The History of the Cosmological Argument for the...

Early elements of the Cosmological Argument were developed by the world renowned philosophers Plato and Aristotle between the years 400 and 200 BC (Boeree). Medieval philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas expanded upon their ideas in the late 13th Century when he wrote, â€Å"The Five Ways.† Since then the Cosmological Argument has become one of the most widely accepted and criticized arguments for the existence of God. My objective in this paper is to explain why the Cosmological Argument is a reasonable argument for the existence of God, the importance of understanding that it is an inductive a posteriori argument, and defend my position against common opposing arguments. To begin, as living human beings on the planet earth we can†¦show more content†¦This means that he relies only on himself to exist. On the other hand humans and all other natural things in the Universe are considered contingent. An impossibility would be created if this was not the case because a n on-contingent contingent would be created which is contradictory and not logical (Thompson, 1955, pp. 345-346). Contrary to Saint Thomas, Theodore Schick Jr. argues in, â€Å"The ‘Big Bang’ Argument for the Existence of God,† which is included in our text God, that not all things are caused. He points out that research in the area of quantum electrodynamics reveals, â€Å"†¦That an electron, positron, and photon occasionally emerge spontaneously in a perfect vacuum. When this happens, the three particles exist for a brief time, and then annihilate each other, leaving no trace behind† (God, 153). Schick’s argument against Saint Thomas argues is that since research has found evidence that—for a fraction of a millisecond—an electron, positron, and photon seem to appear on their own makes something in existence non-contingent. This effectively debunks Saint Thomas’ nearly 750 year old argument that all things in nature h ave a cause, right? Not necessarily. While this finding of modern scientific research cannot yet be refuted or overlooked, inductive experience still strongly supports the causal premise. Evidence of a cause behind all natural things stillShow MoreRelatedThe Argument Of The Existence Of God1480 Words   |  6 PagesThe arguments trying to â€Å"prove† the existence of God are by far some of the most controversial philosophical arguments out there. When some of the people who created these philosophies it was illegal or even punishable by death to even question his existence, let alone try to come up with a logical explanation to â€Å"prove† he is real. The two main arguments used today are the ontological argument and the cosmological argument. Neither one of these arguments are correct nor incorrect; moreover, theRead More The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God804 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God The cosmological argument seeks to prove the existence of God by looking at the universe. It is an A posteriori proof based on experience and the observation of the world not logic so the outcome is probable or possible not definite. The argument is in three forms; motion, causation and being. These are also the first three ways in the five ways presented by Aquinas through which he believed the existence of God couldRead MoreDigging into Kalam’s Cosmological Argument for the Existance of God894 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Lane Craig puts forth an argument for the existence of God in Kalam’s Cosmological Argument. In this, Craig argues that the universe began to exist and the cause of the universe’s existence must have been God. Kalam’s Cosmological Argument is trying to demonstrate the impossibility of an actual infinite, which states that the universe is eternal – it has always been here. Kalam’s Cosmological Argument goes as such: Whatever begins to exist has a cause – The universe began to exist – ThereforeRead MoreDoes God Really Exists? Essay1306 Words   |  6 PagesDoes God Really Exists The idea of God has been one of the most debatable issues since the dawn of humanity and with it guided as well as deluded most lives in the pursuit for the truth. The impacts springing from the notion of God has from time memorial changed history, inspired more poetry and music including philosophy more than anything else, imagined or real. Peter Kreft once concluded that â€Å"The idea of God is either a fact, like sand, or a fantasy like Santa† (Lawhead, p. 334). Over the causeRead MoreTruth as the Goal of Philosophy Essay1255 Words   |  6 Pagesothers, like Rene Descartes, look for causes to explain effects. A cause and effect argument is called a causal argument. Descartes is interested in logic, one truth progressing to the next. Descartes gives a causal argument for the existence of God in Meditation III. He deals with the effect of the idea of absolute perfection in our minds and rationalizes that the cause is God, therefore proving the existence of God. Descartes believes there are two types of reality: objective and formal.. TheRead MoreLimitations of the Arguments towards the Existence of God Essays1302 Words   |  6 Pagesconception of god is defined as the superme being that is all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresence, perfection, all-loving and most kind. Although monotheism like Christian believe God which is perfect existed and they propose several arguments to prove God’ existence, however there are no evidence to show that god actually exist. Atheists suggested those arguments provide insufficient reason to believe. Furthermore, some arguments propose that it is possible to disprove the existence of God, or of certainRead MoreThe Key Ideas of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God1061 Words   |  5 PagesThe Key Ideas of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God A) The cosmological argument is to prove the existence of god. In this type of argument we are looking at cause and not design. This type of argument is an aposteriori argument because it is based upon experience. Thomas Aquinas puts the key ideas into 3 ways. First way is, motion/change. Nothing can move by itself or change itself. The first thing to have moved must have been moved by something else and Read MoreThe Existence Of Miracles By David Hume1350 Words   |  6 Pagescase of miracles. Consequently, the authors included in the book, In Defense of Miracles, each considers different important details as the defining factors in the debate of the existence of miracles. Of those, some focus more heavily on the likelihood of miracles themselves such as Hume, others focus on the existence of God such as Flew and Beck, and others focus on a particular example of a miracle such as Craig. Against Miracles: David Hume David Hume argues against miracles and states that theyRead MoreDr. Richard Dawkins : Wolf With False Teeth1005 Words   |  5 Pagesdocumentary series entitled, The God Delusion (changed from the original series title, The Root of All Evil), in which he argues, as he does in his identically titled book, that humankind would be much better off without a belief in God. Though his writings have enjoyed public acclaim, Dawkins fails as an effective critic of Christianity for three basic reasons. First, the Christian faith he criticizes is a poorly drawn caricature of the real thing. Second, his critical arguments consistently fail to passRead MoreThe Identity Theory Of Mind With Dualism1259 Words   |  6 Pagestheories have a strong effect on one another and therefore cannot be entirely separate from each other. 3. Consult pp. 52-55 of your book. What is the main thesis that Clark and Chalmers are arguing for? And what is their argument? Briefly, do you think it is a good argument? â€Å"The paper: The Extended Mind by Andy Clark and David Chalmers is a pivotal work in the field of extended cognition. In this paper, Clark and Chalmers present the idea of active externalism, in which objects within the environment

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv ) - 1914 Words

Since the beginning of time, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been plaguing African American communities at an alarmingly higher rate than any other. The initial stereotype was that only homosexual, Caucasian men had this disease (which also helped contribute to the disease even further because blacks did not think that they had the possibility of contracting HIV). Poverty plays a huge role as well because those are the blacks most affected and since they are financially unable to afford proper, necessary treatment, they fall victim to this disease. Even though they may seem or look fine at one point in time, the virus can clearly take over their body once their CD4 cell count diminishes to less than 200 cells. This weakens the immune system and opportunistic infections now have the chance to invade the body and eventually kill the HIV (now AIDS) infected individual. Africa is the continent most affected by HIV. Unfortunately, women and children are at the highest risks of contracting this disease (especially in areas like that). For example, a young woman can have sexual intercourse or get raped by an HIV-positive man and become pregnant. Usually, she is forced to live on her own and receive no help from anyone. Shortly after she gives birth, she dies because her body is unable to fight off opportunistic infections any longer. The baby is then left to grow, survive, and fend for him or herself. This deadly pattern continues, which is why Africa is home to the mostShow MoreRelatedHuman Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )1359 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper explores the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). The virus has infected two million adults and children by the year 2005 already. The virus continues to race around the world, and new HIV infections are at 50,000 per year (Martine Peeters, Matthi eu Jung, Ahidjo Ayouba) (2013). The final outcome of the HIV infection is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). There are many treatments that have developed to help the large numberRead MoreHiv And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Essay1208 Words   |  5 PagesHIV has been a pandemic that has affected the world relentlessly for many years in a never-ending circle. HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is the virus that is spread through certain bodily fluids and can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV attacks the immune system by destroying CD4+ T cells, which leaves the person infected with HIV vulnerable to other infections, diseases, and other complications.1 Once this virus is acquired, the human can never fully rid itself of thisRead MoreHuman Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )884 Words   |  4 Pages(2010), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that affects the human immune system, leading to a chronic, progressive sickness that leaves people su sceptible to opportunistic infections. When the body no longer can fight or resist infections, the condition is at this point referred to as AIDS, which means Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Averagely, it has been found to take more than ten years to develop from initial infection of HIV to AIDS. Though simple in description, HIV and AIDSRead MoreThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )862 Words   |  4 Pagesshown that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the cause of AIDS. More than 33.4 million people worldwide are infected with the HIV virus today. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency virus. HIV is a virus similar to that of the flu or common cold. The differentiating factor is that with the flu and cold, your body will eventually clear the virus out of your system, but with the HIV virus, the immune system cannot clear it. Getting HIV means you have it for life. The virus immediately beginsRead MoreHuman Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )1261 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Immunodeficiency Virus Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become more commonly seen in the world. It is important to show compassion rather than judging that patient based on a virus. The hygienist plays an important role in making the patient feel comfortable and in a judgment free environment. The patient should not feel as if the disease or virus defines the overall character of the patient. Standards precautions are still the same when treating all patients with or without a compromisingRead MoreThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )948 Words   |  4 PagesThe Uses of Blood by the HIV Virus Blood-borne diseases have contributed greatly to poor health outcomes among individuals and communities. Though blood fulfills various functions to ensure our survival, it can also act as the mechanism through which we become diseased. Understanding the characteristics of such infectious diseases is essential to preventing further cases. In this paper I will discuss how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) uses blood to cause illness within the infected individualRead MoreHiv And Human Immunodeficiency Virus1205 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is HIV? HIV is a fatal disease which stands for â€Å"Human Immunodeficiency Virus† it is a failure to the immune system to protect the body from any infections. This virus causes a condition called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. When HIV is left untreated it leads to another disease called â€Å"AIDS†. It can occur in any age, race, sex or sexual orientation. The highest risk of contracting HIV is having unprotected sex and sha ring needles with others. Another factor are people that have STI’s andRead MoreThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )980 Words   |  4 Pages The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an immune system disorder that can be contracted through sexual activity as well as other types of contact. (Healthy Living, pg. 79) If left untreated this virus can turn into AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is the final stage of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). (aids.gov) AIDS is an incurable progressive disease that causes gradual destruction of CD4 T cells by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). (Diseases, pg. 431) A healthyRead MoreHiv, Or Human Immunodeficiency Virus998 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion 1 HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, attacks the human immune system and greatly weakens the body’s ability to fight foreign invaders and infection. HIV first demanded notice in the early 1980s in the United States in homosexual men displaying illnesses like Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and Kaposi’s sarcoma. The disease was soon observed in IV drug users, hemophiliacs, and blood transfusion recipients, but became publicized as a â€Å"gay disease,† nicknamed by the media as GRID, or Gay-RelatedRead MoreHuman Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv )1349 Words   |  6 Pages Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retro virus that causes AIDs by infecting the T Helper cells of the body’s immune system. The AIDS virus is the final stages of the HIV virus. HIV is a lentivirus genus, which is a subgroup of the retrovirus that causes the AIDS virus. Even with proper treatment, an infected person has a life expectancy of less than ten years.As the virus weakens t he human immune systems, this effectleaves the patient compromised and at risk to opportunistic infections

