Why Brands Should Take a Stance on Contentious Issues

More and more corporations are throwing their hats into the ring and voicing opinions on sometimes contentious social issues. While some strongly believe that this is not an appropriate realm for companies, a survey by the Global Strategy Group actually showed it’s what the majority of the public wants – over 56% of the respondents felt that corporations should take a stance on important issues, even if they’re controversial. But this kind of advocacy can be a risky move that has the potential to inspire backlash, so is it worth it? I, for one, strongly believe that the answer is yes. Besides better connecting with your customers, companies can actually bring about great change. But before you become more vocal on a particular issue, there are a number of factors to consider first. Consumers vote with their wallet Taking a public stance on a controversial issue can win you some loyal customers, but it may also cost you others. According to one survey, 45 percent of consumers have stopped purchasing from a company because they disagreed with a stance taken by the business. While the majority of survey respondents indicated that they would be more likely to buy from a business they agreed with, only 3 out of 10 have actually done so. Which brings me to my next point. Be sure the cause is relevant to your customers Before you take a stand on an issue, make sure it fits with your brand identity and the values of your customers. A good example is Rescue Chocolate, a Brooklyn-based maker of vegan chocolates that donates their profits to animal rescue organizations. So, when they take a stand on animal-related social issues, such as legislation involving pit bulls, it fits seamlessly with their brand identity. Actions speak louder than words When companies voice an opinion on an issue, consumers perceive them in a more favorable light when they take action rather than merely issue a statement. For example, when McDonald’s and Starbucks took a position on minimum wage, 77% of Americans surveyed considered it appropriate. Disney, on the other hand, demonstrated their stance on the issue by raising employees’ wages, and 91 percent of people deemed that action appropriate. Some causes are â€Å"safer† than others Let’s face it – nobody is going to boycott your brand for taking a stand on a cause such as hunger and poverty. Other issues however, like gun control, same-sex marriage and transgender washrooms, may solicit a more hostile response from some customers. Starbucks took no heat for their public commitment to sourcing fair-trade coffee, but their stance on same-sex marriage led to the infamous â€Å"Dump Starbucks† boycott with a petition signed by over 56,000 consumers. The Bottom Line So, should brands take positions on controversial issues? It really depends on your business but I think in most cases, the answer is yes. But proceed with caution. Make sure your stance fits in with your brand’s identity and your customers’ values. And be prepared to back up your stance and be ready for backlash. You may alienate some consumers who don’t agree with you, but you’ll strengthen the connection and loyalty of those who do.

Moral decisions

Moral decisions Moral and Ethical DilemmasOne of the most difficult trials I face in my life are ethical and moral dilemmas. They can be soul-wrenching and searching experiences that tax my character and cause me to really 'put my money where my mouth is.' Sometimes I'm quick to see ethical faults in others, but slow to see them in myself. Other times I see all to clearly my mistakes and wonder why I don't measure up. I believe one purpose for this life is to learn to act for ourselves. Learn to see a situation correctly and act righteously. In this paper I wish to discuss many of the thoughts I have had recently on setting a pattern for making ethical decisions throughout my life. I will present many of the traps I have fallen into or observed in others.Everyday I'm faced with decisions of right and wrong, most of which are easily and correctly dealt with.Building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.Sometimes however, decisions need to be made that are not easy or clear-cut. They require thought and often prayer. I like to draw on past experience to make comparisons that help give insight to new problems. Many times, however past experiences cannot be related to present problems and can confuse and obscure possibilities. Even the opinions or actions of friends faced with similar dilemmas may not be helpful. Often you feel pressured by piers that say, 'it's no big deal', or 'you'll understand later'. It's important that I understand why a particular action or resolution is correct or incorrect. If I can't or don't it's difficult to feel I've been honest with myself. That for me can be a good measure of ethical behavior, my conscience.The ideal way to deal with difficult questions is to have a foolproof formula. Find steps that...

