A Review of the Work and Play poem By Ted Hughes

This poem is about a comparison between a swallow and human beings that are on a day trip. The swallow, is at work in the poem and is feeling content. The humans, however, are supposed to be relaxing and having fun, but they feel miserable instead. With this, there is irony here with the title, as the swallow is working but having fun. The writer, I feel, is being biased in his poem. He tends to be in favour of the swallow. The poem is describing the people as ‘polluting' the environment. The message of the poem is that we shouldn't destroy our environment and our health by ‘baking' ourselves under the sun. The poem talks about the tourists arriving and then leaving unhappily. The writer is also describing the swallow's day, what it does to entertain itself and returning to its home at night. The poem is split into four, unequal stanzas. The first three stanzas, start off with a description of the swallow and then humans. The last stanza, however, starts off with a description of the humans and then the swallow. This makes us stop, think and more eager to finish the poem, as it's a change of pattern. The writer, perhaps wants to leave the reader with a positive and happy image rather than a negative and discomforting image. In the first three stanzas, the end of the two longest lines rhyme, forming a sort of rhyming couplet, e. g. â€Å"†¦ dust† and â€Å"†¦ bust† in the first stanza. In the first stanza, the writer, uses alliteration in the first phrase, â€Å"The swallow of summer, she toils all the summer† the use of ‘s' words. This gives the line a sort of rhythm to it. The metaphor, â€Å"A blue-dark knot of glittering voltage,† gives us this impression of a bright, powerful and energetic image of the swallow. The word, ‘glittering' also gives us an image of the swallow's shiny feathers. A whiplash swimmer†¦ † gives us a sense of the swallow's speed, rapid. Then the poet writes, â€Å"But†¦ † which is used at the beginning of each of the human's description in the first three stanzas, a form of repetition. The poem gives us a happy, positive image, when describing the swallow, at the start of the first three stanzas. Then, he uses ‘But' when starting to describe the humans, which start to give us a miserable and gloomy feel towards the humans. The writer, uses the metaphor ‘Serpent' to describe the long line of cars trying to get through traffic. This is a good metaphor to use because, if you are looking from a birds-eye view, the roof of the cars, looks like the scales of a snake. There is also, how the cars move along the swerving roads, like how a snake moves. â€Å"†¦ that crawls through the dust† this metaphor, gives us an image of the slow moving cars. A serpent, is a venomous creature, a sign of evil, the devil, which is a sign, that the writer is being biased in his poem. The phrases â€Å"shimmering exhaust† and â€Å"its fever in ocean† are telling us that they've already polluted the water before they, the humans, have even arrived there. In the second stanza, the writer uses a metaphor, â€Å"†¦ the barbed harpoon† in the first line, to describe the swallow. This gives us an impression of the swallow's impact and body shape, as she dives in. The writer uses alliteration in the second line, â€Å"†¦ flings from the furnace† and the word ‘flings' creates a sense of movement, it makes the reader read with expression. The metaphor, â€Å"†¦ a rainbow of purples† creates an attractive image for the reader. In the third line, he uses alliteration again, â€Å"†¦ he pond and is perfect† and this is creating a positive image. In the description of the humans, he uses repetition, â€Å"But the serpent of cars†¦ † to make you remember it, so it stays in your head that negative feeling. Another metaphor used is, â€Å"Disgorges its organs† which is referring to the people, making their way out of the cars, like a snake, shedding its skin, this is giving us another unpleasant image. The two similes used, â€Å"Which roll like tomatoes† and â€Å"Nude as tomatoes† gives us a negative image of these large, lazy, sunburnt people, lying on the beach. With sand in their creases† gives us an uncomfortable feeling. The word ‘cringe' in the last line gives this embarrassed feeling, a negative feeling. The writer, is clearly using a lot of negative images to bring out his message. The onomatopoeic word ‘screech' is used to give us an image of the negative sounds on the beach, the people's discomfort. In the third stanza, the writer uses a lot of alliteration in the first two lines. The use of the ‘s' words, ‘swallow', ‘summer' is a bit onomatopoeic, producing a sense of the bird's movement. He uses the word ‘seamstress' to describe the swallow, meaning a dressmaker. This metaphor is used to show how she sews something using the sky and water as her material, which makes it now an extended metaphor. In the third line, it is describing its movement, the twists and swerves. The word ‘draws' provide a long sound and the word ‘knots' provide an abrupt, short sound, perhaps showing the swallow's movement, gliding and then halting abruptly. The writer then uses ‘But' again and brings back the negative image. The humans are described as † †¦ aid out like wounded† the metaphor is showing their pain in sunburn, laid out in rows, endangering themselves, like a line of wounded soldiers. The metaphors, â€Å"Flat as in ovens† and â€Å"Roasting and basting† gives us the impression they are being cooked. They're being compared to cooking meat. The word ‘basting' is describing the humans putting on sun cream and there's a bi t of irony between the way we cook meat. The word ‘torment' shows us their agony and the word ‘blue' gives us an impression of the heat, as hot as a blue flame and the sun's harmful rays. The lack of language in the description of the humans makes the reader read with one breath, leaving them in discomfort, to perhaps experience how the humans are actually feeling. The line â€Å"Their heads are transistors† is describing their heads as being heat damaged and they're like robots, moving a limited amount. â€Å"Their teeth grit on sand grains† is sort of a repetition of the line â€Å"with sand in their creases† in the second stanza, to remind us of the humans agony. The hyperbole and metaphor, â€Å"Man eating flies† shows us their annoyance and pain with the insects. Their ‘electric shock needles' make conditions worse, more pain, the physical horror of it all and it gives us a diseased image, another negative image. In the last stanza, there is use of alliteration, â€Å"They can climb in their cars†¦ † The word ‘climb' is used to describe how the humans get into their cars, showing their tiredness. The repetition with, â€Å"†¦ raw bodies, raw faces† provides us with an image of these sunburnt people, the colour of raw meat, blood red and the repetition ‘hammers' this image into our heads. The line, â€Å"And headache it homeward† gives us an impression of these tired and hot people returning home. The metaphor and hyperbole â€Å"a car full of squabbles† and the line, â€Å"And sobbing and stickiness† shows us this negative image of how the children in the car, are moaning and throwing tantrums. Then, the writer is using repetition again, â€Å"With sand in their crannies† a similar description is used in the previous two stanzas. It shows us that even though they are going home, they still feel uncomfortable. The line â€Å"Inhaling petroleum† brings us back to the message of the poem, with the humans polluting the planet. The writer describes it as pouring out from the ‘foxgloves'. Foxgloves are poisonous flowers. The writer here is perhaps comparing the exhaust to these flowers. The flowers produce a poison, venom, which a serpent produces also, one damages your health and the other damages the environment, they are both dangerous. The poem then moves on to describing how the swallow returns home. Alliteration is used again, â€Å"The swallow of summer, cartwheeling through the crimson,† to give the line a rhythm. The word ‘cartwheeling' gives us this image of the bird flying home with happiness, through ‘crimson', this is describing the wonderful sunset, the orange, yellow and red background. Touches the honey-slow river and turning† the word ‘honey' gives us a sweet image. The river is a honey colour, due to the sun's crimson rays reflecting onto the water. The writer wants to leave us with a pleasant image at the end of the poem. The swallow is described as ‘hand stretched' when returning to its home. The words are showing us that the swallow is welcome d back, it is also perhaps referring to God's hands reaching out to this wonderful creature he has created. The humans, however, â€Å"†¦ headache it homeward† Nobody welcomed them home, their journey home, was destroying the environment. The last line of the poem, † A boomerang of rejoicing shadow. † leaves the reader in content but also thinking about the whole message of the poem. The metaphor used, ‘boomerang' is a good metaphor to use because a boomerang always returns when it's thrown. The writer has used three different, but similar and powerful metaphors to describe the swallow. The three metaphors he has used, has provided us with a powerful image of the swallow. The swallow is rejoicing because, everyone has left, her day is over and now she can relax with happiness. I think, this poem has really made me think, that a day out can really cause so much danger to us and to our planet. The irony of the poem, makes you think that a swallow who works hard can still be so happy with its life and there's us, who laze about and is feeling unhappy, so why do we do it? The writer has used a lot of good descriptive metaphors and similes in his poem. I liked the metaphors he used when describing the humans on the beach, â€Å"Are laid out like wounded†, â€Å"Flat as in ovens† and â€Å"Roasting and Basting†. It really emphasises the whole idea of the humans endangering their lives for some pleasure but they still feel unhappy at the same time. Ted Hughes has really shown his point of view about the situation. He has done this by showing such negative images when describing the humans, making out that the humans have been put on this planet just to destroy it and the animals are living how God would like the humans to live. The way, how the poem is structured to how the writer wants the reader to feel, is a good effect. This brings some realism to the poem and it involves the reader more.