Principles of CST for Spirit of Brotherhood - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Write about thePrinciples of CST for Spirit of Brotherhood and Justice. Answer: Overview Catholic Social Thought (CST) is a doctrine that postulates that we (people) are conjointly dependent as well as interrelated to one another (Finn, 2010). It shows that the CST supports the point that each individual is created in the likeness of their creator. However, CST mainly focuses on the assumption that God had a good plan for every one of us to establish the spirit of brotherhood, justice and peace across the globe. Its therefore understood that he (God) is part of our living. This is not only limited to the church doctrines or practices but it is also compromised on the means through which we live in the society. The rationale of this article is to describe the nine principles of CST and explain how the concept of self, as well as community are interconnected. The principles of Catholic Social Thought The principle of CST is a reflection of the work done by people to facilitate the whole world on matters of dignity as well as common goodness in the society (Cornuel et al., 2010). It has been observed that CST is categorised into nine key facets which will be discussed below. The principles are somehow similar to one another and related to Catholicism. However, they enhance a common person with a view of catholic concepts as well as show the link amongst individualism and community. Common good plus community Irrespective of the evolution of new culture of fierce egoism, this principle holds that human beings are social as well as sanctified (Himes, 2005). Besides, it has been observed that both social structure plus potentials are influenced by both economic and political models. However, the power as well as self-respect of people for developing in the society should be warranted by sharing common goal and development of the religious as well as the successive goods that are the rights of the people in the society. Human person Dignity According to (Hornsby-Smith, 2006), this principle shows the aspect of being pleased, appreciated as well as valued for the physical and emotional authenticity plus empowerment. It was the cornerstone of realisation of a moral community plus subjected to the birth of each person for putting the law values. Ideally, the self respect of a human person needs no restraining since it could lower humanity (Hornsby-Smith, 2006). Universal purpose of goods This principle is that it shows a person/s right on accessing goods as well as materials with a common objective of continued existence. However, goods and rights related to one another are given only for the development of humankind and meet the standard of the framework as Kammer (2004) holds. Subsidiarity The policy of Subsidiarity bridges a gap between the affected societies plus the policy makers. It is perceived to be significant when it comes to resolving uncontrollable problems at the local set up in the community with the aim of making immediate decisions for all (Massaro, 2005). Promotion of peace. For peace to prevail this principle comprises of three key components which include individual commitment, justice plus the human self respect for a common goodness. So, every time these facets are being compromised, peace is promoted. Stewardship of creation This is the understanding of human kind for the independence as well as emanating on earth as well as shows the duty of a person. The principle entails the role of a person to develop the surrounding environment. According to stewardship of creation, we (humans) are perceived as caretakers and not proprietors of the environment of creation (Santos Laczniak, 2009). Participation The principle of participation is derived out of the subsidiaries that prioritise our human rights as well as the problems that lead to the political, cultural as well as socioeconomic environments in which we survive. Global participation According to Scheid (2007), this principle shows a persons liability towards one another without taking into consideration the restriction of nationality, race, origin or any other aspect. It makes use of thoughts of being accountable for the most significant person of one good. The preferential choice for the poor. The principle deals with the roles plus duties of charity to the CSTs thus providing an option for dealing with the hindrances for persons living in poverty (Solari, 2007). However, it is of high paramount to develop the growth of those poor in the community society since it equates to serving a larger society. How the Concept of Self and Community are interconnected? The interconnection between self and society is discussed in the CST facets with a aspect that the connection is common for all the places across the globe. For instance, Ubuntu is an Africa, Bantu term meaning humanity and it includes a brief of being in the same society as the word illustrates itself for a person as Im what Im due to who we all are. Its meaning is direct to answer the reasons to be in society for equal as well as collaborative culture (Stabilise, 2015). Sociality and human being The common practice of dignity of the human person as well as prosperous makes the connection between community and individual very strong. Humans are social beings and are alarmed by individualism to the extent of being distinct from the society. However, the aspect of a person to be included in the society is a concept that we all aspire for. Henceforth, people would not be treated with dignity plus prosperous if the community is not protected as well as transparent for such (Van Uitert, 2007). Both individualism and society are therefore in existence with support for one other. Prosperous Prosperity defines the completeness of a persons social, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs of the society. Our relationships with families and friends, employment to hold expenditure plus chances of development are other areas of flourishing. In simple terms, prosperity is a characteristic of life for a person since it the intermediary between deficiency, plus sufficiency in goods (Solari, 2007). However, individual-balance of things as per the activities as well as behaviour in life is perceived as a characteristic. Prosperity can also mean being fair as well as satisfy restraint plus being curious for the existence of life. A persons temporary joy is not like prosperous behaviour since it implies to being noble plus satisfies with self-activities. However, the flourishing self is somehow enhances in flourishing a whole society since it comprises of the contributions by individuals. Catholic Social Thoughts in Relationship and Conclusion The nine principles discussed above indirectly enforce a person to be in the society for self plus others. The prosperity of the whole human society is an essential part of relationships. However, the frameworks focus on a moral perspective to accomplish the needs of each person in the society to survive as well as develop easily together with a presentation of oneness in the society (Finn, 2010). Also, individual participation plays an integral role for unified behaviour as well as the structure of the community. The catholic social thoughts solution defines the basic to move on society with the same measure of care plus the wellbeing of an individual. However, without honest plus good integration of self into the society, its not established trustworthy, meaningful as well a collaborative society for service to human dignity as well as flourishing. All in all, both the self and community are independent on one another. References Cornuel, E., Habisch, A., Kletz, P. (2010). The practical wisdom of the Catholic social teachings. Journal of Management Development, 29(7/8), 747-754. Finn, D. (Ed.). (2010). The true wealth of nations: Catholic social thought and economic life. Oxford University Press. Himes, K. R. (Ed.). (2005). Modern Catholic social teaching: Commentaries and interpretations. Georgetown University Press. Hornsby-Smith, M. P. (2006). An introduction to Catholic social thought. Cambridge University Press. Kammer, F. (2004). Doing faithjustice: An introduction to Catholic social thought. Paulist Press. Massaro, T. (2015). Living justice: Catholic social teaching in action. Rowman Littlefield. Santos, N. J., Laczniak, G. R. (2009). Just markets from the perspective of Catholic social teaching. Journal of Business Ethics, 89, 29-38. Scheid, A. F. (2017). Catholic Social Thought. Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America, 72. Solari, S. (2007). The contribution of neo-thomistic thought to Roman Catholicsocial economy. American Review of Political Economy, 5(2), 39-58. Stabile, S. J. (2015). The Contributions of Catholic Social Thought to the Effort to Secure Just Wages for Workers. Journal of Catholic Social Thought, 12(1), 45-72. Van Uitert, R. (2007). Undocumented Immigrants in the United States: A Discussion of Catholic Social Thought and Mormon Social Thought Principles. J. Cath. Leg. Stud., 46, 277.

