The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2552 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Science Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Introduction This introductory chapter provides a comprehensive background to the study of the research topic follow up by applying scientific methods. In depth, this chapter includes research background, problem statement, research objectives, research questions, hypotheses of the study, significance of the study, and chapter layout. This research is aim to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on consumer behaviour in Malaysian cosmetic industry. Specifically, we examine the relationship between 4 independent variables, economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility, philanthropic responsibility and the dependent variable, consumer behaviour. Research background The use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to influence consumers and differentiate product offerings has become quite common. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a main topic in recent years, especially within the cosmetics industry. The consumers are becoming more concerned with CSR and the demand for socially responsible brands is increasing. On the other hand, cosmetics brands are implementing more and more CSR activities. The consumers are getting more conscious of the company involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) through better education and the increased influence of the media. Howard Bowen (as cited in Matthias S. Fifka, 2009) mentioned that entrepreneurs have a responsibility to consider social objectives, aims, expectation and values when they make decisions. But, the definitions of CSR have a larger term of responsibility today. The CSR today is define as a concept, and which is the basis for companies to integrate social and ec onomical needs in their corporate activities and the interrelation with the stakeholders is very popular. Most of the companies had already understand that their socially responsible behaviour have a direct impact on the consumer buying behaviour. Consumers find CSR an important issue in the cosmetics industry and would hope to see more socially responsible cosmetics brands. They would like to be informed more about what the cosmetics brands are actually doing in terms of social responsibility. Consumer would also like to know on how the CSR activities of the cosmetics brands are truly meant to improve the society and the environment, not just to use as a marketing tool. When it comes to buying cosmetics brands; quality, price and ingredients are considered to be the main purchase factors by consumers. However, it can be stated that even though CSR is not considered to be a purchase factor, it does have a significant impact on the purchase decisions. In cosmetic industry, when it comes to purchasing cosmetics products, the product quality is the main reason that affects the consumer behaviour. Functional attributes like breathable, water-resistance, easy to wash are other factors are use to decide the quality of the product. For instance, some consumers use cosmetics for work and some for leisure and sports, as they need a lot of movement, while durability is an important consideration in purchasing cosmetics. The performance of the merchandise also effect customer psyche since a merchandise having huge sales would make the customer think that the quality of the product must be good to generate such sales (Hamza S.K., 2011). Under product quality were included aspects like good quality of products presented by the brand, match between product-consumer skin type, availability of a wide range of products under the same brand name and contents of harmful chemicals in the products (Chitralekhah H.D., 2009). The majority of the consumers are searching for produc ts that are fragrance free and allergy tested, and that do not contain unhealthy chemical additives. The cosmetic industry has received a lot of criticisms on immoral and irresponsible business activities such as using of animals for product test, chemical pollution, unethical sourcing and unsustainable ingredients. Companies of the cosmetic industry have understood the importance of CSR and have started working on the prevention and minimization of the negative impacts by their business practices. Previous studies on consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ attitudes on CSR and CSRà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s impact on consumer behavior and buying decisions are quite general. We found that many researchers explore that CSR have impact on consumer behaviour in the cosmetic industry. So, we see this as an opportunity and have the idea to overcome the problem (Zhao.G, 2012). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry" essay for you Create order Problem statement Consumers view cosmetic companies as profit maximizing companies rather than socially responsible companies that emphasizes on putting corporate social responsibility into practice to make the world a better place to live (McNeal, n.d.). There is a controversy issue that cosmetic companies use animal testing in the process of producing cosmetic products (Mohamed, 2010). In this day and age, consumers start to concern about the animal rights (Mohamed, 2010). Consumers have raised issues such as the humanness of Cosmetics Company for intentionally poisoning animals in order to test the cosmetic products that they produce where the ethicalness of cosmetics companies has been questioned (McNeal, n.d.). Consumers are not willing to buy cosmetic products marketed by cosmetics companies that have a bad reputation in terms of animal testing (McNeal, n.d.; Mohamed, 2010). Besides animal rights, there is also an issue regarding the cosmetic industryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s packaging which c auses negative impact on the environment (Danley, March 2012). The cosmetic industry has been known in using large amounts of materials in its packaging, resulting in an increase usage of landfill space required for its waste disposal (Danley, March 2012). Moreover, a substantial amount of energy input is needed in manufacturing, production and transportation of those packaging materials leading to a large amount of natural resources and energy consumption, as well as resulting in the emission of greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants into the atmosphere which may causes global warming (Danley, March 2012). According to Mohamed (2010), consumers are not willing to spend money on cosmetic products produced by Cosmetics Company which have undergone unfriendly production process. In the present day, consumers have become more environmentally concerned as well as being more selective and accountable in their choices (Mohamed, 2010). They care about how, where and why the cosmetic pr oducts are produced (Mohamed, 2010). In addition, consumers have shown a high interest in cosmetic products which are made from natural ingredients such as botanical extracts, oils and minerals (Mohamed, 2010). When consumers are more aware of the CSR of the cosmetics companies, their purchase decision will look different. The decision statement here is in what ways cosmetic companies can improve consumer buying behavior towards cosmetic products. This research was done on Malaysian cosmetic industry as there was no or little research done previously by other researchers regarding this particular field. In order to fill the research gap, we have used a series of research methodology such as data processing, data analysis and other methods to conduct the test to determine whether there is any impact of the four levels (pyramid) of CSR on consumer buying behavior in Malaysian Cosmetics Industry. Research Objective General Objectives The objective of this research is to investigate the impact of the Four Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. Specific Objectives To investigate the impact of Economic Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. To investigate the impact of Legal Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. To investigate the impact of Ethical Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. To investigate the impact of Philanthropic Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. To investigate the impact of the Four Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. Research Questions How Economic Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? How Legal Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? How Ethical Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? How Philanthropic Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? How Four Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? Hypothesis of the Study (for quantitative research) H1: There is significant impact of Economic Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. H2: There is significant impact of Legal Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. H3: There is significant impact of Ethical Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. H4: There is significant impact of Philanthropic Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. H5: There is significant impact of the Four Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. Significance of the Study There is an increasing demand on a healthier and better lifestyle among Malaysian consumer. As these population continues to grow, consumer are more concerned in the product that they buy or consume and how the product are produced as well as delivered from the warehouse to the end consumer. Thus, it causes an increase in demand of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among Malaysian consumers in various industries. Similarly in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry, consumers are gaining awareness on how manufacturers are producing goods (cosmetics) through various means. An increasing demand and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“wants to knowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  behaviour among consumers in cosmetic industry has leads to a more careful behaviour among producers in producing goods to handling the goods. On the other hand, growing social media that reveals unethical behaviour of organizations has also helps in consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ awareness towards unethical behaviour conducted by an organization. No wadays, many consumers are against animal testing and poor wastage management. They are also eager to know how a corporation performs social obligations such as giving back to the society. Generally, this research is conducted to identify how consumers react to the firm CSR which results in their purchase decisions. This research also aims to identify the impact of the four levels (economic, legal, ethical, philanthropic) of CSR in consumer behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic industry and the positive impact of CSR that results in consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ positive behaviour such as higher purchasing power and loyalty as well as increasing corporate social image. Firstly, this study will acknowledge Malaysian Cosmetic Industry corporations about the importance of performing CSR activities as it is proved that there is a positive relationship between CSR activities on consumer behaviour in this study. Through this study, managers in the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry should be acknowle dged that the level of CSR will affect consumer behaviour in their purchase decision of the products (cosmetics). Therefore, managers will be able to communicate with consumers regarding the CSR activities performed by the firm as well as identify how likely consumers will buy their products (cosmetics) if the firm actively participates in CSR activities which will in return boost both corporate image and sales. Secondly, this study also contributes to academicians as they will be able to understand the dynamics and role of the four levels of CSR on consumer behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetics industry. Besides, academicians or researchers will also be able to further the research subject in the near future through the contributions and findings of this study. Thirdly, this study will also contribute to policy makers or regulators of the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry such as the Drug Control Authority (DCA) which is established under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulation 19 84 (CDCR) and managed by the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB) where their main function is to ensure safe, efficacious and quality of pharmaceuticals that are marketed in Malaysia (Malaysia: Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulation 1984, 2011). Through the result of this study, regulators may encourage firms in the cosmetic industry to disclose their Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) as well as CSR activities as it is proved that there is a positive impact of the four levels of CSR on consumer behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetics Industry. Chapter Layout Chapter one of this research project is about the overview of the study which comprises the introduction, research background, problem statement, research objectives which are divided into general objective and specific objectives, research questions, hypotheses of the study, significance of the study, chapter layout and conclusion. Firstly, we have to understand the Malaysian Cosmetics Industry as a whole and then stating the problems faced by the industry which leads to the research objectives and research questions and developing the hypothesis. The hypothesis is then being tested by empirical evidence. Generally, research objectives are used to state the main goal to be achieved through the study whereby research questions are questions to be solved through the investigation of the study in the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. Hypotheses are used to test against the results to determine whether it is true or false. The significance of the study generally is used to explain the impo rtance and the contributions of the study. Chapter two, the literature review, consists of the introduction, review of the literature, review of relevant theoretical models, proposed theoretical or conceptual framework, hypotheses development and conclusion. In this chapter, the dependent variables and independent variables are developed. The discussion regarding the relationship between the independent and dependent variables based on the evidence from past researches such as journal articles are required as it serves as the foundation for the hypothesis development. Hypothesis development is developing statements which will be tested against empirical evidence and to prove whether it is true or false. Chapter three, the research methodology comprises sections like introduction, research design, data collection methods, sampling design, research instrument, constructs measurement (scale and operational definitions), data processing, data analysis and conclusion. In this chapt er, the method used in this research is explained. Firstly, the qualitative or quantitative information are specified for the research and explained why such methods are used. Next, the methods used to collect data (primary data or secondary data) are also stated. In the sampling design section, the target population, sampling frame and location, sampling elements, sampling technique, and sample size are also stated. Then, the instrument to be used to obtain data and reasons using it are stated and the measurement (operational definitions and primary scale of measurement) which is used in the questionnaires are constructed. Data processing is a description how a set of data are processed from the respondents. Lastly, the data analysis tools (computer programs or software used to analyze the data) are also stated and justified. Chapter four, the research results comprises sections like the introduction, descriptive analysis which are separated into subsections like respondent demo graphic profile and central tendencies measurement of constructs, scale measurement, inferential analyses and conclusion. In this chapter, the result of this study will be derived from SAS Enterprise Guide software. Besides, all information of descriptive analyses is computed in the form of tables and a brief explanation of all relevant tests and results are also included. Chapter five, the discussion and conclusion comprises of sections like the introduction, summary of statistical analyses, discussion of major findings, implications of the study, limitations of the study, recommendation for future research and conclusion. In this chapter, a discussion regarding the result obtained will be conducted. Besides, recommendations, implications and conclusion of the study are also included at the end of the chapter. Conclusion In conclusion, this study aims to investigate the impact of the four levels (pyramid) of CSR on consumer behavior in Malaysian cosmetic industry. In the beginning of the research, we had provided the brief background or history of Malaysian cosmetic industry. In this chapter, the problem statement, general and specific objectives of the study based on scientific method for the research are provided. Besides, several hypotheses were formed to examine the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variables. This chapter also includes the significance of the study and the chapter layout. Next, Chapter 2 will further elaborate or study the variables formulated in Chapter 1.