THIS IS NOT AN ESSAY Write a RESEARCH DESIGN for a study on a topic of

THIS IS NOT AN Write a RESEARCH DESIGN for a study on a topic of Why some of the civil war (conflicts) last for a very long time (on the example of Gaza Strip, Afghanistan and Iraq ) - Essay Example The resources will be distributed fairly and not directed to fighting their adversaries. The people in of Afghanistan have for nearly three decades experienced nothing but war and this has also led to the dilapidation of infrastructures in the place. The ending of this conflict between them and Pakistan will help in improving the economy as the resources will be assigned to other important sectors in the country rather than the world. The end of these conflicts will also reduce humanitarian crisis that faces the people in these regions and this will improve the health standards of people around (Conference paper 2005). According to the existing literature, if states are caught up in a trap of endless low-intensity warfare, it is due to poverty, ancient ethnic trends or greed from the neighbors for the precious resources in the country. In Never-ending Wars, Hironaka (2008) sets the record straight by pointing at the responsibility of the international community. Using statistical evidence, Ann looks at the causes of long durations of war by examining how the natural environment contributes to transform local grievances into long-term civil wars. There is continued unaccountability of the continuing civil wars and this helps to fuel the existing wars in the present country. Lack of organization in the said country, lack of resources, poor bureaucratic mechanism and the inability of the countries to enforce law and order are among the issues that are continuously eliciting more and more crisis as there are no mechanisms to help them control their borders. State weakness has also been seen to contrib ute to the long-term civil wars as they are often underdeveloped in terms of economic and political institutions. Their weakness dwarfs their ability to counter the attacks and hence makes them vulnerable to the states with superior military weapons. As Al-Jazeera (2007) puts it, the

Public law questoion on the Human Rights Act 1998 Essay

Public law questoion on the Human Rights Act 1998 - Essay Example erning child safety to governmental laws on local health services and global warming by political parties as well as voluntary charity organizations alike have been rampant in the U.K. This form of voicing one’s opinion for opposing a certain law and demonstrating disagreements on the governmental decisions is increasing and rapidly gaining momentum. Although such protests might be perceived as an inevitable means of sustaining democratic governance of the country on the other hand laws prohibiting such public demonstrations as a form of protests such as Sections 11 to 14 of the Public Order Act, 1986 which deals with prohibiting public processions and imposing restrictions on public assemblies might hamper the very fabric of a liberal and efficient democratic system of the United Kingdom. It has been largely observed that public demonstrations for socio – political causes are increasingly being targeted with such legislations aimed at restricting such vivid expressions of public disapproval. The U.K law, through the Public Order Act has inadvertently laid prohibitions on the right to hold demonstrations in public which subsequently suggests that campaigning for causes that concerns the general public / citizens might lead to breach of law of the nation further leading to strict legal action. The blurring divide between freedom of expression and the legal consequences – civil as well as criminal, on account of voicing one’s opinions, under the legislation, is emerging as a highly inadequate means in sustaining civil society thus pressing for an urgent need to introspect the legal framework and advocate policies for much needed change. The strict laws that more or less, seeks to prohibit public assemblies campaigning against causes political or otherwise, and the rather strict repercussions which might lead to registration of criminal offenses against the campaigners prevents the lawful right of the campaigners – as well as members of the general public

Food Conflict in the World Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Food Conflict in the World - Research Paper Example In addition, intensive subdivision of land has made it very hard for these people to produce enough food to support their family (Runge, 2003). The subdivision of land has created more conflicts as there are no documents that were used during land adjudication. Family wrangles have therefore slowed the production process. This is affecting the level of food security in the society. With the increasing levels of globalization resulting from liberalization of markets, efficient flow of information, and integration of economies, the conflicts of interest in the global market has increased tremendously. The multinational companies have shifted their attention towards the agricultural sector as a way of diversifying their source of revenues. This is to reduce the risks and uncertainties associated with focusing on a single product. However, majority of these firms have no interest of the people at hand. Instead, they venture in agriculture in order to make immense profits at the expense of poor farmers. They have therefore leased large tracks of land which have the potential to produce enough foods for the population. They then plant cash crops such as flowers which fetch high prices in the global market. They go ahead and hire a lot of employees who have the necessary skills and experience to produce food for the population (Labonte, 2009). This aspect is negativel y affecting the agricultural sector. Globalization has led to the liberalization of market, an aspect that has a major impact on food security in the world.

