGGI is utterly a successful brand with insurmountable competitive advantage. MAGGI quality is one of its most important positioning tools. It knows that quality has a direct impact on the product performance, thus closely linked to customer value and satisfaction. MAGGI quality identify through its performance and its conformance quality. MAGGI features, another competitive tools for differentiating company’s product from competitor’s product. Some of them include: Original Flavor, Chicken, Curry (a healthier alternative is also sold in supermarkets), Kari Letup (Extremely Spicy Curry) Chicken & Corn ,Beef Oriental, Masala, Prawn, Dal Sambar ( whole wheat noodles ), Asam Laksa, Cheese, Pizza (only in Saudi Arabia, was available for a period of time in Australia.), Chatpata, Tomato, Stronger Chicken, Vegetable Atta Noodles (Whole wheat noodles) mostly in India, etc. MAGGI noodles also produces cup noodles known as â€Å"Hot Bowl†, and sells cup noodles branded â€Å"Cuppa Mania† in India. The style and design of MAGGI gives it competitive advantage over the other products in the market. The sleek packaging of MAGGI is convenient and stylish. It contributes to the product’s usefulness and look. It’s even shapes the consumer’s experience with the product. MAGGI Channels and Logistic Review: The urban areas are already saturated with MAGGI, as almost all departmental stores offer it. However there are still greater possibilities to stretch its distribution channels to the rural areas. MAGGI has a lot of distribution channels to fill. MAGGI can introduce mobile-vans by which they can access larger pool of customers and make its distribution channels stronger. Current distribution channel of MAGGI-: SWOT Analysis: SWOT is an acronym that stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the organization. It involves the careful evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization as well as its opportunities and threats to the organization in the current market. MAGGI SWOT analysis- SWOT analysis of MAGGI brand clearly indicates the strengths of MAGGI as a Brand in Bangladesh market. The Brand was found to be a market leader in its category of Noodles, with strong customer loyalty. Intensive distribution of MAGGI as a Brand was seen in urban areas of the country. MAGGI has made several attempts to revamp itself as a ‘Healthy Product† but till date its perseverance towards the tag line is low by the consumers. The brand is in the growth stage of product life cycle with a strong inclination towards the maturity stage. MAGGI Noodles Strength analysis- MAGGI is from an extremely recognizable company Nestle. Popularity is one of its superior strengths that are virtually incomparable. MAGGI is known very well worldwide by its excellent advertising and visibility. It’s branding is obvious and easily recognized currently Bangladesh market. It is very easy to cook and exits as a healthy food with the title of â€Å"Darun shaad darun pushti† Market leader in noodles category with high brand loyalty. Excellent advertising and visibility. Good product distribution and availability. Lots of flavors and varieties available. Easy to cook-with the title of â€Å"2 minute Noodles†. MAGGI Noodles Weaknesses analysis- MAGGI do have a variety of weaknesses that need to be addressed. Word of mouth is probably a strength and weakness of every company. While many people have good things to say, there are many  individuals who are against MAGGI as many other companies to the current market as named before. Product is dependent on each other according to the new market segment. The market fails to provide to rural area. Product is dependent on each other. Not so much presence in rural market. Media generated news about health issues. Market leader Perceived as made up of Maida not good. MAGGI Noodles Opportunities analysis- Day by day its consumers are increaseing. Because Bangladesh is a small market, only few of the diversified flavors of MAGGI are sold here. Yet it believes that they should at least market the products to see if it works as a trial. Another opportunity that is the ability for MAGGI to buy out their competitors. This opportunity rarely presents itself in the world of business. Product has been acceptable in youth Strong presence of regional category competitors Availability of new segments(e.g.- old and age people) Untapped rural markets DINKS, single professionals Newer tastes Product has been acceptable in youth category. Changing preference of consumer towards Chinese food and fast food. MAAGI Noodles Threats analysis- Shift to rural market, Consumers don’t perceive it as changing preference of consumer a â€Å"Healthy Product† towards Chinese food and fast. Compare to other brands noodles its price also vary and can be a threat. Price wars with other noodle brands. Strong presence of regional competitors. Consumers don’t perceive it as a â€Å"Healthy Product†. Availability of New segments (The competitor provides higher age people) margins to its distributors and growing. Objective and issue: Objective: MAGGI Instant Noodles is the product leader in the category of instant noodles, capturing market share of 68%, penetrating 6 lace households. Nestle, the world’s largest food company, reported first-quarter sales growth that beat analysts’ estimates, helped by sales of MAGGI Noodles. MAGGI leads with their strength to the current market. Positioning initially Nestle tried to position the Noodles in the platform of convenience targeting the working women. But it found that the sales are not picking up despite heavy promotion .Research then showed that Kids were the largest consumers of the brand. Realizing this, Nestle repositioned the brand towards the kids using sales promotions and smart advertising. MAGGI has always positioned itself as â€Å"Healthy noodles† as it described before. At present- MAGGI now provides family packs and single packs. Maggi has recently come out with new advertisements in some weekly. Issue- Core aim of Nestle Business with the title â€Å"Good Food, Good Life†. Food and beverages plays a important role in people’s life- not only because of enjoyment and social pleasure of eating together, but more in more terms of personal health and nutrition. Nestle is committed to provide their customer, consistent quality, safety as well as value for money and convenience. Great taste is the fundamental of their products and consumer appreciation of good food. Giving priority on nutrition, health and wellness Nestle comes with their product MAGGI Noodles with the title- Maggi 2-Minute Noodles. MARKET STRATEGY: Targeting of MAGGI: MAGGI main target is children, then women and elderly. Today MAGGI Noodles with its attractive and variety of new flavors successfully targets kids, working women and elderly all at the same time. But Nestle at the initial stage was targeting on the house lady. Very soon it realized that its target segment is not them. It evaluated and understood that children should be its primary focus. So they changed their mission to ‘To become the no. 1 preferred snack for kids in the country’ and came up with two minutes noodles which targeted children aged 7 to 12. Nestle also targeted the house lady by introducing the health noodles. These can be consumed as the complete food which gives the calorie and meet all necessary health requirements. For these variants they introduced the new positioning â€Å"MAGGI is the best, tasty and healthy noodles (for children), which cannot be compared.† Marketing Mix: Elements of market mix: MAGGI Marketing mix describe the 4ps- 1) Product: MAGGI has come up with various product s according to the needs of consumers. Some of it gains total popularity and some becomes failure. Developing a product involves defining the benefits it will offer. These benefits are communicated and delivered by product attribute such as quality, features, and style and design as described before. MAGGI is a product which is a source of Protein, Calcium, and Fiber and has added vegetables. The inspiration for comes from the going consumer preference for a healthier lifestyle. 2) Packaging: MAGGI is packed in the yellow packets. The tip of the packet is zipped so that the contents can easily be spilled without wasting it. It has solved the problem of storage. The thickness of packet is increased so that the contents can be easily poured without much wastage. 3) Promotion: MAGGI has already created its brand awareness and now it should  increase advertising to build brand preference. However MAGGI still continues to build brand awareness by serving MAGGI Noodles to people for free (sampling). At present MAGGI occupies almost 78% of the noodles market. Thus it is surely the market leader. So it should focus now on creating brand preference. The number of television advertisements of MAGGI noodles in Bangladesh is very little compared to that of India. In Bangladesh they use more paper advertisements than television advertisements. Thus the promotional strategies of MAGGI should now be altered. 4) Places: Places refers to the location where products are available and can be sold or purchased. MAGGI Noodles is not only famous in urban areas but also rural areas. It is rightly available at number of retail shops and malls. So that consumers can easily purchases the product without any big effort. Positioning of MAGGI: MAGGI is position itself as a differentiated product. The market is very sensitive to taste and can rejects any flavor if dislike. Consumers typically choose products and services that give them the greatest value. Thus, dedicated marketers want to position their brands on the key benefits that they offer relative to competing brands. Positioning Statement of MAGGI- As we all know marketers believe that companies should aggressively promote only one benefit to the target market. MAGGI’s USP (unique selling proposition) is that it is â€Å"healthy and tasty†. MAGGI solemnly sticks to its USP which consumers also take in with heart and soul. MAGGI with the title of â€Å"2 minute Noodles† is continue its position to the current market as a fast to cook and good to eat, is the best, tasty and healthy noodles (for children) that cannot be compared. To everyone who wants the fastest and yummiest solution for their gurgling stomach, MAGGI is the all-time-favorite instant noodles that provide an easy, nutritious and tasty food for children (mainly) and other age groups.