Dan Buettner s Chapter On Singapore - 1190 Words

Dan Buettner’s chapter on Singapore was very interesting, especially when comparing it to our American way of life. At first glance the idea of living in a country with very strict laws, such as public canings for what we would call a minor offense, was mind blowing to me. How could this be one of the happiest places in the world? Upon further study my mind was changed to some degree, in fact I could see myself visiting there some day, but only have studing on the most current laws. I think the United States would be better off if we as a nation thought more about how our individual actions affected those around us. If you were to visit Singapore, it is highly advised that you first take time and review both their customs and strict laws. This country is not like any other country you have been to before. From the time you arrive at Changi International Airport, this difference is very apparent. You will see go through customs and or immigration, normal and typical when arriv ing to a new country, but that is where the similarities end. You will see numerous signs warning you of the public laws, that you are expected to obey without question. â€Å"No photography, smoking, or gum chewing is allowed† (Buettner, 2011, p. 75). Think for a minute how odd this might be. You have just arrived as a visitor and you cannot chew gum and you are not allowed to take photographs!? After some further research I have found that this law of gum chewing has been modified to some degree.

Ge Healthcare India Free Essays

string(128) " hospitals in the country side is a potential problem, but as industrialization spreads, the number of hospitals will increase\." akManagement 3040 Understanding the International Environment of Firms GE Healthcare in India: An Ultrasound Strategy? Introduction GE Healthcare India, a joint venture between General Electric and the Indian multinational Wipro Ltd. , was the market leader in the ultrasound machine market with sales growth of 10% for the previous fiscal year in 2007. The enormous market potential and General Electric’s successful low-cost operations fitted well with the aggressive sales strategy that the corporation had established. We will write a custom essay sample on Ge Healthcare India or any similar topic only for you Order Now Solely on a business point of view, GE Healthcare India had tremendous growth potentials in the still developing market, but the social side of ultrasound machines was threatening to kill the future of the industry. Initial Conditions General Electric entered India in the 1980s and â€Å"early investments by GE in India gave their technology and business-service sectors crucial credibility and cash when other companies still viewed the country as a risky backwater. Many even credit then GE CEO Jack Welch with fueling the economic boom that would come to India in the 1990s. GE Healthcare joint-ventured with Wipro Corporation, India’s third largest software provider, and their activities included the design and manufacture of ultrasound scanners and cardiology products; sales and service of medical imaging and information technology products; parts and services logistics; software services and technology solutions; training-in-partnership programs; and design, sourcing, and man ufacture of diagnostic imaging systems. As a venture in India with $100 million in revenues, GE Healthcare was the country’s largest medical systems sales and service provider, outpacing its competitors which included Toshiba, Siemens, Philips, and Mindray International Medical. The company began manufacturing and selling ultrasound machines in India in the 1990s, and took advantage of Wipro’s robust and extensive distribution and service networks to deliver its product to approximately 80% of its customers. The company’s diagnostic equipment sales in India had risen to $250 million by 2006. Ultrasound technology was the most profitable market for GE Healthcare and was used in early detection of fetal defects or complications during childbirth; diagnosis of gallbladder disease or obstructions; evaluation of blood flow in blood vessels; identifying abnormal structures or functions in the heart; detecting kidney stones and measuring the blood flow through the kidney; detecting prostate cancer early; and increasingly, ultrasound was used in emergency room diagnoses. GE Healthcare had helped introduce ultrasound technology into the rural areas of India where only 20% of India’s hospitals are located although 70% of the population resides there. GE was also making significant inroads into providing affordable and quality health care technology to Indian patients. Having ultrasound available in rural areas had cut costs tremendously for patients as well as fear, as the diagnostic tests were performed in the comfort of their own villages. Many more people were getting medical attention they needed. A major social issue was the use of ultrasound machines as tools in prenatal gender determination and the resulting abortions of female fetuses. The 2001 Indian census revealed that there were only 927 girls to every 1000 boys, compared to 962 girls to 1000 boys twenty years earlier. A December 2006 UNICEF report stated that 7 000 fewer girls than expected were born daily in India. A study by the British medical journal â€Å"Lancet† indicated â€Å"that prenatal sex determination and selective abortion probably accounted for nearly all the deficit in the number of girls born as second or third children after previous female births. If such trends continued, many social scientists predicted social upheaval, even war. In India many families preferred sons to daughters for a variety of reasons, including cultural taboos. Boys continued the family name and bloodline, earned money, looked after the family, and took care of parents in their old age, while girls were just a burden that was to be deployed to another family when the child became of age. In Hindu tradition, a son was supposed to light his parents’ funeral pyre so literally almost from creation to cremation, women are discriminated against. Even before the development of modern technology, baby girls were often the victims of infanticide: left to die or killed shortly after birth by gruesome means. Infanticide decreased with the introduction of ultrasound machines as aborting female fetuses became commonplace. There were no Hindu restrictions on abortion, and only minimal legal constraint. The Indian government has tried to pass many laws restricting sex selection. The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act in 1996 banned the use of technology, such as ultrasounds and sonograms for the purpose of sex-selective abortion. With the ineffectiveness of the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, the government started a â€Å"Respect for Girls† campaign through which mothers with daughters received twice as much money as the mothers of boys. Some districts provided girls from poor families a place to live, free schooling and supplies. Currently, GE Healthcare has a number of cases against it and is fighting in court to clear its name. The company was accused of selling ultrasound machines to â€Å"quacks,† as it offered cheap credit that made the machines affordable to most doctors. The company faced legal issues, intense government restrictions, pushback from activities for what they considered its aggressive sales tactics, and a myriad of business problems. The company had taken steps to minimize illegal use of the machines. It had educated its salespeople about the government restrictions, required affidavits from its customers stating that they would not use the machines to predetermine a fetus’ sex, and conducted frequent audits to ensure that its clients were in compliance. In 2004, the first year that GE Healthcare took these steps, the company admitted that its sales had shrunk by 10%, particularly in the low-end Indian market but sales had rebounded by 2006. Analysis India is a fast developing country, with a large population, where healthcare needs are growing at a rapid rate. Continued development of the country’s infrastructure allows for companies to reach the large market of 70% of the population that lives in the rural areas. Low frequency of hospitals in the country side is a potential problem, but as industrialization spreads, the number of hospitals will increase. You read "Ge Healthcare India" in category "Essay examples" Sales in the ultrasound industry for GE Healthcare were up by 10% and a projected 20% for the following year looked more than achievable. GE’s joint-venture with Wipro Corporation puts the company as a forerunner in the ultrasound market as it takes advantage of Wipro’s robust and extensive distribution and service networks. The $77 million ultrasound industry is set to grow further and GE Healthcare is in pole position to lead the pack. The social unrest against ultrasound machines due to the rising abortion rates of female fetuses threatens to slow down the industry. The high rate use of the machine to check the gender of fetuses undermines the other very helpful uses that the ultrasounds provide. Government regulations against ultrasounds and the â€Å"Respect for Girls† campaign provide tough road blocks for all major players. GE Healthcare is at a cross road where it has to choose between revenue and social responsibility. Or be able to distinguish itself from the misuse of ultrasound machines and prove that this is a government, not an industry problem. A decision over whether the production of ultrasound machines in such an environment fits with GE’s mission and values is vital to be made. Would GE’s strong position lead it to a sudden and fast fall or would it help lead the company out of this mess? Such a peculiar situation seems to have major road blocks at all directions. Options The success of GE Healthcare in the ultrasound industry and its recent increase in revenue provide a strong case for the company to continue implementing its aggressive sales strategy. The company is leader in industry revenue and sales and has access to a well developed distribution network, unlike its competitors. The advantage gained in the past decade is hard to be given up. A continuation of the current strategy has a few benefits. First and foremost, the company headquarters will be pleased that their target goal is being pursued and, possibly, achieved. This will increase the interest in India