Saturday, December 28, 2019

Personal Statement For A Social Worker - 1904 Words

At an early age, everybody does not know what they would like to be in life. Some of us need time to discover our gift, passion or destiny. After two careers and struggling the idea of what to do my remaining time on earth, the decision was made to start a third career, this time it would geared toward building a better place to rear my children. As a social worker, working with the veteran population, I would be able to reach back as did many of my mentors to become a resource. Utilizing my resources is a tool I used as a road map to success. The title of Social Worker is a legal classification reserved for those who have received specialized training through an authorized university and have completed the requirements for a Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral degree and are registered with a professional regulatory body. The foundation of Social work is rooted in its core values of service: social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Adult and Healthy aging with a specialization in military veterans is the area of social work that has the most interest; I stand in the same boots and sleep in the same conditions. To crawl through the battlefield of life, to get to the point where I could ask for help, I struggled with a bout of depression for years thinking I coul d solve my own problem before reaching out for help. Which led to the decision to enter the field of social change to get my brother and sister theirShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement On Social Worker2061 Words   |  9 Pages The focus of this paper will address my personal beliefs, how I manage to make this value important factors in my life, and how these values relate to who I am as a person and the social worker I am going to become. I will also discuss how my personal values may condratict with the core values in social work practice, and the steps I will used to utilize resolution if issues occur. In this world, all humans being have their own beliefs, values and attitudes that we all have urbanized during someRead MorePersonal Statement Of A Social Worker1809 Words   |  8 Pages Personal Statement Student’s Name Institution Affiliation A) General Introduction As a woman diagnosed with social anxiety,I was entrusted to be under the care of a social worker so as to help me manage my disorder. Personally, I have gone through so many experiences which collectively made me develop a deeper insight into the roles of social workers as compared to other health caregivers. Besides that, I have seen a lot of transformative supports to people who have various social problemsRead MorePersonal Statement : Becoming A Social Worker1850 Words   |  8 PagesI may not be interested in becoming a social worker, but I am interested in further understanding some of the ethical values known in social work as well as learning how to properly help my future students with their problems. That being said, my dream job is to be a high school teacher just like my mom and step dad. After hearing for several years how difficult it can be to relate to some of the troubled students in secondary school, I figured the best thing I could do to become a good teacher woul dRead MoreSocial Workers Must Advocate For Multiple Reasons974 Words   |  4 PagesIn Social Work Speaks, I decided to look at the policy dealing with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. I chose this policy, as I, myself do believe that alcohol, tobacco and other drugs are a major problem in today’s society. This paper will go into detail of this policy and whether I disagree or agree with it. Do my personal values play a role in my decision and if I would make any revisions to the current policy. Do I Agree Or Disagree With The Policy Statement In Social Work Speaks the policyRead MorePersonal Reflection On The Social Work Profession847 Words   |  4 PagesMy paper is a personal reflection on my understanding of the social work profession, as I get ready for my field placement. I will reflect on my evolving sense of professional identity, and will discuss my growth in terms of self-awareness. I will further deliberate about my knowledge of the Social Work profession. My current understanding of the profession, and activities, tasks and roles that I may undertake in a placement situation The Social Work profession in Ontario is a complete, accreditedRead MoreMy Views On Social Justice1060 Words   |  5 PagesMissions Statement (please click for UNE MSW Mission Statement: (http://www.une.edu/wchp/socialwork/programs/mission-and-values) discuss your views on: My views on social justice are strong, because I believe everyone should be treated equally and without prejudice. As a young African American female in the US Army I faced many social injustices, which led me to social work. Social workers challenge social injustice such as oppression, discrimination, and exploitation. Social workers engage inRead MoreSocial Work s Fundamental Mission1048 Words   |  5 Pages Social workers can be found in prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, or schools. A social worker may hold a position at a local government agency or in a skilled nursing unit. Social workers advocate for such communities as the LGBT or minorities. They seek and deliver homes, food, and clothing. They provide counseling and guidance to so many. A social worker can be found in many diverse locations and perform even more various types of duties but they all have the same goalRead MoreThe Section Of The National Association Of Social Work807 Words   |à ‚  4 PagesAssociation of Social Work Ethics that will be discussed will be number four which includes Social Workers’ ethical responsibilities as professionals. This ethics code concentrates on a several different factors which include: 4.01 Competence, 4.02 discrimination, 4.03 private conduct, 4.04 dishonesty, 4.05 personal impairment, 4.06 misinterpretations, 4.07 solicitations, and 4.08 acknowledging credit. Ethical responsibilities as a professional are extremely important to be a successful social workerRead MoreThe National Association Of Social Workers758 Words   |  4 Pagesthe quality of our lives depends on them. Indeed, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and I both recognize the importance of enhancing the well-being of those who are vulnerable and how possession of ethics contributes to such development. While completing the Values Inventory for Policy Practice forms, there were eighteen similarities between the NASW and my personal beliefs regarding the set of statements. Some of them include, supporting gay and lesbian couples in affording the sameRead MoreEmployee Privacy Rights Human Resource managers and their staff members have to be sure to be up to600 Words   |  3 Pagesregarding privacy legislation including HIPAA, which is the Heal Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. HIPAA is the associated privacy rule issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services which protects the use and disclosure of personal medical information. Because I work in the healthcare industry I know that HIPAA was created to also protect the privacy of patient records when dealing with health plans, third-party billers, patient accounting, and possible vendors that may handle

Friday, December 20, 2019

Equity Valuation Analysis Report - Tencent Holdings Limited

Equity Valuation Analysis Report ACCT6111E Business Valuation Analysis Instructor: Professor Albert Tsang Team members Name Student ID Winnie Yam 1155025593 Sherry Zhang 1155023131 Fiona Tong 1093644801 Tommy Wu 1155021510 Robert Pun 1155026071 21 November 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Executive summary [3] 2.0 Industry overview [4] 3.0 Company overview [6] 4.0 Financial statement analysis [12] 5.0 Profitability analysis [23] 6.0 Company valuation [27] 7.0 Concerns beyond financials [32] 8.0 Recommendations [35] Bibliography [36] List of Exhibits [37] List of Appendix [48]†¦show more content†¦Participants may also take the advantage of weak enforcement of intellectual property protection, e-commerce and anti-trust laws and regulations to expand their businesses apart from their successful business strategies, which resulted in the emergency of giants like Baidu (online search engine), Tencent (instant messenger) and Alibaba (e-commerce platform). As a result, the threat of new entrant is moderate at the moment because of the user lock-in effect and dominant market position enjoyed by existing giants, which constitutes high entry barrier for potential entrants. The threat of substitutes in the industry is rather low at the moment due to the user lock-in effect and dominant market position enjoyed by existing giants, resulting in a higher switching cost and hence a relatively lower bargaining power of buyers. The bargaining power of suppliers, on the other hand, could be considered moderate for the time being due to their good reliance on vendors to provide develop and maintain high-quality online business interfaces. From the above discussion, the competition within the industry is rather moderate at the moment and the industry/ market is still growing thatShow MoreRelatedBaidu Valuation at IPO9089 Words   |  37 Pagesï » ¿Baidu CASE: A-197 DATE: 02/05/09 BAIDU.COM, INC.: VALUATION AT IPO Since its official launch in January 2000, Baidu.com, Inc. (Baidu) quickly grew to become the leading Internet search engine in China. After three rounds of private funding, Baidu registered to go public on the NASDAQ Stock Market (Ticker Symbol: BIDU) on August 5, 2005. (See Exhibits 1 and 2 for a listing of Baidu’s private funding sources and pre-IPO share allocations.) The initial public offering (IPO) turned out to be oneRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesNetworking Strategy 321 PART III Acquiring Information Systems 327 Chapter 8 Basic Systems Concepts and Tools The Systems View What Is a System? 329 329 330 Seven Key System Elements Organizations as Systems 330 334 Systems Analysis and Design 335 Business Processes 336 Identifying Business Processes 336 Business Process Redesign 336 Processes and Techniques to Develop Information Systems 339 The Information Systems Development Life Cycle 339 Structured

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Greece And Rome Essay Example For Students

Greece And Rome Essay Early mans life was based on survival; he spent much of his time in search of food, water, and safety for his family. Â  In the early times of Greece, and Rome however, food and water were both readily available. Â  There was permanent shelter, and little threat from animals or other people. Â  Because mans basic needs were now met the arts, music, sports, agriculture, architecture, literature and structured government developed. The developmental period of Greece was between the fourth and eighth century B.C. it was then that they built structures such as the Parthenon, and the Acropolis. Huge structures made entirely of stone, raised into the sky without the use of cranes or machinery. It is amazing to think of the manpower used to lift the structures and the time it took to carve each piece out of solid stone. Â  The government was much like the one today; there was a system of money, taxes, and laws. Â  Ancient Greece is remembered for its Olympic Games. Â  The games were held in modern day Olympia and held every four years. Â  These games brought out the best warriors. The games were simple made from simple events such as running, throwing, and jumping. Â  The Greeks had many great gods that were used to explain the many natural phenomenons of every day life such as lightning and rain. Rome, much like Greece, developed in the same time period and was located close by. Â  The two early civilizations were much alike with similar government and art. Â  The architecture however was much more advanced; the Romans buildings contained huge vaulted arches and the cities were networked with aqueducts and bridges. Â  The Romans introduced the first public hospitals and transportation. Â   Influenced by the Greeks, the Romans adopted the idea of using gods to explain the unexplained. Â  Like Greece the Roman people also took part in the Olympic games and eventually they were held in Rome. The sister civilizations of early Greece and Rome contributed many things to our world today. It would have been very interesting to live in their worlds and see the many achievements we see in ruin form today. Â  The great architecture still inspires generations of architects today and the adoption of the Olympic games has still a large impact on the world today.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