Marketing Mix of Fanta Essay Example

Marketing Mix of Fanta Essay A favorite in Europe since the 1940s, Fanta was acquired by the Coca-Cola Company in 1960. Fanta Orange is the core flavor, representing about 70% of sales, but other citrus and fruit flavors have their own solid fan base. Consumers around the world, particularly teens, fondly associate Fanta with happiness and special times with friends and family. This positive imagery is driven by the brand’s fun, playful personality, which goes hand in hand with the bright color (particularly orange), bold fruit taste, and tingly carbonation. Fanta sells best in Brazil, Germany, Spain, Japan, Italy and Argentina. Fanta distribution was increased in the U. S. in 2001 with the return of four flavors: orange, strawberry, pineapple and grape. Orange, the biggest seller, is now available in most of the country. Product Fanta is available in 3 flavors namely Orange, green Apple and lime, green apple and lime were introduced only recently whereas the Fanta orange flavor has been prevalent in India for very long time now. Fanta orange is distributed everywhere i. . throughout the country where as other two are distributed only in selected cities. New Flavors International soft drink companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi Co. are attempting to enter the Indian market by attempting to bottle their national drink, coconut water. Such companies face fierce competition from the traditional players and will focus their attempts to create a presence in the market by using their mass marketing skills, which have contributed to their world wide success. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Mix of Fanta specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Mix of Fanta specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Mix of Fanta specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The companies reported interest in Kerala’s natural drink coincides with the struggle waged by certain radical groups against them and attempts by state sponsored coconut promotion agencies to increase the use of coconut products hurting their key products like Coke-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta and 7-up. Product Differentiation Coca Cola in orange and lime flavors i. e. with respect to Fanta faces sever competition from Pepsi Co’s Mirinda. Both the drinks can be differentiated on basis of two factors namely: Sweetness and Gas Contents. Fanta on one hand is too sweet to handle whereas mirinda is disliked by many because of the reason of its gas contents. Quality In India no product which uses water as the major component as part of its product is granted ISO standards. As repute of the Coca Cola as the company is on stake, it organizes frequent surprise visits to its various bottling plants. A Coca-Cola factory has slowed down production and fired 40 workers even as a state government report found that sludge from the factory contained high levels of lead and cadmium. Officials of the firm, however, said the layoffs had nothing to do with the quality control report or an earlier survey by the center for science and environment, which found high levels of pesticides in Coke and Pepsi beverages. The production slowdown took place at the Dankuni bottling plant near Kolkata a quality check on the sludge from Pepsi and coke’s bottling plants in west Bengal on Friday had revealed the presence of high levels of lead and cadmium. Dankuni plant official Joydeb Mukherjee described the workers as temporary hands, but did not elaborate by how much production had been reduced. A company spokesperson claimed that the slowdown in production was â€Å"a normal move† in keeping with lower demands in â€Å"off-seasons† and was not prompted by a fall in sales after the adverse quality reports. However, some of the retrenched workers claimed this was the first instance of jobs-cut in the Dankuni bottling plant. India’s Rs 1. 2 billion soft drinks market was rattled by the CSE study this week claiming a dozen popular brands of Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides. The firms scurried to allay consumer fears and refute the study by the NGO. Acting on CSE report, several state governments have carried tests of the sludge and beverage samples from the two companies plants. The West Bengal governments probe found that sludge from coca cola Dankuni plant contained about 80 mg/kg of cadmium when the permissible limit was only 50 mg/kg. Effluents from its two other bottling plants in West Bengal revealed 76 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of cadmium respectively. Residues of these heavy metals had also been found in the sludge from coke’s bottling plants in Kerala state health authorities have asked the two companies to explain at what stage of production the two heavy metals were being used. Test reports on the beverages are expected on Tuesday. Coca-Cola in India accused of leaving farms parched and land posined The largest Coca-Cola plant in India is being accused of putting thousands of farmers out of work by draining the water that feeds their wells, and poisoning the land with waste sludge that the company claims is fertilizer. The plant in the southern state of Kerala is designed to satisfy the demand for coke in what has become the multinational company’s fastest growing market. But its huge demand for water is causing such damage to the local economy that the village council which had granted the company a license to operate is now demanding the plants closure. So desperate have the nearest villagers become for water since their wells dried up that Coca-Cola sends water tankers round every morning to supply minimum needs. The company denies the shortages have anything to do with its use of up to 1m liter of water a day from the underground aquifer that used to keep the wells topped up. The charity action aid says the crisis facing the once prosperous farming area is an example of the worst kind of inward investment by multinational companies in developing countries. In a report to the world trade organization’s meeting in Cancun, Mexico, in September the charity says this kind of abuse must be controlled. The report says Plachimada was a thriving agricultural community until Coca-Cola set up the bottling plant in 1998. Coconut groves and vegetable crops have had to be abandoned because of the lack of water. Action Aid says thousands of people worked on the land but now just 141 are employed at the plant, with a further 250 as casual laborers. Peaceful sit-in protests have been going on for more than four months. In a hut outside the plant a large Coca-cola bottle is kept in coffin. In a report today on Radio 4’s face the facts program details of the contaminants in the sludge Coca-Cola sells as fertilizer, gives away, or sometimes dumps in dry riverbeds are revealed for the first time. Samples taken in India and analysed by Exeter University show high levels of lead and cadmium in the sludge. Lead is particularly bad for children, affecting their nervous system, and cadmium is taken up by plants, is toxic to the kidneys and liver and can cause cancer. The report by David Santillo says: â€Å"Repeated applications of sludge, containing these sorts of levels of cadmium and lead, to agricultural soils would undoubtedly lead to a build-up of these toxic metals in the soil, from where cadmium could then be transferred to plants – and therefore into the food chain. This contaminated sludge sample also contained a high component of phosphorus, presumably the reason for its promotion as a fertilizer. However, the presence of high levels of cadmium and lead in the sludge make it completely unsuitable for use as a fertilizer. Sunil Gupta, vice-president of Coca-Cola India, says the company has been the target of a handful of extremist protesters and it is lack of rainfall that has caused local water supplies to be exhausted. The company claims to use a maximum of 600000 liters a day. Mr. Gupta also says Coca-cola undertook an environmental impact assessment before building the plant, but has declined to make one available. He stood by the claim that the sludge waste from the plant was fertilizer and said the company complied with all local environmental laws and stood for the welfare of the community. So far attempts by the local council to shut the plant have failed. An order by the Perumatty village council canceling the company’s license to operate, on the grounds that the bottling plant was over-exploiting the water resources, was overruled by the Kerala high court last month. PRICING POLICY Since the success of the organization in achieving the market objectives is measured on a profit basis, pricing policy must be under strict strategic ontrol. Pricing is certainly not the last activity of the mix to be considered, nor is something which can be quickly solved on the back of an envelop on the way of meeting with the advertising agency. Most organizations find pricing policy a difficult area to manage. More often than not, this is because insufficient research has been carried out in the mar ket place to find out the important parameters on pricing – the right price levels and the real flexibility open to organization in its pricing decision. Often an organization is more than happy to spend a hundred thousand dollars or pounds on researching its new product concepts, but is loathe to spend one percent of that on researching the different customer perceptions to various price levels. There are number of factors which will probably influence organization’s pricing policy, factors such as the competitor’s price, the position of the product in the lifecycle, company positioning policy, perceived level of differentiation and perceived value, and so on. One factor which, should not have any influence on the pricing policy is the internal production cost of the product/ service. Cost does not inform the organization about what price it should charge, that is the job of the marketplace. Cost only informs the organization about the levels of profit it will make from the sale. The most common mistakes in the pricing policy can easily be identified. First, organizations tend to be too cost oriented in the pricing. Second, price is often not revised enough to capitalize on market changes. Third, price is too often set independently of the rest of the marketing mix rather than as an intrinsic element of the market positioning strategy. Fourth, price is often not varied enough for different product items and different product items and different market segments. The critical element in strategic pricing is to strike the elusive balance between the organization’s need for profit and the market’s desire to pay the right price for the right product. FIXING POLICY OF PRICE The 200 ml bottle which costs Rs. five to the consumers actually cost Rs. 4. 33 to retailers. This is the price at which it is sold to them by the company distributors. This price of Rs. 4. 3 includes the production cost plus 300% marketing cost plus 42% excise duty plus profit margin of company and also the margin to be given to the middle menchain of distributors. Thus the cost of drink is not decided on the basis of market’s desire to pay right price for the right product but the organization’s need for profit. PRICING OF THE PRODUCT Against the 300-ml glass bottles priced Rs 10, the 200-ml bottles carry price points of either Rs 6 or Rs 7, depending on the market conditions and distribution costs specific to the region the brand is available in. Another move in this direction was lowering the prices of its 2 liter and 1. 5 liter PET bottles some months back with the objective of boosting in-home consumption. While the prices of 2 liter PET bottles were brought down from Rs 50 to Rs 43, prices of Coca-cola’s brand s available in 1. 5 liter bottles were scaled down from Rs 43 to Rs 38 around the same time. COMPETITOR’S PRICING Pepsi Foods, too, has 200 ml glass bottles for brand Pepsi, Mirinda orange and Mirinda lemon in select markets. The pricing strategy is similar- at Rs 6 and Rs 7 depending on the market the brand is present in. FACTORS LEADING TO EFFECTIVE PRICING Coca-Cola has been minimizing investments across most processes such as manufacturing and distribution, leveraging freight rates and implementing and ERP system which has led to cost saving. Also ensuring cost-efficiencies across the value chain has helped in scaling down costs. A target of cutting costs by 10 per cent every year has been set by the organization. TERMS OF TRADE Usually their does not exists any credit period in this trade. The amount is collected as cash as and when any delivery is made. But this is subject to change in case somebody wants to give credit to its buyer. Basically this depends from individual to individual. DISCOUNTS Generally discount of Rs. 2 Rs 4 per 24 bottles is allowed by the company to its distributors. FANTA MINI Coca-cola India announced a reduction in the retail prices of its carbonated soft drinks in the market. Accordingly, it will be priced at Rs. 5/ for 200 ml and Rs 8 for 300 ml bottles from their existing levels. The new prices have already come into effect. According to company sources, the prices have been cut by over 15 per cent. This is in keeping with the company’s policy to dramatically enhance the affordability and to bring them within an arm’s reach of consumers. The low prices will provide an opportunity to a larger section of consumers to experience our world-class products on a regular basis. Soft drinks are mass consumption products like tea or coffee and to make this happen they are addressing affordability and also right sizing the product to a 200 ml pack size. Its pricing and distribution policy with focus on affordability and availability proved to be a big success last year. The per capita consumption of soft drinks in India is very low even if compared to many third world countries. According to the company, the new price is expected to expand the consumer base and the market size of the soft drinks industry. To communicate this price drop in Tamil Nadu they have made a new TV commercial with actress Simran. The theme of this ad is innovative and tells the message in a unique way. Both the Fanta brand personality, as well as Simran’s attitude gels well and comes out strongly in this piece of advertisement. DISTRIBUTION PLACE POLICY Distribution or place policy is another area where the marketing function can spend lots of time for ultimately very little return. Distribution is a major question for most organizations – manufacturers are concerned with how to distribute and deliver product to the customer and service providers are concerned with the location of service points and customer accessibility. While there are marketing question behind distribution policy is quite simple – where would our customer expect to find our product or service? – Most distribution channels tend to have grown historically to their present configuration. There are two strategic questions to be answered before the distribution problem can be passed on. First, the distribution system should be accessed on a regular basis. If the organization were starting afresh, with a clean sheet of paper, what kind if distribution system or network would be required to meet our marketing objectives? Then, how would this ideal system compare with the system we currently have? Are there changes that the marketing tacticians need to look at here? The second strategic task is to ensure that the distribution policy marches, as far as possible, the needs of the overall marketing effort. With the shift of power, in some industry