Participatory Ict Developments During The Agricultural Sector

Tanzania, an agrarian country has ARIs in place for the purpose of strengthening the development of agriculture through the provision of science-based agricultural research innovation generation and improved farm practices. It is through participatory approaches, researchers from ARIs provide agricultural information services for enhancing farmers to make rational decisions concerning agricultural production and post-harvest practices (Mtega and Malekani, 2009). The use of ICTs in dissemination and communicating agriculture research output to the rural farmers and other actors remains to be important. The participatory ICT developments in the agricultural sector can be achieved only if agricultural researchers and Government organizations can learn from farmers by using the participatory approaches (Joseph and Andrew, 2008). Table 1 shows a comparison of different participatory approaches towards development of ICTs in agriculture sector. Table 1: Comparison of participatory approaches in development of ICTs for agriculture sector Participatory Approaches (PA) Who participate and why? When, where and how do we ensure participation? Use of the participatory approach in agricultural sector Farmer Participatory Research (FPR) Participatory learning and action research (PLAR) †¢ Agriculture workers, NGOs, farming community and researchers participate and farmers are allowed to make decisions. †¢Before making the final decisions, the leader of the farming community isShow MoreRelatedInformation Technology and Women Empowerment in India3853 Words   |  16 PagesCommerce, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. Abstract Information Technology has revolutionized the world as never before and Indian women are no exception to it. Workforce trends show that a large number of Indian women are joining in IT sector. 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Mkt 337 Free Essays

Company profile CFL (Core Finland ltd) which was found in 2006 in Finland. It’s a dynamic food marketing company. The present managing director of CFL is Joonas Turkama. We will write a custom essay sample on Mkt 337 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The main activates of this company is are importing, marketing and sales of first class products, which have the potential to grow big brands nationally as well as internationally. The mainly focusing on building brands in order to gain a long term success. CoreFinland’s main target groups are wholesale, retail trade and HoReCa -sector. They also build international partnerships, especially in Western-Europe and in the Baltic Sea region. In future they plan to expand their business activities particularly towards Russia, Germany and Sweden. The main product of this company is snacks and food product. It provides marketing and sales service both domestic and foreign by its long distribution channel (whole sale, Retail). It also provide some service like hosting, packaging, consulting by retail chain. Product CFL start producing â€Å"VEGE CHIPS† from 2011 under Rye snacks. Now a day in Europe people are more health concusses so that in Europe market people are like to choose healthy food rather than fast food. So that organic foods easily make a big market in Europe . VEGE CHIPS is completely healthy and organic food. It’s not only a snake’s people can use it as a regular food. Fat level in VEGE CHIPS is very low so that middle age people can take it as much as they want. No1: Developing market for â€Å"VEGE CHIPS† Our target market is two different countries Srilanka and Canada. These two countries are different from each other. They are totally different in socially and culturally. So our target market also different for these two countries. Country profile Srilanka: Population 1,481,334 (July 2011 est. ) Age structure 0-14 years:  24. 9% (male 2,705,953/female 2,599,717) 15-64 years:  67. 2% (male 6,993,668/female 7,313,440) 65 years and over:  7. 9% (male 720,219/female 950,916) (2011 est. ) Median age Total:  30. 8 years male:  29. 7 years female:  31. 8 years (2011 est. ) Canada: Population 34,300,083 (July 2011 est. ) Age structure 0-14 years:  15 . 7% (male 2,736,737/female 2,602,342) 15-64 years:  68. 5% (male 11,776,611/female 11,517,972) 65 years and over:  15. 9% (male 2,372,356/female 3,024,571) (2011 est. ) Median age Total:  41 years male:  39. 8 years female:  42. years (2011 est. ) Customer profile Our target is middle age people who are 18 above. Middle age people are more health concusses and the can make decision as their own. we believe that they will take our chips because its healthy and totally natural. If we can satisfy them they will influence other for chose our product. Srilanka: In srilanka we will target high society area like Colombo because they are more health concuss and they can easily effort healthy food without thinking for price. in their people lead busy life so if they got ready healthy food they can easily take it. We also target sea side area where tourist comes from different country. Canada: In Canada we will target is the whole country. Because they are reach enough and lead busy time. They also more health concusses and educated too. No 2: The Marketing Mix for â€Å"VEGE CHIPS â€Å" Srilanka| Canada| Product: Srilankan people like spicy food like as other Asian country so here we have to apply extra spicy chips with regular one. | Product: In Canada we use our regular healthy chips but we have to make it little bit sweet and salty| Place : We sell it in retail stall and all over the target location. Place: Super shop and large retail stall in super mall or market. | Promotion : Here we use TVC, Billboard commercial also in magazine , health magazine| Promotion : Here u use free tail, billboard, health magazine , bill board in bus train , taxi| Price: Small packet and medium, less amount off chips so that price can be reduce. | Price: Large and gorgeous packing so that we can keep premi um price. | Positioning: Less price because middle class people can afford it. | Positioning: High price because people get healthy food and it’s for higher class people. Process: We produce chips in srilanka | Process: We chose a well known distributer in Canada and export chips from Finland. | Physical evidence: Spicy chips with attractive shape of chips but packing will be less costly. | Physical evidence: Attractive packing with high costly and chips color is light. | People: Well dress up sellers and they are directly commutated because here we do direct marketing. | People: For make familiar we give cap, t-shirt to our distributor and give well amount of percentage for big sale. | No 3: Integrated marketing communication for â€Å"VEGE CHIPS: Srilanka| Canada | Step 1: Vege chips is completely new product for srilanka so our vision is gaining the one of best healthy food producer in there. Here we do mass marketing for promoting our chips in school, collage. Because in srilanka most of are middle class society people. | Step 1: As a new chip in Canada our vision is reach a respected position by providing healthy snacks in market. We gain it by providing healthy chips at a premium price. | Step 2: As we are new in Srilanka so we heir a add firm for adverting and provides them our survey report on target customers need expectation from snacks. We are new in here it’s a weakness for us but our strength is we are providing healthy and natural foods. For Asian region country here peoples like spicy foods so that we provides some spicy flavors chips. | Step 2: For promotion in Canada all work done by distributer as we choose distribution channel in here for providing our product. So here no need to full attention for determining customer profile. Expensive price is a weakness here but in other hand providing healthy food is our strength. Here chips will salty and little bit sweet. Step 3: Here we do our promotion by TVC, Billboard, and Health magazine. Our main massage is â€Å" Eat healthy chips at cheaper price â€Å"Our main objective is gain 25 % of the snacks market in a year. | Step 3: Our tag line is â€Å"Eat healthy, Live long â€Å". Here we do free trail, internet pop up , billboard in bus train. Here our object is gain 25 % of snack market in 2-4 year. | Step 4: We make our 40 % capital from Finland and other 60 % from native bank for build our factory in Srilanka. | Step 4: In Canada we import chips from Finland so we have do is send money in transport and tax. So the Budget is cheaper for Canada. | Step 5: By TVC here we do mass marketing for establish our product. Billboard marketing done by ad agency. For middle and higher class people here we have small packet and fewer amounts of chips. We can overcome our profit but less costly packaging. | Step 5: This chips is healthy, natural and unique. Here we chose a distribution channel to supply it in lager retrial store and mass marketing. We provide them healthy and natural food so the price is higher in here. We use gorgeous packaging. We provide product from Finland by this it’s easy to gain profit. Step 6: For a good progress we check out our monthly feedback from all kind of stores and retailer. We have to careful for breakeven point and overall sells for understood our current market situation. | Step 6: For Canada we have to careful in monitoring, evaluating and controlling to our distribution channel. We take all kind of information from them for understanding our market situat ion. | Assignment #1 ( Promotional marketing) Submitted to: Sherina Idrish Subject: MKT 337 Section: â€Å"8† Submitted by: Hossan momahmmed mishu ID: 102 0184 030 How to cite Mkt 337, Papers