From Marketing Mix to Relationship Marketing free essay sample

This report discusses how the marketing mix management paradigm has dominated the marketing thought, research and practice since it was introduced almost 40 years ago, but today new marketing approaches are being introduced and used. The globalization of business and the evolving recognition of the importance of customer retention and market economies and of customer relationship economics, among other trends, reinforce the change in mainstream marketing. Marketing Mix The term marketing mix is probably one of the most famous marketing terms used by millions of people. Its elements are known as the Four Ps, which are price, place, product, and promotion. These four variables are the variables that marketing managers can control in order to best satisfy customers in the target market. Figure 1: Marketing Mix Model – 4Ps Marketing the way most textbooks treat it today was introduced around 1960. The concept of the marketing mix and the Four Ps of marketing – product, price, place and promotion – entered the marketing textbooks at that time. Quickly they also became treated as the unchallenged basic model of marketing, so totally overpowering previous models and approaches, such as, for example, the organic functionalist approach advocated by Wroe Alderson as well as other systems-oriented approaches and parameter theory developed by the Copenhagen School in Europe that these are hardly remembered, even with a footnote in most textbooks of today. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) The marketing mix refers to variables that a marketing manager can control to influence a brand’s sales or market share. Traditionally, these variables are summarized as the Four Ps of marketing: product, price, promotion, and place (i. e. , distribution). Product refers to aspects such as the firm’s portfolio of products, the newness of those products, their differentiation from competitors, or their superiority to rivals’ products in terms of quality. Promotion refers to advertising, detailing, or informative sales promotions such as features and displays. Price refers to the product’s list price or any incentive sales promotion such as quantity discounts, temporary price cuts, or deals. Place refers to delivery of the product measured by variables such as distribution, availability, and shelf space. The 4Ps model is just one of many marketing mix lists that have been developed over the years. And, whilst the questions we have listed above are keys, they are just a subset of the detailed probing that may be required to optimize your marketing mix. Amongst the other marketing mix models have been developed over the years is the 7Ps, sometimes called the extended marketing mix, which include the first 4 Ps, plus people, processes and physical layout decisions. Another marketing mix approach is Lauterborns 4Cs, which presents the elements of the marketing mix from the buyers, rather than the sellers, perspective. It is made up of Customer needs and wants (the equivalent of product), Cost (price), Convenience (place) and Communication (promotion). Cultural policies to promote diversity of cultural expressions today must deal with numerous factors and needs, some of which concern the right of all groups to their forms of expression, and others strictly with business feasibility and the possibility of marketing on a global scale. These different factors may be difficult to reconcile but they are complementary as none can survive and be managed without referring to or involving the other. From the perspective of production development, it is frequently stated that cultural expressions need to find their market in order to survive, but it is also the case that the sacrificing of cultural content with little market value lowers the value of cultural production overall. From the perspective of rights to and processes of identity construction, culture generates services that cannot be governed exclusively by the market, especially in view of the marginality of subaltern groups. Nevertheless, it is almost impossible to think of cultural practices and consumption today without involving the market in some way. For marketers in the cultural industry it is important to identify the factors influencing consumers’ purchasing. Cultural factors are essentially important in selection of the two elements of place and product. For example, someone brought p in an environment that values art would be more likely to buy artistic products. Even it may be important considering customers in terms of their sub-culture. One may be surrounded by people who not only value art but place a higher priority on paintings as opposed to the music. As a result, they will be more likely to buy paintings rather than musical instrument. Pricing the artistic products and act ivities should also follow a logic trend. This practice may be done through some standards set among artists of the same class or by the very artist creator of his work. In general, as it can be seen, due to the difference. (Shahhosseini Ardahaey, 2011) The Four Ps of the marketing mix became an indisputable paradigm in academic research, the validity of which was taken for granted. For most marketing researchers in large parts of the academic world it seems to remain the marketing truth even today. The Four Ps of the marketing mix had been even referred to as â€Å"the holy quadruple†¦of the marketing faith written in tablets of stone. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) The marketer plans various means of competition and blends them into a â€Å"marketing mix† so that a profit function is optimized, or rather satisfied. The â€Å"marketing mix†, concept was introduced by Neil Borden in the 1950s, and the mix of different means of competitions was soon labeled the Four Ps. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) Any marketing paradigm should be well set to fulfill the marketing concept, i. e. the notion that the firm is best off by designing and directing its activities according to the needs and desires of customers in chosen target markets. Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) American Marketing Association, in its most recent definition states that marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchange and satisfy individual and organizational objectives (emphasis added) (Gronroos, From Marketing Mix to Relationship Marketing: Towards a Paradigm Shift in Marketing, 1994) The problem with the Marketing Mix One can easily argue that the four Ps of the marketing mix are not well able to fulfill the requirements of the marketing concept. As Dixon and Blois put it, â€Å"†¦indeed it would not be unfair to suggest that far from being concerned with a customer’s interests (i. e. somebody for whom something is done) the views implicit in the Four P approach is that the customer is somebody to whom something is done! † (emphasis added) . To use a marketing metaphor, the marketing mix and its four Ps constitute a production-oriented definition of marketing, and not a market-oriented or customer oriented one. Moreover, although the interactive nature of the Ps is recognized, the model itself does not explicitly include any interactive elements. Furthermore, it does not indicate the nature and scope of such interactions. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) Van Waterschoot and Van den Bulte recognize three flaws in the Four P model: * â€Å"The properties or characteristics that are the basis for classification have not been identified. * The categories are not mutually exclusive. * There is a catch-all subcategory that is continually growing† . Many marketing-related phenomena are not included. Moreover, as Johan Arndt has concluded, marketing research remains narrow in scope and even myopic, and methodological issues become more important than substance matters. Gronroos, From Marketing Mix to Relationship Marketing: Towards a Paradigm Shift in Marketing, 1994) The Nature of the Marketing Mix The usefulness of the Four Ps as a general marketing theory for practical purposes is, to say the least, highly questionable. Originally, although they were largely based on empirical induction and earlier lists of marketing functions of the functional school of marketing, they were probably developed under the influence of microeconomic theory and specially the theory of monopolistic competition of the 1930s, in order to add more realism to that theory. However, very soon the connection to microeconomic theory was cut off and subsequently totally forgotten. Theoretically, the marketing mix became just a list of Ps without roots. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) Managing the marketing mix makes marketing seem too easy to handle and organize. Marketing is separated from other activities of the firm and delegated to specialists who take care of the analysis, planning and implementation of various marketing tasks, such as market analysis, marketing planning, advertising, sales promotion, sales, pricing, distribution and product packaging. Marketing departments are created to take responsibility for the marketing function of the firm, The marketing department approach to organizing the marketing function has isolated marketing from design, production, deliveries, technical service, complaints handling, invoicing and other activities of the firm. As a consequence, the rest of the organization has been alienated from marketing. Therefore, it has made it difficult, often even impossible, to turn marketing into the â€Å"integrative function† that would provide other departments with the market-related input needed in order to make the organization truly market oriented and reach a stage of â€Å"co-ordinated marketing† the marketing specialists organized in a marketing department may get alienated from the customers. Managing the marketing mix means relying on mass marketing. Customers become numbers for the marketing specialists, whose actions, therefore, typically are based on surface information obtained from market research reports and market share statistics. Frequently such marketers act without ever having encountered a real customer. The marketing department concept is obsolete and has to be replaced by some other way of organizing the marketing function, so that the organization will have a chance to become market-oriented. A traditional marketing department will always, in the final analysis, stand in the way of spreading market orientation. The use of the marketing mix management paradigm and the Four Ps has made it very difficult for the marketing function to earn credibility. Some firms have solved this problem not only by downscaling or altogether terminating their marketing departments but also by banning the use of the term marketing for the marketing function. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) What is the History of the Marketing Mix? A paradigm like this has to be well founded by theoretical deduction and empirical research; otherwise much of marketing research is based on a loose foundation and the results of it questionable. Let us look at the history of the marketing mix paradigm and the four Ps. The marketing mix developed from a notion of the marketer as a mixer of ingredients, which was an expression originally used by James Culliton (1948) in a study of marketing costs in 1947 and 1948. The marketer plans various means of competitions and blends them into a marketing mix, so that a profit function is optimized, or rather satisfied. The marketing mix is actually a list of categories of marketing variables, and to begin with, this way of defining or describing a phenomenon can never be considered a very valid one. A list never includes all relevant elements, it does not fit every situation, and it becomes obsolete. And indeed, marketing academics every now and then offer additional Ps to the list, once they have found the standard tablet of faith too limited. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) Kotler has, in the context of megamarketing, added public relations and politics, thus expanding the list to six Ps. In service marketing. Booms and Bitner (1982) have suggested three additional Ps, people, physical evidence and process. Judd (1987) among others, has argued for just one new P, people. Advocators of the marketing mix paradigm sometimes have suggested that service should be added to the list of Ps (e. g. Lambert and Harrington 1989 and Collier 1991). J It is, by the way, interesting to notice that after the four Ps were definitely canonized sometime in the early 1970s new items to the list are almost exclusively put in the form of Ps It is also noteworthy that Bordens original marketing mix included 12 elements, and that this list was not intended to be a definition at all. Borden considered it guidelines only, which the marketer probably would have to reconsider in any given situation. In line with the mixer of ingredients metaphor he also implied that the marketer would blend the various ingredients or variables of the mix into an integrated marketing program. This is a fact that advocators of the four Ps (or five, six, seven or more Ps) and of todays marketing mix approach seem to have totally forgotten. In fact, the four Ps represent a significant oversimplification of Bordens original concept. McCarthy either misunderstood the meaning of Bordens marketing mix when he reformulated the original list in the shape of the rigid mnemonic of the four Ps where no blending of the Ps is explicitly included; or his followers misinterpreted McCarthys intentions. In many marketing textbooks organized around the marketing mix, such as Philip Kotlers well-known Marketing Management (e. g. 991), the blending aspect and the need for integration of the four Ps are discussed, even in depth, but such discussions are always limited due to the fact that the model does not explicitly include an integrative dimension. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) Contemporary Theories of Marketing In most marketing textbooks the marketing mix management paradigm and its Four Ps are still considered the theory of marketing. Indeed, this is the case in much of the academic research into marketi ng; however, since the 1960s alternative theories of marketing have been developed. As Moller observes in a recent overview of research traditions in marketing, â€Å"from the functional view of marketing ‘mix’ management our focus has extended to the strategic role of marketing, aspects of service marketing, political dimensions of channel management, interactions in industrial networks; to mention just a few evolving trends. The interaction/network approach to industrial marketing was originated in Sweden at Uppsala University during the 1960s and has since spread to a large number of countries. Between the parties in a network various interactions take place, where exchanges and adaptations to each other occur. A flow of goods and information as well as financial and social exchanges takes place in the network. In such a network the role and forms of marketing are not very clear. All exchanges, all sorts of interactions have an impact on the position of the parties in the network. The interactions are not necessarily initiated by the seller – the marketer according to the marketing mix management paradigm – and they may continue over a long period of time, for example, for several years. The seller, who at the same time may be the buyer in a reciprocal setting, may of course employ marketing specialists, such as sales representatives, market communication people and market analysts but in addition to them a large number of persons in functions which according to the marketing mix management paradigm are non-marketing, such as research and development, design, deliveries, customer training, invoicing and credit management, has a decisive impact on the marketing success of the â€Å"seller† in the network. In the early 1970s the marketing of services started to emerge as a separate area of marketing with concepts and models of its own geared to typical characteristics of services. In Scandinavia and Finland the Nordic School of Services more than research into this field elsewhere looked at the marketing of services as something that cannot be separated from overall management. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) The New Approaches and the Marketing Mix The interaction and network approach of industrial marketing and modern service marketing approaches, especially the one by the Nordic School, clearly views marketing as an interactive process in a social context where relationship building and management is a vital cornerstone. They are in some respects clearly related to the systems-based approaches to marketing of the 1950s (compare, for example, Alderson 1957). The marketing mix paradigm and its four Ps, on the other hand, is a much more clinical approach, which makes the seller the active part and the buyer and consumer passive. No personalized relationship with the producer and marketer of a product is supposed to exist, other than with professional sales representatives in some case. The development of innovative theories, models and concepts of industrial marketing (interaction/network approach) and service marketing has clearly demonstrated that the marketing mix paradigm and its four Ps finally have reached the end of the road as the universal marketing theory. From a management point of view the four Ps, undoubtedly, may have been helpful. The use of various means of competition became more organized. However, the four Ps were never applicable to all markets and to all types of marketing situations. The development of alternative marketing theories discussed above demonstrate that even from a management perspective, the marketing mix and its four Ps became a problem. Their pedagogic elegance and deceiving sense of simplicity made practical marketing management look all too clinical and straightforward even for actors in the consumer packaged goods field where they were originally intended to be used. Consumer goods amounts to a considerable business, and there the four Ps could still fulfill a function. However, many of the customer relationships of manufacturers of consumer goods are industrial-type relationships with wholesalers and retailers, and the retailers of consumer goods more and more consider themselves service providers. In such situations the four Ps have less to offer even in the consumer goods field. Moreover, as far as the marketing of consumer goods from the manufacturer to the ultimate consumers is concerned, there is a growing debate whether one can continue to apply marketing in the traditional mass marketing way. Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) The Future: The Relationship Marketing Concept In the relationship marketing concept to be presented here the core variables are relationships, networks and interaction. The choice is not arbitrary; these variables recurrently emerge in the new marketing theories that have challenged the reigning marketing management paradigm during the past twenty-five years. These variables are not new; they we re there thousands of years ago and they present themselves ‘‘here and now. ’ They will be here in the future, no matter if they are represented by relationship marketing or something else. They are part of society. In fact, society is nothing less than a network of relationships within which we interact, and marketing is a dimension of society. Research and education in business have only recently begun to acknowledge the existence of relationships, but have not as yet understood their omnipresence and deep impact on marketing. Although it is encouraging that relationships have been made visible and that the interest in them is soaring, major problems follow. One is that those who start to explore and implement relationship marketing techniques are often not sufficiently familiar with the foundations of relationship marketing, its paradigm. Furthermore, relationship marketing is put under siege by the traditional marketing management paradigm, and the techniques used in relationship marketing implementation are often more grounded in marketing management values than in relationship marketing values. (Gummesson, 2002) An integral element of the relationship marketing approach is the promise concept, which has been strongly emphasized by Henrik Calonius According to him the responsibilities of marketing do not only, or predominantly, including giving promises and thus persuading customers as passive counterparts on the marketplace to act in a given way. Fulfilling promises that have been given is equally important as means of achieving customer satisfaction, retention of the customer base and long-term profitability (compare also Reichheld and Sasser). He also stresses the fact that promises are mutually given and fulfilled. (Gronroos, Toward a Relationship Marketing Paradigm, 1994) Relationship Marketing There are many definitions of relationship marketing, most of them stressing the development and maintenance of long term relationships with customers and sometimes with other stakeholders. Total relationship marketing is marketing based on relationships, networks and interaction, recognizing that marketing is embedded in the total management of the networks of the selling organization, the market and society. It is directed to long term win-win relationships with individual customers, and value is jointly created between the parties involved. It transcends the boundaries between specialist functions and disciplines. Total relationship marketing embraces not just the supplier-customer dyad as does one-to-one marketing and CRM (customer relationship management) but also relationships to a supplier’s own suppliers, to competitors and to middlemen; these are all market relationships. (Gummesson, 2002) Is There a Paradigm Shift in Marketing? Relationships do not function by themselves. As McInnes said already three decades ago, â€Å"the existence of a market relation is the foundation of exchange not a substitute for it†. Only in extreme situations, for example when the computer systems of a buyer and a materials provider are connected to each other in order to initiate and execute purchase decisions automatically, the relationship, at least for some time, may function by itself. In such situations one comes close to what Johan rndt called â€Å"domesticated markets†, where â€Å"transactions†¦are usually handled by administrative processes on the basis of negotiated rules of exchange†. Normally, advertising, distribution and product branding, for example, will still be needed, but along with a host of other activities and resources. (Gummesson, 2002) However, what marketing deserves is new perspectives, which are more market-oriented and less manipulative, and where the customer indeed is the focal point as suggested by the marketing concept. Conclusion Marketing mix as a general perspective evolved because at one time it was an effective way of describing and managing many marketing situations. Before the marketing mix there were other approaches. Now time has made this approach less helpful other than in specific situations. New paradigms have to come. After all, we live in the 1990s, and we cannot for ever continue to live with a paradigm from the 1950s and 1960s. However, bearing in mind the long-term damages of the marketing mix as the universal truth, we are going to need several approaches or paradigms Relationship marketing will be one of them.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Miss Cynthie and City of Refuge Comparison free essay sample

