Organizational Technology Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organizational Technology Plan - Essay Example As the population grows and their needs grow even faster, the natural resources are being depleted at the speed of light. Moreover, all other societal and environmental factors are being exhausted very quickly as well. In such a situation, there is a huge responsibility on the shoulders of businesses operating in our environment. (Total Attorny/Scanlan, 2010). They cannot simply leverage the society and its resources without giving anything back in return like old times. This calls for a well-renowned business activity of our times, i.e. Corporate Social Responsibility. Simply put, corporate social responsibility is nothing but a corporation’s or a business’s way of paying back to the society and/or the environment for what it takes in order to keep itself up and running, although it can never actually repay 100%. (Werther, Chandler, 2010). There are several types of social responsibilities that apply to the present-day businesses. Some major responsibilities would incl ude helping the backward segments of the society move up the ladder by providing educational and professional opportunities, generation of employment, promoting culture, protecting and revitalizing the environment, promote research and development, induce recreational activities, etc. (Epicor, 2010).

Extremely Disturbing Accident Essay Example for Free

Extremely Disturbing Accident Essay There was an extremely disturbing accident a couple of years ago. I will never be able to forget that scene which made Daniel lost his words and made him stay in the darkness for such a long time. Daniel was a wonderful man who cared about his family more than anything else. He had a lovely wife who was called Mary and between them, he had the most adorable daughter. I have never seen such a caring and loving family who knows to take care about their neighbors as well. They were especially kind to me who was living next door, old and alone. They knew I had no relatives so they often invited me at dinner and on the special occasions such as Christmas and Birthdays. They regarded me as a member of the family. We used to sing every night and, oh, I remember, the family was very fond of reciting poems. Therefore, we had this party in which all had to recite favorite poems very often. Daniel used to write the poems by himself and the poems were always about love in the family and each time, we were touched and impressed by high qualities of them. However, the happiness did not last long. On Daniels 40th Birthday, Mary and her daughter, Kate, and I planed to surprise him by taking a birthday cake and a lot of nice food to share with his friends to where Daniel was working. In spite of the fact that Daniel was very angry when we once visited him long time ago, he said the place is too dangerous, we were taking food to where Daniel was working. Having thought back about what he said, he was right; He did a lot of physical works for building up the structures and the place where he worked was very dangerous indeed. Kate was singing, excited with joys, she couldnt wait to see her dads smile at her little- hand made birthday card. She was running down the hill and at the same time, I just realized that she is not safe any longer at that distance. Mary and I were running after her, shouting to stop, but it was too late. By accident, one of the workers dropped a huge-hard wooden material from high floor of the building, and Mary was hit by it so hard that even before the ambulance came to help her, she was already gone to the other world. Daniel thought her death was his fault and he quit the job. He acted like an insane person and people started to avoid him, even his wife gave up trying to turn him back to normal. At last, they got divorced in few months. I didnt see Daniel for a few months around his house, and then I found him in his garden. I asked him whether he feels better and he always nodded at my questions. I noticed he became the person I used to know, the person before faced his daughters death, but I knew something was wrong. He was quiet, too quiet. His eyes were always full of sorrow and made my heart broke. They reminded me of Mary who was gone long ago. I did my best to make him to speak again, not out of pity, but I felt I am the one relative left to take care of him. He hardly got out from his room; it was so hard to make him to get along with people, to get socialized again. I thought it would be impossible to make him speak again unless Mary comes back to him. One day, I have succeeded to take him to the poetry club where he used to love to go and listen to the poems. I thought this rally was the last chance I have and played to God desperately. That, that was a miracle; he was listening the poems quietly and suddenly, he stood up. After a while he started to mumble something and soon he made a perfect sound. I was frozen, alert. The people around him listened to him. He found the music of speech which was concealed in this heart deeply for a long time. When he is done, before the applause, we observed the flowers silence. A thrush sings and the daffodils are flame

Was Darwin a Eugenicist?

Was Darwin a Eugenicist? Aiden Tamasauskas Charles Darwin is often cited as one the most pivotal contributors to the human understanding of evolution. His magnum opus On The Origins of Species, documents his groundbreaking observations and theories from his voyage on the HMS Beagle. Darwins work on natural selection lead to the view of evolution as being a process of deviations, the degree to which stems from an original organism. The varieties of organisms that have survived over time have done so because of their specific aptness for their environment, and nothing else. Essentially Darwin helped introduce the theory of survival of the fittest-in other words, chance, as a central feature of biological development. At the time Darwin released his theories, the notion of chance was hugely controversial, and lead to questions concerning the very sanctity and precariousness of animal life. It was not until the publishing of The Descent of Man that Darwin dealt explicitly with the subject of the evolution of humans. Darwin decisi vely concludes that humans are descendants of less complex life forms and that the particular ways in which they have adapted to their environment is the paramount feature of their survival. Some scientists took from Darwin the theory of natural selection, and sought to synthesize it or manipulate it. The field of eugenics essentially claims that by genetic intervention the human race can be improved. There are some who would claim that by making humans less essential-or important-biological figures, and by putting their destiny in the hands of chance, Darwin somehow advocates for a type of eugenics or a genetic intervention or modification in the process of human life. This paper will demonstrate through an analysis of The Descent of Man, that Darwin was emphatically not a eugenicist. This will be argued by contrasting the claim that Darwin was a eugenicist with an in-depth examination of Darwins understanding of human sociality desire, sympathy, and natural and sexual selection. To begin, Darwins treatment of how society and societal values contributed to anthropogenesis shows an initial incongruence between Darwin and eugenicists. Darwin claims, man is a social being. We see this in his dislike of solitude, and in his wish for society beyond that of his own family. (Darwin, Descent of Man, Carroll,529). Already, we can see that Darwin wants to highlight the way in which society is a product of both an aversion to isolation and a calculated decision to stay amongst others. But why? There are sets of values (whether they be morals or behavioural norms) that at some point the ancestors of humans developed and began performing. Darwin clarifies, saying, although man, as he now exists, has few special instincts, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] this is no reason why he should not have retained from an extremely remote period some degree of distinctive love and sympathy for his fellows. (Darwin, Descent of Man, Carroll,530). This quote explains that man has acquired a sense of obedience and love for his community, but by chance. This uncertainty of how these senses of love and obedience came about should be read as an embracing or acknowledging of the unknown processes of deep time and natural selection, not a call to learn how to synthesis and produce genetic changes to these sensations. In other words, if one tribe included [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] a great number of courageous, sympathetic and faithful members, who were always ready to warn each other of danger, to aid and defend each other, this tribe would without a doubt succeed best and conquer the other (Darwin, Descent of Man, Carroll,535). Here Darwin shows that sentiments that were beneficial to tribes were often used to the advantage of the most successful tribes, which shows that the group mentality of society has come about by virtue of both instinctual sentiments and the adopting of qualities that increase the success and decrease the difficulty of survival. Ultimately survival is a product of batt ling and adapting to ones environment. What sets human community apart from that of lower animals is the sensation of regret they feel when having not acted in accordance with certain moral conduct. This is an appeal to humanitys concern with mental contents. If a human enacts, Darwin says, any desire or instinct, leading to an action opposed to the good of others, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] he will feel no keen regret at having followed it; but he will be conscious that if his conduct were known to his fellows, it would meet with their disapprobation; and few are so destitute of sympathy as not to feel discomfort when this is realized. (Darwin, Descent of Man, Carroll,532). This is essentially what structures human morality. This conclusion agrees well with the belief that the so-called moral sense is aboriginally derived from the social instincts, for both relate at first exclusively to the community. (Darwin, Descent of Man, Carroll,532) This is to say that humans have a certain predisposition to acting in accordance with past impressions (this includes acting nobly and acting out of pure desire) whereas other animals act instinctually without a moment of remembrance, regret, sympathy or empathy. Darwin also thinks that primeval man, at a very remote period, was influenced by the praise and blame of his fellows, meaning that he highly values mental charm and virtues (Darwin, Descent of Man, Carroll,537, 559). Whether acting as a society in response to their environment (natural selection) or choosing a mate (sexual selection) Darwin believes that humans have a special concern for each other that is not possible to foster through eugenics. What is of the utmost importance to this discussion is the way in which Darwin believes that this predisposition accumulated over the long span of anthropogenesis-it has no intrinsic or necessary meaning other than its haphazardness. Darwins most notorious development, natural selection, is a theory that arguably serves as the antithesis of eugenics. Darwin explicitly explains that all the social qualities, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] were no doubt acquired by the progenitors of man in a similar manner, namely, through natural selection, aided by inherited habit. (Darwin, Descent of Man, Carroll,535). Besides instinctual habit-based decision making, social attributes in humans are a product of natural selection; that is, sociality has been selected as the most beneficial arrangement for human lifes survival against its environment. It is an intellectual fallacy to equate the work done on the theory of natural selection to a secularized teleology, or blueprint of nature. Rather, natural selection is the unpredictable work of nature, not an objective plan. It is a law that is as random as it is inevitable. As opposed to being the law of a god, natural selection follows from the struggle for existence; and this from a rapid r ate of increase [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] had he not been subjected to natural selection, assuredly he would never had attained to the rank of manhood. (Darwin, Descent of Man, Carroll,540). In the same way that humans construct their society and its value judgments, natural selection is a process created by the struggle for life. This means that natural selection is a process that requires life to exist. A eugenicist would seek to intervene in the making of life in order to produce a life that is better. And thus, eugenics strives to prevent the very life that makes conceivable natural selection-the possibility for evolution-from ever coming about. It is obvious that Charles Darwin, the father of natural selection, would never endorse a means to intervene in the highly conditional, random work of natural selection. In conclusion, at his time, many were outraged by Darwins theories. But what the most extreme misinterpretations of Darwin conclude about his theory of evolution is that he would ever endorse a preemptive intervention in the unraveling of life. That is, Darwin cannot be read as ever endorsing a eugenics program, as natural selection is literally the process of pre-established life fighting and adapting with its unpredictable environment. Darwins conclusion is that man descended from a lower form of life, and is marked by a difference in degree not kind from other species. This is not to insist upon the interference in the progression or evolving of humans as a species, but rather privledges the role that chance places in the struggle for life. By paying close attention to some of the tenants of his thought, this paper has shown that Darwins Descent of Man is a work that in no way advocates eugenics. In fact, his work resists any call to planned or calculated interference in human lif e. Bibliography Darwin, Charles. Descent of Man. Ed. Joseph Carroll. On the Origin of Species. Broadview Press, 520-600. Print. Certification of Authenticity I certify that I have read the Statement on Intellectual Honesty for this course, agree to abide by them and herewith confirm that this essay is wholly my own new and original work except where I directly quote from or allude to other sources, in which cases these sources are acknowledged through the use of full bibliographic citations and in no cases are the words of other writers placed in my essay verbatim without a clear indication that they constitute direct quotations. Signature: ___________________________

