Basketball and Soccer

Basketball and Soccer Do you know what the differences are between soccer and basketball? These are the two most popular sports around the world. Soccer was invented over 2000 years ago in China. On the other hand, basketball is one of my favorite sports. Originally, this game was played in American schools in 1891. There are some differences between basketball and soccer such as, the part of the body that you play with, the number of players and the form of shooting.Though soccer and basketball have large differences, they are both the most popular sports in the world. First of all, the most noticeable difference between these two sports is the parts of the body that are involved in the games. For example, in soccer the players have to use their legs because†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. That is to say is more a feet sport. In contrast, ba sketball is a sport where you mostly use your hands. In soccer, if you kick the ball the other team gets the ball. Athletes in both sports †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..Second of all, in basketball and soccer each team has a different number of players. In soccer there are eleven players per team on the field†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ On the other hand, in basketball there are only five players per team on the court at one time. A soccer field, is bigger that a basketball court because there are more people playing at once. This†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Finally, the form of shooting is another difference that distinguishes these sports. In soccer, goals are scored when the ball passes across the line, between the goal posts into the net.The ball is moved by kicking the ball with your feet and is shot into the goal. On the other hand, in basketball the players pass the ball with their hands and move the ball by bouncing it on the court. The goals in each sport are worth a different amount points. For example in soccer each goal is woth one point and in basketball each basket is worth one, two or three points. In conclusion, soccer and basketball are someof the most popular sports, even though they are different.

Explore the impact of social, cultural and historical on your play

The historical, social and cultural influenced our play immensely because in order to create an understanding of our stimulus gender we needed to explore different sides to gender. We decided that in order for the audience to work out the meaning behind our play they needed to fully understand the idea of gender both past and present. During the creation of our play we thought it was important to bring up certain topical issues, we decided the main issues would be how women were treated in the past and present, domestic violence, love and relationships, stereotypes and social roles. We chose the idea of ‘lion tamers' because it was based on a circus however we twisted it so the scene was ‘lady tamers' to show how women were treated in the past. We started off with the ladies as wild animals with the men in the middle shouting out the orders such as ‘wash the floor'. Then we went onto more advanced techniques were we stood in a ‘Stepford wife pose' and spoke lines such as ‘have dinner ready, plan even the night before so he can have a warm meal on time. In order to create a realistic impression of what women's roles were in the past we looked at The Good housewife's guide this was a booklet of instruction from the 50s telling young women how to be a good housewife and because some of the instruction were incredibly †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and unrealistic which we thought the audience would find humorous. We then decided to do go the other extreme with the scene where the ladies take over, we wanted the women to be powerful both mentally and physical this was to show how times have changed and in particular how women in society have changed. A very important issue we wanted to concentrate on was domestic violence because this was a hard hitting issue involving gender. We researched different aspects of domestic violence and found that it is equally common nowadays as it was in the past and although it isn't necessarily true for every case men seem to be the†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ of the problem. We had a real problem incorporating this issue into the initial idea of the circus because we didn't know how to make a serious topic humorous. Eventually we came up with a Punch and Judy sketch and this was Perfect because it showed the issue of domestic violence and stuck to the idea of the circus. As a group we decided that it would be nice to look at the positive side of gender because up till then it had all been negative. We used the idea of a tight rope act to show the ups n downs of relationships and love, we had a boy at one end of the tight rope and a girl at the other and they would walk along and take turns saying what they didn't like about each other and the other person would begin to wobble on the tight rope however after each little speech they would end it with ‘but I love him/her. ‘ We wanted to embrace the opposite sexes differences and make the audience view gender in a positive light.

What atmosphere does Lorca create in Blood Wedding and how does he create it?