and provide larger investments that could help expand the business exponentially. Having the funds to utilize the enormous future potential of the industry would expand the gap between GE Healthcare and its competitors and establish it as the undisputed number one in the ultrasound Indian market. If a rise of 10% occurred during economic times that were becoming more and more difficult in the Western world, than India’s importance to the company headquarters could become enormous. While the company might sustain a decrease in revenue elsewhere in the world, in India it can rely on a steady growth that could help stabilize the global impact of the recession. Cheap labor costs, and potential increase in sales due to the opening of more and more hospitals, can even help GE Healthcare surpass that 20% target growth rate. Another major positive that would result from this strategy is that it will help India with its social problems. Every society has its flaws and banning something that is very helpful because of the actions of some people seems wrong. Ultrasounds are used for many more things other than scanning for the gender of a fetus. Major medical uses include diagnosis of gallbladder disease or obstructions; evaluation of blood flow in blood vessels; identifying abnormal structures or functions in the heart; detecting kidney stones and measuring the blood flow through the kidney; detecting prostate cancer early; and increasingly, ultrasound was used in emergency room iagnoses. All of these procedures may help relieve pain and save many lives, especially in the rural areas of the country. With an increased pressure by the popularity of ultrasound machines, the government would be forced to finally start implementing its laws and decrease substantially the illegal use of the machines. A company should not be held responsible for illegal uses of its otherwise very beneficial product, and the Indian governmen t should understand that and deal with the matter appropriately. On the other hand, a negative social and governmental response could damage GE Healthcare’s strong industry positions. The higher you are, the further you fall, and as the company is an industry leader, it could suffer the most significant losses when compared to its competitors. Social pressure to stop the use of ultrasound machines could spread and turn into anger against the companies producing the machines. When children’s lives are at stake, nothing is more important, even in the Indian society where there is a clear negativity against girl babies. It often happens that social problems of a society are transferred onto innocent businessmen and kill off a large money-making industrial sector. Another option that the company could take is to stop giving out cheap credit to customers that can’t afford to buy the machine in one installment. Such an option could turn out to be a double-edged knife, but it could help the company gain some much needed ground with the government. A decrease in sales might follow, but the brand GE will be preserved and disassociated from the baby girl problem that India has faced for centuries. The biggest advantage of taking such a route would be to ease off the social pressure from local scientists that GE Healthcare receives. The company is currently accused of exploiting the demand for boy children and such negative publicity hurts the corporation’s image in the grand scheme. Customers that tend to use credit to buy ultrasound machines are usually those that practice medicine by themselves and not in a hospital and are more prone to doing illegal practices. Currently India has very few hospitals in the rural areas which leaves many people with limited health care. But as the country continues its rapid development, more and more hospitals will open which would bring a whole new market to the industry. The new hospitals would want good publicity and would not want to be associated with companies that sell their products to â€Å"quacks. † Although in the short run sales will suffer, in the long run such a strategy seems to bring more benefits than harm. A much needed good publicity will not only help the company repair its image, but it could also help with the judicial problems that GE Healthcare is currently under. A decrease in sales to people that can’t afford an ultrasound system would most likely reduce the illegal practices of ultrasound machines in the rural areas and ease off the pressure a little bit that the industry faces. Sometimes it is more beneficial to suffer a temporary setback and preserve what you have, than to keep pushing and lose everything. A completely different approach available to GE Healthcare is the discontinuation of ultrasound machines. Although this is the company’s best selling product, a stoppage of sales would completely erase the social pressure and prompt the company to focus on its other products. Losing ground in one place could sometimes pave a path for expansion in other areas. Obviously, the most important advantage of discounting the sale of ultrasound machines would be that many more girl fetuses will be saved and the company would be doing the right moral thing. At the end of the day, saving lives is the greatest thing tanyone could do, and not many options to do so can be bypassed. Such a move would most likely help terminate all court cases that the company faces and free it to exploit other marketing options. It is very hard to pay attention to other industries when one casts such a large shadow over them. That is exactly what ultrasound machines seem to be doing due to their high demand and wide use. The biggest disadvantage would undoubtedly be the enormous loss of sales and the loss of ground to industry competitors that could affect other medical sectors as well. Not to be overlooked is the enormous market growth that lies ahead of this large country’s future. Business is run to make money, and such opportunities don’t present themselves very often. GE Healthcare’s joint-venture with Wipar could also suffer as the local company would see no benefit to continue business with a company that crumbles under social pressure. It will most likely break off and look to pair up with a different industry player, leaving GE without Wipar’s distribution network. Recommendations What should the company do to meet its goals, remain socially responsible, and get over its court cases and media bombardment? It is very difficult to make a decision when so many factors are in place and so much lies on the line. Are money or the unborn babies more important? Would a retreat ease off the killings of girl fetuses? And would other companies follow suit and drop off or ride the storm and reap the benefits from the distant brighter future? Usually, at the end of the storm, there is a golden sky. The brave prevail and the weak crumble and don’t ever regroup. GE Healthcare is currently in a very strong position in a growing industry that will bring enormous profits for the company in the future. It is not selling anything dangerous, but rather a product that saves lives everywhere around the world. GE Healthcare has helped India with its sudden economic rise in the 1980s and 1990s, and there is no reason for it to run away when it is in such a profitable decision. The recent 10% revenue increase rate shows that the industry is very healthy with a lot of potential. A very large part of the Indian population is currently not provided for medically, which is an enormous potential market. The current tough economic times around the world would slow down sales elsewhere, but not in a country that is developing in such a fast rate, especially medically. GE Healthcare is more than able to meet its goals and continue improving and innovating and gain even more ground in the ultrasound industry. The biggest and only real issue that the whole industry faces is the significantly lower numbers of girls being born when compared to boys. Many social scientists blame the ultrasound machines for this and tend to overlook the cruel and gruesome ways that families have found to put to death already born babies. The problem is not current, but rather centuries old, long before GE decided to enter the Indian market. Most importantly, this is a social and governmental problem. GE Healthcare is not a government entity to be expected to be socially responsible for everything, although it is trying its best to do so. Campaigns like â€Å"Respect for Girls† that are aimed at increasing social awareness of a rising problem are exactly what the government and not GE Healthcare should do. If the company decides to pull away of the industry, there is no guarantee that its current competitors would do the same. In fact, it is far more likely that they take advantage of the new potential customers and make GE’s pull out pointless. But even if the whole industry gets banned, which is highly unlikely, the Indian families will sadly find ways to continue their centuries old traditions and seek baby boys instead of girls. One thing that the company should do to ease off the media pressure and meet its image of being socially responsible is to raise its credit interests and force cheap doctors to stop buying for illegal purposes. The affidavits that the company makes all customers sign shows that the company is aware of the social problem and is helping out in any way it can. It can also emphasize on the other important uses of ultrasound machines and make people aware of the enormous health benefits that the machine provides. GE Healthcare has done a lot for India, being one of the first foreign businesses to enter and invest in the country. It has paved the way for other companies to enter the country in many different industries and India should be grateful to GE for helping it jump-start its development and not blame it on social issues that have existed for a long time. At the end of the day, the company entered India to make money. It is doing so by providing the country with a product that can decrease the mortality rate and increase the average lifespan of people if used correctly. It is also morally responsible by keeping track of its machines and trying to sell them only to qualified customers. An increase in the credit rate for those that need it to buy the machines could decrease media pressure and prove that GE Healthcare is doing whatever it can to remain socially responsible and keep a positive brand image. How to cite Ge Healthcare India, Essay examples