Human Resources Comparison: Dell and McDonalds

Human Resources Comparison: Dell and McDonalds Dell Inc. is a premier provider of products and services required, for the building of information-technology and Internet infrastructures of customers worldwide. Its operations strategy focuses on mass customization marketing strategy, build-to-order production system, as well as on its production and supply chain designed for its agile and fast turnarounds. OPERATIONS STRATEGY Operating a plant owned by the company itself is one of the global manufacturing strategies of the Dell Inc. This is to bring their online operation in time, in achieving its goal of meeting the ever-growing customer needs. It also provides good proximity to an available workforce and supports the objectives of its logistics. In locating its possible plants, it places preference over strategic locations suitable to advance manufacturing and distribution companies serving the East Coast markets. Like Dells Winston-Salem plant who will produce their PowerEdge servers, PowerVault and the Dell/EMC products, and OptiPlex and Dimension desktop computers primarily for the US market. The said distributions advantages made it to be the companys site choice. This is its easy access to almost all of the major East Coast markets, within a one-day truck haul. INNOVATION Dell Inc. also operates as one of the highest-volume internet commerce sites in the world. According to a study done by Mainstay Partners, the returns of the company will come through cost avoidance in four principal ways. They are by the breakage of the buying cycle and maintenance of expensive proprietary hardware systems; by substantial reduction on administrative and database management costs; by a boost on system capacity while scaling as the business requires; and by raising its availability, thus, the potential for revenue-draining downtime is greatly reduced. The company uses a sales strategy that was a model of the lean efficiency. It involves direct customer sales, without the use of retailers or intermediaries. Through this high-efficiency business model, the company is able to keep low costs in bringing new technology to its market, faster than any companies, using indirect distribution channels. Dells marketplace advantage is brought up by its innovation together with its one-to-one direct customer communication. Another innovation is their web presence through the Dell.com, a massive channel for sale. In addition, the new system of Dell running Oracle 10g grid on Linux is another success on the companys part, as it does more work, more quickly compared to their previous one. Among its gains includes doubled session capacity characterized by stronger, more sustainable system performance; higher daily order volume, due to its improved performance and availability for users through the elimination of constraints and slowness; automatic distribution and balancing of the increased workload in case of node/s failure; and the elimination of system outrages, that cause gaps in line manufacturing and raises the chances of staff sent home. The new system delivers seven times the performance for only one-tenth of the cost. Besides, due to its improved performance and reliability, the company will be able to save around $4.6 million for over five years time, as projected by a study. Other area of potential value brought by the grid system is the automated storage management in Dells back office operations. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Moreover, Dell has become a poster child for outsourcing, using its emerging trend of near shoring. Near shoring refers to the companies practice of going offshore (but in countries with closer proximity to its home bases) in outsourcing its operations. Its success lies on its developed innovative supply chain together with its just-in-time operation. The latter combined more responsibility pushed onto suppliers with the outsourcing of non-essential functions. INNOVATION Dell broke into the big time by developing a business strategy and supply chain strategy that worked together. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Dells business strategy was differentiation through low cost, speed of delivery, and customer service. The major channel for sales was from customers to call centers. However, the emergence of the internet called for more differentiation and fundamental change. With a well understood business strategy, Dell began to formally integrate operational components (e.g., logistics, manufacturing, distribution, inventory management) and develop a supply chain strategy. The supply chain strategy focused at driving costs out of the supply chain being the low cost provider while at the same time supporting a business strategy emphasizing customer service QUALITY STRATEGY Dell Perot Systems has established, documented, and implemented an ISO 90001:2000-certified quality management system (QMS) that focuses on meeting customer requirements and