Saturday, August 31, 2019

How Luxury Brands Were Affected by Recession Essay

Bovis homes group PLC, a leading UK house builder, had to review its corporate plans as a result of the recession and major cuts in government spending on building projects. Gives the high level of change in economic and political environments, is there any point in corporate planning? Justify your answer with reference to the house building industry and/or other organisations or industries you know that have been affected by such changes. (40 marks) Post 2007, global economy has been reeling under recession. Recessionary pressure began with United States economy slowing down; however it has spread globally affecting all countries in some way or the other. Income level, employment have been affected badly. Consumption levels have gone down drastically, which affected consumer dependant countries, such as the UK. Traditionally, luxury brands have not been affected by recession so much, since they have been catering to the higher end class, which is not so affected by the economic downturn. However, in recent past, the luxury has been catering to the inspirational customers, whose consumption patterns are affected due to economic recession. During times like these, companies usually dependant on corporate planning. Some of them in order to grow, others – to survive. Corporate planning is the process of drawing up detailed action plans to achieve an organization’s goals and objectives, taking into account the resources of the organization and the environment within which it operates. Music and books retailer HMV Group became a company that was heavily affected by recession in 2008, as it had to close 60 UK stores in the next 12 months in response to declining sales. The 60 stores set to close represent roughly 10% of the group’s UK High Street presence, which comprises 285 HMV shops and 312 Waterstone’s outlets. The massive store closure of outlets was an attempt to survive, as they has been hammered by competition from digital downloads as well as supermarkets and online retailers undercutting it on price. As well as the store closures, HMV said it would implement other cost-cutting measures that would save it a further ? 10m per year. However HMV’s corporate planning hasn’t proved to be successful, as it turns out HMV’s share price has declined steadily throughout 2010, and the latest drop brings its cumulative fall to more than 75% over the last 13 months. Also the firm’s shares dropped 20% even further after it revealed the sales data, and admitted it was having trouble meeting the terms of a bank loan. As it turns out, HMV’s retail analyst didn’t expected music and DVD market falling that fast, despite their attempts to change their sales mix, offering iPods and live music in order to stay in the market. HMV is repeating Woolworths and Zavvi collapse during the recession. Fox described â€Å"extremely difficult† trading conditions with total sales of physical CDs and DVDs down 10% and 8% respectively against the same six-month period last year. Without a new console to fire the imagination the picture was even worse in video games where sales plunged 12%, a fall that was on top of the 30% slump seen in 2009. â€Å"It is not that value is moving from physical to the digital sales – it is just that value is being lost,† said Fox. Therefore the HMV is facing severe competition and tough times due to recession. Their corporate planning proved to be unsuccessful, they are trying to deal with already dead market, which don’t have any prerequisites to grow in the future. Poundland is complitely different business, with different approach and corporate plan, as they grow during the recession periods. They are aimed at consumer who requires value. Some of that is driven by the economy or the economic conditions, some of that is because the people have low disposable incomes and traditionally that’s been the case, and they have needed to seek value. During tough economic conditions, that was always the case. When US recession just took place, in 2008, poundland started to grow using external growth. At christmas 2008, when Woolworth post-administration 600 stores became available, poundland took 70 of those over three years. Big success from the very beginning was due to , very talented property team, who use a network of agents so they are are constantly searching for new opportunities of expansion. A number of other opportunities have arisen over the years as well and they have been able to convert those quite quickly because they had a new store opening team and a refurbishment programme, which really is about pie-cutting. So there’s a process. The average around 60 stores a year now, so over one a week, which I think is testament to the quality of the team, the sourcing of the stores and the continual improvement in the performance of the business, which of course helps finance those opportunities. In the recession – or difficult economic periods, all decisions needs to be discussed and implemented using professional team, which will make your business distinguish from arising competition. In the conclusion I would like to say that recession is not true for every business. As we have seen above, poundland did well during the recession period, as they targeting those on low-incomes and those, who willing to save, however a situation in a luxury industry differs: The wealthy are not much affected by economic downturn and to use luxury goods is a kind of addiction; it isn’t easy to change the lifestyle even if personal income dropped. The Geneva motor show 2013 is happening right now. Rolls Royce is selling better than they did last year, as is Lamborghini. The Middle East, Russia do not seem to be feeling the crunch for the time being. The general feeling is that desire for the super luxury brands remains high but purchases are being delayed. Lamborghini always under produce and have enough orders to remain keep production going for a long time whilst mass to mid luxury car factories are laying off workers, that is the trend that works in the luxury sector. However, the middle-class luxury brands will be heavily affected due to concept that was stated above with an example of poundland. Surely some of them could be richer during the trouble times, but most are struggling and haven’t the mind to spend freely money for luxury items as before. The wealthy never stop spending, they just change what they spend their money on. For example companies like Hermes, Alfred Dunhill, Vacheron Constatine, and Botega Veneta are designed to be recession proof. Marc Jacobs and Chanel on the other hand will feel the pain. As stated above its all about client base and how corporate plan was developed and implemented.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Theories of Miscommunication