Social Media in a Crisis Situation

Question: Discuss about the Critical Analysis of Use of Social Media in a Critical Situation. Answer: Introduction In the growing complexities and advancements of the business communication, the use of social media will be effective for a business organization to improve the way of communication at the time of emergencies or crisis situations. The social media communication tools enhance the collectivity, clarity, connectedness, completeness, and collaboration of the business communication for managing the complexities of the communication in the critical situations. This essay will provide a detailed understanding of the critical analysis of the use of social media in the crisis situations (Belford, 2014). This will describe the topic of the use of social media in crisis by analyzing the use of the social media as a best communication means in crisis, the involvement of social media in the business plan, and the way of using the social media in influencing the communication in both positive and negative ways in the critical situations. This will analyze my role, responsibility, and creative thin king to handle the complex situation to communicate with the boss regarding the man enters my premises with a weapon in the absence of my boss. Social Media as an Effective Communication Medium in Crisis or Emergency The use of the social media networking sites or tools (Facebook, e-mails, Yahoo, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Blogs) will develop a broad understanding of the conceptual, strategic, and practical implications of the communication and relevance of communication at the time of emergencies or crisis situations within the workplace in the organization. The social media involves social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, WhatsApp) and blogs, Bookmarking sites (delicious.com, reditt.com, and dig.com), Collaborative projects (e.g. Wikipeadia), Content communities (e.g. You Tube and Flickr), and special reviews (e.g. Google Places or Adwords). The use of social media will assist in content sharing and communication through the social networks and blogs, tag and share content through the bookmarking sites, collaborative projects through the user generated content (e.g. Wikipedia), sharing contents, such as photos or images, and videos through the content communities, such as YouTube, Flickr, and sharing personalized formation and providing recommendations by using the social reviews (Benedict, 2014). At the crisis moments, the social media provides four functions including information dissemination, disaster or emergency planning, collaborative problem-solving and decision-making and information gathering or accessing. The information is mapped onto three phases of crisis or emergency management including preparedness, response, and recovery to describe how the social media tools may be used to enhance the effectiveness of the crisis communications. The social media is an effective communication way to interact with anyone because the mostly people are connected and spends their most of the time regularly on the social media, such as Facebook, whatsApp, and twitter to communicate with family members, friends/colleagues, relatives, and office staff members (Benedict, 2014). The communication through the social media may be in form of emails, intranets, blogs, videos, displays, newsletters, and other various forms of communication to communicate about the crisis situations or critical events. Crisis or emergency management is a critical organizational function that will include the contingent planning and dynamic incident response to the crisis situations by using the online discussion platforms, news aggregators for disseminating, acquiring, and analyzing information more comprehensively and efficiently. The social media sites have the strong ability to prevent crisis from spiraling out of control to aggravate the unfolding crisis situation (Chan, 2016). For example, the UK riot in 2011 was a case of the influence of social media questioning the small protest against the apparent police brutality in Tottenham that could spark vandalism and riots. The social media played a role of catalyst as the rioters and onlookers used social media networking sites to organize and communicate the numerous new reports. During the crisis, the social media tools could be used as effective means of communication because the social media is the most critical channel at the time of emergencies or crisis for creating the real-time and rapid communication in such contingent conditions. The social media will be an effective communication medium that will assist me in taking the rapid and urgent decisions at the time of crisis or emergencies. This will assist me in sharing information with my boss and subordinates for the regular updates of the current situations, freedom of decision-making, and getting online information for handling the complex situation of crisis (Chawala, 2016). The social media communication will have a degree of control on my decision-making and action in the crisis by making the shared decision after communicating with my boss through the social media chatting. This social media will provide me a platform to connect with the organizational members as well as outsider people by using the multiple forms of social media channels. This will assist me to understand the feelings, emotions, perceptions, and values of others and to make ethical judgment for the organizational welfare and growth. It will assist in resolving the organizational conflicts and inter-organizational problems by encouraging more communication among the staff members within the organization. The social media will assist me to take the real-time and accurate decisions at the time of emergencies or contingent situations for responding rapidly to the situation by reducing the communication appreciation (Dijck, 2013). By using the social media forms, I will discuss the critical situation with my boss about the man entering with weapon or gun and causing for huge terror at the organization that may disturb the functioning of the operations and activities in the organization. The organizational staff members are feared with this sudden attack by an outsider man. I am also shocked from this sudden unfavorable criminal moment. In such contingent, situation, the use of social media will be an effective communication medium to get the real-time assistance by communicating this situation with my boss and to get the suggestion or advice on how to handle this critical situation and provide me an appropriate solution so that I could arrive at right decision in this crisis situation. By using the social media networking sites, such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram or video calling, I will be able to get the immediate response from my boss in such critical situation. I will be able to send the digital post or video of the current scenario of this crisis with my boss. I may also tweet about the current situation on the twitter that will assist me in getting the quick response from my boss with a recommendation solution on handling such situation by using the experien ces of my boss (Dutta, 2013). I may also use WhatsApp video calling to create the two-way dialogue with my boss in order to represent the actual scenario of the current situation at the organization so that my boss could be introduce with the actual condition and will give appropriate guidance to me for taking immediate decision and action on the unfavorable activity or sudden attack from the man with a gun. Social Media as a business communication plan According to me, the social media should be considered in the business communication plan that will improve the communication among the organizational members to share the latest business updates, information, and data related to the relevant industry. By using the social media tools, it will be easy for the senior management to communicate the organizational vision, mission, goals, objectives, values, and strategies with the organizational members. The social media sites will also be effective to give information of the changes in the product quality, the schedule of company meetings, seminars, events, and timing of shifting, training and development programs to the employees (Guffey and Loewy, 2014). The social media will be an effective medium of communicating with the customers about the branded products and services and collecting their feedbacks on the existing products and service quality so that further changes could be made in