enabling employees to do their jobs right the first time. The Dell Perot Systems QMS Manual defines and documents how requirements for quality are met. The design of the QMS is influenced by varying customer needs, particular objectives, the products and services provided, the processes employed, and the size and structure of our organization. We recognize that success comes from focusing on doing things right the first time, on time, every time, meeting customer requirements and exceeding their expectations. DELL HR At Dell, HR is divided into operations and management, explains Price. HR operations coordinates transactional functions, such as benefits, compensation and employee relations, through a service center. Staff members report directly up the chain through HR, and rarely have contact with business units. HR management includes Dell University, the companys education and training function; staffing; and HR generalists who report to both the vice president of a business unit and the vice president of HR. Management deals with tactical, rather than transactional issues. These HR employees attend the business units staff meetings as consultants; develop the leadership team; produce metrics for such things as turnover, productivity and cycle times; and develop an HR strategy for that particular line of business. This division between operations and management allows HR to efficiently focus on two different types of customers. Operations supports Dell employees in general, while management supports Dells business. During the education segmentation, we segmented our sales organization first, says Price, then began to prepare marketing and get brand management teams for each segment. Thats why having HR people in those lines of business is so critical they drive that. Dells HR management team assists in the segmentation planning process by handling HR issues, such as identifying personnel needs, working out lines of reporting and organizational charts, and defining training needs. HR consults strategically with the business unit but also works out the nuts and bolts of putting people where they need to be, with the necessary skills and training. IKEA IKEAs mission is to offer a wide range of home furnishing items of good design and function, excellent quality and durability, at prices so low that the majority of people can afford to buy them (IKEA 1994). Founder Ingvar Kamprads innovative strategy was to design functional furniture that was easy and inexpensive to build, receive it disassembled at stores, and display it on the showroom floor with detailed explanation tickets, making sales person assistance unnecessary. OPAs IKEA is operating just like a warehouse, it produces a high volume of furniture and products that could be self-assembled. The fact that IKEA can also be found in other countries allow for economies of scale and hence, IKEA is able to bring costs down with its high-volume production. The downside of this would be, as one customer puts it: I have something which everyone else in the world has. This product is not unique. Despite having a high-volume business, IKEA has a lean buffering capacity, with only a limited amount of stock bought to ensure that the possibility of unwanted stock is reducedERATIONS STRATEGY INNOVATION IKEAs furniture is value for money with a wide range of choice. It is designed to be stored and sold as a flat pack but is capable of easy assembly by the customer. The Swedish design emphasizes bold colors, styles and functionality. The company promotes products to be modular, allowing different variations of the same basic product to be customised to produce greater variety. This allows IKEA to provide greater variety for its productswithoutholdinglargeamountsofstock. Instead of having to wait for a sales personnel to service them, customers have the flexibility to move around and pick up what they want. They are free to browse through the showrooms and even pick up small items directly off the display shelves if they like to purchase them. There is no need to waste any time waiting for someone else to get it for them. HR AT IKEA IKEAs vision was To create a better everyday life for the many people. People included employees, customers, as well as the community. The companys human resource philosophy subscribed to the belief that employees were more productive and committed when the company took care of the mand their needs. IKEA adopted a paternalistic stance toward employees and their needs (as did many other Swedish companies) and promoted employee empowerment. However, although the company had a positive HR philosophy and offered generous benefits, their application was more or less standardized and policies applied uniformly to all employees. IKEAs positive HR policies were supported by a strong and nurturing culture that promoted diversity and creativity. Spiers-Lopez said IKEAs culture was characterized by a family-like quality that made relationships between employees strong and open.