The Chosen Essay -- Essays Papers

The Chosen The Chosen, a fiction novel written in 1967 by Chaim Potok, is about two young Jewish boys and their friendship. It takes us along with them on their journey from adolescence to adulthood. They face many conflicts, and through those trials the author makes his readers think more deeply into life’s true meanings. The novel was set in New York during the Second World War. Since the main characters are Jews, this period of time is very significant. Not only were the Jews persecuted during WWII, but New York was also close to a military base, which made it a prime target for bombing. Even the setting has an underlying sense of tension. One of the protagonists in The Chosen is Reuven Malter. Reuven is an orthodox Jewish boy. He is a very smart and diligent student. His father, David Malter raises Reuven alone in Brooklyn, New York as his mother has already passed away. Reuven has glasses, brown hair and eyes, and dresses in the typical orthodox manner. A plain boy, he has a bright mind and a very caring soul. The other protagonist in the novel is Danny Saunders. Danny is the son of a very devoted Hasidic Jewish tzaddik. However, Danny is not a very enthusiastic Hasid. He has earlocks, grows a beard, and wears the traditional Hasidic outfit, but he doesn't have the reverence for it that he should. Danny is a genius. His religion forbids him to read literature from the outside world, so he struggles with his thirst for knowledge and the restraints that have been put on him by both his father and his religion. He lives with his father, mother, older sister, and younger brother in Brooklyn as well. The first antagonist is Danny. He and Reuven had many difficulties. They resolve their problems in the course of the book, but at the beginning they hate each other. Their religious views are also very opposite. Once they overcome their differences, they become best friends. Reb Saunders is the second antagonist. A Hasidic tzaddik, he led his people into freedom in America. Reb has strange ideas on raising Danny. He believes that silence will teach Danny compassion and give him an understanding for pain. He does not talk to his son about anything but the Talmud. Loving and respecting each other immensely, Reb and Danny just never get a chance to express their feelings with one another. Reb holds Danny back and do... ...alizes that he can’t expect to keep such a genius in the cage. Reb finds out about Danny’s plans for the future, and although they contradict the way he would have wanted Danny to continue with his life, he agrees to let Danny decide for himself. Satisfied as a father, Reb says, â€Å"†¦I had to make certain his soul would be the soul of a tzaddik no matter what he did with his life.† Once Reb has given his son freedom, Danny remains faithful to his religion and, although he is not as devout, goes out into the world. Throughout this novel, there is an underlying force of prejudice. The two different Jewish sects are prejudiced against one another. Alongside, WWII also has a lot of prejudices locked up in it. The Zionist and anti-Zionist movements were prejudiced toward each other and many of these examples are found in the novel. Reuven Malter narrated The Chosen. This gives it a youthful perspective. It is very descriptive. Potok used many detailed vocabulary words to communicate his point. A lot of figurative language helps develop analogies and insights, as well. The Chosen is a very insightful novel about the Jewish culture and the trials that come with growing up. The Chosen Essay -- Essays Papers The Chosen The Chosen, a fiction novel written in 1967 by Chaim Potok, is about two young Jewish boys and their friendship. It takes us along with them on their journey from adolescence to adulthood. They face many conflicts, and through those trials the author makes his readers think more deeply into life’s true meanings. The novel was set in New York during the Second World War. Since the main characters are Jews, this period of time is very significant. Not only were the Jews persecuted during WWII, but New York was also close to a military base, which made it a prime target for bombing. Even the setting has an underlying sense of tension. One of the protagonists in The Chosen is Reuven Malter. Reuven is an orthodox Jewish boy. He is a very smart and diligent student. His father, David Malter raises Reuven alone in Brooklyn, New York as his mother has already passed away. Reuven has glasses, brown hair and eyes, and dresses in the typical orthodox manner. A plain boy, he has a bright mind and a very caring soul. The other protagonist in the novel is Danny Saunders. Danny is the son of a very devoted Hasidic Jewish tzaddik. However, Danny is not a very enthusiastic Hasid. He has earlocks, grows a beard, and wears the traditional Hasidic outfit, but he doesn't have the reverence for it that he should. Danny is a genius. His religion forbids him to read literature from the outside world, so he struggles with his thirst for knowledge and the restraints that have been put on him by both his father and his religion. He lives with his father, mother, older sister, and younger brother in Brooklyn as well. The first antagonist is Danny. He and Reuven had many difficulties. They resolve their problems in the course of the book, but at the beginning they hate each other. Their religious views are also very opposite. Once they overcome their differences, they become best friends. Reb Saunders is the second antagonist. A Hasidic tzaddik, he led his people into freedom in America. Reb has strange ideas on raising Danny. He believes that silence will teach Danny compassion and give him an understanding for pain. He does not talk to his son about anything but the Talmud. Loving and respecting each other immensely, Reb and Danny just never get a chance to express their feelings with one another. Reb holds Danny back and do... ...alizes that he can’t expect to keep such a genius in the cage. Reb finds out about Danny’s plans for the future, and although they contradict the way he would have wanted Danny to continue with his life, he agrees to let Danny decide for himself. Satisfied as a father, Reb says, â€Å"†¦I had to make certain his soul would be the soul of a tzaddik no matter what he did with his life.† Once Reb has given his son freedom, Danny remains faithful to his religion and, although he is not as devout, goes out into the world. Throughout this novel, there is an underlying force of prejudice. The two different Jewish sects are prejudiced against one another. Alongside, WWII also has a lot of prejudices locked up in it. The Zionist and anti-Zionist movements were prejudiced toward each other and many of these examples are found in the novel. Reuven Malter narrated The Chosen. This gives it a youthful perspective. It is very descriptive. Potok used many detailed vocabulary words to communicate his point. A lot of figurative language helps develop analogies and insights, as well. The Chosen is a very insightful novel about the Jewish culture and the trials that come with growing up.

Buying the Most Expensive Thing

Recently my family bought a new home, and while it was as much money as most homes are ( we are paying $167,100 for a three bedroom one bath) it was the most expensive thing we have ever bought. Buying a new home in any economy will always be an expensive endeavor. In this current economy it is a buyers market but there are still many things a buyer and seller must consider when buying or selling a home. The strength of the economy for a buyer can affect the benefits of the home ownership because it would determine the future market value of the home. It will also determine the market price that has to be paid at the time of purchase as well as determining the interest rate of how much that needs to be repaid. The removal of the tax deductibles of the payments increases the after-tax cost, and when taxes come due on the house at the end of the year there is no added incentives for owning a home. This will lead to the decrease in buying of new homes and the drastic fall of prices for sellers. There are many other things that can affect whether a person can afford to buy a home, but government spending and taxes are the biggest incentive as to what a family can afford and what benefits they can receive when buying. With an increase to taxes there is less money to spend and save for buying a new home, and the location of the home will effect how much I need to pay in property taxes.

Mollie who representing the petit bourgeoisie that Essays

Mollie who representing the petit bourgeoisie that Essays Mollie who representing the petit bourgeoisie that fled from Russia a couple of years after the Russian Revolution is the vain, offbeat horse who pulls Mr. Jones' carriage. Mollie hungers for the consideration of people and adores being prepped and spoiled. She has a troublesome time with her new life on Animal Farm, as she misses wearing strips in her mane and eating sugar shapes. Different to Boxer, who dependably considers others, Mollie is a shallow materialist who doesn't look after the battles of her kindred creatures. Her first appearance in the novel recommends her identity when she enters the meeting at last, chewing on sugar and sitting in the front so that the others will have to see the red ribbons she wears in her mane. Her exclusive worries about the upset are ones incited by her sense of self: When she inquires as to whether they will even now have sugar and ribbons after the rebellion, she double-crosses the contemplations of old Major and uncovers her vanity. She is hushed off the manor by the possibility of more material belonging than she could appreciate in a creature represented world, denoting her as one to whom governmental issues and battle amount to nothing. The animal farm theme that Mollie most likely belongs to is the Soviet Union. Even though she is not a strong supporter of the Soviet Union, she could not care less. She would follow anyone who would have promised her sugar cubes and ribbons, that she cannot live without it. As she represents the lower middle class, she would not want to be equal with all the other animals as that would mean she'd have to work harder and give up her extra leeway and popularity to stoop down to the others levels. At first, she was able to stand it, but after her set time she had enough. She wanted to feel special over the others and her addiction got the best of her with seeing herself betraying the manor farm and running back to the shadow of the Soviet Union (a similar farm). This idea could also be linked to the theme of corruption as she did betray the farm and go to a different fam for more power over the animals in the sense of being loved. The final theme that is represented in Mollie is the idea of class warfare. She thinks that she was better than everyone else because she was treated specially under the care of Mr jones but did not show a sign of loyalty to him with going along with the rebellion, but her first question to snowball was whether she could still have her luxuries in life and still stay above the others not understanding that everyone was supposed to be equal. Once she found out that that was the case, she was the first and only animal to leave because of a disagreement of her social class being lowered to equal the others, she was an animal that wanted change for the sake of the others, but did not want to sacrifice her belongings to do that. She used that as an excuse to not work as hard as the other animals and finally as a reason for betraying the farm to keep her class.