the product development and manufacturing operat ions in order to produce the high quality and value-added products. The social media will provide a fast and effective communication medium to communicate the business plan with the team members. The social media networking sites will provide the latest and relevant data of the changing customers needs, preferences, and expectations for serving them effectively by making changes in the products and services as per their feedbacks. The social media sites provide an opportunity for engaging and interacting with the people in the emergencies or crises by disseminating the information to them and accessing information from them in the form of messages, text, videos, images, digital posts, newsfeeds, or other forms or ways of communication for sharing the information with them (Lach, 2016). The social media will provide the timely and regular updates on the current industry trends and fluctuating environment conditions related to the industry. For example, the MNCs, like Burberry, Tesco, Nestle, and Coca Cola use social media an effective promotional tool to promote the products and services of their brands through the digital marketing posts and conveying the promotional message to the targeted audiences in order to create the high brand awareness and customer loyalty toward the branded products of the company (Lovink, 2016). Ways to respond the crisis by using social media to influence communication in both positive and negative way During emergency events or crisis situations, such as terrorism attacks, earthquake or hurricane, storms or floods and sudden incidents or unfavorable happenings, the individuals are exposed to share the real-time and large amount of information with the people with whom he/she is likely to interact. The Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Youtube, LinkedIn, Netlong, and Google+ may be useful to handle the crisis situations in order to take quick and right decisions. Twitter and Facebook are mostly used by the companies to tweet for communicating with the customers regarding the product quality, service delivery, and pricing of the products (Richards and StudioD, 2015). For example, Southwest Flight 345 that landed nose first at LaGuardia is an example of the use of social media in the crisis situation that helped in getting quick response, holding open communication, and maintaining good faith with its customers. Southwest used the social media in the form of Facebook and Twitter for getting the immediate response from the customer with the statements and information. The social media create benefits to the businesses by promoting the companys products through the digital communication campaign or communicating the promotional message with the targeted audiences to attract the customers toward the branded products and services by creating the high brand awareness and loyalty in the mindsets of the customers. The social media will create the crisis communications in the positive way by ensuring the speed, interaction, engagement, and authenticity, control of message, visibility, transparency, boundaries, crisis facilitation and triggers (White, 2016). The social media in the crisis will assist to get immediate response, active listening to the targeted audiences or desired people, building two-way dialogue, being accountable, reacting to the situation, being open, honest, transparent, and credible, being compassionate and authentic, and creating video communication by using the video technologies. Despite of numerous benefits of using social media, the exploitation of social media via information technologies may create several issues, such as informational ethics, individual liberties, public safety, and consequence of misuse. Sometimes, the use of social media may result into the negative publicity by creating the negative image of the brand into the public or targeted audiences because some people are not likely to give more preferences to the social media advertisements. The use of social media may cause for the weak or ineffective communication with the targeted customers (Schwarz, Seeger, and Auer, 2016). The social media communication may also cause for the poor decision-making because the immediate decisions can also create complexities rather than handling the crisis situations because the rapid communication and quick decisions could be against the welfare of the businesses. The social media marketing could lead to weak sales performance because of the negative responses from the customers toward the companys products and services. The involvement of social media in the business plan as a promotional tool and communication medium may also involve the risks and uncertainties (Simon, Goldberg, and Adini, 2015). The information shared through the social media communication may also be exposed to the general public that will lose the confidence of the people. Sometimes, the confidential or secret information could be open in public before the audiences. The social media may create the negative impact on the brand image through spreading of misinformation. Conclusion From the above discussions on the essay, it can be stated that the online communication through the use of social media is faster than the traditional forms of communication. The video communication technologies also create video communication by using the social media tool, whats-app video calling. The social media will create an effective two-way communication with my boss to communicate about the crisis of the current scenario for taking immediate decision and action on this crisis situation. The social media will create a sense of communication and level of trust and loyalty among the targeted audiences or customers. The social media communication will create two-way diagonal communication for responding fast to the crisis situation, evading responsibility, reducing offensiveness, minimization and denial, preparedness for the quick decision-making and taking corrective action. References Belford, B. (2014). How to Respond to a Social Media Crisis. [Online]. Available at: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/defend-your-social-media-reputation/. (Accessed: 11 April 2017). Benedict, P. L. (2014). A Critical Synthesis and Thematic Analysis of the Use of Social Media in Higher Education Marketing. USA: Tarleton State University. Brown, J. (2015). Is Social Media the Key to Effective Communication During Campus Emergencies? [Online]. Available at: https://www.govtech.com/em/disaster/Social-Media-Communication-Campus-Emergencies.html. (Accessed: 11 April 2017). Chan, C. J. (2016). THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN CRISIS PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY. [Online]. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/governance/risk/The%20role%20of%20Social%20media%20in%20crisis%20preparedness,%20response%20and%20recovery.pdf. (Accessed: 11 April 2017). Chawla, A. (2016). Managing the Madness: The Role of Social Media in a Crisis. [Online]. Available at: https://www.govtech.com/videos/Managing-the-Madness-The-Role-of-Social-Media-in-a-Crisis.html. (Accessed: 11 April 2017). Dijck, V. J. (2013). The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media. New York: Oxford University Press. Dutta, S. (2013). BUSINESS COMMUNICATION. Australia: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Fuchs, C. (2017). Social Media: A Critical Introduction. Canada: Sage Publication. Guffey, E. M. and Loewy, D. (2014). Business Communication: Process and Product. USA: Cengage Learning. Lach, A. (2016). The Four Rules of Managing Crisis on Social Media. [Online]. Available at: https://www.piercom.com/insight/4-rules-managing-crisis-social-media/. (Accessed: 11 April 2017). Lovink, G. (2016). Social Media Abyss: Critical Internet Cultures and the Force of Negation. USA: John Wiley Sons. Richards, L. and StudioD (2015). Effective Business Communication Methods. [Online]. Available at: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/management_concepts/communication_methods.htm. (Accessed: 11 April 2017). Schwarz, A., Seeger, W. M., and Auer, C. (2016). The Handbook of International Crisis Communication Research. USA: John Wiley Sons. Simon, T., Goldberg, A., and Adini, B. (2015). Socializing in emergenciesA review of the use of social media in emergency situations International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 35(5), pp. 609-619. White, M. C. (2016). Social Media, Crisis Communication, and Emergency Management: Leveraging Web 2.0 Technologies. Australia: CRC Press.