Ineffectiveness of Therapeutic Communities in Prisons Essay

Prisons release 650,000 offenders to the public annually and 70% of those exoffenders will commit new offenses within three years (Fields, 2005, p. A4). According to the JFA Institute (2007), â€Å"two-thirds of the 650,000 prison admissions are people who have failed probation or parole—approximately half of these people have been sent to prison for technical violations† (p. 1). As prison crowding occurs, prison officials are challenged to keep inmates busy by assigning them to productive tasks and incorporate therapeutic programs (Center for Justice & Reconciliation, 2007). If criminal justice professionals fail to keep up with programming expectations, program shortages may influence inmate idleness resulting in disruptions, prison violations, and mental-health issues related to stress and depression (Fields). During 2003 and 2004, approximately 900 criminals entered the nation’s jails and prisons each week based on a report issued in April 2006 by the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (p. 1). Jails and prisons in the U. S. house more people with mental illnesses than many of the inpatient psychiatric facilities, and virtually all correctional facilities experience the impact of this population that is increasing at an unprecedented rate (McCuan, Prini, & Wasarhaley, 2007). During 2006, 41% of inmate assailants were listed under the mental health caseload (Collins, 2006). In 2006, the U. S. Department of Justice released statistics revealing that 23% of state prisoners reported symptoms of major depression. An estimated 61% of state prisoners and 44% of jail inmates who had a mental health problem also had a history of past violent behavior. In a 1999 report (Dawn, 2007), the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill reported that there are three times as many seriously mentally ill individuals in prison and jails than there are being treated in hospitals. Equally disturbing is that the criminal justice system will have some type of experience with 25 to 40% of the mentally ill in the U. S. population. Inmates with mental illness present additional expenditure problems for prison systems already overburdened by population demands. The influx has challenged criminal justice professionals to extend their budgets to cover the costs of appropriate programming for every offender in an effort to minimize potential inmate unrest, a situation that leads to assaults and other infractions associated with idleness (Wilkinson, 1998). In 2007, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) reached a population milestone with a count of 50,000 offenders. As the inmate population rises in Ohio prisons, the possibility of inmate assaults may also go up â€Å"because overcrowding exacerbates the chronic pains of imprisonment† (Haney, 2006, p. 2). One way to manage a potential increase in assaults is to keep offenders engaged in some type of community activity and participating in therapeutic programs. Some officials reported that therapeutic programs and community service theoretically should be one of the most effective ways to engage an inmate’s time and energy and keep infractions at a manageable level. DRC views the involvement of inmates in community service and therapy as vital to their release. Ohio prison Director Terry Collins stated that ex-offenders who served as program participants during their incarceration help close the gap between themselves and their communities. As a result, these inmates are better prepared to function as lawabiding citizens â€Å"†¦because they have stayed in touch with the community and have given something of value back† (Collins, 2007, p. 1). â€Å"Very crowded prison systems are difficult to manage† (Wilkinson, 1998, p. 76). As prison crowding occurs, prison officials are challenged to keep inmates busy by assigning them to productive tasks. â€Å"Good prison management is engaging prisoners in meaningful activities such as educational programs and work assignments† (Wilkinson, p. 76). â€Å"The most important single factor (among many) that helps to explain the current crisis in American corrections—the lack of effective programming and treatment† (Haney, 2007, p. 76). Although prison jobs such as mopping floors, kitchen duty, and making prison garments occupy inmates’ time, more meaningful community service as a restorative justice measure may be an effective way to address the challenge of prison crowding (Center for Justice & Reconciliation, 2007). â€Å"The meaningful aspect is critical because it may help to instill responsibility and a changed attitude about criminal activity† (Wilkinson, p. 76). Prisons in the United States are facing the challenges of crowding including inmate idleness as it relates to programming expectations. Lack of programming in prison is a serious safety and security threat to the staff, the public, and the offenders. As inmate populations increase, once stable prison systems can become volatile environments and endanger prison staff and the systems they are charged with protecting (Gaes, 1994). When criminal justice professionals fail to keep up with programming expectations, program shortages may influence inmate idleness. Inmate idleness can lead to disruptions, prison violations, gang-related activities, and mental-health issues related to stress and depression (Wilkinson, p. 76). Another issue confronting the criminal justice system is the increasing number ofyouth being sentenced to adult prisons (Fields, 2005). Every state within the U. S. has at least one statutory component that addresses the procedure of processing juveniles as adults in criminal court (Wilkinson, 1998). Prison officials also have other challenges. One challenge officials face includes accommodating the needs of state prisoners with symptoms of mania (43%) and major depression (23%) according to the U. S. Department of Justice (2006, p. 1). A major problem is that inmates with mental health problems are unable to defend their situation so they remain in prison. Although prison officials face the issue of crowding, they are also seeking ways for inmates to become engaged in some type of activity that will keep them busy for the majority of their waking hours. When offenders engage in some type of prison program or activity that helps with their transition from prison to society successful reintegration is possible. The theoretical framework of community service in the prison setting is the restorative justice model (Zehr, 2002). The restorative justice model advocates that offenders must demonstrate a desire or a goodwill gesture to pay back the public for the misdeed they committed in order to reconnect to their community. Restorative justice is a philosophical framework for responding to crime that focuses on the injury resulting from crime and the actions needed to mend this harm. It focuses on crime as an act against another individual or the community rather than the state. It is a future-focused model that emphasizes problem solving instead of â€Å"just deserts. † (Carey, 1996, pp. 152-153) Although several justice models exist, the restorative justice model combines the best features of the traditional, liberal, and conservative theories. â€Å"Restorative justice has brought an awareness of the limits and negative by-products of punishment. Beyond that, however, it has argued that punishment is not real accountability† (Zehr, 2002, p. 16). By participating as community service volunteers, inmates choose to serve the community. The inmates’ actions demonstrate a desire to give back and a desire to assume responsibility for their actions. Community service programs have a restorative justice component that considers an offender’s successful transition from incarceration to community integration (U. S. Department of Justice, 2006). When considering the large number of offenders in jails and prisons nationally, the problem demands the public’s immediate attention (U. S. Department of Justice, 2006). Providing offenders with productive activities through programs like community service sends a message to the public that its safety and security is vital. It is also important to assist inmates in their transition back into the community by engaging them in an activity that keeps them connected to a society that has been offended by crime. Wilkinson (1998) reported that a significant percent of exoffenders that participated in community service while in prison did not recidivate compared to those offenders that did not participate (p. 91). Although community service may have a positive impact on an inmate’s community re-entry, the type of community service program inmates do during their incarceration may also improve their quality of prison life. Barak, Savorai, Mavashev, and Beni (2001) reported that dogs are becoming a valued therapeutic tool among health-care providers in clinical and non-traditional settings because of the calming affect dogs have on the physical and mental conditions of patients. Community service programs serve a useful role in managing inmate behavior and controlling the frequency and severity of inmate infractions within adult prisons. However, as prison crowding occurs, prison officials struggle to keep inmates busy by assigning them to productive tasks. Inmate idleness is something that most states are confronted with and while prison jobs such as mopping floors, kitchen duty, and making prison garments keep inmates occupied, these jobs are not enough to satisfy programming requirements to address the needs of rising populations. As inmate populations increase, stable prison systems could become volatile environments endangering prison staff as well as the inmates the systems are charged with protecting. When there are a limited number of prison jobs to address the population challenges, offenders find inappropriate ways to address their own idleness. The choices offenders make may lead to fights, staff assaults, riots, and other forms of aggression. References Barak, Y. , Savorai, O. , Mavashev, S. , & Beni, A (2001). Animal assisted therapy for elderly schizophrenic patients: A one year controlled trial. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 9(4), 439-432. Fields, G. (2005, January). Congress prepares to tackle prisoner recidivism: Lawmakers plan for bipartisan measures after report offers advice for overhaul. Wall Street Journal, p. A4. JFA Institute. (2007, November). Unlocking America: Why and how to reduce America’s prison population. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from www. jfa-associates. com U. S. Department of Justice. (2006, September 6). Study finds more than half of all prison and jail inmates have mental health problems. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www. ojp. usdoj. gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2006/BJS06064. htm McCuan, R. , Prins, S. , & Wasarhaley, N. (2007). Resources and challenges: Corrections and mental health collaborations. August 2007, Corrections Today: Female Offenders Collins, T. (2006). Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction: Pieces of the puzzle. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www. drc. ohio. gov/ Dawn, B. (2007). Managing the â€Å"other† inmate. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www. corrections. com Wilkinson, R. A. (1998). The impact of community service work on adult state prisons using a restorative justice framework. Division of Research and Advanced Studies of the University of Cincinnati, College of Education. Haney, C. (2007). Testimony of Professor Craig Haney. Prison overcrowding: Harmful consequences and dysfunctional reactions. University of California, Santa Cruz.