sectors, from producer to the distribution channel manager, we are starting to see entire marketing strategies being modified to see entire marketing strategies being modified to ensure adequate product/ service coverage. Such modifications, while they may produce short-term market advantage, also produce a marketing strategy which is distribution led rather than market led. India is not from a consumer or from a business point of view, one country. Therefore, coca cola has shifted its management system to what is called federal system in the last three years. That means instead of having, like in the US, a centralized government taking all the decisions, we have five, six or seven regions and get them to make a lot of the decisions on what is to be done about the business. So while a nodal strategy for India set for INDIA could be affordably – we ask each of those local regional vice-presidents who run the business to go and execute their strategy. It has been found out that in the south, Fanta has got a great opportunity, because there’s a strong tradition of drinking orange flavored drinks. It’s known that the South has always been a flavor-base market. While UP remains an 80 per cent cola market and Punjab is a 65 per cent cola market, carbonated soft drinks comprise about 40 percent of the Chennai market. Last year saw Pepsi Food’s Mirinda add a third apple variant to its orange and lime portfolio, and Fanta from Coca-cola being extended to three variants. Mirinda apple was rolled out in Bangalore last summers, and was taken to Chennai two days later. Last summer also saw Coca-cola India extending its orange carbonated soft drink brand, Fanta to green apple and watermelon variants in – you guessed it right – Chennai and Bangalore. That Fanta orange grew by 30 percent last year in Tamil Nadu explains why the company chose this market for similar extensions. (That Fanta Watermelon has since bombed is another story. ) BOTTLING INFORMATION The coca cola company received approval from the government in July 1996 to set up a holding company to invest US$ 700 million in downstream operating subsidiaries to engage in the preparation, packaging, sale and distribution of beverages. In July 1997, the holding company was permitted by the government to operationalize its bottling subsidiaries. The bottling subsidiary currently owns and operates twenty-six bottling plants and sixty distribution centers across India. In addition, it uses 20 contract packers to augment its production capacity and cater to the increasing demand for its wide portfolio of beverages. To reach India’s 300 million soft drink consumers, the company distributors its products in over 700000 retail outlets, serviced via trucks, converted three-wheelers, tricycles and pushcarts. PROMOTION Promotion is defined as the whole array of methods and procedures by which the organization communicates with its target markets. Physical evidence also has a strong communication effect in the marketplace as does the price (a strong communicator of product quality and differentiation). Personal selling is also traditionally included in the promotional element of the mix since it is essentially a communication function in the same way as other activities. Promotion is considered as the last element of the marketing mix since it should be the final activity to be planned within the marketing strategy/ it is the final strategy because no promotion can really tale place (or promotional objectives and plans laid) until decisions have been made on the est of the mix, and the organization knows what product is on the offer, the target market to be addressed, the price levels to be set, the distribution channels to be used and so on. THE PROMOTION PROCESS Strategically, the entire promotional activity can be seen, very simply, as a set of six broad steps. 1. Set of promotional objectives 2. Identify the target audienc e 3. Select the message 4. Select the Media 5. Agree budgets 6. Monitor, test and control results. Promotional Objectives: Like every promotion Fanta also has a focused objective of creating more and more customer base for itself and also sustaining the already created customer. With very thin line difference between Mirinda, a Pepsi Co. product it needs to promote itself extensively. Another focus of promotion should be product differentiation. Target Audience: Fanta comes in bright colors with the target customers as youngsters, teenagers and females. Message: Common feature in all its promotions is the fun, energy and boldness which is also represented by its tangy flavors and vibrant colors. With the target customers being teenagers and females it works really well. Media: Fanta is advertised extensively on television and radio. As far as print media is concerned, Fanta is advertised only for sponsorships and cross selling. Budgets: As known to everybody coca cola is spending handsome amount on advertisements and promotion. But the exact amount is not disclosed. Monitor, Test and Control Results: After the advertisements is aired its practice of the company to take feedback from the viewers as to the appeal and convincing power of the advertisement. A very nice drink Have always loved soft drinks mainly coca cola, lilt and Fanta orange. I tried several brands of lemon-flavored soft drinks but never liked them. I was talking to a friend about diet cola with lemon (which I did not like) and he told me to try Fanta icy lemon drink. I seem to have got hooked on it. This drink is not bitter which could explain why I have become addicted to it. If only I knew about it earlier, on the other hand it is better to have tried it late than never. The drink is so refreshing. Like all soft drinks it always tastes better ice cold. The smell of the drink is good since the smell of lemon is not over powering. Some lemon drinks have very strong smell of lemon for my liking. When you look at the ingredients used to make the drink you may notice lemon juice is only 6%. It would be nice if they told us the amount (percentage) of sugar used. Ingredients: carbonated water, lemon juice (6%), sugar, critic acid, stabilizers (e414, e445) preservative (e211), antioxidant (e300), flavorings, color (quinoline yellow) Cost: 1. 2 for a 2-liter bottle. You can also buy the drink in a can, 500 ml or 1. 5 liter bottles. The packaging is good, it has got a yellow and lime green color background with the word Fanta in dark blue, the word lemon is in yellow with green background. This drink is bottled under the authority of the coca cola company by coca cola enterprises limited , uxbridge, ub8 lez, Customer care helpline: free phone 0800 227711 For does people who want a bitter lemon soft drink then this product is not for you. On the other hand if you want your drink to be a little sweet with a touch of lemon then this is the one for you. Currently at tesco stores you can buy one 2-litter bottle and get second free, A real bargain. ADVERTISISNG AGENCY When coca cola is facing such stiff competition from Pepsi co. It cannot afford to compromise on advertising and promotion front which serves as the link between company and the general public. The quality and appeal of the advertisements depends upon the advertisements agency, which can contribute to great extent in making the product popular in the target segment. Just over a month after the beverage giant appointed Lintas to handle the communications business of the Rs 35-crore coca cola brand in India, the company has once again moved the coke account to roster agency McCann-Erickson. OM India has bagged the ad account of coca cola India brands Fanta and Sprite in India, estimated at Rs 25-crore. Prior to the shift, Leo Burnett was handling the advertising for sprite while McCann was designing creative for Fanta in India. It was only some time back that the coke account shifted to Leo Burnett from McCann Erickson. Leo Burnett continues to handle the ad account of Thums Up in India. The shift in account seems to be the direct fallout of the global realignment of coca cola brands Fanta and sprite with OM recently. Accordingly to Paul Simons, chairman, chief executive officer, Ogilvy UK, the billings on the sprite account are estimated at $ 85 million in the US alone. One major reason behind this move according to a senior marketing official at coca-cola India is â€Å"we have initiated all the concerned agencies about this realignment this morning itself. And we have made this move because we wanted to ensure that all our agencies had decent and sizeable portfolio†. FIZZ FIGHTS ON AND OFF SCREEN The big war unfolds yet again this summer. This time, the battle has gone beyond the LoC. And there’s no stopping till the thirsty cola hawks down the other as the giants continue to fight each other behind enemy lines. It was very recent when we saw Fardeen Khan play a jobless cola cola salesman cheekly saying â€Å"Life Ho To Aisi† in a Pepsi commercial having a dig at the coke line. Coke soon changed its line with Aamir drilling into our heads that ‘Thanda matlab coca cola’ – roughly translated, ‘Cold (drink) means coca cola’. In less than two days, Pepsi officials brag, they got Fardeen Khan shooting in Hyderabad to come up with an updated dig at Coke’s new line. This time, Fardeen’s pepsi- fetching assistant is heard saying â€Å"Unka business tanda hai† (their business is cold). Coke did not take the attack coolly at all. The company got hunk Salman to take a dig at Pwpsi’s new flavor Aha! Ever before the drink was launched all over the country. Salman is seen telling a kid, â€Å"first, it was plain sweet, now, they have put lime in to it. Next, they will put salt, chilli, masala†. Perfect time for pepsi to bring two of its biggest ambassadors together – Amitabh and Sachin in a commercial directed by Prahlad Kakkar. The superstars are seen flying kites in the commercial urging its youth target audience â€Å"not to settle for what you have†, urging them â€Å"to create a life they want to live† – reinstating the ‘more’ philosophy of the brand (that translates to ambition and fun) in a direct contrast to Coke’s philosophy of celebrating life, the way it is and cherishing even the smaller moments. Remember the Vijay series of coke commercials, directed by Rajiv Menon? If coke had an ambassador in Vijay, pepsi had one in maddy – the most recent being the commercial with the ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’ premier are the backdrop. Coke’s Fanta then roped in maddy’s kannathil co-star Simran to endorse the tangy soft drink. Well, that was just a recap. Pepsi and maddy were back in action in the city to launch Aha! , the new flavor with a hint of lime as pepsi officials describe it (the brand variant is called twist in other markets in the world – namely US, Mexico and Saudi Arabia). During the launch, pepsi officials revealed their plans for the summer and the year ahead. The news for Chennai is that pepsi will be bringing down Bryan Adams later in the year! And there are negotiations on for in-film promotions with Rajnikant’s project ‘Baba’. Pepsi claims that it is undoubtedly the market leader in the country and that its market shares equals that of coke and thums up put together. Though there are conflicting versions in the statistics provided by coke and pepsi, the truth that lies in between these statistics is that the race etween the cola giants is a very close one. For coca-cola, Chennai is a Fanta drinking market. and Simran being introduced as an ambassador, obviously is targeted at more a larger male audience. Pepsi with heart-throb ambassador maddy (more popular with the female target group) insists that it is a cola drinking market and that Mirinda outsells Fanta here. Someone once said, â€Å"there are lies, and then there are s tatistics†. However, cracking this code does not require a beautiful mind or a mathematical genius such as John Nash. The market leader lies in the eyes of the bottle-holder. Life is like that? Aha! MAKING IMPACT When coca cola and pepsi co are spending equally handsome amount to create and sustain a market for themselves through extensive advertising what matters is how well viewers are able to recall them and actually relate themselves to them. Recently, ad agency FCB ulka checked out viewer recall of the major world cup campaigns in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi. Sachin-Shah Rukh ad score a 61% recall rate among the 400 adults who were contacted, compared to 9% for coca cola’s refresh Ho Ja ad featuring Karishma Kapoor. ATCH a cricketing icon, bundle in a brash movie star, add a dash of irreverence and pepsi co has got a nation hooked. For the past few years, the company’s men in blue have been churning out advertisements that are almost instant superhits. And pepsi co’s latest campaign featuring idols Shah Rukh Khan and Sachin Tendulkar has been a winner, despite India crashing out of the world cup. In fact, further research showed that all of pepsi’s ads put together enjoyed a recall of 72% versus 22% for coke. Gulp! Catch coke agreeing with all this company official argues that pepsi ads are more popular because you see them once every hour or more. â€Å"At least that’s what happened during the world cup. It is sheer frequency and reflects the money they have spent on the world cup,† says a coke executive. Coke argues that the ‘Dil Mange More’ line does not go with all the disparate campaigns of pepsi. It was used with the Kajol ad, then again with the Sachin mask ad, and now with the Sachin-Shah Rukh one. What is the connection, asks coke, â€Å"just because it is a good line doesn’t mean it goes with everything. For instance, look at our advertising – Pyar mohabbat coca cola’ cannot be used in the Karishma ad. Even our lines become a hit – ‘Pyar mohabbat coca cola’ was a hit; so was the ‘Peeti kya coca cola’ in the Aati kya khandala ad, says a coca cola executive. And, once the world cup is over, what will pepsi do? BRICKBATS†¦. Have you seen Fanta’s new tv commercial? How do you like it? Bad. And too loud. Isn’t it? Yes. You are right. The ad in question is not up to the mark. As you very well know that an ad represents a brand in the market. In fact, every small thing used in an ad – be it the background color. The model, the type of clothes makeup used, the music, the setting, the props – and other things, all construct a personality of that brand in the consumer’s mind. Now, if you look at the Fanta’s ad what image you’d associate this brand with? Childish. Immature, pompous†¦ moreover, it’s a proven fact that whenever a brand is endorsed by a known personality, the personality, slowly and steady, becomes the brand itself. Take Sharukh Khan’s association with Santro in consideration. What does that reflect? Santro as a mature, intelligent and energetic personality, just like Mr. Khan. Or take closer loot at James Bond and Omega (or BMW). Doesn’t the brand Omega become smart, suave, hi-flying, like the personality endorsing it? Yes, it’s true, by all means now, let’s talk about Ms. Rani Mukherjee’s association with the brand Fanta. First of all Rani doesn’t represent the generation that the brand Fanta is supposed to be targeting at. Secondly, Rani doesn’t possess any personality trait that matches with the brand’s intrinsic qualities or which can give the brand a new image. Rani as a personality can be summed up as a below-average-looking-film-star-with-oodles-of-luck-and-connections-type-and-nodistinct- personality. By no means, she belongs to the class of role models our young generation would look up to (or follow for anything). Now, all this simply means that whenever any of the prospects of the brand Fanta look at the current com