Dissociative Identity Disorder :: essays research papers

My topic of choice for this research paper is Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. This appellation is rather new; therefore, most are more familiar with the disorder's older, less technical name: Multiple Personality Disorder or MPD. When first presented with the task of selecting a topic on which to center this paper, I immediately dismissed Dissociative Identity Disorder (which for the sake of brevity will be referred to as DID for the remainder of this paper) as a viable topic due to the sheer scope of the disorder. However after an exhaustive examination of other prospective topics, I found myself back at my original choice. There are several reasons why I chose DID. The foremost of which is the widespread fascination of this disorder by many different types of people; most of whom otherwise have no interest in psychology or its associated fields. One would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t been captivated at one time or another by the extraordinary, all too w ell known symptoms of this disorder. This fascination†¦ dare I say ‘allure’ to this disorder is exemplified by the myriad of motion pictures that have been produced based on cases, real or fictitious, of DID. Another reason for my choice is what I feel is the insufficiency of effective treatments for DID. Despite what is known about this disorder, (which is relatively a lot) there are only two chief treatments for DID; the first and most prevalent is psychotherapy; also known as †talk therapy†, the second is medication. The third and final reason for my choice is my own enchantment with DID. I must admit that ever since I read about Sue Tinker, a woman who was diagnosed with over 200 different personalities. In writing this paper I hope to discover more about this disorder and perhaps be able to identify a few areas that I feel might require more research on the part of psychologists specializing in DID. What is Dissociative Identity Disorder? A proper explanation of DID necessitates a dissection of the name itself. Dissociation is â€Å"a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity.†1 In other words, there is a disruption in the way in which these usually integrated functions communicate. Daydreaming, highway hypnosis, or â€Å"getting lost† in a book or movie are all examples of very mild dissociation. Dissociative Identity Disorder :: essays research papers My topic of choice for this research paper is Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. This appellation is rather new; therefore, most are more familiar with the disorder's older, less technical name: Multiple Personality Disorder or MPD. When first presented with the task of selecting a topic on which to center this paper, I immediately dismissed Dissociative Identity Disorder (which for the sake of brevity will be referred to as DID for the remainder of this paper) as a viable topic due to the sheer scope of the disorder. However after an exhaustive examination of other prospective topics, I found myself back at my original choice. There are several reasons why I chose DID. The foremost of which is the widespread fascination of this disorder by many different types of people; most of whom otherwise have no interest in psychology or its associated fields. One would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t been captivated at one time or another by the extraordinary, all too w ell known symptoms of this disorder. This fascination†¦ dare I say ‘allure’ to this disorder is exemplified by the myriad of motion pictures that have been produced based on cases, real or fictitious, of DID. Another reason for my choice is what I feel is the insufficiency of effective treatments for DID. Despite what is known about this disorder, (which is relatively a lot) there are only two chief treatments for DID; the first and most prevalent is psychotherapy; also known as †talk therapy†, the second is medication. The third and final reason for my choice is my own enchantment with DID. I must admit that ever since I read about Sue Tinker, a woman who was diagnosed with over 200 different personalities. In writing this paper I hope to discover more about this disorder and perhaps be able to identify a few areas that I feel might require more research on the part of psychologists specializing in DID. What is Dissociative Identity Disorder? A proper explanation of DID necessitates a dissection of the name itself. Dissociation is â€Å"a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity.†1 In other words, there is a disruption in the way in which these usually integrated functions communicate. Daydreaming, highway hypnosis, or â€Å"getting lost† in a book or movie are all examples of very mild dissociation.

Argument Essay Essay

As students we all have been challenged to do our best. Throughout our lives we have been labeled with our grades; in high school, the ones with low grades were left alone in misery, while the ones with higher grades were praised as the leaders of this horse race. Then, the question that comes into mind is: is it right to categorize students, does grading contribute to educationa? It is assumed and stated in the philosophy of the current educational system that grading encourages learning and without it students would not study. That is far from being true and also expresses another flaw of our education system. The system is based on fear: the basic motive for students to study is fear of low grades. Furthermore, because the grades are the main criteria for passing courses, students do not study: they just develop methods of cheating. Thus, without learning the subject, they keep passing. Since grades received in exams are more important than learning the subject matter, all students have to do to pass their courses is memorize how a specific problem is solved. Without knowing why such a method is used, students cannot apply their ability to solve the problem to daily life. However, they pass exams without learning why, how or what of the matter. Another disadvantage of grading is that grades of a student are not updated. That means the grades of a student for the first year of school will still be valid in the last year, whether his knowledge about the subject has improved or deteriorated. Considering all the factors that affect a student’s exams and marks, even a small incident may have a great impact in the long run. Apart from these problems, which can be virtually solved by optimizing and improving the grading system, the most important defect of the system cannot be repaired without changing the whole system. The grading system causes inequalities, superior-inferior relations, classifications and even conflicts. It may be maintained that societies of the modern world are structured on these basic principles, but the fact that something exists does not justify it. Moreover, the people grown up in such an education system will not be able to see the other side of the walls, or will be afraid even to take a glimpse. To sum up, grading students is not a good practice and should be abolished. It is clear that education, especially education during childhood, has a great effect on one’s life. And if you bring the children up in conditions of conflict and competition, they will look for conflicts in the future too.