Contingency Theory of Accommodation and Advocacy

â€Å"Contingency Theory of Accommodation and Advocacy† Contingency theory of accommodation/advocacy is a more realistic depiction of public relation strategies or models based on a continuum. The contingency theory represents the organizations possible stance on a wider range of publics than an individual one fostering rigid and exclusive categorization mostly found in a limited set communication models. Basically what the theory is getting at is opening the spectrum of the public to come to a more rounded synopsis of the issue or product. Amanda Cancel, Michael Mitrook, and Glen Cameron conceptualized the theory to offer a better understanding how the public relations field manages conflict and reaches out to the public in external communication. A study was done by 18 practitioners to see if the contingency theory made any sense to them. The theory itself offers 86 possible factors in the continuum at any given time to any given public. This allows the continuum offered to depict how an organizations stance toward one given public and not the outcome of the interaction with that public. The theory focuses then on what decisions led the organization to their stance in concern with greater or lesser accommodation to that public. One of the many factors suggests that more accommodation or more advocacy will be effective in gaining departmental and organizational objectives in the short and long term. The contingency theory further goes on to say that an accommodative stance, questionably a part of a two-way symmetrical communication may not be completely ethical, in fact it could be contrary and unethical to morally repugnant publics, for those who hold some positions to be morally absolute. A position of a moral magnitude holds more so than that of any belief in the dialogic process. This also bring into view ethical charges of paternalism and the convictions of an organization that advocacy is morally superior to two–way symmetrical communication. Communication processes such as dialogue, compromise, collaboration and cooperation denote agreement, but engaging in these degrees are not always on the highest moral position. In certain cases taking a moral stance means putting the ethical principle above two-way symmetrical communication. The contingency theory attempts to structure a better understanding to dynamics of accommodation and advocacy while institute the ethical aspects of accommodation to the efficacy in public relations. This is one sample method that was used in the study of contingency. The sample test consisted of eighteen different public relation managers, ranging from middle to upper class. There are varieties of large corporations and of the practitioners represents one from around the country. The practitioners selected all represent corporations that are equally or more exposed than other organizations to positive and negative contact with the general public. This is the first reason for their selection and the second reason is related to their overall knowledge of their corporation†s history and associated culture, in comparison to a part-time practitioner†s knowledge. The research was done in three logical divisions. The first section asked the interviewee about the valid continuum between advocacy and accommodation. The second section analytically covers possible variables that could affect the corporations† stances along the continuum and conveys associated models in conflict management. The third section summarizes the study into three groups: strongly supported variables, unsupported variables and new variables. Strengths for this study are insurmountable where in the entire variable range has such a broad spectrum that all aspects are covered. The variables of the business exposure and corporate culture are the two most allied aspects to the validity of the study itself. This offers the interviewer to collectively find out what is to be done and how it to be done in public relations to further a better advocacy of knowledge to public. The weaknesses that are also relative to the variables and the amount of time it takes to expend all the collected information of the interviewees. The study seems too extensive to possess any beneficial quality for the interviewer and interviewee and the information collected will not serve any purpose to the interviewee because they already are aware of what they know. An example of contingency of accommodation was where a Florida newspaper wanted to see how the public receiving their circulation felt towards it and what should be implemented in changing any problems the public saw as a hindrance. The contingency theory is, by any means, a good way of practicing public relations. One good test would be to see how accommodating one public stance and the corporation. For example, there is a property management company that owns a larger portion of the buildings in the city. A Planned Parenthood clinic wants to renew its lease but the company faces their other buildings being boycotted by anti-abortion groups. The property company hires you to try to advocate and accommodate the issues that are of major concern of this group. Is it possible to find a balance? What type of answers does the boycott want to here and what are possible changes for this altercation? The contingency theory possesses many positive attributes on focus toward accommodation of the publics† expressed feelings. The key asset of the construction is the emphasis of mutual communication and prescriptive input towards the public. In that, keeping a wide range of possibility and precedent for organization of apparent issues. The major weakness is extreme accommodation towards one public in turn causing total disregard of issues and disproportionate conflict to another. The motive is then fixed to two-way symmetrical communication and improved stance of the model.

Facebook Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Facebook - Essay Example This web based business will be based on two types of business models. The first business model will be based on the direct books sales and second one will offer the facility to purchase the books using affiliated partners such as Amazon, Microsoft and publishers. The main step in this web based business implementation is the analysis of the market place for the new web based business development and implementation. In this phase of the web based business analysis we will assess the market trends and business activities. This will help us in establishing a practical business policy that can facilitate the effective business implementation. In the next step we will develop an e-business implementation plan and e-commerce revenue models. These both areas will be the foundations of the online business development and implementation. The business policy will address the business customers, target market, privacy policy, underlying business deals, etc. While the ecommerce revenue models will provide us the basic platform regarding the online revenue generation. The main revenue models we are going to implement are (Carter, 2009): The next step in this system implementation is system design and development. The system designing involves all the necessary web based usability aspects that offer the user a clear view of the system development and offer the online customer a better and enhanced interaction. The web based system development will involve the implementation of the web based system and making system according to the established system requirements. The next phase involves the web based system implementation. In this phase initially we need to purchase a web site domain name that will be used for our website. The next step regarding selection of the services and ISP (Internet services provides) to make our website available on web. These also involve the

This is International Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

This is International Management - Essay Example Emergence of economies like India and China that offer skilled labor at comparatively cheaper rates has led to business organizations relocating business units like back office operations to these nations where they can get the desired quality level at cheap rates. In addition to this firms have also been using international expansion to reach out to new and potential markets. The restriction of trade barriers has also made investments in overseas destinations easier for firms. Examples of firms pursuing international strategies include Lenovo Computers, Wal-Mart and others that have successfully entered into new markets and established a formidable foothold in those markets. International expansion strategy is recommended in circumstances where domestic markets for an organization starts getting saturated and the company has enough internal resources and expertise to manage business in an international level by being able to sustain its core competence areas in new foreign markets. It should also have sufficient financial resources to sustain the business in foreign locations. Favorable government regulations and a congenial political, economic, sociological environment are also essential pre requisites for a firm to enter into a foreign market (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2007, p.24-38). Regionalization Contrary to globalization regionalization involves an entirely different perspective in which firms restrict themselves to specific regions and confine their businesses to those regions and devote their focus solely towards a particular region.

Vintage Ads of Coca-Cola Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Vintage Ads of Coca-Cola - Article Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that the unique quality of the ad is the racial representation of all individuals. The sampling nature of the ad displays different aspects. Different racial backgrounds incorporate into the advert creating a feeling of acceptance by all the individuals. The ad is on a hilltop in Italy, represented by a youth singing a unity song. What makes the advert to stand out is the simplicity of the communication method; a song that unites individuals while educating the public on Coke. The ad is different from others, as it takes time before the product being advertised displays. The use of visual communication gives a unique topography, symbol, and photography. The ad provides the organization with information viewing, and television is a perfect example of visual communication. Visual communication is crucial in that it enhances the message that is being conveyed, enabling a better understanding. Visual communication in the glob al perspective and business world can be related to video conferencing, where business meetings are held without the relevant parties traveling to the designated locations. Visual communication has also been used widely in the business sector to advertise their products. The use of billboards does not require any speech, but tells the customer a lot, enabling even the hearing-impaired people to be able to get the intended message. Billboard communication is a common approach by Coca-Cola to interact and set a place in the highly competitive market. The rise of new technologies affects global communication, time and space, which are needed for the process to take place. In the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the use of the telephone was common among individuals. It is important to notice the message in the song as it achieves surround the controllable variables that make up the marketing mix. The product, price, place, promotion, and people represent the ad in various aspect ratios.

Friedrich Nietzsche a Philosopher in Society Essay

Friedrich Nietzsche a Philosopher in Society - Essay Example This essay analyzes that nationalism is the belief that groups of people are bound together by territorial, cultural and (sometimes) ethnic links (Glossary, online). Capitalism is an economic system in which the production and distribution of goods depend on invested private capital and profit-making. Politically, this means the dominance of private owners of capital and production for profit. By extension, 'capitalism' has also taken in the belief that government should have nothing to do with the economy (Glossary, online). Capitalism is a form of government for a nation state, or for an organization in which all the citizens have a vote or voice in shaping policy (Democracy, online). Socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the community as a whole should own and control the means of production (Glossary, online). Conservatism is a political philosophy or attitude that emphasizes respect for traditional institutions, distrust of gover nment activism and opposition to sudden change in the established order (Glossary, online). Liberalism is a term that gained significance in the 19th century when it meant the limiting of government power and the increase of social reform (Glossary, online). ... All Too Human, Daybreak, The Gay Science, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil, On the Genealogy of Morals, The Case of Wagner, The Twilight of the Idols, The Antichrist, Ecce Homo, Nietzsche Contra Wagner, and The Will to Power (Friedrich Nietzsche a, online). Friedrich Nietzsche is famous for his rejection of Christianity (Friedrich Nietzsche b, online). He described Christianity as a nihilistic religion because it evaded the challenge of finding meaning in earthly life, creating instead a spiritual projection where mortality and suffering were removed instead of transcended. He believed nihilism resulted from the "death of God", and insisted that it was something to be overcome, by returning meaning to a monistic reality. He sought instead a "pragmatic idealism," in contrast to the prominent influence of Schopenhauer's "cosmic idealism" (Nihilism, online). He is also famous for his idea of "will to power". Hopes for a higher state of being after death are explained as compensations for failures in this life. The famous view about the "death of God" resulted from his observations of the movement from traditional beliefs to a trust of science and commerce. Nietzsche dissected Christianity and Socialism as faiths of the "little men," where excuses for weakness paraded as moral principles. John Stuart Mill's liberal democratic humanism was a target for scorn, and he called Mill "that blockhead" (Friedrich Nietzsche b, online).