A Significant Influence free essay sample

Indicate a person who had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. She kicked me before I knew pain, took my nourishment before I knew hunger, and crammed me before I knew space. But she also touched me before I could feel, taught me the rhythm of two beating hearts before I could hear, and was there before I knew loneliness. Our lives started here, eight months before our first breath, in the darkness of our mothers womb. Seventeen years have since passed, and she still has an immeasurable influence on me. It is now my attention, not my nourishment she inadvertently takes. She still unknowingly infringes on my space and the once physical bruises have now become emotional. I have never been able to be the only child or to have a birthday that was uniquely mine. But the goodness of her influence far outweighs any negative. We will write a custom essay sample on A Significant Influence or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She shares her laughter with me during midnight gossip sessions and inside jokes. Most memorable, however, were the feelings she shared after my grandfathers death. When my eyes were red from tears and my heart heavy from pain, she extended her arms to me. Through her tender embrace, like her baby touches of old, she said more to me than words ever could. She pressed herself to me and once again exposed me to the rhythm of our two hearts beating, telling me I wasnt alone. She has given me the best of what she has, her presence, and her love, for which Ill be forever grateful. She has from the very beginning, through the good and the bad, the laughter and the tears, molded me into the person I am today. Her influence started before birth, and will continue forever. She is my twin, Amanda.

The Names Of The Various Styles And Types Of Music Essays

The names of the various styles and types of music culturally associated with my country are at first there is folk music and then there is urban music then comes all the advanced music which is mostly are immitated from American music. But the music that would define my country is folk music and most of the folk music are sang by the poor people in the country but some of the rich people also sings folk music but they consider singing it as a hobby. But the popular folk music in Bangladesh are sang by the people that were poor and got higher in society by singing folk music. But urban music is written and sang by regular people in Bangladesh. Before urban music was invented or came to Bangladesh, folk music was popular to everyone starting from little kids to older people. But when urban music came and or was invented in Bangladesh most of the people started to like urban music because it had new instrument such as tabla, harmoniam, bashi and etc. All these instruments are made and played in Bengali urban music. But when advanced music came people forgot about folk music but they did listen to urban music and they rocked with advanced music. Advanced music is the same music that puff daddy sings and Madonna sings and the music that is sang by all the other popular singer but what Bengali people does is that they take all the instrumental sounds from all the popular song in America and they pay other people in Bangladesh to sing and they pay them the half the money that they make. Now most of the people in Bangladesh are into advanced music and most of the advanced music is sang by guys that are 20, 21, 23 and guys that drop high school and don't graduate but they get into music business. Folk music can only be defined as voices and the people that sang most of the folk music used nothing but an instrument called "aktara". But urban music can be defined as abstract music with tone color, and some of them has accent. Most of the advanced music is abstract music and has a beat, tempo, dynamic and orchestration but 75 percent of the advanced music is immitated from this country. All of these music are danced to except folk music but most of the people dances to urban music and the dance is called indian dance because it's immitated from indian songs and people dances to it because they think it's hip and it's fun. But most of the older people like my grand parents likes folk music but hates urban and advanced music. There is no different music in different part of my country because the same music is heard and danced to in the whole country but except in India because India is kind of faster and kind of advanced in music than Bangladesh. So most of the Bangladeshian music is immitated from all over the world. But people that are poor doesn't listen to no music except listens to the people that goes around town and sings folk music. Most of the people in Bangladesh that lives in village still thinks folk music are popular and when they goes visit the city in Bangladesh and which is Dhaka gets amazed by all the urban and advanced music. The instrument that is used in folk music is called "Aktara". Aktara is a coconut skull that has two wooden sticks at the side and kind of shaped like a triangle and has a string from the middle that is hooked to the two sticks at the top and it makes funny noice which is very popular in Bangladesh. Urban music uses tabla which is like a drum but it's not. It's two little round thing which you got to hit with your hands to make noices like drums but it's similar to drum. Then there is harmoniam which makes noice like piano but it's half the size of piano and then comes bashi which is the almost the same as woodwind. My family does listen to urban music but my grand parents only listens to folk music. But