Free Essays on Proposal For Action Research

Proposal for Action Research What is the problem? The problem that I am planning to research regards the difficulty teachers of bilingual students experience in stimulating their pupils to speak English in the class, rather than their mother-tongue (Dutch). Bilingual education is aimed at better preparing able students for life in a global village, where English is the common language, by teaching them more English and allowing them to follow many other subjects in English. Pupils are taught in English on a daily basis, and perform well on examinations. Even so, they still revert to use of the Dutch language when they speak amongst themselves, but also when reacting to the teaching who questions them in English. Teachers are unable to keep pupils speaking English at all times during classes. Why is this a problem? This creates a problem because the objectives of bilingual education are compromised due to the fact that students do not practice the English language to their full capacity. If student are not better encouraged to practice their use of the English languange, they will not develop fluent speaking skills. This means that they are not that much better prepared for European citizenship than their non-bilingual counterparts. A second aspect of this problem is the level of class participation. The unwillingness of pupils to speak English, results in less feedback from the class when the language of instruction is English. This means that one-way communication is the norm rather than interaction in the class. This is at odds with teaching methods aimed at activating students. The lack of particpation also makes it more difficult for teachers to accurately evaluate the level of understanding experienced by pupils. How does this problem manifest itself? This a class, where English is the language of instruction, the teacher has difficulty seeing to the use of English under the students. The teacher is confron... Free Essays on Proposal For Action Research Free Essays on Proposal For Action Research Proposal for Action Research What is the problem? The problem that I am planning to research regards the difficulty teachers of bilingual students experience in stimulating their pupils to speak English in the class, rather than their mother-tongue (Dutch). Bilingual education is aimed at better preparing able students for life in a global village, where English is the common language, by teaching them more English and allowing them to follow many other subjects in English. Pupils are taught in English on a daily basis, and perform well on examinations. Even so, they still revert to use of the Dutch language when they speak amongst themselves, but also when reacting to the teaching who questions them in English. Teachers are unable to keep pupils speaking English at all times during classes. Why is this a problem? This creates a problem because the objectives of bilingual education are compromised due to the fact that students do not practice the English language to their full capacity. If student are not better encouraged to practice their use of the English languange, they will not develop fluent speaking skills. This means that they are not that much better prepared for European citizenship than their non-bilingual counterparts. A second aspect of this problem is the level of class participation. The unwillingness of pupils to speak English, results in less feedback from the class when the language of instruction is English. This means that one-way communication is the norm rather than interaction in the class. This is at odds with teaching methods aimed at activating students. The lack of particpation also makes it more difficult for teachers to accurately evaluate the level of understanding experienced by pupils. How does this problem manifest itself? This a class, where English is the language of instruction, the teacher has difficulty seeing to the use of English under the students. The teacher is confron...

Georgia State Unit Study - Geography, State Symbols Facts

Georgia State Unit Study - Geography, State Symbols Facts These state unit studies are designed to help children learn the geography of the United States and learn factual information about every state. These studies are great for children in the public and private education system as well as homeschooled children. Print the United States Map and color each state as you study it. Keep map at the front of your notebook for use with each state. Print the State Information Sheet and fill in the information as you find it. Print the Georgia State Map and fill in the state capital, large cities and state attractions that you find. Answer the following questions on lined paper in complete sentences. State Capital What is the capital?State Flag What is in the circle of stars?State Flower Who approved the state flower in 1916?State Crop Georgia produces what percentage of the nations supply?State Fruit This fruit gives the state its nickname - what is it?State Bird What is the state bird? Coloring PageState Marine Mammal How long does this mammal grow?State Fish What is the state fish?State Tree What is the state tree?State Insect How does this insect help Georgias economy?State Butterfly What is the coloring of this butterfly?State Vegetable What is unique about this vegetable?State Song Who wrote the state song?State Seal What do the three pillars stand for? Coloring PageState Motto What is the state motto? Georgia Printable Pages - Learn more about Georgia with these printable worksheets and coloring pages. Georgia Word Search - Find the Georgia State Symbols. Did You Know... List two interesting facts. Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia - Most people have heard of the seven wonders of the world. Not as many have heard of the seven natural wonders in the state of Georgia. The Childrens Museum of Atlanta - Take a virtual tour. From Zoo Atlanta: The Animals; Panda Mask; Meerkat Maze Georgia History 101 - An overview of Georgia history. The King Center - Learn all about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Meet the reptiles and amphibians that call the Savannah River region their home. Georgia Flag Printout - Learn about Georgias new flag. Georgia Map/Quiz Printout - Can you answer the questions about Georgia? Odd Georgia Law: No one may carry an ice cream cone in their back pocket if it is Sunday. Related Resources: More State StudiesGeorgia History and Activity BooksHands-on GeographyHands-on Geography Activity Books Additional Resource: Introducing the email course Our 50 Great States! From Delaware to Hawaii, learn about all 50 states in the order they were admitted to the Union. At the end of 25 weeks (2 states per week), youll have a United States Notebook filled with information about each state; and, if youre up the the challenge, you will try recipes from all 50 states. Will you join me on the journey?

Tomoco Company and Its Marketing Manager Clive Smith Research Paper

Tomoco Company and Its Marketing Manager Clive Smith - Research Paper Example Tomoko Company should not accept the proposal made by Sandeep because it can lead to troubles and financial loss instead of expected profits. Litigation and negative publicity will cause Tomoco billions of dollars even before the product is launched. This case shows that people constantly struggle with the tension between rights and responsibilities, and conscientious people seek to balance the tensions in meaningful and fairways. Also, it is possible to assume that it would be difficult for Tomoko to keep everything in secret and avoid the publicity of this deal. Beyond a person's group is the broad political, social, and cultural landscape of society. Social values are another powerful source of guidelines for ethical decision making (Lipe, 54). These cultural values and traditions are not always positive. Although values are sometimes nebulous, they can be articulated with a considerable degree of accuracy and meaning. This case raises a question: what is the obligation to the org anization? In a commercial context, an employee agrees to give talent, effort, time, cooperation and harmony in relations with colleagues, and loyalty to the organization and its enterprise. According to legal standards, loyalty often involves confidentiality, and for an employee to spread key inside information to an outside audience is a direct violation of the contractual understanding. Organizations have trade secrets that must be kept from competitors, and any revelation of these secrets is a gross violation of contractual expectations.

BMKT611 Retailing Final Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

BMKT611 Retailing Final Assignment - Essay Example 3). Complicating matters, retailers are not only confronting the changing dynamics of the modern retail market, but are also confronting the economic challenges effecting consumer spending practices since the global financial crisis of 2009. Consumers have demonstrated a habit of unpredictable and frugal spending habits. Retailers are also affected in that they are increasingly confronting the challenges posed by increased fuel prices as well as inflation so that retailers are now concerned about reducing costs. In the meantime, retailers have to find innovative ways of remaining competitive (Mansoor & Jalal, 2011, p. 104). A review of the literature informs that in-store strategies continue to be a method by which retailers seek to differentiate their products and services from the competition. An emerging trend is a propensity to ensure that customers have an exciting and entertaining experience and consumers also expect convenience, options in merchandise at the right place, the r ight time and â€Å"at the right price† (Carpenter, Moore, & Fairhurst, 2005, p. 43). This report conducts a comparative analysis of the in-store strategies employed Primark and Forever 21in the UK. ... A SWOT analysis is conducted on each store with a view to identifying and analysing the weaknesses and strengths of the in-store strategies used. A Review of the Literature The forces of globalisation together with the ease with which new entrants can join the apparels’ industry have rendered apparels’ retailing a highly competitive market. Research studies indicate that the popular pricing strategy of the 1970s is no longer suitable for ensuring retailer’s competitive edge. More and more, consumers are committed to quality and competing in terms of sales lowers profit margins, compromises consumer loyalty, and increases â€Å"product imitation† (Bruer, Cassil, & Jones, 2005, p.1). The changing dynamics of the retail market is such that consumers are more informed and have far more choices than previously. As a result, retailers have experienced a shift in bargaining controls toward consumers. Facilitated by information technology, lowered barriers to trad e, consumers are increasingly aware of competitive products and will exhibit loyalty toward retailers that have the ability to excite and entertain them. In the meantime, consumers’ preferences and needs have â€Å"become more fragmented,† and more â€Å"difficult to understand and predict† (Kilduff, 2001, p. 2). A study conducted by Carre, Tilly and Holgate (2010) in two fiercely competitive retail markets in the US (food and electronics) demonstrate that a number of factors influence in-store strategies in the retail market. The study involved 16 case studies (8 in food and 8 in electronics) and involved 195 interviews with managers in human resources and operations. Research findings indicate that competitive strategies include increasing service, improving both