Throughout history people had their media to communicate about matters of public interest. Therefore today mass communication i. e. newspapers, magazines, journals, radio, television, film, video and many more are not new. The history of mass communication however evolved over time where by each culture was dominant during a certain period of time as discussed below. The oral communication culture was dominant during the pre-literate or pre-industrial time, they used the spoken word for communication, nothing was written, no news reports, television, and radio. Everything meant what it was supposed to mean, nothing was like ‘read between the lines. ’ The contrast of oral culture was memory. People relied on their memory, placed a higher value on the present tense. Oral communication is still dominant in areas where the written culture does not exist. Their histories are verbally told through stories and myths. The written and printed communication culture started more or less 6000 years ago with carvings and cave painting, phonetic alphabets have been known for little more than 3000 years ago, and writing as we know it today started way back in 800 BC. After the written word came into existence the spoken word became casual. Writing makes records for the creation of a historical sensibility for example science. In 1450’s a German, Johann Gutenberg invented the printed press. Publishing contributed to the advancement of literacy, publishing contributed to institutions such as schools and by the end of 18th century, printing press had created an entirely new information and mass communication culture. Electronic communication culture is today’s new form of communication, the electronic and digital media dominate the mass communication culture. Today something is true because it’s on the television and internet not because its printed in the newspaper. In the 19th century, photography and film brought about the graphic revolution. Television however is the most dominant communication medium. When defining mass communication one has to define it from different perspectives because of its background and latest developments. For this reason mass communication has to be through the various theoretic perspectives of mass communication which are. Media-materialist, emphasis is on the technical aspects and how technology of medium impacts on the nature of media messages and audiences for example difference between radio and television. Social culturist influence the social factors an media production and reception and functions of social media are emphasized. With the social materialist media and content are mainly seen as reflection on society. Mass communication has got focal points such as communication, medium, message, and recipient, or audience, public nature of mass communication and diverse content of mass communication. A communicator is usually a collective body a group of people responsible for the production of programs, news bulletins, films, newspapers, websites and many more. A medium or a media is usually of technical nature and can involve complicated production and distribution technologies and techniques. Also the channel through which the media content is transmitted and distributed. A message has both concrete and abstract meaning. It is concrete in the form of content being produced for example the newspaper story you can hold and read, a message is abstract in terms of the meaning encoded in the content by the communicator and the meaning the reader,viewer,listener attaches to and derives from the content through their own interpretation of the content. An audience is heterogeneous and usually unknown, without audience there is no media. Other questions related to the focal points in any definition of mass communication are for instance what we mean by ‘mass’ in mass communication? What do we mean by ‘public sphere’, ‘publicness’, and democracy? These questions have been approached from a number of theoretical perspectives. Let’s look at the theories. Julia wood in her book communication theory, explains theories scientific value and that it teaches us how to describe, interpret, understand, evaluate, and predict a phenomenon. It also o provides an over view of the development of a discipline. Its relations with other discipline’s and its future developments. For example effect theories focus on the effect of the media on personal behavior and the developed into a more holistic approach to the effects of the media on society and culture in general. Effect theories started from a behaviorist perspective closely associated with the positivism and behaviorism of the social sciences in the in the first part of the 1900s and then moved onto the more critical approaches presently practiced in the social sciences. Theory teaches us skills of describing, interpreting understanding, evaluating, and predicting a phenomenon such skills can become entrenched in ways we have to deal with our everyday relations such as relationships with colleagues and family members. Goals of theory are to then describe explain understand, predict control and reform. Theory has got building blocks such as: Ontology where we distinguish between two broad views of humanity, determinism and humanism. Epistemology which in philosophical terms is the science of knowledge, we distinguish it between two different schools the objective truth and subjective experience. Purpose according two Wood concerns the purpose of theory, it’s also distinguished between two schools the universalist and situationalists. Focus the fourth building block is concerned with the two broad schools behaviorism and humanism. When evaluating theory Wood 2000:41-47 suggests five criteria; scope, where we have to establish how well and how much a theory describes and explains, Testability, where a theory can be theorized about and investigated by different researchers and they arrive at the same conclusion. Parsimony which refers to simplicity. A theory does not have to be complex. The fourth criterion is utility where theories need to have a practical value in terms of our understanding, controlling and improving of the phenomenon. The goals of mass media are to understand the structures involved and the human agency in influencing these structures. Understanding of the media and its structural relationships will come from different theoretical approaches as discussed below. Different authors have different ways of categorizing theories, Little John (1992:341-374) distinguishes between macro and micro theories, Mcquail(2000:61-16) distinguishes between theories and approaches concerned with the relationships between media and society and between media and culture and a third branch of new theories and approaches concerned with relationships between new media and information society. How we think about the power of media, the media effects on behavior, and the functions of the media in society and so on is usually done from a specific theoretical approach. Below we distinguish between the seven perspectives. The positivistic approach emphasizes on scientific methods on knowledge derived from scientifically processed and analyzed data about a phenomenon. The scientific method requires that all phenomena should be treated in the same way. In research the same rules and same requirements have to be applied and met regardless of the phenomena under investigation. Assumptions in positivism Application of the scientific method involves processes of empirical research which will yield objective findings and will ensure that no subjective elements intervene to influence the validity of the findings. This reasoning rests on the assumption that phenomena’s are governed by universal laws which may be relevant through the application of the scientific method. It comprises of certain fixed steps which must be followed by all researchers and requires use of standardized procedures and techniques. A researcher is only important in the sense that he or she must apply the method correctly. Empiricism is usually related to the natural sciences and is also called scientific method. The concepts of objectivity and measurement are highly valued. Behaviorism concentrates on the experimental analysis of human behavior. To a great degree this method still underlies the analysis of communication problems as executed within the framework of positivistic approaches Functionalism is usually associated with the sociology of Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) and Talcott Parsons (1902-1979). It concentrates on repetitive observable phenomena or observable indicators of phenomena. Positivism and mass communication. In positivistic research the emphasis is mainly on the efficient working and management of the media, efficient production of media content, functions of the media, media’s effect on people and society. Weaknesses of positivistic approach The weaknesses originated from the work of German sociologist Max Weber 91864-1920) he drew his work from Wilhelm Dilthey (1833-1911) who emphasized the difference between the natural and social sciences. Dilthey maintained that as social researcher would only gain insight into the social world by not distancing himself or herself from it claiming to objective. Human action is not just observable response to stimuli but it is based on interpretation and understanding. Although positivistic research may claim that its findings are objective because of its use of scientific methods, human behavior itself is scientific and based on values intentions, interpretations, understandings, meanings and contents which may differ from person to person group to group and circumstance to circumstance. Critical approach. The development of critical thinking on mass communication has a long history. Critical thinking about mass communication started with what is called mass society theory. Mass society theory was formulated at the turn of 19th century and continued through the middle of 20th century. Began as a reaction to technological innovation that in turn gave rise to industrialization and urbanization. Assumptions Media has the power to influence the minds of average people. Media has corrupt minds. Media can initiate social chaos. Critical theory today Critical theorists today are primarily concerned about medias ideological manipulation of the masses and capitalistic use and misuse of the media by owners to foster capitalized values. We have to describe as closely as possible the ideological instrument of society. These are instruments such as church, the economy, military and media. These instruments are responsible for production, circulation and distribution of ideology. The concept of ideology is therefore the center of the critical approach. Assumptions Media are symbolic forms of expressions for example literature,theatre ,paintings, and many more. Assumes that the media and its different forms and genres like editorial comments can be read as texts. There is a relationship between production conventions and ideologies. There is a close relationship between media politics and the economy. Political economy is an umbrella for all those theories and analytical approaches which seek to understand how economic and political relationships, interests and affiliations determine the nature and functioning of social institutions and the impact or lack of impact of these relationships on social transformation and development. Public sphere. A German philosopher Jurgen Habermas (1979) argues that the modern market oriented media undermine the idea of public sphere as a place for debate where consensus can be reached on the basis of which rational actions can be taken. Criticisms of critical theory. It does not acknowledge the libertarian, informative, educational and democratizing role of media. Does not acknowledge the entertainment value of media for billions of people. Production theory has its foundation in the phenomenology and symbolic interactionism. Phenomenology is a point of departure in the social sciences from the work of the Austrian philosopher Alfred Schutz (1899-1959) Assumptions Reality is not given, but it is a structure of meanings constituted by human beings. The shared world is a pre structured word experienced inter subjectively. Symbolic internationalism centers on the process whereby meaning is socially constructed. Assumptions Reality is not given but created by human beings by virtue of their capacity to give meaning to their experiences. Meaning is embodied in symbols. On both phenomenology and symbolic interactionism emphasis is on meaning and how meaning is constructed. Semiotics is the study of signs and codes. How signs and codes convey meaning. The aim is to sharpen our critical awareness on the ways in which media use signs and codes to reflect represent and imitate aspects of reality with the purpose of conveying a message. Technological determinism This focuses on the technology of mass communication and how such technology determines the nature of mass communication and its role in society and the lives of people. Its aim is that a single cause determines all other aspects of life. Like economic determinism and biological determinism. Criticism against technological determinism. Lacks empirical support, its based on experimental research Does not acknowledge other research Information society approach concerns the role of the new media, information and communication technology in society. Its three broad enquiries are definition, characterization and description of new media, impact of Information communication on society, and policy related to new media. Post structuralist approach. s characterized by new social, economic, technological, global and cultural dynamics. Post modernity society’s structuralism emphasizes on the relationship between assign and its meaning and the role of the producer or author of texts to encode a specific meaning into texts. Post-colonial theory and Afrocentric approach seeks to situate and understand phenomena within the context of the larger and unequal g eo political histories of global and cultural power. Normative theory concerns the perceived and ideal roles of the media which are to play in a society or ought to operate if certain social values are to be observed or attained.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Advantages Of Vegetarian Diet Biology Essay

Advantages Of Vegetarian Diet Biology Essay Vegetarian diet, in the last twenty years, has become a way of life for millions of people around the world. This paper, based on secondary research, describes history and discusses aspects of vegetarian diet. Particularly, three aspects are mentioned, including a brief history of vegetarianism, benefits and drawbacks of vegetarian diet. The findings of this research indicate that vegetarian diet has positive impacts to health, environment and animal life; however, it also brings negative effects such as nutritional deficiencies and changing in lifestyle. Overall, based on the findings, the paper draws conclusion that vegetarians should build a balanced diet to keep a healthy body. Introduction Albert Einstein was a vegetarian in the last years of his life, in the letter written to Hans Muehsam on March 30 1954, he wrote: â€Å"So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It always seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivoreâ €  and vegetarian diet is believed that to be good for health. Vegetarianism, as stated in ‘Medical Dictionary Online’, â€Å"the voluntary abstinence from eating meat† and the term â€Å"vegetarian† is used to show diets that include essential plant foods and avoid animal foods. According to the Vegetarianism (Uttara, 2011), there are five main kinds of vegetarian diet: lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (includes eggs, honey, dairy products and plant foods), lacto vegetarian diet (includes honey, dairy products and plant foods), ovo vegetarian diet (includes eggs, honey and plant foods), vegan diet (includes only plant foods) and fruitarian diet (includes fruits, nuts and seeds). There are many kinds of vegetarian now that vegetarianism becomes more and more popular in over the world. A recent study (Thich 2007) found that from 1970, the number of vegetarians increases about 30%. The survey of The Vegetarian Times in the State of Illinois in the United States in 1992 among 12.4 million people, there were 8 million vegetarians. In Vietnam, W&S Company about research information online made a quick survey on 659 people in August, 2012, as a result, the popularity of vegetarians accounted for 59%. The reason why the number of vegetarians is increasing is that they believe vegetarian diet helps prevent them from diseases such as obesity, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease and other diseases. However, vegetarian diets also bring us some of drawbacks. Thus, this paper updates a brief history of vegetarianism and discusses about some advantages and disadvantages of vegetarian diet. 2. Discussion of finding 2.1. A brief history of vegetarianism According to Wikipedia, based on the earliest documents, historical development of vegetarianism started at the 6th century BC in ancient India and ancient Greece. The diet was closely hooked up to the idea of unharmed animals and was encouraged by religious groups and philosophers in both insta nces. During the ancient time, vegetarian diet was sprawled along over India, South East Asia and other areas, the overwhelming majority of vegetarians were Hindu, Jain and Buddhist. Nordqvist (2004) stated that â€Å"The conversion to Christianity of the Roman Empire virtually eliminated all traces of vegetarianism from Europe†. To the  Renaissance, vegetarianism re-emerged and became more popular in the 19th and 20th centuries. Spencer pointed out that the Vegetarian Society was first set up in England in 1847 and German, Netherlands and other European countries followed equivalent societies. The establishment of the International Vegetarian Union in 1908 made the wide development of vegetarian in Europe. Many people have changed their lifestyle by selecting vegetarian diet because of the rise in health consciousness (Null, 1996). The number of vegetarians keeps rising although it is small in comparison to the citizens in the world.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Declaration Of Indepence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Declaration Of Indepence - Essay Example Consequently, the then congress led by Thomas Jefferson resolved to defy the Britain’s orders (Maddern 534). The document comprises 27 injustices, which the Great Britain despite being aware inflicted on the natives, hence depriving them their dignity and using their own blood soldiers to unleash terror on them (Onuf 71). They also called all the 13 states to declare their sovereignty despite the involved cost by informing the colonial masters they were ready to reclaim their dignity, hence the name â€Å"Declaration of Independence† (Sabato 73). North America, which at presently is the United States of America, suffered untold severity subjected to them by Great Britain who by then was their colonial masters (Maddern 535). This entailed depriving them liberty, freedom and dignity. According to the then congress leaders led by Thomas Jefferson, Great Britain under King George III, did not value the rights of their subjects. This is despite receiving numerous grievances concerning what they were undergoing and neglecting them (Sabato 74). The condition worsened when the Great Britain started using American soldiers to unleash brutality against their own people. Hence, dehumanizing the colonists, which to them implied they do not exactly know their privileges (Onuf 71). â€Å"Declaration of Independence† document outlined 27 abuses, which the King George III used to dehumanize the natives (Onuf 71). Primarily these abuses entailed doing things and instituting certain legislation with the absence of the native’s regime consent. King George III interfered with the natives’ form of government and their judicial system (Sabato 72). Together with the parliament, he interfered with the colonies’ regime systems without their consent to the extent of imposing unfair taxes (Sabato 73). This affected severely trade among the states where the levied taxes deprived them their right of trading freely. Consequently, hindering the