Medical malpractice. Requirements Texas Courts Impose for an Expert in Research Paper

Medical malpractice. Requirements Texas Courts Impose for an Expert in Medical Malpractice - Research Paper Example This discussion investigates the commitment of the Texas courts to improve the reliability of medical malpractice experts as sources of vital expert information in medical malpractice cases, with a view to understanding the required qualifications for such experts. Justification Cases involving medical malpractices are some of the most complex ones since the admissibility and the fact finding activities regarding a case are not based on a current occurrence but on a past occurrence that could have caused injury to the patient. This requires that a patient present an expert testimony, which must satisfy the court that the testimony will assist the court in its fact finding mission regarding the case, and that such opinion must be supported by the witness testimony if the case is to be held as valid (Jasper, 2010). This calls upon the experts in the medical malpractice cases to be fully qualified so that they can help the court establish the truth of the matter regarding the case since they are the most reliable source of expertise information in such cases. To enhance the capacity of the medical malpractice experts to help the court establish the truth regarding the failure of a physician to adhere to the required standards of care for patients, the State of Texas has provided certain qualifications, which the experts must meet. Definition of Terms Medical malpractice means professional negligence by a physician by way of action or omission that causes injury or death to a patient. Expert means someone widely recognized as a reliable source of technique or skill Review of Literature For an individual to qualify as an expert in a medical malpractice case, the individual must be knowledgeable and conversant with the procedures, methods and treatments applicable in the area where the physician, who is the defendant in the case, operates (Baker, 2010). This qualification is essential since it allows the expert opinion granted by the individual to be based on the acc eptable standards, procedures and treatment methods, as there are different medical practices for different regions. If an expert who is not conversant with the medical standards and procedures of the area is enlisted to provide an expert opinion, he/she will most likely base the assessment of the procedures and treatment methods on the standards of the area he/she is conversant with, thus giving an expert opinion that might mislead the court since the same standards could not be applicable in the region in question (Jasper, 2010). Thus, the courts in Texas allow medical malpractices experts to issue a statement of opinion if they are familiar with the acceptable standards of operation in the region. A clear understanding of the acceptable operation standards in a region allows the expert to be guided in giving a fair and adequate opinion regarding the level of act or omission of the physician defendant, which translates to liability (Roach, 2006). The other qualification for an exp ert in the medical malpractice case is specialization in the defendant’s field (Roach, 2006). While there was a tendency of allowing experts to give an opinion regarding the knowledge they have in the standards of operations of a certain field, it is certainly not possible for an expert to give a fair, adequate and valid expert opinion if he/she has not specialized in the field of the defendant. Additionally, it would not be possible either to give an expert opinion that is credible if the medical malpractice expert has no experience in performing the operations and techniques in respect

Toyota Socio Cultural Bus310 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Toyota Socio Cultural Bus310 - Essay Example According to Kennedy (2003), one of the main factors that affect sales of Toyota Motor Company’s brands is socio-cultural factors as the document discusses. Every regional cluster differs in trends, size and customer preferences. The document compares the ASEAN and American clusters. The ASEAN cluster is the cluster that the Japanese automakers have dominated more than other clusters in the world. The Toyota Motor Company makes most of the sales in this cluster than any other part of the world. On the other hand, the American cluster is another consumer of the products of Toyota motor company (Liker & Meier, 2006). However, the rate of consumption is lower as compared to that of the ASEAN cluster. Socio-cultural factors are the leading cause of this notable difference between these two clusters. The socio-cultural factors affect the customer preferences of these two clusters. The aspect has hence caused the Toyota Motor Company to make use of a region-centric approach in the delivery of its products. The region-centric approach entails offering products to regions or clusters with respect to the culture and economies of the respective cluster. The ASEAN cluster, therefore, receives different products from the American cluster. The availability of local brands in the American cluster such as Ford is one of the social factors that affect the consumption of Toyota brands in America. Toyota model being an Asian product has consequently received much support in the ASEAN cluster which is an Asian based cluster. The aspect, therefore, clearly indicates that the brands consumers tend to lean more on the products that are of their own which is based on socio-cultural aspect (Liker & Meier, 2007). The Toyota Motor Company, however, has greatly achieved in making its sales despite variation in factors that tend to define the rate of their product’s consumption. The region-centric approach is one of the major approaches that are attributed to the company’s

Frequency Distributions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Jet Blue Airways, A new beginning Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

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Case Study Essay Example for Free

Case Study Essay We have a couple in their mid forties. Christopher works in the media and earns $135,000 p. a. before SGC and salary sacrifices an extra $10,000 p. a. His wife Anne works in IT and earns $145,000 p. a. before SGC and also salary sacrifices an extra $10,000 p. a. Next month Anne is to receive a bonus of $15,000 which she is planning to contribute to super as a concessional contribution. They bought their home 2 years ago with a mortgage of $1,250,000. The home is now worth ,450,000. The mortgage is a standard principle and interest loan over 25 years and costs them $7,491 per month. They have four children: a 19 year old, a 16 year old, a 14 year old and a 10 year old. The three youngest go to a private school costing $60,000 p. a. There are 4 terms in the year and the fees are due at the beginning of each term. A new term commences next month. The 19 year old is apprenticed to a local restaurant and is training as a chef. He earns $16,500 p. a. before SGC and works an average of 120 hours per month and goes to college. Christopher and Anne have their own Self Managed Superfund. Christopher has $175,000 in the fund and it is invested in cash. Anne has $180,000 in the fund and it is invested in a listed debenture issued by XYZ Ltd, a large property development company. Over the years Christopher and Anne have tried to diversify and have the following investments: 3 years ago they used a margin loan of $135,000 to purchase 90,000 $2 shares in a newly listed mining company. Unfortunately in the last day or so the shares have fallen in value and are now only worth $1. 0 each. The mining company does not pay a dividend. 4 years ago they purchased, as joint tenants, an apartment/unit for $450,000 by way of a Line of Credit for $450,000 at 5. 45% p. a. The unit is managed by an agent and they receive $500 per week as rent. The agent has told them it is now worth $585,000. When Christopher’s father died 4 years ago Christopher inherited $35,000 which he used to purchase a listed debenture. The debenture pays 6. 5% p. a. on a quarterly basis and matures in exactly 12 months time. The current market for the debenture is 5. 75%. They have a joint savings account with $5,000 for emergencies. He has a savings account for $7,000. They have 3 personal loans: Payout of $29,196 9. 00% p. a. 4 years to maturity. No early termination fee. Payout of $11,902 8. 25% p. a. 2 years to maturity. No early termination fee. Payout of $6,705 8. 65% p. a. 1 year to maturity. $550 early termination fee. Their credit card has an outstanding amount of $35,560 with a maximum of $40,000 and they make the minimum payment of 3. %. They are concerned that although they feel they should be doing better the credit card keeps getting worse each month and that schools fees are due for next term and they do not know where the money will come from. Anne’s mother has asked Anne to be executor of her will. The mother has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and has been told that towards the end she will not be able to communicate. Both David and Jennifer have wills they executed prior to their marriage. Neither has been married before.