The Professional Workplace Dilemma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Professional Workplace Dilemma - Essay Example I also had a duty to the company to correct the problem as it had resulted in unproductive workers "working the process" to give the illusion of an acceptable level of work. It was damaging to company profits as well as employee morale. There was also the obligation I had to myself, which was to do the right thing and present a creative solution when I pointed out the problem. I felt confident confronting this issue, for as Vallance (1995) points out, "Ordinary decency and distributive justice are, then, the central ethical principals of corporate governance" (p. 135). Initially I pointed out the problem to Pamela, my immediate supervisor. She could readily see what the issue was and was in total agreement that the problem needed addressed. I offered her a simple and elegant solution. I later met with Christy, Pamela's manager, and reiterated the same information I had presented in the earlier meeting. Christy said she would meet with Jeff, the newly hired manager who had initiated the flawed system. I was careful to communicate that the cost to the company, as well as the treatment of my small staff and co-workers, was unacceptable. Later, Christy advised me that Jeff would not consider changing the error and further had refused to meet with me. Christy strongly suggested I drop the subject and not risk my own career by pursuing a meeting or discussing t his with my employees and peers. Analyzing the Dilemma Because each successive layer of management involved had more authority than the preceding one, it put me at a great disadvantage. I was relatively powerless and my only leverage was the relationship I had with my workers and our excellent work record. However, keeping quiet and accepting the flawed system did not seem to be an option for me. My instinct told me that the issue needed to be corrected to be fair to all employees as well as create a benefit for the company by not rewarding the most unethical employees. I also had an ethical obligation to protect my job and provide myself with a livelihood. I valued fairness, truth, and the rewarding of honest work and found that accepting the current system would leave me with a feeling that I had been indifferent, and had not done all I could to correct the issue. I perceived two options, both that risked compromising my own values and sense of ethics. I could do nothing, live with the indifference, and protect my job and career. This avenue seemed selfish and unacceptable. I also had the option of pursuing the problem at the risk of my personal well being. There was only a small chance that I might succeed and a real threat of termination. I decided to enlist the support of my workers and peers on the issue and had several conversations with them in reference to the inherent unfairness of the new system. It had become clear that I would either get the formula changed for the benefit of everyone, or be let go to the detriment of myself. My limited authority and power were ineffective at altering management's top-down directive leadership style or their unreasonable policy. The Outcome of the Dilemma Though I was able to get the support of the workers and other middle managers, that small power base was not adequate to deal with the authority of the upper staff. It further aggravated the situation and resulted in an acrimonious attitude towards me. I was viewed as a troublemaker

HIS 342 question set 3 Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

HIS 342 question set 3 - Research Proposal Example Left with this dilemma, the masses opted for an authoritarian stagnation that seems so tenacious and powerful because of the domination of the terrorist elements over the scope for any revolution or an alternative arrangement. The 1956 Suez Crisis was an important event in the Cold War era that revealed the chinks in the allied solidarity. The genesis of this crisis lied in the French and the British dominion over one of the world's most important and lucrative sea route that is the Suez Canal that happened to pass through the Egyptian territory (Trueman, 2008). The nationalization of this canal by Nasser in 1956 immensely innervated the British and the French. The US disapproval of the British and the French invasion of Egypt greatly benefitted the USSR, who got access to the much coveted alternative sea route besides the Bosporus that was closely monitored by the allies' intelligence. The other major gainer in this crisis was Israel who crossed over the Gaza Strip and Sinai Desert and gained access to the Straits of Tiran. After the withdrawal of the Super Power sponsors owing to the end of the Cold War and the dilution of the Arab-Israel conflict, it became imperative for the military regimes in the Middle East to chalk out policies that bolstered the cohesion amongst the various constituent elements of the state. The main crux of such policies lied in securing an alliance between the political and economic centres of power (Glenn, 1998). This included an outright domination over the political power through multiple security apparatuses and over the economic power through securing alliances with the local, elitist vested interests. This gave an opportunity to the other totalitarian regimes in the region like Iran and Saudi Arabia to tighten their grip over power by professing themselves to be the custodians of Islamic values in the region. Effect of Oil The discovery of oil in the Middle East changed many countries from being pauper states relying on the international aid for sustenance to being oil rich regimes (Britannica). This assured the countries lying in this region, an uninterrupted access to immense wealth on a continuous basis. The new found oil wealth unleashed an unprecedented and enormous expansion of health facilities, employment opportunities and government services. The quality of life of the people certainly improved with a better access to housing owing to a boom in the construction projects. At a political level, this enhanced the status and clout of these regimes in the international arena. However, this improvement in the economic standards and quality of life failed to accomplish a commensurate revolution in the social and cultural parameters like the women rights and democratic values. Besides, the oil wealth left the totalitarian and military regimes in the region with more then ample resources to tighten th eir

Database Design Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Database Design Project - Essay Example This paper presents a detailed analysis of basic areas of the new technology. Data and information are the most valuable resources for any business or corporation. Therefore, the development and implementation of databases to store this valuable business for corporate working has turned out to be a major part of almost every corporation or business sector. In addition, this development and implementation of the databases has offered great advantages to the organizations for an effective management of their business activities. This paper throws light on the development and analysis of a database system for â€Å"Mayo Clinic Medical Center† that is health care business with a variety of off-site campuses interacting within its health system. This business is operating through different working and business problems. The main objective behind this research is to outline the problem areas and then suggesting most suitable solution for these problems. Mayo Clinic Medical Center is a health care business that is working through a chain of off-site campuses. The working of this business is traditional in nature and relying upon the manual ways of data and information handling. In this business, there is an utmost need of a constant link among the distant working teams and main campuses. To serve this purpose, they need well qualified staff and suitable office structure. Now the management of the Mayo Clinic Medical Center has decided to establish a new database technology framework for the corporate. The main intention of the Mayo Clinic Medical Center management is to potentially improve the overall corporate performance and working capabilities. As discussed above the business of Mayo Clinic Medical Center is currently running through manual ways. In such scenario, the overall workload and working style is more rigid. All these problems lead to less effective working performance. At present, the data

Individual Letter Element Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Individual Letter Element - Essay Example In order to top the elite clubs in England and Europe, there exist a number of drivers from the external environment of the club that could be significant in the evolution: international fan base, online merchandise and club marketing, and the club’s loyal owners. Being a football franchise, Arsenal FC greatly relies on the support of fans. Arsenal FC has a huge fan base on the international scene. However, there are millions of unhooked fans that could provide a perfect customer base for the clubs merchandise, assets that collect about 11% of the club’s revenue. Revenue is bound to grow and so is the club’s superiority given the influence that fans usually have on the players. With a huge and loyal fan base, players are likely to work extra hard to avoid being letdowns. Arsenal FC has potential to attract more fans given its current numbers, with statistics showing that Nigeria alone has more fans of Arsenal than the total number of Arsenal fans in the UK alone. Additional PESTEL analysis factors will emphasize the club’s ability to achieve this. The internet has revolutionized into one of the biggest sole market place globally through ecommerce. Online market force opportunity for Arsenal is another key driver that could change the fortunes of its revenues and increase the ability of its fans in getting its merchandise. The current online statistics stand at over 50 million subscribers to its Facebook and twitter page, site, and its online store. The arsenal marketing outfit needs to focus more on online marketing and strive to implement the stalled Click and Collect service. The last key factor that puts Arsenal FC at a position of extensive growth and change is its ownership team that is entirely committed to the core values that run the club. The club has the ability to maintain this by avoiding any frequent change of management witnessed in other major clubs in the country. The above key drivers for change were determined using a framework of PESTEL that ensured viability and realism. The Political factor (P) provides favorable environment by letting football franchises operate independently thus independence. With independence, the club ownership of Arsenal FC is liberal enough to do anything under their sleeve that would improve the club’s fortunes. The steady revenue income for the club is a key Economic factor (E) to count on in ensuring enough capital in online marketing and increasing the international fan base through numerous promotions. The stable economic situation globally has enabled emergence of a population class that is stable enough to involve in fun activities such as football. This is a Social factor (S) that ensures availability of potential fans for the club. Literacy level in IT matters in the society have increased, facilitating a possibility of high access to online material, a strategy Arsenal intends to market itself. Technology (T) has ensured the availability of internet and numerous smart devices that would enable easy implementation of Arsenal’s online marketing strategies. In implementing all the key drivers, care was taken not to violate any Environmental factors (E) thus avoiding pollutants of any kind. For the Legal factors (L) Arsenal’s self-sustaining business model of operation shield’s it from legal confrontations by not infringing any competition law that governs English football. Arsenal has a number of strengths and an equal share of weaknesses