Sexuality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sexuality - Essay Example In some cases, the discourses focused on the struggle between patriarchal forces and the forces of feminist responses. Thesis Although gender and sexuality tend to define categories and identities within some cultural frames of references, these discourses often get disrupted by other forces such as class, and race, which eventually determine the manner in which they are represented at individual level, group, societal and national levels. Roadmap This paper will focus on some readings and films with the objective of determining the manner in which they represent the subject of gender and sexuality. The major topics will revolve around gender, race, and class. Gender Vast amounts of literature and films explore the dynamics and challenges that are anchored on the discourses of gender and sexuality. These films and readings cover some of the dominant themes within this discourse including power, subjugation, tribulation, emancipation, cultural factors, and empowerment. Many convergent themes on the matter continue to attend to the matter including the possibility of creating structures that would redeem the oppressed gender from the systematic structural disadvantages that make it difficult for them to gain any meaningful progress within the discourse human development. Radical approaches on both feminism and patriarchy have often been attributed to the rise of gay, lesbianism, homoeroticism, bisexuals, heterosexuals, and other categories that cut across both men and women. As such, the line of demarcation has been erased to an extent that multiple possibilities could exist within the same individual. However, gender, race, and class remain the most dominant discourses that determine the gender and sexuality. Charlotte Perkin Gilman’s short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, explores the psychological tensions and damage that result from the systematic and structural oppression from the patriarchal system. The narrator is a woman who struggles from a mental con dition in a house in which her husband confines her. She observes a strange and disturbing pattern of an oppressed woman in the wallpaper. Retaining her in the house symbolizes some aspect of triumph by the patriarchal forces by retaining her to her domestic role within the expectations of the custom on gender roles. The narrator’s final act of tearing down the wallpaper symbolizes an act of defiance against the gender design that subjugates women and imprisons them within the domestic space. Gilman’s short story is comparable in theme to the film Rabbit- Proof Fence directed by Philip Noyce. The film focusses on the plight of three aboriginal girls attempt to escape from the stifling conditions imposed onto them by the captors and tormentors who want to exploit them for some higher goals of social transformation. In this film, the three young girls are not defined in any terms larger than their sexuality and gender. Their captors intend to train them to be future hous e helps for the white people. They also hope that the girls would eventually get married to the white community in order to erase rid the aboriginal community of the â€Å"impure† elements. The struggle of the three girls to redeem themselves from the retrogressive social roles imposed on them underlines a deep-seated gender division that actively violates the rights and liberties of the female gender for their own private gains. Race The subjugation of women becomes even more complicated when perceived from the perspective of race.

Escobar's essay on post-development Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Escobar's on post-development - Essay Example The catastrophe in developing mentalist discussion can be viewed in at least two ways. First, incapability of dangerous thinking and most communal powers to imagine a new domain, which finally leaves behind the fantasy of development, and that rise above development’s dependence on western historicity and modernity. On the other, the appearance of an influential social movement discussion that although still unclear about its possible instructions, has quickly become a privileged arena for political action and intellectual inquiry. The majority of assessment of development spoken within the cultural and epistemological freedom it defines has reached a stalemate. Therefore, the current disaster does not call for an improved method of doing development not even for other development. An evaluation of the perform and discourse of development, nevertheless can help clear the ground for a more fundamental collective imagining of the option future. According to this analysis, development has to be making out for strategy and discovery created by the first world concerning third world being underdeveloped. Thus, development should not only be observed as an instrument of economic power over the social and physical reality of much of Latin America, Africa and Asia. It has been the primary tool through which these fractions of the world have been shaped and have twisted themselves, thus ruling out or marginalizing other ways doing and seeing. Because post-world war II dialogue of development is resolutely well established in the western economy and modernity, the difficulty appears complex. To imagine about options to the development, therefore, necessitate a hypothetical practical transformation of the ideas economy, modernity and development. This change can be best attain by construction upon the practices of social movements,

1.Select a research topic of your choice based on a business issue and Essay

1.Select a research topic of your choice based on a business issue and design a research proposal for this topic - Essay Example Crude oil is valued in terms of dollars per barrels of gallons in the international markets (BALKE 1997). The aim of the research here is to analyze the influence of shifts in Crude oil prices to the general economic performance due to its immediate influence on the World’s leading stock markets. The study is aimed at finding the changes that do occur in the stock markets which are related to increases or fall in the crude oil prices. The data gathered in the study will be analyzed to a certain the influences of fluctuations on Crude oil prices on inflations (BALKE 1997). Crude oil prices stability in the international market is always short term in nature. As a result such fluctuations have always shown influences on the world commodity prices in one way or the other. From mid-2010, there was a considerable increase in commodity prices as oil prices rose by 40%. During this time there was an incredible increase in food items costs and other farm products, metals and precious commodities like minerals and gem stones rose at a faster rate than ever experience before the energy price changes. Increase in energy prices therefore resulted in the upsurge of prices for food commodities due to the high demand for energy in the production of grains (BALKE 1997). Fluctuations on oil prices do occur following developments on the equity markets which is influenced by crisis in the market such as those of European debt crisis. During this time, the OPEC Reference Basket showed an average of $ 106.32/b, which represented a decline in the previous price level by over $ 5.30. In this period the crude oil future market, the Nymex WTI front-month rose to average $ 86.43/b. Crude Oil price hikes sometimes can be attributed to other factors such as demand. Increased demand for energy in the international markets can be attributed to the increasing economic

Who Is Pepsis Biggest Competitor Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Who Is Pepsis Biggest Competitor - Term Paper Example Their products, which include foods, beverages, and snacks, compete with other products from other manufacturers on the grounds of quality, price and their variety of products and their distribution efficiencies. Their success in marketing their products has largely arisen from their success in promoting their existing products, the effectiveness of their advertisement campaigns, their marketing programs, packaging of their products and their pricing strategies (PepsiCo, p.28). Their success has also been facilitated by their increased efficiencies in their production techniques, their trademark and brand development and their protection within the neighborhood, regional and worldwide markets. The company believes that in order for them to be able to compete effectively, their brands and marketing strategies should be strong. They also believe that their innovations and the quality of their products and their flexible distribution channels will allow their company to remain competiti ve in all the markets they deal with (PepsiCo, p.29). The Company uses the straight-line methodology of calculating their depreciation and amortization. According to the company’s 2008 financial reports, the depreciation and amortization of the tangible assets that they own is carried out on a five-year basis. In addition, the company’s 2011 annual financial reports indicate that their country’s tax laws require them to include their depreciation expenses at periodic intervals of five years (PepsiCo, p.36). The Pepsi Company had authorized 3,600 shares of common stock in the year 2011 according to their annual reports.  

Environmental and Resource Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Environmental and Resource Economics - Essay Example II. Command-and-Control Approach The Command-and-Control Approach to environmental protection has given rise to regulations that set limits on emissions and discharges from machineries, and on specific properties and makeup of equipment that may be manufactured, imported or utilized in the country. Under the same Approach, rules on audits and disclosure of information are also imposed. With the government giving due recognition to companies that abide by environmental protection laws, companies are driven to be compliant. Furthermore, companies are spared from the mandatory costs of non-compliance with the set standards and laws. For these reasons, the Command-and-Control Approach can work. (Khanna & Damon 1999) However, it has been pointed out that plain declaration of environmental laws is not enough. Non-compliance should be subject to strictly applied sanctions and penalties for such laws to be effective and for the Command-and-Control Approach to work. (Tietenberg & Lewis 2012) In the United States, the purpose for setting rules and regulations designed to protect the environment were initially declared by former President Richard Nixon on 1 January 1970 through the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA). As stated in the NEPA, the firm policy of the US Federal Government is to establish and maintain conditions that would allow man and nature to co-exist in harmony through the use of powers and resources that the Government has at hand. NEPA further states that this policy delivers the social, economic and other requirements of the American people, both present and future generations. (Wilson 2004) In the years that followed, more environmental standards and laws have been set and legislated. Thus, the Command-and Control Approach of the US Government has spawned the environmental protection system that stands to this day. Subsequently, the Congress instituted the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (R CRA), and the Comprehensive environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). (Wilson 2004) In spite of the many laws that have been made for environmental protection, critics have continually hounded the effectiveness and efficiency of such laws with endless questions. These laws contain the goals for which they have been set and critics have zeroed in on how the same goals have not been achieved through the implementation of the same laws. (Wilson 2004) Hence, the limitation of the Command-and-Control Approach is highlighted. Nationally promulgated and applied laws, no matter how good, can never successfully secure environmental protection. After all, the efforts of one specific country cannot combat the harm inflicted by the other countries across the globe. While we all attempt to save our planet, the Command-and-Control Approach used by governments can mostly cover only their specific territories. The bid of the United States to totally eliminate all production and use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other chemicals harmful to the ozone layer can be cited as an example. Even with US exercising political will, the ozone layer will continually thin out for as long as there are other countries that get on with their generation and use of CFCs. Due to the extreme damage that CFCs can cause the