Purchasing And Storage Department Commerce Essay

Purchasing And Storage Department Commerce Essay Purchasing  refers to a business or organization attempting to acquiring goods or services to accomplish the goals of its enterprise. Though there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly  between  organizations. Typically the word purchasing is not used interchangeably with the word procurement, since procurement typically includes  Expediting, Supplier Quality, and Traffic and Logistics (TL) in addition to Purchasing. What is storing? Basically, storing is when staying in a hotel during vacation, its likely youll have some valuable items and documents on hand like jewelry or passports. Its important to have a safe place to store these items when staying overnight at a hotel, and understanding the different types of storage options different hotels are likely to offer will help you decide how to store your valuables. In Restaurant sector, storing refers to preserving and keeping stock of food and beverages in order to use them when needed. PURCHASING Simplifying purchase While technology is enabling all departments related to purchase to appear on a common platform, there are a few issues where technology fails to offer any solution, thereby calling the need for  human  intervention with sound judgment. While operating a hotel is supposed to be a difficult task, managing the entire procurement process (for such a unit) is even more so. The purchase department handles the task of procurement yet all departments  play  a crucial role in it. That said technology ensures that inter-departmental activities takes place flawlessly. Although purchase has now become dependent on technology for managing inventories and order status, it was originally a manual job. From selection of products to deciding on a vendor, this department rests on the human ability of judgment. However technology is now making the processes related to other departments easier by streamlining all activities. Bulk buying Purchase is about procuring products in large quantities for the stores catering to various department needs. In this, various operational tools bridge the relationship  between the purchase department and stores, fulfilling the requisites of all departments. If we trace back to earlier times, the process of procuring was done manually where storekeepers would spend time contacting suppliers and then placing the orders after checking and re-checking the inventories placed by various departments for duplication of orders and so on. There existed a Bin card system that took stock manually and preparing all the relevant reports through various stock registers, etc. Das adds, Today, technology is helping us to indent, maintain, analyze and control the total inventory with greater ease and accuracy. The systems are smart as well as user-friendly to provide you the alerts and prior intimation about the PAR stock and expiry date, etc. Simplifying purchase order Technology might be one crucial aspect that is vital for procurement today but the genesis of the software systems used for it have been a perfect replica of the tasks earlier done manually i.e. the purchase order. Das simplifies this and says, There are a lot of different aspects which are kept in mind while preparing a purchase order and its frequency. The preparation of the purchase order is proportionately related to the consumption pattern and its requirement. Technology still has some drawbacks in the decision making process. It helps in collating information but that doesnt help in making the final decision. Kailash Bahuguna, purchase manager at The Metropolitan Hotel New Delhi, is of the opinion that technology has not invaded this area of operation totally; a lot of tasks are human-driven and would remain so in future as well. The important job of this department would always remain the negotiation that we do with vendors, reviewing of content for purchasing, etc. Technology can only assist, he adds. While the preference for vendors could be gauged with data like withstanding capacity, rate comparison, stipulated delivery time and extended credit facility, the final decision is made after identifying the suppliers reputation and relationship the hotel shares with it, which are subjective issues and purchase committee makes a final decision. Das says, Frequent market surveys are conducted by the standing purchase committee to assess the current prevailing rate and subsequently used for fruitful negotiations. Technology runs parallel to all tasks to enable swift decisions thereby assisting the entire process. Vendor and inventory management play an important role in preparing the purchase order by various departments (in terms of substitute and new vendors depending on the product demand and urgency), which is notified to purchase for requisition. Das says, In hotels, the purchase officer is in close coordination with other department heads for timely procurement, maximum utilization of materials, seasonal variance in material procurement, and combating the non-availability of materials in unprecedented conditions. Challenges to overcome The challenges vary from hotel to hotel. The structure though remains the same; one needs to take various factors into consideration like geographic location, size of the hotel, operation period, etc. During the initial days of operations of a new property, the challenges are distinctively unique identifying the possible consumption and requirement needs meticulous calculation as there are no past records to look at. A property that is in operation for some years should try and bring all departments (with reference to purchase) on a single platform for smooth information flow. Bahuguna says it enables a sound way to justify codification and stacking methods helping in the inventory management. STORING Any type of foodservice facility begins its food preparation process at the  back  door, by receiving and storing the raw materials. Food, beverages, and supplies must all be accounted for and properly stored until theyre needed. There are two basic types of storage: dry and refrigerated.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dry storage is for canned goods, paper products, and anything else that doesnt need to be kept cold. Refrigerated storage is for items that must be kept chilled or frozen until used.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this article, youll learn more about them both and about the types of equipment needed to outfit your receiving and storage areas for efficiency, safety, and conservation of space. The list includes: Scales Pallets Carts Shelves Well also explain how refrigeration systems work in refrigerators, coolers, freezers, ice makers, and specialty systems like beer kegs and soft-serve machines, and discuss how to select them for your operation.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   RECEIVING AND DRY STORAGE  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Youd be amazed at how many deliveries arrive at the back door or loading dock of the average restaurant in a week. And they all have one thing in common: They must all be checked for accuracy by someone on your staff. Many owners and chefs go a  step further, personally inspecting the quality of fresh items such as produce and seafood and rejecting on the spot those that do not meet their standards or expectations.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Having a well-organized receiving area, setting certain hours for deliveries, and designating employees who are responsible for accepting and storing incoming stock will save you time and money. Illustration 10-1 shows some of the smartest outdoor dock area features.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Merchandise goes from the dock area into the receiving area, shown in Illustration 10-2. The well-equipped receiving area will contain these basic items: Scales Pallets Carts and trucks Shelves MEASURES TO BE TAKEN CARE OF Storerooms should be well ventilated, free of dampness and free of pests and bugs. Bulk products such as sugar and flour, can be emptied into tightly covered, properly labeled approved containers to prevent outside contamination. Storage containers must have openings large enough to allow easy cleaning between uses. Food cannot be stored in locker rooms, rest rooms, dressing rooms, garbage rooms, mechanical rooms, under sewer lines that are not shielded to intercept potential drips, under leaking water lines (including leaking automatic fire sprinkler heads) under Lines on which water has condensed, or under open stairwells. Products must be stored on shelves or platforms 6 inches from the floor to ensure adequate cleaning of the storeroom floor. REFRIGERATION All food must be labeled and dated. Arrange containers apart from one another in a refrigerator to ensure proper cooling. This allows air to circulate around containers. Cover all food while in storage. Covering keeps food from drying out and minimizes the possibility of contamination. In walk-in coolers, store all food on shelves. The food should be kept at least 6 inches off of the floor. The floor needs to be swept and mopped. Store poultry and meats on the bottom shelves to prevent meat from leaking onto other foods. Use foods on a first in, first out basis (FIFO). Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food prepared and held for more than 24 hours in a facility must be marked with the date of preparation. It must be discarded if not sold or served within ten calendar days. RECEIVING PROCEDURES IN THE RESTAURANT Receiving food and supplies from your vendors requires more than simply taking boxes off a delivery truck. Restaurant owners and managers should have procedures in place for any employee who handles deliveries. Consider these suggestions for ways to manage deliveries and other receiving procedures in your restaurant. VERIFICATION Whenever a restaurant receives an order, the manager or responsible employee should check in the order, or verify that the correct amount of products were received as well as checking the quality of the incoming product. Follow these steps: Verify the quantity   Be sure that every product you ordered is accounted for in the delivery. An easy way to do this is to compare your order guide to your invoice and manually check off all items as you look through the delivery. Be sure that product weights and counts are correct. Ensure quality Be sure the items are of good quality. All refrigerated or frozen items should arrive at the proper temperature, and products should show no signs or damage. However, for one reason or another, food products may arrive unusable. When product is received in poor condition, such as moldy or rotten, the manager should refuse the order if possible, and contact the vendor immediately to schedule another delivery. Check the cost Make sure the total cost on the invoice is correct. The money you spend on food orders and other supplies usually makes up a large part of your restaurant expenses, and recording the appropriate amount in your financial records is very important to your overall profits and losses. KEEP TRACK OF ALL PURCHASES Keeping track of all purchase invoices will help you stay organized and aware of your spending. When you receive your order, record the total cost the order invoice on your restaurant profit and loss statement (PL). You can easily log this data in most accounting software, or in a PL spreadsheet on the back  office computer. This will also help you calculate your inventory and usage, since you add the newly purchased goods to those you have on hand to determine your total available inventory. Date and Store Supplies Once you have checked your food for quality and recorded the cost and inventory amount in your records, you are ready to put away your food and supplies. This should be done immediately to ensure that food remains at safe temperatures and to keep an organized kitchen. For perishable foods, this involves dating and appropriately storing the products on your  restaurant storage and shelving units. How to Keep Your Customers Healthy There are laws and systems that have been established to help ensure that the food served in restaurants is safe. Bacteria grow very easily if given the chance. The local Health Department will send out inspectors to make sure that the chefs and servers are following the proper guidelines. Inspectors will issue fines for minor violations and can shut you down for major violations. Working with Inspectors from The Local Health Department The Heath Department will work with you to establish the correct systems and practices. The inspectors are often feared and dreaded (as they usually show up unannounced at the worst possible time), but most of the regulations have important ramifications for keeping food clean and safe. A system called  HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point  consists of seven important steps to ensure food safety. This system was actually first designed to maintain food safety for NASA astronauts so you know this stuff works! The three main elements of the system are:  food microbiology,  quality control  and  risk assessment. The 7 steps of HACCP are as follows Assess hazards and potential risks. Identify critical control points including cross contamination, cooking, cooling, hygiene. Set up procedures to make sure safety is maintained at all critical control points. Monitor critical control points and use the correct signs, tools, and training materials to ensure this. Take corrective actions as soon as a critical control point is in jeopardy or when any violations are pointed out by the Health Department. Set up a record-keeping system to log all of your flowcharts and temperature checks Keep up with the system to make sure it is working. Each food item served in your restaurant will need its own flow chart, which looks at every step of the foods journey from being received into the restaurant from a purveyor to being served to a customer. The steps in between include storage, preparation, holding/display, service, cooling, storage of leftovers and reheating techniques. The  Executive Chef  will be responsible for these flow charts. Avoiding Food Contamination There are many safety procedures to follow when preparing food in your restaurant. One of the most important is to thaw frozen foods properly. You can cook food from its frozen state or by refrigerating it at under 38 degrees F. You may also thaw under running water at a temperature of 70 degrees F. or below for up to two hours. A microwave is another acceptable way to thaw foods, but only if the entire cooking period will be in the microwave or the food will be finished (immediately after microwaving) by another cooking method. Food items such as meats and poultry must be cooked to the correct internal temperatures. Thermometers are the best way to ensure accuracy of these temps. Avoid Cross Contamination Cross contamination is all too common in kitchens today. Be sure to clean and sanitize any equipment used to prepare food between uses and be particularly vigilant when handling a potentially harmful food such as raw poultry,beef or fish. There is a danger zone of temperature, 40 degrees F. 140 degrees F., within which food bacteria multiply rapidly and can thrive. The temperature of food should be kept out of this zone as much as possible. The limit for time spent in the danger zone including all aspects of storage, preparation and service is 4 hours. Food Storage Storage is another way to protect your food from becoming contaminated or spoiled. There are rules for this area as well. Use the first in, first out (FIFO in accounting) rule meaning that foods should be used in the order they are delivered. For instance, do not use the newest milk first if you still have two gallons that are good from your last delivery. Date goods and place the new behind the old on your storage shelves. Keep all foods wrapped and clean. Each item in your walk-in refrigerator, freezer and your dry storage should be in a sealed labeled container or package with the contents and date received. Do not take a chance on questionable foods: When in doubt, throw it out is a great rule to live when it comes to food safety. Go through your refrigerator unit regularly and get rid of spoiled foods. The refrigerator temperature must be below 38 degrees F. Items stored include meats, seafood, vegetables and dairy products. Keep a working thermometer in the unit at all times so you will know at a glance if there is a problem. You do not want to lose your entire inventory! Freezers should keep foods at below 0 degrees F. Most foods will not maintain their quality in a freezer so it should be used only as needed. Use fresh products whenever possible.Items in dry storage should be kept between 50 70 degrees F with a relative humidity of 50 60%.