The classical and highly acknowledged play Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca delivers many symbols and similes which communicates the themes of the play and also create an atmosphere which Lorca directs as he wants it. With an excellent skill of writing Lorca draws the audience into the surreal play with this intense atmosphere. It also makes the spectators understand the deeper meaning of the tale. The atmosphere in the play is ever changing. It starts out as a heavy dark sinister foreboding, the semi-subconscious sense that death will take place in the play with the mentioning of the knife. When it is known that a marriage is to take place the atmosphere is slightly lifted in the joyous occasion. However Lorca quickly shows the conflicts that are taking place within Leonardo and the Bride, and also between them, and the now almost obvious menace that hangs over the setting. The realisation of Leonardo and the Bride's act, confirming the growing tension, now gives expectations of the murder that has been suspected from the start. With the introduction of the Beggar and the Moon there is a violent and an intimidating atmosphere that is abruptly replaced by the calm sorrow of the last scene. It is easy to see how contradicting and profoundly complex the atmospheres are to each other through each scene, which then gives each more attention from the audience because of this. In the beginning when the Bridegroom and Mother are talking about something as common as the every-day job of going out to gather food it does not indicate any tension that will soon appear. However as soon as Mother curses the knife, â€Å"Damn the knife, damn them all and the devil who brought them into the world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Act 1, Scene 1) it is immediately clear that knife it something much more sinister than simply to cut grapes. The sudden contradiction and the fact that this particular symbol will dominate the play strongly marks the dark atmosphere. The constant mentioning of death indicates that this is, as Lorca meant to say, inevitable. This menacing atmosphere never leaves, but stays in the background through the play, since it is obvious that death will sooner or later take place. The tension rises when marriage is mentioned and it is immediately very clear that conflicting forces are behind these events. Leonardo and the Bride's apparent dislike to their marriages which is seen very early on with Leonardo's outbursts, â€Å"Why can't you just shut up?† (Act 1, Scene 2) and the Bride's aggressive manner, â€Å"taking her wrists Leave them!† (Act 1, Scene 3) confirms that trouble is rising on the horizon and, since the foreshadowing of death is already present, it leaves a breathless feeling, a surge of knowledge of what will happen. The actions of the characters also contribute to the atmosphere. When Leonardo at the wedding party keeps coming and going it gives him a sort of constant menacing aura that reminds us that this occasion is full of contradiction within. At the point when the Bride and Leonardo runs off and people starts to chase them it is like an explosion of events that has been predicted from the very beginning of the play. The Moon's bloody and violent personality and its conversation with the Beggar tell of the murder that by now is already known to come to be. â€Å"Tonight, I want a heart split wide so that I may warm myself. A human heart for me!† (Act 3, Scene 1) However, it gives that little extra tension from the fact that the Moon may or may not be there to shine and reveal Leonardo and the Bride. â€Å"Quickly! Light†¦light everywhere. Do you here? They mustn't escape.† (Beggar) (Act 3, Scene 1) The tale of Blood Wedding is told through usually short sentences. This very plain language gives us the sense of the straightforwardness of the peasant community, which then reassures us of an uneventful and calm society. This makes the different atmospheres in the play stand out, as they are certainly neither uneventful nor calm. The colours of each scene are also very important to bring forth the right kind of atmosphere and also the moral notions of the play. For example in the first scene the room is coloured yellow. People might interpret the meaning of colours differently but in the western world yellow is generally considered as the colour of treachery and infidelity. It makes a feeling of what might be expected to happen later on in the scene. There is also used music, â€Å"two violins†, to enhance the atmosphere. Personally I would expect the music that is played as a sad melody with a slight echo to it. This would create an atmosphere which would confirm even more the coming murder, but as there a few indications that the Bride and Leonardo might make it, for example the constant reappearing of the Moon, it makes the uncertainty stand out as the audience is suddenly left to wonder what will happen next. The complete transformation of atmosphere in the last scene is so sudden and unexpected that it leaves a sort of echo of the last scene. With this melancholy calmness it is also easier to bring about the more moralistic purposes of the play without the too fierce tensions that keeps the audience more focused on the events than the message of Blood Wedding. The women weeping and mourning for the dead is also a very good way to give a final feeling that makes the audience understand that the play is over and what consequences it brought, that is death. Lorca uses many skilful ways to make the atmosphere through Blood Wedding. With gestures, colour, music and symbolism the Spanish writer displays a very artistically body created for the play. It is as though Lorca decided to build up such a tense atmosphere just to make the audience hang on to every single word and so pay more attention to the final point made in the last scene, the fact that the Spanish society is very oppressed and that women are kept captured in it even when the men are dead and gone.

TNT Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

TNT - Case Study Example The organization or company has to come up with objectives with an intention of supporting the aims. The objectives of a company ensure that employees get to know how and when things are needed. Objectives ought to be specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant and time bound. The objectives can be changed to help overcome threats and other obstacles. The topmost objective of TNT Company focuses on gaining a profitable growth. The mission statement of Coca Cola is to inspire happiness and optimism moments and to make a difference and create value. The aim of the company is to make the company a better working place for its employees and to be lean, fast moving and highly effective company. Objective of the company is to always respond to change and act with urgency (â€Å"Delivering a business strategy†, 2014). Business strategy is the ways in which a company achieves the stated objectives. An effective business strategy has to be planned and should relate to the environment, product and chosen markets. A strategy that is considered competitive is based on; distinct market position and development of core competencies. The strategy map of TNT is customer centered. The tool focuses on directing everybody involved; on how the company will be able to achieve the stated Goals. The strategy map acts as a frame work and practical guide in achievement of the stated objectives. The strategy is also considered a reference point that connects the organization together. The business strategy map makes everyone accountable in accomplishing their stated roles (â€Å"Delivering a business strategy†, 2014). The overall strategy of the TNT Company is set out under innovation, customer relationship management and operational Excellency. The services provided are reliable, quality and fast. The allegiance and loyalty of the customer is built by understanding their wants