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

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

Critique - Assignment Example In this context, it is clear that the model has solemn faults when used as a cognitive and psychosocial explanation of religious faith, but to some extent, it has strong points to be noted. The Stages of Faith and moral development model is characterized by Fowler’s designation of faith. He defines it as â€Å"worldwide quality of human being meaning making†. It describes the fundamental meaning-making process utilized by all individuals regardless of their beliefs. To the author, faith occurs as persons place individual loyalty and trust in or many â€Å"centers of value† such as money, religion, power, and family The model of development suggests that this structure remains uniform in spite of whether individuals are side with a spiritual or unspiritual centre of value (  Fowler 67). As a result, the faith development model centers at the psychological issues that make possible the operation of faith but does not address any detailed faith content; that is, t he specific faith beliefs and values of a given religion. The use of a structural technique by Fowler to systematize the faith developmental phases and how he defines faith are challenging in a manner. Being a structural theory, most readers assume that faith development clarify in a consistent way across hierarchical, universal, and irreversible stages. According to psychological research, development entails much more variability and a rigid stage as theory is inadequate in its capability to confine diversity and richness of religious development. Further, critics differ with the logic behind Fowler’s elimination of sacred content from the development stages of faith. The exclusion was based on the concept that faith entails trust and loyalty to centre of value and has no need of intellectual accord to any definite assertions. One scholar by the name of Jones T.P (20040 criticized this element of Fowler by arguing that Christianity involves trust and loyalty in Jesus Christ . As a centre of value, yet at the same time, it is a â€Å"content-requisite faith† that is base on recognition of certain beliefs like the existence of God, Jesus’ resurrection from the departed, and Jesus as the son of God and messiah. Agreeing to other contents and beliefs apart from Christian principles is regarded as idolatry. The weakness of Fowler’s description of faith as a worldwide construct detach from religious context is that it is contrary to faith’s definition of content requisite spiritual groups (  Fowler 70). 3 strong points of James Fowler’s theory Concrete operational thinking This is a strong idea developed in the first stage of Fowler’s theory. Affectively, the decree of oedipal factors or their immersions in latency are vital accompanying factors. In the middle of transition from one stage to another is a child’s growing concern to basically know how things are and to make clear personally the foundations of differences between what is factual and what solely seems to be. The birth of imagination This is a strong point in the first stage of Fowler’s theory. He puts forward the ability to grasp and unify the experience-world in influential images as illustrated in

Monday, August 26, 2019

Pivot Column Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pivot Column - Assignment Example The column (r) becomes an r-nth column. In a tableau the pivot column is the column that has the most negative integer. If there are no negative indicators then the tableau is already considered final and the solution is already evident. The pivot row is the row with the smallest non-negative ratio (quotient). The pivot element is the number that sits at the intersection of the column with the most negative indictor (pivot column) and the row with the smallest quotient (pivot row). The example below is from â€Å"The Simplex Method† (n.d. web). This scenario was based on three different products ( s , t, u) and three different machines required to make those products. Note all calculations are done from the basic solution that x, y, and z, (number of units per product) are all zero. The original numbers used and the full calculation can be found in the reference section. In this first set of calculations the pivot column is in blue, the pivot row is in yellow and the pivot element is in green. The pivot element is found by first selecting the pivot column (the one with the most negative indicator) – in this example it is column 1 with -6. Then the constant on the right of the bar needs to be divided by the corresponding non-zero element in the pivot column and this will give you the smallest quotient (pivot row) and the intersection of these two (row and column) will give you the pivot

Sunday, August 25, 2019

I.T Implementation Plan for ProComm Technology Solutions, an IT Term Paper

I.T Implementation Plan for ProComm Technology Solutions, an IT Consulting Company - Term Paper Example This is effectively realized through our wide range of products and services that seek to deliver a new way of handling day to day business affairs with the incorporation of IT infrastructure. Business Overview and Structure ProComm responds to a dynamic market and is therefore structured uniquely to handle the challenges that come with such changes. It consists of various departments and technical specialists organized into multidisciplinary teams. The organizational structure of ProComm is considered an adhocracy characterized by several levels of management (Laudon & Laudon). The business is characterized by a senior management staff consisting of a top CEO/President, VP/Sales & Marketing. Their role in the company is to make long-range strategic decisions about products and services as well as ensure the financial performance of the company. Middle management will consist of a Director of Sales and a Director of Operations. They carry out the programs and plans of senior manageme nt while monitoring the daily activities of the business. Knowledge workers will consist of a small team of sales people with regional territories. Their job role is to identify and interact with potential customers, make customers aware of the products and services offered and procure work for the firm. The production and service workers are the employees that actually produce and implement the services of the company. They will be led by a team leader/supervisor. Their main function is to assemble products and implement services, check for quality assurance and produce bills of materials when jobs are completed. Business Process and Services The performance of a firm depends on how well its business processes are planned and synchronized. Business processes can be a source of competitive advantage if they enable the company to execute better than its rivals. The major business functions of the company will consist of Business Process Management, Sales and Marketing, Production and Services, Finance and Accounting, and Human Resources. Business Process Management Business Process Management (BPM) is a "holistic management" approach to aligning an organization's core processes with the needs of clients. This promotes business efficiency while at the same time striving for flexible innovation, and technology integration. It makes the organization's workflow more effective, and capable of adapting to a dynamic market. Senior management will be in charge of BPM, and also have at their disposal Executive Support System functionality. The system offers a powerful management tool to gather and analyze information throughout the firm. It produces user-defined reports instantaneously, enabling decision makers at all levels to view integrated financial, clinical, and statistical information from all departments (Meditech 2010). In the middle management hierarchy the Operations manager will be entailed with a Transaction Processing System to keep track of elementary act ivities and transactions of the organization. These transactions include: sales, receipts, cash deposits, payroll, credit decisions and service flow that make up the day o day company activity. The Director of Sales will be entailed with a Decision Support System focus on problems that are unique, and the solution may not be fully predefined. They try to answer questions of possible future outcomes based on certain circumstances (Laudon & Laudon, 2010). Sales and Marketin

Analysis the case of business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Analysis the case of business law - Essay Example he employer and his/her employees is vital not only for resolving any potential employment disputes in future but for the benefit of the both parties as well. It is mandatory as per the employment law of the country which prescribes the document the sole proof for one’s employment with an employer. The law states that a contract of employment is generally referred to as a contract of service and is governed by general contractual principles as well as employment law principles and is therefore legally binding. There are two forms in which an employment contract can come into force, namely Expressed Contract and Implied Contract. Expressed contract is always preferred as there is written document with the employer and employee as to the relationship between them. An expressed employment contract may be prepared specifically as a document for the purpose or the employment hand book may be used for the purpose. Employers usually would like to add some clauses in the written contract that protect them from the threat of employees entering into business with competitors. Unlike expressed contract, implied contract does not contain any written/documented employment terms. Here, the terms of employment between the employee and employer is understood by implications. This form of contract is suggested for employment for which there is no need for any written contract as a base for future decision making. In this context, a point to be noticed is that unless otherwise expressed, the employees are obliged to work for the employer with due diligence and in such a context, the implied terms includes the following: As stated earlier, the contract of employment is mandatory as per law and the legislation which make it compulsory is the Employment Rights Act, 1996 (ERA) and the Act says that where an employee begins employment with an employer, the employer shall give to the employee a written statement of particulars of his employment within two months of the beginning of

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Write a 500 word Market Research Brief from behalf of a company of Essay

Write a 500 word Market Research Brief from behalf of a company of your choice. The brief can be developed on any kind of problem the company has or may have - Essay Example He is known to push people to accomplish goals and objectives more than they thought they could achieve. He also stretched the possibilities of hardware and software design that yielded revolutionary products of which we enjoy today that often drove his people nuts(time). He was known to become rude, [slave driver at times], unreasonable, fickle, arrogant and even took credit for other’s ideas. But despite these seeming weaknesses, Job’s leadership have undeniably drove the company from near bankruptcy to become one of the most envied companies in the world. This management style of Steve Jobs however is no longer emphasized in the present leadership of Apple. Being such, Apple is bound to have problems without a leadership that is driven to innovate because such leadership and organizational discipline that was instilled by Steve Jobs was the main factor that drove the company to excellence that produced radical innovation. Its new CEO Tim Cook did not have the same drive towards excellence nor have the genius of Jobs to think of revolutionary products that would shake the industry. And due to this shortcoming, he is more predisposed towards what he calls as â€Å"incrementalism† which is essentially just to make things better what Steve Jobs already did. And this new leadership is dangerous to the company because it is one of the management traps that lead a company into a downfall. This is the management leadership trap that Robert Schaeffer articulated in the article â€Å"Mistakes Leaders Keep Making† of failing to pu sh for significant improvement for fear that people are already overwhelmed (2010). As a result, Apple is no longer growing and its former competitive edge of being radically innovative is no longer there. In an industry where change happens at a dizzying pace and products become obsolete overnight, doing the same thing even better is problematic because it