Criticisms Of Symbolic Interactionism Sociology Essay

Criticisms Of Symbolic Interactionism Sociology Essay This chapter will outline the research methods which are used to explain procedures for collecting data. In addition, it discusses literature which underlies the methods and reasons for the chosen data collection procedures. The chapter presents an outline of research methodology (qualitative approach) and the tools for data collection which are commonly used with each particular method. The chapter focuses on the research setting, instruments for data collection, data analysis, issues of validity and reliability, and ethical issues. This chapter will clearly define the research methods used to perform the study. The researcher will provide an explanation as to the collection methods of the data and information which was necessary to address the research objectives. As such, all data sources, instruments for research, data collection and analytical techniques, and research design, will be given. Research design There are many methodologies for collecting data, and it can be collected from many different sources. By research methodology, it is meant a set of techniques which are used in certain areas of research activity (Nachmias and Nachmias, 1996.) Methodologies do not fall into categories of right and wrong; it is the duty of the researcher to seek the most appropriate method, according to the questions being researched. Huberman and Miles, in 2002, in addition to Blaxter et al, in 2001, said that data collected is qualitative when it is in word and describes situations, circumstances of phenomenon, or individuals. Data are quantitative if they are represented in the form of numbers, counts, or measurements which attempt to provide precision to the observation set. Hence, the classification between quantitative and qualitative is most commonly used (Smeyers, 2002.) According to Denzin and Lincoln (1994) both quantitative and qualitative approaches can be applied within any philosophy of research. The approach that all genuine knowledge is ultimately grounded in sensory experience is called the positivist approach. This approach also says that knowledge can only be advanced through experimentation and observation. The interpretivist approach, in contrast, holds that only through the standpoint of individuals who are part of the action being investigated, can the social world be understood (Cohen et al. 2008.) Therefore, the nature of the problem being researched will have a direct effect on the choice of research methods being employed. Also, practical consideration, such as funding and time, may influence a researchers choices. Also, when applying the scientific method, the researcher must keep certain considerations in mind, such as the investigators own involvement in the usage of the results, the precision of measuring devices, time constrai nts for obtaining results, difficulty in designing experiments which adequately test hypotheses, and the relative complexity of the subject being investigated. In 1994, Gable reported that literature marked a distinction between the two approaches, but that the approaches are not mutually exclusive. Rather, sometimes researchers apply both. Qualitative and quantitative approaches and techniques may be conceptualized as opposite poles on a continuum (Gable, 1994.) The differences between the approaches are detailed on Table 4-1. Remenyi (1998) argued that the two approaches can be used together due to the complexity of answering how, why, and what questions. Selection Criteria Denzin and Lincoln (1994) defined qualitative research as follows: The word qualitative implies an emphasis on processes and meanings that are not rigorously examined or measured (if measured at all), in terms of quantitative, amount, intensity or frequency à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Qualitative researchers stress the socially constructed nature of reality, the intimate relationship between the researcher and what is studied and the situational constraints that shape inquiry. Such researchers emphasize the value-laden nature of inquiry. They seek answers to questions given meaning (p. 124). Qualitative research sits within the phenomenological viewpoint, and involves at least some interaction between the researcher and the situation or individual which is being researched (Hussey and Hussey, 2003.) According to Morgan and Smircich (1980) the qualitative approach to research is not a set of techniques but an approach. As such, the appropriateness of using it is based on the phenomena being studied, and the questions being asked. Additionally, Kirk and Miller (1986) set forth the following steps to describe the qualitative approach to research: invention, discovery, interpretation, and finally, explanation. Other views of the qualitative research approach note its possible design constraints. For example, an individuals own account of attitudes, motivations, and behaviours, may be an influencing factor (Hakim, 2000.) Qualitative research has the problem of subjectivity. This is because the researcher is involved personally in the operation of the measurement tools (Walter and Gall, 1989.) There are several features which distinguish the nature and design of studies which use the qualitative approach, such as a holistic investigation of a particular phenomenon and the understanding of the study itself in its natural setting (Walter and Gall, 1989.) The very nature of the qualitative approach allows for some flexibility and responsiveness to multiple realities and complexity. Purposely selecting the sample, rather than selecting it randomly, can help the researcher avoid missing sample data which could otherwise be considered as outliers, and hence unimportant. Purposive sampling can allow the researcher to enrich the outcome of their research by designing a study which will include both non-typical and typical subjects (Tashakkori and Teddlie, 1998.) Hakim (2000) indicates that the validity of the data being collected has a direct effect on the strength of the qualitative research itself. Data are usually collected in adequate detail so as to allow the results to be considered correct, complete, true, and believable accounts of the views and experiences of the participants. However, sample size continues to be a concern. A qualitative project will normally have a lower number of participants, which cannot be taken as representative (Hakim 2000.) This fact remains even when a fair cross-section of subjects has be carefully assembled. Qualitative design methods usually include: 1) a case study providing data which describes the subject of the study; b) a meta-analysis designed to analyse statistical outcomes of previous research from diverse sources; c) research analysis on relevant administrative records; d) a record of focus group discussions which serve to bring together a group of informants, serving the investigated issue; and d) unstructured, semi-structured, or structured in-depth interviews (Silverman,2000; Kruger, 2001). Qualitative research can be considered an independent field of inquiry, as it is focused on studying objects in their natural settings. It also attempts to make sense of various phenomena in terms of their meanings as related to a set field (Denzin and Lincoln, 1994.) This form of research examines activity which is situated, in which an opportunity is presents to both participate in, and then reflect on, the knowledge production process (Flick, 2002.) Denzin and Lincoln (2003) state that the potential for the interpretation of phenmoena is presented by qualitative research which takes place in a natural setting. The use of multi-methods may be used to provide interpretation and focus on individuals (Denzin and Lincoln,1998.) Additionally, qualitative research usually includes interviews, the practical components of a case study, a life story, observations, and personal experience. It can also involve descriptions of routines or moments which were problematic, and even the meaning in the lives of individuals (Denzin and Lincoln, 2003). Qualitative studies, then, are ultimately concerned with both how its participants fit into their environments, and how they make sense of their individual experiences. Symbolic interactionism The fundamentals of symbolic interactionism as a perspective have been shaped by the work of Mead (1932; 1934) who is acknowledged for his alternate views toward understanding human society (Blumer, 1969; Charon, 2004). Blumer (1969) expanded on Meads work to develop symbolic interactionism into a perspective with a methodology to investigate and interpret the interactions of individuals in a social context. Because we live in a complex, industrialized society, and come from different ethnic, racial, and social class backgrounds, it is unrealistic to think that we all share the same sets of norms, beliefs, and values. People will often have competing and conflicting beliefs rather than shared goals and interests. Instead of being the product of consensus, organized behavior may be the result of self-interested negotiations between two or more parties or the product of coercion on the part of more powerful individuals. Herman-Kinneys observation reflects the appropriateness of symbolic interaction as a suitable framework for this study: acknowledgement that social contexts are complex entities that involve complex interactions between individuals and groups of individuals. The context of a university in Japan that employs individuals with a range of cultural and social attributes reflects Herman-Kinneys intention that people within a specific context carry conflicting beliefs and values, yet can function effectively as a group. Symbolic interactionism provides greater scope to explore such complexity. While other perspectives have made significant contributions to our understanding of the concept of identity, a noticeable absence from analysis of identity formation is the notion of the self as a separate concept to identity (Herman-Kinney, 2003: p.708; Beijaard et al., 2004). One of the fundamentals of symbolic interactionism is its emphasis on the notion of self and its relationship to the concept of identity. The notion of self tends to be overlooked in the literature on teacher identity largely because self and identity can tend to be used interchangeably. Other perspectives imply that an individual is a composite of multiple identities, a view shared by symbolic interactionism. Symbolic interactionism further contends that behind the multiple identities is the notion of self: a core entity that in many ways gives life to those multiple identities. This study is limited to exploring the nature of professional identities and not the nature of self. However, the distinction needs to be made that symbolic interactionism views self and identity as two separate but related concepts. THE EMERGENCE OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Symbolic interactionism is a down-to-earth approach to the scientific study of human group life and human conduct. (Blumer, 1969: p.47) Symbolic interactionism is a perspective that emerged chiefly from the work of American tradition of pragmatism, philosophy and social psychology (Fidishun, 2002; Charon, 2004: p.28). It challenged the mechanistic world view and dualistic assumption of classic rationalism (Shalin, 1991: p.223). One of the most recognised challengers was Mead (1932; 1934) who viewed human group life as the essential condition for the emergence of core attributes that characterise an individual. Blumer (1969) identified the core attributes as consciousness, the mind, a world of objects, human beings as organisms possessing selves, and human conduct in the form of constructed acts. From these core attributes, Blumer (1969: p.6) proposed a number of basic ideas or root images to frame human societies: human groups or societies, social interaction, objects, the human being as an actor, human action, and the interconnection of the lines of action. Together, these root images represent the way in which symb olic interactionism views human society and conduct. Symbolic interactionism is used in this study to focus on the interactions of teachers with objects in a specific context. Core to symbolic interactionist principles is a focus on social interaction and meanings that result from the process of interpreting these interactions. The significance of symbolic interactionism, according to Rosenberg and Turner (1981), is that it places emphasis on researching real-life events, such as the practice of teaching. Within an educational context, Hargreaves (1995: p.11) argues that symbolic interactionism helps clarify why teachers (and others) do what they do and that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it addresses the practical realities rather than holding people to perspectives ideals or moral exhortation concerning human change and development. Exploring the identity of teachers who teach English in the context of this study lends itself well to the principles of symbolic interactionism, due to the highly interactive nature of the context that is rich in symbo ls: language, objects and social interactions. CORE IDEAS OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM As mentioned previously, symbolic interactionism emerged from the work of Mead who viewed human society differently from the traditionally held views of his time. Through his interpretation of Meads work of interpreting human society, Blumer developed three premises that characterise the fundamentals of symbolic interactionism. In his first of three premises, Blumer begins with the nature of meaning that human beings hold towards things that are socially defined. Human beings act toward things on the basis of the meanings that the things have for them (Blumer, 1969: p.2). According to Blumer, meaning is not implicit in humans at birth, instead emerges through social interactions and interpretations of those interactions. Meaning is established in communication (Mead, 1932). Blumers explanation illustrates a divergence from traditional approaches to explain meaning. By traditional, Blumer referred mainly to the fields of psychology and sociology, which were predominant at the time of his writing. From a psychological perspective, factors such as attitudes and conscious or unconscious motives were featured in attempts to understand human conduct, while sociological perspectives relied on factors such as social position, social pressures and cultural prescriptions in its attempt to explain human conduct (Blumer, 1969: p.3). According to Blumer (1969: p.3), the meanings that things have for human beings are central in their own right. That is, instead of focusing on factors that are alleged to produce behaviour, meaning is the focus of analysis itself. Th e process of meaning refers to the act of interpretation, which has implications on our understanding of human beings, human action and human association (Blumer, 1969: p.79). Blumer argues that other research traditions6 bypass a focus on meaning. It is either taken for granted and pushed aside as unimportant or it is regarded as a more neutral link between the factors responsible for human behaviour and the product of such factors (Blumer, 1969: p.3). According to Blumer, these perspectives are more concerned with the behaviour of individuals and with the factors regarded as producing the behaviour. However, while differences remain between symbolic interactionism and other research traditions, similarities are becoming more common, such as both stress the importance of language, the dynamic character of social and cultural life, and the unstable relations of difference (Dunn, 1997: p.689). The source of meaning emerges from social interactions between individuals and things within social contexts and situations. Blumers (ibid: p.3) explanation