Status of Recruitment in UK Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Status of Recruitment in UK - Research Proposal Example This will also give the employers the idea on the satisfaction level of their employees in terms of their policies, salaries and benefits, and professional growth. This will give the employer ideas on what to improve more to satisfy the needs and expectations of their employees. This study will employ the descriptive method using questionnaire as the main data-gathering tool. The questionnaire will be composed of two, first is for the employers and the other is for the employees. The questionnaire for the employees will use a Likert scale for the responses of the employees. The questionnaire will be floated personally by the researcher. In terms of analysis, the gathered data will be treated statistically. The frequency counts, percentage and graphical presentation techniques will be employed. The weighted mean will also be employed to determine the satisfaction level of the employees. To test the hypotheses, the chi-square test of independence will be utilized. This test will try to evaluate if two variables affect one another (Pagoso and Montana, 1993). The alpha level will be .05. The formula to use is: Where: Oi = observed frequency; Ei = an expected (theoretical) frequency; and n = the number of possible outcomes of each event. Reference: Pagoso and Montana (1993) Introductory Statistics Rex Bookstore Manila,

Cocaine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cocaine - Essay Example To understand those who use it, one must understand that cocaine is a stimulant drug that is primarily metabolized by the liver. So much of the drug is metabolized by the body, that less than 1% of the drug is secreted through urine. As stated by Maureen Coombs, â€Å"Cocaine is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant and induces a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. It can be chewed, insufflated, smoked or injected and has both medicinal and recreational uses†. With this information in mind, one can understand why individuals who use this substance do so. The purpose is not to experience a high, as it is with individuals who smoke marijuana. Instead, cocaine users seek the euphoric feeling and high level of energy associated with its use. Reports that have come out in past decades have indicated that deaths from cocaine use are not caused by overdose. Such reports may have caused a reduction in concern over its very real dangers. The reality is that cocaine c ontinues to kill thousands of individuals every year, and most of those deaths result from long-term damage caused by extensive abuse. According to Karch, â€Å"It is important to understand that death from acute cocaine toxicity is a relatively rare event, essentially only seen in ‘body packers’ or ‘body stuffers’ who find themselves exposed to massive, multigram quantities of cocaine. Otherwise, the only cocaine users likely to become seriously ill or die are the chronic users†. That is to say, fatal overdoses from cocaine do not occur from users â€Å"over indulging† in the user’s illegal substance of choice. Rather, the overdoses result in something going awry when individuals attempt to use themselves or allow themselves to be used as a drug mule. Packages of immense amounts of cocaine in their body are supposed to be sealed, but occasionally the packages become broken down enough to allow the cocaine to absorb in to the body. One of the reasons why cocaine users do not overdose through regular use is that the amount of cocaine required to produce an overdose is not possible via that method. The user would have to make themselves sick to achieve an overdose. When the purpose of using the drug is to achieve euphoria, to make oneself sick would be counterproductive. In terms of usage, â€Å"Nasal inhalation is the most popular method of cocaine administration certainly because of its discretion† (Blaise, pg. 1262). There are also the options of injecting the drug, or smoking it. As Blaise wrote, snorting cocaine is typically the primary method chosen because of the ease with which one can hide it—at first. Extended cocaine use has the unpleasant side effect of causing nasal lesions, which are all but impossible to hide. When officials want to test for cocaine, often they will take hair, blood, or urine samples. A little known fact about hair is that it essentially acts like a tree core. Where on a tree, each ring represents a year of life, hair shows signs of illegal substance use up to 90 days later. Urine tests can be used to screen for cocaine use 2-5 days after use, with the exception for those with certain kidney disorders. Finally, blood tests can be used accurately within 2-5 days. Individuals who indulge their drug habit with cocaine will find that at first, all may seem well and good.