Friday, August 23, 2019

Buddhism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Buddhism - Research Paper Example Siddhartha got distressed by all the sufferings around him and decided to leave his family and all the material comforts he possessed, and set out on a wondering life. It was in this journey that he sat under the Bodhi tree and staunchly decided not to move until he got enlightenment (Harvey 45). Buddha decided to leave the palace at the age of 29 on four different occasions to explore. During his first visit outside the palace, he witnessed an old man who was bent over and had problems walking when Siddhartha passed by; the man faced him, his red eyes squinting from his terribly wrinkled old face. In his second trip, he saw a sick man, crying in pain. On his third outing, Siddhartha came upon a corpse. He was saddened by these sights of sickness, old age and death. On his fourth outing, he met a monk who inspired him to leave the palace and all his mundane possessions, including his wife and son (Harvey 46). He sought to understand more about life and why human beings suffer, and ho w he would help in ending suffering in the world. During his enlightenment, he found the power to observe his former life, the power to see the rebirth of all forms, power to see death as well as the realization that he had left all the desires and ignorance that he had possessed. He had by all ways become a Buddha, meaning the â€Å"awakened one†. ... The Basic Tenets of Buddhism Reincarnation According to Buddhism, human beings possess the ability to get free from sufferings by observing, meditation and cultivating a lifestyle as prescribed by Buddha. Buddha gave a number of teachings known as Dharma. The wheel is a distinguished symbol in Buddhism since it depicts the perpetual cycle of life and death. According to Buddhism, after human beings die, they are born in a new form. They could either take the form of a deity, a human being, a ghost, an animal or even an inhabitant of hell. It is the belief that all the positive thoughts and people’s actions bring good karma, and may direct an individual into getting reborn in a higher form. The consequences caused by a person’s negative deeds, or evil karma, may lead to rebirth in a lower form (Gethin 22). Buddhism as a religion does not agree with the existence of a permanent self that will reincarnate from this life to the next. The assumption of an existing self gets created by the following five aggregates: Skandha, that suffers from a constant becoming and possesses a functional cause-effect relation; the body is the material form. Feeling, or Vedanta, is the sensation that develops from the sense organs in the body. Cognition, or sanna, is the process of classifying and labeling of experiences. Mental constructions, or Sankara, are the states that initiate action. Consciousness, or vijnana, is the awareness of a mental or sensory object. These five elements become impermanent, pass constant transformation, and have no abiding principle or the self. All human beings think that they got a self because of the consciousness. However, consciousness by being in a constant process of becoming and

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Finance Essay Example for Free

Finance Essay Quiz 1 1. The raw fundamental data on the human genome cannot be patented but the genes and gene-based discoveries can. 2. The map of the human genome produced by Collins and his co-workers is available from the internet for free all over the world. In other words, the map of the human genome created by the HGP is a public good. 3. Celera genomics has no patent over the human genome. However, celera does have proprietary rights over its version of that genome. It is private good. Quiz 2 1. Any new idea applicable to the essential function of finance is termed a financial innovation. This is the loosest possible definition of financial innovation. Credit card automatic teller machines venture capital firms. 2. The distinguishing feature of ‘modern banking’ emerges from the financial innovation known as ‘securitization,’ namely: banks pool assets (from mortgages to car loans) and sell the repackaged assets. Securitized debt’ is one of the financial innovations at the heart of the financial crisis 2007-08, and refers to the creation of bonds of different seniority (known as ‘tranches’) that are fixed-income claims backed by collateral in the form of large portfolios of loans (mortgages, car loans, credit cards, etc.). 3. The CDSs are insurance contracts. The main function of the CDSs is to hedge against default. More specifically, the buyer of the CDS makes payments to the seller in order to receive protection. The buyer re ceives a payment if a credit instrument (for example, a loan or a bond) goes into default or in the case of a specified credit event such as bankruptcy. In particular, CDSs allow people to insure against the failure of new-fangled financial products. Quiz 3 1. Real A financial innovation that provides economically valuable benefits constitutes a real financial innovation. Concrete examples of real financial innovations are the Credit Card and the ATM. Nominal Nominal financial innovations are financial instruments that increase compensation without providing lasting economic benefits. Toxic A toxic (or economically malignant) financial innovation is a nominal financial innovation which singly or jointly with other financial innovations provokes a financial crisis. Sub-prime mortgage innovation. It is generally agreed that the sub-prime mortgage innovation in combination with other financial innovations and factors led to the financial crisis 2007-08, and thus, the sub-prime mortgage is an example of toxic financial innovation. Quiz 5 1. Risk means that we can compute the probability distribution of a particular event. For example, when you buy a lottery ticket there is ‘risk’ in the sense that you can compute the probability of winning a prize. Uncertainty means that the probability distribution of an event cannot be computed because there is not enough information. For example, suppose that you buy a ‘scratchy’ that offers among other prizes a maximum reward of $250,000 and that you want to compute the probability of winning this prize after one day of the release of the ‘scratchies.’ In this case, you experience ‘uncertainty’ because you have no way of knowing whether someone else has already won the maximum prize, and therefore, you cannot compute a unique probability of success. 2. The fundamental reason serving to account for the metamorphosis of risk into Knightian uncertainty can be easily understood: the investors (for example, mutual funds) who bought t he CDOs had no real comprehension of the size and location of the risks underlying these financial products. Quiz 6 1. The loosest possible definition of ‘shadow banking system’ is ‘the collection of financial institutions and activities that in some respects resemble banking activities but are subject to less regulation than commercial banks.’ 2. The investor lends $D for interest (i %) to the financial firm and requires collateral.The financial firm gives CDOs as collateral and agrees to recuperate the CDOs some time later for $E, where E = D +iD The preceding financial trade is known as ‘sale repurchase agreement,’ or briefly, ‘repo’ agreement

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The first organisation I collected two documents from was Vodafone Essay Example for Free