What Shirk Means in Islam Essays

What Shirk Means in Islam Essays What Shirk Means in Islam Paper What Shirk Means in Islam Paper Tawheed in Islam is very important as it means that believing in one lord and no one else. It is attributing oneness to Allah and describing him as being one and unique as he has no partner in his essence and attributes. However if one doesnt believe in this then he is going against Tawheed and will be classed as not a true Muslim. Believing that Allah is one with no partner or associate in his lordship is known as Tawheed ruboobiyyah. If any disagrees with this statement then they are going against Allahs word which are written in the Quran as he states Say he is Allah, the One and only. This verse clearly shows that Allah is one as he has written it him in the Quran for Muslims, no one should join partners with him nor should they believe in anyone besides him, this is known as shirk. Shirk in linguistic meaning is associating partnership, sharing with someone or associating something with someone however in Islam it refers to associating partners with Allah. There are two type of shirk which are: Shirk Akbar Major Shirk Shirk Asgar Minor Shirk Major shirk in Islam means when an individual ascribe partners with Allah such as saying that he has a son or a family. This can be with his Lordship, divinity or his names and attribute. Allah has told the Muslims in the Quran that he does not forgive anyone who ascribes partners with him in any way, as he states Verily! Allah forgives not setting up partners with Him, but He forgives whom He wills sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. (2:48). Shirk is classed as worst sin in Islam. Shirk can be also loving someone as they should be loving Allah, and fearing as they should be fearing Allah, or relying upon him, calling upon him, dreading him, hoping in him and having awe of him, trusting in him, or obeying him in disobedience to Allah, or following him in what displeases Allah etc. This type of shirk may sometimes believe that someone else apart from Allah created this universe, maybe gives life and death or having a belief that someone else should be worshipped besides Allah. Whoever believes that then his final abode will be in hellfire as it is stated clearly in the Quran by Allahs words, Verily, whosoever sets up partners with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. (5: 72). Even the Prophet of Allah mentioned in a Hadith that Shirk is never forgiven as he says The greatest sins are polytheism etc (Muslim). The second type of Shirk in Islam is the minor shirk which is everything that will lead an individual to major shirk such as adorning something or believing in fortune telling. Minor shirk has been described by Prophet Muhammad as Shirk in the Muslim nation is more inconspicuous than the creeping of the black ant on a black rock in the pitch darkness of the night. This saying of Prophet explains to the Muslims in a metaphorical way that minor shirk is what will lead the Muslims to major shirk unknowingly. Prophet also said that he feared minor shirk more then any sin as it was the cause of everything. Whoever swears to someone else other then Allah also commits the act of shirk and Kufr (disbelief). Minor shirk can also take the form of actions such as believing in fortune telling and wearing amulets. We as Muslims know this because Prophet said whoever goes towards fortune-teller and believes in his story, his prays will not be accepted for forty days. Tawheed is very important in Islam because it is the pillar which Islam is built upon, as it is the first thing invited to and preached to for thirteen years. say, none has the right to be worshipped when an individual believes in Tawheed they have to believe in the three aspects of tawheed which are Ruboobiyah- in his lordship, Uloohiyyah- in his worship and finally Asma was sifaat believing in his Names and Attributes. Tawheed is a condition for an action to be accepted, because for a deed to be accepted it requires two conditions. Which is the intention which is purely for Allah and in accordance with the shareeah of Prophet Muhammad. The three categories of Tawheed in Islam that are very important to abide by which are Tawheed Ruboobeeyah which means maintaining the oneness of Lordship that is, affirming that Allah is one, without partners in his power, as Allah states in the Quran And no calamity strikes except by Allahs permission. This means that without Allahs permission no one can do anything. Second one is Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat which means maintaining the unity of Allahs Names and Attributes that is, affirming that they are incomparable and unique as Allah says in the Quran for Muslims that There is nothing like him. This means that Allahs attributes are different to his mankind. And lastly its Tawheed Uloohiyyah which is affirming that Allah is alone in his right to be worshipped, as it says in the Quran I did not create the jinn and mankind except for my worship. Surah Ikhlas is a one of the important chapter from the holy Quran as it declares the oneness of Allah and absolute nature of divine essences. This concept is presented in the first verse it says He is Allah, the One and Only moreover the second verse that Allah is Eternal, i.e., He is beyond the bounds of time and space which is Allah, the Eternal, Absolute The third verse describes that Allah does not give birth or was given birth to as it says He begetteth not nor is He begotten and the last verse declares that Allah is beyond comparison which is And there is none like unto Him. Surah Ikhlas directly supports the first declaration shahadah of Islam: There is no god but Allah. In this context, Islam is based on belief in one God which is monotheism. There are many Muslims that still depend on pious people that they believe have similar qualities to God. They put their whole trust in them and act upon what they tell them to do rather then following the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. They might start to wear amulets as they might believe that these things will protect them from harm and guide them the right path. However all this is wrong as we know that from the words of the Prophet, as he says wearing amulets is an act of Shirk (polytheism). Other Muslims put the Prophet on a higher level than Allah and see him as their God rather than Allah; they give excessive praise to the Prophet. Shirk is the major sin in Islam because it involves associating others along with Allah in worship, his lordship or in his attributes. Being thankful to other than Allah for all the good which he has given us, or to say that He has an equal or one who is similar to him, shirk can also involve rejecting the Messengers of Allah since the Messengers of Allah call against shirk and whoever associates partners with Allah will never enter paradise as Allah says in the Quran Indeed they do blaspheme those who say that Allah is Jesus, the son of Mary, but Jesus said O children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him heaven and the fire will be his abode. (5:72) There are many dangers of Shirk such as it wipes away an individuals good deeds, Muslims know this because it says in the Quran But if they were to join others with Allah in worship, all that they used to do would be of no benefit to them. (6:88) It also leads to eternal punishment in the hellfire and takes a person out of the fold of Islam as it says Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him heaven and the fire will be his abode. When someone commits Shirk they are going against the belief in Tawheed which is the foundation of ones faith. Islam has 7 articles of faith among others the most important one is believe in Allah as the only one God. The principle of oneness in Allah was planted since Adam and Eve continued to Nuh, Abraham and up to the final Prophet Muhammad.

Benefits And Drawbacks Of Social Media Marketing Essay

Benefits And Drawbacks Of Social Media Marketing Essay This case introduces Web 2.0 social media in virtual worlds, networking sites, and video sharing sites, and entices students to explore the opportunities and risks they are confronted for brands. The case allows students to fight with the strategic and tactical decisions that accompany marketing communications strategy and to merge information on consumer behaviour with an understanding of brand objectives, in order to assess and evaluate new social media options. Foley, brand manager, is facing a more and more complex media environment in which her conventional media plan which is focused on television, print, and radio advertising, has become less popular due largely to declining audiences and a surge in advertising clutter, plus consumers tuning out. She is exploring emerging Web 2.0 social media options to determine if they can better achieve her branding and advertising objectives. Her challenge is to curtail the entire buzz surrounding Web 2.0 and to analyze the social mediaâ €™s possible for her brand by delving into the consumer dire needs and behaviours support Web 2.0 technologies Case issue: I think UnMe Jeans is a suitable brand for social media and the Web 2.0. Their target market is women between 12-24 years old, and this segment is consuming less traditional media, and increasing their consumption in the Web 2.0. With new technologies and platforms they can regulate the ads or somehow avoid them and still enjoy their favourite TV shows or any type of entertainment. I think it’s evident Web 2.0 is the right path for UnMe Jeans, the question is how to do it. The benefits social media offer to UnME Jeans are: The social media attracts more people than traditional media so they can reach more possible users as customers. They can target their audience with more accuracy and in a more efficient way. The idea is to make the costumers part of the social media community, to get them involved and get a deeper engagement with the brand. The dra wbacks social media offer to UnME Jeans are: Lack of control of the content: Foley, Brand Manager of UnME Jeans, is faced with a challenge as she reconsiders her advertising media plan due to the increase of social media options on the emerging Web 2.0. These options become even more intriguing with the steady price increases of television advertising despite the growth of several unfavourable conditions. Working with her advertising agency, Foley must effectively use her brand management skills to choose which social media channel, if any that she should incorporate into her current advertising media plan. The advertising agency suggested three viable options, Zwinktopia, Facebook, and YouTube. Zwinktopia is a virtual world targeted to girls’ ages 13 to 24 with a focus on fashion and music, Facebook is a social networking, profile page site, and YouTube is a user-generated video-sharing website. I suggest that Foley pursue the Zwinktopia social media channel as a starting po int to take advantage of the emerging Web 2.0 and also make a minor investment in the other options to develop their web 2.0 presence. Key issue of unme jeans:

