Religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam - 1162 Words

1. God to the people of the big three monotheist religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) see god as an all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful being. I believe that that the Cosmological argument gives good reason to believe in the existence of God. The Cosmological argument focuses on everything having a cause except one thing that started it all, this starter is known as the â€Å"Prime Mover†. The Prime Mover is the one that starts everything without anything having a previous effect on it. With that people have assumed that the logical answer to who the prime mover is, is God. This to me seems the most logical of arguments because although there is the idea of eternity and an eternal cycle there has to be a starting point. I do not believe the argument is successful. The reason that the argument does not succeed is because what proof is there that the prime mover is an all powerful all mighty being? There could be alternate reasons related to science, The Big Bang Theory, which could also be a reason. One of Aquinas’s arguments against the cosmological argument discussed that since everything in nature had a time where it did not exist there had to be a time where it was nothing to bring anything into being. His argument was if this was possible there was nothing around to bring the universe into being in the first place. Due to this a being such as God is not likely to have existed before to create it. Who created God? The only thing that could be done to better proveShow MoreRelatedAbrahamic Religions : Judaism, Christianity, And Islam1407 Words   |  6 PagesAbrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam ​The Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the three key Western Religions they all exercise monotheism, achieving peace though justice, God’s love and mercy, all three trace back to the prophet Abraham in some way, even though he was first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. These three religions are very closely unified because they share many common beliefs and thoughts, and they all rely on holy books or scriptures as a life-guidedRead MoreHinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, And Religion1531 Words   |  7 PagesHinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism these are the different types of religions that exist in our society. Religion is a prominent part of most people s lives in our contemporary world. Religion is a cultural system, in this system, there are different beliefs that are normally unique to the religion. In most religions, there is a belief in spiritual beings also known as God. Many people around the world practice their rel igion by following what is expected of them according to historyRead MoreThe Major Religions Of The World : Judaism, Islam And Christianity1893 Words   |  8 Pagesnames but they all contain water. Just as religions do-they all contain truths. Muhammad Ali is a successful boxer loved by many people. Many people take his advice and find it useful.There are many different religions in the world with different histories, different messages and different impacts towards the world. The religions that are commonly known to man are Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Even though each religion is structured differently, each religion is focused on trying to follow the rightRead MoreThe World Monotheistic Religions Of Islam, Christianity, And Judaism981 Words   |  4 Pages The third world monotheistic religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, do share this imperative about loving God/Allah with all the mind, heart, soul, and strength, and love one’s neighbor as oneself, which do indeed run contrary to the adversarial processes of managing conflict in the American legal system. It is evident in a litigation situation in a courtroom or in a dispute resolution forum, may it be negotiation, mediation, or arbitration, the two parties locked in argument, debate, andRead MoreIslam, Like Christianity, Judaism And Other World Religions,1076 Words   |  5 Pages Islam, like Christianity, Judaism and other world religions, varies in its interpretations, rituals and practices. It is true that Muslims share certain fundamental beliefs, such as those expressed in the shahadah, the profession of faith: there is only one God and that Muhammad is His Prophet to whom was revealed in the Qur’an (The University of Texas, Muslim Histories and Cultures, 2009). These writings to Islamist believers are their most sacred writings. Islamic culture inherited an ArabRead MoreThree Western Religions and their View on Women: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam636 Words   |   3 Pagessignificant and most commonly known western religion Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in terms of the role that the woman played and a brief synopsis of the religions itself. Religion is a system of human though which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner’s experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity, or ultimate truth. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the only religions that are based on a single creator andRead MoreJudaism : The Pioneer Religion From Christianity And Islam First Developed2210 Words   |  9 PagesDecember 16th 2014 PHIL 3100-001 Jeff Sholes Essay #4 1. Judaism is the pioneer religion from which Christianity and Islam first developed. They date back to Abraham, who realized that there is one, true God. Several centuries later, Moses and the Israelites received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The teachings revealed how God wished to be served and worshiped. Moses’ teachings showed that believing in only one true God is the basic principle of Judaism. Judaism’s central idea is that God is supreme; he isRead More Judaism, Christianity and Islam: The Three Oldest Religions are Based on Faith and Commitment1458 Words   |  6 PagesReligion in all aspects is based on faith and commitment. It starts with a faith that people have in something that they have not seen. I have always wondered about the faith people show for their religion. No matter what is happening they stay strong in whatever it is that they believe in. Humans have come a long way from the beginning of time when it comes to forming religions. There are so man y different kinds of religions out there in this world right now. And all those religions come from someRead MoreWorld Religions Final Home Exam : Relationship Between Christianity, Islam And Judaism2108 Words   |  9 PagesWorld Religions Final Home Exam: Relationship between Christianity, Islam Judaism By: Ackshan Devakumar Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are three major monotheistic religions that share many similar characteristics. However, they also have key differences as well. Judaism is the oldest of the three, which originated about 3,500 years ago. The other two religions came from Judaism. The Holy Scripture for Judaism is the Torah, which is also known as the Five Books of Moses. Jewish people considerRead MoreMonotheistic religions, especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam promote the belief in One God;1600 Words   |  7 PagesMonotheistic religions, especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam promote the belief in One God; all that exists is because of God. Through prophets and scripture, God portrays moral goodness and truth. Essentially, these three religions believe that God speaks to us, unveils God’s Being, and seeks to guide us through life. In turn, humans should embody the moral goodness and excellence that is revealed to us by God. These religions are taught based upon both scripture and reason. When reading