HIS 342 question set 3 Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

HIS 342 question set 3 - Research Proposal Example Left with this dilemma, the masses opted for an authoritarian stagnation that seems so tenacious and powerful because of the domination of the terrorist elements over the scope for any revolution or an alternative arrangement. The 1956 Suez Crisis was an important event in the Cold War era that revealed the chinks in the allied solidarity. The genesis of this crisis lied in the French and the British dominion over one of the world's most important and lucrative sea route that is the Suez Canal that happened to pass through the Egyptian territory (Trueman, 2008). The nationalization of this canal by Nasser in 1956 immensely innervated the British and the French. The US disapproval of the British and the French invasion of Egypt greatly benefitted the USSR, who got access to the much coveted alternative sea route besides the Bosporus that was closely monitored by the allies' intelligence. The other major gainer in this crisis was Israel who crossed over the Gaza Strip and Sinai Desert and gained access to the Straits of Tiran. After the withdrawal of the Super Power sponsors owing to the end of the Cold War and the dilution of the Arab-Israel conflict, it became imperative for the military regimes in the Middle East to chalk out policies that bolstered the cohesion amongst the various constituent elements of the state. The main crux of such policies lied in securing an alliance between the political and economic centres of power (Glenn, 1998). This included an outright domination over the political power through multiple security apparatuses and over the economic power through securing alliances with the local, elitist vested interests. This gave an opportunity to the other totalitarian regimes in the region like Iran and Saudi Arabia to tighten their grip over power by professing themselves to be the custodians of Islamic values in the region. Effect of Oil The discovery of oil in the Middle East changed many countries from being pauper states relying on the international aid for sustenance to being oil rich regimes (Britannica). This assured the countries lying in this region, an uninterrupted access to immense wealth on a continuous basis. The new found oil wealth unleashed an unprecedented and enormous expansion of health facilities, employment opportunities and government services. The quality of life of the people certainly improved with a better access to housing owing to a boom in the construction projects. At a political level, this enhanced the status and clout of these regimes in the international arena. However, this improvement in the economic standards and quality of life failed to accomplish a commensurate revolution in the social and cultural parameters like the women rights and democratic values. Besides, the oil wealth left the totalitarian and military regimes in the region with more then ample resources to tighten th eir

Individual Letter Element Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Individual Letter Element - Essay Example In order to top the elite clubs in England and Europe, there exist a number of drivers from the external environment of the club that could be significant in the evolution: international fan base, online merchandise and club marketing, and the club’s loyal owners. Being a football franchise, Arsenal FC greatly relies on the support of fans. Arsenal FC has a huge fan base on the international scene. However, there are millions of unhooked fans that could provide a perfect customer base for the clubs merchandise, assets that collect about 11% of the club’s revenue. Revenue is bound to grow and so is the club’s superiority given the influence that fans usually have on the players. With a huge and loyal fan base, players are likely to work extra hard to avoid being letdowns. Arsenal FC has potential to attract more fans given its current numbers, with statistics showing that Nigeria alone has more fans of Arsenal than the total number of Arsenal fans in the UK alone. Additional PESTEL analysis factors will emphasize the club’s ability to achieve this. The internet has revolutionized into one of the biggest sole market place globally through ecommerce. Online market force opportunity for Arsenal is another key driver that could change the fortunes of its revenues and increase the ability of its fans in getting its merchandise. The current online statistics stand at over 50 million subscribers to its Facebook and twitter page, site, and its online store. The arsenal marketing outfit needs to focus more on online marketing and strive to implement the stalled Click and Collect service. The last key factor that puts Arsenal FC at a position of extensive growth and change is its ownership team that is entirely committed to the core values that run the club. The club has the ability to maintain this by avoiding any frequent change of management witnessed in other major clubs in the country. The above key drivers for change were determined using a framework of PESTEL that ensured viability and realism. The Political factor (P) provides favorable environment by letting football franchises operate independently thus independence. With independence, the club ownership of Arsenal FC is liberal enough to do anything under their sleeve that would improve the club’s fortunes. The steady revenue income for the club is a key Economic factor (E) to count on in ensuring enough capital in online marketing and increasing the international fan base through numerous promotions. The stable economic situation globally has enabled emergence of a population class that is stable enough to involve in fun activities such as football. This is a Social factor (S) that ensures availability of potential fans for the club. Literacy level in IT matters in the society have increased, facilitating a possibility of high access to online material, a strategy Arsenal intends to market itself. Technology (T) has ensured the availability of internet and numerous smart devices that would enable easy implementation of Arsenal’s online marketing strategies. In implementing all the key drivers, care was taken not to violate any Environmental factors (E) thus avoiding pollutants of any kind. For the Legal factors (L) Arsenal’s self-sustaining business model of operation shield’s it from legal confrontations by not infringing any competition law that governs English football. Arsenal has a number of strengths and an equal share of weaknesses