of things, or objects, reflects the down-to-earth nature of symbolic interactionism to include: physical objects (such as classrooms, office space, textbooks), other human beings (such as a wife, an officemate), categories of human beings (such as friends, management, students, native English-speaking teachers of English, native Japanese-speaking teachers of English), institutions (such as university, government), guiding ideals (such as individual independence, approach to teaching, university policy), activities of others (such as demands from management or requests from colleagues), THE APPROPRIATENESS OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Symbolic interactionism is concerned with people, the meaning that people have towards things, and that these meanings are subjected to a process of interpretation within social contexts. Woods provides a convincing argument, claiming that: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the emphasis is upon the construction of meanings and perspective, the adaptation to circumstances, the management of interests in the ebb and flow of countless interactions containing many ambiguities and conflicts, the strategies devised to promote those interests, and the negotiation with others interests that is a common feature of all teaching situations. (Woods, 1996: p.7) Woods account of symbolic interaction reflects the complexity of social situations, viewing symbolic interaction as a perspective that offers flexibility to explore the mysteries of social interaction in educational contexts. Woods was attracted to symbolic interactionism because it offered the kind of intellectual equipment needed to explore some of the mysteries of social interaction in the school (Woods, 1996: p.7). This study recognises that other research perspectives are equally suitable to explore the concept of professional identity. Symbolic interaction, however, allows meanings to be explored in the richness of the context: individuals hailing from broad cultural, educational and personal backgrounds. If identity is formed through relationships and interactions in a social context, a symbolic interactionist perspective is appropriate for exploring the negotiating of identities of EFL teachers in a Japanese higher education context. The nature of teaching English in higher e ducation in Japan is highly interactive between students and colleagues within a context rich in symbols open to complex processes of interaction and interpretation. CRITICISMS OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Symbolic interactionism has changed considerably since its emergence as a perspective, becoming fragmented at times as a result of conflict from different schools of thought and interpretation (Fine, 1993). It, however, is not without its imperfections or its critics, of which many emerged from within the perspective itself as well as from other research traditions. The criticisms toward symbolic interactionism were more intense earlier in its history than of late due to its perceived departure from scientific methodology that was dominant at the time of its emergence. Criticisms emerged at a time when qualitative research was seen to be unscientific, with positivist research dominating approaches to research (Meltzer et al., 1975). Rogers (1973) accused interactionists of examining human interaction in a vacuum, focusing on small-scale face-to-face interaction, with little concern for its historical or social setting. Skidmore (1975) found that interactionists failed to explain why people consistently chose to act in given ways in certain situations. While the criticisms are valid, they were made at a time when symbolic interactionism had barely established itself as a theoretical perspective. There is an argument developing that the differences between symbolic interactionism and other perspectives are narrowing (Dunn, 1997). The criticism from within symbolic interactionism is characterised by the four main schools of thought that have been identified under the umbrella of symbolic interactionism: the Chicago school, the Iowa/Indiana school, ethnomethodology, and dramaturgy. The differences are largely methodological, between preferences for more humanistic, qualitative approaches to researching social interactions and those that were more scientific and quantitative (Meltzer et al., 1975). Blumer (1969) argues the case for a distinctive methodology in the study of human behavior that made modern society more intelligible (Meltzer et al., 1975). Regardless of methodology or school of thought, however, symbolic interactionism encompasses both a qualitative and quantitative tradition, reflecting an approach that strives to understand human behavior, not to predict and control it, nor to have more statistical knowledge of it (Musolf, 2003: p.91). Kuhn (1964) argued symbolic interactionism should reflect quantitative methodology, stressing the importance of unity of method in all scientific disciplines. Reflecting on its short history at the time, Kuhn (ibid) identified a number of problems that stunted the growth of symbolic interactionism and its acceptance by other research traditions as a credible research perspective. One of the main issues was lack of scientific credibility, which characterised the schism between the two schools. Kuhn attempted to elaborate Meads view on social behaviorism in an effort to establish a theory of self that was both testable and usable. Kuhns 20-point test to measure the self reflected the leaning toward scientific quantitative methodology of exploring self. According to Dunn (1997) there are critics who claim that symbolic interactionism provides little indication of sources of meanings. While these criticisms are valid, they were made not long after symbolic interactionism emerged as its own perspective and had yet to fully utilise the way in which other perspectives have developed over the past few decades. Dunn (1997) documents recent comparisons between symbolic interactionism and other research traditions to illustrate narrowing differences and shared fundamentals, such as importance of language. Likewise, Callero (2003) argues that recent sociological approaches to self within a symbolic interactionist paradigm reflect emphases on power, reflexivity, and social constructionism. Recent literature on teachers professional identities provides evidence that symbolic interactionism has survived the criticisms to prosper and prove it to be a suitable framework for this area of research (Swann, 1987; Beijaard et al., 2000). Methods of data collection Primary data There are several types of collection methods involved in qualitative research. The Interview Method The definition of an interview is the interchange, between two or more persons, of views on a topic of mutual interest. This enables both the discussion of individual points of view, and the expression of points of view (Cohen et al., 2008.) Cohen et al. note that the interview serves three distinct purposes: 1) as the primary means for gathering information that directly affect research objectives; 2) for the purpose of either testing a hypothesis, or suggesting a new one, also, as an explanatory method for the identification of variables and their relationships; 3) for use in conjunction with other methods. The three types of interviews are: unstructured, semi-structured, and structured. The unstructured interview contains questions which are open-ended, allowing the question to be adapted, according to the intelligence, beliefs, and understanding of the respondent. These interviews are more flexible and may be used for probing issues in greater depth than the other interview types, though it can take more time and involve greater difficulty to analyse (Kidder et al., 1986.) In the semi-structured interview, both open-ended and close-ended questions are employed. This means that not all questions are designed in advance. The semi-structured interview technique has some of the advantages of the other two techniques (Kidder et al., 1986.) This technique has the flexibility of allowing the interviewer to formulate new questions during the interview, as a result of the respondents answers to previous questions. This allows the interviewer to seek additional illumination and information. The interviewer usually has a framework of themes to be explored in a semi-structured interview (Blackman, 2002.) The structured interview, also known as the standardized interview, employs closed ended questions, and a standard sequence which is used in every interview. This approach has the aim of presenting the very same questions, in the very same order, in every interviewing session, and for every interviewee. Though this approach is not very flexible, its data is more easily analysed, and is considered to be more objective (Nachmias and Nachmias, 1996.) Blackman (2002) cites three essential characteristics which can be used to distinguish between the unstructured and the structured interview. 1) A highly structured interview requires that all interviewers present the same set of questions to all interviewees, with use of follow-up questions being prohibited. 2) Structured interviews form the foundation for tighter analysis. 3) Interviewers are trained to use both a priori rules and a standardized rating form in order to strictly rate and score question responses. Researchers choose between several strategies when planning an interview, including (Thomas, 2003, p. 63): An approach of loose questioning, which is meant to elicit the respondents interpretation of a general situation or circumstance. An approach of tight-questions, using a limited number of options (e.g. Yes/no, like/dislike) to discover a respondents preferences. An approach of converging-questions. This is designed to blend the advantages of the loose method and the tight method. At first broad questions are asked, in an open-ended manner. These are followed up with additional questions to more thoroughly explore the interviewees opinions. An approach of response-guided questions. This approach includes the interviewer beginning with prepared questions, which are spontaneously follow-up by questions created as logical extensions of the given answer. This strategy allows the researcher to delve more deeply into the respondents opinions relating to the issues presented in the original question. Focus group interviews A focus group is a special type of group which has more involved as its purpose than simply getting people to have a conversation. It is special in terms of its purpose, composition, size, and procedures, which guides, through interaction, to outcomes and data (Cohen et al., 2008.) Listening to information, and gathering information, is the purpose of this interview, as well as to understand peoples thoughts and feelings about particular issues (Krueger and Casey, 2000.) Focus groups can encourage an environment which allows participants to share their points of view and perceptions without pressure. Researchers may be able to identify patterns and trends from the group discussion. This may lead to a systematic and careful analysis (Krueger and Casey, 2000.) According to Cohen et al. (2008,) focus groups are good for: Orienting to a specific field of focus. The development of topics, schedules, and themes which can be used in subsequent questionnaires or interviews. Use insights and data, collected from the group, to generate hypotheses. Producing and evaluating data relating to differing subgroups of a given population. Assembling feedback related to previous studies. Kruger and Casey (2000) specified some of the characteristics of a focus group. A focus group involves a limited quantity of participants, so that every person has a chance to share; participants should have similar characteristics, so that the researchers my accomplish the purpose of the study; collection of qualitative data, of interest to the researcher, is the primary purpose of the focus group usually to discover the range of opinions between several groups; the group must have a focused discussion; the group should ultimately help to understand the topic of interest. Researchers (Krueger and Casey, 2000; and Cohen et al., 2008) indicate that the data which is collected from a focus group may be negatively influenced by two kinds of participant: a) close friends who may inhibit free expression on a given topic; b) participants who may be difficult to join with others. For this reason, it is considered more useful when the data is triangulated by using traditional interviewing forms, observation, documentation, and questionnaires (Cohen et al., 2008.) Observation methods Observation is routinely used in everyday life (Frank, 1999,) but it is multi- faceted as a scientific method (Wajnryb, 1992.) Bohem and Weinberg (1987) stated that techniques for observation are key to the developments in the sciences, and this is because data which is collected is more likely to lead to decisions, conclusions, and new ideas. Obaidat et al (2002) made the claim that many phenomena and ideas, which are the subjects of study interviews and questionnaires, are selected because of the need to test them and understand them by field researchers. So, observation is considered a prime tool for the gaining of both information and experience. According to Cohen et al (2008,) observation enables researchers to gain understanding of the context which is being investigated, to be more inductive and open-ended, and to see certain aspects which otherwise may have been missed. It also allows for the discovery of issues that participants may not have wanted to discuss in their interviews. While observation in a social context can easily be accomplished, scientific observation may require more detailed planning, and defined recording protocols (Summerhill and Taylor, 1992.) Cohen et al (2008) refer to observations in many settings: physical, human, group or individual, gender, class, and even interaction in settings which may be formal or informal, planned or unplanned, verbal or non-verbal. Additional settings would include programme settings, such as school resources, curricula, and style. Secondary data The analysis of secondary data, involving the analysis of data collected by other institutions and researchers, will be part of the basis for this research. Additionally, by treating this undertaking with diligence and care, an efficient method or learning about research questions, which are both time saving and cost effective, will be gained. The major sources of secondary data, which are used in this research, are: Official stats. This comprises of statistics collected by various bureaus, departments, agencies, and the government. Because this information is easy to obtain and easy to comprehend, it is considered an important secondary data source. Scholarly Journals (Peer Reviewed) As they contain reports of both original research and reports of experimentation, scholarly journals are important to this study. Experts review scholarly journals in order to check their accuracy, originality, and hence relevance. Literature Review Articles these articles review and arrange original research about a particular subject of interest. For this research the researchers consulted online databases and the library, in order to find the requisite relevant pieces of data to be used in this research. Data analysis Qualitative research findings, methods, disciplinary orientation, and types of findings represent great diversity (Yardley 2000). Qualitative research has many traditions. These include, as a partial listing, cultural ethnography (Agar 1996; Quinn 2005), institutional ethnography (Campbell and Gregor 2004), analyses for historical comparison (Skocpol 2003), case studies (Yin 1994), focus groups (Krueger and Casey 2000), interviews (in-depth) (Glaser and Strauss 1967; McCracken 1988; Patton 2002;