Textual Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Textual Analysis - Essay Example 2- An Increased Number of Immigrants Coming to America: It has been estimated that a America welcomes a huge number of immigrants from all over the world. People come to America to seek better future and to maintain a healthy and good quality of life which is impossible anywhere else in the world. Regardless of any race, gender, religion and color discrimination, the country welcomes and holds a huge number of immigrants and provides them with equal opportunities as compare to their own citizens. Table of Contents: Abstract†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ... The sonnet is engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty. It was primarily written to raise funds for the base of Statue of Liberty. The poem acknowledges the efforts of immigrants coming to America to attain better future and to enhance their quality of life. It has been known to many people that America is home to many different people with different nationalities who have been living in the country without facing any discrimination from years and years. American society believes in freedom; freedom of speech and expression as well as freedom of life. Unlike many countries, America welcomes immigrants from all over the world and provides them with equal opportunities, similar lifestyle and employment opportunities as the country provides to its own citizens. As a result, due to increased life benefits, people from all over the world prefer coming to America to sustain a better lifestyle and to earn a better living in a respectable society. Textual Analysis: The New Colossus by E mma Lazarus: Treatment: The New Colossus is a beautiful sonnet written by Emma Lazarus in 1883. The basic theme of the sonnet revolves around the great Statue of Liberty and the idea is focused on the concept that how this statue stands tall in welcoming the immigrants from all over the world to America. The sonnet is comprised of 14 lines which can be divided into two parts on the basis of meanings and ideas it holds. Section 1: From the title of the poem, we can tell that Colossus reference is consistent with the Statue of Liberty as other claims it to be with the ancient one in Rhodes. Colossus of Rhodes is the ancient statue in bronze which represents the god â€Å"Helios.† It is considered as one of the ancient seventh wonders of the world. The inconsistency

LAB one Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

One - Lab Report Example Upon a thorough analysis of the lab, the following is what was found out (Sanders 2007). It is vital to note that, I firstly noticed that, the number of packets captured was dependent on the size of a particular URL. That is, the smaller the URL the lower the number of packets and the bigger the URL, the higher the number of packets. Additionally, I perceived that the first two packets in the beginning of trace are in most cases made up of equal size while the third one is of the smallest value compared to the other two. Furthermore, I noted that when the value (200 OK) appears in a trace result, then, it means that the fetch operation of a particular URL or website site must has been successfully executed (Sanders 2007). Lastly but certainly not the least, regarding the lengths of the network packets, the following is what was captured. The first one is of the length 76 units. The second one was of the same size at the first one, which is 76 units. The third one is of the length, 64 units (Sanders

Performance Appraisal Essay Example for Free

Performance Appraisal Essay Performance Appraisal is a formal management system that provides for the evaluation of the quality of an individual’s performance in an organization, and is usually prepared by the employee’s immediate supervisor, and the procedure typically requires the supervisor to fill out a standardized assessment form that evaluates the individual on several different dimensions and then discusses the result of the evaluation to the employee (Grote, 2002). According to Grote, too often, performance appraisal is seen merely as a once-a-year drill mandated by the personnel department, but in organizations that take performance appraisal seriously and use the system well, it is used as an ongoing process and not merely as an annual event. To obtain the best information possible if performance appraisal data must be used, four phase model of performance appraisal must be used, and these are through, performance planning, performance execution, and performance review. In performance planning, this is usually set at the beginning of the year, the manager and individual get together for a performance-planning meeting in which they discuss what a person will achieve over the next 12 months. In the performance execution, the manager provides coaching and feedback to the individuals to increase the probability of success and creates the condition that motivate and resolves any performance problems that arise and in the midway through the year, they meet to review the individual’s performance thus far against the plans and goals that they discussed in the performance planning meeting (Grote, 2002). In performance assessment, the manager reflects on how well the subordinate has performed over the course of the year, assembles the various forms of paperwork that the organization provides to make this assessment, and fills them out, and the manager also recommend a change in individual’s compensation based on the quality of the individuals work (Grote, 2002). The completed assessment form is then reviewed and approved by the appraiser’s boss, department head, or the compensation manager. In performance review, the manager and the subordinate meet, usually about an hour, and they review the appraisal form that the manager has written and talked about how well the person performed over the past 12 months, and at the end of the review meeting, they set a date to meet again to hold a performance-planning discussion for the next 12 months, at which point the performance management process anew (Grote, 2002). Self-ratings fit to this approach in the way that, it is needed by the manager in the performance assessment to be able to fully evaluate the employee.

Funds: Hedge and Mutual- Who and What They Are Essay -- Finance Financ

Funds: Hedge and Mutual- Who and What They Are Ever since their creation in 1949 by A. W. Jones, hedge funds have been widely regarded as a unique and luring alternative to investing ones money. Some have seen them as a replacement to the well-known mutual fund- while others believe that they are an entirely new domain. Besides defining both the hedge fund and mutual fund, this paper aims to expose the answer to a deeper question: Are hedge funds REALLY different than a mutual fund, and if so, how and why? By comparing both financial intermediaries in the areas of structure, strategy, and their respective environments, it is my hope that I can unmask any uncertainties that may reside within these financial institutions. The most basic question that must first be answered in this type of paper is the most obvious: what is a hedge fund, and how or what is it made up of? Mishkin describes a hedge fund as a special type of mutual fund - which on a very basic level is correct. But here we must be careful, while mutual funds are referred to as â€Å"public† hedge funds are referred to as â€Å"private.† This opens a portal of regulatory issues between the mutual fund and hedge fund entities. Mutual funds, and there thousands of them in the United States alone, are among the most highly regulated financial intermediaries. Thus they are subject to a very large number or requirements that insure that they act in the best of interests of their â€Å"public† shareholders. To digress only briefly, it is important to mention the importance of regulatory enactments since the early twentieth century because they have an enormous impact on today’s companies. Four of the most influential acts include the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities ... ...r risk factors, but take bets on relative price movements utilizing strategies such as long–short equity, stock index arbitrage, convertible bond arbitrage, and fixed income arbitrage. Long–short equity funds use the classic A.W. Jones model of hedge funds, taking long and short positions in equities to limit their exposures to the stock market. Stock index arbitrage funds trade the spread between index futures contracts and the underlying basket of equities. Convertible bond arbitrage funds typically trade the embedded option in these bonds by purchasing them and shorting the equities. Fixed income arbitrage generally refers to the trading of price or yield along the yield curve, between corporate bonds and government bonds of comparable characteristics, or more generally between two baskets of similar bonds that trade at a price spread.† [Fung and Hsteh, p. 319-320]