Ultrasound Machines India China And A Skewed Essay Example for Free

Ultrasound Machines India China And A Skewed Essay General Electric Co. and other companies have sold so many ultrasound machines in India that tests are now available in small towns like Indergarh, where there is no drinking water, electricity is infrequent, and roads turn to mud after a March rain shower. A scan typically costs $8, or a week’s wages. GE has waded into India’s market as the country grapples  with a difficult social issue: the abortion of female fetuses by families who want boys. Campaigners against the practice and some government officials are linking the country’s widely reported skewed sex ratio with the spread of ultrasound machines. That’s putting GE, the market leader in India, under the spotlight. It faces legal hurdles, government scrutiny, and thorny business problems in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. â€Å"Ultrasound is the main reason the sex ratio is coming  down,† says Kalpana Bhavre, who is in charge of women and  child welfare for the Datia district government, which includes Indergarh. Having a daughter is often viewed as incurring a  lifetime of debt for parents because of the dowry payment at marriage. Compared with that, the cost of an ultrasound â€Å"is nothing,† she says. For more than a decade, the Indian government has tried to  stop ultrasound technology from being used as a tool to determine gender. The devices use sound waves to produce images of fetuses or internal organs for a range of diagnostic purposes. India has passed laws forbidding doctors from disclosing the sex of fetuses, required official registrations of clinics, and stiffened punishments for offenders. Nevertheless, some estimate that hundreds of thousands of girl fetuses are aborted each year. GE, by far the largest seller of ultrasound machines in India through a joint venture with the Indian outsourcing giant Wipro Ltd., introduced its own safeguards, even though that means forsaking sales. â€Å"We stress emphatically that the machines aren’t to be used for sex determination,† says V. Raja, chief executive of GE Healthcare South Asia. â€Å"This is not the  root cause of female feticide in India.† But the efforts have failed to stop the problem, as a growing economy has made the scans affordable to more people. The skewed sex ratio is an example of how India’s strong economy has, in unpredictable ways, exacerbated some nagging social problems, such as the traditional preference for boys. Some activists are accusing GE of not doing enough to prevent unlawful use of its machines to boost sales. â€Å"There is a demand for a boy that’s been completely exploited by multinationals,† says Puneet Bedi, a New Delhi obstetrician. He says GE and others market the machines as an essential pregnancy tool, though the scans often aren’t necessary for mothers in lowrisk groups. Prosecutors in the city of Hyderabad brought a criminal case against the GE venture with Wipro, as well as Erbis Engineering Co., the medical-equipment distributor in India for Japan’s Toshiba Corp. In the suits, the district government alleged that the companies knowingly supplied u ltrasound machines to clinics that were not registered with the government and were illegally performing India has been a critical market to GE. Its outsourcing operations have helped the Fairfield, Connecticut, giant cut costs. The country also is a  growing market for GE’s heavy equipment and other products. The company won’t disclose its ultrasound sales, but Wipro GE’s overall sales in India, which includes ultrasounds and other diagnostic equipment, reached about $250 million in 2006, up from $30 million in 1995. Annual ultrasound sales in India from all vendors also reached $77 million last year, up about 10 percent from the year before, according to an estimate from consulting firm Frost Sullivan, which describes GE as the clear market leader. Other vendors include Siemens AG, Philips Electronics NV, and Mindray International Medical Ltd., a new Chinese entrant for India’s pricesensitive customers. India has long struggled with an inordinate number of male births, and female infanticide—the killing of newborn baby girls—remains a problem. The abortion of female fetuses is a more recent trend, but unless â€Å"urgent action is taken,† it’s poised to escalate as the use of ultrasound services expands, the United Nations Children’s Fund said in a report. India’s â€Å"alarming decline in the child sex ratio† is likely to exacerbate child marriage, trafficking of women for prostitution, and other problems, the report said. The latest official Indian census, in 2001, showed a steep decline in the relative number of girls aged 0 to 6 years compared with the decade earlier: 927 girls for every 1,000 boys compared with 945 in 1991. In much of northwest India, the number of girls has fallen below 900 for every 1,000 boys. In the northern state of Punjab, the figure is below 800. Only China today has a wider gender gap, with 832 girls born for every 1,000 boys among infants aged 0 to 4 years, according to UNICEF. GE sells about three times as many ultrasound machines in China as in India. In January, the Chinese government pledged to improve the gender balance, including tighter monitoring of ultrasounds. Some experts predict China will be more effective than India in enforcing its rules, given its success at other populationcontrol measures. Boys in India are viewed as wealth earners during life and  lighters of one’s funeral pyre at death. India’s National Family Health Survey, released in February, showed that 90 percent of parents with two sons didn’t want any more children. Of those with two daughters, 38 percent wanted to try again. Although there are restrictions on abortions in this Hindu-majority nation, the rules offer enough leeway for most women to get around them. GE took the lead in selling ultrasounds in the early 1990s soon after it began manufacturing the devices in India. It tapped Wipro’s extensive distribution and service network to deliver its products to about 80 percent of its customers. For more remote locations and lower-end machines, it used sales agents. The company also teamed with banks to help doctors finance  the purchase of their machines. GE now sells about 15 different models, ranging from machines costing $100,000 that offer sophisticated color images to basic black-and-white scanners that retail for about $7,500. To boost sales, GE has targeted small-town doctors. The  company has kept prices down by refurbishing old equipment  and marketing laptop machines to doctors who travel frequently, including to rural areas. GE also offered discounts to buyers inclined to boast about their new gadgets, according to a former GE employee. â€Å"Strategically, we focused on those customers who had big mouths,† said Manish Vora, who then sold ultrasounds in the western Indian state of Gujarat for the Wipro-GE joint venture. Without discussing specific sales tactics, Raja, of GE Healthcare South Asia,  acknowledges the company is â€Å"aggressive† in pursuing its goals. But he points out that ultrasound machines have broad benefits and make childbirth safer. As the machines become more available, women can avoid making long trips into cities where healthcare typically is more expensive, he says. Indian authorities have tried to regulate sales. In 1994, the government outlawed sex selection and empowered Indian authorities to search clinics and seize anything that aided sex selection. Today any clinic that has an ultrasound machine must register with the local government and provide an affidavit that it will not conduct sex selection. To date, more than 30,000 ultrasound clinics have been registered in India. GE has taken a number of steps to ensure customers comply  with the law. It has educated its sales force about the regulatory regime, demanded its own affidavits from customers that they will not use the machines for sex selection, and followed up with periodic audits, say executives. They note that in 2004, the first full year it began implementing these new measures, GE’s sales in India shrank by about 10 percent from the year before. The sales decline in the low-end segment, for black-and-white ultrasound machines, was especially sharp, executives say. Only in 2006 did GE return to the sales level it had reached before the regulations were implemented, according to Raja. Complying with Indian law is often tricky. GE cannot tell if doctors sell machines to others who fail to register them. Different states interpret registration rules differently. GE also is under close scrutiny by activists battling the illegal abortion of female fetuses. Sabu George, a 48-year-old activist who holds degrees from Johns Hopkins and Cornell universities, criss-crosses the country to spot illegal clinics. The criminal case in Hyderabad against Wipro-GE, a company  representative, three doctors, and an ultrasound technician followed an inspection that found one clinic could not produce proper registration and had not kept complete records for two years. A team of inspectors seized an ultrasound supplied by Wipro-GE. The inspection team’s report said it suspected the clinic was using the machines for illegal sex determination. The owner, Sarawathi Devi, acknowledged in an interview  that her clinic, Rite Diagnostics, was not officially registered at the time of the inspection. She said the ultrasound machine was owned by a â€Å"freelance† radiologist who had obtained proper documentation for the Wipro-GE machine but was not there when the inspectors had arrived. She denied the clinic has conducted sex determination tests. Later, Dr. Devi’s records show, she registered the clinic with the government and bought a Wipro-GE machine, a sale the company confirms. The court case was part of a wider dragnet spearheaded  by Hyderabad’s top civil servant, District Magistrate Arvind Kumar. During an audit last year, Kumar demanded paperwork  for 389 local scan centers. Only 16 percent could furnish complete address information for its patients, making it almost impossible to track women to check if they had abortions following their scans. Kumar ordered the seizure of almost one-third of the ultrasound machines in the district due to registration and paperwork problems. A suit also was lodged against Erbis, the Toshiba dealer. GE’s Raja says that, in general, if there’s any doubt about the customer’s intent to comply with India’s laws, it doesn’t make the sale. â€Å"There is no winking or blinking,† he says. A Wipro-GE representative is scheduled to appear at the  Hyderabad court hearing. An Erbis spokesman said he was unaware of the case in Hyderabad. A court date for Erbis had not been set. A visit to the clinic in Indergarh, a town surrounded by fields of tawny wheat, shows the challenges GE faces keeping tabs on its machines. Inside the clinic, a dozen women wrapped in saris awaited tests on GE’s Logiq 100 ultrasound machine. The line snaked along wooden benches and down into a darkened basement. On the wall, scrawled in white paint, was the message: â€Å"We don’t do sex selection.† Manish Gupta, a 34-year-old doctor, said he drives two hours each way every week to Indergarh from much larger Jhansi City, where there are dozens of competing ultrasound clinics. He said even when offered bribes, he refuses to disclose the sex of the fetus. â€Å"I’m just against that,† Dr. Gupta said. But he is not complying with Indian law. Although the law requires that clinics display their registration certificate in a conspicuous place, Dr. Gupta’s was nowhere to be seen. When Dr. George, the social activist, asked for the registration, he was shown a different document, an application. But the application was for a different clinic: the Sakshi X-ray center. Dr. Gupta said the proper document wasn’t with him, adding: â€Å"I must have forgotten it at home.† Asked by The Wall Street Journal about the clinic, the local chief magistrate of Datia district called for Dr. Gupta’s dossier later in the day. When a local official arrived, â€Å"Sakshi X-Ray center† had been crossed out on the application. In blue pen was written the correct name, â€Å"Sheetal Nagar,† the part of Indergarh where the clinic is located. It’s not clear how Dr. Gupta procured the GE machine. Dr. Gupta said he bought it from a GE company representative, but he declined to show documents of ownership. GE says it does not comment on individual customers. Like the rest of India, the Datia district government has  taken a number of steps to try to boost the number of girls in the district. For girls of poor families, the local government provides a place to live, free school uniforms, and books. When they enter ninth grade, the government buys bicycles for them. Yet the low ratio of girls born had not budged much over the past decade, according to Bhavre, the district government official. Ultimately, says Raja, head of GE Healthcare in South Asia, it’s the job of the government, not companies, to change the prevailing preference for boys. â€Å"What’s really needed is a change in mindsets. A lot of education has to happen and the government has to do it,† he says. India’s Ministry of Health, which is now pursuing 422 different cases against doctors accused of using ultrasounds for sex selection, agrees. â€Å"Mere legislation is not enough to deal with this problem,† the ministry said in a statement. â€Å"The situation could change only when the daughters are not treated as a burden and the sons as assets.† Most recently, both Siemens and GE have introduced handheld  ultrasound machines, only slightly larger than an iPhone. Initially they will sell for under $10,000.