Kids Health Essay Example for Free

Kids Health Essay 1.1:- Explain what it means to have a duty of care in own work role. 1.2:- Explain how a duty of care contributes to safeguarding or protection of individuals. Having a duty of care is an obligation to a professional, a child and family. Any family placing a child within an early years setting should feel that staff members will take full care of their child and that they will be safe. Any professional caring for a child would be held responsible if the minimum standard of care is not met. â€Å"If a duty of care is not met in a role that requires it, then the responsible person can be held accountable for allowing negligence to occur.† Meggit (2011) Providing a duty of care to a child is to ensure that they are at no harm. This would mean that a professional would need to be aware of giving the child right amount of attention, watching for potential hazards and making wise choices in the steps taken to ensure a child’s safety. There are legislations that early years setting must take full consideration of when proving a duty of care. Such as the Child Care Act 2006. This act incorporates the welfare standards in which all staff who look after children under the age of 8 should comply with. In September 2008 it became a legal responsible for care givers to ensure that all provisions are met. The welfare requirements of this are that within setting there should be an adult to child ratio. Every child matters used to be a government requirement but now it is guidance. This framework helps to safeguard and protect children. This framework says that children must be; Safe Healthy Achieve economically Contribute to society positively Enjoy life Safeguarding is very important within any early year’s setting. Safeguarding helps to protect children from malnutrition and negligence. Some safeguarding procedures within my own work placement are signing in and out books and everyday security checks. This means on my arrival I am asked to present my student ID or any other form to prove who I am. I cannot enter the child care setting at all, as all doors are controlled from the office inside. All doors are kept locked, and have pin locks on them. This ensures that even if an adult was able to get into the setting doors would be sealed. One example of duty of care not being given is about a small girl that died. Molly Cunliffe was unlawfully killed, in a nursery setting, in July 2007 when she was left in the care of an unqualified 17-year old student. The 16 month old child choked on a cloth bag tie when in her cot. Mr. Cunliffe says that â€Å"This is the result in unforgivable negligence and the needless death of our daughter Molly.† Nursery world (10/3/2014) There are a number of ways that providing a duty of care contributes to the safe guarding or protection of individuals. These include; Adult to child ratio’s Procedures Indoor and outdoor checks Security checks (ID), sign in and out book Trained first aiders Unqualified staff always supervised Uniform CCTV CRB/DBS checks Counting children on a regular basis/ registers Look belongings away/ phones locked away Visitor badge On arrival at my placement I am let in when a member of staff recognises me. I am then instantly told to sign myself in and security check to ensure that I am who I say I am. This means I need to present my student ID. This helps to protect children from strange people coming into the building. The setting is also a looked premises. This helps staff to know who is in the building. When arriving into my room, I am asked to sign into the room. Children are also signed in and out of the room. Children are also counted regular throughout the day. This ensures that no child is missing. When going to placement I am expected to wear my uniform. On my uniform its states when I am from and when course I am doing. With my uniform I am asked to wear a student badge. This helps to protect children because they are aware that I am supposed to be there. Adults and parents can also see that I am working with their children for a reason and that I am no danger. When arriving at placement I place all my items in a locker. This has to have  my phone in and any other valuables. This ensures safeguarding because it prevents me and other professionals from taking photographs of children or adding confidential information on social networking sites. Procedures such as accident, illness and injury forms help to protect children and members of staff. These forms are kept confidential but parents are able to look at these records as and when they like. It also protects staff from allegations. At my placement they have CCTV and open nappy changing rooms. CCTV helps to ensure that all children are protected and are always visible to staff. This can help when an adult or child may make an allegation. Open changing rooms help protect children and their confidentiality. CCTV means that staff are visible at all times but children being changed cannot be seen on the camera. As I am an unqualified adult in the setting, I am always supervised by qualified members of staff. This protects children because they will always be supervised by someone that they know and feel safe around. There is also a trained first aider within the setting that will be able to assist when a child is injured. 2.1:- Describe potential conflicts or dilemmas that may arise between the duty of care and the individual’s rights. Everyone is entitled to their basic human rights. These are the right to food, shelter, health care, safety and protection from abuse. Children in generally will not be able to stand up for themselves. United Nations drew up a charter ‘The United Convention’ on the rights of a child. â€Å"The Children and Young Persons Act 1933 consolidated all existing â€Å"child protection† work at that time into one act† Child protection (17/11/11) The children and young people’s act 1933 imposes a criminal responsibility for adults. This means that if an adult chooses to leave their child in the care of someone, and something was to happen, they would be held responsible. Choosing inadequate care for a child would be seen as neglect. Potential dilemmas or conflicts that could arise within a setting could be; A child’s appearance and hygiene: Dirty clothes, unkempt, smelly Constant and unexplained bruises and injuries Change in personality and behaviour: Changing from quiet to very unsettled or aggressive. Dramatic change in weigh, food problems: Change in appetite or stealing food. Continuously saying and reporting things that happen: Telling members of staff that they have been hit. Dilemmas or conflict would be managed within setting by arranging regular meetings. This wouldnt just focus on a child’s concerns but also a child’s achievements. Regular meetings would keep a parent updated in any changes. This also offers an opportunity for professionals to support a parent if they need the support and advice. Policies and procedures such as confidentiality and safeguarding are always available for parents to read and understand. Parents would read and sign the policies and procedures to show that they understand and agree with what they settings do in relevance to safeguarding and providing a duty of care to their child. Having policies and procedures helps to ensure that that parents are fully informed of any action they would need to take if an issue was bought up. Although professionals will keep things confidential, if a child is at risk someone else would needs to be informed. Forms and information regarding a parent’s child are always available for them to read. Professionals will build up a strong trust worthy relationship with parents and child so that they feel any issues or concerns can be dealt with calmly. This will help to ensure that if conflict does happen, the adults knows that they are talking to someone that trust them, understands them and will offer professional advice. Some situations such as behaviour, health and safety and confidentiality can or may cause conflict. These may arise between an individual’s rights and the duty of care. Confidentiality: The possible risk may be that the child is a risk of significant harm. It isn’t always possible to keep confidentiality if concerns are raised about a child’s safety. If confidentiality is broken, conflict could arise though losing the trust of the parent. Ways of managing the risks are settings having policies and procedures regarding confidentiality and safeguarding. Parents should be aware of the procedures professionals may need to take when a concern is bought up. Health and safety: A health and safety risk may be a child being left un supervised at home alone. This could but the child in serious danger. Also if a child is regularly absent for nursery/school, this could cause a concern. Ways of managing the risks are to offer guidance and support to adult/parents about breakfast clubs and after school clubs. Additional support could be giving them leaflets to help with financial and child care cost. Behaviour: If a child has a dramatic change in behaviour; for example changing from very calm to unsettled or aggressive, could be signs of a further medical condition such as ADHD. It can also affect a child’s learning and development if they are progressively finding it hard to concentrate on activities or group reading time. A way settings would manage this would be to have a good behavioural management and to speak to parents about there prefer way of dealing with bad behaviour. If a setting felt that  a parent’s behaviour management wasn’t affective enough, professionals could other strategies. 2.3:- Explain where to get additional support and advice about conflicts and dilemmas. There is a wide range of additional support that can offer advice about conflicts and dilemmas such as LEA (Local Educational Authority) This authority offers advice on special educational needs. They are educational advisors. These advisors will draw up an individual plan for a child. This should be reviewed every year. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) will work in partner shit with settings, children and parents to find the right support the child needs. â€Å"Parents should be involved in developing the individual’s educational plan, and the child should also get the chance for input.† Young Minds (2014) Another place professionals can get additional advice from is health services such as school nurses and play therapists. School nurses not only deal with children being ill, they also have an important role in promoting good health. â€Å"School nurses do vision and hearing screenings and a children how to take care of themselves.† Kids Health (2014) School nurses also work with children with special needs such as diabetes and teach them about their condition and monitor them while they are in the setting. Nurses give patients and families compassionate support when they need it. A play therapist also works with children that may have problems such as; Loss through bereavements, family breakups and separation Illness or disability Experienced neglect and abuse Children with low self esteem and anxiety issues Play therapist will adapt to suit individual needs and appropriate age. Play therapist helps children to explore their feelings and emotions and make sense of them. Play therapists work with children through role play, sensory play and different toys to help build a trust relationship between them. Social service work closely in partnership to help advise about conflict and dilemmas. â€Å"Social services have a statutory obligation to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable children and can provide a wide range of services to children and their parents.† Family lives (2014) Charities offer addition support to practitioners and advise through different groups of people. Some charities that offer addition support are; Barnado’s NSPCC Save the children Noah’s arch bereavement support The NSPCC (National Society For Prevention Of cruelty To Children.) offer addition support through a help line. They are a 24 hour service. This allows practitioners to discuss child pretention concerns. They also offer and information service where practitioners can find out changes in child protection policies, practice and research. Noah’s ark is a charity based on offer support to children with limited or life threatening illness. This charity works closely in partnership with families and other agencies by offering flexible support. They help families live positively and support them through bereavement. They offer emotional and physical support through the child’s life. 3.1:- Describe how to respond to complaints. When responding to complaints, there are things practitioners should and should not do. Should: Practitioners should always remain in a professional manor. This would mean following set procedures and remaining calm when dealing with any complaints made. It is also important so that bonds and relationships are not broken. Remaining confidential is very important. People remain confidential to avoid conflict. The only time when confidentiality is broken is when there is a safeguarding issue. Following the confidentiality procedure will prevent people taking sides and gossiping about the situation. It is important that practitioner always explain the importance of the issue. This means making people aware of what is going on. By following policies and procedures, the situation can be resolved. When responding to complaints, good body language will show that a practitioner is listening to what the other person has to say. Being attentive will show that their views are being listened to and understood. Making eye contact and informs the speaker that they are being listened to and will show that they are empathising them. â€Å". people will usually make eye contact as a signal that they are ready to listen.† Meggit (2011) Shouldn’t :- When responding to complaints there are many things that practitioners should not do. Practitioners should not dismiss people’s opinions and views. This can cause them to feel threatened and make them think that their views and opinion are not valued. Do not interrupt when the other person is speaking. This can seem rude and make them feel that they are in the wrong. All opinions should be valued and dealt with fairly. Practitioners should not be judgemental. If people are judged they may feel that their opinion is being dismissed and they are in the wrong. Practitioners should never compare. If an individual is compare to another can make them feel out casted and different. It is important to remember that all children are different and develop at different stages. No child is unable to do something; they are working towards achieving it. 3.2:- Explanation of main points of agreed procedures for handling complaints. Policies and procedures: All early years settings will have policies and procedures for making complaints. This will make people aware that if they have complaints to make they know where to go and how it will be dealt with. Have relevant forms for complaint makings. This will allow the setting to deal with the complaint quickly and effectively. All complaints should be treated as important no matter what the complaint is about. When a complaint is made, it should be dealt with immediately. This will prevent the situation getting worst. Depending on the seriousness of complaint, it would be made to the manager or a named person. For example the safeguarding officer, governors or local authorities. If the report is made against the manager is should be taken to the person next in command. A meeting should be help separately for the relevant people to talk about the situation. This meeting should be held in privacy. Both staff/adult should be allowed a witness with them so that they feel safe. During a meeting notes should be taken on the situation, but they should always be repeated and explained. No meeting should end without an action or review date. This could be signing an agreement of the action taken and to agree that they complaint has been resolved.