Remembering the Disremembered Essay -- History Historians Society Essa

Remembering the Disremembered Everybody knew what she was called, but nobody anywhere knew her name. Disremembered and unaccounted for, she cannot be lost because no one is looking for her, and even if they were, how can they call her if they don't know her name? Although she has claim, she is not claimed. In the place where long grass opens, the girl who waited to be loved and cry shame erupts into her separate parts, to make it easy for the chewing laughter to swallow her all away. It was not a story to pass on. - Toni Morrison, Beloved To write history means giving dates their physiognomy. - Walter Benjamin For philosopher, essayist and critic Walter Benjamin, history is catastrophe. Standing as he does at the dawn of World War II and reflecting back on the devastation of the First World War, Benjamin sees history stretched out before him and knows that it marches forward, goosestepping over the prone bodies of those who could not keep up with its procession, toward a future that can be no more or no less brutal and devastating than the past has already proved to be. What hope there is rests in humanity's ability to remember the experiences of those crushed under this catastrophic progression and to account for them in the narratives of our traditions. The repository of these disremembered experiences, and the one whose task it is to incorporate them into our present, is the storyteller. The storyteller offers the images which can effectively stop the progression of history and creates a conduit through which the "disremembered and unaccounted for" can convey their experience. The on-going progression of history continually produces new catastrophes and brutalizes new bodies; thus we are in constant ... ... Harris, Trudier. Fiction and Folklore: The Novels of Toni Morrison. Knoxville: U of Tennessee P, 1991. Mobley, Marilyn Sanders. "A Different Remembering: Memory, History, and Meaning in Beloved." In Toni Morrison: Critical Perspectives Past and Present. Gates, Henry Louis, Jr., and Appiah, K. A., eds. Amistad Literary Series. New York: Amistad. 1993. Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York: New American Library, 1987. Russell, Sandi. "It's OK to say OK." In Critical Essays on Toni Morrison. McKay, Nellie Y., ed. Boston: G. K. Hall & Co., 1988. Tiedemann, Rolf. "Historical Materialism or Political Messianism? An Interpretation of the Theses 'On the Concept of History.'" In Benjamin: Philosophy, Aesthetics, History. Smith, Gary, ed. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1989. Wolin, Richard. Walter Benjamin: An Aesthetic of Redemption. New York: Columbia UP, 1982.

The Awakening and The Yellow Wallpaper -- Chopin Awakening Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kate Chopin's story The Awakening and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's story The Yellow Wallpaper draw their power from two truths: First, each work stands as a political cry against injustice and at the socio/political genesis of the modern feminist movement. Second, each text is a gatekeeper of a new literary history. Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins Gilman seem to initiate a new phase in textual history where literary conventions are revised to serve an ideology representative of the "new" feminine presence. Two conventions in particular seem of central importance: "marriage" and "propriety".   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Donald Keesey, editor of the critical collection Contexts for Criticism, describes "convention" for us as, devices of structure and plot, techniques of character representation, and a vast reservoir of images and symbols are conventions that most Western literatures, at least, have in commonBut like the conventions of language, they have meaning only to those who have learned them (Keesey, 262).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Literary convention is on one side the particular tool or image; for example, "baptism" can be used as a literary a convention. It is a "convention" because it brings with it a set of inferences, i.e. rebirth, renewal, awakening, initiation, etc. This relation of the signifier to the signified is what Chopin and Gilman seek to revise in the conventions of "propriety" and "marriage". The preceding definition of "convention" leaves us with an important question, namely, "What if what the existing conventions imply is insufficient? What if, as in the case of Chopin and Gilman, the canon (as a reflection of society at large) has failed to recognize the feminine voice?" As these authors have shown us, when such is the ... ...ier." New Essays on The Awakening. Ed. Wendy Martin. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1988. 89-106. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, The Yellow Wallpaper, The Feminist Press, 1973. Gilmore, Michael T. "Revolt Against Nature: The Problematic Modernism of The Awakening." Martin 59-84. Giorcelli, Cristina. "Edna's Wisdom: A Transitional and Numinous Merging." Martin 109-39. Keesey, Donald, Contexts for Criticism. Mayfield Publishing Company, 1994. Martin, Wendy, ed. New Essays on the Awakening. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1988. Papke, Mary E. Verging on the Abyss: The Social Fiction of Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1990. Seyersted, Per. Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1969. Showalter, Elaine. "Tradition and the Female Talent: The Awakening as a Solitary Book." Martin 33-55.   