Discuss how and why Age Discrimination Operates in the Workplace Essay

Discuss how and why Age Discrimination Operates in the Workplace Introduction Discuss how and why Age Discrimination Operates in the Workplace            In the past few decades, science has made great advancements in medicine, nutrition and other human sciences. These advancements have made it possible for people to be treated for various diseases and ailments that would have otherwise shortened their productive lifespan. People are generally living longer than compared to a few decades ago and this has meant that there are more people in the general working population that are above the age of 50 (UK Census Bureau, 2012) With these higher numbers and wide age gap between people in the same workplaces there has arisen the problem of ageism or age discrimination. Age discrimination is defined as the unfair treatment of an individual as a result of their age. It usually happens in workplaces as this is the area in many societies where people of different age groups and with wide age gaps are likely to interact. (Age UK, 2011) Age discrimination was defined under the UK Age discrimination Regulations act enacted by th e UK parliament in 2006 and later on elaborated in the Equality Act of 2010. These laws were put in place to protect employees from being unfairly treated or discriminated on any grounds including age. (The Equality Act 2010 (Commencement No. 9) Order 2012, 2012) It forbids employers, potential employers credit unions and any other individual or business to refuse services or discriminate against a person on the basis of their age being or becoming a transsexual person being married or in a civil partnership being pregnant or having a child disability race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin religion, belief or lack of religion/belief sex sexual orientation            Age discrimination can be directed against individuals of any age, although it is mostly directed at older people. It can be operated at various levels from interpersonal to the workplace, and is equated to racism or sexism and is equally as damaging. (Age UK, 2011) This is the reason why these legislations were passed as well as similar legislations in other countries across Europe and the world in general.            In the UK law however, there is a specific provision for an employer to deny a person employment or terminate their contract. In these cases, the employer has to prove that the action is objectively justifiable: meaning that there are valid and concrete reasons behind the use of age as a factor for employment, promotions or other work related benefits. These reasons must be fair and be able to stand up to a tribunal (UK government: Age discrimination to be outlawed, 2005).            The problem of age discrimination in the UK is worrying as the society itself is unwilling to change. A study conducted by the University of Kent with Age UK showed that although more people in the UK and Europe were becoming aware of age discrimination as a result of legislation and government and NGO campaigns, there was still a problem in their individual attitudes towards the elderly, especially n the workplace. The study, named the European Social Survey, showed that 49.7% of people in the UK would rather work under a qualified 30-year-old boss as opposed to a similarly qualified 70-year-old boss. This together with responses that show that the average age a person is considered â€Å"old† is 59, while other countries such as Greece considered old age to begin at 68 years. (University of Kent age survey 2012) Evidence            According to the 2011 national census, the UK and Wales population had grown to 56.1 million: the highest it has ever been. In all the regions except London, 16.6 to 20 percent of the population was made up of people aged 65 and above (Macnicol, 2005). These people are increasingly finding themselves in situations where their age is proving to be a hindrance to their social and professional lives. Age discrimination in the workplace is the most predominant form of ageism with the numbers of claims being brought to tribunals increasing steadily since their inception. In 2008/9 there were3800 claims brought forward, this number rose to 5200 in 2009/10 and to 6800 in 2010/11 (Ministry Of Justice, 2011) The upward trend is the opposite of what is being seen for other types of discrimination cases, with the number of unfair dismissal, breach of contract and equal pay all seeing drops in their thousands.            A report By Age Watch group paints an even grimmer picture of the situation. This report shows that old people in the UK are increasingly being viewed as liabilities and their social standing and image in society, both formal and casual is diminishing. Sampling some of the responses from this report such as the question as to whether ‘Employers don’t like having older people on their workforce as it spoils their image’ shows that in every age group sampled, more than 40% agreed with this statement with only the 16-24 age bracket going below this mark slightly at 39%. The table below shows the graphical representation of the results for this question. The percentage number of people who reported being treated unfairly in the year prior to collection of data shows that ageism is the highest occurring reported case of unfair treatment.            29% of respondents said that they had reported an instance of someone discriminating against them or someone related on basis of age. This has surpassed even gender based discrimination which is at 24%. (Age Concern England, 2008). Age of Discrimination Debate            Proponents claim that the elderly are just as capable as the young. So age is not an indicator of inferior ability therefore treating an individual on the basis of their age in unfair and discriminatory. Furthermore, this is inconsistent with principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination which are centered on the notion of an individual rights. Therefore, it is important for employers to make their employment decisions based on the suitability to perform their job –not age. Age by itself should not the single determinant (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998). However, critics argue that the theory of hiring should be based on one’s ability. In reality certain abilities are hard to determine consequently employer uses age as the proxy. In sports age an indicator of one ability to work with his team mates or extracurricular leadership as a management potential (Anonymous, 2008). Even through, not full proof age gives a clear bearing on other key qualities such as concentration, energy and cognitive abilities. This could be particularly useful for a sales persons who need to have energy and vitality, in addition it’s important for medical practitioner to have high level of fitness and concentration in performing their duties (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998).            