Approaches to Standard Setting in Accounting Essay

Approaches to Standard Setting in Accounting - Essay Example The body also cited the reasons at which it was setting these accounting settings and some of them included; to give users of accounting information about their financial situation, their financial performance, and the financial conduct of a firm (LeRoy, 2007). Another reason was to assist public accountants with steps to enable them perform their work with care in offering their services in the accounting market. These standards were set so that all financial statements were consistent and had the ability to describe their financial performance. These accounting standards can also be known as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), they are generally accepted because there is an authoritative accounting body that set them and the body oversees the implementation of these standards. Without these standards the consumers of financial statements would need to learn accounting rules of different firms, this would be a difficult task for multi investors to compare these financia l statement accounting rules. Some of the bodies that regulate these accounting standards are the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This body was formed to establish these accounting standards for the public traded firms. ... Then the financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was created after the wheat committee suggested the replacement of the GAAP board with new standards. After the dissolving the FASB board a new board International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) was formed in 1973. This board was created to encourage a worldwide implementation of the accounting standards. This board was succeeded by a private sector body that was structured in a similar way as FASB (Sharpe, 1982). The accounting standards and regulations are very important. This is because they regulate accounting assumptions and methods. They also enable us to have consistency in the methods that are used to organize company’s financial statements. Although there are differences within these regulations, reliable conclusions can be deduced when comparing firms’ financial data for specific industries. If there were no accounting standards then the people who use financial statements like investors, banks and ot her institutions would require learning these accounting rules in a different manner for each firm. The accounting standards instill relevance to day to day accounting procedures and processes; this results into better financial performance from firms and represents faithfulness and accuracy (Sharpe, 1982). These standards ensure that neutral information is used hence eliminating the possibility of biasness in the financial statements. They give relevant information by enabling investors to know their specific points of investments to make. They save a lot of time since they give or point out clarity in the financial statements. The growth of financial transactions is making the compliance with accounting standards become an issue which require addressing immediately

Health Risk of an Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Health Risk of an Abortion - Essay Example The law of abortion was passed so that these people could be legally allowed to do whatsoever they may feel like. None the less it would not be wrong to say that the anti-abortionists came up with some pretty valid points, but then again it is on one’s freedom whether or not to cut short the birth process or continue with it. (Mohr, 1979) For decades now, abortion has been a hot topic and the same will continue to be the case in the years to come. Anti-Abortionists on the other hand agree in unison that it is pretty much in defiance as laid down in the holy books to commit such a heinous act like abortion. The rationale that can be provided here is that if at any point in time it was in defiance with the laws, then it is between the woman under question as she is the one who will be the recipient of chastisement with regards to the abortion decision that she has taken. A number of people are of the view that abortion can threaten a mother’s life and hence should be deemed as illegal right from the onset. Again there are some opinions which suggest that if the mother does not want to have the baby then it would be best to at least give birth to the newborn and give it to some orphan house so that those women who do not have children in their lives can raise their families in accordance. This seems pretty valid since giving a newborn for the sake of adoption is a good route none the less if a family is against the birth and the eventual raise of the baby. This is due to the fact that at times it has been seen that these children suffer immensely as they sit for ages in the orphanages making them look like unwanted guests in this world. Studies have shown that the health issues related with abortion could include breast cancer, clinical depression, increase in mortality rate and reproductive issues to surface within a woman. This means that all of these tangents are highlighted in a significant manner by abortion which indeed mars the very

Zachman Enterprise Architecture Framework Analysis Assignment

Zachman Enterprise Architecture Framework Analysis - Assignment Example It should be noted that the framework is not an ordinary model but more of a conceptual model, a composition of concepts, in that it exists in its applicability, mental synchronization and or personal/mind interpretations so as to guide the user to know, understand and where possible simulate the ideas in a practical situation (Raynard, 2000). Enterprise framework differs with structural/building framework in that as the building framework seeks to apply the laid out methodology, that is, to collect, manage and use information to achieve a prescribed/ designed model(s) to a tangible object, enterprise framework seeks to transform the abstract ideas, that is, intentions and semantics through designing documents, specifications, considerations of available models; without implying any specific and /or defined process. Therefore it can be viewed as a process to think, apply, re-apply, evaluate and solve problems through formalization and effective communication (Zachman & Geiger, 1997). With this in mind, we shall look at how Zachman’s enterprise architectural framework applies in reality by first understanding the types and scope of its architectural design. Types and Scope For conceptual enterprise architecture to be effective, there should explicitly define techniques to help individuals understand the represented system, it should convey the system details to the stakeholders, should provide a point of reference so as to simplify extractions of system specifications by designers and it should automatically and/or in a simplified manner, document the system for future reference and provide room for collaborations and implementation (Fishman & Selkow, 2003). For instance, it should first analyse the need for transformation within a given organizational process/intention or a phenomenon cross examine the available concepts to come up with a conceptual model and ideas to achieve the transformation. It should analyse the validation of the process, clearly sh ow its specifications analysis and the simulation process. It should reflect accreditation, verifications of the perceived implementation and execution and finally outline the expected results and the impact (Uckelmann, 2012). The Zachman’s enterprise architecture is based on six core questions; what, how, where, who, when and why, which form basis of applications in the modern organization. To come up with stronger arguments and justifications to support the model, these questions are further analysed in different business perspectives such as the scope: which seeks to explain the contextual business activities, the business model: which is the evaluation of the conceptual nature of the organization and its stakeholders, the system model: which is the logical approach of the required transformation in line with the business needs, technology model: it represents the physical and the intended aspects by the transformers of the new phenomenon, detailed representations by other members of the transformation and finally the analysis of the functioning enterprise. The Scope/ Contextual Approach The planner tries to figure out: what content will the framework contain and/or the overall model represent? This call to ascertain and prioritize on all important business processes and what transformations can bring an impact. This may take course through the analysis of available data and the projected/intended goal. The planner then needs to ask how the conceptual model will be presented. This seeks to explain the functioning of the perceived model which can be achieved through intensive analysis of the core