A Case Study Of Benetton Marketing Essay

A Case Study Of Benetton Marketing Essay Promotion techniques have developed greatly over the years, but nothing has had a greater impact on the tools, methods or ways of developing the promotion strategies than the influence of the new technologies and of new communication tools. We live in an age of speed; communication has become faster and faster especially using Internet tools like: email, online social networks, web banners, web page advertising etc. In the digital age, the organizations should take advantage more and more of the power and the edge offered by the information technology, in order to inform the present or potential clients or consumers in a better and faster way. Marketers have been using electronic tools for many years, but the Internet and other new technologies created a flood of interesting and innovative ways to provide customer value. This new way of reaching the costumers has captured the imagination of marketing scholars and practitioners (Fuciu and Gorski, 2009). In this time and age, companies must proceed with care in choosing the most appropriate methods of reaching their clients or consumers from a financial or ethical perspective. But that does not mean that they can not shock the clients / consumers or use tools and ways of communications that mostly unusual and different from the common methods of promoting products or services. One of these unusual promotion / advertising techniques is the concept of unconventional advertising. In our paper we present the concept of this tool, a brief history as well as several important advantages and disadvantages, and a case study of social marketing advertising campaigns that were developed by the Benetton group which are meant to shock. 2. THE CONCEPT OF UNCONVENTIONAL ADVERTISING The idea of advertising is along as the history of mankind. Archeological finds have dated the early types of advertising, like inscription tablets, discovered in the basin of the Mediterranean Sea. There is evidence that the Romans would paint the announcements of gladiator combats on walls or stones at the crossroads (Kotler and Armstrong, 2008, p. 635) Before we can start to discuss the concept of unconventional advertising we must underline the concept of classical advertising. Over the years this concept has greatly developed and evolved due to the usage and evolution of promotion techniques. One of the most important definitions for the classical advertising is offered by the American Marketing Association (AMA, 2012) which states that advertising is the placement of announcements and persuasive messages in time or space purchased in any of the mass media by business firms, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and individuals who seek to inform and/ or persuade members of a particular target market or audience about their products, services, organizations, or ideas. According to Philip Kotler (Kotler and Armstrong, 2008, p.1014), advertising is any type of paid presentation and non personal promotion of certain ideas, goods or services by an identified sponsor. The advertising is considered to be any activity developed by an organization that has the role of preparing the general public to respond in an positive way to the organizations offer (Petrescu, 2008, p. 113). A group of authors (Balaure, 2002, p. 487) mentions that advertising is means by which the organization intents to offer the a large array of information to the public with regard to its activity, products, services brand or company by any identifiable supporter (identified buyer). Advertising (Zyman and Brott, 2008, pp. 11-12).is more than the TV commercials, it includes brand positioning, the package, choosing a certain celebrity as a product image, donations, customer relationship management, the way the organization treats its employees or even the way a secretary answers the telephone As we can see from the above mentioned definitions, it is possible to underline several common aspects of these authors like: (1) the placement of information in a persuasive manner; (2) the need to inform the clients / consumers or the general public; (3) there is always an object (product, service, event etc.) of the communication between the organizations and the market; (4) advertising is always paid by a certain individual or organization. Over the years the forms of advertising have evolved greatly. Probably the first recognized advertising forms that we can relate to were those of the 19th Century when in 1936 a French newspaper La Presse was the first daily paper that allowed to print inside its pages a paid advertising (Eskilson, 2007, p.58). Due to the development of new communication techniques since the beginning of the 20th Century like: (1) radio, in the early 20s; (2) commercial television advertising in the middle of the last century; (3) cable TV advertising in the 1960s; (4) Internet advertising since the early 90. All these forms of advertising have had a large number of variations over the years. Among these variations one is considered a bit different than the other ones: the concept of unconventional advertising. In the past years, more and more companies have allocated a bigger part of their marketing budgets for the unconventional strategies. There are several factors that have contributed to the growth of the importance of the unconventional advertising: (1) the lack of credibility and the inefficiency of traditional advertising; (2) customers reluctance to the advertising message; (3) the need to reduce the costs of promotion; (4) the need for differentiation of the products and brands; (5) consumers better understanding of marketing and selling techniques which makes them immune to commercial messages; (6) the need for a better targeting of the audience which has become more and more fragmented (Jurca, 2010, pp. 323 333). The new and innovative manners of the advertising companies and marketing specialists of gaining the attention of the clients has developed and evolved greatly in the last decades. In order to reach the clients differently then their competitors, companies have created new, inventive and unconventional tactics, strategies used for the promotion activities of products, services or events. The concept of unconventional advertising is not very different from the definition that was offered by the American Marketing Association but it is difficult to pin down because it is strictly related to the perception of the people and the frequency of use. The unconventional advertising is permanently changing that is why is virtually impossible to give a comprehensive definition of it. Nevertheless, it can be stated that unconventional advertising comprises all those unusual, non-traditional, innovative and inventive means, methods and strategies of promoting a product, service or brand (Jurca, 2010, pp. 323 333) Several important types of unconventional advertising have developed and it is important to underline certain aspects: (1) Viral marketing refer to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of pathological and computer viruses. Viral marketing is spreading as a popular, efficient marketing tool, as consumers increasingly pick and choose what ads they watch and when. Viral is todays electronic equivalent of old-fashioned word of mouth. Its a marketing strategy that involves creating an online message thats novel or entertaining enough to prompt consumers to pass it on to others spreading the message across the Web like a virus at no cost to the advertiser (Howard, 2005); (2) Marketing in video games corporate marketers have for decades vied to embed their respective brands in movies and television shows, some are beginning to focus on subtler efforts by embedding brands and logos in electronic games. The advergaming industry allows corporate sponsors to connect with young consumers lifestyles (Kaikati and Kaikati, 2004, pp. 6-22). (3) Bait-and-Tease Marketing to the situation where a celebrity uses or talks about a product or a brand without it appearing conspicuous (Kaikati and Kaikati, 2004, pp. 6-22); (4) Bait-and-tease marketing is the strategy of getting people interested in something that later is revealed to be something quite different (Huba, 2005, in Jurca, 2010, pp. 323 333); (5) Ambient advertising is one of the most important forms of unconventional advertising. It is an outdoor form of promotion that uses alternative and unconventional media, called ambient media (Pavel and Cătoiu, 2009) in order to transmit the message; (6) Elevator advertising is another form of unconventional advertising that has been frequently used in the past years. The walls and even the floors of the elevator units can be used to promote products, services and brands either by placing stickers, posters or even products inside the units or by running commercial movies and ads if the elevators are equipped with screen displays (Pavel, Cătoiu, 2009); (7) Aerial advertising is a form of outdoor advertising, but it is not included in the above-the-line category and in this category includes airplanes pulled banners, skywriting, and blimps (Jurca, 2010, pp. 323 333) etc. As we can see there are several important and interesting methods of developing unconventional advertising, however there are several other elements that can be mentioned and are worth studying in a future paper like: body advertising; graffiti advertising; transit advertising; affiliate marketing; bathroom advertising etc. 3. FIGURES AND TABLES As an introduction to this case study it is necessary to explain, in a few words, what represents the Benetton Group to all of us. Benetton Group was established for the first time in a small Italian town in 1955 by the Benetton family. During the years, Luciano Benetton (one of the three brothers an a sister of the family) developed the company, engaging it in the manufacturing and distribution of clothing, shoes, cosmetics and accessories. The groups principal brands include United Colors of Benetton, Sisley, PlayLife, Nordica, Prince, Rollerblade and Killer Loop. In the advertising field, the genius whos name stand for himself in the branch is Oliviero Toscani, Benetton Art Director and Photographer hired by Luciano Benetton in 1982. He is the man who developed the idea that the products must be separate from advertisement. He is well-know around the world for his unusual advertising techniques and themes. Using these images in this unconventional way is an effort by Benetton to break through the complacency that exists in our society (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). By removing these images from their familiar contexts and putting them in a new context they are more likely to be noticed and given the attention they deserve as the viewer becomes involved in the process of answering the questions: What does this image mean? Why does this image appear with a Benetton logo? How do I feel about the subject of the image? What can I do? Luciano BenettonBefore the Toscani Age, the Benetton Group used a traditional way of advertising, focused on its products and logo the Benetton word with a stylized knot of yarn above, contained within a dark green rectangle. Then, Luciano and Toscani realized that they have to stand apart from the rest of the competition and the standard practices of the advertising industry. So, they decided to use the idea of life style accessory and not a clothing brand according to Benetton. Disturbing, revolting, stunning, horrifying, shockingly graphic those are the words that define the Benetton Group advertising campaign. Its gritty, to real and so unglamorous everything fashion is not. And yet its an advertisement for a high end clothing company. All this started with the first theme of Toscani: teenagers and kids from culturally diverse nations who, dressed very colorfull in Benetton attire, were engaged in a variety of playful acts. These is the picture that created the pathway of the Benetton advertising campaign: racial harmony and world peace. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsC4360tpwa46frL2-MMHG-vcZA1Ni7-q1QU2sFYye8UUeYQSXJQhttps://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyQbygZHTYc4a7jUxQV1Il73zbaek3Kaoq-77_OQYUn0ejR38YXQ Fig. 1 Benetton All the colors of the World campaign 1982 1984 In a year in witch Ronald Reagan is in the White House and Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie are writing We Are The World, The Benetton Group launch United Colors of Benetton a phrase thrown into pop culture not only referencing the companys colorful clothing but also the idea that cultural diversity is good. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlpvCgu6ewKjLgYARfXfgChEk0P5wLxkNh2s-LtgkSiWgtjWveZA Fig. 2 All colors are equal, just as all men are equal Benetton 1985 Then, in 1988, the company started to mix the people, ideas, legends and culture. So was born the new advertisements featured Joan of Arc and Marilyn Monroe, Leonardo da Vinci and Julius Caesar or Adam and Eve. https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmcH6UtYDV0v2wu_APlI9Yz2kr8E0cUPPUhIpp-GL4tperPNYsoA https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQBEmCoY5XczTw1HfNEKFy-JOoXZDQuwI-dHGaieR05F8PTAKCOhg Fig. 3 Mixing ideas Benetton 1985 Those mixed ideas and, most of all, the presence of black and white people in the same photo received severe criticism because many thought that was reminding the time when, bought in UK and USA, the black women breast-fed white babies in the times of slavery. Despite all the negative points of view, Benetton maintained that such photos were only symbols of brotherhood and not exploitation of the particular race. The next stept for Luciano Benetton and Oliviero Toscani was discussing other issues: social problems, war deaths, AIDS crisis, environmental disaster, political violence, war exile, etc. Unlike traditional adverts, our images usually have no copy and no product, only our logo. They do not show you a fictitious reality in which you will be irresistible if you make use of our products. They do not tell anyone to buy our clothes, they do not even imply it. All they attempt to do is promote a discussion about issues which people would normally glide over if they approached them from other channels, issues we feel should be more widely discussed. Luciano Benetton So, by switching the focus of the viewer to relevant issues of the time which they believe need attention, Benetton support a cause. Their posters and all advertising ads show aspects of life, unadulterated and uncensored. That shouldnt impact people negatively unless those people want to close themselves off from the world. And, the most important aspect of all, when people have a reaction, whether positive or negative, to an advertisement, that advertisement stays in their minds for longer. https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxufkmLOi3qRB9yD4YndGUlkoss5gOjjxqTBy2ob5ME5gFUq_Ahttps://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCMrMFaGcKTLCdaxbe6tkIhrXqQ1TiUJG0kGKhEsqfh7t-zJ7x https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4zZ-vZbqg8WY3FOUYbm0LexU2FMyekrwjYqfIljegrEdX10L7 https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTge6woiEToiStvqlyMeaXUILtAoTCQNXzyc-cb0uhCr3xbueB2 https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdDjTxxo2PwL33syPaSFmvDLRrG87Np9VhFhKLH1X6LKcTzvZ9cg Fig. 4 Mixing ideas Benetton 1992 and so These advertising offended Nearly every advertisement today is in some way promoting a certain lifestyle, or seems to include the message that without the product in question, happiness is unattainable. By choosing the skinniest and prettiest models to wear the clothes that they produce, many companies lead the viewer to believe that, by wearing those clothes, they can look just like the models. But when this doesnt happen, especially the young women are affected by depress because, despite the effort and money that they pay to buy the clothes advertised, the look will never be the same. So, by switching the focus of the viewer to relevant issues of the time which they believe need attention, Benetton support a cause. Their posters and all advertising ads show aspects of life, unadulterated and uncensored. That shouldnt impact people negatively unless those people want to close themselves off from the world. Benettons policy of social responsibility 5. CONCLUSIONS By submitting your paper, you agree and accept the commitment that at least one of the co-authors will present the paper in person at the 2012 International Scientific Conference of the Romanian-German University of Sibiu conference. Accepted and presented papers will be published in the CD Conference Proceedings with ISBN, as well as in written format edited in partnership with Lambert Academic Publishing from Germany.