Shakespeare, William Comparing And Contrasting Hamlet And MacBeth Ess

Shakespeare, William: Comparing and Contrasting Hamlet and MacBeth Christine Tirman April 7th, 1999 Professor King Essay # 3 Comparing and Contrasting Hamlet and MacBeth Throughout William Shakespeare's plays Hamlet and Macbeth there are many similarities, along with many differences. These plays are both Shakespearean tragedies, which often use supernatural incidents to intrigue the reader's interest, and consists of a hero that has a tragic flaw. There are many comparative and contrasting aspects in these plays. The opening of Hamlet involves a supernatural, as does the opening of Macbeth. In the first scene the ghost of his father, King Hamlet, approaches Hamlet. Similarly, the opening of Macbeth involves the three witches. Although the witches can be seen by anyone they approach, the ghost of King Hamlet is only seen by Hamlet himself, and in one scene by Marcellus and Bernardo, Hamlet's servants. Similarly in both plays, the main characters are slightly suspicious of the actual powers these supernatural figures have. As the witches use their apparent powers to tell Macbeth the future, the ghost of King Hamlet tells Hamlet what has happened already. Hamlet states in one of his soliloquies ?The spirit that I have seen / may be the devil? (2.2.598-599). Macbeth also has his doubts because when the witches tell him that he will be named Thane of Cawder, Macbeth himself had not known, but many people had. It is possible the witches could have known. In the same matter in both plays, the presentation of the supernatural began to lead to the final downfall of each of the characters. In Macbeth, the three witches cause him to think and do evil deeds. In Hamlet, if he had not seen the ghost of his father, he would not have known that Claudius has killed his father to claim the throne. In both instances the characters gave into the nagging supernatural beliefs. And hence they lost their lives. Other characters in these plays show parallels in their plots. Both plays have a main character that portrays the king of that country. In Hamlet, the King of Denmark, Claudius is directly related to Hamlet. He is his uncle, and also his mother's new husband. However, in Macbeth the King of Scotland, King Duncan, is not directly related to the main character. Both plays do however, have the main character killing off the king in order to get the throne, which ultimately results in there own death. Horatio, in Hamlet and Banquo, in Macbeth share the same loyalty to the main characters. In both stories these friends are more skeptical of the supernaturals than the main characters themselves. In a meeting with the witches, Banquo challenges them to ?Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear / Your favours nor your hate? (1.3.60-61). In a scene where Horatio and Hamlet witness the ghost, Horatio tries to keep Hamlet from going with the ghost. He was even reluctant in the opening scene to go with Marcellus to hear about the ghost. Some themes in the plays are also similar. The way that the weeds and flowers illustrate good and bad in Hamlet is like the way the birds do in Macbeth. This is also true of the fair and foul theme in Macbeth and the indirections theme in Hamlet. In Macbeth, to the weird sisters, what is ugly is beautiful, and what is beautiful is ugly. Through the play fair appearances hide foul realities. This theme has a lot in common with the theme in Hamlet where the appearance varies from the reality. In contrast, one of the main themes in Macbeth is Manhood, while in Hamlet it is frailty, and more specifically, the frailty of women. It seems evident that Shakespeare used a strong, similar story line in these two tragedies. Apparently Macbeth and Hamlet are similar stories in numerous ways. These two plays seem different because of the variation in story lines, but in fact are very similar due to the parallel characters and themes.