A Comparative Analysis Free Essays

string(126) " wherein the client lies on a couch facing away from the therapist, minimizing opportunity for client-therapist relationship\." The field of psychotherapy provides a therapist 11 diverse therapeutic systems, all of which are designed to achieve the same goal – to address the problems, whether emotional or mental, of the client. Some of these systems call for an active and directive participation from the therapist while some requires him to â€Å"hold back† and let the client heal himself. This paper aims to tackle the differences as well as discuss similarities between two of the eleven available counseling approaches – the Psychoanalytic Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy. We will write a custom essay sample on A Comparative Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Comparative Analysis 3 A Comparative Analysis of Two Counseling Approaches Two of the most-utilized counseling approaches are Psychoanalytic Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy. Perhaps due to its very opposite characteristics, these approaches embrace the two types of clients – one who wishes to sit down, talk, remain distant and maintain no personal relationship with the therapist and one who prefers to spill his thoughts while creating an intimate relationship with the therapist. Definition According to Psychology Today, Psychoanalytic therapy is a general name for therapeutic approaches which try to get the patient to bring to the surface their true feelings, so that they can experience them and understand them. In this kind of therapy, the unconscious is studied with a focus on dreams, behavior, slips of tongue, post-hypnotic suggestion, and the use of techniques that provide the client an opportunity to search their thoughts for links to various issues and problems. Unconscious thoughts and processes are the basis for all forms of problem symptoms and behaviors. On the other hand, a Person-Centered Therapy, sometimes called Rogerian Therapy, focuses on immediate conscious experience. Rogers (1977) describes this form of therapy as a process of freeing a person and removing obstacles so that normal growth and development can proceed and the client can become independent and self-directed. Unconscious vs. Conscious Psychoanalytic therapy holds that bringing the unconscious into conscious awareness promotes insight and resolves conflict. (Psychology Today) According to Freud, human beings are basically determined by psychic energy and by early experiences. Unconscious motives and Comparative Analysis 4 conflicts are central in present behavior. Making the client aware of his unconscious motives by interpreting his dreams and thoughts will lead him to freedom of mind and body. Person-Centered therapy, on one hand, deals with immediate conscious experience. Its primary purpose is to provide a deep understanding and acceptance of the attitudes consciously held at this moment by the client as he explores step by step into the dangerous areas which he has been denying to consciousness. (Personality Consciousness) This form of humanistic therapy deals with the ways in which people perceive themselves consciously rather than having a therapist try to interpret unconscious thoughts or ideas. (Depression-Guide, 2005) Directive vs. Non-directive Psychoanalytic therapy is directive in nature such that the therapist allows the client to talk freely but in the process asks a number of questions, dictates length and frequency of sessions, and advises client on how to deal with things and how to view certain issues. Person-centered therapy is non-directive. It is an approach to counseling and psychotherapy that places much of the responsibility for the treatment process on the client, with the therapist taking a non-directive role. (Mind Disorders, 2007) The therapist’s role is mainly to act as a facilitator and to provide a comfortable environment, rather than to drive and direct therapy outcomes. (Lots of Essays, 2009) The client is seen as the core therapist, with the actual therapist serving as consultant, advisor, witness, and support system. Then vs. Now Psychoanalysis places significant importance on early development. (Psychology Today) It believes that such is of critical importance because later personality problems have their roots in repressed childhood conflicts. Comparative Analysis 5 In Rogerian therapy, attention is given to the present moment and on experiencing and expressing these feelings in order to move towards a more beneficial direction. Techniques The therapist employing Psychoanalytic Therapy uses techniques such as free association (the client reports anything that comes to mind), dream analysis, interpretation, analysis of resistance and transference, and understanding of counter-transference, to find commonalities in the client’s thoughts and behaviors and to interpret them in terms of the client’s problems. (4therapy Network, 1998) In a Person-Centered therapy, few techniques are utilized. Research has shown that the most significant variables in the effectiveness of this therapy are aspects of the relationship and the therapist’s personal development – not the particular discipline they practice or techniques they employ. The therapist is expected to create an atmosphere that is both suitable and comfortable for the client in order for him to freely express his feelings and direct himself towards healing. In fact, in order for this type of therapy to be effective, it requires three things – unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness or congruence. (Rogers, 1961) Unconditional Positive Regard. This unconditional positive regard, or something like love, can allow the client to expose his vulnerabilities, fears, flaws, secrets, and dysfunctions within the therapeutic setting without fear of being rejected. This allows the therapist to gain the necessary insights on the client’s worldview and overall situation that enables the therapist to devise interventions, or make suggestions, that can help the client shift that worldview in a beneficial direction. (Lots of Essays, 2009) Comparative Analysis 6 Empathy. Empathy refers to understanding the client’s feelings and personal meanings as they are experienced. The therapist encourages the patient to express their feelings and does not suggest how the person might wish to change, but by listening and then mirroring back what the patient reveals to them, helps them to explore and understand their feelings for themselves Congruence. Congruence on the part of the therapist refers to his ability to be completely genuine and transparent. He does not present an aloof professional facade. (Mulhauser, 2002) There is no air of authority or hidden knowledge, and the client does not have to speculate about what he is really like. This is very far from what is being done during psychoanalytic therapy sessions wherein the client lies on a couch facing away from the therapist, minimizing opportunity for client-therapist relationship. You read "A Comparative Analysis" in category "Papers" Length of Session Two or more years with multiple sessions each week is required to fully apply and utilize Psychoanalytic Therapy. (Psychology Today) In contrast, there are no strict guidelines regarding the length or frequency of sessions in a Person-Centered Therapy. Generally, therapists adhere to a one-hour session once per week. However, true to its spirit, scheduling may be adjusted according to the client’s expressed needs. The client also decides when to terminate therapy. Termination usually occurs when he or she feels able to better cope with life’s difficulties. (Mind Disorders, 2007) Applications Analytic therapy is not recommended for self-centered and impulsive individuals or for people with psychotic disorders, in the same way that person-centered therapy is not intended for a specific age group or subpopulation. While psychoanalysis essentially wrote off some groups, Comparative Analysis 7 like schizophrenics or borderline personality disorder types, person-centered psychotherapies assume that all people could be worked with and that the answer to their dysfunction lay within them. (Mind Disorders, 2007) Person-Centered Therapy has been used to treat a broad range of people and has also been applied to persons suffering from depression, anxiety, alcohol disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and personality disorders. Some therapists argue that person-centered therapy is not effective with non-verbal or poorly educated individuals; others maintain that it can be successfully adapted to any type of person. The person-centered approach can be used in individual, group, or family therapy. With young children, it is frequently employed as play therapy. Criticisms of the Two Approaches One major criticism of Psychoanalytic Therapy is its inability to cure one of the most common and major emotional disorder – depression. People, it is believed, need ‘insight’, before they can change. This means that you have to understand why they are depressed before you can get better. On the face of it, this seems perfectly reasonable, particularly as it seems to match the natural human response to a problem – to find out why. However, in depression, this style of thinking will tend to make the depression worse. The problems with this type of counseling for depression are many. First, the focus is predominantly on the past. Depressed people do this plenty already. One main idea is to discover ‘the reason why’. There is rarely any single ‘reason why’ with depression, and even if there was, discovering it does not make the depression go away. Take this for example, if you know why you blush, does the blushing stop? Comparative Analysis 8 Some therapists have been sued for using this approach in the US when treating depression. Approaches which mainly focus on the past are not recommended in the treatment of depression and anxiety conditions. (Depression Guide, 2005) As for Person-Centered Therapy, there is no other aspect which comes under such vigorous attack aside from the implications of the therapist acting as a facilitator rather than as a counselor. It seems to be genuinely disturbing to many professional people to entertain the thought that this client upon whom they have been exercising their professional skill actually knows more about his inner psychological self than they can possibly know, and that he possesses constructive strengths which make the constructive push by the therapist seem puny indeed by comparison. The willingness fully to accept this strength of the client, with all the re-orientation of therapeutic procedure which it implies, is one of the ways in which client-centered therapy differs most sharply from other therapeutic approaches. (Rogers, 1946) Personal Viewpoint I strongly believe that a Person-centered therapy works best for me, not because I have once seeked the help of a professional therapist, but because I feel that my father had served as my own therapist – employing the Person-centered therapy on me. There was one time when I felt so down about not being able to make it to the top of the class for a certain school year. You see, I’m an A-grade student – the cream of the crop. I even graduated with First Honors in grade school. Come high school, though, I belonged to a class where everyone is â€Å"the best† in their own schools. Competition was tough. Anyone who doesn’t live up to the expectation is transferred to another section to mingle with the average students. The â€Å"Number One’ student in me struggled to keep up. I did for the first three years. However, Comparative Analysis 9 come the last year in high school, I was suddenly faced with the fact that I didn’t make it. I no longer belong to the prime class. It was painful. It was unacceptable. The reason for not making it was simply because of a Technology Project – an amplifier that’s supposed to make a bulb light up. Unfortunately, mine didn’t when the professor inspected it. That was it – no considerations, no second chances, I got a low mark. I was informed a month before the next school year starts. That month was indeed a difficult time for me. I remember crying several nights talking to myself and still, I wasn’t feeling any better. I felt that my parents were disappointed of me; my friends were not sad enough that I’m leaving the class. What helped me to move on and accept the turn-out of events was my father – he sat down with me, just listening and helping me spill my guts. I talked non-stop, crying and just telling him that I hate myself for what has happened, that I cannot yet accept that I failed, that he has to do something about it. My father just sat there, letting me talk. He listened – making no negative comments, not judging me or blaming me or telling me that I’m wrong. He would always repeat the things I said in the form of questions. He was literally mirroring me. I guess that was his way of letting me know that he is really there, he is listening intently and not just pretending to. He did not even use the usual â€Å"parent line† â€Å"I’ve been there, Child. What you need to do is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And thinking about it now, I am thankful that he didn’t. Had he said those words, I would have reacted negatively by saying â€Å"No, you don’t know how I’m feeling. You never had to go through something like this! † I would have regarded him as one of my peers who I felt that time didn’t care much as they are still part of the class. I would have stopped opening up to him. Comparative Analysis 10 My father’s technique, as I study the different approaches of therapy, is very much the same as that of the Person-centered Therapy. And luckily, it worked for me. I ended up hearing myself over and over again – talking about the same things, angry over the same stuff. Eventually, reason, understanding and acceptance came. My father must have known I wasn’t the type to take orders from people. He trusted that I am capable of solving my own problems and facing my own dilemmas. The Challenge The key challenge in the field of psychotherapy is to find ways to integrate and combine certain features of various approaches in order to work with the needs of different clients. What is crucial is a strong knowledge of what a certain approach is – its advantages, strengths and weaknesses, applications and even recent studies/cases that may prove to be helpful in solving a client’s case. Comparative Analysis 11 References Cain, David J. (2002). Humanistic Psychotherapies: Handbook of Research and Practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Counselling Directory. Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic Therapies. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://www. counselling-directory. org. uk/psychoanalytical. html Depression-Guide. (2005). Person-Centered Therapy. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from http://www. depression-guide. com/person-centered-therapy. htm Lots of Essays. (2009). Person-Centered Psychotherapies. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://www. lotsofessays. com/viewpaper/1691857. html Mind Disorders. (2007). Person-centered therapy. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from http://www. minddisorders. com/Ob-Ps/Person-centered-therapy. html Modern Psychoanalysis. The Talking Cure. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://modernpsychoanalysis. org/default. aspx Mulhauser, G. Counselling Resource. (2002). An Introduction to Person-Centered Counselling. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://counsellingresource. com/types/person-centred/ Personality Consciousness. Rogerian Therapy. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from http://pandc. ca/? cat=carl_rogerspage=rogerian_therapy Psychology Today. What’s Your Orientation? Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://www. psychologytoday. com/pto/methods. html Comparative Analysis 12 Rogers, C. R. (1946). Significant Aspects of Client-Centered. American Psychologist, 1, 415-422. Retrieved May 24, 2009 from PsychClassics database. Rogers, Carl. (1951). Client-Centered Therapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 4therapy Network. (1998). Psychoanalytic Therapy. Retrieved May 21, 2009, from http://www. 4therapy. com/consumer/about_therapy/item. php? uniqueid=4933categoryid=401 How to cite A Comparative Analysis, Papers