Pedro Rodriguez Exam #1 The Great Migration reshape of American History Rudolph Fisher in the story Miss Cynthie and City of Refuge does a great job by exploiting the different characters of the Great Migration. For example, for immigrants that has just arrived to Harlem Fisher highlights Miss Cynthie and Gillis. For immigrants that are established in Harlem Fisher highlights two characters headed in two different directions; one is David an established artist, second is Uggam a person involved in illegal activities. All of these serve the purpose of reporters for the reader to get a deeper knowledge of the life during the Great Migration. When Miss Cynthie arrives to the city of New York she is flabbergasted at the decorum that she is shown. We see this when the red cap gentleman calls Miss Cynthie madam something that she have never heard in Waxhaw. In the book Miss Cynthie tells the red cap gentleman â€Å"you liked to took my breath back yonder, boy, callin’ me madam. We will write a custom essay sample on Miss Cynthie and City of Refuge Comparison or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Back home everybody call me Miss Cynthie†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Well, you see, we call everybody madam†(page 36-37) Miss Cynthie is astound that in New York people show so much respect to others; her perspective of the city has already changed. At first she expected that the way that she was going to be greeted was similar to how she is greeted in Waxhaw; as Miss Cynthie not as madam. You can further read of Miss Cynthie dubious perspective towards the city during her conversation between her and the young man. The young man tells Miss Cynthie â€Å"There aren’t any snakes in the city†. â€Å"There’s snakes everywhere, chile†. page 35) This paradoxical exchange between Miss Cynthie and the gentleman exposes how oblivious both are to each other’s background. The gentleman is talking about actual snakes and Miss Cynthie is referring to burglars. There are major discrepancies between the lexicon of people in Waxhaw and New York. Miss Cynthie meanwhile, alr eady has a pre-determined assumption that the city like her town of Waxhaw will have burglars. Another assumption that you can read that Miss Cynthie has is that in order for a person to be successful they must be a doctor or an undertaker. We read about this interaction when Miss Cynthie is talking with the red cap gentleman. Miss Cynthie says â€Å"But he’s done succeeded at sump’m. Mus’ be at least a undertaker, â€Å"cause he started sending’ the homefolks money, and he come home las’ year dressed like Judge pettiford’s boy what went off to school in Virginia. †(page 36 – 37) Miss Cynthie’s perspective as the new immigrant into the city is that if you are a successful person that you must have become successful because you are a doctor or an undertaker. Miss Cynthie’s believes that is the only possible way that David must have become successful. Miss Cynthie’s perspective is very narrow in which she believes that Doctors and Undertakers are the only ones that can be as wealthy as David. Miss Cynthie’s perspective of Dave’s career is look down upon once she finds out what Dave has actually become. She has a pre-determined assumption that the crowd watching the show must not be following the acts of God. We see this when in the story it states â€Å"She sat with stricken eyes watching this boy whom she’d raised from a babe, taught right from wrong, brought up in the church, and endowed with her prayers, this child whom she had dreamed of seeing a preacher, a regular doctor, a tooth-doctor, a foot-doctor, at the very least an undertaker—sat watching him disport himself for the benefit of a sin-sick, flesh-hungry mob of lost souls, not one of whom knew or cared to know the loving-kindness of God;† (Page 45) Miss Cynthie’s perspective is that if you are dancing and exploiting yourself in this form, then you must be worshipping the devil. She also has determined that the audience does not have any interest in appreciating the work of the lord. Furthermore, we read once again of Miss Cynthie’s interest of having her son seek a career that would bring more dignity than a dancer. We finally read about Miss Cynthie perspective changing and her accepting her Grandson’s career once she sees that Dave has sang a song that she taught him when he was young. What we are able to see from this change of heart is that Miss Cynthie understands that just because Dave chose a different career it does not mean that he forgot about the morals that she taught him. We see Miss Cynthie’s perspective towards Dave changing when in the story it says â€Å"Miss Cynthie, smiling at him with bright, meaningful eyes, leaned over without rising from her chair, jerked a tiny twig off the stem of the flower, ten sat decisively back, resolutely folding her arms, with only a leaf in her hand. â€Å"This’ll do me,† she said. †(page 47) The action of Miss Cynthie reaching for a leaf is a symbol of her acceptance towards David’s career. Miss Cynthie perspective towards the north changes, as she is able to acknowledge that just because you are ancing does not mean that you lose your morals. Dave’s perspective in the story is a very seldom one because he wants to slowly get Miss Cynthie accustomed to live in the North. The way that Dave does this is by showing Miss Cynthie around the town and then finally decides to take her to watch the play. We see evidence of Dave’s humbleness when Miss Cynthie ask Dave about h is career and she mentions that she prefers for him to be a doctor or at least and undertaker, Dave responds â€Å"Undertaker! Oh, Miss Cynthie—with my sunny disposition? † (page 38) This was a very humble approach by Dave to take. The perspective of the immigrant that already lives in Harlem is not to be astound but more to be a progressive. Dave sounds like an ambitious individual that would not settle for less. We see evidence of Dave’s ambitiousness when he and Miss Cynthie are talking about churches Dave says â€Å"Nobody’s hand-me-down gift†, which Miss Cynthie responds â€Å"Oh, yes, it was a gift, David. It was a gift from on high†. (page 39) Dave is telling Miss Cynthie that everything everyone in Harlem has achieves is because they have worked hard that nothing has been handed down. Miss Cynthie of course repudiates those comments by stating that everything has been handed down from God. In the story of City of Refuge Gillis is fascinated in seeing a black person in power. Gillis perspective is that he would never see a black police officer in power and that is why he abides; when the black officer is going to reprehend him. We see this in the last page where it states, â€Å"Gillis found himself face to face with a uniformed black policeman. He stopped as if stunned. For a moment he simply stared. Into his mind swept his own words, like a forgotten song suddenly recalled:â€Å"Cullud policemans! †The officer stood ready, awaiting his rush. â€Å"Even — got — cullud — policemans —†Very slowly King Solomon’s arms relaxed; very slowly he stood erect; and the grin that came over his features had something exultant about it. † (Page 11) Gillis is amazed to see a black person in power that he is no longer going to resist arrest. The story states about how he had this big grin on his face when he saw the black officer and this grin is a grin of accomplish. Gillis feels like black people have had a big accomplishment. Back in North Carolina he was wanted for murder and it was not going to be a black officer that was going to arrest him. The City of Refuge is the epitome of the great migration. The story talks about all the different activities that were going on in Harlem at the time. For example, in the story it talks about the Harlem Hell Fighters, when it mentions â€Å" The Uggams were always talking about it; one of their boys had gone to France in the draft and, returning, had never got any nearer home than Harlem. (page 1) The Harlem Hell Fighters were a unit of black airmen that fought in World War 1 for France. This story makes a great connection with the great migration because only in Harlem at the time where black people given the chance to serve their country. We further read about the great migration when Gillis just arrives in Harlem and he has notice black people everywhere. In page 1 it also states â€Å"Negroes at ev ery turn; †¦ women, bundle-laden, trudging reluctantly homeward, children rattle-trapping about the sidewalks; here and there a white face drifting along, but Negroes predominantly, overwhelmingly everywhere. There was assuredly no doubt of his whereabouts. This was Negro Harlem. † This story helps explain the great migration and how blacks were settling in Harlem. This also helps to distinguish the different black folks that were settling in Harlem. The narrator descriptive details of the people that lived in Harlem at the time, helps validate the variation of people that were migrating to the north. Uggam as the immigrant that has lived in Harlem perspective is to find a way that he can survive rather than worry about racial discrepancies. We see this when Uggam is having the conversation with King Solomon and King Solomon tells Uggam that he wants to be a police officer. Uggam’s response is â€Å"You’ll do it,† laughed Uggam, â€Å"if you live long enough. † (page 10) Uggam is not too concerned with dreams and aspirations his main objective is to survive. King Solomon on the contrary does have some dreams of his own but Uggam mockingly tells Solomon the answer that he wants to hear. Even though, Uggam does not believe that Solomon will live to become a police officer. Uggam’s entire perspective throughout the story is to find a way to survive. To conclude, both City of Refuge and Miss Cynthie helped reshape some of the stories that we do not hear during the great migration. Both stories served the purpose of informing the readers of stories that transcended through Harlem. Throughout the text, Miss Cynthie and Gillis perspective is mostly in astonishment; while, Uggam and Dave’s perspective is shaped on a will to survive and progress.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Strategic Management Toyota Japan