Salazar Surname Meaning and Origin - About Genealogy

Salazar Surname Meaning and Origin - About Genealogy The Salazar surname indicates one who came from Salazar in northern Burgos, Castile, Spain- a place name meaning corral or manor house - probably from sala, meaning hall and Basque za(h)ar, meaning old.  Salazar could also mean a dweller in or near the house or palace, or a dweller near the place sacred to St. Lazar.  Salazar is an ancient surname found in Vizcaya, Castile, Navarre, Santander and Burgos, Spain. Salazar is the 44th most common Hispanic surname. Surname Origin:  Spanish Alternate Surname Spellings:  SALASAR, DE SALAZAR Famous People with the Surname SALAZAR Juan Carlos Salazar - well known Venezuelan singer and cuatro playerAntà ³nio de Oliveira Salazar - Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968; also served as acting President of the Republic in 1951Abel de Lima Salazar  - Portuguese physician, writer, researcher and painterAntonio Sebastin de Toledo Molina y Salazar  - Viceroy of New Spain Where Do People With the VARGAS Surname Live? The surname distribution data at  Forebears  ranks Salazar as the 340th most common surname in the world, identifying it as most prevalent in Mexico and with the highest density in Costa Rica. Salazar is the 9th most common surname in Ecuador, 22nd in Venezuela, 27th in Costa Rica and Peru, and 33rd in the Philippines. Salazar is no longer a surname that is common in Spain according to WorldNames PublicProfiler; the Salasar spelling is a bit more common. Within the United States, the Salazar surname is very common in New Mexico and Texas. Genealogy Resources for the Surname SALAZAR 100 Common Hispanic Surnames Their Meanings. Garcia, Martinez, Rodriguez, Lopez, Hernandez... Are you one of the millions of people sporting one of these top 100 common Hispanic last names?How to Research Hispanic Heritage. Learn how to get started researching  your Hispanic ancestors, including the basics of family tree research and country-specific organizations, genealogical records, and resources for Spain, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean, and other Spanish speaking countries.Salazar Family Crest - Its Not What You Think. Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Salazar family crest or coat of arms for the Salazar surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.  SALAZAR Family Genealogy Forum. Search this popular genealogy forum for the Salazar surname to find others who might be researchi ng your ancestors, or post your own Salazar query. FamilySearch - SALAZAR Genealogy. Access over 1.7 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Salazar surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.GeneaNet - Salazar Records. GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Salazar surname, with a concentration on records and families from France, Spain, and other European countries.SALAZAR Surname Family Mailing Lists. This free mailing list for researchers of the Salazar surname and its variations includes subscription details and searchable archives of past messages.DistantCousin.com - SALAZAR Genealogy Family History. Explore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Salazar.The Salazar Genealogy and Family Tree Page. Browse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Salazar from the website of Genealogy Today. - References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Managing and Leading People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Managing and Leading People - Essay Example The findings from the primary study have been compared with the existing theories of human resource management. The study shows that Fiat follows effective HR strategies that should be emulated by every organization in the globalised world. Fiat, a renowned brand, is the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy and also holds considerable market share in the overseas market. Fiat is the abbreviation of ‘Fabrica Italiana Automobili Torino’. The firm manufactures cars that cater to almost all the segments of the market. The company was established in the early years of the industrial revolution, precisely in 1899. Its first production commenced in the year 1900, with employee strength of over one hundred fifty workers. The famous logo of the company was adopted in the year 1904. The logo gained gradual acceptance and is still recognised as a global brand. The company has grown by leaps and bounds and has a significant market share in the automobile segment (Fiat-a, 2010). In addition to cars, Fiat also manufactures tanks, railroad vehicles etc. In addition to Italy, the firm has its production units based in Brazil, Poland and Argentina. The company is also known for its innovations in the field of automobil es. An example in this regard is the â€Å"Centro Ricerche Fiat† (Fiat-b, 2010). This is a unit that has been developed by Fiat and is based in the Italian town of Orbassano. This division deals with research and development in the field of automobile engines and vehicle systems. Innovation is the buzzword in this unit. Some of its notable contributions in the field of research and development are â€Å"Legambiente 2000† (Common Rail Diesel engine Technology). The unit also received the Ferrari technology award for development of the hybrid methane engine. Some other notable achievements of this unit are the creation of multi jet engine and also the design of models like Idea, Punto, Panda and Stilo (Fiat-b,

What Survives after death Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

What Survives after death - Essay Example Skeptics argue that consciousness is merely a fabrication of the brain, and near-death experiences (NDEs) are fantasies created by the brain. Believers, in contrast, insist that there is survival after death. Many researchers have explained this idea that survival after death exists in a non-physical state where our souls take over and continues as the human body and the brain are not the sole determinants of our existence that is, we have a conscience; nonetheless, others believe that once we die we cease to exist as there is nothing past the material realm. Apparently, for the Catholic Church, the notion of life after death is embedded within the innermost part of the core teaching of the Church. There is the belief that the deeds here on earth will largely determine fate in the afterlife. For instance, if the person had been faithful and was a good person in his lifetime, there is a greater chance that he will be adjudged worthy of entering heaven and be reunited with God. Neverth eless, this is only one of the countless interpretations and conjectures about what happens to a person when he dies. The Soul and the After Life A critical and almost universal element in the different perspectives of life after death is the existence of the soul. This is the bedrock of all beliefs that rationalize transcendence as opposed to complete and utter cessation of life. Simply put, the soul is considered part of the human essence. In Catholicism, the soul animates the material body and is key to understanding man’s capability for reasoning and morality. Aside from the fact that the soul is an indispensable component of human existence in Christian belief, it also underpins most themes of natural law, which holds that there is the existence of rational order in human nature that is independent of human will and is articulated as laws and moral imperatives. The soul, hence, is not just a figment of someone’s imagination or a myth perpetuated by religion. It is related to the concept of conscience, which sets human apart from all animals. Most people, even atheists, believe in the soul and the rational explanation for its existence (Theos 10). Therefore, regardless of what happens to it after death, there is the recognition that when the material body expires, the soul â€Å"lives on†. Finding Answers in Near Death Experiences There are also credible empirical evidences that can attest and confirm the existence of after life. Several case studies in Weiss works demonstrate some of these. Consider for instance, an account regarding multiple lives wherein the soul has lived in at least eighty-six physical states (Weiss, 1988, 28). There is also the all too familiar near death experience, which gave a glimpse of what must be the soul’s perspective. Weiss included one account in her work: â€Å"A conscious part of her would leave the body around the moment of death, floating above and 'then being drawn to a wonderful, energizin g light. She would then wait for someone to come and help her. The soul automatically passed on. Embalming, burial rituals, or any other procedure after death had nothing to do with it. It was automatic, no preparation necessary, like walking through a just-opened door†(24). Eben Alexander provided another case of near death experience. What made his account interesting was the fact that he was a neurosurgeon and he only believed on the tangible evidence and what science could explain. He suffered a rare illness, which left in coma for seven days (7). In this period he was considered brain dead and the experience qualified as a near death experience when he eventually woke up. In order to tell his tale, he studied and collected

Effect of luxury cars on the uk market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Effect of luxury cars on the uk market - Essay Example In other markets, especially those in the South Eastern Asia region make significant sales of other types of luxury cars too (TATT, 2010). However, these markets are always limited to the sum total volume of sales by the overall size either of the industry or by the local conditions of the market and other preferences (Shende, 2014). Consequently, the market for luxury cars generally is presently undertaking some sort of social change with some of the luxury car brands seeming to be less remote. The brands are also seen to be less varied and at the same time less exclusive with the quality, that they have in improving lives (TATT, 2010). As a result, the increment in the competition between different car makes has intensified the relevance of brand identity (Shende, 2014). As the standards of the product continue to go up, the customer’s perceived image of the car brand plays a major role in making the buying decision. Some of the luxury cars such as the BMW, Lexus and the Mercedes- Benz are bound to develop some values and characteristics that are seen to reflect the ever-changing social values (TATT, 2010). The values then influence the buyer’s emotions, so that the brands maintain their positions in various world regions of the global market (Shende, 2014). In the past several years, the research into the customers’ perception and their behaviors in the luxury car industry has been driven by a couple of researchers all over the world (Shende, 2014). There is very little literature both in writing and in softcopy means that document any research done concerning customer perception of luxury cars. Most of the work is focused on the loyalty of the consumers and that of brand switching (ANURIT, NEWMAN & CHANSARKAR, n.d.). The key research that has been made has focused on the low priced segment ranges of cars rather than the luxury car segment in which any choices between the choice of individual potential buyers and brand image concept play a big