The first organisation I collected two documents from was Vodafone Essay 1. INTRODUCTION This report was specially made to describe, compare and evaluate two different standard business documents from three different organisations, a total of six documents. I was asked for the first unit to gather these documents, to clearly and accurately explain their purpose and to identify the common elements of similar documents for example: use of boxes, headings, gaps between headings and logos etc. I was also asked to compare the documents and accurately evaluate the god and bad points about writing and presentation styles (formal/informal, blocked or indented style, method of emphasis such as underlining, italics and bold writing. It is also important for me to comment on their suitability for purpose and to suggest how they could be improved. I will then produce an in depth report which enabled me to show effective skills in the appropriate use of software facilities to automatic aspects of my document production, such as bullet and numbering, paragraph and heading styles and standardised layout. 2. Organisation One: Vodafone The first organisation I collected two documents from was Vodafone. The documents I collected were a letter from Vodafone and a leaflet of Vodafone top up. 2.1 Vodafone Letter The purpose of this document is to inform customers of Vodafone PLC about the latest polyphonic ring tones available. The layout of the letter is A5 page that has been printed on both sides. On the first side the following information is displayed: The document has a Wide screen television visual out the outer parts of the letter with a man snow boarding in some snowy mountains and then under this it states Starring below this it states the name of person it has been addressed to. On the second side the following information is displayed: The right hand side a line has been drawn to separate the actual content with the address of where it is purposed to go, a postage paid sign in the top right hand corner and diagonally in small text an address the document should be sent to if it is undelivered. On the left hand side the text is laid out like a letter using paragraphs and clear headings above the paragraphs. There is also a flow chart diagram of what to do if the receiver of the letter would like to purchase ring tones or pictures via the internet. Below this a line has been drawn and in smaller text it states the terms conditions of purchasing ring tones and that downloading ma restricted in some countries. This document is similar to the other letters as it is notifying it customers the products and services available to its customers. The documents have all used paragraphs to make the document easier to reader. The good points that about this document is that its initial headings have been typed in bold colour red and that the information given in the letter has been shown in either a paragraph or a flow chart diagram with links to the next step with a writing style that is clear to read. As the diagram has been made efficient with the use of arrows appropriate boxes and pictures. The bad points about this document are that the whole document should be changed as the actual information that has to be notified to the customer is not clearly emphasised as the address column has taken up too much space foe what is actually needed and also that the address could have been printed on the other side where the big picture is printed. The method that this letter has been distributed for is not good, and the product that the company is trying to sell has not been emphasised enough. I think this document is not suitable for its purpose. 2.2 Vodafone Top up Leaflet The purpose of this document is to inform customers about the electronic way of topping up your credits on your mobile phone. Also about how to linking your E-TopUp card with your mobile. The layout of this leaflet is A6 page that has been printed on both sides. On the first side the following information is displayed: The document has a red front cover with in the top two corners logos of Vodafone and the TOP-UP log that can be found on outlets that offer electronic top up. Between these two logos in white font it says How are you? below this is an outline of a white speech bubble and inside the bubble it states, Im ready to TopUp. On the second side the following information is displayed: The background of the document on this page is white. The first paragraph is in a red font and slightly larger font is a brief introduction about the topic of the leaflet. Underneath in small black font it says that top up is easy to use and that card is simple and secure. The second paragraph in a bold red font says The benefits of topping up with your new swipe card, underneath this in a smaller black font it states the benefits. The third and final paragraph in a slightly larger red and bold it says Linking you E-Top swipe card to your mobile, underneath this in a smaller black font it bullet point the stages of how to link your swipe card with your mobile. On the third side the following information is displayed: The background of the document on this page is white. The first paragraph heading states in a red and bold font about how the swipe card scheme works. Underneath in a smaller size text bullet points about how the actual swipe card scheme operates. The second paragraph heading says in a slightly larger red and bold font Existing E-TopUp swipe card customers, underneath this in a smaller black font it offers customers to have personalise top up cards with there phone number on the card stated. On the fourth side the following information is displayed: The background of the document on this page is red with white font. It states in bold font Where you can use your E-TopUp swipe card, underneath this in smaller font a list of large retailing outlets such as Argos but also where ever the shown signs are displayed. Underneath this in a smaller text states Vodafones Terms and Conditions of using there top up swipe cards, with a large Vodafone logo outlined in white in the bottom right hand corner of the leaflet. The good points about this document is that it uses the same colour co-ordination throughout the document but also the colours used contrasted together so the text could easily be read and the were the companies colours used on logos. The information text was cleverly spaced out with every paragraph was about a different aspects of using the swipe card. The leaflet did not for second go of task about what the leaflet wanted to achieve and the information needed by the customers. The bad points about this document are that the Terms and Conditions were in very small text that was hard to read; this was as Vodafone were hiding some not so good information about the swipe card. I think this document is suitable for its purpose. 3. Organisation two: Halifax The second organisation I collected two documents from was Halifax. The documents I collected were a letter from Halifax and a leaflet of Halifax, The facts and figures. 3.1 Halifax Letter The purpose of this document is to inform customers about their new bank account and the ways they can withdraw and bank money into their new current account. The letter is on a single A4 page that has been printed on one side. The background of the document of this page is white. In the top right hand corner is the Halifax logo and the address of its headquarters. The first paragraph heading starts off saying Dear Customer, Welcome to Halifax!, In a black font. Underneath in the same sized font says Enclosed you will find your, and then bullet pointed below stating the objects that have come with the letter. The second paragraph starts with a bold blue text stating how to get started with your new account. Then it states a step-by-step guide how to activate your credit card. The third paragraph starts with a heading in a bold and blue font giving information about the credit card PIN number. The good points about this document are that it has initial headings have been typed in bold above every new paragraph for emphasis and that the information given in the letter has been shown in either a bullet point or numbered form with a writing style clear to read. The bad points about this document are that there are headings in a letter making the subject of the different sections hard to identify. I think this document is suitable for its purpose. 3.2 Halifax Leaflet The purpose of this document is to inform customers about the great savings customers can make on home and travel insurance. The layout of this leaflet is C5 page that has been printed on both sides. On the first side the following information is displayed: The background of this page is white with contrasting blue and green at the top and bottom of the page. On the left hand side of the page in a bold blue text saying Were offering some great savings on your home and travel insurance, with great savings highlighted in a green colour. Underneath this in blue are the Halifax logo and message. On the right hand side of the page is a man wearing glasses in a hot air balloon waving. On the second side the following information is displayed: The background of this page is white with a picture on the right hand side of the page with a man skiing in mid air contrasting with the white background. On the left in a bold green text if says Annual Travel Insurance from under à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½44*. Underneath this in a small black font a paragraph stating that Multi -trip cover can offer you great value for money and bullet pointed is the savings you could make. On the third side the following information is displayed: The background of this page is white with a table outlined and shaded in green. On the left is a table of the different covers you could buy ranging from 17 days to 12 months. On the right in a small black font is the rating of there annual travel insurance done by an independent market research company and their company logo. Underneath the terms and conditions of annual cover. Underneath this in a large blue font is a phone number for travel insurance or the website you could visit to find out more. On the fourth side the following information is displayed: The background of this page is white with a picture of a man in bed relating in bed. Top of the page is a bold and green heading saying how much you could save on home insurance. On the left is a picture of the man in bed. On the right in a small black text was bullet pointed the great discounts and benefits available. On the right is a small logo saying Home insurance 2003 with five stars, this that Halifax has been rated five stars for Building and Contents cover for product features and benefits by Defaqto, an independent market research company. Underneath this in a large blue font is a phone number for Home insurance or the website you could visit to find out more. On the fifth side the following information is displayed: The background of this page is blue with a picture of a man pointing at the title a the top of the page which is in a bold and green font says Call now to see how much you could save. Underneath this in a slightly smaller white font it states Halifax Insurance GREAT SAVINGS to be made beneath this in a smaller white font it offers some impressive savings by saying how much you could save up to on Insurance with Halifax. On the sixth side the following information is displayed: The background of this page is blue. The heading says Great savings from Halifax insurance in a bold green font, with ways you could contact Halifax either by telephone or Internet. Underneath it states Halifaxs Terms and Conditions stating that some phone calls will be recorded for so purpose. In the bottom right hand corner the Halifax logo. The good points about this document are that information is clearly displayed with the use of tables and headings, making the information more interesting to read than a long essay. The bad points about this document are that some of the text could be made a bit bigger so it could read easier. A lot of information is squashed into a small space. I think this document is suitable for its purpose. As it is well designed to sell a service to a potential customer. 4. Organisation Three: Procter Gamble UK The third organisation I collected two documents from was Procter Gamble UK, which owns the beauty, range Olay. The documents I collected were a letter promoting Olay regenerist and a leaflet of the actual Olay regenerist products. 4.1 Olay regenrist Letter The purpose of this document is to inform customers of Gamble Procter UK promoting their new beauty range called Olay regenerist. The layout of the letter is A4 page that has been printed on one side. The background of the document of this page is white with a border at the top of the page. In the top right hand corner is an image of the Olay regenerist range of products. On the left of the page is the Olay logo with a bubble in red saying new. Underneath this is the address of where the letter is going to. The first paragraph has a red bold heading asking the customer Is cosmetic surgery just a step too far you? Underneath in a small black text is explanation of the percentage of women who would not have cosmetic surgery. The second paragraph is introducing the new products available from Olay. The third paragraph is offering a à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 free voucher that is attached to the bottom of the page. The good points about this document are that it has initial headings have been typed in bold above every new paragraph for emphasis. There is only information that is needed by the consumer such as what the product can do to your skin. The bad points about this document are that there are headings in a letter making the subject of the different sections hard to identify. Also that there are numbers above and under the address that have no significance what so ever, that spoil the overall image of the letter. I think this document is suitable for its purpose. As it is well designed to sell a product to a potential customer, as there is a à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5off voucher from anything purchased within the Olay brand. 4.2 Olay regenerist Leaflet The purpose of this document is to inform customers of Gamble Procter UK promoting their new beauty range called Olay regenerist. The layout of the leaflet is B3 page that has been printed on both sides. On the first side the following information is displayed: The background of this page is black. On the left is a picture of the new Olay regenerist products with a light shining over the products reflecting the silver tray that the products are in. Above this in a white font is says, If youre of cosmetic surgery try this first! underneath is a logo of Red magazine. At the bottom of the page is the logo of OLAY. On the second side the following information is displayed: The background of this page is black with a picture in the centre of a lady and a step-by-step guide of how her skin colour can change into looking younger in just three weeks. Above is a red bubble saying new and next to this regenerist the logo. On the right is reminding the customer about their à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 money off coupon can experience the benefits of younger looking skin. On the left is a short paragraph in a white and large font about what the new product contains such as green tea. Underneath this is a white line going across the page with OLAY logo in both of the bottom corner with in the centre in small text money back, if not satisfied. On the third side is the following information is displayed: The background of this page is black. At the top of the page is a red bubble saying new and the regenerist logo. On the left is a picture of the regenerist products. On the left is a bullet pointed list of the products shown in the picture and an explanation that the products can be used together or singularly. Underneath this is a white line drawn across the page the address of the owners and headquarters of Olay and on the right an Olay logo. The good points about this document is that it uses the same colour co-ordination throughout the document but also the colours used contrasted together so the text could easily be read. The information text was cleverly spaced out. The bad points about this document are that the page fold was slightly to the right hand side of the page and not in the middle. I think the leaflet was a bit too much spaced out. I think this document is suitable for its purpose. 5. Conclusion Overall most of the documents reviewed in this report have followed a basic business layout. All documents stick to one writing style and font throughout the entire document, which shows consistency and is less confusing. The language used in the documents is a formal language because of its purpose.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Why Use Social Media?