Smmary 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Smmary 5 - Essay Example Researchers evaluated DNA methylation patterns of patients who were in various stages of lung adenocarcinoma. The study identified various significant DNA methylated genes of 72 in Stage I, 93 in Stage II, and 170 in Stage III. There were a set of 34 DNA methylated genes that were significant. The results showed a pattern of epigenetics throughout all stages and when analyzing the pathways, there was a correlation of the signaling and metabolic pathways of lung adenocarcinoma and epigenetics. Within this study, it was concluded that through the integration of epigenetic information of genes can be used to understand diseases and also to identify them. This could mean that the progression of cancer is also associated with genetic mutations. Epigenetic genes could play a major role in how cancer develops and the spread of it. This article discusses epigenetics and it relates closely to the article â€Å"Conserved Epigenomic Signals in Mice and Humans Reveal Immune Basis of Alzheimer’s Disease† (2015). Though the disease is different, it still shows that there is a correlation between epigenetics and possible diseases for which genes are already coded to cause these diseases. Also in this article, while research was conducted on mice, transcription and epigenetic changes were recorded while the animal was in different stages of the disease. The information that was presented fits with some of the information from prior readings because there seems to be an evident mutation that is functional within the genes which allows for researchers to predetermine whether or not a human’s DNA might be coded to have these diseases. It is fascinating to learn more about how it is possible that finding these mutated genes could possibly lead to the treatment of these various diseases in the future. It also makes one curious if all human cells are already coded through mutations and variations to see if someone is predisposed to also having certain

Cultural Diversity in the U.S Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Cultural Diversity in the U.S - Assignment Example The American Civil Law however endeavors to protect the interest of the Native Americans from falling prey to discriminatory practices of the American people (Civil Rights and the Native Americans, n.d.). The treatment offered to the Native Americans thus seems quite inconsistent who become more susceptible to the effects of cultural relativity. Inconsistent Public Policies towards Native Americans The government of United States endeavors to maintain a strong binding relationship with the Native Americans. To this end, some of the legislators belonging to the United States congress have shown increased interest in setting better educational, health and working standards for the American Indians living within close proximity of their territories. These activities reflect that some Americans desire to make the natives enjoy those amenities which were once kept reserved for the American people. However, the Native Americans are increasingly falling prey to problems of cultural relativi ty and ethnocentrism as reflected by the attitudes of some fellow Americans. These groups of Americans suffer from the fear that large amount of Native Americans would gradually disturb the unity of the nation and hence poses a considerable threat to the American community. A majority of the American people believe that the due influx of Native Americans in the American community have led to the growth of crime and even had contributed to the birth of regional languages thus creating cultural barriers. However during the period of 2006 significant demonstrations were organized to promote the betterment of the ethnic groups comprising of Latin American people belonging to different regions. There have been similar erroneous remarks made on Native Americans as exploiters and self gainers. The Native Americans like Mexicans contribute around 29 billion dollars on an annual basis to America’s tax resources in return for the services received by them. The Native Americans are also observed as economic burdens of America. However, this stands false for the Mexican population living in America is the best cultivators of fruits and vegetables significant for the American economy. Moreover the Native Americans are quick adaptors of the English language and honor the multi-cultural facet of the American region. In the region of California however the immigrant population coming from Latin American countries faced fierce stance with denial of public support in matters related to health and education. During the period of 1994 the United States government headed by Bill Clinton took further steps to seal the entry points of Mexican people to United States. Estimates show that around $2.5 billion are expended by the Canadian government on programs directed to the betterment of the Native Americans. This service rendered by the Canadian government does not gain enough ground for Latin Americans are still kept away from being integrated to the culture of the state. Th e attempt of the Canadian government to bridge the economic gap between the American and Native Americans were viewed by others as activities, which promoted cultural disintegration. Native Americans thus became a victim of ‘cultural relativism’ (Native Americans and Public Policy, n.d.; Trigger, Washburn, Edward, 1996, p.435; D'Angelo & Douglas, 2009, pp.69-78).