Discriminatory practices in recruitment and promotion causes harm to the economy. Age discrimination reduces the overall productivity due to the fact it prevents job advancement opportunities through ineffectively matching workers talent and the job descriptions. According to study by the Cabinet Office in the UK revealed that lower employment among older people reduce the overall GDP by  £16 billion per annum (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998). Therefore, a higher contribution rates among the elderly leads to better job matching, increased employment rates and enhanced competition among worker this will turn stimulate the labor market leading to increased productivity. The common belief that the economy has few and limited number of jobs, and if older worker remain the labor market they will negate job opportunities to the younger people or reduce the wages is a fallacy. Studies show that wages are unlikely to drop with projected shortages, such as in health sector and teaching. But opponents of age claim that laws against age discrimination may simply result to the old people working for higher wages, rather than older people working. Researcher on age discrimination laws in the US showed that the increase in employment rates of older employees is due to staying in their jobs for longer rather than older people working. In addition, an increase in the number of older worker in the short-term will result in market pressures to reduce wages, therefore other existing elderly workers may suffer with wage drop (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998).            Supporters argue that having few older worker also increases the amount the government needs to spend on benefits, pensions and decreases the tax base (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998). This strain on the public resources is especially critical in developed countries with an increasing number of their population ageing. This increases the projected dependency ratio and pay-as-you-go nature of pension schemes. However, it could be argued that the so called ‘benefits’ for government budget is in fact just a transfer. Governments spend less on health and other benefits and employer is the one who actually pays for them. Therefore, the cost is not strain to the government but the employer. Simply it a transfer from the government to the employers (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998).            With limited age discrimination and a mandatory retirement age, employer suffer from a lower turnover and lower recruitment costs and effort. This so because employees work for longer periods than they would otherwise have done before. It is believed that according to DTI estimates that the benefit to businesses could amount to  £39m in the first year. On the other hand, discrimination discourages potential elderly talent from applying to the position (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998). Therefore from onset employer has small pool of workers to choose from. The claim that anti-discrimination laws are good for the employer is fallacy and makes no economical or common sense. If hiring and promoting elder worker serve the best interest for the firm therefore why do we need such laws? In actual fact without a mandatory retirement age, employers are obliged to continue to paying pensions more than they expected increasing the overall operating cost by inc urring higher insurance premiums and expensive healthcare benefits. In addition, firms have limited number of senior positions. In case where such position are all taken by elderly workers firm would be in difficult position to hire or retain younger workers leading to high turnover among younger staff. Firms with no retirement age have no idea when people should leave creating uncertainty in human resource and bottlenecks (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998).            Ageism is the most common of discrimination in the workplace today. However, through proper legislation it can help correct this prejudice with other policies that promote equal rights and educate the employers and employees on their rights and obligations and rights. Therefore, by protecting such a group that is disadvantage, we help raise equality in the society (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998). However, anti-discrimination laws have been existent in Australia, Canada and the US but there are no evidence that there has been a significant shift in attitude of the employer toward the elderly workers. In fact, there is strong evidence showing that employers are less likely to employ older worker and younger co-workers become resentful if mandatory retirement ages are not imposed (Age-discrimination debate has two sides, 1998). Conclusion            Age discrimination in the work place may be casual or systematic and the issues came to the fore front in the late 1960s. it could be perpetuate against seniors or perpetuated based on sexism or racism. However, it is best defined or seen through three aspects. Prejudicial attitudes towards the older people, old age or the aging process itself through various discriminating practices which towards older people as well as some institutional aspects as well as policies that encourage some form of stereo types against the older people.            Age discrimination in the work place may manifest in different but subtle forms in the work environment and can be established, promoted or even allowed and encouraged to persist by the workplace management and authority. Henceforth, it is possible to heave in the work place inequality that has been created due to age discrimination            However, providing a free discrimination workplace raises a lot of challenges for the employer and employee. Therefore, it may require: Change of attitude, culture and to an extreme confront unacceptable practices that discriminate the elderly. Such practices may range from harassment and possible bullying of the older workers which undermine and excludes them firm. Organizational rethinking to accommodate the need of this special group such as the older people Develop polices to protect workers from all forms of discrimination at the work place Ensure that discrimination polices are enforced and staff are trained on those polices and complaints are dealt with effectively.            The United Kingdom has recently enacted the UK Employment Equality (Age) Regulations in 2006 developed a number of resources and practical information for the employer to ensure that elderly are not discriminated and harassed therefore, promote good business practices. It also protects and safe guards the elderly worker against workplace discrimination on grounds of age. References Age Concern England. (2008). How Ageist is Britain. London: Age Concern. Age-discrimination debate has two sides. (1998). Orange County Business Journal, 21(16), 35. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/211120427?accountid=11243Anonymous  Ã‚   (2008).   Letters. The Age (Melbourne, Vic.).  Ã‚  p. 14 Macnicol, J. (2005). The age discrimination debate in britain: From the 1930s to the present. Social Policy and Society, 4(3), 295-302. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/221167966?accountid=11243Ministry Of Justice. (2011). Annual Tribunals Statistics, 2010-11. London: Ministry of Justice. Moore, S. (2009). No matter what I did I would still end up in the same position’: age as a factor defining older women’s experience of labour market participation. Work, Employment & Society, 655-671. Morgan, G. (2012). Achieving age equality in Welsh health and social care services. Generations Review, published online. Porcellato, L. (2010). Giving older workers a voice: constraints on the employment of older people in the North West of England. Work, Employment & Society, 85- 103.Robertson, G. (2012). Positive ageing: from the political to the personal. Working with Older People , 149-153. UK government: Age discrimination to be outlawed. (2005, Jul 14). M2 Presswire. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/445751217?accountid=11243 Source document