Purchasing Management & Retail Business †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Purchasing Management Retail Business. Answer: Introduction Every business activity is a continuous process that requires proper strategy to succeed. In the case of a retail business, the purchasing process is the first and most important activity as it determines the success or failure of other activities later conducted in the business. There are strategies that require a careful consideration when purchasing products to ensure for efficiency and satisfaction on both sides of the business. The paper discusses the supplier management criteria, Cost management and ICT influence on supply. All these strategies requires a special approach as well as more recommendations for future Retailing is the closest supplier of goods and services to the consumers in both small and large quantities. Singapore is known for the many retailer businesses dealing with different products for the satisfaction of goods and services of the people around the area. Lucky Plaza, for example, is a retailer on Orchard road which deals with low-priced products for low budget consumers. Unlike other retailers along the same street who deal with luxurious products afforded by the wealthy, Lucky Plaza can cover for almost all consumers in the market due to their fair prices(Choi, 2006). Their competition is therefore in the positive direction as the demand for their products increases with the reduced prices. The main items sold here clothing, accessories, used books, chocolate, sweets and many others that come either brand new or used but in good condition. The retailers on the Lucky Plaza Street strive to satisfy for the large market of the local consumers who are the main buyers of thei r products. They strategize on quality, affordability and excellent customer relations that attract more clients in the outlets(Kahraman, 2003). The future of the business seems promising as they plan on advancing into other streets and capturing a larger market for their products. Supplier Management criteria There are several attributes that an organization must consider when planning their activities with supplies. The approach is necessary because, through the vendors activities, the team determines the quality of products they receive, the prices and eventually the profits they make. Some of the important aspects that every organization should consider include cost, risk, service, delivery, convenience, social responsibility, and agility. All should be under control to ensure that there is a maximum benefit to both parties(Bhutta, 2002). There are many risks involved in the supply of right from the source to the business which if not well covered might significantly affect the progress of the organization. Some suppliers are based on the natural environment whereby the group is expected to get involved in the extraction of products, especially raw materials. In this kind of setting, some risks involved are accidents and loss of the products of mining(Jabbour, 2009). Other risks are involved during the transportation process regarding accidents that might result in high losses for the business. It is therefore important to consider setting aside funds to cover for the risks in case they occur and most importantly come up with strategies to reduce such occurrences. The service and delivery usually fall under a similar category in that suppliers should offer quality services while delivering their products to their clients. The client here is the business whose primary purpose is to get the products they order in their right quantities, quality and at the right time. The firm should get in touch with a trustworthy supplier who is ready to observe timing and other terms of delivery for a positive impact on the organization(Boran, 2009). Regulating the delivery is also an issue that affects the structure in such a way they can satisfy their consumers without delays. Buyers are usually interested in a business that provides for all their needs anytime they visit. Convenience is an issue that affects all the aspects of supply and might be of positive or adverse impact on the activities of a business operation. The more convenient the suppliers are the best it is for business activities of the recipient firm. It is best for an organization to choose providers who are readily available regarding transport and communication. Most of the delays experienced in supply are caused by inconveniences of distance and time. The business should, therefore, opt for methods that bring them closer to their sources of materials. If for example, the essential supplies are vegetables from a certain farm, then an organization should choose the ones that have quick access to infrastructure. It is in this case that they also consider timing and security to avoid any losses that might result from theft and delays(Jabbour, 2009). If the supplier brings the products to the organization setting, then the best way is to have trustworthy associations that ensure for no d elay. Finally, it is important to consider the social responsibility that the business plays to its stakeholders during the process of supply. Most work towards reducing traffic, pollution and other inconveniences in the social environment. Purchasing Cost Analysis The process of acquiring goods from one business to the other involves a lot of expenditure from the time they are obtained from the seller, taken to the buyer and finally used as intended. For retailers like Lucky Plaza, the goods are finally considered purchased from the supplier if they get to the shops and start selling with less or no interference (Weele, 2009). An organization should, therefore, calculate all the costs incurred to ensure that they keep their profit-making plans in check. A business can only provide for maximum benefits if they cut on expenditure and increase their incomes in all of their activities The primary costs involved begin with the actual purchase price of products from the supplier. The cost should put into consideration all the activities that will include more spending before selling a particular product to the consumer. The buying price increases with the expenditure on transporting, warehousing or storage, taxation, and delivery to customers (GCR, 2004). If all these costs happen to be higher than the selling price, then the business will be making a loss. It is therefore important to purchase from the suppliers who give better offers and discounts for maximum profits. When it comes to transportation, the most important thing to put into consideration is ensure that the modes used are the most efficient in consideration to their availability, dependability, and cost. If transporting heavy goods for longer distances, a plane might be faster but cannot carry in bulk, and it is expensive too (David, 2004). The best transportation channel, in this case, will be either train or water. On the other hand, short distance operations can utilize the cheap and reliable road transportation modes. Delivery is another issue that requires a little expenditure before the buyer receives the purchased products. Depending on the selling organization, the delivery costs vary depending on the product and amounts delivered. Storage is a basic necessity in the operation of an organization, and it is also considered under the purchasing cost. Once the goods arrive at the destination, then they must be stored well before selling them to the final consumer. Depending on the nature of products, then the storage spaces changes accordingly (Boardman, 2008). Fresh and perishable items might require controlled temperatures and spacious rooms to ensure that they stay for as long as needed. Accessories also need a particular manner of storage to ensure for safety. However, items like clothing can take up less space since they can be squeezed without causing damage to the product. There are other products that require large-scale warehousing facilities that are costly to the organization. It is, therefore, best for the business to invest in low-cost and efficient storage facilities that ensure for safety and preservation of the products (Weele, 2009). The different ways of preserving products largely depend on the availability, the quantities involved and expenses as well. The cost of storage should be maximized to the extent that profits are increased. ICT for Purchasing Operations Information and communication technology plays a great role in the purchase of goods and services from an individual organization. ICT promotes the interactions between different organizations that are involved in the supply and purchase of goods. It is important to ensure that there is efficient, accurate and fast information transfer between the parties involved (Lancelot, 2003). ICT requires the development of websites, applications and software are that facilitate the efficient supply of products. In every purchase activity, the parties involved have to be connected in such a way those they can freely interact with less or no distractions. Technology has played a great role in the purchasing and selling between any business organizations (DiPietro, 2010). The retail business ensures that they can get in touch with the supply companies via the internet and plan before activities of operations. Terms and conditions of a business activity are also laid out well in the websites and business profiles over the web. The social media is a platform that facilitates the activities of advertising, ordering, and delivery. For a complete supply process, there is a need to ensure that all the required information about a particular product is displayed. There are new applications and softwares that have been formed over the past years to ensure that purchasing is done most efficiently. These applications are a way of publicizing the supplies involved to increased demand in the market (Dubois, 2005). The retail business, therefore, tries its best to look through the system and acquire a contract with the most recommended company or source of raw materials. It is better to listen to the views of several people before forming a working relationship with a company. The organization uses social media to negotiate prices and quantity to ease the work of delivery and bargain on the ground (Scholl, 2012). It is therefore important for an organization to ensure that they select the best strategies of purchase. They should adopt the technological changes that are meant to make the procedure better and more efficient in the long run. In as much as it is necessary, quality and efficiency matter most in a business interaction. The companies shou ld maintain the highest communication strategies to ensure for learning appropriate supply. Conclusion In conclusion, all the strategies discussed above are in one way or the other influential to the way an individual business conducts its activities. Cost influences the success or failure of an organization and must be carefully strategized to come up with the best solution. I would recommend for the retailer to ensure that all the purchasing strategies are of a positive influence to facilitate for higher profit making. All the costs involved in the process must remain lower than the selling price and use the internet and system to access such information is the best way. References Bhutta, K. S. (2002). Supplier selection problem: a comparison of the total cost of ownership and analytic hierarchy process approaches. Supply Chain Management:. An International Journal , 7(3), 126-135. Boardman, A. E. (2008). Cost-benefit analysis. Pearson. Boran, F. E. (2009). A multi-criteria intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making for supplier selection with TOPSIS method. . Expert Systems with Applications , 36(8), 11363-11368. Boran, F. E. (2009). A multi-criteria intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making for supplier selection with TOPSIS method. Expert Systems with Applications, , 36(8), 11363-11368. Choi, T. Y. (2006). An exploration of supplier selection practices across the supply chain. . Journal of operations management, , 14(4), 333-343. David, R. J. (2004). A systematic assessment of the empirical support for transaction cost economics. . Strategic management journal, , 25(1), 39-58. DiPietro, R. B. (2010). Key issues for ICT applications: impacts and implications for hospitality operations. . Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes , 2(1), 49-67. Dubois, A. . (2005). Organising the purchasing function as an interface between internal and external networks. . In Proceedings of the 21st Annual IMP Conference , (pp. 0-11). GCR, N. (2004). Cost analysis of inadequate interoperability in the US capital facilities industry. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Jabbour, A. B. (2009). Are supplier selection criteria going green? Case studies of companies in Brazil. Industrial Management Data Systems, , 109(4), 477-495. Kahraman, C. C. (2003). Multi-criteria supplier selection using fuzzy AHP. . Logistics information management , 16(6), 382-394. Lancellotti, R. S. (2003). ICT and operations outsourcing in banking. . Wirtschaftsinformatik , 45(2), 131-141. Scholl, H. J. (2012). ICT-enabled city government field operations: Resiliency during extreme events. . In System Science (HICSS), 2012 45th Hawaii International Conference on , pp. 2346-2356. Weele, A. J. (2009). Purchasing and supply chain management: Analysis, strategy, planning and practice. Cengage Learning EMEA.

Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder According to Victoria J. et al (2007), Gender Identity Disorder can simply be defined as a disorder in which someone feels that they are or should be a member of the opposite sex. American Psychiatric Association, (2000) defines Gender Identity Disorder as a strong and persistent cross gender identification accompanied by persistent discomfort with ones assigned sex. It is simply a conflict between what gender one identifies himself or herself with and his or her real gender. An example would be where a certain boy identifies herself as a girl and behaves as such. Need essay sample on "Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed This is a subject that has received immense attention from psychiatrists and psychologists with immense literature written on the same. The interest of this paper will be on the description of the illness as well as the research that exists regarding the disorder. It will also focus on the direction of future research. Intensified interest into the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder began over 20 years ago, since then a couple of diagnostic models have been formulated with each spelling out its particular requirements to be met for an inpidual to be fully diagnosed as suffering from the disorder. These would range from a criteria set by Rosen et al (1977) that requires that there be a clear difference between gender behavior disturbance and cross gender identification for a full diagnosis to be carried out. Stoller (1968) referred to the disorder as a male childhood homosexualism which merely in a man is a fixed belief that he is a member of the opposite sex and will grow up to develop the anatomical characteristics of the opposite sex. This paper will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder for diagnosis and the general description of the disorder. The American Psychiatric Association has spelt out 4 criteria that have to be met for there to be a full diagnosis of the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder. The first criterion has it that an inpidual must manifests an acute problem of cross- gender identification. This is where there exists a strong desire to pass of as a member of the opposite sex. It should be noted that this cross gender identification must not merely be a desire for any perceived cultural advantages of being of the other sex, but is the exhibition of a real identity crisis where such an inpidual goes ahead to act , behave and even dress like the member of a sex that he or she believes to be. Such an inpidual also indicates strong desires and states so that he or she would wish to be treated as a member of the opposite sex. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) Secondly, the inpidual suffering from the disorder must have a marked distress or interpersonal difficulty because of the disturbance (Wanda k, 2005). Such discomfort may be manifested in the inpiduals behaviors where boys for example will attest to being disturbed by the presence of male sexual organs in their bodies believing that these organs will eventually disappear. Such inpiduals go ahead to behave like the members of the opposite sex refusing entirely to be associated with tools that society has transcribed to be for a certain sex, such as toys and clothes. Girls for example may not be willing to conform to their usual urinating position. As an inpidual progresses in age, he or she may have a disturbing preoccupation with altering his or her sex characteristics to suite those of his or her perceived gender. There maybe hormonal injections or surgery to get rid of some characteristics. The third criterion is that the inpidual should not have a concurrent physical intersex condition (e.g. partial androgen insensitivity syndrome or Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia) (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) As aforementioned, in Gender Identity Disorder, both boys and girls exhibit behaviors and also the symptoms manifested in adolescent vary from those of young children. It is important to understand that where children suffering from the disorder may only state their wish to be members of the opposite sex, those in their adolescents may go ahead and behave as such and take the initiative of altering their sexual characteristics. Young children may indulge in fantasies of being members of the opposite sex. For example, boys may secretly wear their mothers or sisters clothes as well as carrying out activities that are culturally accepted to be of the opposite sex. Girls suffering from an identity disorder may spend time playing with balls and boy toys while small boys are preoccupied with playing with girl toys and dolls. Such behaviors according to Victoria et al (2007) may emerge when the person is a child or it may not present itself until the person is adult. Most people suffering from Gender Identity Disorder find it hard to interact and socialize with others and most are victims of ostracization. These boys are referred to as sissies and may undergo intense teasing from their peers. Due to these ostracizations, they are at a higher risk of having depression especially as the society is far from accepting such conditions and the urges towards sex change harbored by such inpiduals. Gender Identity Disorder is still shrouded with controversy especially as most of the people with this disorder do not regard it as a problem fronting the argument that they are simply not conforming to the societys assigned gender roles. It should be noted that there is a clear distinction between Gender Identity Disorder and the inability of an inpidual to conform to the gender roles that are culturally set and accepted. One should not be misdiagnosed as having the disorder unless the full syndrome is present, including marked distress or impairment, as American Psychiatric Association (2000) points out adding that Gender Identity Disorder represents a profound disturbance of the inpiduals sense of identity with regard to maleness and femaleness. There are various treatments to the sexual and gender identity disorder. Sex reassignment surgery that results to an inpidual acquiring desired sexual organs like the vagina and the penis has been described as having a number of side effects as most of the inpiduals that have undergone it complain of inadequate vaginal depth. More than 30% regret having undergone sex re-assignment surgery. (Wanda k, 2005). Other inpiduals resort to hormonal treatment. Psychotherapy is the most lauded of the efforts to treat Gender Identity Disorder. Such therapy assist them to find a workable, comfortable sexual identity. This is in the understanding of the rail road of problems undergone by such inpiduals in a society that views the disorder with stigma lenses. Medical professionals have frowned at conversion therapies believing that such inpiduals should instead be assisted to carry on with the identity they feel comfortable in. The research into the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder has undergone tremendous transformations over time but still there exists conflicting details on its diagnosis and treatment. Contributions into the subject are varied but it is important to point out that the works of Richard Green in 1987 titled The Sissy Boy Syndrome achieved much prominence. Earlier studies did not make a distinction between inpiduals with Gender Identity Disorder and homosexuals with Richard green believing they were indeed homosexuals. Past research also did not make a clear distinction between transvestism and transexuality lumping it together with homosexuality.It is only in the recent past that these terms have been well defined giving indications that even transsexuals have own sexual orientation and may necessarily not be homosexuals. The current research and interests are focused on the best therauptic treatment of Gender Identity Disorder. Findings and experiences indicate that there are successes in treating children suffering from Gender Identity Disorder but it is exceptionally hard to treat adults. Current research also focuses on the follow up on the said treated children to reveal whether the disorder will recur in the later life especially during the late adolescence (Victoria J. et al, 2007) Gender identity disorder has overtime aroused interest amongst psychologists most of whom feel that it is has been misdiagnosed for long. There exists various models that have been formulated providing varied criteria for its diagnosis. According to the American Psychiatric Association DSM-IV, for a person to be diagnosed with gender identity disorder, he or she must exhibit a strong desire to be identified as a member of the opposite sex. Such an inpidual must also exhibit open distress and disturbance by the presence of sexual organs in the body and wish that they could change their sex. There are various ways to address this disorder but most medical professionals admit it is harder to treat children compared to adults. Future research will center on ways through which therapy could be successfully extended to adults. References American Psychiatric Association, DSM-IV. 2000. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR. American Psychiatric Pub, Inc. Victoria J. Fraser, Laurence Burd, Elizabeth Liebson, Gregg Y. Lipschik, Matthew Peterson, 2007. Diseases and Disorders. Marshall Cavendish Corporation Wanda K. Mohr, 2005. Psychiatric-mental Health Nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Rosen, A. C., Rekers, G. A. 103. Rosen A.C, Revers G.A, Friar L.A., 1977. Theoretical and diagnostic issues in child gender Disturbances. J Sex Res.