Free Essays on The Aesthetic Experience

With so much emphasis placed on the departments whose degrees can produce huge sums of money, it seems that we have begun to lose the â€Å"arts† aspect of the liberal arts college, or sector of the university. So much in fact that there are people that I know that haven’t even stepped foot in the Fine Arts Center, let alone go to a performance that isn’t mandated for their class. I would think that it is fair to say that I’m not exactly one of these people as everyone in my family has been or is an artist, including my brother who graduated with a degree in ecology and now is a potter. It is also true that I went to a school that emphasized the arts, and not so much testing, so much in fact that I had never had homework until I transferred to a public school in the sixth grade. Yet I have tried to remove myself from the arts as I didn’t want to get caught up in the family characteristic, and become just a â€Å"statistic†, just another K aufmann who is an artist. So although I am familiar to various forms of art, I lacked the knowledge of basic terms to describe that form and therefore the mental capacity to describe what I am seeing or hearing, as well as to interpret the meaning of it. This is the foundation behind the entire thinking or concept of the aesthetic experience of the lively arts – that one needs adequate information in order to be fully enveloped in the piece, and being able to experience a connection to it. This feeling might be that a person becomes almost a part of the piece as though they were the focal point of it, just because they connect with it in a special way that can be from a past experience, memory, or a current feeling that they are experiencing. This can be transcribed through either creative or receptive experience, but in this class we dealt solely with the latter. An aspect of this class that really stood out to me was the Japanese gardens that we went to see. Previous to taking thi... Free Essays on The Aesthetic Experience Free Essays on The Aesthetic Experience With so much emphasis placed on the departments whose degrees can produce huge sums of money, it seems that we have begun to lose the â€Å"arts† aspect of the liberal arts college, or sector of the university. So much in fact that there are people that I know that haven’t even stepped foot in the Fine Arts Center, let alone go to a performance that isn’t mandated for their class. I would think that it is fair to say that I’m not exactly one of these people as everyone in my family has been or is an artist, including my brother who graduated with a degree in ecology and now is a potter. It is also true that I went to a school that emphasized the arts, and not so much testing, so much in fact that I had never had homework until I transferred to a public school in the sixth grade. Yet I have tried to remove myself from the arts as I didn’t want to get caught up in the family characteristic, and become just a â€Å"statistic†, just another K aufmann who is an artist. So although I am familiar to various forms of art, I lacked the knowledge of basic terms to describe that form and therefore the mental capacity to describe what I am seeing or hearing, as well as to interpret the meaning of it. This is the foundation behind the entire thinking or concept of the aesthetic experience of the lively arts – that one needs adequate information in order to be fully enveloped in the piece, and being able to experience a connection to it. This feeling might be that a person becomes almost a part of the piece as though they were the focal point of it, just because they connect with it in a special way that can be from a past experience, memory, or a current feeling that they are experiencing. This can be transcribed through either creative or receptive experience, but in this class we dealt solely with the latter. An aspect of this class that really stood out to me was the Japanese gardens that we went to see. Previous to taking thi...

How Mating Lovebugs Put Drivers and Cars at Risk

How Mating Lovebugs Put Drivers and Cars at Risk Twice each year, Florida lovebugs make for some miserable motorists in the Sunshine State. These insects tend to swarm around roadsides and carelessly drift into the path of oncoming traffic. The result? Drivers with bug-coated windshields find it difficult to see. What are Florida lovebugs, and why are they such a hazard? Lovebugs Arent Bugs at All The infamous Florida lovebugs are no bugs at all, actually. Bugs, or true bugs, belong to the order hemiptera. Florida lovebugs are true flies of the order diptera. Florida love flies just doesnt have the same ring to it, though. All About Lovebugs The common name Florida lovebugs actually refers to the species Plecia nearctica, a small fly in the family Bibionidae thats also known as the March flies. Theyre black flies with red thoraxes, and most often can be seen flying in mated pairs, male and female joined together. Florida lovebugs are not a native species to North America. They originated in South America, but gradually expanded their range north into Central America, Mexico, and eventually into states that border the Gulf of Mexico. Today, theyve strayed as far north as North Carolina. Lovebugs are closely related to some of the most annoying bugs: mosquitoes, biting midges, sand flies, and fungus gnats. Compared to their kin, Florida lovebugs are quite harmless. They dont bite or sting, nor do they pose a threat to our crops or ornamental plants. In fact, their larvae are important decomposers of plant material that help build soil rich with organic matter. How Do Lovebugs Mate? Lovebugs become a nuisance during two short periods of each year. Florida lovebugs emerge and mate en masse, once in the spring (April to May) and again in late summer (August to September). When they do, they have an unfortunate habit of doing so along roads and highways, where they risk encounters with cars. First, a mating swarm of males, 40 or more in number, takes to the air. Sperm-seeking females fly into the swarm, where they are quickly grasped by partners and whisked off to a more romantic setting in the vegetation. After mating, the pair remains entwined, and together they head off on a honeymoon of sorts, feeding on nectar and choosing a site for oviposition of the couples fertilized eggs. When Lovebug Mating Gets Dangerous At times, the mating Florida lovebugs become so abundant in an area that they become a serious traffic hazard. Drivers traveling through a mating swarm soon find their windshields literally covered in dead lovebugs, limiting visibility. In extreme cases, enough lovebugs can coat the cars grill and disrupt the engines airflow, which can cause the car to overheat. Those who live in lovebug territory know its important to wash the dead lovebugs off your cars exterior as soon as possible. When the bodies of Florida lovebugs bake in the hot sun, their body fluids become acidic and may damage a cars paint. What to Do About Lovebugs If you drive through a swarm of mating lovebugs, make sure you hose your car down as soon as you can to clean your radiator grill and protect your cars paint. Pesticides arent recommended for controlling lovebugs. Although a short-term nuisance, these insects are beneficial in the long-term. Immature lovebug larvae decompose organic waste, and adult lovebugs are noteworthy pollinators.

Nestl Tries for an All-for-One Global Strategy Case Study

Nestl Tries for an All-for-One Global Strategy - Case Study Example Decentralisation could best apply in different situations, but as organizations grow and establish more branches in different areas, numerous problems arise. Establishing individual organizations could need a lot of infrastructures, and capital to conduct operations in any decentralized system.   For Nestle, the decentralized strategy had created inefficiencies and accrued extra costs, which hindered the company from fully realizing its profits and competing through electronic commerce (â€Å"Nestlà © Struggles,† itu.edu). From this, the company was exposing itself to potential external threats, such as its shared global suppliers, and competitors. Even with the huge investment on numerous computer and information system resources, decentralization gave room for inefficiencies, more expenditure, inventory mismanagement, distributed decision making, operation complexity and data isolation that prevented data sharing, due to the differences in Information Systems, and lack of a standard platform. It was obvious that the company was not receiving the exact benefit that could come with information systems.   Due to the differences and challenging experiences in the global market, Nestle SA had to act towards business integration and consolidation, so as to allow standardization and coordination of its business processes and information systems (â€Å"Nestlà © Struggles,† prenhall.com). The company embarked on a global implementation of SAP R/3 ERP software, which intended to replace the SAP R/2 version that had been operating in most of the local organizations. Through the introduction of the software, the inefficiencies and accrued costs would be cutback, in the long run, to allow the company realize its full benefits.

Online Application Ning - the Platform Allowing Users to Create and Cl Coursework

Online Application Ning - the Platform Allowing Users to Create and Close Their Own Social Network - Coursework Example This critical analysis functions to examine the role of social networking with a variety of diverse populations, arguing that the widespread social adoption of this technology has not simply been a tool to achieve greater efficiency, but is in actuality reshaping and formatting the nature of human culture and consciousness.A television program recently had a comedic skit where the internet went out in a home and the residents had to resort to a box-labeled ‘pre-internet’ – inside the box were a rubber duck, a barbell, and a fake plastic tree. While most of us recognize that there was a lot more going on in pre-internet times than a box full of trinkets, the absurdity of the skit draws one's attention to the fact that one of the great divides of culture, arguably on the scale of the Protestant Reformation, the Industrial Revolution, or even the Renaissance, is the contemporary occurrence of what has been deemed the Digital Age. Having died in 1980 Marshall McLuhan had only glimpsed its genesis when he proclaimed, â€Å"In this electronic age we see ourselves being translated more and more into the form of information, moving toward the technological extension of consciousness (McLuhan 1967).†With the explosion of Web 2.0 software and the use of social networking sites (SNS), it was certain that professional environments would begin to incorporate the technology. While previous conceptions of computer-mediated communication – video gaming, Facebook use, YouTube – have been characterized as detrimental, the technology is now being reconsidered for its functional value. Many varied corporations have implemented collaborative technology, including Google whose employees hold daily meetings with associates spread throughout the world. One of the most widespread uses of collaborative technology has occurred in education environments. Indeed, certain researchers even argue that this technology is expanding the very nature of the classroom room outside institutional walls.     