Why Use Social Media? There is no longer a question on the power of social media in driving all types of businesses forward. No matter what type of industry you operate in, you will find that there are far too important benefits to be ignored. With the full understanding of the abilities of each social media and complete guidelines on how to best use them to your advantage, it is now up to you on how you can fully maximize its benefits for your business. Today, social media platforms have invaded and taken over public consciousness. It has become a big part of day to day routines and an indispensable communication tool for people to connect and stay in touch. Consumers have used social media presence as one of the integral basis of a companys legitimacy, reliability and viability. Businesses today are judged based on their Facebook or LinkedIn profiles, and consumers expect companies to respond to the concerns and queries they have tweeted within the day or within the hour. Suffice it to say, social media has managed to steal the thunder away from traditional marketing methods. Modern marketing strategies today have a mix of social media tactics as its integral component for reaching business goals. What is Social Media These days, social media is the buzz word in marketing and a global trend that has gotten everyone of every age engrossed in one, two and possibly even several social media sites. Everyone is on it, in one form or another. But what is it exactly? Social Media Explained in Plain English The term social media has been carelessly tossed around and used too often in online marketing. But what is it really about? In essence, social media incorporates the use of online technologies and methods that allow people to share personal opinions, content as well as swap insights and perspectives with the rest of the world. Social media content can take different shapes and forms: Text often used to write or put across personal opinions or posts Images photos are used to display anything of interest Why Use Social Media Social media has paved the way to a more powerful communication channel for companies to publish their marketing messages all without the exorbitant cost. While we all know social networks is generally used by businesses to engage their target market and study consumer preferences and behaviors, the truth is, it has other equally powerful features that you can incorporate into your marketing strategy, with highly rewarding payoff at that. Here are other areas in your business that you can apply social media to drive success: Customer Service -The ability to respond and react quickly is very critical in todays market, especially in influencing and changing perceptions. Even if a concern has not been resolved immediately, customers will feel their issues were acknowledged and given attention in a timely manner. This is yet another effect of the actualization of an account. This is actually what humanizes the social media. It gives reality to the virtual account; relationships can only be established if a workmate accepts a connection from another worker employed by the same company. Real time conversations happen another benefit of the social media that comes in different forms. As more and more companies and brands readily include their product offers in the social media experience, a growing number of consumers have grown increasingly comfortable with the idea of social commerce. When to use Social Media To effectively use social media to your full advantage, it is important to take time and learn how the ecosystem works and the emerging habits of the social consumers. Recruitment and Retention A lot of employees today decide on whether they want to be a part of an organization or not based on information derived from social networks. It can also present a powerful tool in sourcing social channels that exists through professional networks. Recruitment and Retention A lot of employees today decide on whether they want to be a part of an organization or not based on information derived from social networks. It can also present a powerful tool in sourcing social channels that exists through professional networks. Internal Communications and Collaboration Small and large organizations can largely benefit from social media, in terms of file sharing, collaborative editing and knowledge sharing. Who Uses Social Media According to the Social Media Marketing Report for 2010, an estimated 67% of marketers have actively increased and strengthened their social media channels. As more and more companies work on integrating social media into their corporate marketing and communication plans, there is a growing emphasis for creating a winning social media strategy. Without any semblance of a plan or strategy, your presence might as well be nonexistent or muted. Twitter According to Edison Research, 40% of the total time people are on Twitter are spent on learning about certain products and services or reading/getting feedback from what others have to say about them as well as share personal opinions and experiences. Facebook According to ExactTarget, the primary reason why people LIKE a Facebook page is to establish a sales relationship with a specific brand, through the following: to receive promotions and coupons (40%), derive instant updates on upcoming sales (30%), and to show support for certain brands or companies (30%) Growth of Social Media Social media is very complex and a constantly evolving medium. Its no wonder why many businesses struggle to figure it out and keep up. While a number have enjoyed quantifiable success, there are also many who failed, and the rest have still yet to figure out their social media strategy. When to use Facebook Great Exposure. With millions of users, Facebook offers unrivalled potential for exposure. When used strategically and consistently, Facebook can contribute to the significant increase in your companys online presence and visibility. Post comments, provide insights, advice and tips to earn respect and credibility in your network, and ultimately gain leverage. Provide Regular Updates. Facebook offers you a convenient way to update your network on new products, promotions, and general information about your company to stay fresh and relevant in the minds of your market. Enhance Customer Service. Consumers these days prefer real-time response to queries and concerns. The Facebook page for your business offers a convenient and accessible option for your market to reach you. When to use LinkedIn for your Organization Increase visibility. By establishing connections, you also increase your exposure and visibility. Whether you offer a product or service or both, you profile may be made available to people interested to doing business with, forge partnerships or hire services. Improve network. Connect with people from past acquaintances, people from your school, past companies, affiliations, and those who share your passions and interests. Improve Google PageRank. LinkedIn allows its users to publish and make their profile information available for search engines to index. LinkedIn profiles rank high in Google, so its a great and effective way to influence other peoples perception when they search for you. Enhance search engine results. Aside from your personal profile, you can promote your company website and blog to search engines through your LinkedIn account through the pre-selected categories such as My Website and My Company. Scope out the competition, partners and customers. LinkedIn is one perfect way to keep tabs on your competition as well as partners and customers. Highlight recommendations and reviews. LinkedIn is more like a living, breathing resume of professionals that comes complete with recommendation from people you have worked with and worked for in the past. This presents a wonderful opportunity to secure business reviews as well as the specific products and services you offer. When to use Twitter for your Organization Connect with your customers. This is the primary reason why you should make use of twitter for your business. Twitter has become so much a part of everyones daily routine, its the perfect venue to connect, interact, and study your target marker. Branding. In Twitter, you dont have to be in the league of Nike, Dell or Starbucks to brand and generate interest. In fact, it presents the best platform for small businesses and startups to reach their target niche. Customer feedback. If any customer is dissatisfied with a certain product or service, he/she will no doubt tweet about it. In this sense, Twitter is a reliable resource to derive feedbacks and opinions, as well as study consumer behaviors and preferences. Marketing. With its wide reach, you can use Twitter to market products and/or services to a wider market and the best part is, its free. News. Twitter is the best and fastest way to publish latest updates about your company without the need to compose long, elaborate content. Marketing schemes and promotions. If you have existing promos and exclusive deals, let your network know about it. Everyone loves a good deal. In fact, a lot of companies have conducted contests and promos exclusively for their Twitter followers to engage their market. When to use Google + for your Organization Free SEO Boost. Businesses can use search referrals for conversions. Google+ is built to influence search for people who have included a certain business in their Circle. This offers a great opportunity to get free promotion from people who like and use the product to people who share similar interests. Host Hangouts. The powerful chat function presents a great opportunity for businesses in engaging their customers and thought leaders in a more personal way. In addition, companies that operate from multiple locations can conveniently collaborate and share information and files such as spreadsheets and documents. Expand Distribution of Content. Google+ is a great platform to expand the publication of content distribution. It can be a great way tool to hosts contest and giveaways along with other promotions. Connect with Tech-Savvy Audience. People who are in Google+ are the early adopters of new technologies, a criterion which presents an ideal target market for many businesses. Segment Your Audience. One great advantage of Google+ is the option to share content with specific audiences through Circles. This makes it easier for businesses to segment their market and share content to certain followers. Expand Your Network. Be able to gather data and research on relevant contacts like potential clients and influential personalities in the industry. When to use Pinterest for your Organization Pinterest users rely on images to create a connection. The concept is more like a YouTube only that photographs are pinned, repined and utilized to establish a connection. The beauty of Pinterest is that people can get to develop relationships based on captured images rather than common school or location or unique status updates. If an individual pins a picture, which is liked by another, then a connection can easily be established. More than answering the need to be socially relevant, Pinterest is becoming relevant in marketing as well. It is becoming a reliable source for links that can actually create a consumer base for different brands. It offers an attractive front page, engaging enough for an individual to follow links that will actually convert into sales. Any individual who wants to learn about a business, a thing or simply an interest can easily find individual sites that teach, shares and allows one to share it too.

Monday, August 19, 2019

My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy on Education Statement

Philosophy of Education The field of teaching is one of undoubted complexity that has questioned the nature of students, knowledge, and education since the beginning of time. Due to the dynamic and controversial quality of this area, it is necessary for a prospective teacher to develop his or her personal philosophy of education, whether it is a hodge-podge of several standard examples or one clear viewpoint. My own philosophy derives from a little bit of each of the five basic philosophies with essentialism marginally coming on top and existentialism representing the least of my teaching attitudes. These aspects influence my personal views of the nature of students and knowledge, and the purpose of education, what I think will be my methodology of teaching, and how I feel about what should be included in curriculum and why. In order to be an objective, encouraging teacher, I believe that the students should be viewed in the best light as possible. Rousseau’s theory of the "noble savage" exemplifies this point that people are basically good. Although religiously speaking, I have been taught the sinful nature of humans, I cannot hold this against my students as free will provides the stipulation that people do will do what they want to do. Therefore, guidance is important to steer students toward desirable qualities such as appreciation for learning and responsibility. This guidance should accompany the mindset of giving them the benefit of the doubt. If a teacher starts classes thinking the students are naturally difficult and reluctant to learn, the outcome of achievement does not bode well, according to the Pygmalion effect. Thus my view of student nature combines the notion of the presumed receptive student and the beha... ...in preparation for the future and unforeseen circumstances. It is true that plans may change, but a guideline is helpful at this point to ensure the right steps are being taken toward my desired goals. I do not mean for my educational philosophy to be so confusing or contradictory by including so many mixed elements. But, right now, I do not want to discredit any principles that I find remotely noteworthy that may end up being crucial components of my approach. In addition, I sincerely doubt my philosophy will be completely unchanging, even as I embark on my professional career. Nevertheless, I look forward to all the experiences and philosophical exposure that will continue to shape my way of thinking so that I truly can be the best teacher I can be. Works Cited: Woolfolk, A. (2004). Educational Psychology: Ninth Edition. Boston: The Ohio State University.