Strategic Management Toyota Japan Introduction Toyota is one of the most popular companies in the automobile industry. This company started from a very humble beginning, but due to strategic planning, it has managed to achieve its organizational goals. Japan is the company’s headquarter, and this being its parent branch it has played a major role in inspiring the establishment of other branches (Chester, 2004).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management: Toyota Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Now that the company is ranked among the top organizations in the world, there is more work to be done to ensure that the position is retained. This is because there are other companies that are struggling to achieve the same goals. Currently Toyota manufactures a wide range of vehicles including Rav4, Prado, and Pajero among many others (Kendra, 2009). This paper focuses on Toyota’s company, particularly strategic methods and tool s that have led to its superior performance. Policies of Toyota Japan Every organization has its own tailor-made policies that all employees must adhere to, and this is meant to guarantee the achievement of organizational goals. Without clear policies, an organization is most likely to divert to other concerns that were not included in the master plan. It is therefore important to employ salient policies that would act as the guidelines when the going gets tough (Johnson Scholes, 2008). For instance, if a passenger decided to commute to a given destination and it happens that the vehicle breaks down, he/she will look for another mode of transport to ensure that he/she gets to the intended destination. According to Dess and Allan (2006), Toyota mainly focuses on long-term goals regardless of whether those goals will hinder the achievement of short-term goals. This was evidenced back in 1973 during the oil crisis that caused many customers who had purchased Toyota models to replace t hem with other models. This was because the big cars were consuming a lot of fuel and thus, were not considered pocket friendly. In the years that followed, the company had to pay high taxes for it to export vehicles to other markets. The management of Toyota thus decided to collaborate with General Motors (GM). This move was logical because it would help in cutting back on the costs that were incurred on the exports.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, Bremner and Dawson (2003) argue that Toyota was initially established as Toyoda and thus the brand name had to be changed for this company to be assimilated with its regional market. It was perceived that the initial brand name was not appealing to the local consumers probably because of its sound. It was then proposed that the brand name be renamed to Toyota, which sounded much better and uplifted the rep utation of the logo and the brand. This approach was logical because it made it easy for Toyota to penetrate the Asian market due to its familiarity and association with the local dialects. At Toyota, the processes of production flow in a sequential manner and this is meant to unveil any underlying problems that can cause the quality of its products to be compromised. The policies of Toyota clearly states that in case a problem or a fault is discovered in the course of production, the processes should be halted until the problem has been solved. In the year 2009, Toyota recalled quite a number of vehicles that were believed to be having faulty accelerator pedals. Although the initiative cost the company dearly, it was considered to be noble because the image the company would have been tainted and the monetary fine would have been heftier (Valdes-Dapena, 2010). Lynch (2006) points out that strategic management in an organization’s set up requires collective participation of a ll the employees. This aspect is greatly emphasized at Toyota in Japan. This is because if decisions were made in a hurry, the participants would not grasp anything that is contained in the plan. The gradual process of making decisions is important because it creates room for the options provided to be analyzed. Besides, dialogue prepares the employees and the other stakeholders to be prepared for the changes that may cause changes regarding how things are done. Likewise, Toyota’s head office has established indicators that are used to dictate when the level of production should be increased and vice versa. Kendra (2009) agrees that this is because the automobile industry is a very dynamic sector and if the vehicles that are manufactured within a specified period are not sold, they will accumulate as dead- stock.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management: Toyota Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This implies that Toyota must regularly analyze the relationship between demand and supply by referring to its inventory system; this is through lean manufacturing. For instance, when the oil crisis struck in 1973, then it would have been illogical for the company to continue making the big trucks while it was apparent that the market was moving towards a new trend. Apparently, the demand of Toyota Prius is on the increase compared to other models. This argument has been cemented by the financial reports of 2010, which clearly indicate the sales of this particular vehicle model had increased (Micheline, 2010). Possible Causes of Future Changes When referring to strategic management, it is important to understand why the changes come about. The major inhibitor of changes is the environment that businesses exist. This is to say that organizations can be influenced to embrace the changes with the aim of conserving our environment. International organizations are exerting a lot of pr essure on manufacturers to make products using materials that are not harmful to the environment (Johnson Scholes, 2008). As far as this issue of environment is concerned, Toyota has had to adjust itself because there have been numerous awareness campaigns on the importance of eco-friendly products. Toyota therefore realized that if it did not adopt the new trend, it would soon be ejected out of the automobile business. Vehicles have been found to be the most notorious agents of pollution and thus, the manufacturers have been advised to come up with models that emit minimal amounts of carbon (Lynch, 2006). Toyota has already introduced hybrid plug-in vehicles, which are powered by a lithium battery and gasoline simultaneously. This suggests that such vehicles are fuel-efficient and at the same time eco-friendly. This is what the consumers in the automobile industry have been looking for. Toyota has therefore upped its game by integrating the needs of the consumers with their produc ts.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is also obvious that the stiff competition in the automobile industry have also played a major role in inducing Toyota to employ a strategic plan. Chester (2004) points out that other companies like Ford are also making fuel-efficient vehicles besides Nissan and Honda brands. In business world, an organization must be on the look out to spot the emerging trends or risk being left out. Strategic management is purely driven by speculations because most people might think that Toyota is overreacting, but then if this company was to sit back and wait for the day when the demand for electric vehicles will swell, then it is bound to fail in its mission. This is because opportunities tend to favor the entities that are more crafty and prepared. In fact, this period is used to evaluate Toyota’s preparedness in handling the changes. This is because the company needs to be certain that the plans will work in its favor. However, it is important to have a backup plan because other cha nges could occur and hinder the realization of an organization’s mission (Dess Allan, 2006). For instance, the recent earthquake has greatly affected Toyota’s branch in Japan. This latest development reveals that humankind has no control over nature and thus backup plans should be put in place to ensure organizational goals are realized. There is a common phrase at Toyota that puts its managers under obligation to familiarize themselves with the situations as they unfold. This requires them to spend ample time with the employees. This is thought as the surest way of ensuring that all stakeholders are committed to the success of the organization. Competitive Positioning Toyota is completely committed to improving the quality of its products, but this initiative has cost the corporation a lot of money because the vehicles that are eco-friendly require more resources to manufacture. However, Vlasic and Fackler (2008) state that the situation is expected to remedy itself, as more customers purchase the new breed of vehicles. Among the changes incorporated lately, include the making of automobile engines that are powered by electricity and gasoline. This has placed Toyota at the top of the rankings compared to similar vehicles that are being manufactured by her competitors such as Ford. This is because Toyota’s models tend to be unique because the other brands that employ the same approach are only powered by electricity. Besides, Toyota has introduced automatic parking systems in its vehicles that are meant to assist Motorists Park their vehicles hustle-free. More features are yet to be incorporated in Toyota models because customers make their choice of a model depending on its specifications (Kendra, 2009). Furthermore, the approach of value improvement has really helped Toyota to reach greater heights. Similarly, the customers of Toyota have responded positively because they are always interested in unique products. Toyota has therefore wo rked had to earn its recognition as a household name. In fact, the government of Japan has acknowledged the progress of Toyota and this has resulted in Toyota being awarded the contract of manufacturing and maintaining the motorcade that is normally used by the mayor. This noble gesture by the government is truly an honor because it acts as an endorsement that will continue to develop the company’s portfolio (Valdes-Dapena, 2010). Other Open opportunities Toyota is looking for other areas that are yet to be exploited. Valdes-Dapena (2010) asserts that the need to diverse has been brought by the speculations that the future markets of vehicles could decline as new technologies continue to be developed in the transport sector. Toyota has already proposed a joint venture with Mitsubishi to manufacture airplanes for regional airlines. This is a smart move because the demand for air transport is increasing and only the entities that will align themselves to the growth of that indu stry will reap the benefits. For Toyota to make it in this venture, it has to observe the possible competitors such as Boeing, identify what is missing in their products, and incorporate the missing concept in its aircraft models. Although Toyota is a mature organization in the automobile industry, that growth is yet to be realized in the new ventures and thus, patience is required for growth to be experienced. Other areas that are potential for exploitation by Toyota include the manufacture of healthcare products such as assistive aids for the disabled (Kendra, 2009). Marketing The strategy employed by an organization in marketing its products is what helps in uplifting the image of its products (Lynch, 2006). Toyota has been able to penetrate the local market through re-branding. According to Micheline (2010), Toyota has managed to thrive in automobile business by developing models that are meant for both low and high-end markets. The success of Toyota would not have been realized if there was no balance between the two markets. The vehicles intended for low-end market have lesser specifications compared to the models intended for high-end markets. The Century Royal is a particular model that is specifically designed for the mayor of Japan. If Toyota were to concentrate on luxury vehicles, its sales would decline gradually because there are more prospects in the low-end market. In addition, Toyota has been using the field events such as motor sports to market itself. The company incorporates its models such as the Lexus in the local races including Formula 3, Super GT, and formula Nippon. Toyota makes money by making the engines of automobiles that participate in these races and uses them as an avenue for advertising itself. Engaging in the races was not enough and thus, another strategy had to be established to ensure the local market for engines remained stable. This entailed developing the models that are appropriate for racing. Besides, more talents had to be developed to ensure that the sport did not run out of talented drivers. This goal was achieved by establishing a program for nurturing drivers into seasoned motor sport drivers. The program is commonly known as TDP (Toyota Young Drivers Program) (Johnson Scholes, 2008). The technological institute was established to act as a reservoir of skills that are needed in this company. Though the initial founders of this initiative are non-existent, the project has served its intended purpose. The talents are derived from learning institutions, such as high schools and other tertiary institutions. The students who demonstrate competitiveness while still in high school are offered scholarship opportunities to enable them pursue further education and thereafter use their skills while working at Toyota Corporation. The initiative is more of a corporate social responsibility program. The program can be used as a succession plan for Toyota because the current crop of employees will one day retire and thus, they will have to be replaced by new skilled employees. Although the programs are expensive, the money is paid back when the trained individuals are absorbed into the company. Likewise, Toyota has its own rugby team known as Verblitz team. This team is sponsored by Toyota and therefore is a medium of marketing. This is done by making the players put on jerseys that are printed with the company logo and emblem. Johnson Scholes (2008) argue that the education programs are not only focused on inspiring upcoming talents, but also the existing employees. This is because the changes in the environment cause their skills to depreciate and thus they need to be regularly updated. As time moves by, the approaches that were once used as solutions cease to be useful and thus, new approaches have to be brought on board and this can only be acquired by investing in continuous learning to promote organizational development. Aspects of Strategic Management Goal Setting Toyota has been able to achieve its organizational goals because it had set the goals from the start. The managers and employees of this corporation are aware of what needs to be done to get to the company’s destiny. The goals are categorized into two: long-term and short-term. Short-term goals take less than five years to be experienced while long-term goals take more than five years. When the company was established the founders had one long-term goal, and it involved setting up a learning institution and in fact the goal took more than twenty years to be realized. Besides, Toyota had short-term goals that included increasing its market share within Japan and beyond its national boarders. This goal was near from being accomplished when the oil crisis struck and temporary goals had to be set (Vlasic Fackler, 2008). Analysis Analysis is another important aspect of strategic management because it enables an organization to get a clear picture of the happenings as they unfold and make t he necessary changes to be able to cope with the challenges (Lynch, 2006). Toyota has been very observant of the situation in the industry. Being analytic has helped Toyota to understand the needs of the customers. There are other companies in Japan that deal with automobiles. These other companies are competitors and Toyota has to analyze their operations and as well as their products. By being analytical, Toyota has been able to identify other opportunities that are yet to be exploited. However, before Toyota decided to venture into other resources it must have analyzed its strengths and weaknesses. This is because if the weaknesses outweighed the strengths then there is no point of venturing into other fields such as aviation, which are more complicated, and very demanding. Strategy Formation According to Dess and Allan (2006), strategic management requires an organization to have a clear vision of future expectations. Toyota has been visionary on the market and that is why it ha s developed options of venturing into other areas. When the options were first drafted, they must have been allocated priorities depending on the availability of resources that are needed to implement the decisions. The electric vehicles were accorded the first priority because the market is changing drastically unless Toyota evolves with the market, then its products would be rendered useless in the automobile industry. The other options implemented include the development of robots used in the healthcare and entertainment industries. The above stated priorities were implemented because Toyota has the ability and the capacity that is required to implement them. This implies that Toyota has enough work forces skilled in this sector because if there were no skilled personnel, then the idea would have to wait until when the situation was favorable. As stated earlier, the plan of making an aircraft is a long-term goal, but then negotiations are underway and they involve other like-min ded entities. Mitsubishi is an appropriate partner in this venture because it also deals with automobiles and therefore the two parties are compatible with each other. Currently, Toyota needs to merge its resources with those of Mitsubishi in order to realize its goals. However, this partnership may not last long because each entity would want to be independent in future (Micheline, 2010). It is therefore certain that there will be a merger between Toyota and Mitsubishi. Toyota has been successful in its mission because it has involved its members who include employees and stakeholders in decision-making processes; this approach must be reflected in its merger with Mitsubishi. Strategy Implementation Once a strategy has been established, an organization needs to embark on the mission of implementing the decisions that are contained in the strategy. Before implementing strategy, an organization must review the available resources just to be sure they are in good shape to deliver the desired results (Johnson Scholes, 2008). For Toyota to be able to challenge its competitors, it must have upgraded its equipments to meet international standards. The staff at Toyota has been inspired to improve their skills. The availability of skilled personnel has cautioned the company from outsourcing its tasks. The main reason behind Toyota’s success lies under its goal setting strategies. From the look of things, Toyota has all along remained committed to fulfilling its long-term goals. Similarly, other companies in this industry have diverted their initial plans at the onset of challenges. It is this attribute of soldiering on that has enabled Toyota to excel in its ventures. In strategic management, it is important to note that short-term challenges and solutions do not last long, and it is therefore important to focus on long-term solutions. When the environmental and international organizations raised concerns about the amounts of carbon emitted by vehicles, Toyota thought of a solution that could solve the problem entirely. Short-term solutions are very expensive to implement because the processes have to be repeated regularly and they may not work as expected (Dess Allan, 2006). In this regard, Toyota established a production system commonly known as Toyota Production System (TPS).The system is used to manage inventories and in improving the quality of production. By having such a system in place, the company can be certain that there are minimal errors and that the customers only get what they require. When the suppliers of Toyota deliver the raw materials that are to be used in the manufacture of automobiles, the TPS is invoked to evaluate the materials and components needed and discard the others. In fact, this idea was borrowed from a very different field and hence it had to be configured to meet the needs of Toyota. Leadership at Toyota The success of Toyota is owed to its efficient leadership structures. The mangers at Toyota have go od working relationships with their employees in their respective departments. This enables the two parties to communicate effectively and thus, move collectively towards a common destiny. This kind of interaction favors teamwork because it strengthens the bondage among employees and their superiors. From another concept, it favors innovation because the employees are free to incorporate their skills into their tasks (Johson Scholes, 2008). In fact, at Toyota, every employee is regarded as his/her own inspector – employees should not wait until the supervisor is physically present to implement a decision when things are not in the right order. This has instilled a strong sense of belonging, which makes employees to work as if they owned the company. Respect is highly emphasized at Toyota and this means that everyone commands respect regardless of his/her position in the company. Conclusion Toyota has emerged as one of the most successful companies in the automobile industry. Having defined goals has helped Toyota to overcome the challenges as opposed to other companies that have resorted to remaining dormant. For the current success to be retained, Toyota must remain focused because the competitors are also designing new models that are intended to compete with those of Toyota, and hence more efforts must be directed towards remaining ahead of the game. Besides, the approaches that have worked in Japan’s branch should be extended to regional offices so that the entire organization can become uniform, such that the images of the other branches reflect the image of the parent branch. References Vlasic, B. and Fackler, M., 2008. Car slump jolts Toyota halting 70yrs of gain. New York Times. [online]. Bremner, B.B. and Dawson, C., 2003. Can anything stop Toyota? An inside look at how its reinventing the auto industry. Business week. November 17. Chester, D., 2004. Lexus: The Relentless pursuit. Singapore: John Wiley Sons. Dess, G. L. and Alan, B. E. , 2006. Strategic Management: Text and Cases. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Johnson, G. and Scholes, K., 2008. Exploring Corporate Strategy. 8th ed. London: Prentice Hall. Kendra, M., 2009. Toyota passes GM as world’s largest automaker. The Washington Post. January 22. Lynch, R. (2006), Corporate Strategy. 4th ed. London: Prentice Hall. Micheline, M., 2010. Toyota pays its $16.4 million fine over pedals. The New York Times. [online]. Valdes-Dapena, P., 2010. Witnesses: Toyota problems could be electronics. CNN. [online].