High school Essay Example for Free

High school Essay Tamil Nadu is regarded to be one of India’s star performers in the sector of elementary education. The results of the 2001 Census show that Tamil Nadu has attained third position behind Kerala and Maharashtra both in terms of overall and female literacy. It recorded close to 100 per cent gross enrolment ratio (GER) at primary and upper primary levels based on 2007 estimates. A major legislative effort for the universalisation of education in line with the constitutional mandate has been the introduction of the Tamil Nadu Compulsory Education Act, 1994. Under this Act it is the duty of the government to provide the necessary infrastructure (schools and teachers) for ensuring universalisation of elementary education. Parents are also liable to be fined if they do not send their wards to school, though this rule is not very strictly enforced as most of the children not going to school come from poor backgrounds. Tamil Nadu’s high enrolment statistics are also the result of the number of welfare schemes that the State government has introduced in the elementary education sector. The large number of missionary and private schools are also playing a role in the spread of education. The government provides textbooks, uniforms and noon meals to the pupils making it a State where the per child spending is much higher than in educationally backward States such as Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and others and is higher than the all-India average. The State is making an endeavor to provide primary schools within a one km radius of human habitations with a population of 300 and above to increase their accessibility. It is also a State that has actually spent most of the funds allocated to it by the Centre under the SSA scheme, in contrast to States like UP, Bihar and Assam that have huge unspent amounts. Tamil Nadu students stood first in the country in mathematics, language and reading comprehension skills according to the national mid-term achievement survey of Class III children commissioned by the NCERT in collaboration with the MHRD and the SCERT and SSA wings of the States recently. But it has come to light that local bodies like corporations and municipalities are not fully utilizing money collected as education tax as a percentage of property tax under the Tamil Nadu Elementary Education Act and this is affecting the quality and quantity of formal education provision at the grassroots level. While the general literacy rate in Tamil Nadu as per 2001 data is 73. 5%, wide disparities exist across districts, gender, and area of residence as well as social grouping. The literacy rate of the SC and ST populations are consistently lower in all the districts. The retention rate within and after the primary school level is also not very impressive and there is a high percentage of repeaters. This is particularly so in the case of the STs and SCs. It is to overcome this discrepancy between education offered in different kinds of schools, between rural and urban schools and to overcome other numerous ills that have crept into the education system—such as arbitrary collection of fees, induction of daily waged, inadequately qualified para teachers, rote learning, examination stress, problems related to the medium of instruction and so on—that the State government constituted the Muthukumaran Committee, which submitted its report in 2007. This committee had the mandate to work out a framework of a uniform pattern of education in Tamil Nadu and to make recommendations for improving its quality. The report of the Committee recommends only one autonomous board, The Tamil Nadu State Secondary School Education Board, instead of the existing four State level boards—Matriculation, Anglo-Indian, Oriental and State Board. Schools coming under this integrated Board would follow a common syllabus ensuring an equitable school education in the State not conferring any undue advantages with regard to admission into higher educational institutions for students completing their school education from one particular Board. Equitable standard education is to be provided by a Common School or Neighbourhood School system, which with uniform syllabi would help to ‘decommercialise’ educational institutions and put an end to many a private management that does not feel sufficiently accountable to society in this crucial sector. The spiraling cost of education starting at the nursery level is cementing caste-class and rural-urban divisions. A common school system using the mother tongue as a medium of instruction would make equal education accessible to all without discrimination. A common school system also means a common examination pattern. The report of the Committee advocates a reasonable teacher-student ratio of not more than 1:30 and doing away with faulty textbooks and a system of rote learning. It emphasizes the promotion of analytical and rational skills that would equip the students to learn by themselves; a testing and evaluation pattern that involves the application of concepts learnt rather than mere reproduction of facts. The school syllabus should not overload students with information but instead kindle their interest in the subject and teach them how to search for more information and conceptualize it. Traditional knowledge should be incorporated and made part of school education. Evaluation should be comprehensive and not just of academic achievements, and that too only marks based. Evaluation should include an assessment of student abilities and performance in academics, the arts, sports and games, values, reading habits, character, conduct and other extra-curricular activities. Schools should not only lay emphasis on academic subjects but also on moral education. Here the Committee suggests that it may be better to have a progress book with entries made from time to time and also periodically sent to the parents so that they may be made aware of their child’s progress. Regular consultation with parents about their wards’ progress and achievements and educational goals is a must. A sheet of paper containing marks obtained in public exams is not enough to understand a student’s development and potential. If the marks obtained in only one exam are going to decide the person’s admission into an institute of higher learning then all stress is on preparing for this exam neglecting other exams and activities. The chance or temptation to indulge in malpractices is also high. Marks obtained in a one-time exam also are no accurate reflection of the student’s actual knowledge and achievement