Biometrics :: Science Technology Essays

Biometrics For most people when first hearing the word biometrics, they have an instant reaction to tune out. Just because the term sounds complicated and somewhat boring does not mean that the information behind the term is incredibly interesting and fun! When first discussing the term with others, I too thought it would be a typical boring computer topic. It was not until I began to research the topic, that I saw computers to be intriguing. One of my favorite aspects of the topic is what it initially reminds me of. I could not help but think of spy and other technical movies that show biometrics being used. The term biometrics, refers to the automated methods of categorizing a person, based on their behavioral, and physiological characteristics. What people may not know about biometric systems, is that the basis alone is from natures oldest way of identification. By determining these characteristics in an authentication inquiry, this information can then be saved in reference, for identification to determine if the user can be granted access to any private or secured location. This particular method of recognition is preferred to those such as, passwords, or pin numbers. Although these methods are still commonly used, with biometrics we are able to make sure the person being identified is physically present, and elements the hassle of remembering several passwords. These physiological techniques could include fingerprints, retinal scanning, voice patterning, facial recognitions, DNA analysis along with hand and finger geometry. Biometrics is such a rapidly improving technology, that has been previously used for years in forensics, such as identification, and prison security. While the behavioral techniques include handwriting and voice recognition, gait, and keystroke dynamics. By having these special techniques replacing pins, we are able to feel secure about unauthorized used of ATM’s cellular phones, desktop PC’s, and other personal securities. In addition to these currently password protected areas, biometrics can also replaces keys for automobiles, such as key-less entry. Trust in these areas of secured access, is essential to a happy and healthy environment. Even though there are several ways of detecting identity, the most popular has been the facial recognition and fingerprint matching. These techniques are expected to be added in aid for homeland security identification, at places such as airports, along with helping in reliable travel documents, and preventing ID theft. Along with th e important need for reliable homeland security, biometrics are important in areas such as financial transactions, retail sales, investing, electronic banking, law enforcement, and health and social services.

Promotional mix Essay

Introduction: The marketing mix is a business tool used in marketing and by marketing professionals. The marketing mix is often crucial when determining a product or brand’s offering, and is often synonymous with the four Ps: price, product, promotion, and place; in service marketing, however, the four Ps have been expanded to the Seven Ps or Eight Ps to address the different nature of services. Definition: The definition that many marketers learn as they start out in the industry is: Putting the right product in the right place, at the right price, at the right time. The marketing mix refers to the set of actions, or tactics, that a company uses to promote its brand or product in the market. The 4Ps make up a typical marketing mix. When marketing their products firms need to create a successful mix of: the right product sold at the right price in the right place using the most suitable promotion. To create the right marketing mix, businesses have to meet the following conditions: The product has to have the right features – for example, it must look good and work well. The price must be right. Consumer will need to buy in large numbers to produce a healthy profit. The goods must be in the right place at the right time. Making sure that the goods arrive when and where they are wanted is an important operation. The target group needs to be made aware of the existence and availability of the product through promotion. Successful promotion helps a firm to spread costs over a larger output. 1.Product: (refers to the item actually being sold) A product is seen as an item that satisfies what a consumer demands. It is a tangible good or an intangible service. For example good will for intangible. Tangible products are those that have an independent physical existence. Typical examples of mass-produced, tangible objects are the motor car and the disposable razor. A less obvious but ubiquitous mass-produced service is a computer operating system. The marketer must also consider the product mix. Marketers can expand the current product mix by increasing a certain product line’s depth or by increasing the number of product lines. Marketers should consider the features and benefits you offer, your unique selling points (What makes your product/service different from everyone else’s) and what potential spin-off products of services might be. Marketers should consider how to position the product, how to exploit the brand, how to exploit the company’s resources and how to configure the product mix so that each product complements the other. The marketer must also consider product development strategies. 2.Price: (refers to the value that is put for a product/ the amount a customer pays for the product) Price is a critical part and is very important of your marketing mix as it determines the company’s profit and hence, survival. Choosing the right price for your products or services will help you to maximise profits and also build strong relationships with your customers. By pricing effectively you will also avoid the serious financial consequences that can occur if you price too low (not enough profit) or too high (not enough sales). When setting a price, the marketer must be aware of the customer perceived value for the product. Your overall pricing strategy will depend on your marketing, business and lifestyle objectives. Three basic pricing strategies are: 1. market skimming pricing, 2. market penetration pricing and 3. neutral pricing. The ‘reference value’ (where the consumer refers to the prices of competing products) and the ‘differential value’ (the consumer’s view of this product’s attributes versus the attributes of other products) must be taken into account. 3.Place: (refers to the point of sale/ refers to providing the product at a place which is convenient for consumers to access) In every industry, catching the eye of the consumer and making it easy for her to buy it is the main aim of a good distribution or ‘place’ strategy. Whether it’s a retail store, online shop or on social media ‘place’ refers to the channels and locations for distributing your product, related information and support services. This is how you will position your product or service in the marketplace. Place represents the location where a product can be purchased. It is often referred to as the distribution channel. This may include any physical store (supermarket, departmental stores) as well as virtual stores (such as ebay) on the Internet. Being in the right location can be a deciding factor in whether a customer buys from you or not. To find out where your ideal customer is buying from it’s worth doing some market research. 4.Promotion: (this refers to all the activities undertaken to make the product or service known to the user and trade) Promotion is the business of communicating with customers. It will provide information that will assist them in making a decision to purchase a product or service. How do you promote and market your business now (or intend to)? Regardless of how good your business is, if you don’t promote it and tell people you exist, it’s unlikely you will make many sales. Compare what your competitors do for promotion, noting what does and doesn’t work for them as well as yourself. Promotion is more than selling and advertising your business. It’s about attracting the right people to use and reuse your business. There are a number of techniques to use and they can be combined in various ways to create the most cost effective strategy for your needs. This can include online, branding, public relations and advertising. The additional elements that make up your marketing strategy are- 5.People: (the employees of the organization with whom customers come into contact) Every employee in your business (if you have them) can influence the marketing of your products and services. Knowledgeable and friendly staff can contribute to creating satisfied customers, and can provide the unique selling experience that an organisation is often seeking. If an outstanding team provides a competitive advantage, then the quality of recruitment and training becomes essential to achieving your marketing objectives. Make sure you have processes and training in place to get the most out of your team. 6.Process: Process represents the buying experience the customer gets when they buy your product or service. For example, the way a fine bottle of wine is presented and served in a restaurant, the reaction of a business to a complaint or the speed of delivery in a fast food outlet. A poor process can undermine the other elements of the marketing mix. Budget airlines, for example, may offer very competitive headline prices, but if the final price is inflated by additional charges such as baggage charges and administrative fees, customers may begin to feel they have been taken advantage of. Try to document your key processes and procedures so your staff and suppliers know what to aim for. 7.Physical evidence: (pertains to how you, your products, or your company is presented in the market place) The physical environment where your products or services are sold and delivered can have a significant impact on how your customers’ experience your business. The physical environment can be the quality of the furnishings in your consulting rooms, the design of your reception area or website. Creating a positive physical environment doesn’t have to be costly – a vase full of fresh flowers or a creative window display can make a big difference. Many marketing specialists are now seeing the 4Ps as too product-oriented and have adopted the 4Cs marketing mix. In recent times, the concept of four Cs has been introduced as a more customer-driven replacement of four Ps. And there are two four Cs theories today. One is Lauterborn’s four Cs- (consumer, cost, communication, convenience), another is Shimizu’s four Cs- (commodity, cost, communication, channel). â€Å"P†category â€Å"C† category â€Å"C† definition Product Consumer Products are likely to produce as consumer orientation. Price Cost reflecting the total cost of ownership. Many factors affect Cost, including but not limited to the customer’s cost to change or implement the new product or service and the customer’s cost for not selecting a competitor’s product or service. Promotion Communication represents a broader focus. Communications can include advertising, public relations, personal selling, viral advertising, and any form of communication between the organization and the consumer. Place (Distribution) Convenience With the rise of Internet and hybrid models of purchasing, Place is becoming less relevant. Convenience takes into account the ease of buying the product, finding the product, finding information about the product, and several other factors. Robert F. Lauterborn proposed a four Cs classification in 1993[7] which is a more consumer-oriented version of the four Ps that attempts to better fit the movement from mass marketing to niche marketing: After Koichi Shimizu proposed a four Cs classification in 1973, this was expanded to the Seven Cs Compass Model to provide a more complete picture of the nature of marketing in 1981. It attempts to explain the success or failure of a firm within a market and is somewhat analogous to Michael Porter’s diamond model, which tries to explain the success and failure of different countries economically. â€Å"P† category â€Å"C† category â€Å"C† definition Product Commodity It is not â€Å"product out†. The goods and services for the consumers or citizens. Price Cost There is not only producing cost and selling cost but purchasing cost and social cost. Promotion Communication Marketing communication : Not only promotion but communication is important. Communications can include advertising, sales promotion, public relations, publicity, personal selling, corporate identity. Place