Shoe Horn Essay Essay Example for Free

Shoe Horn Essay Essay The use of distinctively visual elements allows responders to interpret and create meaning from otherwise complex concepts. John Misto’s play ‘The Shoe Horn Sonata’ and Mike Subritzky’s poem ‘Sister’ both challenges the audience’s interpretation of the traumatic experiences of war. Through a range of distinctly visual techniques both composers help create an understanding of the power of time and the human spirit as overcoming adversity of war. As Misto’s The Shoe Horn Sonata develops, the distinctly visual stage positioning of Bridie and Sheila changes to demonstrate how the protagonists’ friendship strengthens over time. Initially Bridie and Sheila are seated at a distance for each other, demonstrating the need for them to reveal their stories as a way of overcoming the metaphorical barriers created by the war. Whilst this metaphorical barrier creates a tone of tension, during their reconciliation a contrast in characterisation occurs. The protagonists now hold hands and sit beside each other on stage. This contrasts creates a shift in tone from one of dissonance to one of hope and friendship. Misto’s use of juxtaposed distinctively visual stage positioning allows the audience to recognise that time has allowed the protagonists to resolve their relationship flaws, and therefore shows how their relationship has changed over time from one of incongruence to one of togetherness. Despite the growth in Bridie and Sheila’s relationship however distinctively visual projected imagery is used to portray that while time can help heal bad experiences, it cannot completely erase these memories. Through strategic stage positioning, Misto places Sheila beneath projected images of â€Å"Starving male prisoners† as â€Å"she does some of kind of needlework with great intensity†. By positioning such distinctive and confronting images above Sheila, Misto shows that even when doing simple tasks such as needlework, the memories of war will always remain at the fore of the protagonists’ minds. This positioning acts as a metaphor for the great impact of the war and the difficulty in erasing these memories. This helps responders understand the protagonist’s difficulties in connecting with each other and their world. Misto’s utilisation of the recurring motif of music demonstrates the poetic and admirable friendship and bond these women have created and the power this bond has had in helping them to overcome the atrocities of the war. Music imagery is also reflected in the plays title ‘Sonata’, which evokes connotations of dual courage, strength and faith, rising as one to overcome past atrocities. The ‘Sonata’ acts as a symbolic metaphor for both Bridie and Sheila, their friendship, and how that relationship has allowed them to overcome their past wartime experiences, whilst reconciling in the present. The use of such powerful and distinctive visual imagery therefore creates awareness of the atrocities of war and helps responders’ honour people who endured such atrocities. The power of the human spirit in times of war is also addressed in Mike Subritzky’s Poem Sister. Distinctively visual repetition and personification help responders understand the violence and bloodshed of the Vietnam War. Repetition of blood imagery in â€Å"Bloodied, broken bodies†¦Bloody combat gear’ alludes to the prevalence of death during the War, thereby allowing the responder to better understand the feelings of helplessness and misery faced by wounded soldiers. The strength of humanity is symbolised in the characterisation of the nurse who acts as the vehicle of hope to the dying soldiers. The nurse comes to be a visual symbol of courage and hope throughout the poem. When juxtaposed against the imagery of death and dying soldiers – â€Å"Young lives ebbed away† Subritzky creates a sense of hope for humanity in their most extreme hour. Furthermore, by hyperbolising the loss of hope in â€Å"I kept the faith when even hope was lost† th e nurse is depicted as being the guiding light and life force for soldiers close to death. By highlighting the humility and selflessness of the nurse, responders become aware of the strength of the human spirit in times of hardship and its ability to make easier very difficult situations. Much like the preceding texts Guo Jian’s painting ‘The day before I went away’ alludes to the atrocities of war, although does so in a satirical way. Through the use of distinctively visual heightened colour and flat surface painting technique, the smiling faced captures the attention of the responder to convey the illusion that the military is a joyful experience  created by Chinese propaganda. The juxtaposed characterisation between the glamorous singer in the foreground and grinning soldiers in the background who are set before a looming tank depicts that although propaganda had the initial feel of ‘inviting’ the reality of war is backgrounded and hidden. The salient feature of the image is the glamorous singer, who is toned lighter than the rest of the picture, creating a tone of innocence. She has an outstretched hand, grasping onto the responder of the poster and pulling them into the military. Through distinctively visual elements we as the r esponder become privy to the falsity of wartime propaganda. The illusion of soldiers happiness when serving their country is contrasted against the harsh reality of the dangers of war symbolised in the thank trapped within the brinks of the painting, as a symbol of their sound and government constraints from which they are unable to escape without falling into dishonour.

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

I'd like to start by thanking a few of the teachers who have made the greatest impression on me throughout my education here in Jones. Over the years, I have come to realize that the district's greatest asset is its teachers. I have been thoroughly impressed with the energy and dedication of every teacher I have had, and for this I would like to say, "Thank You." I regret that I can't take the time to speak in detail about all of them, but I would like to say a few things about some of the teachers who have made the biggest impact on me. The first is Mr. Stone. He is in Poland right now as part of a teacher exchange, but last year I had the pleasure of having him for physics and AP calculus. He is one of the most energetic teachers I have ever had. His true love of teaching is evident during every minute spent in his classroom. Not to mention the fact that he didn't collect homework in his calculus class. What more can you ask for? Next is Mr. Sanchez, who was my chemistry teacher for two years. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure his students understand the subj...

How to Avoid Translation, Transaction and Economic Exposures

Part 1 Question a Provide examples of how real world multinational corporations (MNC) reduce their translation, transaction and economic exposures. Translation exposure is the effect of changes in exchange rates on the accounting values of financial statements (Shapiro, 2010, p. 356). The translation exposure arises from the conversion the financial statements denominated in foreign currency from denominated in home currency. The MNCs could reduce their translation by using funds adjustment. For an example, if the devaluation of USD is expected for a Chinese company.The company could use direct funds adjustment such as pricing the exports in RMB and pricing the imports in USD, investing in RMB securities and replacing loans in RMB with the loans in USD. The company also could use indirect funds adjustment as paying out dividens, fees and other expends in advance, and speeding up the payment of accounting payable and delaying the collection of accounting receivable in USD. Transaction exposure measures the exchange gains and losses in cash flows in the value of domestic currency, which is denominated in foreign currency (Shapiro, 2010, p. 57). Multinational corporations often lower transaction exposure by making the contract with bank to lock in a forward exchange rate. For an example, an Australian import company expected to pay to an American supplier 10000 USD for the goods half year later. The company could sign a forward foreign exchange which is fixed at 0. 9 AUD per USD, and it allows carrying on the transaction in contract provision deadline any time, take at that time exchange rate as. So if there would be depreciation of home currency, and the Spot exchange rate is at 1. AUD per USD, the company had the right to convert their AUD into USD at previous exchange rate which is at 0. 9 from bank, so the amount of balance was the financial savings in cash flows. Economic exposure measures the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the operating cash flows t horough the sales price, sales volume, and production cost (Shapiro, 2010, p. 359). So the multinational corporations could reduce their economic exposures by marketing and production strategies.For an example, in the export business, if the currency is soft in home country, the company should more revenue and profit from product pricing, and they should consider lower price by reducing cost of product, such as expanding their scope of operation for reducing the cost of production, shifting production to home for reducing cost of currency exchange. Conversely, if the home country supplies with hard currency, they could shift production to local with soft currency for reducing cost of production. Question bDefine the international debt, equity and trade financing options available to MNCs. Explain why MNCs use these financing source. International debt financing refers to the fund demanders’ credit behaviours of raising funds directly from the public by issuing various debt or stocks in the international bond market (Shapiro, 2010, p. 464). There are two kinds of foreign bond. The first kind is the bonds denominated in the local currency that are issued in the national bond market, and the second kind is the bonds denominated in the home currency that are issued in the local bond market.The important foreign bonds in the world include Yankee bonds of the US and Swiss franc bonds of Swiss, Samurai bonds of Japan and Bulldog Bond from the London market. International debt financing can have multiple sources of capital from different foreign markets. The international debt can be issued in a great number with low cost, and MNCs only need to pay the interest as required and return the principal on the due date. The company’s business condition has nothing to do with creditors and creditors cannot intervene with the company’s management and operation.The management and decision-making are both subject to the discretion of the company itself. Int ernational equity financing refers to enterprises’ fund-raising by issuing stocks in the foreign markets (Shapiro, 2010, p. 466). Since stocks can only be transferred but cannot be withdrawn, the capital raised by international stock financing is long-term capital. For the MNCs could benefit lots of advantage of the International equity financing. Firstly, the international equity financing could reduce the funding risk.For some large MNCs located in the small countries, the market could not meet the need of huge issues, it is necessary to finance in more market. Then, issuing the overseas shares could attract more overseas investors, so there is an increase of demand for the companys’ shares, thereby the price of share would also increase and achieve the maximization of the wealth. Trade financing refers to the short-term financing or credit facility provided by banks to importers or exporters in relation to the settlement of import and export trade (Shapiro, 2010, p. 36). Trading financing is divided into import and export trade financing. In general, in respect of import financing, a letter of credit is adopted (Shapiro, 2010, p. 638). When the issuing bank has received proper and complete documents as required, the applicant makes the payment under the letter of credit to repay the short-term financing. The letter of credit is easy to operate and makes the approval procedures of the administration of foreign exchange much simpler. At the same time, a sight letter of credit is also used.As a result, importers can have access to the long-term letter of credit financing. The export trading financing could take a packing loan. Before exporting the goods specified in the letter of credit provided by the overseas importer, the packing loan is employed to cover the expenses of goods, materials, production and shipment. When the shipment of the goods is completed, the exporter presents all the documents to the negotiating bank for payment under the t erms of the credit.Upon the receipt of the payment of goods, the packing loan should be paid back (Bank of China, 2012). Part 2 Briefly explain the differences between the foreign direct investments (FDI) and portfolio investment. Then collect the required the data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) website and answer the following questions: Foreign direct investment refers to the trade activity of directly entering other countries for production by means of joint venture, sole proprietorship, etc (Shapiro, 2010, p. 198).With direct investment, investors can possess all or part of the enterprise assets and the ownership of operation, and directly perform or participate in the operation and management. Portfolio investment refers to the investment behaviours of purchasing financial securities of other countries to obtain certain proceeds (Shapiro, 2010, p. 198). Compared with direct investment, indirect investment’s investors only have the right to certain proceeds on a regular basis in addition to stock investment, but have no right to intervene with the invitee’s operation and management.Question a List the ten largest recipient countries of US FDI in the years 1990, 2000 and 2010. You need to provide the list of countries as well as the amount of FDI in USD. [pic] Source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) website. Question b What factors do you think account for these countries being the largest recipients of US FDI? Firstly, both these countries have strong political stability, because there are no changes of government and wars in recent, and the social condition and the rate of economic development of that country are positive.The positive political stability brings a safe investment environment to MNCs, which effectively enhances their confidence and willingness to invest. Secondly, these countries have reasonable, normative and stable legal systems. The countries could provide enough protection for foreign investors. Then, t hese countries have a good economic outlook in their domestic such as the low inflation, balance-of-payment surpluses and the strong growth rate of per capita GDP. So, the positive economic situation, the less likely it is to face risk that will inevitably harm foreign companies (Shapiro, 2010, p. 30). Question c Has the list of recipient counties changed over the concerned period? What might account for these changes? Yes, the list has changed over the concerned period. For most MNCs, the political and economic risks may discourage investors to invest in the countries. Political risk refers to the possibility of causing loss to investment activities of foreign investors because of the change in investment environment as a result of the change in the political situation of the host country (Shapiro, 2010, p. 277).Generally speaking, the main political risk influenced on the investment decision which includes: War Risk, when a political change or war occurs in the host country, it wi ll bring damage to the sales or profits of foreign-funded enterprises in the host country and even endanger the survival of these enterprises Legal risk, with the unreasonable laws and regulations and the direct legal confrontation between the investment country and host country, host country cannot provide enough protection for foreign investors, the assets of enterprises are more likely to suffer loss.Policy change risk, the change in policies concerning land, tax, market and exchange of the host country may influence the profits and development of enterprises. The government in the host country may set up barriers or impose various pressures for enterprises of the investment country, which often results in loss or bankruptcy for foreign-funded enterprises. Government relations risk, inharmonious government relations will lead to mutual hostility and sanctions in economy.As a result, foreign-funded enterprises are the first to be affected, which generates great risk for investment and operating activities. Economic risk mainly stems from the change in the economic policies and economic situation of the host country (Shapiro, 2010, p. 277), which changes may strike the foreign-funded enterprises and generate risk for their investment and operation. The economic risk mainly includes: Exchange rate risk, foreign investment activities often involve the conversion of different currencies.The change in exchange rate may increase the production cost, reduce the profitability of enterprises. Tax risk, the preference level of tax policy in the host country directly influences the management efficiency of enterprises. Interest rate risk, the fluctuation in the interest rate of the host country will have a direct impact on the financing cost and capital utilization efficiency of enterprises. Question d Do you except a change to the 2010 list over the next decade? Explain.Yes, I think some countries in the Third World and Eastern Europe will come into the list. With the strong economic and growth and rising standard of living, these emerging markets might be so profitable to the investors, and these host governments do recognise the free market oriented situation that it has play the role of economic growth. In the past years, the Third World’s and Eastern European countries are more open to the FDI by setting up free market oriented policies. These countries introduced a number of trade liberalization polices.In the free market system, prices and interest rate are set by market. The countries also have tax reform in the past years, that brought to foreign investors much more preferential taxation. They are accelerating the privatisation programme, it identified that government was willing to accept and support private economic activities, which leads to advance the inflow of FDI. After that, these countries also are trying to move forward is to revamp the entire civil service which could provide enough preferential treatment and protection for foreign investors.References Bank of China, 2012, Packing Loan, International Trade Financing. Accessed on: http://www. boc. cn/en/cbservice/cb3/cb35/200806/t20080627_1324121. html Shapiro, A. C. , 2010, Multinational Financial Management, 9th edn, John Wiley & Sons, New York, p. 198, p. 227, p. 230, p. 356, p. 357, p. 359, p. 464, p. 466, , p. 636, p. 638. U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2012, U. S. Direct Investment Position Abroad on a Historical-Cost Basis. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic]