My Philosophy of Teaching Essay -- Philosophy of Education Teachers Es

My Philosophy of Teaching Teaching is a daunting task that I do not intend to take lightly. Becoming a teacher has been a dream of mine for several years. I always knew that teaching would be the career for me, especially when I began working in the school system as a substitute secretary. I loved working in the school environment; coming in contact with children everyday made me realize how much I would enjoy teaching a classroom full of students. Teachers play such an important role in a child’s life, sometimes being their only source of encouragement and support. As a teacher, I want to know my students – their personality, learning style, and academic level, so I can meet their needs and create the best learning environment possible. The definition of the word â€Å"educate† is: â€Å"to develop the faculties and powers of (a person) by instruction or schooling.† I believe the key word in this definition is â€Å"power.† As a teacher, I must find several ways to unleash that power in a child’s mind; I must motivate, inspire, and encourage my students. â€Å"Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.† (William B. Yeats) The purpose of education is to teach the basics of knowledge and to challenge each individual to learn. The realization that I will have the power to make a difference in a child’s life is sometimes overwhelming. This remarkable fact gives me a stronger purpose – to be a positive role model for my students. Being an effective teacher is truly an awesome responsibility. Instead of seeing students as partially full vessels waiting to be filled, teachers should conceive their work as creating learning situations where students can build their own knowledge through an a... ... and the world of the child. I plan to graduate from Concord College in the Spring of 2004. After graduation, I hope to begin teaching for the Wyoming County Board of Education. While teaching, I will pursue my Master's Degree at Concord. I am so excited about one day teaching our children. My goal is to be a positive influence on a child and I cannot imagine anything more important to do with my life than helping children. A quote from Herbert Kohl sums up my feelings of becoming an educator: â€Å"I believe the impulse to teach is fundamentally altruistic and represents a desire to share what you value and to empower others. I am not talking about the job of teaching so much as the calling to teach. Most teachers I know have felt that calling at some time in their lives.† My dream is to someday soon fulfill my calling.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Abortion is Seriously Wrong Essay -- essays research papers

Abortion is Seriously Wrong Many clinics provide abortion services for women with unplanned or uncontrollable pregnancies. Some women find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy rather than an uncontrollable one. Unplanned in fact that a contraceptive failed, or may not have been easily accessible: uncontrolled in the sense of factors being greater than limited contraception. Abortion has been performed in many clinics as a treatment for unfit or unhealthy women, and for women who may have been molested or raped. Abortion shouldn’t be used as a form of contraception, nor should women’s lives be sacrificed to bear an infant before morally ready to commit. If a woman is raped, and the outcome incurs pregnancy, then abortion is an alternate form of controlling the unwanted pregnancy. Abortion should stand as only the woman’s choice, never as a decision adverse to Pro-Life activists. Pro-Choice advocates seem to vindicate abortion, accepting that abortion is not considered a form of birth contr ol, but merely a method of controlling the woman and fetus future. Women are the sole determinate persons in stating if they are capable of withholding a full term pregnancy. As an advocate of women’s right’s to Pro choice, I am extending my viewpoints to you in this proposition. Many people have their opinions on abortion, usually being one extreme or the other. Advocates or Pro choice often finds themselves swaying their opinions of when abortion is morally ethical dependent upon the controlling factors. Advocates of Pro Life are consistently perusing abortion, stating that it is morally wrong, and unethical in all matters, even if the pregnancy is inadvertent. There are factors remaining in today’s society that are very forthcoming and are unanticipated by women in the prevention of pregnancy. If medical doctors abolished the procedure, or if the government made it even more difficult to obtain an abortion, we wouldn’t be supporting the righteousness of many women in the U.S. today. If contraception, in all forms, were 100% effective, then abortion could be abolished. Until medical research and testing finds a foolproof cont raceptive, abortion is morally permissible because of obvious factors that are uncontrollable. For those whom agree that abortion is an ethical procedure, there are some instances where it is morally questionable. Does an inopportune pregnancy al... ...fective means of birth control available yet, to the public. If there were, then abortion could be abolished, and unwanted pregnancies wouldn’t occur. In conclusion, abortion is the intentional termination of pregnancy resulting in the death of the fetus. A fetus is a person and has a right to life. I believe Immanuel Kant would suggest that maybe a woman has a duty to abort a child for the mere fact that she has a duty not to bring that child into the world. On the other hand, he might state that she has a duty to give that child the right to live life to the fullest. The child may lead a prosperous life that leads to happiness and aborting it would deprive that. We as people have a moral duty to do what is ethically correct for the greatest amount of people. Utilitarianism is acting so as to produce the greatest possible balance of good over bad for everyone affected by our actions according to John Stuart Mill (51). Legalizing abortion affects us all. If no one were able to have an abortion, then everyone would have an equal right to life. Who is to say that is not for the greatest balance of good over bad for everyone. Abortion is seriously wrong except perhaps in rare cases. Abortion is Seriously Wrong Essay -- essays research papers Abortion is Seriously Wrong Many clinics provide abortion services for women with unplanned or uncontrollable pregnancies. Some women find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy rather than an uncontrollable one. Unplanned in fact that a contraceptive failed, or may not have been easily accessible: uncontrolled in the sense of factors being greater than limited contraception. Abortion has been performed in many clinics as a treatment for unfit or unhealthy women, and for women who may have been molested or raped. Abortion shouldn’t be used as a form of contraception, nor should women’s lives be sacrificed to bear an infant before morally ready to commit. If a woman is raped, and the outcome incurs pregnancy, then abortion is an alternate form of controlling the unwanted pregnancy. Abortion should stand as only the woman’s choice, never as a decision adverse to Pro-Life activists. Pro-Choice advocates seem to vindicate abortion, accepting that abortion is not considered a form of birth contr ol, but merely a method of controlling the woman and fetus future. Women are the sole determinate persons in stating if they are capable of withholding a full term pregnancy. As an advocate of women’s right’s to Pro choice, I am extending my viewpoints to you in this proposition. Many people have their opinions on abortion, usually being one extreme or the other. Advocates or Pro choice often finds themselves swaying their opinions of when abortion is morally ethical dependent upon the controlling factors. Advocates of Pro Life are consistently perusing abortion, stating that it is morally wrong, and unethical in all matters, even if the pregnancy is inadvertent. There are factors remaining in today’s society that are very forthcoming and are unanticipated by women in the prevention of pregnancy. If medical doctors abolished the procedure, or if the government made it even more difficult to obtain an abortion, we wouldn’t be supporting the righteousness of many women in the U.S. today. If contraception, in all forms, were 100% effective, then abortion could be abolished. Until medical research and testing finds a foolproof cont raceptive, abortion is morally permissible because of obvious factors that are uncontrollable. For those whom agree that abortion is an ethical procedure, there are some instances where it is morally questionable. Does an inopportune pregnancy al... ...fective means of birth control available yet, to the public. If there were, then abortion could be abolished, and unwanted pregnancies wouldn’t occur. In conclusion, abortion is the intentional termination of pregnancy resulting in the death of the fetus. A fetus is a person and has a right to life. I believe Immanuel Kant would suggest that maybe a woman has a duty to abort a child for the mere fact that she has a duty not to bring that child into the world. On the other hand, he might state that she has a duty to give that child the right to live life to the fullest. The child may lead a prosperous life that leads to happiness and aborting it would deprive that. We as people have a moral duty to do what is ethically correct for the greatest amount of people. Utilitarianism is acting so as to produce the greatest possible balance of good over bad for everyone affected by our actions according to John Stuart Mill (51). Legalizing abortion affects us all. If no one were able to have an abortion, then everyone would have an equal right to life. Who is to say that is not for the greatest balance of good over bad for everyone. Abortion is seriously wrong except perhaps in rare cases.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