Why I Chose to Study Engineering

Why I Chose to Study Engineering The significant contribution of engineers to the local and global communities is what has inspired me to study engineering. There are many disciplines of engineering though I have chosen to study architectural engineering. In this essay, I will reflect on my choice of study and explore the skills and contributions of architectural engineering. I will discuss what factors have inspired and motivated my choice of study, the roles of an architectural engineer, the attributes required to be a successful engineer, how they serve society and the obstacles that will be faced in the industry. I did not choose architectural engineering at random, there are some aspects that inspired and motivated my choice. I have always known I wanted to pursue a career in engineering, as I enjoy mathematics and physics, but I was unsure of which field. My personal interests have had a large impact on my choice of study. I love to design and create, take on new challenges, solve problems and give back to my community. Originally, I intended to study mining engineering and participated in a week of work experience at a mine. After that week, I believed that it was not for me. I had heard of architectural engineering and thought I would check it out. I researched everything I could about it and knew that it was the field I wanted to do. Architectural engineers give so much to the community through the structures they assist in designing. I hope to be able to help create systems that will assist our society. There were times when I was doubtful as engineering is a male-dominate field and the only course available is in Melbourne. However, my parents have pushed me to pursue my dream. They are my motivation, I do not want to let them down. I aspire to make them proud. Architectural engineers apply engineering principles and technology to the design, construction and planning of buildings. They are responsible for taking a design from an architect and developing the details of the buildings structural and environmental systems. The systems of a building include: structural integrity, heating/air conditioning systems, ventilating systems, plumbing, fire protection and electrical systems [1]. As shown in [2] architectural engineering incorporates elements of several other engineering disciplines including mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and others. Some architectural engineers may focus on specific areas, such as a structures capability to endure the stress of natural disasters. While others may concentrate on improving air quality, energy efficiency and minimising environmental impact. They work in teams with architects and engineers who a specialist in other fields [1]. As to be able to design and construct a stable and safe building, they need to be able to communicate, work together and solve problems. The attributes of a successful engineering can be listed in to three categories set by Engineers Australia. These three categories are: knowledge and skill base; engineering application ability; and professional and personal attributes [3]. The first two categories are based on having an understanding and application of engineering, mathematics and physics. The last category includes many of the key attributes required to be a successful architectural engineer. The ability to communicate with others and work in a team environment are two of the main key attributes. An engineer needs to be able to communicate well, both orally and in writing, to not just other engineers but also other specialist. In the industry, there will be times when engineers must work with others that may not have the same level of knowledge, so they must convey technical ideas in non-technical language understood by the audience [3]. Architectural engineers need to be creative, inquisitive, analytical and detai l-oriented [1]. This will enhance their problem-solving skills and lead to further ideas and developments that will serve society. Architectural engineering has a large impact on the systems that support societys standard of living [4]. Engineers are continuously aiming to improve and develop concepts that will greatly benefit society through the use of science and technology. Architectural engineers create building systems based on what is requested from society [4]. They have developed buildings that can withstand the stress of a natural disaster. They strive to create safe and convenient places for people to work and live. The designs developed by architectural engineers do not just benefit society with the final structure but also during the planning and construction phases. The different stages of a project require people from different professions, initiating many job opportunities for people within the communities. When architectural engineers have a project, they aim to create a safe and functional building suited for the consumers but this doesnt come without many obstacles. In the work force, there will be obstacles and challenges. There are many factors that could impact a project including: environmental impact, budgeting, resources and work environment. There are major concerns from society about the environmental impact of projects, thus engineers are trying to minimise our impact [5]. Budgets are a foremost factor in the creation and construction of a building as it is what gives architectural engineers a guideline, though sometimes it is considered a constraint. The budget allowed also impacts the availability of resources and materials. Architectural engineers can only create a building with what is available as it is unprofessional to start a project and realise that there is a limited amount of the building materials. The final factor, workplace environment as seen in [6] is the most critical factor in maintaining the productivity rate and satisfaction levels of a workplace and employees. The main aspect that has inspired me to study architectural engineering is the large contribution it has on improving and developing societys standard of living. In this essay, I have reflected, discussed and explored the aspects that have inspired and motivated my choice of study, the responsibilities and role of an architectural engineer, the attributes required to become an accredited engineer, the impact that they have on society and the challenges that will be faced in the workplace. References [1] Architectural Engineering Overview, Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. Accessed on: Mar. 10, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.careercornerstone.org/pdf/archeng/archeng.pdf [2]C. Ozansoy, Class Lecture, Topic: Chapter 1 What is Engineering? NEF1103, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Vic., Feb., 27, 2017. [3] D. Dowling, R. Hadgraft, A. Carew, T. McCarthy, D. Hargreaves and C. Ballie, What is Engineering? in Engineering Your Future: An Australasian Guide, 3rd ed. Milton: John Wiley Sons, 2016, ch.1, pp. 24-27. [4] University of Michigan (2013, Aug. 2). 2013 James R. Mellor Lecture William Banholzer [Video file]. Accessed on: Mar. 19, 2017. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XY4mMZNGl4 [5]D. Dowling, R. Hadgraft, A. Carew, T. McCarthy, D. Hargreaves and C. Ballie, Sustainable Engineering, in Engineering Your Future: An Australasian Guide, 3rd ed. Milton: John Wiley Sons, 2016, ch.3, p. 119. [6]E. Ajala, The Influence of Workplace Environment on Workers Welfare, Performance and Productivity, The African Symposium: An online journal of the African Educational Research Network, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 141, 2012.

The Indian and the White Communites in Dances with Wolves and Machimani

The Indian and the White Communites in Dances with Wolves and Machimanito The film Dances with Wolves shares a lot of its content with the story Machimanito. In Dances with Wolves, two nations come to interact with each other. While the white man is dominating the land, the Indians are trying to protect both their land and themselves. In Machimanito, the story describes the epidemic and its effects on the Indians, while describing the ongoing conflict between Indians and the white man. There is a huge cultural difference between the white man and the Indians, which is reflected on their ways of life and communities; each lives a different life style including their interaction with nature and themselves, their authority within this community and finally the resulting conflict the interactions of these two nations. John Dunbar makes contact with the Indians while being posted on the frontier. As his relationship develops with Kicking Bird and both gain each other’s trust, he becomes part of the Indian community; his final transition can be seen when he is known by the name Dances with Wolves. The differences between the white and the Indian community are shown to the viewer while Dunbar is exploring it and is becoming aware of the differences himself. Some of the differences are shown in the ways and objectives of hunting the buffalos. While the Indians use the buffalos for both food and use the skin for clothes, the white man hunts down buffalos for their skin and horns â€Å"killed only for their tongs and the price of their hides.† Dunbar says â€Å"One thing is clear however there is no buffalo and it weighs heavily on their minds.† This shows how important the buffalos are for the Indians, as their absence is a problem for thei... ...e and accurate approach of the Indians, where the reader can feel the story and the events as if he was Nanapush himself, as apposed to see and try to figure out the feelings like in Dances with Wolves. We can see that in both Machimanito and Dances with Wolves, there is a conflict between the white society and the Indian society. The white trespassing society intervenes with the traditions and customs of the Indians which causes a threat to their culture. Since the white man views the Indian community as being native and tries to educate it by colonizing and implementing their own ways. Both these literary pieces show this conflict and the effects of the colonization on the Indians. While Dunbar comes to the conclusion â€Å"Nothing I’ve been told about these people is correct. They are not beggar and thieves. They are not the bogie men they’ve been made out to be.†