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The history of the concept of limit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The history of the concept of limit - Essay Example Yet, the role these equations are paramount in modern society’s foundational circuitry. Few among us see the tiniest fraction of the actions of mathematical limits that buzz within and around the tools and highways and Satellites around us, allowing all of them to run smoothing and on time. This being the case, they dismiss these calculus driven equations as droning fodder, which has no practical use. Yet, they praise and cannot bear to think what life would be without any of their high tech gadgetry. Greece was the epicenter of philosophic thought in the ancient world. It was the pinnacle of theoretic genius among the by-gone nation. Hence, math was no stranger to its people. In fact, the first to make steps toward this concept was the Greek philosopher Zeno. Zeno was famous for his paradoxes which often involved the limiting of a process. The paradox where the building block of limits and infinity are derived from is his dichotomy paradox. He states the as an object moved toward another object the space between them must be divided if they have to arrive close to each other. Archimedes is more than just an innovator of the ancient world. He is held today as one of the four greatest mathematical minds to have lived on our planet. Even today, we are finding out more and more about him and discovery just how much ahead of his time he was. The king was suspicious of a new crown that had been made for him. It felt a bit too odd to authentic. He suspected the craftsmen used or mixed cheaper metals during its crafting to cut costs, yet he had no way of proving this was the case. In response to his personal query, he offered a reward to anyone who could solve this conundrum. Archimedes dared to take on this crowning dilemma. The legend has it; he solved the puzzle when he was bathing. While in the tub, he noticed, as he stepped into it, the levels of water on the side of the tub rose as he stepped in and resided and he stepped out. He connected the submersion