Empowerment supports organisational objectives at the expense of the individual worker Essay

Companies today are designed in someway, at some level, to develop individuals either for their own sake, the company’s sake or hopefully for both. The team has become a sophisticated structure. I t is ‘finely engineered, maintained to a high standard, and when running smoothly it is highly productive’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 63). It provides an environment in which energy can be maximised towards corporate needs, which also allows the individual to satisfy his or her own needs within work, rather than only outside of it. So often seemingly dull unimaginative and uncreative employees surprise their companies when they reveal the depth of their energy outside work. However it is the ‘corporate attitudes’ (Legge, K, 1995: 104) that stifled them, and when released companies recognise they have a pool talent, a wealth of resources, at their fingertips. Empowerment has been in the ‘forefront of quality improvement efforts’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 23). Several businesses worldwide have been and still are currently closely watching quality the ability to produce superior and distinguished goods and services to meet customer needs. The commitment to quality today is very present in ‘service industries, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions’ (Mabey at el, 1998: 48). Total Quality, also known as Total Quality Management (TQM), is seen differently by different people. Empowerment has been defined in different ways. Some have claimed it is ‘a fundamentally different way of working together’ (Spencer & Pruss, 1992: 271) and ‘quite different from the traditional notion of control’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 94). Cole (1997) is able to define the concept of empowerment as an application to ‘none managerial roles’ such as team members. However, he argues there are several possible meanings. These can range from having ‘increased authority’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 53) and therefore their ability exercise a wider range of choices at work and to be given a more varied and interesting job in the form of job enrichment. At best empowerment increases individuals discretion over how they do their work. It may also provide additional opportunities for group problem solving on operational issues. Empowerment is seen as ways of giving people more opportunity or ‘power’ (Mabey et al, 1998: 38) to exercise control over, and have responsibility for, their work. It is intended to encourage individuals to use their abilities by enabling them to take decisions. According to Potterfield (1999), empowerment will be best defined as a way of bestowing upon employees ‘the power to use more judgment and discretion in their work and to participate more fully in decisions affecting their working lives’ (Legge, K, 1995:84). Others are more sceptical. Armstrong (1996) points out that ‘Empowerment, for example, may mean little more than giving employees the opportunity to make suggestions for change’ (Armstrong, 1996: 76). In practice, empowerment is intended to release active employee engagement only so long as it falls within the parameters for which it was selected as a strategy. In most organisations it is ‘management which defines and adjudicates and ultimately exercises control’ (Armstrong, 1996: 78). The concept of empowerment ‘is based on the belief that to be successful, organisations must harness the creativity and brain power of all the employees not just a few managers’ (Graham & Bennett, 1995: 3). The idea that everybody in the business has something to contribute represents a radical shift in thinking away from the old idea that managers managed and the workforce simply followed orders. The fact that empowerment does represent a radical shift in thinking explains why, in many organisations, the initiative has failed. Empowered organizations are composed of empowered persons, although it is not necessarily true that a group of empowered persons automatically creates an empowered organization. Organizations that are ‘truly empowered have moved out of the old paradigm of competition and beliefs in limitation and scarcity’ (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998: 291). The face of the contemporary workplace is drastically changing. More and more companies are realising the value of more ‘flat democratic organisational structure’ (Mabey et al, 1998: 23) over the traditional autocratic, hierarchical management styles. In contrast to empowered workplaces, disempowered workforce suffers from poor self-esteem, lack of a personal vision and a feeling of hopelessness. These ‘attitudes and beliefs form inner barriers that block growth and proactive development’ (Legge, K, 1995: 63) and manifest in the worker in the form of reluctance to accept responsibility, hesitance to communicate openly, lack of commitment and ownership and, ultimately, in below average performance. Such employees ‘become passive passengers who are more focused on having their personal needs met than on contributing fully’ (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998: 82) so that the company can grow. Because they feel afraid, uncertain and insecure, they will unconsciously sabotage new interventions and approaches. An example of this is the resistance management often experience when implementing a ‘quality management system’ (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998: 82). In this way employees become a stumbling block to progress instead of much-valued assets. In companies where managers make a concerted effort to delegate and share power and control, the ‘results are not always impressive’ (Graham & Bennett, 1995: 93). The reason for this is either a lack of understanding of the nature of empowerment, or a greater focus on applying a set of managerial techniques than on creating conditions that are essential for empowerment to thrive. Where empowerment does not work it is because ‘people do not think it through’ (Mabey & Salaman, 1997: 83). To avoid such failures it is important to gain commitment for the senior management team, and then to cascade this down to other levels of management. The hardest group to convince about empowerment are ‘middle managers’ (Spencer & Pruss, 1992: 92), because it is their jobs that are most likely to be affected. It is because these managers often have the most to lost that they may have a tendency to undermine or delay implementation of a new policy. The implementation of empowerment in organisations instead of the traditional hierarchies means a ‘flatter organisational structure’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 57), which can give rise to considerable resentment and individual resistance. There are, naturally, many problems that can arise in the empowerment process. Many workers may ‘resist these new responsibilities’ (Mabey et al, 1998: 23); they in fact like having their decisions made for them and will resent the extra burdens (and work). There still may be those workers who resent the implications of greater self-direction, possibly even arising from an obvious fear. There is an interesting theory underlying this reaction. Maslow has called this the Jonah Complex, ‘the fear of one’s own greatness’ (Maslow, 1971: 34). While Maslow discussed this term in a more mystical, spiritual context, it is associated as a sort of classic block to self-actualisation. Since empowerment speaks to the same sort of needs as self-actualisation, it could be drawn that there is the possibility of a collective sort of Jonah Complex at the heart of many conflicts in organizational transitions. Employees may also be ‘cynical and suspicious of this approach’ (Gennard & Judge, 1997: 235, Hitchcock and Willard, 1995:27) as another way to get more work out of them for less money. However allowing employees to take an active part in the change process from the very beginning, and showing them that their organization is truly changing will remove some of their wariness. There is also the danger of the ’employees feeling too empowered’ (Legge, K, 1995: 57); in feeling so independent of other facets of the organization that there might also be troubles in transitioning to teams. Empowerment supports organisational objectives at the expense of the individual worker to ‘speed up the decision making processes and reducing operational costs’ (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998: 293) by removing unnecessary layers of management such as staff functions, quality control and checking operations. In retrospect empowerment is usually advocated to ‘release the creative and innovative capacities of employees’ (Armstrong, M, 1996:386), to provide greater job satisfaction, motivation and commitment and giving people more responsibility enables employees to gain a great sense of achievement from their work therefore. The reasons for ’empowerment emerging as a concept for our time’ (Armstrong, M, 1996:385) is the need to generate energy release in employees by providing them with visionary leadership and a supporting environment and by treating them as a valuable asset to be invested in rather then as a cost despite the fact that organisatio ns are driven by profit generating, cost reduction and market pressures. Empowerment at workplace level has ‘greater justification for management in HRM terms’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994:582). Management needs to decide how much power to delegate to employees while controlling their levels of creative energies and at the same time ‘not undermining managerial prerogatives’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 582). TQM (total quality management) ‘suggests a system whereby worker empowerment is restricted very much within the boundaries set by the management’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 582). Training can provide ‘an opportunity to empower and motivate employees’ (Honold, L, 1997). Empowering workers in this small way (i.e., schedule the training sessions) during the actual implementation of the organizational change can provide workers with a small degree of control over what is essentially a change in process over which they have no control. Empowerment can be argued ‘as an objective in its own right as a means of extending worker satisfaction’ (Gennard & Judge, 1997: 211). This can be related to the concept of Quality of Working Life (QWL). It refers primarily to how efficiency of performance depends on job satisfaction, and how to design jobs to increase satisfaction, and therefore performance. The early psychological basis of QWL and of justifications of empowerment relating to increased worker motivation was Herzberg (1968). Herzberg developed a theory called the two-factor theory of motivation. Herzberg argued that ‘job factors could be classified as to whether they contributed primarily to satisfaction or dissatisfaction’ (Spencer & Pruss, 1992: 64). There are conditions, which result in dissatisfaction amongst employees when they are not present. If these conditions are present, this does not necessarily motivate employees. Second there are conditions, which when present in the job, build a strong level of motivation that can result in good job performance. Management very rarely discusses the practical problems in attempting to apply empowerment through ‘quality management’ (Mabey & Salaman, 1997:34) therefore employee views and feelings are unheard. The argument in supporting quality management requires an increase in ‘workers skills and results in genuine employee empowerment’ (Mabey & Salaman, 1997:34). However, in contrast to the optimistic approach is the argument that empowerment through quality management results in the ‘increasing subordination of employees in return for little or no extra reward’ (Mabey & Salaman, 1997:35). Recently, empowerment has become ‘an important Human Resource Management tool’ (Graham & Bennett, 1995: 93) in many organisations. It has been portrayed as the ultimate tool to access unleashed potential and help leaders get the best from their people. In reality, however, organisations that are trying to empower people may be fighting an uphill battle. Managers who harbour a fear that affirmative action may jeopardise their jobs, may be more worried about keeping their jobs than about empowering others. According to Maslow (1998), people need a sense of ‘self-determination, autonomy, dignity, and responsibility’ (Legge, K, 1995: 221) to continue to function in a healthy, growth-motivated way. When placed in an environment where any or all of these qualities are removed from them and they are instead ‘forced to submit to another’s will and think and act under constant supervision’ (Legge, K, 1995: 221), their sense of esteem and self-worth is robbed from them. The implementation of empowerment can be used successfully as a HRM tool as it provides a competitive advantage ensuring ‘organisational survival’ (Mabey & Salaman, 1997:25) and at the same time protecting employees jobs. However, employee’s maybe compelled to work harder and more flexibly ‘for their own good’ (Mabey & Salaman, 1997:25) otherwise they might be made redundant