Fast Food Industry Essay

1. Executive Summary This report provides an analysis of the international marketing environment of fast- food industry in US and evaluates the international marketing activities of McDonald’s, which is considered a key player. Firstly, the PEST framework is used to analyse external environmental factors influencing the industry. The Porter’s Five Forces framework is utilised to analyse the competitive rivalry within the industry, and its attractiveness for potential new entrants. Key players and their positioning was identified using a strategic-groups model, mapping brand value against global presence. Based on the industry analysis, McDonald’s was identified as the market leader and an examination of their market entry modes was carried out. Their international marketing mix was evaluated to identify success factors, drawing focus upon international branding, international distribution, international communications and standardisation vs. adaptation of the service offering. An internal analysis identified the firm’s strengths and weaknesses whilst an external analysis considered the opportunities and threats posed to McDonald’s as market leader. Finally, short and long term strategic and tactical recommendations were outlined in order to enhance McDonald’s competitive position within the global fast-food industry. These recommendations are both realistic and well supported, based upon the evaluation of their current strategy and activities. 2. Introduction The global fast-food industry is dynamic with a variety of competitors. This report identifies the current factors influencing the industry before specifically focusing on McDonald’s Corporation, who is considered as the current global leader. Based on this analysis, the report identifies several areas for improvement and makes strategic recommendations for McDonald’s to enhance its position. 3. International Marketing Analysis†¨3.1. PEST Analysis and Environmental Impact Matrix (Macro Environment) The following framework provides an analysis of the external international marketing environment, relating to the fast-food industry: *These ratings are based on the authors’ subjective judgement Political Global fast-food firms must comply with country-specific political requirements, such as national minimum wage regulations, affecting costs. Hygiene and quality regulations vary significantly between nations and may influence the quality of products provided by fast-food outlets (FDA, 2012). Different countries set varying regulations regarding labelling and packaging. For instance the UK government pressured firms to promote healthy eating, and several fast-food companies have voluntarily included calorie information on their products (BBC, 2011). Economic Despite the 2008 recession and the resulting decrease in consumer confidence across the globe, average consumer fast-food spending has increased (The Economist, 2010) due to convenience and low-cost. Consumers are still looking for the convenience of eating out, but are drawn to the low prices of fast-food over table-service restaurants (Financial Times, 2009). Many fast-food chains have capitalised upon the recession by introducing new deals in addition to their already low-priced menus. Between 2005 and 2010, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and Russia accounted for 89% of global growth in the fast-food industry (Passport, 2012). Social Increasing consumer awareness about healthy lifestyles has pressured many fast-food players to offer healthier selections within their menus (BBC, 2011). This includes offering low- calorie options and salads alongside burgers, and prominently displaying nutritional content. The fast-food industry has also been heavily criticised for targeting young children by including toys within children’s meals (New York Times, 2003). Recently in the UK, the broadcasting of ‘junk food’ adverts during commercial breaks in children’s programmes has been banned (BBC, 2007), following increasing childhood obesity. Technological As consumer familiarity with new technology increases, fast-food firms are using channels such as social media websites to engage with their customers. For example, McDonald’s is the 9th most ‘liked’ brand on Facebook (CNBC,  2012) (Appendix 1). Additionally, digital displays allow outlets to change their menus efficiently, to suit the time of day (NRA, 2012) and self-service ordering points have increased service speed and reduced labour costs. Environmental Environmental lobbyists and governments are pressuring the fast-food firms to become more ‘green’ (Greenpeace, 2012). Rainforests are being destroyed to increase the area of land for beef production to meet the demand for beef-burgers (Kline, 2007). Recycling is a prominent global issue and in response, McDonald’s adopted recyclable packaging. Increased environmental awareness among consumers provides firms with a significant opportunity to position themselves as ‘green’ to garner customer loyalty (National Pollution Prevention Centre for Higher Education, 1995). Legal Global operators must comply with country-specific regulations and legislation. This includes opening hours, taxation and employment regulations such as the National Minimum Wage Regulations (1999) in the UK. Firms are often required to meet national food standards such as the requirements set out by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Furthermore, authorities are becoming increasingly worried about childhood obesity associated with the industry (WHO, 2012) and have tightened regulations regarding targeting children. 3.2. Porter’s Five Forces – Fast-food Industry This framework identifies the competitive forces affecting the fast-food industry: THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS Industry dominated by global chains with very high brand values High brand awareness and loyalty Retaliation from strong incumbent players Low initial capital outlay Low fixed costs Economies of scale POWER OF SUPPLIERS Many undifferentiated suppliers Fast-food chains have high purchasing power due to high volume COMPETITIVE RIVALRY IN THE FAST-FOOD INDUSTRY Fragmented market Low exit costs Low margin, high turnover – drives competition High brand power POWER OF BUYERS High product differentiation Target many segments High price sensitivity THREAT OF SUBSTITUTIONS Alternative foodservice options Ready meals and home cooking ingredients Main players quite differentiated No switching costs Convenience is the value adding component which is difficult to substitute Threat of New Entrants – Moderate The industry is dominated by a number of international Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chains, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and Domino’s (Datamonitor, 2010). These global brands are extremely valuable, boasting strong customer loyalty and recognition; indicating consistent quality and service. Key players including McDonald’s, adapt their marketing orientation to suit local cultures and social norms (Datamonitor 2010), strengthening the brand and avoiding consumer alienation. New players struggle to compete with incumbent firms, as their brands are unknown and advertising campaigns are expensive. Established chains have the resources to retaliate aggressively through pricing promotions, deterring new players from entering the marketplace. New entrants lack economies of scale, which existing chains have developed over time, and utilise to remain competitive in this low-margin, high-turnover industry. However, social media websites have evened the playing field in terms of marketing communications; they allow firms to efficiently communicate their message inexpensively. Initial capital outlay and fixed costs are low, encouraging new entrants (Datamonitor, 2012). Threat of Substitutions – Moderate Substitutes are readily available: food can be purchased almost anywhere, through foodservice or retail. However, convenience is the value-adding component of the service which reduces the threat of substitutes. Consumers can cook at home cheaply, but this lacks the convenience element which people require nowadays. Ready-meals are therefore a more substantial threat, competing with fast-food on price as well as convenience  (Datamonitor, 2012). If you are ‘on-the-go’ however, without access to a microwave, QSRs are almost uncontested if you want a hot meal in a short timeframe. With many differentiated players (Datamonitor, 2012) and varying service offerings, customers can select the best value option. Competitive Rivalry – Strong Although McDonald’s and Burger King almost hold a duopoly in the ‘burger segment’, the market as a whole is fragmented with many global chains and independent operators (Datamonitor, 2012). Competition is primarily cost-based with firms continuously investing in their production and service processes to undercut competitors. Exit costs are low and capacity is easily increased through franchising. Branding is the most prevalent weapon for competing; McDonald’s spent over $650 million on global advertising in 2009 (Datamonitor, 2012). Power of Buyers – Moderate Figure 1 shows sales and growth of the top ten fast-food companies (Euromonitor International, 2012). The market’s competitiveness increases buyer power and customers are price sensitive (Muhlbacker et al., 1999) with no switching cost between providers. However, key players attempt to reduce buyer power, offering a product range which caters for the entire demographic, rather than one specific segment. For example, McDonald’s target children with ‘Happy Meals’ and professionals with breakfast options and take-away coffee (McDonald’s, 2012). Firms are increasingly promoting differentiated products: McDonald’s â€Å"Big Mac†, Burger King’s â€Å"Whopper† and offers such as Domino’s â€Å"Two for Tuesday† campaign. High brand value and customer loyalty has reduced buyers’ bargaining power. The 2011 ranking of the top 100 brands indicates McDonald’s’ success (Interbrand, 2011). 10 Power of Suppliers – Moderate Figure 1: Top Ten Fast-food Companies by Growth. With a competitive global supply chain, supplier power is limited. â€Å"17,500 British and Irish farms that provide us with top-quality ingredients.† (McDonald’s – UK, 2012) These farms supply Tier 1 suppliers who transform raw materials into food items, ready for McDonald’s to cook and serve. Due to the number of suppliers in the industry, it is difficult for them to  leverage significant power over fast-food firms. The supply of soft-drink is dominated by Coca-Cola (McDonald’s and Burger King) and Pepsi (KFC) due to their global distribution channels. Additionally, Coca-Cola and Pepsi provide fast-food chains with equipment such as refrigerators and drink dispensers. This markets their brand and aligns it with fast-food brands, reducing costs for customers, which would otherwise be passed onto them (SMO, 2011). 3.3. Identification of Key Players and their Competitive Position 3.3.1. Strategic Groups The following framework identifies the key players in the international fast-food industry and identifies which firms are in the most direct competition with each other: Brand value and the chain’s global presence (Appendix 2) are significant indicators of overall performance. The above strategy-group chart maps the firms’ performance. Brand value (US$) is plotted against the chain’s global presence, in terms of the number of outlets worldwide. The strategy-grouping shows that McDonald’s has the highest global market value and revenue in the industry, despite Subway having more international outlets. 4. Key Player – Evaluation of International Activities 4.1. Identification of Key Player Based upon their global presence, market value and revenue, McDonald’s is identified as the key player in the industry. 4.2. McDonald’s International Market Entry Modes In 1940, McDonald’s operated only one QSR but today has restaurants at 33,000 locations in 119 countries. McDonald’s utilises a variety of international market entry modes for rapid expansion: sole ventures, franchising, master franchising and joint ventures. 15% of McDonald’s branded restaurants are operated as sole ventures. This involves a significant capital commitment but allows the highest degree of control.†¨Most restaurants are operated as franchises, allowing rapid expansion without high capital requirements. Franchising has also allowed McDonald’s to benefit from local knowledge, demonstrated by the menu differences by country. However, McDonald’s maintains control over crucial aspects such as the supply chain, marketing mix and staff training. Master Franchising introduces a third party as a ‘go-between’ to overcome geographical and cultural barriers. The combination  of the master franchisee’s local knowledge and McDonald’s brand and model has been a successful formula, allowing expansion whilst maintaining significant control. McDonald’s has also expanded internationally through joint ventures. Again, this allows for rapid expansion and utilises the knowledge of firms in closely-linked markets. Both firms invest equity in the project, there is a lower financial risk for both parties; however, many joint ventures end in hostility and conflict due to firms taking advantage of one another (Brown and Harwood, 2010).