Importance Of Work Life Balance

Importance Of Work Life Balance It`s the idea that a persons life outside of work is as important as their working life`s and that the time a person spends working should be balanced by time spent doing things such as spending time with friends and family, keeping fit, doing hobbies, traveling etc. Work life balance is the state of equilibrium between an individuals work and personal life. Work life balance is achieved when an individual combination of work, family commitments and his personal life in an effective and efficiently way. If a worker is spending more time on work, he earned money but he unable to give quality time to his family and would also be neglected from his community. If a worker is working too little work, then he could not be able to provide his family a decent standard of living. A single individual work-life balance varies overtime. Work life balance for an individual worker is different from a single parent or a parent with school going children. Importance of work-life balance: The idea of WLB does bring attention to the fact that being a salve is detrimental to a persons physical and mental well-being; socializing, physical activity, and being with friends and family are all activities that contribute to being happier and healthier. Adopting WLB practices, the organization can also give a sense of social responsibility that organization is not only concerned with the profits earning activities but they are also concerned with the non-business activities like taking care of families of the workers. MERITS Spent more time with family. Healthier life Productivity increased Clear thinking. Better judgments. Enjoyment of work. Better social relationships. Broader perspective. Less stress DEMERITS Slower career advancement. Lower financial rewards. Moving out of the mainstream. Reduction in responsibility How important for employees and employers: All around the world, many companies realized that there is a connection between the work life balance and the impact it may have on their business. Much business believed on the theory that their employers must devote their work time to their work alone. Employees were not allowed to leave the work due to unexpected emergencies because many employers believed that their employees were hired only for work. As the world is changing, many employers become more flexible to balance the life situation with their employees. The most common problem for the employees is that they worked too much. They spent many hours in the office to complete their activities. For this reason a negative atmosphere may be created in the company. To combat that negative atmosphere or attitude there are many employers who are beginning to educate themselves and their employees on work-life balance. Employees who manage to balance their work with their life activity are more likely to be happy. This increased happiness can create positive work environments. Employers know that friendly work environments mean better results and better results often translate into profits. Developing Work-life balance is not only beneficial to employers. Employees, their family and friends can all from benefit from a positive work-life balance. Once a balance between life and work has been established a working parent may be able to spend more time with family. Benefit not Just for Those with Families: Many organization brought work-life balance in the workplace considering the families of employees, but work-life balance is not just for individuals with family. It is true that the employees who benefit the most from a work life balance policy are those with families; however, others do as well. When work-life balance incorporated in to the business structure it must applies to all employees not certain one. This means that everyone, including unmarried individuals or those without children, can reap the benefits of WLB. Many employers offer work alternatives to their employees to create positive work environment. All of these alternatives are likely to decrease the amount of time that an employee has to spend in the workplace when they already have prior engagements. Some of the alternatives are flexible hours, working at home, or job sharing. There are many individual who have multiple hobbies. A hobby is an activity to participate during your free time. Some of the activities are stamp collecting, photography, writing, reading story books, playing sports and other outdoor activities. Since work-life balance reduces the amount of time you are giving to your job, so an employee can utilize his/her time for doing such activity. There are many individuals who (when not working) volunteer in or around their local community. Volunteering is most commonly done at not profit charities, play groups, schools, and homeless shelters. Having a healthy balance between work and life is what enables many employees to volunteer during their traditional work hours. Impact of working long hours: Working eight hours is considered to be as the standard time for employees in many areas of the world. But an employee often works for more than eight hours a day because employer requires it. Regardless of the reason for doing so; it has been proven that long hours can have a negative impact on an employee and their family. Some health issues are associated with working long hours. Stress is more likely to occur when you are working long hours more than the standard. It has been known a sleep deprivation that is cause by stress. Individuals who suffer from a lack of sleep and a large amount of stress are likely to have a weak immune system. In order to prevent from these employees need to get a proper amount of rest and relaxation. The most important affects of working long hours is the amount of time you spend with your family. Your relationship with your family is depending of how much time you spend with them. It is not uncommon for tension to be present in a household where one or more of the home occupants are working long hours. Stress is more likely to occur when a household hold more than one duty and give extra time to her outside work. When an employee has regularly been putting in long hours at their workplace it is often difficult to stop. It is not uncommon for a worker to fear asking their employer for a reduction in hours in fear of losting their job. So If a job was accepted on the terms that workdays would be longer than most traditional ones it may be difficult for you to find a solution to your long lasting hours. If you agreed to the work arrangement your only alternative may be finding an organization that values the balance between working and life. How work-life balance should be implemented in the workplace: Earning profits is not the only goal that the organization is looking for. Nowadays getting employees loyalty is another important challenge that organization want to achieve to success in the business. In order to do that employer should satisfy their employees. This satisfaction is most often obtained by coming to the realization that all employees have a life outside of work that is just as important, if less, than their career. Pleasing every employee is a difficult task but most of the successful organization accomplished that task by incorporating work-life balance into their organization. One research indicated that employees are satisfied when the policies of work life balance are in accordance to their needs. Some of the individuals needs are sick leaves, lunch breaks, vacations leaves, pleasant amount of time with family and friends etc. Therefore there is a need for the organizations to develop a work-life policy that respects customer, individual and organizational needs. Same set of WLB facilities available at the organizations will help the management of the organizations to retain their employees with higher satisfaction levels. One important fact that organization should clearly defined the concept of work life balance to the employees so that they can balance their life. Some major policies of WLB all over the world: Long hours and overworked employees is the main problem in the organization. So in order to prevent that there are certain policies (flexible work practice) developed by the organization:- Hiring two employees to fill one job; this practices known as job sharing. Job sharing means works by dividing work time vacations, benefits, and pay between two workers. It is now becoming standard practice for an employer to offer their employees flexible hours. Working hours are predetermined during the hiring process and employees are allowed to pick hours that they work each week. Working at home is another alternative work arrangement that enables more employees to be at home with their family. Provided medical leave programs to employees. This program enables the employee to take time off from work if they or one of their family members becomes injured or ill. Provided vacation leaves for some period of time if employees feel that they are not giving proper time to their families. For parents the most popular way that work-life balance is brought into the workplace is through onsite childcare. It is located at the same building which allows parents to visit whenever they want to. Provide part time work arrangement for those who want to work for fewer hours. Affects of flexible work practice: Studies have indicated that introducing flexible work practices has a number of advantages for employers, such as an improved ability to attract existing employees as well as people not currently in the workforce. Research has shown the provision of flexible work practices (that help workers achieve work-life balance) positively impact Recruitment and selection Reduced stress and working environment Job satisfaction employee morale Labour turnover Motivation and productivity Absenteeism Return on training investment and staff loyalty Finding organization that values Work-Life Balance: There are number of things that an employee must take into account before seeking an organization where he wants to work. Employee should determine before joining the organization that whether they value the work-life balance or not. The two most common ways to gather information on a particular organization is before you being the application process or during the interview. While interviewing there are many individual who may ask an employer if they believe in the balance of work and life. This is a best way to get an answer to your questions, but it should also work to your demerits. Some employers, especially those who have not adopted the popular WLB theory, are likely to feel that you will not be a good job candidate. If you really want to know about the employer feeling on work-life balance then asks him directly in the middle or end of the interview. This shall make it appear as if that is not the only reason why you are seeking employment with them. In addition, to sharing t he same values, most of companies want to hear that you have faith in their products being sold or services being offered. To determine if a company you are interested in applying to shares this concept you can ask about family medical leave, job sharing, alternative work arrangements, and onsite childcare. Each features are typically found in a workplace that values life and family just as much as it does work. LITERATURE REVIEW: Employee work satisfaction and work life balance in Pakistani perspective As the wave of globalization captured the Pakistani markets the job became more demanding and the working hours also increases. The fast pace economical development in the country has demanded more efforts from its employees. Now organizations in Pakistan are paying off good salary packages, compensation and benefits but the nature of the work is more demanding. The work related stress, work pressure, long working hours leads to job dissatisfaction which is one of the main hinder in the factors related to work/family interferences The researchers made their efforts to highlight the issues of job satisfaction and work life balance in one of the developing countries, Pakistan. From the Pakistan perspective the researchers identified that the employee is said to be satisfied from his/her work when he/she feels comfort while working in the organization. Whereas work life balance means that an employee is comfortably accomplishing his/her work and non work responsibilities. Nadeem and Abbas (2009) tested a relationship of work life conflict and job satisfaction in a sample of Pakistani employees and revealed a negative relationship of the variables and suggested that the supportive management can be a medicine to minimize the conflict and enhance satisfaction among employees. However, the correlation of workload is positive and insignificant which shows that workload does not affect the job satisfaction of the employees in Pakistan. One of the researchers while examining the impact of rewards and recognition on job satisfaction and motivation of in a sample of Pakistani sample employees defines employee work satisfaction (job satisfaction) as a pleasurable positive emotional state as a result of work appraisal from ones job experiences (Gruneberg, 1979; Danish Usman, 2010). Malik, Zaheer, Khan and Ahmad, (2010) examined a relationship of work life balance/ work life conflict and job satisfaction in a sample of MBBS doctors in Pakistan and revealed no significant effect of work life balance on job satisfaction. Another research (ijcrb.webs.com) examines the relationship of employee work satisfaction and work life balance practices in Pakistan. A sample of 450 are gathered via stratified sampling from the two big organization operating in Pakistan i.e Pakistan telecommunication limited (PTCL) and Habib bank limited (HBL) . The results of this study show no significant difference with respect to employee work satisfaction and work life balance at all the management levels .Moreover, the result of regression analysis poses a strong positive relationship between the variables which means employee satisfaction has a strong impact on work life balance. The data which collected in this study clearly indicated that HBL provide more work-life facilities than the PTCL by ensuring better education facilities, child facilities, social support, flexi time facilities and more sick and education leaves. It means that HBL has the policies related to their people that support the concept of work-life balanc e. After going through several studies it is obvious that the term work life balance has been defined in different by different authors. Survey: We conduct a survey of Pakistan Steel Mills to identify that whether organization has HR policies in respect of work life balance and whether it is rightly implemented in the workplace. We taken interview of Mr. Iftikahr A. Barakzai , General Manager (MTC and human recourse department) and ask questions about HR polices related to work life balance that exist in Pak Steel Mills. We also distribute questionnaire to 40 employees of different department. HR Polices in respect of WLB: Weekly hours: No employee shall be allowed or required to work in a mills for more than forty-five hours in any week. Provided that an employee worker in mills engaged in work which for technical reasons must be continuous throughout the day may work for forty-eight hours in any week. Weekly holiday: No employee worker shall be allowed or required to work in a mills on a Saturday and Sunday. Compensatory holidays: Every employee should be allowed for a compensatory holidays, If worker works on Saturday and Sunday. Daily hours: Technical worker shall not be allowed or required to work in a mills for more than 12 hours in any day. Non-technical worker shall not be allowed or required to work in a mills for more than 9 hours in any day. Intervals for rest: The periods of work of employee workers in mills during each day shall be fixed either Each non-technical worker gets 45 min. launch and namaz break and two 15 min. tea break. Each technical worker gets two 45 min. launch and namaz break and two 15 min. tea break. Annual holidays: Every worker who has completed a period of twelve months continuous service in mills shall be allowed, during the subsequent period of twelve months holidays for a period of thirty three consecutive days, inclusive of the day or days, if any, on which he is entitled to a holiday. Casual leave: Every employee shall be entitled to casual leave with full pay for twenty days in a year. Sick leave: Every employee shall be entitled to ten days sick leave on pay in a year. Gazetted holidays: Every employee should get leave of 14 aug, 23 march, 25dec, 1 may, 9 nov, 11 sep, 5 feb. Festival Holidays: Every employee shall be allowed holidays with pay on all days declared by the federal Government to be festival holidays, e.g. (EID-UL-AZHA). Transportation facility: All employees shall be facilitating with free transportation. Health programs: Each worker can get free medical facilities and also for his or her family. Questionnaire: We distribute questionnaire to 40 employees to different department to determine the work life balance affect on employee satisfaction. Our findings are; Apply Correlation: Interpretation: After applying correlation analysis in spss and considering work life balance as our objective variable we determined that there is no significant relation between Work-life balance and job satisfaction, working hours working days. It means that job satisfaction have no affect on the work life balance. Conclusion: The results of the current study are based on the sample of 40 employees of different department of Pakistan steel mills. The result shows no significant relation are found in employee job satisfaction and work life balance. The study that we conducted in steel mills also determine that organization has certain policies which support individual to balance their life but there is no separate policy related to work life balance that exist in the organization and it is not properly defined to the employees. So there is needed to develop the concept of separate work life balance policies that will help the organization to retain the employees within the organization with higher job satisfaction level. The studies conducted so far in Pakistani organizational environment are unable to highlight the work life balance and work life balance practices in concrete terms except for some big organization like unilever,PG who has a separate well defined policies related to work life balance. So there is needed to make this concept clearly examine its effect on other human and organizational factors.