menkaure essays

menkaure essays The sculpture group of King Menkaure and His Queen is positioned in one of the basic types of Egyptian sculpture the Standing/Striding pose. The figure of Menkaure is rigidly frontal, although his head is slightly turned to the right. His left foot is slightly advanced, however the upper body does not respond to this uneven distribution of weight - there is no tilt in the shoulders, nor a shift in the hips. All movement of the figure is suppressed: his muscular arms hang down his athletic body, they are not flexed at the elbow and do not break through the front contour of his thighs. The body remains wedded to the block of stone from which it was carved. The artist does not remove the dead stone between the arms and torso and most importantly his advanced leg is not carved in the round, which contributes to the solid and majestic appearance of the statue. The Queen assumes the same rigidly frontal posture, however her left leg is less advanced than his, which alludes that she is a subordinate figure to her king in this stance she is just echoing the pharaohs decisive actions. She embraces the pharaoh with her right arm placing her hand around his waist; her left arm is bent at the elbow and covering her stomach rests on the kings left arm. There is a space of about couple of centimeters between the statues that widens towards the base, and which makes Menkaure appear standing independently from his female counterpart. In this frontal, striding forward posture the pharaoh looks confident and in control. ...

Multiculturalism Essay Example

Multiculturalism Essay Example Multiculturalism Essay Multiculturalism Essay Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Multiculturalism Multiculturalism is brought by the existence of multiple cultures in a society. Every culture has different practices, but it is possible to have common practices in different cultures. Multiple cultures are brought by immigration of people. The different cultures are expected to coexist in the same society and live harmoniously. Multiple cultures have both positive and negative effects on the people. It has brought the introduction of homogeneity, where groups of people adopt practices from different cultures. They do not identify themselves with any culture since they have borrowed from many cultures. According to my observation, it is agreeable to say that people are a product of multiple cultures. People of different culture living in the same society have influenced each other in many ways. Global changes have also contributed to changes in cultural practices. The new technologies, as well as policies in different countries, have enabled people’s exposure to different cultures. For example, trade policies enable people from different cultures to interact and exchange knowledge. Traveling makes people visit new places where they learn different cultural practices. I feel I am a product of multiple cultures in different ways. In my learning institution, there are many students from different cultures. They have taught me many things in various aspects. My friends come are from diverse cultures and they have introduced me to many practices in their cultures. It is a brilliant idea to borrow from other cultures because their practices may be a solution to some of my problems. For instance, I have a friend whose culture believes in consuming vegetables. My friend has a lot of knowledge on various types of vegetables, and he assisted me to choose the most nutritious ones. Another friend comes from France and is proficient in French language. He assists me to learn French and soon I will be multilingual. We form study groups and assist each other with course work. I have learnt many effective study habits form my friends. It has even been reflected in my school results. I have improved in the way I understand concepts in class. For example, I learnt that it is essential to ask questions after the teacher is through with the lecture. It does not only help me but also other students to learn more. Being an Arab, I have always believed my religion is the only right one. After interacting with other people from different cultures, I have learnt to accept and respect other religions. I was made to understand that people have the freedom to join any religion. It is unethical to criticize other religious and assume mine is superior. Multiple cultures have influenced me to respect other cultures and practices. I have also noticed some foreign students have converted to different religions because of multiple culture influence. Other people have persuaded them to join those religions, and they have accepted. Multiple cultures enhance cohesion in the community. I have learnt to live with other ethnic groups in harmony. Initially, I had negative perception about some cultural groups. After living in a community with diverse people, I have changed my attitude and towards people. Mainly, I had a problem with other races. Dubai has many immigrants from African, Asian, South American and other countries. I feared they would control the country and overthrow the government. Today, I have come to realize that they are beneficial to the state in many ways. I appreciate their contribution in all the aspects they have helped improve. I have an interest in traveling, and I have visited many places outside Dubai. For instance, I have visited United States of America with my family. During the visit, we stayed with American families who shared many ideas about their cultures. My mother learnt how to cook different meals. I ate new snacks like burgers and pizza. These foods do not belong in cultural Arabian foods. They were introduced by the western culture in Dubai. Today, my mother prepares some of the foods she learnt, and they have become part of my family’s culture. The internet has significantly changed people’s ways of life and beliefs. This is mainly observed in young people because they have fully embraced the new technology. The internet contains all sorts of information about different topics. Social networks are being used as a medium of interacting, and this is an opportunity for people to exchange cultural practices. I belong to several social sites, and I have made friends with people from all over the world. By chatting and other forms of communication, we have learnt ideas from each other. Computer technology has changed by culture of learning and doing research. Initially, I only used physical libraries and books used in class. It was difficult to carry out research because I had to consume a lot of time looking for relevant books. Today, I just use my laptop to search any topic from the internet. It has a broad database of rich information in almost all the topics. I can also access electronic books and save time looking for them physically. The lecturers have an easy time marking essays because there is software to assist them. Apart from positive influence, there has been negative influence. The greatest negative influence is from the media. Many movies have several negative themes. According to Arab religion, people are expected to remain chaste until they are married. Contemporary movies are encouraging young people against these values. I am among some of the students who have acquired a more liberal perception to life. This is a choice that I have to make on my own. Some people from foreign countries came to introduce unacceptable practices in the community. For instance, in Jamaica there is the culture of consuming Cannabis sativa. Immigrants from that country have introduced it to others. There are other hard drugs, which have been introduced into the country because of having multiple cultures. People have made it a business to sell these illegal drugs, and they are making money. The government has a hard time trying to fight these illegal practices. Another notable change is the music I like. Western music has taken over local music and people seem to enjoy it more than local music. I like listening to hip-hop, jazz and classical music among other categories. I only listen to local music occasionally. With all the changes that have happened, I feel I am a product of multiple cultures.