level and potential. Treating exams and marks as more important than life itself has meant the death of many a student. Finally, children belonging to linguistic minorities should be allowed to gain instruction in their respective mother tongue, while all students in standards 5 or 8 ought to have a specific level of knowledge in Tamil and English so that these languages can be used for communication. No student should be dropped and he/she should be allowed to grow in the chosen field of interest and in accordance with their individual capability. A simple pass or fail should certainly not be a deciding factor in a person’s life. While the government has accepted the notion of one board for school education other major recommendations of the Muthukumaran Committee on education reforms are being sidelined by the State government. In fact, some government run schools are changing the medium of instruction to English and not all schools teach Tamil, though this is compulsory as per current State education law. Moreover, schools with an eye on the results in board exams and aiming at future lucrative career possibilities for their students are introducing modern European languages like French (German is waiting to be introduced on a larger scale on the school level) that are supposedly high scoring subjects in comparison to Tamil, which is seen to be difficult even by those whose mother tongue it is. There is almost everywhere an exodus from government run schools to aided or private schools because of the perceived better quality and the lure of an English medium education, which is regarded by parents to be necessary in today’s world. It is to remain viable and not lose out in this competition for students that government run schools are increasingly offering English medium instruction also, although the English medium sections are permitted only on a self-financing basis. The non-acceptance of important recommendations by the Muthukumaran committee is thus in line with the general pro-globalisation trend in the Tamil Nadu economy as a whole. Current education system Why is India still a developing country and what is stopping it from being a developed country? India’s education system as a stumbling block towards its objectives of achieving inclusive growth. India is going to experience a paradox of nearly 90 million people joining the workforce but most of them will lack requiste skills and the mindset for productiveemployment according to a report in DNA. India has about 550 million people under the age of 25 years out of which only 11% are enrolled in tertiary institutions compared to the world average of 23%. . I will be focussing on how the education system’s failure is leading to another social issue of income inequality and hence, suggest certain policies to improve India’s education system and reduce inequality. Problems and drawbacks The really critical aspect of Indian public education system is its low quality. The actual quantity of schooling that children experience and the quality of teaching they receive are extremely insufficient ingovernment schools. A common feature in all government schools is the poor quality of education, with weak infrastructure and inadequate pedagogic attention. What the government is not realising right now is that education which is a source of human capital can create wide income inequalities. It will be surprising to see how income inequalities are created within the same group of educated peopleSo if the government does not improve education system particularly in rural areas the rich will become richer and the poor will get poorer. Hence, it is imperative for the government to correct the blemishes in India’s education system which will also be a step towards reducing income inequality. Another reason for poor quality of education is the poor quality of teachers in government schools . Government schools are unable to attract good quality teachers due to inadequate teaching facilities and low salaries. The government currently spends only 3% of its GDP on education which is inadequate and insufficient. To improve the quality of education , the government needs to spend more money from its coffers on education. Most economists feel that the only panacea to the ills of the public schooling system is the voucher scheme. Under the voucher system, parents are allowed to choose a school for their children and they get full or partial reimbursement for the expenses from the government. But however, the voucher system will further aggravate the problem of poor quality of education in government schools. Such a system will shift resources from government schools to private schools. This will worsen the situation of government schools which are already under-funded. Moreover, if the same amount given as vouchers can be used to build infrastructure in schools then the government can realize economies of scale. For example- The centre for civil society is providing vouchers worth Rs 4000 per annum to 308 girls. This means that the total amount of money given as vouchers is Rs 1232000. If the same amount can be used to construct a school and employ high quality teachers who are paid well then a larger section of the society will enjoy the benefit of education. A school can definitely accommodate a minimum of 1000 students. I hope government takes certain appropriate policy measures to improve the education system otherwise inequalities are going to be widespread and India’s basic capabilities will remain stunted. Let us strengthen the case for a stronger education system. Conclusion Certain policy measures need to be taken by the government. The basic thrust of government education spending today must surely be to ensure that all children have access to government schools and to raise the quality of education in those schools. One of the ways in which the problem of poor quality of education can be tackled is through common schooling. This essentially means sharing of resources between private and public schools. Shift system is one of the ways through which common schooling can be achieved. The private school can use the resources during the first half of the day and the government school can use it during the second half. It is important to remember that the quality of education is directly linked to the resources available and it is important for the government to improve resource allocation to bring about qualitative changes in the field of education. Common schooling is one of the ways in which government can use limited resources in an efficient way and thus improve resource allocation.