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Civil rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Civil rights - Essay Example Not until the 1960s did a considerable significant number of youth of America join and add their efforts to the movement. The scholarly works of Lawson and Payne have led them to contradictory opinions of the riotous years from 1945 to 1968. However both provide a gleaming, deviously nuance summary of the period. Charles Payne has thoroughly worked on the definitive study of the civil rights movement in the Delta. Payne divulges the bravery, infatuation, absurdity, and perseverance of thousands of black women and men who worked, against irresistible odds, to take charge of their destiny through his outstanding use of verbal interviews of past. This is the most ample and enlightening study of organizing on the grass-roots echelon that we have, and will be of importance to scholars, students, and activists alike. Lawson captures what is said "the view from the nation," in conflict that "it was the federal government ... that played an indispensable role in shaping the fortunes of the civil rights revolution. It is impossible to understand how Blacks achieved first-class citizenship ... in the South without concentrating on what national leaders ... did to influence the course of events" (p. 3). Explanation of Lawson argues that still after Birmingham and the March on Washington the nation had not been stimulated to crack the "legislative logjam" (p. 29) over an all-inclusive bill of civil rights. Lyndon B. Johnson's congressional wizardry and ethical dedication made it happened. It was as functional as the Selma demonstrations were in getting passage of Voting Rights Act 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson had inculcated the Justice Department to set up the bill "even before the Selma campaign had begun" (p. 32). "Throughout the history of the civil rights struggle, the national state played a key role in determining its outcome" (p. 40). Payne is piercingly critical of the "top-down" (p. 109) theory, asserting that top down approach falls short to value and understand the function ordinary people performed in changing the state, spotlights approximately exclusively on large-scale spectacular events to the disadvantage of "the real and authentic social infrastructure that continued the struggle on daily basis," and highlights only legislative modifications at the cost of perceiving the civil rights movement "as a changing experience for persons" (p. 110). Above all, conceivably, in Payne's opinion, the top-down elucidation promotes a triumphalism that marks off black fundamentals as a fringe anthology of ingrates, overlooking that by the end of their lives, "the gap between Martin Luther King's thoughts" and that of Malcolm X was "less than one might imagine" (p. 133). Payne's logical admiration for great organizers like Ella Baker guides him to view with evident commiseration their diverse feelings about "relatively short-term public events" (p. 125) like Birmingham and Selma that were highly influential in the civil rights revolution. Steven F. Lawson and Charles Payne scrutinize the persons who made the movement an achievement, both at the uppermost level of government and in the grassroots channels. Designed exclusively for college and university courses in American history, this is the best elucidation about the glory and agony of these