The Case for Introducing a Property Tax, Collected at Local Government

I propose that an annual residential property tax be introduced and collected at central government for an introductory period with a view to control being handed over to local government and the revenues generated by the tax to be used solely for local publicly provided goods. But for this to be an efficient and effective method of funding local authorities and not adversely affect the balances of the exchequer there needs to be an overhaul as to how local authorities are currently funded and run. Introducing a property tax will hopefully broaden the tax base and go some way to overhauling how the tax system works in Ireland and how local authorities are funded. Rationale for a residential property tax in Ireland Stability There are many reasons in support of a residential property tax. Firstly, it will provide a stable and less volatile income for the exchequer, as is the case with a transaction such as stamp duty, and generally improve macroeconomic stability. The tax income collected by stamp duty made a huge contribution to the exchequer, but as we can see from Fig 1.1, it tended to fluctuate, making it more difficult to budget long-term and susceptible to market forces, as is the case currently. A â€Å"recurring annual tax is less economically distortionary than the imposition of tax on either income or capital† (TSG 09/07) and a more reliable and stable tax income achieved from a proposed residential property tax would help with investment planning, as an â€Å"over-reliance on expenditure and transaction taxes has resulted in tax revenue dropping more quickly than (nominal) GNP† (Commission on Taxation Report 6:2.2). As we can see from the data contained in the ‘Commission o n Taxation Report 2009’ (Fig 1.1), revenues from sta... ...t such scenarios and ensure the equitable nature of the tax is maintained and â€Å"serious administration and avoidance problems arise when rates differ between jurisdictions† (McDowell 1988). Bibliography Research Papers McDowell, M. 1988. University College Dublin, Department of Political Economy. Financing Local Authorities: The Questionable Viability of a Local Property Tax. Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Gurdgiev, Dr.C. 2009. Trinity College, Dublin. Macroeconomic Case for a Land Value Reform in Ireland. Dublin 2, Ireland. Reports Tax Strategy Group. 2009. Property Taxation. Dublin. Ireland Commission on Taxation. 2009. Report 2009. Dublin, Ireland: Stationary Office Online Resources Collins, S. 2011. Property Tax Brought Forward. The Irish Times, 21st December. Available at: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1221/breaking6.html