A successful family life prepares one for lasting friendships Essay

The family is the basic unit in a society. It is vital in shaping the future of an individual because it is the support system that holds the individual on to. The family is the first teachers in the life of a child. This is where the child is honed with its character, values and beliefs in life. They are the inspiration to any endeavour of an individual (buzzle. com). On the other hand, friends too are as important as the family. They are the support which most hold dear onto. They can be included as part of the family because they are regarded as close to everyone. Creating or making friends with anyone is a fruit of the family values which was incurred over time. This was not an inborn character of anyone but was learned through the teachings of the family and the character that is shown by the parents to their children. Making friends is not also an easy task. You have the option to choose whom do you want to make friends with. Friends do things together. They are friends because they saw in each other the values they look for in a person. This is not an easy task though. But more than friends it will entail a lot. Friendship requires trust, loyalty, having common interest and believing that no matter what happens they will be there for each other for the rest of their lives. This is difficult, yes, but it is true also that this should be taken into account by anyone who is serious with keeping friends for life (Ellison, C. 1990, p 298). A lot has been written about the issue on family and friendships but never delve deeper into it. In one of the topics that should be taken is that a successful family life prepares one for lasting friendships. I will be listing the reasons why still the family is vital factor in changing someone’s values, character and beliefs, their interaction with other people Family, as what I have mentioned earlier, is the shaper of the future of a child. Parents in particular teach their child to be more interactive. From the time they are born into this world they are taught how to make friends with other kids. One of the activities that are done is activities that require get-together of the neighbourhood kids. Even before they are born they are friends already because their moms or their dads are friends. This is how they start the friendship of the kids (Ellison, C. 1990, 299-300). In a happy family life, friendship is started among the siblings. They show to the kids that they are treated the same. They are treated fairly whatever happens because the parents want to show to their kids that they are unique and possess unique characters. They are taught how to share with their other siblings. They always inculcate in the minds of the children that they need people; they need friends in the long run. It is often said that it is okay to be alone sometimes but it is not okay to be lonely that is why maybe friends are created (Ellison, C. 1990, 302). The family prepares an individual how to deal life’s challenges in the long run. In the family, they are taught with chores where their patience, trust and loyalty will be tested. This may not be known to the kids but their parents are shaping them to be a better person as they go out to the world where there are many challenges they will encounter (Ellison, C. 1990, p 305-306). The family builds the self-esteem of a child. Making them unique in any way is very important in boosting the self-esteem and confidence of a child. Weighing things whenever they make mistake is very important in building their self-esteem especially when they are asked to explain things why they did those things. Through this they will be given the chance to explain and discuss what they want their parents know. This will build also the confidence to any child to open up to their parents not thinking of getting scolded by the parents (Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998 p. 315). For a friendship to lasts, trust and loyalty are important factors in making friendship work. These also are shaped in the family as well. The family builds trust to a child when they also trust their kids that they can do anything. It is the conviction of the parents to build this character because it is very important to any interaction outside the family (Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998 p. 315). Friendship is also defined as the â€Å"habitual way of relating to a person. † Being friends and making friends is a mutual feeling between two people or among people. It is said that friends do not come as a surprise but they are chosen as friends (Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998 p. 316). Although it is has been said that the family shapes the character of a person and how they interact with their peers but it is argued that it is the kids or the people who chooses whom they be friends at. According to C. S. Lewis building friendships is not about mutual interests but being interested with one another. This is difficult though but can be a learning experience to anyone who wants to build long lasting friendships (Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998, p. 317). In a family children are taught with responsibility. In friendships it requires responsibility and expectation. This is common to any friendship but it is difficult to build. If the child or the teenager is taught within the family they will bring it as soon as they get out of their homes and especially their comfort zones (Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998, p. 317). Friendship also requires a lot of expectations. It may not be as difficult as entering into a marriage but it is like entering into a relationship for the first time. People have been talking about friendship since time immemorial but a lot of writers such as Aristotle, Cicero, and Augustine tried to debunk the issue that to have a successful friendship should also entail a successful family life. According to these writers, character and virtue is as important as what is developed inside the homes where families teach to their kids. They argue that you don’t have to be a good man or good woman to be a good cook which means that the character is shaped because of what they are in the society. As much as the same with friendship you don’t have to be a good man to be a good friend (Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998, p. 317). People like Aristotle, Cicero, and Augustine believed that character strength was essential to friendship – so much so that, as they saw it, one cannot truly be a friend without it. C. S. Lewis, on the other hand, thought virtue was irrelevant to friendship. As he saw it, friendship â€Å"makes good men better – and bad men worse. † (Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998, p. 318) A lot of things can happen when someone commits to be a friend to someone. Making friends is a responsibility to one another such as longer interactions compared to just friends they just met in a club or a meeting. Naturally, closer friends leading to a closer friendship assume more responsibility for one another than do those who are merely casual friends. Besides assuming responsibility for one another, we also begin to have expectations of one another. If I tell my friend something in confidence, I have the expectation that he or she won’t reveal my secrets to others. That’s just one example of the expectations we have of friends. One can easily think of others (Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998, p. 319-321). In addition to that, as to what have been said by C. S Lewis, making friends is not about carrying the character that should be in a person and sharing it but sharing the common interest they have and giving out what they can to other person. Activities where they share the same interest can build a deeper relationship thus creating a long lasting friendship. This is what they want to teach that friendships are gained not learned (Halfacre, F. P. D. 1997). This is true to some but still I want to emphasise that characters and virtues that are honed within the family is still the best in building friendships outside the world. Children cannot teach their children to choose their friends but they teach them how to interact with their playmates. They teach the kids how to enjoy life without hurting their playmates rather helping their playmates understand the value of life and later as they age they will pass it to their children and grandchildren. Parents do not let the kids choose their friends but they teach them to understand that having friends should be mutual. Mutual interests, activities and works can lead to better relationships which in a way building relationship within one’s self (Halfacre, F. P. D. 1997). Conclusion Friends can be anyone. They can be the neighbours around. They can be the co-workers, playmates, common friends and acquaintances but building a long lasting friendship is difficult. It requires time and understanding. Through time, building a long lasting friendship is also a process because it entails passion with the person. Passion means knowing the person fully and wholly and knowing the interests, likes, dislikes and among other things that can lead to better relationship. Friendships are better when it is shared with someone who has the same passion as what you wanted it to be. References Ellison, C. 1990. Family Ties, Friendships, and Subjective Well-Being among Black Americans Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 52, No. 2 pp. 298-310. Franco, N. Levitt, MJ. 1998. The Social Ecology of Middle Childhood: Family Support, Friendship Quality, and Self-Esteem. Family Relations, vol. 47 number 4, pp315-321 Buzzle. com. Intelligent life on the web. Available at http://www. buzzle. com/chapters/home-and-lifestyle_friendships-and-familial-relationships. asp Halfacre, F. P. D. 1997. Genuine Friendship. Available at http://www. genuinefriendship. com/

Friday, August 16, 2019

New Caledonia

There are two primary facts about New Caledonia that are particularly interesting and unique.   The first is that it was formally colonized by the French in 1864, and for the next four decades following, it served as a Penal Colony.   The prison of ‘New Caledonia’, which housed thousands of French felons, would serve until 1897 when the penal nature of the island ended (World Infozone, New Caledonia). In addition to its use as a penal colony, New Caledonia is also unique for its natural resources.   For a stretch during the prominence of Nickel, New Caledonia as the world’s fourth largest exporter of Nickel, experienced great economic growth (Australian Radio ABC.net, New Caledonia). However, as the world demand for nickel has declined, the economy has struggled to regain its previous levels of prosperity. II. The Penal Colony New Caledonia was settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century.   Eventually, by 1853, it was officially colonized by France, and has remained in France’s possession ever since (Virtual New Caledonia).   â€Å"New Caledonia was founded as a penal colony, and the first shiploads of convicts were shipped from France to New Caledonia in 1864† (Logan, Leanna, p.16, 2001).   The conditions of the four-month sail from France to the new colony were horrible, and the few that did survive ended up living in small makeshift huts.   They were responsible for all of the colony’s public works; they built churches, and carved roads out of the landscape (Logan at p.16). The most terrible of the convicts sent over were kept in dungeons, and were put to extreme hard labor.   They were beaten, and within twenty years of the colonies formalization as a French colony, the guillotine made its way to the colony (Logan at p.16).   The guillotine would be used with regularity once arriving, and during its first 21 years 80 people felt its blade (Logan at. 16). New Caledonia, in all, would house more than 21,000-22,000 convicts from France.   This number would end, as in 1898, Le Governor Feillet decided to close the flow of â€Å"The dirty water spigot†, as he termed it.   He eventually ended the delivery of prisoners to the island (Croixdusud.info, New-Caledonia).   Although the flow of prisoners stopped, the actual camps continued until 1922, when 2310 prisoners were still held in camps (Croixdusud.info, New-Caledonia). The prison colony created several problems during its operation, including the fact that the population was almost exclusively male.   In addition, the large influx of various felons meant that eventually, many would be released, and the nation became a dangerous haven of ex-convicts. III. Nickel as Export The mineral industry of New Caledonia is dominated by Nickel (Lyday, Travis Q., 1999).   The French government, who earned 60% of the New Caledonia share, initially dominated nickel production in the area, while Japanese led companies (10%) and New Caledonia (30%) shared the balance (Lyday, Travis Q., 1999). Although large for a Pacific Island, New Caledonia’s only true export of immense value is Nickel.   As such, the economy is highly dependant upon the market economy for the mineral.   There are several uses for Nickel, and the market has shown major changes since the 1960’s (Cranfield, Peter, 2006, p.2). The peaks of usage rates for the United States were in the 1960’s, which were the golden age of post war growth.   During this time, the world had a growth rate of 7% for Nickel use, and the economy of New Caledonia felt the influx of this wealth of demand (Cranfield, Peter, 2006, p.2).   However, in each of the decades to follow, the demand growth has dwindled to 2%, and it does not appear to be increasing again any time soon. The products created from Nickel range from: stainless steel (62%), non-ferrous alloys (15%), batteries (4%), playing (7%), alloy steels and foundry (5% each)   (Cranfield, Peter, 2006, p.3).   It is very likely that the creation of new demand for nickel, much like the world has seen with stainless steel, will be instrumental in maintaining the economy of the island nation.   At the moment, China accounts for all increases in the demand for nickel worldwide.   Other exports like coffee and tourism assist New Caledonia’s economy, but nickel will remain its staple. IV.   Facts and Conclusions New Caledonia, as of 2006, has a population of 230,000 people (BBC News, 2006).   The major languages are French, Melanesian and Polynesian Dialects.   The major religion is Christianity, and the monetary unit is the Pacific Franc (BBC News, 2006).   The head of state is the French president, although there is a sovereign leader in New Caledonia, which has spurred inconsistent rumblings of an independence movement. (BBC News, 2006)   The representatives are freely elected, although are very polarized along country lines. The media is considered free, and there are various radio stations that are private in nature (BBC News, 2006).   The country is gaining some rights independent of France, as French citizens have been refused the right to vote in the nation subject to residency requirements. (BBC News, 2006)   There are rumors that the nation will vote for its independence between 2014 and 2019 in a referendum. The two most interesting facts about New Caledonia may be its nickel productions amazing level of world contribution, and the fact that it was colonized by the French for the sole purpose of housing its prisoners.   Although much of the impact of the penal camps are now gone, nickel remains the driving force of the economy. Bibliography ABC Radio Australia, ABC.net, New Caledonia, 2005, . BBC News, Regions and Territories, New Caledonia, December 20, 2006, . Cranfield, Peter, The Nickel Industry – Long Term Drivers of Nickel Supply and Demand, October 2, 2006, < http://www.insg.org/docs/Mr_Cranfield_Oct06.pdf >. Croixdusud.info, New-Caledonia, History, . Logan, Leanne, Cole, Geert, Lonely Planet New Caledonia, Lonely Planet Publications 2004, 4th edition. Lyday, Travis Q., The Mineral Industry of New Caledonia, 1999, . â€Å"New Caledonia,† CIA World Fact Book (2001), < http://www.cia.gov>. Nicol, David, The Fundamentals of New Caledonia, Luath Press Ltd. Publishing 2002, copyright 2002. Virtual New Caledonia, Information and Stats on New Caledonia, . World Info Zone, New Caledonia Facts, Copyright World Info Zone 1997-2007, .    Â