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Networking assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Networking - Assignment Example Mary’s and also he is the creator of Lindsay Marketing links. He has also spent almost the first 15 years of his profession in various sales and marketing organization roles through many leading business establishments. Because of the challenging nature of the marketplace management, he likes to attempt something innovative. Networking is the one of the most important aspects that he perceives to be relevant to today’s marketing environment. I understand that the combined efforts of all the areas in the company will help him to attain the organizational aims in an effective way. Networking between Lindsey (marketing), Keith (accounting) and Holly (hospitality) will help to enhance the quality of personal and career development. I also understand that career development is one of the most important things that every person associated with the company must develop. This way, the work one does during study hours help to improve personal and career life. Face to face intera ction, that is interview method and telephonic interview with various people in the company will help me to obtain the immediate feedback. Lindsey, Keith and Holly are different people they handle different department so that personality of these people also different. In order to overcome all the risk associated with the company marketing manager must choose the most appropriate method and also listen other people’s ideas and views this will helps to increase the value of the company. Lindsey has held various positional in the cultural area which have give attention on delivering viewers and media treatment for visual art ,dance, theatre, finally the various festival procedures. Key marketing and various Public Relation abilities consist of: Developing exact, modified marketing movements in the region of a new goods or event. Creating the most excellent and most proper brand name and identity for businesses and/or goods. Receiving the most from actions, partnerships and the media in the course of superior Public Relations. Realizing innovative design resolutions for campaigns and proceedings, helping to attain the most excellent in print, publicity and digital and straight marketing. Interview with Lindsay help me to identify that working with team is much easier in the world of business than the university. Working in group helps to collect and identify the various new ideas from other persons in the group. And most important thing is that due to the emergence of globalization technology has developed a lot, this development of technology made the marketing task more quick and fast. Career development is the one of the thing that must be maintained in order to cope up with the innovative technology. Networking is very important in today’s business world as networking opens the door to knowledge. In the business world there are several issues like communication problems, cross cultural issues, relationship problems to which networking have a sol ution. â€Å"A good networker thinks in terms of systems – they assess the value of a contact in relation to their entire network. A bad networker assesses only the value to themselves† (Marx, 2001, p. 72). Telephonic or face to face interviews are a form of understanding the person’s interest, his aspirations, and his viewpoints on a subject topic. The

Friday, November 15, 2019

Boracay Tourist Attractions

Boracay Tourist Attractions According to Tourism Philippines, Boracay is famous for its long white sandy beaches, and is also a popular outlet for water sports activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing etc. Other than the sandy beaches, Boracay is well known for the nightlife and party scene. There are numerous bars and clubs along the whole stretch of beach, mostly located at station 2 of Boracay. Spas are also readily at most places; you can even find freelance masseurs patrolling the beaches! (Tourism Philippines, 2008, Retrieved From: http://tourism-philippines.com/boracay-travel-guide/) According to corporate.mozcom.com, The best part of the island is its 4 km. White Beach, also called long beach by the locals. It is situated at the west coast between the villages of Angol and Balabag, and some experienced travellers claim it to be the finest beach of all Asia. The water is shallow here and its sand brighter and finer than most beaches in the archipelago. There are about 350 beach resorts with 2000 rooms to suit virtually everyones taste. There is accommodation of all types and price categories. Restaurants range form the native fastfood stalls to establishments that would satisfy even a gourmet. You can find beer joints as well as discos with amazing light and sound equipment. (corporate.mozcom.com, n.d, Retrieved From: http://corporate.mozcom.com/dot/r6/borfacts.html) Nestor P. Burgos Jr. of the Philippine Daily Inquirer states that, DISCERNING travelers and tourists prefer destinations off the beaten track. But many of them still end up in the world-famous beach of Boracay Island in Aklan. This is because of its white beach and fine white sand and crystal clear waters, according to Edwin Trompeta, regional director for Western Visayas of the Department of Tourism. The beach and waters combined with the islands nightlife make Boracay irresistible, he says. Despite controversies on land ownership and unregulated development, Boracay has drawn more tourists every year because of its famous white beach, consistently included in the lists of the best beaches in the world. Furthermore, the global economic slump has failed to dampen tourist arrivals with new foreign markets and local tourists making up for the slack in visitors from countries hit hard by the world recession. As a matter of fact, tourist arrivals on the island have been on the upswing for a decade. They are up from 554,181 tourists in 2006, 596,707 in 2007, 634,263 in 2008 and 649,559 last year. For the first five months of this year, tourist arrivals have grown by 12 percent, according to data from the tourism office of Malay town in Aklan. Boracays peak season usually begins in October and lasts until May the following year From January to May 2010, tourist arrivals reached 378,694, higher than the 337,664 tourists who visited the island in the same period last year and the 320,994 tourists who came in 2008. The highest number was recorded in May with tourist arrivals reaching 101,349, higher than the 92,813 tourists in the same month in 2009 and 83,731 in 2008. More than 600,000 local and foreign tourists visited the white sand beaches and various parts of Boracay during the period, more than 40 percent higher than the 2009 figure of around 470,000. DOT 6 said they have recorded more than 230,000 foreign tourists in the island as of early October. This is good news amid the various travel advisories issued by several countries against visiting in the Philippines, the DOT 6 said. The United States, Australia and United Kingdom had earlier issued advisories as precautions in traveling to the country in the wake of reported terror threats. The tourism of Boracay is continuing to grow in fact, The News Today states that, Boracays revenue, mainly due to tourism, has reached P 12.17 billion as of the third quarter, higher compared to last years figures. Income from tourism in Boracay from January to May reached P6,961,683.28. (Burgos, 2010, Retrieved From: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100814-286677/Boracay-tourism-still-up-amid-woes) Tourist Attractions and Activities in Boracay According to travelnet.com, Boracay is famous for the following: Beaches / White Beach Boracay boasts of a sugary white sand beach and azure blue waters. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach known to be the finest beach in the world. The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby powder! Aquasports The island paradise of Boracay is a perfect place for watersports. Here, you can partake in a smorgasbord of exhilirating aqua action from swimming and snorkeling to scuba diving, windsurfing, sailboating, kayaking, boardsailing, and boating. Nature Tripping / Eco-Adventure World-renowned Boracay is an adventure island ideal for island hopping, hiking, trekking, caving, mountain climbing, biking, and horseback riding. Trekking and mountain biking can bring even the intrepid to the islands quaint interior villages and to the edges scenic rocky cliffs, discovering along the way many hidden coves with isolated beaches far from the  tourist crowd. Boardsailing at Bulabog Beach On the eastern side of Boracay Island is Bulabog Beach. It is a boardsailors mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world, especially during the peak season from November to March. In January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup. Paraw Regatta Sailboating and kayaking are popular sporting activities, with Boracay playing host to the annual Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat race that makes use of the native outrigger. Diving Dive sites surround the island and are learning venues to both novice and professional divers, guided by competent instructors of the many dive shops that operate in the area. For trueblue scuba diving enthusiasts, Yapak in Boracay is a great deep dive. Recreational Sports Laid-back Boracay is the perfect venue for golf, tennis, bowling, even beach volleyball. Top-of-class amenities for these activities are available in the island. For golf bugs, Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf and Countryclub has an 18-hole championship course. Partyhopping The code in Boracay is strictly informal. Walking barefoot than shod is the rule rather than the exception. Swinging discos have the beach for a floor, giving dance a new twist. From dusk to dawn, the island turns into one big party place where everyone is welcome to join in. Mambo Number 5 For the adventure-driven, Mambo Number 5 is a little bit of boating and wind surfing, a little bit of scuba diving, a little bit of trekking, a little bit of mountain biking, and a little bit of golf. Shopping Bargain shopping is a joy of a diversion while in Boracay. Souvenir pieces provide endless possibilities, from trinkets and native accessories made of shells and semi-precious stones to exotic or contemporary beach wear and fashion artworks. Dining The taste of the 6th Region, to which Boracay belongs, is quite simple. Charbroiled chicken is common fare. Another favorite dish is raw fish marinated in spicy vinegar. Dining is no problem in Boracay, with most resorts having their own restaurants that serve both Filipino and international cuisines. Small snack bars line the island. Relaxation Diversions are not a problem in Boracay, with leisure activities calendared throughout the year and amenities offered by some 350 tourist establishments. The island is ideal for beachbumming, relaxing, and simply lazing around. At the end of the day, unwind with a relaxing massage. The island never runs out skilled masseurs offering massage services by the beach. For a more luxurious treat, visit the new Mandala Spa. Boracay Boardsailing The picture-perfect tropical island of Boracay offers flat-water speed sailing, wave jumping, and longboard cruising. White Beach, shielded from the amihan, or northeast monsoon, is for beginners. Bulabog Beach, on the other side of the island, has ideal conditions for speed, slalom, and high-wind shortboard sailing. It is also the site of the annual Boracay International Funboard Cup. Tabon Strait has superb high-performance sailing, but there is a real risk of being swept away, so this site is for skilled sailors only. Tibiao Whitewater River Rising near the peak of Mt. Madja-as, the Tibiao River descends almost 2000m on its short but tumultuous journey to the sea. The lower section of the river, known as the Chicken Run, is grade 3; the more difficult upper section reaches grade 4. The Tibiao has all the classic features of a tropical whitewater river, with rich vegetation hemming the banks, views of rice terraces, spectacular falls and clear water. The river is close to Boracay and easily accessible. Natural Formations Beaches / White Beach Boracay boasts of a sugary white sand beach and azure blue waters. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach known to be the finest beach in the world. The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby powder! Festivals Ati-Atihan (second weekend of January) January is the time to hang loose in Kalibo, the Land of the Atis and the gateway to Boracay. For all of three days, it celebrates the Ati-Atihan Festival where frenzied streetdancing is performed by costumed and black-sooted tribes as they wend through the main streets from dawn until the witching hours. Ati-Atihan commemorates the 13th-century land deal between ten migrating Bornean chieftains and the aboriginal Ati King Marikudo. It also honors the town patron, the infant Santo Nià ±o. To the accompaniment of hundreds of lyres and drums, merrymakers throw all inhibitions to the wind as they join the tribes in a mad jig punctuated by rhythmic shouts of: Hala bira! Puera pasma! Hala bira! Viva Santo Nià ±o! (Loosely translated: Let go! Dont get sick! Let go! Hail the Holy Child!) Paraw Regatta Yearly, Boracay Island plays host to the Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat race that  makes use of the native outrigger. International Funboard Cup A music and dance festivity depicting the history, folklore, and traditions of the Lobocanons. Bolibong Kingking is a term applied to the drums and gongs and their rhythm used to accompany the supplication dance ritual in front of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the 2nd Patron of Loboc. Pana-ad sa Loboc (Holy Thursday Good Friday) Bulabog Beach, situated on the eastern side of Boracay Island, is a boardsailors mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world. Every January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup. Marketing Boracay A study was undertaken for the International Finance Corp. (IFC) by a team of Filipino and German consultants  to improve and develop Boracay to make it a world-class tourist destination. According to this study, the plan is achievable and through this, the island of Boracay can compete with other world-renowned beaches like those in Phuket, Thailand and Bali, Indonesia. The plan is to redesign the marketing strategy to make the island more visible and accessible to tourists from around the world, declared IFC Country Manager Vipul Bhagat. Boracay is presented as a haven of good investment opportunities, paying attention to strategic tourism marketing and promotion so as to invite and persuade more tourists into visiting the island. The study emphasizes the major changes which are intended to be done and implemented to develop, sustain and make Boracay a major destination for big-ticket tourism. These changes include the transfer of solid waste management facility from Boracay to Caticlan; the construction of low-cost mainland housing to ease migration and congestion in Boracay; improved transport facility between Boracay and Caticlan; development of Caticlans airport and marina; a Caticlan-based full service hospital to respond to emergencies, and; an agro-industrial center in Caticlan with ice and cold storage facilities and a public market. Issues like migration, zoning, lack of health facilities and medical personnel, visual and noise pollution, solid waste and water management, energy supply and intra- and inter-island transport are also addressed. In addition, the building of educational facilities offering tourism-related services, environmental management and eco-tourism in Caticlan was also recommended to raise the awareness of the locals to continue preserving, sustaining and developing the island that is considered as one of the Philippines most treasured and precious natural resources. .   To start with the marketing and strategic management development, the IFC conducted a web marketing seminar for local officials and businessmen to improve and hone their skills and utilize the use the Internet to market Boracay and improve and build-up its image. A separate forum for potential investors was also held in Manila.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Alienation in the lives of Arab Women :: Research Culture Arabic Essays