Unemployment Essay -- essays papers

Unemployment Definition of Unemployment The unemployment rate is the percentage of the US labor force that is unemployed. It is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by the sum of the number of people unemployed and employed. An individual is counted as unemployed if they are over the age of 16 and actively looking for a job, but cannot find one. Students, who choose not to work, and retirees, are not counted in the unemployment rate. In March 2001: Description Total civilian population 211,171,000(Excluding those under 16, members of the military, and persons in institutions) - Not in Labor force 69,304,000 (Retired, students, individuals choosing not to work)= Labor force 141,868,000 (Total population minus those not in labor force)- Employed 135,780,000 (Individuals with jobs)= Unemploye 6,088,000 (Individuals without a job and actively searching) Unemployment Rate =6,088,000 135,780,000 + 6,088,000 = 4.3% The unemployment rate for the month of March 2001 was 4.3 percent, a tenth of a point increase from the January and February 2001 rate of 4.2%. The number of individuals employed decreased by 86,000. An unemployment rate of 4.3 percent for March 2001 is the highest unemployment rate since July 1999, but only slightly higher than the 3.9 to 4.1 percent range from October 1999 to the end of 2000. Prior to that, the unemployment rate had been in a steady decline since shortly after the last recession in 1990-1991. The average monthly increase in employment was approximately 155,000 in 2000 and 220,000 in 1999. For almost ten years, unemployment has fallen and the number of employed persons has increased by more than 15 million. In March 2001, the number of jobs decreased by 86,000, the largest monthly decrease since 1991. Job losses were most prominent in the manufacturing sector (81,000 jobs), but there were also losses in the retail trade sector (46,000 jobs). These losses were partially offset by employment increases experienced in the construction and finance sectors. Growth in employment in 2000 was 1.9 million; in 1999, the increase in employment equaled 2.8 million. Changes For most of 2000, unemployment remained between 3.9 and 4.1 percent of the labor force. In the first three-quarters of 2000, the numbers of individuals in the labor force were i... ...te of growth in real GDP increased to 3.9, with the last three years being over 4.3 percent per year. A five percent increase from 1999 to 2000 is the highest level of yearly increase since 1984. The recent upward trend (until the last two quarters) in economic growth has been accompanied by increases in the rates of growth of consumption spending, investment spending and exports. Productivity increases; decreases in unemployment, expansion in the labor force, and increases in the amount of capital have allowed real GDP to grow at faster rates. Yet during this same time period, consumers have reduced their savings. Conclusion After reviewing the unemployment, inflation and the GDP history of the last decade it is obvious why the United States economy has been ranked number one in the world. The economy has averaged a 5% or less unemployment rate, a 3.5% or less inflation rate and a GDP rate that has fluctuated from 2.2% to 5% throughout the nineties. The future outlook of the next decade is promising, however, many economists are skeptical when asked if this trend can continue at its current rate. References www.econedlink.org www.economicsameria.org Unemployment Essay -- essays papers Unemployment Definition of Unemployment The unemployment rate is the percentage of the US labor force that is unemployed. It is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by the sum of the number of people unemployed and employed. An individual is counted as unemployed if they are over the age of 16 and actively looking for a job, but cannot find one. Students, who choose not to work, and retirees, are not counted in the unemployment rate. In March 2001: Description Total civilian population 211,171,000(Excluding those under 16, members of the military, and persons in institutions) - Not in Labor force 69,304,000 (Retired, students, individuals choosing not to work)= Labor force 141,868,000 (Total population minus those not in labor force)- Employed 135,780,000 (Individuals with jobs)= Unemploye 6,088,000 (Individuals without a job and actively searching) Unemployment Rate =6,088,000 135,780,000 + 6,088,000 = 4.3% The unemployment rate for the month of March 2001 was 4.3 percent, a tenth of a point increase from the January and February 2001 rate of 4.2%. The number of individuals employed decreased by 86,000. An unemployment rate of 4.3 percent for March 2001 is the highest unemployment rate since July 1999, but only slightly higher than the 3.9 to 4.1 percent range from October 1999 to the end of 2000. Prior to that, the unemployment rate had been in a steady decline since shortly after the last recession in 1990-1991. The average monthly increase in employment was approximately 155,000 in 2000 and 220,000 in 1999. For almost ten years, unemployment has fallen and the number of employed persons has increased by more than 15 million. In March 2001, the number of jobs decreased by 86,000, the largest monthly decrease since 1991. Job losses were most prominent in the manufacturing sector (81,000 jobs), but there were also losses in the retail trade sector (46,000 jobs). These losses were partially offset by employment increases experienced in the construction and finance sectors. Growth in employment in 2000 was 1.9 million; in 1999, the increase in employment equaled 2.8 million. Changes For most of 2000, unemployment remained between 3.9 and 4.1 percent of the labor force. In the first three-quarters of 2000, the numbers of individuals in the labor force were i... ...te of growth in real GDP increased to 3.9, with the last three years being over 4.3 percent per year. A five percent increase from 1999 to 2000 is the highest level of yearly increase since 1984. The recent upward trend (until the last two quarters) in economic growth has been accompanied by increases in the rates of growth of consumption spending, investment spending and exports. Productivity increases; decreases in unemployment, expansion in the labor force, and increases in the amount of capital have allowed real GDP to grow at faster rates. Yet during this same time period, consumers have reduced their savings. Conclusion After reviewing the unemployment, inflation and the GDP history of the last decade it is obvious why the United States economy has been ranked number one in the world. The economy has averaged a 5% or less unemployment rate, a 3.5% or less inflation rate and a GDP rate that has fluctuated from 2.2% to 5% throughout the nineties. The future outlook of the next decade is promising, however, many economists are skeptical when asked if this trend can continue at its current rate. References www.econedlink.org www.economicsameria.org

Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect Essay -- Violence Against Children

Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children(Child Abuse Statistics & Facts). Child abuse doesn’t necessarily have to be physical, it can be mental, emotional, or sexual, it can even be neglect. Abuse doesn’t only effect the child being abused but it also affects the people witnessing the abuse. Child abuse can affect the child in many different ways. There can be many effects of abuse on the child (Kraizer). The worst way the child can be affected is suicide. Every child abuse case is different in its own way. Of course child abuse can lead to problems and suffering, but it's not that simple. Every child will have a different way of dealing with the problem that they think is alright because they have been raised knowing only that. Common effects of child abuse; Nightmares or difficulty sleeping, low self-esteem, antisocial behavior, including rebelliousness or running away, increased hostility or aggression. Feelings of fear, shame, anger, guilt, anxiety, or confusion are often found in a child that is being abused. The child will tend to stay away from other children and play by themselves. A child that is abused will most likely be abused until they are a teenager and will usually find themselves in an abusive relationship later in life, if they’re not being abused they will usually be the abuser. The child will most likely be effected by the abuse their whole lives, and will need therapy in some point in their lives. But most cannot afford it so they live with the thoughts of being abused all their lives. Many people are not aware of the long-term effects abuse can have on a child. Whether a child experiences abused, or witnesses it, the effects often affect the physical, intellectual, and emotional growth of the child. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month (Child Abuse: An American Epidemic). It is a time organizations try to make the public aware that there are children being abused everyday. It is not the only time they make it aware to the public, they do it all year long. During this month organizations try to educate people on how to bring healing to those who are being abused. Infants and toddlers (0 - 2 ½ Years ) have developmental problems. They don’t have much response to chaotic, loud, and harmful environments. Emotional withdra... ...th abuse after it is over is the toughest thing to handle, most people that could afford therapy go to it, but since most people can‘t afford it they try to deal with it the best they can. Although in most cases the child is removed from the home that the abuse is happening in, sometimes child abuse can slip by unnoticed and that can have severe consequences on the child as well as others. Everyone is urged to report child abuse if they suspect it is happening, there are anonymous numbers that you can call to report abuse. In the worst case scenario child abuse can later in life lead to suicide. Work Cited Joseph S. Volpe. â€Å"Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Adolescents: An Overview.† Web. 16 May 2015. http://www.aets.org/arts/art8.htm Sherryll Kraizer. â€Å"Child Abuse: Effects.† Web. 16 May 2015. http://www.safechild.org/childabuse5.htm â€Å"Child Abuse Statistics & Facts† Web. 16 May 2015. https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/ â€Å"Social and/or Emotional Effects of Sexual Abuse.† Web. 16 May 2015. http://www.uen.org/utahlink/lp_res/husex091.htm Landau, Elaine. Child Abuse: An American Epidemic. Englewood cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990

Business law Essay

Signal Sets Company contracts to deliver one hundred 52-inch plasma high-definition television sets to a new retail customer, Tuner TV Store, on May 1, with payment to be made on delivery. Signal tenders delivery in its own truck. Tuner’s manager notices that some of the cartons have scrape marks. Tuner’s owner phones Signal’s office and asks whether the sets might have been damaged as they were being loaded. Signal assures Tuner that the sets are in perfect condition. Tuner tenders Signal a check, which Signal refuses, claiming that the first delivery to new customers is always for cash. Tuner promises to pay the cash within two days. Signal leaves the sets with Tuner, which stores them in its warehouse pending its â€Å"Grand Opening Sale† on May 15. Two days later, Tuner’s stocker opens some of the cartons and discovers that a number of the sets are damaged beyond ordinary repair. Signal claims Tuner has accepted the sets and is in breach by not paying on delivery. Will Signal succeed on these claims? Explain. Signal won’t necessarily succeed on his claims. â€Å"Acceptance of the goods prevents the buyer or lessee from exercising the right of rejection, but it does not necessarily prevent the buyer or lessee from pursuing other remedies† (Business Law Today; page 337). In some circumstances, a buyer or lessee are allowed to revoke their acceptance of the goods. The revocation of acceptance is not effective until the seller has been notified. The seller must also be notified within a reasonable time after the buyer discovers or should have discovered the grounds for revocation. Tuner noticed cartons with scrape marks and right away questioned Signal, but Signal assured they would not be damaged. A couple days later Tuner’s stocker opens some cartons and then discovers the damages, notifying Signal. Two days later is within a reasonable time. Therefore Tuner has not breached for accepting the goods. He could now keep the goods and recover damages caused by Signalâ€℠¢s breach. Signal also stated that Tuner had breached contract for not paying on delivery. Payments can be made by any means agreed on by both parties. Under this contract there is no specific type of payment set. â€Å" If the seller demands cash when the buyer offers a check, credit card, or the like, the  seller must permit the buyer reasonable time to obtain legal tender† (Business Law Today; page 329). In this case Tuner offered Signal a check on the day of delivery, but Signal refuses, claiming the first delivery to new customers is always for cash. So signal must than give Tuner reasonable time to pay. In this case Tuner promises to pay the cash within two days. Therefore Signal is wrong and Tuner did not breach for not paying on day of delivery. Signal is most likely not going to succeed on his claims.