Educational leadership styles Which one fits you

Educational leadership styles Which one fits you If you’re looking to take your career in education to the next level, part of that means understanding what kind of leadership skills you have- and how you’d apply those in your job. Because educators are already a pretty diverse crowd, it should be no surprise that leadership styles can vary pretty widely too. So let’s look at the main types of educational leaders. The AuthoritarianThis sounds severe, but the authoritative leader is the one who is able to set a clear direction or implement a new vision. This means the leader is a decision-maker, often the final say. The authoritative leader is often the cheerleader-in-chief, motivating a team (or multiple teams) toward a single goal. The authoritative leader is a confident, strong voice, and comfortable making decisions. If you feel more comfortable giving orders than taking them taking them, then this might be your style.Pro: Things get done how you want them done.Con: Team members may have trouble connecting t o this kind of leader, since they’re less engaged in the decision-making process.The Team BuilderThis kind of leader, also known as an affiliative leader, focuses on building, maintaining, and repairing relationships. The affiliative leader’s priority is on harmony and collective productivity. This type of leader typically strives to get input from others and have good relationships with everyone on the team, rather than hand down assignments.Pro: Team members feel valued and connected.Con: Poor performance is sometimes ignored in favor of maintaining larger group harmony.The PoliticianThis kind of leader, also known as the democratic leadership type, works on consensus. This leader has the final say, but relies on having other stakeholders weigh in as well. The diverse perspectives can foster creativity and innovation, because everyone is able to give input and share their points of view.Pro: Team members feel more engaged because they have a say in the process.Con: D ecisions may not happen quickly if you’re waiting for mass buy-in.The CoachThe coaching-focused leader prioritizes team development over immediate achievement. Meeting goals is about the process, and providing feedback and instruction to make sure that members of the team are able to succeed in the project at hand, or on a more long-term basis. It’s also a natural leadership style for many teachers, who are already accustomed to nurturing talent to hit milestones. In this role, the coaching leader often delegates tasks and responsibility to help team members understand and learn in a hands-on way.Pro: This is a very forward-thinking leadership style, and encourages team members to set and achieve their own goals.Con: It can be time-consuming to incorporate feedback and ongoing training. Also, if team members are resistant to learning, that can also slow overall progress.The VisionaryThe visionary leader is focused on innovating and improving outcomes. For these leaders , the status quo is less important than setting goals and improving how students learn, how teachers work in the classroom, etc. The visionary leader typically spends a lot of time brainstorming and engaging others in common goals.Pro: Employees feel empowered to find new ways to accomplish goals.Con: Sometimes focusing on the big picture can lead to neglect of the everyday, or less interesting tasks at hand.There is no one-size-fits-all leadership style for an educator, or even a school. So depending on your personality and your goals, it may be that one of these suits you really well- and others not at all. Whatever your leadership style is, it’s important to nurture those qualities and find leadership opportunities that work for you.

Idioms Phrasal Verbs in English Business Writing [common mistakes]

Idioms Phrasal Verbs in English Business Writing [common mistakes] As businesses become more international, so must our writing. Most of the time, good business writing skills transfer very well to global audiences, but there are some confusing verbs that global business writers should try to avoid. These are called phrasal verbs. First, let’s take a look at the different types of verbs. There are two main types of verbs: Action verbs, such as run, jump, talk, negotiate, etc. Stative verbs, such as be, have, like, love, etc. (We don’t really â€Å"do† these verbs. They are more descriptive verbs than doing verbs.) As I’m sure you can guess, there are far more action verbs that stative verbs, and there are a lot that are particular to business. You can find a great list of business related action verbs here from Pepperdine University: Now that we have reviewed some background information on verbs, what exactly is a phrasal verb? A phrasal verb is phrase made up of a verb and a preposition that means something other than what the two words mean independently. If we made this into a formula, it would look like this: verb + preposition = new meaning Phrasal verbs are common in English, but they are difficult for global audiences. They are often concidered idioms. You cannot deduce the meaning based on the two words alone, they can be difficult to find in a dictionary, and they are different from one English speaking country to another. (Ever notice that the British call to-go food â€Å"take away† while in the U.S. it’s called â€Å"take out?†) Let’s take a look at a couple of examples, and the synonymous one-word verbs you could use instead: The markets are blowing up right now. In this example, no one is literally blowing air up into the sky, so this could be hard to decode. Instead, say: The markets are exploding right now. The use of the synonymous one-word verb exploding makes the sentence accessible for all readers, not just those who speak a particular variety of English. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(41482, 'bf4ee473-8e6b-46bf-b9e3-368d74d60b44', {}); Here’s another example: We need to look into that option. In this example, we are not literally looking into a box or the refrigerator, so this also could be hard to understand. Instead, we should say: We need to research that option. In both examples, there is a one-word verb that means the same thing as the phrasal verb. When writing for a global audience, it is always better to use the synonymous one word verb because it is easier to understand and far easier to look up if your reader doesn’t understand it. If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy our full list of business writing tips. For readers looking to improve their English business writing skills we offer a full business writingcourse for non-native speakers.

Poem Explication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Poem Explication - Essay Example There are six stanzas in it, but none of them follow traditional poetic forms or a set meter. Instead, Hughes allows the lines to be choppy, like how he imagines a hawk might think. The animal's self-impression is given as he seems to judge his body, "on falsifying dream / Between my hooked head and hooked feet: / Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat" (2-4). The thoughts are presented as fragments only loosely connected to each other. As the hawk surveys his land through these choppy thoughts, it becomes clear he considers himself the master of his domain, â€Å"Nothing has changed since I began. / My eye has permitted no change. / I am going to keep things like this† (22-24). The mind of the hawk is flighty, but shows two primary drives -- an appreciation for beautiful detail and a deadly purpose. Hughes demonstrates a strong understanding of the hawk's world as something that is both beautiful and terrible. He says, "the earth's face is upward" (8) as he talks about th e trees poking into the sky, the buoyant air of the mountain and the warm sunshine. These details bring to mind a beautiful spring day glittering with promise.

Developing a business plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Developing a business plan - Assignment Example The other way is to increase labor and expertise in handling the needs of our clients better. The product logistics and quality controls will be essential in defining the way these products take place. A vertical retail presence in crucial catalogues and e-commerce avenues will be pursued. Advertisement by creating a buzz about this new brand will be made especially amongst opinion leaders based on a combination of product placement and public relations. To achieve this, the needed abilities are good technological backgrounds. The goal is to have a system that enhances customer experiences through the acknowledgement of feedback from the users. The company is also leveraging on its current technology that ensures it can use its services to benefits its clients and provide a solution to their needs. The capabilities lacking are in mass production, which could hinder the number of outlets served. The current number requires an adjustment (Rumelt, 2011). The products are ladies’ creams for both day and night. They will be produced at our manufacturing plant and sold by representatives across the board in both retail and wholesale shops. The goal is to create a wide supply chain team to ensure the products reach out to the largest audience. The sellers will be getting a commission when dealing directly with the company, while those in retail will get lower prices to ensure they profit from stocking our products. The development processes are unique in that they encompass the utility of the ideals of modern technology combine with appropriate understanding of biological attributes of the human body. The production takes place at a facility that follows the required criterion that assures the client of a quality product. The marketing aspect takes place on both new and traditional media, with the new media taking the highest form. This is because most of the targeted clients use these forms of media for communication and information. Products are

Nike Promotions Essay Example for Free

Nike Promotions Essay After looking at Nike’s marketing strategy with respect to product, price, place and promotion, the outstanding success of the brand name calls for more attention to Nike’s promotional strategies. Nike’s promotions and advertisements have been deemed the best in the retail industry. The â€Å"Just Do It† slogan is supposedly one of the most famous and easily recognized slogans in advertising history. It would be safe to claim that brand management is easily one of Nike’s core capabilities. With the company’s advertising budget today reaching $2.4 billion, it is worth looking into Nike’s advertising strategies and how these strategies helped strengthen the brand image. 1980-1988: Early Advertising Before television advertisements, Nike released several successful print ads. One of its earliest print ad campaigns was the â€Å"There is no finish line† campaign by John Brown and Partners. The posters were an instant hit, since, it did not focus on the running shoe product, but instead on the person wearing the shoes. At this early stage, Nike saw the lucrative value in sports sponsorships. The company began sponsoring track and field athletes like Carl Lewis. With lucky breaks, Nike signed some bigger names in the athletic world like Wayne Gretzy and, probably the most important sponsorship signing in Nike history, Michael Jordan. 1988: The JUST DO IT Campaign This campaign was probably Nike’s most known and successful. In 1988, Nike worked with ad agency Wieden and Kennedy to create the slogan Just Do It. The company used this campaign to cash in on the jogging/fitness craze of the 80s. Top competitor Reebok was sweeping the aerobics race so Nike responded with Just Do It ads that practically shamed people into exercising, and more importantly, to exercise in Nikes. The Just Do It ads truly embodied the philosophy of grit, determination and passion to encourage consumers to embrace the culture of fitness rather than focus on the product. The Just Do It campaigns were also successful because of their celebrity features including Bo Jackson, John McEnroe, and Michael Jordan. These famous athletes reassured the quality of the Nike product and gave Nike a â€Å"hip† brand image. These ads were basically turning sweaty, pain-ridden exercise into something sexy and exciting. And lastly, the Just Do It ads were usually humorous, thus connecting to consumers on a level that made them comfortable and feeling positive about the brand. 2000-2005 Using its cooperations with various ad agencies, Nike released several popular and well-received TV commercials. In fact, the company received two Emmy awards for best commercial twice. The first was for â€Å"The Morning After,† which featured a runner on his morning jog on January 1, 2000, facing the chaos of the Y2K predictions. The commercial really connected to consumer emotions, as speculations of the new millennium were the conversation buzz around that time. The second Emmy was for a Nike commercial called â€Å"Move† that featured many famous and regular athletes performing a serious of athletic pursuits in a creative â€Å"pass it on† way. Starting in 2005, Nike released another successful ad campaign that were targeted at athletic woman. The ad focused on women’s Thunder Thighs and Big Butts, encouraging them to embrace their athletic body parts and shapes. This was yet another successful way Nike connected to the consumer on a personal level, as we all know that women tend to care about their self images. 2005 to Present Having built up an empire of a brand, Nike continued to focus on celebrity endorsements. Nike took famous athletes in a variety of sports to feature them in ads. LeBron James from basketball, Tom Brady from football, Ronaldhino from soccer, Roger Federer from tennis and Tiger Woods from golf, just to name a few. Using the A-list, top-notch names in the athletic world really helped tip Nike over into the â€Å"elite† brand division. At this point, Nike is reaching its peak in sales and in brand image. Having reached this peak, Nike is now changing up the promotion game and branching out to the digital world. With a 40% decrease in print and TV advertising, Nike is now trying to stray away from superstars. Now that Nike as perfected the art of branding, it is moving on to a world where consumers want to be told less. In 2010, Nike launched its new marketing division called Nike Digital Sport. This digital focus on sports conceived the Nike+ platform, which is a marriage of Apple and Nike technologies that allows people to track their athletic performance. It is also a platform that allows Nike to virtually have personal conversations with its consumers and, subtly study its consumer’s behavioural patterns. Overall, it seems like Nike is always in tune with consumer preferences and addresses them through strategic and well-executed advertising tactics. It is no surprise that the Nike brand is one of the most well recognized in the world.