Alienation in the lives of Arab Women Alienation: al ·ien ·a ·tion ( l y -n sh n, l - -) n. The act of alienating or the condition of being alienated; estrangement; isolation or dissociation. Alienation is a concept that is universal to all people of all cultures in the world and throughout all time periods. These feelings of alienation, in some form or another, have affected every human begin that has ever taken a breath and will until the race is extinct. It is these feelings of alienation that influence so many of our activities, our thoughts, and the way we shape our lives and the manner in which we form our societies. It is these reactions to alienation that have played such a large role in the shaping of cultures and societies and for this reason it is important to study the alienation that is being discussed here. It is necessary to choose a group first of all and for our purpose here it will be women in the Arab culture. This is a very diverse culture and therefore we cannot deal with any specific society too in depth and so therefore we will look at examples provided from Arab women’s novels as well as look at the culture as a whole and over a large geogra phic region. We will be primarily concerned with the sources of alienation that bring these feelings and/or situations of alienation about and focusing on a socioanalytic evaluation of these sources. Also important in this discourse are the situations of the present that we will examine by looking at a few examples from the Arab women’s novels, but also the in-depth analyses of the situations and experiences. Finally, we will look at what these situations and analyses mean for the future of Arab women and the circumstances they may be provided with in years to come and how they might deal with new forms of alienation and at the same time different forms of dealienation or situations of being able to enter parts of society and the world that they have not been able to for numbers of years, and in some cases parts they have never experienced—historically speaking. In short, the purpose of this discourse is to understand the alienation that is a part of the lives of Arab women. This is not supposed to be a definitive analysis, but rather the introduction

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Context and Setting in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go Essay

Context and setting are quite significant in the text â€Å"Never Let me Go.† According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of context is â€Å"the whole situation, the background, or the environment relevant to a particular event, personality, creation† as well as â€Å"the parts of a sentence, paragraph, discourse, etc, immediately next to or surrounding a specified word or passage and determining its exact meaning.† According to Dr. Ezekiel Alembi â€Å"context is the social, economic and political environment under which a piece of literary work or art is written.† He goes on to say that context is important because it not only makes the reader, understand and appreciate the theme, but also understand and appreciate the style used. However,setting is what the writer wants us to see. Writers try to establish in the minds of their readers a sense of place and time. They use, ‘the power of the written word to make you hear, to make you fe el – it is above all to make you see’ (Joseph Conrad). It is also used to refer to the mood and the atmosphere created by the author, and the culture and the shared values and beliefs of the characters. In â€Å"Never Let Me Go† Kazuo Ishiguro uses details to create a sense of setting, as well as the full effect of the story depends on the presentation of an increasing amount of descriptive details. In this book the setting plays an integral part in the story. Apart fom providing the reader with a sense of where and when the story takes place, the setting can also serve other purposes, such as contributing to the plot. The aim of this essay is to evaluate the importance of both context and setting in text, â€Å"Never Let Go† by Kazuo Ishiguro. â€Å" Never Let Me Go† by Kazuo Ishiguro was published in 2005. He was already one of the most renowned and acclaimed British writers. Never Let Me Go addresses some contemporary issues. This novel has scie nce fiction qualities and a futuristic tone , thus takes place in a very similar yet alternate world. This novel is set in a recognizable England of the late 20th century. Yet it contains a key dystopian, almost sci-fi dimension you’d normally expect to find in stories set in the future. It also explores more timeless questions like childhood bullying and the role of sex in relationships. Never Let Me Go has three main institutional settings which are as follows: Hailsham, the Cottages, and the donor recovery centers. This is quite significant as it creates the mood and setting for the simple  yet intense plot for the story. The first sixteen years are spent at the Hailsham by Kathy and her friends. According to Kazuo Ishiguro based on interviews done, â€Å"The school setting, I must add, is appealing because in a way it’s a clear physical manifestation of the way all children are separated off from the adult world, and are drip-fed little pieces of information about the world that awaits them, often with generous doses of deception, kindly meant or otherwise. In other words, it serves as a very good metaphor for childhood in general.† From the ordeal related by Katthy, Hailsham is qite perfect and neat but somewhat mysterious, ‘This spacious house contains plenty of classrooms and dorm huts for all your schooling needs. It boasts a large sports pavilion perfect for spying on boys playing in neighboring fields. The ample grounds are surrounded by a fence that is not electrified (but which no one crosses anyways) and creepy woods (where no one goes because they fear they may get dismembered). Entirely secluded from the outside world, this real estate gem is p erfect for hiding clones that you want to pretend don’t exist. But beware: if you ever leave, you will never ever be able to find Hailsham again.’ However, in comparison to Hailsham, the Cottage is quite different . Their move to the cottage was difficult because of its air of shabbiness and lask lustere. However they were still able to be entertained and and have a great time. The cottage was described as, â€Å"These converted farmhouses require some TLC. The buildings are run-down and the rooms are damp. But there’s a charming churchyard nearby perfect for reading outdoors or getting in squabbles with your friends. The heat doesn’t work, so residents will need to sleep under extra blankets, carpets, and coats in order to avoid freezing during the winter. Enjoy!† The final stop for each of the donors is a recovery center. These are the buildings where Kathy and her friends undergo operations to remove their vital organs, and where they recuperate between donations. They are also the places where the donors â€Å"complete.† The setting of this centre as quite significant as this acttion is quite outstanding and essential in understanding the story. Additionally while Kathy is a carer she spends a lot of time driving around Norfolk and the English Countryside. She frequents Norfolk as well as other twons. It serves to be a great places to relax and retrospect. In fact, these scenic areas seems to be her favorite part of being a carer: â€Å"I do like the feeling of getting into my little car,  knowing for the next couple of hours I’ll have only the roads, the big grey sky and my daydreams for company.† These descriptions and strategies are intentionally utilized by Ishiguro for the readers to actually visualize exactly what is felt and experieced by the characters. Furthermore the setting in Never Let Me Go reveals traits of the character and in particular the narrator. According to various reseachers, Ishiguro’s novels share similarities in a particular aspect that is they are first-person narrators. This allows the reader to view the events of â€Å"Never Let Me Go†from the position of someone present and involved , in this case Katty. In this way the reader is given an insight into the character herself and at the same time can also directly experience what is happening in the story and so be able to relate to the surroundings. This is quite obvious by the intense and scenic descriptions stated above . It is noted that Ishiguro’s novels are â€Å" character studies and moral inventories that serve to illuminate the context of given political events. In the course of a story, then, a character is not ony seen struggling with their own feelings in reaction to interpersonal situations, but also a political environment.†