for the greater good. The aim of empowerment is to ‘enable employees to actually have to deal with problems to implement solutions quickly and without recourse to supervisors’ (Gennard & Judge, 1997: 71) and or higher levels of management. This is increasingly necessary as large and bureaucratic organisations ‘delayer’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 91) management hierarchies in the search for administrative efficiency and lower costs. Employee empowerment is a very important aspect when considering human resource management. The failure of employers to give employees an opportunity to participate in decisions affecting their welfare ‘may encourage union member ship’ (sparrow & Marchington, 1998: 53). It is widely believed that one reason managers begin employee involvement programs and seek to empower their employees is to ‘avoid collective action by employees’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 83). Employee empowerment offers the employers and the employees the chance to be on the same level, so to speak. Empowerment allows them to help make decisions that affect themselves, as well as, the company. Basically, through empowerment, employers and employees are in a win-win situation. The ’employees feel like they are needed and wanted, while the employers gain satisfaction through their prosperity’ (Mabey & Salaman, 1997: 64). Employee empowerment can be a powerful tool. The now advanced leadership style can ‘increase efficiency and effectiveness’ inside an organization (Graham & Bennett, 1995: 13). It increases productivity and reduces overhead. Overhead expenses are those needed for carrying on a business, i.e. ‘salaries, rent, heat and advertising’ (Mabey & Salaman, 1997: 39). It gives managers the freedom to dedicate their time to more important matters. Managers can highlight the talents and efforts of all employees. The leader and organisation take advantage of the ‘shared knowledge of workers’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 64). Managers at the same time ‘develop their own job qualifications and skills attaining personal advancements’ (Spencer & Pruss, 1992: 38). Empowered employees can make decisions and suggestions that will down the line improve service and support, saving money, time and disputes ‘between companies and their customers’ (Gennard & Judge, 1997: 291). Empowerment of qualified employees will provide exceptional customer service in several competitive markets; therefore it will ‘improve profits through repeated business’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 76). Customers prefer to deal with employees that have the power to manage arrangements and objections by themselves, without having to frequently inquire of their supervisors (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 76). Empowerment is a strong tool that will increase ‘revenue and improve the bottom line’ (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998: 280). Empowerment is also the best way to ‘promote a good long-lasting employee-customer relationship’ (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998:32). Empowerment also brings benefits to employees. It makes them feel better about their inputs to the company; it promotes a greater productivity, and provides them with a ‘sense of personal and professional balance’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 91). It exercises employees’ minds to find alternative and better ways to execute their jobs, and it increases their potential for promotions and job satisfaction. It results in ‘personal growth’ (Mabey at al, 1998: 174) since the whole process enlarges their feelings of confidence and control in themselves and their companies. It is a process that makes workers utilize their full potentials. This enables them to stay behind their decisions, assume risks, participate and take actions. It is a ‘win-win situation’ (Wilkinson, A, 1998); customers benefit from sharp employees; organizations benefit from satisfied customers and sharp employees; and employees benefit from improving their confidence and self-esteems. Benefits come with changes in the organization’s culture itself. Benefits require ‘changes in management and employees’ (Mabey at al, 1998: 54). For empowerment to succeed, the ‘management pyramid’ (Mabey et al, 1998: 54) must be inverted. Old-fashioned managers must take a step back and for the first time serve their subordinates and give up control. Old-fashioned employees must also agree to changes. They could see ’empowerment as a threat’ (Spencer & Pruss, 1992: 147), especially if they became use to the convenient old style of management structure where the ‘rules and decisions always came from above’ (Legge, K, 1995: 94). Employee involvement and participation schemes are to ‘enhance job responsibility’ (Legge, K, 1995: 24) by providing individuals with more influence over how they perform their tasks (employee empowerment). Each individual can make a personal decision on how to perform his or her task instead of being instructed on how to do so by management. When employees are involved, they have some influence on how they perform their job. This in turn is likely to ‘increase their contentment with the job’ (Mabey at al, 1998: 134), the probability that they will remain in that job and their willingness to except changes in the task that make up the job. Individual employees are more likely to be ‘effective members of the workforce’ (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998: 76) if management taps into their knowledge of the job by seeking their opinion on how the job should be performed and how it can be organised better. For employees, the greater empowerment and control given to frontline staff and to their teams has meant a great degree of freedom than ever before in controlling their own working lives (Sparrow & Marchington, 1998:166). The power that managers have, the capacity that managers have to influence the behaviour of employees and work responsibilities, must be ‘now shared with employees’ (Gennard & Judge, 1997: 73) through the creation of trust, assurance, motivation, and support for competitive needs. Work-related decisions and full control of the work is being pushed down towards the lowest operating levels (Armstrong, M, 1996: 58). Self-conducted teams have also emerged, which are groups of empowered employees with no or very little supervision. These groups are able to ‘solve work problems, make choices on schedules and operations, learn to do other employees’ jobs, and are also held accountable and responsible for the quality of their outputs’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 12) Guest (1987) argued under ‘high commitment management’ workers would be committed to management’s vision, and that management would favour individual contracts over collective agreements as a mean of furthering worker commitment and dependence, thus making unions redundant. Employees who feel they are in a stable work environment ‘will feel more secure and empowered’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 94). Advancement opportunities and rewards/incentive programs should also be implemented, as they feed into how committed and employee feels to making positive contributions and whether or not they are recognised for their efforts. Morale, too, provides a good measure of the culture of the organisation. Organisations with a ‘restrictive, secretive environment where information is tightly controlled’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 162) will have less informed less empowered employees. Organisations with a more open environment, where ideas are encouraged from all levels will have a freer flow of information, better-informed employees, and thus higher empowerment. Through the process of employee empowerment, ’employees feel more valued’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 40) because they are able to participate in the planning process and the decision making process. Empowerment gives employees the opportunity to contribute to the company’s overall success (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 40). This helps an employee feel that he/she is truly valued, rather than that they are just a back to be stepped upon by those trying to reach the top. All in all, if the employee is happy with their job, than a paying customer will see that and want to return. Empowerment allows an employee to find ‘new ways to express their creativity’ (Armstrong, M, 1996: 161). Through creativity, employees are able to make sales or transactions an unforgettable and pleasurable experience for customers, thus ensuring the customers return. Employee empowerment can have a ‘profoundly beneficial impact on the bottom line if used correctly’ (Mabey et al, 1998: 18). Empowerment allocates responsibility to an employee and creates the motivation to surpass customer expectations. In order to keep customers for life, employers must empower their employees to make their own decisions. Empowerment gives ’employees the opportunity to make decisions and suggestions’ (Cole, G, A, 1997: 39) that will down the line improve service and support, saving money, time and disputes between companies and their customers. Empowerment is an aspect, which must be considered in ‘negotiating an effective team contract’ (Spencer & Pruss, 1992: 69) .The team must be empowered to seek and find information across the existing management structures. The communication aspect of empowerment means that the team must be clearly shown where their work adds value to the company, where their effects will show results and where their work fits in with the company’s objectives. ‘Organizations wishing to instil a culture of empowerment must find a way of establishing systems and processes that do not restrict employees. By concentrating on what behaviour is considered optimal for the employees and what they do well, management can adapt, develop and change the organizational structure to produce the sought after behaviour’ (Erstad, M, 1997). Culture changed programmes are ‘commonly promoted’ (Mabey et al, 1998: 132) to increase the power of the worker, through empowerment. However, critics have argued empowerment is a means of increasing work intensity and gaining greater managerial control over labour (Brambell, 1995, Legge, 1989). Conclusion Work place attitudes such as ‘praising teams for success and punishing teams for failure are inherent in our society’ (Mabey et al, 1998: 32) where winning and survival have become synonymous. Businesses are installing empowerment into their organisations to ‘give people more responsibility and asking them to test the corporate boundary limits’ (Graham & Bennett, 1995: 91). A t the same time, organisations are asking staff to be more entrepreneurial, and take more risks. It can be argued employees who empower themselves can be called troublemakers and those who take entrepreneurial risks and fail are referred to as failures. The business ethic which condemns failure as a bad thing is going to ‘restrict its best people’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 12), force them to avoid taking risks that may one day be beneficial and will prevent the team experiencing the excitement of the empowerment which is vital to motivation and team dynamics. The advantages gained through empowerment are numerous. Employee empowerment allows an organization to unleash the vital, untapped forces of employee creativity and motivation to solve business problems (Legge, K, 1995: 50). Empowering employee also allows them to make decisions on the spot. This is very important when you work in an industry where you work directly with a paying customer. When employees are empowered, the employer enables them to offer full service to their clients and protect them from the competition. ‘The rewards of empowerment outweigh the risks of losing the employees themselves’ (Spencer & Pruss, 1992: 203). The retail industry is a perfect example. Managers are ‘learning to give up control’ and employees are learning how to be responsible for the actions and decisions (Cole, G, A, 1997: 34). It is fundamental that management shares information, creates autonomy and feedback, and trains and creates self-directed teams for empowerment to work properly. Managers often prefer not to ‘communicate with employees, and not to share some extremely important information’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 247) with them, but an effective leader must have no hidden agendas. They must treat employees as ‘stakeholders for the road of success’ (Beardwell & Holden, 1994: 247). Employees must have a clear vision of success, because if they are not aware of what success means to the company and where the company is heading, there is no way they can feel empowered to help accomplish this success. ‘Empowerment is not something, which can be passed over from management to employees as a pen is handed from one person to another. It is a complex process, which requires a clear vision, a learning environment both for management and employees, and participation and implementation tools and techniques in order to be successful’ (Erstad, M, 1997). 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