Medias Impact on Politics Essay -- Government

Here in America, we try to pay close attention to everything that goes on in the government. Whatever decision they make we want to know when, where, why, and how. This is because whatever decision that they make will determine what will happen with this country as a whole in the long run. So what is the best way to find out what’s going on with our government? Why the media of course. The media plays a major part in every aspect of the government including what happens in elections, the reporting of major military operations and how the American people will react to certain political situations or scandals. Here are some the ways that the media affects the way we think when it comes to the government. The Right to Laugh: Media Satire and its Role in Politics. In times of political and world turmoil such as the ones we live in today, one may find it impossible to turn on a television or open a newspaper without finding some work that aims to criticize or express opinion about the state of things. Straight ahead and well written essays and reports and serious discussions are always important and the most common method for challenging the status quo. However, in our media saturated world, satires and political comedy are also a valid and potent weapon. Throughout the history of the 20th century and continuing stronger than ever today, political humor and satire has played a significant role in how we as a society perceive, judge, and run our government. True satire is meant to firstly challenge an idea or thought construct and in effect evoke change, all the while making its audience find humor in the idea it challenges. Television programs such as Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, Dennis Miller Live, Comedy Central’s... ...ws.mpr.org/features/2003/03/26_losurem_arabtv Hale, E. Arab Media Focus on Another Side of the Conflict. USA Today. Retrieved March 26, 2003, from the World Wide Web: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-30-arab-media_x.htm Audiences fragmented and skeptical: The tough job of communicating with voters (February 5, 2000). The Pew Research Center for People and the Press. Interest Index, Final Topline, January 12-16, 2000. Milbank, D. (October 18, 2000). Tracking Laughs is no Joke in Election Year. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 24, 2003, from the World Wide Web: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A36109-2000Oct18Found=true Moore fires Oscar anti-war salvo (March 24, 2003) The BBC Online Journal. Retrieved March 27 from the World Wide Web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2879857.stm

When Harry Met Sall

Interpersonal Communication ‘When Harry Met Sally’ is a romantic comedy set from the mid 1970’s to the mid-to-late 1980’s. From the beginning the film seemed like the perfect example from Mark Knapp’s 10 stages of relational development. There was a plethora of talking and Harry was quite witty while Sally was very sweet and up-beat. As a personal opinion, at first the film seemed to be slightly boring plot-wise – a man and a woman meet to travel a ways to the city?Sounds like the perfect situation to ‘fall in love’ in and have a happily ever-after. Though, as more of the movie was watched, it became more interesting and less of an assignment requirement. In relation to Harry and Sally’s relationship regarding Mark Knapp’s 10 stages of relational development, they jump around from following the path with initiating and experimenting in the beginning of the film while they were driving to New York, to initiating to te rminating right away after their second encounter at the airport.After both characters find themselves apart from their wife and boyfriend respectively, they crashed into each other at a bookstore and skipped right back into the experimenting stage, where they spoke to each other about friendship and having dinner. After initiating their friendship they began to grow closer, stepping up to the intensifying stage – where they spend a lot of time with each other and where Harry confides in Sally about the girls he takes out for dinner and Sally in the odd dream or two she occasionally has – where no one would know she had unless they were told.Soon enough they casually went on to the intensifying stage as they spent the most of their time together than with their respective best friends (which they unwittingly got them into a relationship with each-other), and as it happens, Sally one night calls Harry crying about her ex-boyfriend getting married to a woman he had just met, the two main characters in the film intensify their relationship and relieve their desires.After that, they both freak out and jump, once again, to the terminating stage and end up avoiding each other for a good length of time. Self-disclosure played an intensely heavy role in the development of their relationship when Harry finally begins to attempt to speak to Sally once more after they both terminated their relationship. While the earlier attempts at self-disclosure (Harry telling Sally he was not ready to date again, etc. ), this makes a particular impact on their relationship when he tells Sally how much she means to him.Identifying the terms was easy enough throughout the entire film – initiating the relationship when they met through a mutual good friend of theirs, experimenting as they spoke to each other about different topics during their trip to New York. Terminating their relationship was especially easy to identify – Sally was always particularly happ y to terminate their relationship during the times that they seemed to grow apart (she also did not particularly enjoy his presence when they had just met).Identifying the Intensifying stage was easy enough when they met for the third time and they began to speak more without openly insulting each other and began to spend more time with each other and do certain domestic things with each other. This film, over-all, was actually very entertaining and humourous. The interaction between both Harry and Sally had me laughing more than once over the duration of the film and it had clear visuals of two people bonding and forming a friendship, and eventually a relationship, from the beginning to practically the end.

Mobile Cement Plant Process Flow Chart

Mobile Cement Plant Process Flow Chart The main raw materials used in the cement manufacturing process are limestone, sand, shale, clay, and iron ore. The main material, limestone, is usually mined on site while the other minor materials may be mined either on site or in nearby quarries. Another source of raw materials is industrial by-products. The use of by-product materials to replace natural raw materials is a key element in achieving sustainable development. In the wet process, the slurry is fed to a rotary kiln, which can be from 3. m to 5. 0 m in diameter and from 120. 0 m to 165. 0 m in length. The rotary kiln is made of steel and lined with special refractory materials to protect it from the high process temperatures. Process temperatures can reach as high as 1450oC during the clinker making process. In the dry process, kiln feed is fed to a preheater tower, which can be as high as 150. 0 meters. Material from the preheater tower is discharged to a rotary kiln with can have the same diameter as a wet process kiln but the length is much shorter at approximately 45. m. The preheater tower and rotary kiln are made of steel and lined with special refractory materials to protect it from the high process temperatures. Mobile Cement Bag Packaging Plant Our Mobile Cement Bag Packaging Plant mainly including Mobile Jaw Crusher Plant , Mobile Cone Crusher Plant , Mobile Impact Crusher Plant , the mobile cement bag packaging plant specification :1. Available in 2 – 6 Spouts model 2. Available in Wheel mounted or Fix Models. 3. Auto-weighing system with bag pushing system 4.Pre-assembled with solenoid valve, limit switch etc. 5 Sub-divided in to Heavy duty Air Compressor 6 Capacity : 10- 60 ton per hour. The black, nodular clinker is stored on site in silos or clinker domes until needed for cement production. Clinker, gypsum, and other process additions are ground together in ball mills to form the final cement products. Fineness of the final products, amou nt of gypsum added, and the amount of process additions added are all varied to develop a desired performance in each of the final cement products.Our mobile cement plants are used in Indonesia, Vietnam , Iran, India, Chile, Venezuela, Libya, Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan , Yeman, Eygpt, Nigeria, Tajikistan , Saudi Arabia , Zimbabwe, Dubai, Vietnam, Philippines, Brazil. Cement Plant Equipment 1. Kilns  : We have manufactured high-quality kilns, made of varied materials, since a long period of time. All kilns are excellent heat exchangers where heat is transferred in a variety of ways. We produce kilns which are made with precision and detailed accuracy.They are highly durable and made with attention to each and every detail as provided by the client. 2. High Efficiency Separators  : We also supply high efficiency separators with our cement plants. High availability, high selectivity, low energy consumption, proper product separation, cooling and drying, and relatively lo w capital expenditure are all the features available in our high-efficiency separator.. 3. Crushers  :A machine to reduce large solid chunks of raw material into smaller chunks.It is widely used in a cement plant. We are manufacturers of a wide range of crushers. We supply all types of crushers and crushing equipment to be used in cement plants. 4. Feeders  : We supply you a range of feeders in varying sizes and shapes. Used in cement plants, the feeders we are offering are efficiently designed for heavy duty applications. Available in different capacities and sizes, our feeders have been well-tested for facilitating uniform flow of materials to the crusher and conveyors. 5.Conveyors  : We offer our customers with premium quality conveyors which are used for transporting products from one end to another. Highly durable and robust, our conveyors are specially designed to handle all types of load and materials in a cement plant. 6. Hoppers  : Our range of hoppers are available in various capacities as required by customers. These hoppers are highly durable and have a rugged performance. Catering to the technological developments, our products have successfully met the industrial standards. Mobile Cement Plant Process Flow Chart Mobile Cement Plant Process Flow Chart The main raw materials used in the cement manufacturing process are limestone, sand, shale, clay, and iron ore. The main material, limestone, is usually mined on site while the other minor materials may be mined either on site or in nearby quarries. Another source of raw materials is industrial by-products. The use of by-product materials to replace natural raw materials is a key element in achieving sustainable development. In the wet process, the slurry is fed to a rotary kiln, which can be from 3. m to 5. 0 m in diameter and from 120. 0 m to 165. 0 m in length. The rotary kiln is made of steel and lined with special refractory materials to protect it from the high process temperatures. Process temperatures can reach as high as 1450oC during the clinker making process. In the dry process, kiln feed is fed to a preheater tower, which can be as high as 150. 0 meters. Material from the preheater tower is discharged to a rotary kiln with can have the same diameter as a wet process kiln but the length is much shorter at approximately 45. m. The preheater tower and rotary kiln are made of steel and lined with special refractory materials to protect it from the high process temperatures. Mobile Cement Bag Packaging Plant Our Mobile Cement Bag Packaging Plant mainly including Mobile Jaw Crusher Plant , Mobile Cone Crusher Plant , Mobile Impact Crusher Plant , the mobile cement bag packaging plant specification :1. Available in 2 – 6 Spouts model 2. Available in Wheel mounted or Fix Models. 3. Auto-weighing system with bag pushing system 4.Pre-assembled with solenoid valve, limit switch etc. 5 Sub-divided in to Heavy duty Air Compressor 6 Capacity : 10- 60 ton per hour. The black, nodular clinker is stored on site in silos or clinker domes until needed for cement production. Clinker, gypsum, and other process additions are ground together in ball mills to form the final cement products. Fineness of the final products, amou nt of gypsum added, and the amount of process additions added are all varied to develop a desired performance in each of the final cement products.Our mobile cement plants are used in Indonesia, Vietnam , Iran, India, Chile, Venezuela, Libya, Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan , Yeman, Eygpt, Nigeria, Tajikistan , Saudi Arabia , Zimbabwe, Dubai, Vietnam, Philippines, Brazil. Cement Plant Equipment 1. Kilns  : We have manufactured high-quality kilns, made of varied materials, since a long period of time. All kilns are excellent heat exchangers where heat is transferred in a variety of ways. We produce kilns which are made with precision and detailed accuracy.They are highly durable and made with attention to each and every detail as provided by the client. 2. High Efficiency Separators  : We also supply high efficiency separators with our cement plants. High availability, high selectivity, low energy consumption, proper product separation, cooling and drying, and relatively lo w capital expenditure are all the features available in our high-efficiency separator.. 3. Crushers  :A machine to reduce large solid chunks of raw material into smaller chunks.It is widely used in a cement plant. We are manufacturers of a wide range of crushers. We supply all types of crushers and crushing equipment to be used in cement plants. 4. Feeders  : We supply you a range of feeders in varying sizes and shapes. Used in cement plants, the feeders we are offering are efficiently designed for heavy duty applications. Available in different capacities and sizes, our feeders have been well-tested for facilitating uniform flow of materials to the crusher and conveyors. 5.Conveyors  : We offer our customers with premium quality conveyors which are used for transporting products from one end to another. Highly durable and robust, our conveyors are specially designed to handle all types of load and materials in a cement plant. 6. Hoppers  : Our range of hoppers are available in various capacities as required by customers. These hoppers are highly durable and have a rugged performance. Catering to the technological developments, our products have successfully met the industrial standards.