Black Elk Speaks essays

Black Elk Speaks essays Black Elk was born into a tribe of the Plains Indians, the Ogallala Lakota. He had five sisters and one brother. He had many children, but his daughter, Lucy Looks Twice, is the one discussed in this essay. The Lakota were hunters, and they relied mainly on the buffalo. Buffalo was their main source for not only food but, also shelter and clothing. The Lakota lived throughout the midwestern plains of North America, until they were put on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Black Elk took part in many historical events, like the Battle of Little Big Horn. As an adult Black Elk became a medicine man and a prominent member of his tribe. His religion was very important to him. Lucy Looks Twice recalls that her father had suffered a lot, and had experienced inner confusion. Black Elk knew that something was wrong in his life because he suffered socially, physically, and psychologically. Black Elk soon had to visit the hospital due to ulcers. While there he received the holy sacrament, and never suffered from his ulcers again. This instance, and with the encouragement of his friend, Kills Brave, Black Elk converted to Catholicism. On December 6th, 1904 he was converted by a priest to the Catholic faith. When he was baptized on the Feast of Saint Nicholas, Black Elk was given the Christian name, Nicholas Black Elk. As a member of the Society of St. Joseph, he helped sponsor the annual Catholic Sioux Congress and was active in converting others to Catholicism, and he gave up his medicine forever. Though he was a confirmed Catholic his Lakota spirituality remained strong throughout his life. (americanwriters). Nicholas Elk Black was part of the underground traditional religious movement, that began shortly after the U.S. government banned native religious practices. These underground activities became a vital part of his life, as ...

Profits from pornography and prostitution Assignment

Profits from pornography and prostitution - Assignment Example A survey conducted in U.S.A reveals that adult bookshops and stores offer more number of books that exhibit pornographic contents that are legally banned in the country. Though legal implications are more, pornography has not been reduced and most of these forms violate the norms and regulations specified by the government. (Pace, 1983). Another organized crime is prostitution that also reaps profit to the one who owns the business. In most of the countries children below the age of 16 are also forcibly included into this act of prostitution. (Lunde, 2006). Though it is not legally permitted in most of the countries, illegal activists continue to do this organized crime. Vice Crimes are the ones that are banned either by the legal system or by the society due to the illicit problems that they bring into the society. The common vice crimes are prostitution and pornography. (Albanese, 2011). They are considered as illegal acts that spoil the morality of the people and communities in particular. Victimless crimes do not involve any third party or a person except from the one who is directly involved in it. Usage of drugs and alcoholics that are prohibited by the government is also considered to be victimless crimes. (Monkkonen, 1992). They also fall under the category of victimless crimes that are committed by organized crime. Even procuring illegal drugs and supplying them to the people are considered to be organized

Linguistics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Linguistics - Term Paper Example Coprolalia is not only in verbal situations but some of its victims also show signs of obscenities like usually sticking the middle finger to the police and public, using the hands and body parts around the genitals to give gestures of sexual obscenities the deaf could also use sign language. The condition of Coprolalia is part of a condition called the Tourette syndrome (Timothy 20). I believe that since this is more of a social than a medical problem, it is the role of the society as a whole to educate itself about coprolalia. The society includes those suffering from the condition and those not suffering from it because both sides are victims. On the side of the affected, it is the role of those they interact with on a daily basis to educate them about the condition. For the young children, it is the role of their parents and teachers to teach them on how to control themselves when exposed to certain situations. The patient should be made to acknowledge that these words are involuntary and do not depict their actual opinions on the person he might have told. Teachers should teach the students not to be involved in situations that they are likely to get annoyed as their reactions are highly explosive. Therefore, as a child grows up, they will learn that they have to know to what extent he can carry on with an argument before they lose their cool and starts talk ing obscenities involuntarily. The parents should comfort their children by assuring them that even those suffering from this condition can lead healthy normal lives. Illustrations from family members and well known professionals can help assure the child of a bright future. It is important especially for the girls to be told that the condition is not hereditary and, therefore, their children will not necessarily have a similar condition (Mitzi 99). Since coprolalia is a condition of Tourette syndrome, public awareness of the condition can be done by giving contributions to the Tourette Syndrome