Analytical Review Of From Out Of The Shadows History Essay

Analytical Review Of From Out Of The Shadows History Essay From Out of the Shadows is a study of Mexican women, who had migrated to America before the World Wars, their struggles and achievements. Vicki L. Ruiz is a professor of History and Chicano/Latino studies , University of California and has authored a number of books including the well known book Cannery Women, Cannery Lives. Vicki L. Ruiz exposes the strife the Mexican women had to face after crossing the border early in the century. The book tells us about the endeavors of these courageous and enterprising women and the society they helped to build in an alien land, quite often under hostile conditions. In her book she writes From Out of the Shadows focuses on the claiming of personal and public spaces across generations (Ruiz, xi). Ruiz was motivated to chronicle this aspect of American history by the stories she heard as a child from her mother and grand-mother. Her imagination was kindled by the images of village life, the difficult living conditions and the discrimination women faced in those days. From Out of the Shadows also emphasizes the different types of political activism in which the Mexican-American women participated and created public awareness, which included fighting for the cause of civil rights and organized protests against the Vietnam War. For a newer edition of this book, Ruiz has added a preface that carries on the story of the Mexican womens experience in America and traces the growth of Latino history. The book describes the first exodus of women crossing the border from Mexico to California seeking refuge from tyrannical husbands or in search of a better life earlier on in the century. Over one million Mexican men and women migrated al otro lado between 1910 and 1930 (Ruiz: 6) Ruiz throws light on the effort made by protestant groups in an attempt to Americanize the Mexicans but whose efforts generally failed because the Mexican women relied on their own community groups like the rural community groups, religious groups and labor unions to help them absorb into mainstream American society. The book talks about the conflict that arose between mothers and daughters when the daughters were forbidden to use makeup and the mothers insisted that teenage girls attend a dance or go for social outings like movies with a chaperone. What this book reveals is a portrayal of a distinct culture in America, one that has slowly gained momentum and richness in the past several years. From Out of the Shadows is a significant contribution to the largely unrecorded and undocumented history of Mexican-American women. She has chosen to integrate the cultural diversity based on gender, class, region and generational experiences. She has used a variety of sources in her research such as records of census, journals and scholarly texts. In the introduction, Ruiz tells her readers that Mexican women have made history, no matter what their occupations. However, somehow their tales have remained in the shadows (Ruiz xi). In her work, Ruiz has tried to address the issues of interpreting these unheard voices and defining strength within individuals, families and communities. Conventionally the history of America has focused on the Northern European immigrants and their progeny as the settlers in a male dominated, capitalist society. In her writing, Ruiz demonstrates the hardships the Mexican women faced in their journey to become a part of the American community. Ruiz draws upon the lives of women, their dreams, aspirations and decisions and gives these issues a platform. She examines the influx of Mexican women into the States before World War II. Her writing also illustrates their responses to the pressures and challenges of adjusting to the newly forming American culture and Americanization of society in general. The women had to live with altered social values during the inter-war period and the end of young Mexican American women who took to chaperoning. The increasing political and social activism of Mexican women and their role in resisting financial oppression as well as their espousal of the cause of feminism through the 1960s and 70s has been faithfully chronicled in the pages of this book. As yet not much has been documented and published about the activities and importance of Mexican women in twentieth century America. In that perspective this book may be considered as a pioneering attempt to record the contribution of Mexican women in building a multicultural American society. The book is full of interesting anecdotes and tales of how the women struggled to make sense of an alien world, into which they had migrated, and of their efforts to make their lives and of those around them meaningful. The thoughtful way in which personal interviews of Mexican women with very long memories and lots of stories to tell, adds poignancy to the text. The narrative increases the readers admiration for the courage and doggedness displayed by these women in their struggle to realize their rights and for a chance to get equal opportunities, work and wages. To present an unbiased analysis of the book one must draw attention towards some of the draw backs in the book as well. While this is a monumental effort to chronicle the contribution of Mexican women and the integration of Latino people to the American society it becomes hard to comprehend the frequent use of jargon that impacts the flow of the narrative. In portions the author becomes too involved in the account and loses sense objectivity and neutral research. Ruiz, however, admits that she has written from the heart (p.xii) and this kind of impassioned approach may appeal to a good many of her readers. Readers looking at this book as a traditional source of historical data may find this approach subjective and a bit unconventional. It must be emphasized here that the data collected and recorded in this book is of great importance to students of American history and to all those generations of Mexican-American people who have now become assimilated in the multicultural American so ciety. The book will find a ready readership amongst scholars in who are taking courses or researching in the areas of Diaspora, immigration and ethnic studies. It is also an asset for teachers who have to teach courses in this filed. This book is of special interest to women all over the world and to anyone who wishes to learn about the Mexican settlers in America and the contribution Mexican-American women have made to the development, organization and sustenance of Latino culture in the American society. Through the pages of this book Vicki Ruiz has truly rescued the Mexican- American woman and drawn them From Out of the Shadows. Work Cited: Ruiz, V.L. 2008. From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in Twentieth Century America. New York: Oxford University Press. Print. .