Party Government and the United Kingdom (UK) essays

Party Government and the United Kingdom (UK) essays Party Government is the type of Government we use in the UK; five main features can be identified from party government. Firstly, in nearly every general election it is just one party that wins a majority and forms the government, there have been exceptions, but usually, a one-party majority is a case. Secondly, party manifestos can be written, particularly around an election, and the party is winning the majority has a mandate to carry out of the policies in the manifesto, even the unpopular ones. Thirdly, the Government, and also the opposition party, have nearly all control of parliamentary time and agenda. Private Members Bills are occasionally discussed, but the bulk of the time is reserved for the government or opposition party. Fourthly, many official posts, including ministers and chairs of committees, are appointed by the leadership of parties, mainly the Government and opposition parties. This means a great deal of patronage is involved in party government. Finally, opposit ion to the government is normally through the official opposition party and other large parties that didn't form a government. Pressure groups and the public also have an impact on the opposition, but opposition is mainly in the form of the opposition parties. Party government, has its benefits to the country, but also its disadvantages. The main advantage to Party government is the fact that after a general election a clear and decisive government can form. This government normally stays united and rarely splits, providing a stable government. Another advantage of party government is that the electorate knows the policies that the government will be carried out because their election manifesto states their policies. The Doctrine of 'Manifesto and Mandate' allows the government to follow its policies without any major opposition because it says that a government has been elected, and so has authority to carry out its policies. Also, the fundamental dis...

Cue vs. Queue

Cue vs. Queue Cue vs. Queue Cue vs. Queue By Maeve Maddox The first time I read the following passage, I thought the use of the word queue must be arcane computer science jargon, but when I read it a second time, I realized the spelling queue in this context was just a mistake: This happens to be one of our common gripes: that once the battery is end-of-life, we are pretty much forced to get a replacement unit since the battery takes a  queue  from Apple and is sealed inside the casing. The passage is from a product review. The writer is criticizing the fact that the consumer cannot replace the tool’s battery because, like the batteries in some Apple devices, it’s sealed. The tool’s manufacturers have â€Å"taken their cue† from Apple. Take one’s cue: use someone else’s behavior as a model for one’s own. The mistaken use of queue for cue was a new one for me, so I did a web search to see if this reviewer had company. He has plenty of company. And don’t pounce on the Americans; the misuse is global. I found examples on sites in the U.K., Australia, and Jamaica, as well as in the U.S. and in at least one printed book. Deron is on half speed one game, full speed another game. Everyone else takes their queue from that. Telstra are dead in the water. Hopefully the .au government takes their queue and busts it in half. The populace takes their queue from people of influence who are either silent on the matter†¦[or] are outrightly vocalising their contempt†¦ If the bride and groom are uptight and nervous the whole wedding takes their queue from them.   Cue and queue are both pronounced like the name of the letter Q. Queue, a French borrowing with the literal meaning of â€Å"tail,† is sometimes spelled cue in the context of hair: cue/queue: A long roll or plait of hair worn hanging down behind like a tail, from the head or from a wig; a pigtail. The expression â€Å"to take one’s cue† is from the figurative use of a theatrical term: cue: The concluding word or words of a speech in a play, serving as a signal or direction to another actor to enter, or begin his speech. The OED lists several historical spellings of cue in the sense of an actor’s signal, but the list does not include the spelling queue: kew, ku, quew, q, quue, que, Q, qu, kue. The word is spelled cue in A Midsummer’s Dream (1600); Bottom the Weaver is bossing his fellow actors: Curst be thy stones, for thus deceiuing mee. [deceiving me]. Deceiuing mee is Thisbyes cue: she is to enter now, and I am to spy Her through the wall. In British usage, a queue is a line of people or vehicles waiting to proceed or be served. In computer use, a queue is a list of data items or commands that are attended to in a certain order, such as a queue of documents waiting to be printed. Next time you have occasion to write the expression â€Å"take one’s cue,† take your cue from this article and remember to spell it cue. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Structure A Story: The Eight-Point ArcIs There a Reason â€Å"the Reason Why† Is Considered Wrong?1,462 Basic Plot Types

Consumer Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Consumer Behaviour - Essay Example fit is the image that customer develops in his mind about the brand and the way in which that image influences the customer to go purchase the brand. It is important for the customer to draw some connection between the kind of person he is and the kind of brand that is being promoted. (Onkivist, 2008) Red-bull’s an energy drink which promises extreme energy. It’s tag-line is â€Å"it gives you wings†. The kind of promotional campaigns that the brand pursues involves a lot of adventure, car racing, games, etc. It’s brand identity has been built around cliff driving, ice-skating and street contests. Mother energy drink on the other hand is promoted with the following tag-line â€Å"right-hook to laziness, a smack in the face of slackness†. The brand logo on the coke can is gothic and the brand has been promoted as an all-natural drink. Given these kind of promotional tactics that red-bull and mother energy command there are various social characterist ics in people that influence consumers to consume Redbull and Mother energy drink. Schiffman, Bednall, O’Cass, Paladino, Ward & Kanuk (2008) may have had the right definition of consumer social character. They look at it as a personality trait of the consumer that ranges from inner-directness towards outer-directness. The consumer’s whom it refers to as ‘Inner-directed consumers’ are those who determine value of a brand by oneself. This is as opposed to by others. Inner-directed consumers are not easily influenced by others and also known as consumer innovators as consumers evaluate new products on their own. Other-directed consumers are easily influenced by others and are likely to be followers as consumers tend to look to others for opinions. Groups and social networks also have direct influence over the... This paper talks about two brands: Red Bull and Mother Energy Drink. The niche in which these brands compete is carbonated soft drink and it is a very narrow niche. Red-Bull is an Austrian brand that was first introduced in 1987. It is available in 120 countries all over the world and is widely regarded as the world’s number-one energy drink. Mother Energy drink is a brand of Coca Cola and was first released in Australia. It was introduced Australia in 2006 when Red Bull and V energy drink commanded 94% share in the market. The paper will compare and contrast how consumer social characteristics, their need for uniqueness and how being a visualizer or being a verbalizer affects consumer perception of the brand followed by a conclusion towards the end of the paper. The primary focus of the paper will be on how these three dimensions influence consumer behavior. According to Kotler (2010), consumer behavior is an enigma for marketers all over the world. Countless number of strate gies and approaches has been designed by marketers to understand the reasons behind why buyers choose a certain product over another similar product. However, a concrete model or method describing consumer behavior which guarantees a positive response from the buyer in the form of purchases or repeated purchases is yet to be formed. Both Red Bull and Mother are branded in different ways and create different impressions on the minds f the consumer. Likewise they will influence the consumer decision to purchase the brand in their own ways.

Customizing the Body and Constructing Gender Essay

Customizing the Body and Constructing Gender - Essay Example In postmodern society, art has undergone several evolutions with one invention of the human body being used as one of the medium of expressing art. Body tattooing, body piercings, incisions like tongue splitting, elongation of body parts are just among the many ways the evolution of body modification evolution has undergone (Rose, 1993).Tattooing and body piercing are perceived as acts of pursuit of empowerment and self-expression. In countries, such as Australia and the U.S., different social groups that associate themselves with Homosexuality, Nerdism, Supremacists, Modern religions and atheists, use tattooing as a symbol of self-stigmatization and as a form of communicative or per formative expression (Rose, 1993). Medically body modification may include plastic surgery, circumcision, body amputation, body piercing, tattooing, and body parts elongations amongst others. According to Edelman, the modern society women may disregard the outlook of some parts of their bodies, and subsequently resort to plastic surgery (Edelman, 2000). The body parts that are commonly modified include the breasts, cheeks, lips, buttocks, thighs amongst others(Edelman, 2000).Some individuals resort to body amputations due to pain or medical implication such as cancer or viral infection, which cannot be treated unless the amputation is performed by a qualified doctor. Others pierce their bodies to cope with trauma or stress to act as therapeutic process, which subsequently helps the subjects in coping with the reaction of the body and mind (Edelman, 2000). Legally, body modification under the American State Laws, stipulates that it should only be done on an individual who is of legal age (18-years-old), of sane mind, voluntarily, and the individual should not be under any influence of intoxications such as alcohol, drugs (Edelman, 2000). Only a qualified physician should perform body modifications that culminate to extreme actions

Songs comparison assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Songs comparison - Assignment Example On the other hand, Lenny Kravitz approach in the song American Woman implements the use of soft rock in the absence of solo guitars. It is arguable that the modern artist’s approach sought to incorporate the Rock genre to the RnB version. After listening to the songs critically, it is known that Lenny’s version developed a dilemma as the artist contested against being with an American woman while still wooing her. The latest version of the song indicates the advanced culture of individualism and independence in the female gender. Therefore, the two versions in â€Å"Rock† and â€Å"Soft Rock† versions create an atmosphere of male chauvinism towards the end of the songs. Arguably, any listener can judge on the point by paying critical attention towards the end whereby both artists highlight their discontent perception of marrying the American women with their current cultural practices. In conclusion, the two versions provoke the listener to judge that the female gender acquired employment opportunities and economic empowerment; hence, any willing suitors perceived the changes for