Peer Pressure and Academic Performance :: Peer Pressure Essays

Quantitative Research Question 1. What effect does peer support have on academic performance? 2. Does peer pressure affect the academic performances of adolescents in School? Hypothesis 1. â€Å"Peer pressure significantly influences academic performance†. 2. â€Å"Students who experience peer support have better academic performances, than those who do not have peer support†. 3. â€Å"Peer support influences academic performances†. 4. â€Å"Academic performance is associated to peer pressure and peer support†. Qualitative Research Question 1. How does peer pressure and peer support associate to academic performances? 2. How does peer support affect academic performances? Cho, Y., & Chung, O. (2012). The researchers investigated the relationship between conformative peer bullying and discovered that peer pressure and its resistance is linked to antisocial conformity. Conformative peer bullying is defined as â€Å"behaviours that supports and reinforces bullying and does not include initiating proactive actions†, (Cho, 2012. p. 521). Peer Pressure â€Å"influences a person to change his/her attitudes, values, behaviours, and relationship in order to conform to the norms of the peer group†, (Cho, 2012. p.521). Peer Conformity is â€Å"the inclination to adopt behavioral patterns that are considered as acceptable to the peer group†, (Cho, 2012. p.521). The researchers used the â€Å"four-point Likert scale† which rated from â€Å"1 = never; 4 = a lot† and the Participant Role Scale (PRS) to measure the variable â€Å"conformity’ and â€Å"peer pressure†, (Cho, 2012. p. 523 - 524 ). The participants consisted of 391 second year students from 21 different classrooms in Seoul, South Korea, out of which 285 were boys and 106 were girls, aged between 13-14yrs old. Between 14 to 18th July, 2008, the researchers obtained informed consent from the teachers and students. After peer assessment was acquired, the researchers distributed the â€Å"four-point Likert scale† survey questionnaires to 673 students in 21 classrooms of three middle schools. Students were given about 20 to 25 minutes to respond to the questionnaires. At the end of the analysis it was discovered that there was a positive correlation between peer pressure, peer conformity and confirmative peer bullying. The effect of bullying is greatly influenced by the bully’s personal characteristics. It also indicated that without a groups influence an individual might not resort to bullying or simply peer pressure drives people to act differently to please others to show their support or capabilities to be in the group. In conclusion, antisocial peer conformity is one of the causes that influences peer conformity bullying. It also showed that those who cannot resist are influenced more than those who can resist bullying.

The Native Son-Blacks And Whites :: essays research papers

In the Native Son Wright lets us see how blacks and whites have so many problems because of racial issues. We see how blacks and whites do not see eye to eye. We also see how being black in the 1930’s was something you couldn’t control but still was looked at as being something â€Å"bad†. Color was what it was all about. Being black was seen as being lower class and also less- human than other Caucasians. We also see the fear that black families and communities had. These facts separate in details how two types of race had such an effect on each other but still did not know how much damaged they caused to each other during many, many years.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   White people in this book felt blacks were bad people who just had bad ways of doing things. Stereo type was a big issue as we see when Bigger gets caught for the murder, newspapers stated that there was a â€Å"Mass Rapist on the loose†. Since he was black they thought right away he was raped her. White people also showed that they didn’t really care about what happened to black people. Since Mary Dalton was white, Caucasians were screaming at Bigger that he was a gorilla, that he should be killed, and many other bad racist comments. There were other white people who thought equality was for every one in the world. Jan is a prime example of how some white people felt blacks were treated wrong. Blacks feared whites. Many of them had so much fear that they accepted the way they were being treated. They took it as a problem where there was no answer. When Bigger was driving back to the Dalton’s house we see how many black people were just standing in the corner. Bigger was different though. He feared whites, but he sometimes tried to find the solution. Blacks also felt that the whites should be treated with more respect. The way Bigger answers his mother and the way he answers Mr. Dalton are two different tones of voices. One is respect out of fear and the other is disrespect out of revenge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many of Bigger’s actions suggest a huge response to fear, which comes from his exposure to a harsh social climate in which a clear line between acceptable behavior for whites and blacks exists. His anger and his destructive impulses come from that fear and is seen clear in the opening scene when he attacks a huge rat.

Haptic Technology †Feeling the Future Essay

What is haptic technology? It’s the technology relating to or based on the sense of touch. We see it every day with our touch screen phones. It is needed to interact with your phone, computer, keyboard, mouse, car, gaming system and more! It can also be used in medicine, robotics, art, design, electronics, toys, and more! Where is the technology feeling to go? What is haptic feedback? What is haptic feedback? Haptic feedback the shake of your gaming console’s remote, the vibration of your phone, clicking of the keyboard and mouse. the interaction of touch and response (Figure 1). How does this correlate with human memory?   Memory has several categories. There is long-term memory, short-term and sensory memory. Each one plays an important part of overall memory. â€Å"They all cooperate in the process of memorization, and can be seen as three necessary steps in forming a lasting memory† (Mastin, 2012). Haptic technology uses sensory memory. What is sensory memory?   According to Mastin, sensory memory is the shortest-term element of memory. â€Å"It is the ability to retain impressions of sensory information after the original stimuli have ended. It acts as a kind of buffer for stimuli received through the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch† (Mastin, 2012). Touch is the key word in haptic technology. How will this technology change the way we interact with computer? The interactions of computer and humans are known as human-computer-interface (HCI). Human-computer-interface (HCI) developers and engineers goals are to improve the user’s overall experience. This can be accomplished by creating a lasting memory for the end user and a good feeling of using the technology known as haptic technology. What is HCI? HCI is the study on how to better improve the interaction between human and computers. For example – Human Machine Symbiosis Laboratory – Department of Biomedical Informatics – Arizona State University conducted a study on the Psychology of Haptics, Haptic User Interfaces and Human Motion Analysis. Their main goal for the haptic user interface study is to design effective and efficient interfaces; in psychology of haptics study they focused on the role of haptic modality in formation and retention of memory and categorization; and in the human motion study they concentrated on gesture analysis. Human computer interaction (HCI) has emerged as a focal area of both computer science research and development, and of applied social, behavioral and psychological research† (Kahol, 2010). The research team in Arizona State University focused on memory and categorization controlled experiments using mechanisms of haptic memory and categorization. They also explored whether individuals who were blind and sighted can abstract a haptic prototype from a study set; the nature of haptic space through multidimensional scaling; and haptics in early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Arizona State University research team are concerned with design, development and testing of tactile and force feedback devices and its associated software(s). â€Å"These devices have widespread applications such as surgical simulations, medical and procedural training, scientific visualizations, assistive and rehabilitative devices for individuals who have physical or neurological disorders and assistive devices for individuals who are blind† (Kathol, 2010). The human motion research field is guided towards understanding human motion through gesture analysis. The research team from Arizona State University has developed novel gesture segmentation and gesture recognition tools for understanding and modeling human motion. They plan to develop scalable gesture segmentation and gesture recognition tools. They plan to apply the models to generic human motion as well as specialized human motion as in dance and in various scenarios such as surveillance, human computer interfaces and 3D Dance motion. Once these devices are implemented, they must remain consistent. Why you ask? Image a medical procedural being done on you. The doctor is located in different part of the world and is using new technology which allows him to operate remotely, but wait. The controls he is using are not consistent with the standard controls accepted in the USA. Will you risk your life on this doctors questionable HCI? I know I wouldn’t. Designing the right HCI is key to any successful implementation of new technology. What are some design factors to consider in the implementation of HCI and where does the future of HCI feel to go? Figure 2 – User-Centric Design (SAP, 2013) One possible design process we can use is UCD. What is is UCD? User-centered design (UCD) is a design methodology and process that focuses on the needs of end users, limitations of end users, preferences of end users, and business objectives (USABILITY, 2013). The UCD has several components: plan, research, design, adapt, and measure (Figure 2). â€Å"Plan – In the Plan phase, the team determines all of the UCD activities and ensures that the necessary resources are available. Research – Before you can design a product, it is imperative that you have a clear understanding of the users’ goals and tasks, the market needs, and related work. Design – In the design phase, you define your system from the users’ perspective. Initially, this phase takes the form of use cases and an object action model, which describes the tasks that the system will support. From these tasks you create UI designs, beginning with rough sketches and ending with detailed UI design specifications. Adapt – The adapt phase acknowledges that even the best conceived designs often need to be adapted when development begins coding. This adaptation can occur as a result of unforeseen limitations in the target technology, new requirements, or missing functionality in the initial design. Measure – When the product is released, it is possible to measure its usability quantitatively. These tests measure a product’s effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction† (SAP, 2013) HCI FUTURE Microsoft researchers wrote Being Human – Human Computer Interaction in the Year 2020. In the paper they state: â€Å"HCI needs to extend its methods and approaches so as to focus more clearly on human values. This will require a more sensitive view about the role, function and consequences of design, just as it will force HCI to be more inventive. HCI will need to form new partnerships with other disciplines, too, and for this to happen HCI practitioners will need to be sympathetic to the tools and techniques of other trades. Finally, HCI will need to re-examine and reflect on its basic terms and concepts. Outdated notions of the ‘user’, the ‘computer’ and ‘interaction’ are hardly sufficient to encompass all that HCI will need to attend to† (Microsoft, 2008).