International Marketing in a Global Economy Research Paper

International Marketing in a Global Economy - Research Paper Example This is because common marketing concerns (such as input or production costs, price, advertising and distribution) are likely to differ from country to country where the business firm targets to market its products or services. There are four ways to develop markets in foreign land according to the Encyclopedia of Business and these are: (1) international trade through exporting products and services from the country of origin; (2) entering into joint venture arrangements with one or more foreign companies; (3) licensing patent rights, trademark rights, etc. to companies abroad; and (4) establishing manufacturing plants in foreign countries. Exporting is the easiest and most frequently used strategy of entering international markets because there is lesser risk of financial losses for the company. International trade comes in when a business entity engage in the buying (importing) and or selling (exporting) of goods or services in the global market arena. In exporting, factors to consider are: market opportunities, foreign exchange risk, import and export financing, and challenges of doing business in a foreign market. Business analysts note that in exporting, firms should focus on at least single market i nitially, start entering foreign market on a small scale (to limit potential loss due to failure), and be realistic about time, commitment and resources needed. Two contrasting viewpoint for developing global marketing strategy are being expounded by many business analysts. First is the localized marketing strategy that considers four differences across countries: buyer behavior characteristics, socioeconomic condition, marketing infrastructure, and competitive environment. Many companies failed to succeed or experience difficulties in the international market because they did not fully understand differences in buyer behavior knowing that

CJUS 310-DB4 Replies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CJUS 310-DB4 Replies - Essay Example Further, you point out that mentors help adolescents perform certain tasks and as such, give them the direction they should adopt in life. While I do not disagree entirely with this argument, mentors play bigger roles in influencing the careers that the adolescents take. Some of the parents hire mentors to help their children perform certain tasks such as cooking and washing, among others. However, other mentors seek to influence positively the life of adolescents by providing them with information and knowledge on career choices, issues affecting them and how to overcome such challenges. Adolescents thus find it easy to confine in these individuals rather than other people. In your argument, you point out the various roles played by mentors in the society. According to your argument, â€Å"mentoring is a way to prevent delinquency.† While this is true, I seek to differ in that not only do mentorship reduce delinquency, but also play a big role in developing responsible adults in the society. It is inadequate classifying mentorship as only trying to prevent delinquency. Although adolescents face a myriad of issues, the reality is that some of them find ways of overcoming these challenges, and as such, are not victims of delinquency. Nevertheless, these require mentorship on how to mentor their peers and help them adopt safe lifestyles. Expecting for this, I agree with the argument that mentors have responsibilities. All mentors should be role models for the children in whichever capacity they serve. Subsequently, they should assume work that perfectly corresponds with their credentials. While some could be relatively educated and have relative jo bs, they could demonstrate the advantages of humbleness and the need for having plans in