An overview of marketing

An overview of marketing Marketing according to Kotler and Keller (2006) is everywhere. We as human beings tend to portray a sense of belief that we make decisions out of our own will. However, in reality we receive hundreds of inputs consciously and unconsciously from brands and businesses marketing themselves, that tends to form the very basis of everyday decisions. It is done formally or informally in a number of ways by people and organisations, and businesses need to implement good marketing strategies in order to have beneficial success. Hence as Armstrong and Kotler (2009) state that marketing has a twofold goal of trying to attract new customers by promising superior value and to keep and grow present customers by delivering satisfaction. We are surrounded by companies marketing on every possible platform that they can possibly market on. But this is no accident that marketing takes place this way. Kotler and Keller (2006) state that it is done after careful planning and efficient execution. Excellence in marketing and its strategies are continually refined and reformed to meet the way consumers react to brands. But marketing to a wide range of people either locally or globally is tricky and has to be the Achilles Heel of many prosperous companies (Kotler and Keller, 2006). It needs to include what products need to meet customer demands, the product category, what price ranges they need to fall in, brand image of the business and brand loyalty of the customer. The brands and businesses that fail to carefully understand and monitor their customers and competition but try to keep a step ahead are at the greatest risk of failing to increase their value to the end customers. 1.1 Marketing! What is it? What really is marketing? How does it benefit to implement a marketing strategy? Does marketing really work? This is explained simply by Kotler and Keller (2006) as the identification and meeting of human wants and social needs, profitably. And to this the American Marketing Association introduced a formal definition help understand marketing which states that Marketing is an organisational function and a set of processes for creating, communicating and delivering value to the customers; and for managing customer relationships in ways that are beneficial to the organisation as well as the stakeholders (Kotler and Keller, 2006). Armstrong and Kotler (2009), state that marketing is managing profitable customer relationships. Marketing has enabled exchanges of goods, services, events, experiences, information and ideas easily through various modes of communication from businesses to customers. Exchange according to Kotler and Keller (2006) is a core concept of marketing and to make any successful exchanges, marketers seek to elicit a behavioural response from the other party of consumer through analysis. But companies, businesses and brands have to understand that marketing needs to be radical and that the advantages of direct marketing are far greater. Using surgical strike advertising which as explained by Kotler and Keller (2006) are short, targeted ad campaigns helps create a emergent sense of belonging and part of a community, while making the brand or the brand image as the unifier of that community. This enables bringing about increased competition by introducing fresh, different marketing ideas and est ablishing loyalty and commitment among customers. 1.2 Do Brands really exist? Guzman cites Kapferer (1997) who states that before the 1980s the approach towards brands was different. Companies wished to buy a producer of chocolate or pasta: after 1980, they wanted to buy KitKat or Buitoni. This distinction is very important; in the first case firms wish to buy production capacity and in the second they want to buy a place in the mind of the consumer (p. 23). Guzman states that the shift in focus towards brands began when it was understood that there was something more than just mere identifiers. Also Kapferer (1997) stated that brands help perform an economic function in the minds of consumers, the value of the brand comes from its ability to gain an exclusive, positive and prominent meaning in the minds of a large number of consumers (p. 25). Thus Guzman assertens that business need to build a brand and focus on developing brand value (Guzman, A Brand Building Literature). A brand as explained by Simoes and Dibb (2001), is the combination of features (what the product or service is), the benefits for the customer (what wants and needs the product meets) and the values (which the customer associates with the product or service). If marketing adds value to a product while differentiating it from the other products in the market which may have similar features and benefits, then we are able to create a brand that customers can relate to.Brands are thus intangible assets that are residing in the minds of customers. Though they are impetus to brand creation by marketing, Kotler and Keller (2006) state that brands end up as a perceptual entity that are deep rooted in reality but reflects the perceptions and perhaps even the idiosyncrasies of customers. As explained by Armstrong and Kotler (2009), many business owners and brands tend to make the mistake of paying more attention to the product rather than to the benefits and experiences produced by the product s and coined this as marketing myopia. Therefore companies and organisations have long tried to differentiate themselves from their competitors in many ways to be able to be top of mind for customers. These differences maybe functional, rational or tangible, i.e. related to the performance of the brand; however they could also be symbolic, emotional or intangible, which helps potential customers and repeat customers relate to what the brand intends to represent (Kotler and Keller, 2006). Perceptions from customers according to Chevalier and Mazzalovo (2004) are embodied in a name. However, the American Marketing Association defines a brand as a name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them, intended to identify the goods or services of one seller or a group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of competitors (Kotler and Keller, 2006). It is thus an important visible part of a more complex reality and provides the mediation of the core values of the organisation and how consumers perceive its brand image. But what needs to be understood more importantly is that consumers are looking at a particular brand because they believe it has a guarantee of a specific quality, usually superior and this tends to help form a long-term strategy assurance for any relationship between the brand and customer (Chevalier and Mazzalovo, 2004). Brands thereby focus on keeping to their core-values and delivering the benefits consumers truly want. As seen from the HBR (2003), the Brand Report Card shows us that strong brands attributes such as staying relevant or pricing strategies are based on value that the consumer perceives, positioning the brand to make it desirable and deliverable, while constantly ensuring brand consistency and monitoring brand equity  [1]  . Any value that a brand carries along with it adds or minuses its overall brand awareness which Kotler and Keller (2006) state as the power of that brand which lies in the minds of existing or potential customers on what they have seen, read, heard and experience directly or indirectly about the brand. As stated by Coulson-Thomas (1983), the appeal of a brand may remain relatively constant even as product physical attributes may change, hence companies and organisations need to constantly resonate their core values and position themselves correctly in their tar get audiences minds, in order to increase brand awareness and higher brand recall. 1.3 Gaining an Identity for the Business through Branding Urde M. (1999), Brand Orientation: A Mindset for Building Brands into Strategic Resources, Joumal of Marketing Management, 15. 117-133 There has been research from previous case studies carried out on companies such as Nestle, DuPont, Tetra Pak, Volvo, and Phamiacia Upiohn Nicorette, to see how an organisations approach is affected when its operations and marketing and strategies revolve around the companies brand or particular products of the company (Urde, 1999). The organisation acquires an identity and increased awareness when it expresses its overall goals, values and positions through its brand and brand statement. But Urde questions whether we need to rethink the market and marketing concept while challenging the ever known assumption of whether the customer is always right? He also goes on to ask whether development of the organisation or brand should be based on satisfying the customers need and wants, even if the price is not right? (Urde, 1999). But through the case studies researched by him on the companies stated above, it shows that integrity and brand competence are required to create, develop and pro tect the brands while sending out the right message through the right channels to be able to establish a trust brand identity while customers can relate to and not just an image. Also Ewing and Napoli (2005) state that while doing this organisations need to monitor consumers brand perceptions, identify whether their attitudes confer with their own brand vision and thereby instigate strategies to reinforce positive brand beliefs or change any negative perceptions because as Haynes et. al (1999) state, from a brand management perspective, brands are likely to be more successful when an audiences perception of a brand mirrors the firms view of the brand concept and both are identical to the consumers original specifications since the products or services produced by a business need to meet the customers desires and not just their demands. 1.4 Brand Orientation: Brand-orientation has been a term that has been coined by Frans Mellin and Urde and through Urdes dissertation carried out in 1997 he states that it is an process where brands and companies revolve around the development, protection and creation of the brand through an ongoing interaction with targeted customers with an aim of achieving long lasting relationships which in turn ensures competitive advantage for the brand. Brands have always been seen as only resources and expressions of the company identity to establish themselves in the minds of customers. And they have thus been treated in a very superficial or general fashion. Urde cites Macrae who states that certain companies go the extra distance to not only satisfy customers wants and needs but to lend a strategic significance to brands, which enables them to acquire an emotional and symbolic value for the brand and organisation, thereby helping them ensure that they are living the brand through their marketing strategies (Urde , 1999). Urde states that though being industry and customer centric for the last half century, there are always questions arising with regard to product related questions. Is the product good enough? Is it what the customer really wants? These questions tend to dominate when we deal with brands and this is mainly because the functional advantages of any product can be easily imitated by competitors at a lower cost hence removing the competitive advantage entirely (Urde, 1999). Thus as stated by Kotler and Levy (1969) that The marketing concept holds that the problem of all business in an age of abundance is to develop customer loyalties and satisfaction, and the key to this problem is to focus on the customers needs (Urde, 1999). Thus when Drucker (1954) first articulated this idea being called the marketing concept, he made note that marketing was never a separate function of the management but on the contrary, the whole business needs to be seen from the customers point of view (Deshpande and Webster, 1989). The marketing concept often called the market concept which is considered a corner stone by Kohli and Jaworski (1990) and Drucker (1954) who were among the first people to argue that the marketing concept needs to be adopted as a fundamental basis for any brand or company to ensure a competitive advantage. Armstrong and Kotler (2009) also state that customer focus and value are the paths to higher sales and profits for any business. Thus it goes to say that by placing the customer in focus by the firm and revolving the companys strategies to satisfy customer wants and needs is key in any marketing concept. Many authors such as; McKittrick 1957; Felton 1959: Kotler 1977; Day. Shocker, and Srivastava 1979; Webster 1992; Day 1994; Hunt and Morgan 1995, have previously in their literature contrasted this concept of marketing with market orientation and hence customer orientation. And Urde describes market orientation as the organization wide generation of market intelligence pertaining t o current and future customer needs, dissemination of the intelligence across departments, and organization wide responsiveness to it (Urde, 1999). Businesses need to be able to maintain a healthy competitive advantage by differentiating their product or service through constant sensing of their market through regular interactions with customers and potential customers helping them cater to the end customers needs and wants, and thus as Melin (1997) points out enables them to form a barrier to entry. Thus brands are forced to become the unconditional response of the firm because following the strategy to tend to the wants and needs of customers can be ensured only through the right brand communication channels and thereby right segmentation and positioning. And this is possible as seen by Urde citing Day (1994) who argues that market sensing (the ability to continually sense, interpret foresee, and react to changes in the market) and customer linking (the ability to develop relationships with customers) are two particularly important aspects of the development of a market-oriented organization (Urde, 1999). Satisfaction of customers needs and wants Æ’Â   The brand as an unconditional response to customer needs and wants But Urde (1999) also goes on to state that if brand awareness and brand loyalty of customers is intended to increase the competitive advantage, then market orientation tends to come into conflict with any long-term brand development. If marketing the business as a brand is the true question then we need to see whether the customers and their changeable preferences provide sufficiently stable grounds for the brand as a resource. If brands tend to change just because of opinions and comments of consumers based on whatever position they think is popular at the time, then the business and its brand image loses credibility. This on the contrary shows that the business has not got a strong sense of identity and forms and opportunism for signs of weak integrity to the business and the organisations core values and goals (Urde, 1999). Establishing a brand as explained by Urde (1999) should be a starting point for businesses as an expression of a mindset. If all businesses relate to their products or services as brands and work on strategies to create, develop and protect these brands as strategic resources, it will help them achieve a competitive advantage which in turn increases brand identity for customers to relate to. Research done earlier has shown that identity of a brand for a customer is enhanced through value creation and meaning creation which enables customers to experience products or services as attributes that are valuable and unique, and this makes it difficult for competitors to imitate. Urde (1999) states that companies need to consciously and actively strive to give their brand a competitive advantage through an expression of intent by constantly managing the process through which they give the brand value and meaning. This helps the brand become a symbol of an ongoing interaction between the com pany and its customers. Hence Urde points out that by doing this, it has positive consequences on the company which helps it position, prioritizes, organizes, develops, and protects its brand resource base while increasing the companys knowledge of market intelligence for its product or service (Urde, 1999). 1.5 Businesses establishing themselves as Brands A conceptual framework Former head at Nestle, Camillo Pagano, was questioned by Urde on whether it was possible to create brand passion within an organisation. To this Camillo answers, As you get new consumers all the time, by changing consumer groups, habits, and trends, you have to keep the brands continuously refreshed. Thats a job that takes a tremendous amount of attention and passion! (Urde, 1999). A passion for a brand whether it is a business, organisation or even a product or service, it needs to come from within, and this can be seen not only from the way the employees of the brand work in the organisation but also by the way customers perceive the brand through their loyalty. Businesses thus need to be brand oriented in order to generate any sort of customer loyalty towards their brand, increase brand awareness and thus be able to communicate the right message to their potential end users. This ability to be able to transform a product or service by an organisation into a brand needs to constitute as a fundamental process for organisations. As stated by Urde (1999), a product fulfils a function, while a brand symbolizes values and a meaning in a social context. A brand with emotional and symbolic values is experienced and interpreted while carrying a personality and identity of its own provides a basis for a unique relationship. It symbolizes values and a meaning in a social context and brings about experience through its reality. The understanding of a company being brand-oriented can be summarised through a number of concepts and relationships. However, Urde (1999) integrated a companys reasoning about its strategy and direction with brand equity, brand awareness and brand identity, to obtain a conceptual framework called the Brand Hexagon. Any company that needs to portray its business or its brand out into the market need to answer basic fundamental questions such as: Why does the business or brand exist? What does the brand stand for? Who is the brand? How is the goal of the brand to be achieved? As stated by Urde (1999), if these questions are answered then it helps relate to the reasons for the existence of the business or brand as well as enabling identification of the core values, identity, personality, and strategy of the brand. Also if the vision of the brand is to be projected out to the end customer on a long term basis then the business needs to be able to communicate the right information of what they want to achieve for the brand and how they will go about realising this vision. 1.6 Communicating the Brand Functional and Emotional Values As stated by Urde (1999), brand awareness for any business is concerned both with its position in the market as well as the specific products or services that is made available for the consumer. From the Brand Hexagon model, the right side reflects the reference function (product or service category and product), while the emotional function that reflects the brand name or the business name is on the left side. Urde goes on to explain that distinguishing between intellectually explaining as well as emotionally communicating are the principle ways brands need to communicate to their target audience. We as individuals use our brain (i.e. reference function) and our heart (i.e. emotional function) to interpret a brand thus enabling us to experience the brand in its entirety. The task of communication is necessary to explain the product or service that a brand or business represent, however it is not to explain brands in terms of objective relationships. We need to emotionally and symbol ically experience a brand and hence the identity of the brand cannot be explained. And Urde firmly states that insight into the limitations of the intellect in understanding, and into the limitations of the emotions in explaining, is fundamental when a company communicates about its brands (Urde, 1999). The mission and vision are at lower part of the model and relates to the brand or businesses intentions, while the upper part shows the interpretation of the brand by the target audience. Through symbolic interaction a continual reinterpretation is created by the dynamics of brand development. Thus this has lead to the process of meaning creation which puts the core values and positioning at the centre of the model, thereby forming the complete brand hexagon showing how all the elements are linked and interlinked for the development of a brand. 1.7 Awareness. Associations and Loyalty Reflections of Brand Strength As we look at Urdes Brand Hexagon, we can see that the relationships between a brand, product or service and the target audience can only be established when there is awareness, right associations and brand loyalty. 1.7.1 Awareness: As cited by Macdonald and Sharp, Baker et.al (1986) state that if a brand is not recalled due to lack of awareness then it would obviously not be chose during the decision making stage. Awareness of a product or service, produced by a business, thus needs to be conveyed to the target audience and this helps to increase the brand building process. Farquhar (1989) states awareness is a important dimension of brand equity and Aaker (Emerald Backfiles 2007) strengthens this point to say that brand awareness is pivotal since it underlies the strength of successful brands. As Aaker (1991) states, the brand should be conceptualised as a node in memory which thereby allows other information about the brand to be anchored to it and this can only be done by creating awareness of the brand (Macdonald and Sharp, 1996). 1.7.2 Associations: The brand is able to differentiate their product or service, create favourability, attitudes and bring about congruity in the brand through unique associations (Keller, 1993). Aaker and Joachimsthaler (2000, p.17) describe associations as anything that makes the consumer connect with the brand, including user imagery, product attributes, organizational associations, brand personality, and symbols. But as stated by Cochran (2002), associations will only result if all of the components of the brand make sense and are perceived by the target as an entity with which they would want to interact. Hence these associations will only be possible if there is a good communication channel between the brands and the end customer, since good associations would lead to better relationships and this would result in higher brand recall. 1.7.3 Loyalty: Loyalty as stated by Shocker (1994), marketers for brands need to understand and be able to leverage consumer-bonds which has become especially necessary in every marketplace since it is characterised by increasing unpredictability, diminishing product differentiation, and heightened competitive pressures and as cited by Fournier and Lao (1997), brand building activities have been placed back into the heart of business plans to develop consumer brand loyalties, partnerships and friendships. In addition, Aaker (Emerald Backfiles 2007) also states that by focussing on brand loyalty, this often is an effective way to manage brand equity since repeat buying patters of consumers as well as customer satisfaction are the indicators of a healthy brand and thus programs to enhance this will build brand strength. 1.8 The Core Values Centre of Gravity At the centre of the Brand Hexagon are placed the core values which enable to position a branded product and a branded company because Urde (1999) states that it is via positioning that the company expresses and interprets the core values. Positioning of the brand however but take place in relation to its competitors and always assert on attributes and benefits that complement the brand. This is usually achieved as Urde (1999) explains through using of metaphors that explicitly communicate the core values. As cited by Urde (1999), Phannacia Upjohn used the linguistic picture of Nicorette a helping hand to communicate its products for quitting smoking. Hence in principle, positioning ensures three dimensions of quality, personality and communication of the brand. 1.8.1 Quality: Quality as stated by Urde (1999) relates mainly to the product or service offered and as cited by Phillips et. al (1983), Porter (1980) cites that using quality as a differentiator helps insulate a business from competitive rivalry by reducing customer sensitivity to price, increasing customer loyalty and thus protect the business and brand. Personality: The personality of a brand are simply the human traits that consumers associate with the brand. As stated by Aaker (1997), research has been done to focus on how consumers express his or her own self, an ideal self or specific dimensions of ones self through the use of a brand. These personality traits thus are able to provide the brand with an emotional side and enables to position it in relation to other brands for the customer (Urde, 1999). Thereby Biel (1993) goes on to say that personality can be used as a central driver for consumer preference and usage. Communication: Communication is the basic human activity that helps link people and businesses together to create relationships. As stated by Duncan and Moriarty (1998), communication is at the centre of meaning-making activities which corresponds not only to marketing but also in political, social and economic areas to serve as a way to develop, organise and disseminate knowledge. Mohr and Nevin (1990) state it should be like the glue that holds the brands communication together in order to transmit information, receive feedback from the customer, and thereby help participative decision making. Thus through communication, businesses are able to chose the media channels through which they want to target their audience, use particular tones and styles in their marketing, and be able to reflect customers aspirations (cf. Kapferers (1997) reflections) (Cochran, 2002). Through this combination of quality of product or service, its brand personality and the right channels of communication, it makes it possible to position the brand clearly (Urde, 1999). There are certain values such as brand essence and brand soul that helps sum up a brand. As Aaker and Joachimsthaler (2000, p.45) states that brand essence helps become a part of brand identity as it is viewed as the glue holding the core identity of the brand together and as explained by Urde (2003), is to define and describe the innermost core of a brand. Randazzo (1993) also states that the brands soul is in its spiritual centre, the core values that defines the business and brand and permeates through all other aspects of the brand (Randazzo 1993, p.17). But as stated by Urde (2003), if core values are to fulfil their function and role they need to be built into the product, expressed in behaviour and reflects the feel of communication; thereby giving the end customer an added value which the consumer associates as an advantage to be able to differentiate a brand from a commodity. Hence McCracken (1993) states that: Brands have value, it turns out, because they add value and Urde (2003) justifies by saying that the added value maybe either functional, emotional or symbolic but they need to be closely related to the core and organisational values. Through this act of interpreting and reinterpreting the core values of the brand to the customer, helps affect the image and identity of the brand (Christiansen and Askegaard, 2001). Thereby brands and business need to be very careful while communicating the right message to their customers because the most important task of core values according to Urde (2003) is to be the guiding light of the brand building process. Thus from the Brand Hexagon we see that consumer awareness of the product needs to be established through brand associations which will help bring out conditions that help relationships exist between the target customers and the brand. But as Urde (1999) states, the main significance of the brand is reflected by the positioning of brand and reflecting the core values of the business and brand. However, he goes on to say that the loyalty of a customer towards a brand or the relationship shared is established only through brand identity and recall. Any business or brand needs to see itself as a brand-oriented company by being an associative network that communicates to the target audience (Urde, 1999). As stated by Fiske (1990, p.42) Decoding is as active as coding, therefore the brand and end consumers need to be the co-creators of this whole process. Hence communication should not take place as a one-way network but rather as an interaction with the target audience (Urde, 1999). 1.9 Communication: Communication is thus a very vital aspect of the whole concept of marketing and brands. Whether to communication is not the question anymore but asking what needs to be said, how it needs to be said, through what channels, where is your target audience located, how easy is it to access your target audience and how often can this be done financially and logically are the more pertinent questions. Over the years, there has been an increase in products available locally and globally, the competitors have increased and the overall prices of products have reduced considerably. These factors have affected the ways brands communicate to the customer in order to gain higher market share as well as undivided attention (Kotler and Keller, 2006). This has however been overcome to a large extent due to the efforts of holistic marketers  [2]  who are creatively employing multiple different types of communication. 1.9.1 Traditional vs New media: According to Lutze, companies spend millions every year on marketing their companies as brands in order to gain more market share and reach more prospects. But how often are these same companies realising the brand that is already created by their loyal, current customers? (Lutze, Reinvent Relationships With your Customers Online). As stated by Duncan and Moriarty (1998), this increasing importance of communication in marketing is easily demonstrated by the ability to use new marketing approaches as compared to traditional media (television, radio, and print media). Also marketing through traditional media could not be directly tracked unless large organisations paid huge amounts of money to market research companies to learn what their end customer feels about their product but with the introduction of the internet and social networking media platforms, all this has been changed drastically (Lutze H., Reinvent Relationships With Your Customers Online). The new approach emphasises tw o-way communication between brands and businesses and their target audience which has enabled listening to customers and interactivity with the end users. This kind of engaged marketing involving both sides of the chain can build or destroy important brand relationships and brand loyalty. 1.9.2 The Internet: With the evolution of the internet, this has sparked a whole new digital revolution in the way communication exists and the way we use communication among each other. It has impacted lives of people as well as business to a large extent and according to Harris and Rae (2010), everything around us seems