Discuss The Importance Of Ethics And Social Responsibility

Discuss The Importance Of Ethics And Social Responsibility Ethics also known as moral is determined by the class of philosophy to addresses about morality i.e. concepts such as good vs. bad, right vs. wrong and matters of justice, love, peace and virtue. The term is used to indicate how individuals or organization choose to conduct themselves in relation to universal moral behavior and actions. Ethics involve choosing actions that are right and proper and just. The individual behaviour can be right or wrong, proper or improper and the managerial or individual decisions can be fair or unfair. Ethics are vital in businesses and all aspects of living. The foundation of society is built on Ethics. Without ethical principles a business/society is bound to be unsuccessful sooner or later. Business Ethics look at ethical philosophy , moral or ethical problems and deal with issues concerning the moral and ethical rights, duties and corporate authority between a corporation and its shareholders, workers, clients, media, government, provider and dealer. Ethics are connected to all discipline of organization including accounting information, human resource management, sales and marketing, fabrication, logical belongings information and talent, global business and financial system. Social responsibility can be defined as the responsibility of the organisation to operate in ways that provides both its individual benefit like making a profit and also the benefit of its stakeholders- those people and groups who are affected in one way or another by the behaviour of the organisation. For example, an industrial chemical plant has a responsibility not only towards its customers, but also towards the shareholders and the board of directors, and to those people who live in the surrounding area. This responsibility can be negative, meaning there is exemption from blame or liability, or it can be positive, meaning there is a responsibility to act beneficently. Lets take an another Example, in corporate company a chief executive make expenditures on reducing pollution beyond the amount that is in the best interests of the corporation or that is required by law in order to contribute to the social objective of improving the environment. There are lot many benefits to any o rganisation of being social responsible. First and foremost benefit to organization is that to ensure the customers, suppliers and the local community knows what you are doing. Publicity like this can be a key part of using CSR to win contracts. People want to buy from businesses they respect. Through this way your business reputation will be growing day by day and it encourage customers to stay with you and do business with your company. Compare and contrast the difference between ethics from a personal perspective to one established viewpoint of ethics from an organisational perspective. Personal perspective view of ethics Peoples lives are built on moral foundation of personal ethics. They support in conclusion making, guides people to contribute measures that helps to meet their inner moral principles. Ethics are used by people in solving problems in everyday life and also help for determining correct versus incorrect. Ethics are not absolute rules but they are developed during life based on range of factors. Defining personal ethics are a difficult venture for many people as they think their inner voice is all the ethical guidance they require. Perception plays a great role in what one finds ethical. By organisation view, ethics plays a vital role that defines the way of representation, way of talking, body language, attitude etc. The lack of personal ethics gives a negative response in managerial processes. For example, if a company is launching the product with risk taking, then the manager should be fully ensured with correct way of personal ethics, as the product may be failed to attract custome r if marketing manager lacks in personal ethics. So, it is clear that personal ethics makes a man to take a right managerial decision. A standard way of understanding ethical decision-making is to understand the philosophical basis for making these decisions. People and organizations need each other.The written and unwritten codes of principles and morals that administer decisions and actions inside a business are known as Business Ethics. In the Corporate world, the organizations traditions sets principles for determining the differentiation involving excellent and dreadful judgment making and manners. Discuss four benefits and four disadvantages of social responsibility to an organisation. Benefits of social responsibility Providing good value for money If the management and workers of the organization are well social responsible for internal and external environment of the organization then it would result in best productivity and obviously the good image of the organization. The biggest power of the any organization among all resources is the human resource thats why if human resource is so well behaved with good ethical ways the value of any organization will be good enough. Broadening the futuristic concept of business If the organization is giving best output to the public demand satisfying their needs with latest trends and technology, it means that the business of the organization is good and as public response is excellent the organization would have better future aspects. This all happen due to the organizations social responsibility towards their employees and environment factors. Also workers stay longer if the business has high-quality status. For example, MC Donalds is giving best variety of food in hygienically manner, where all the perception of individual match such as price, food quality, taste etc. Their business is so good that we can find its outlet anywhere in the world. MC Donalds is popular because they are socially responsible to the environment and for their work. Â ·.Good relationships with local authorities help doing business easier. Disadvantages of social responsibility towards organisation Everything has some prons and crons, similar to social responsibility where so many people argued on the benefits and disadvantages of social responsibility. First the most important is that the organization is running for profit maximization mostly, the social responsibility shows the fundamental misconception of the character and nature of a free economy. Business functions are moreover economic rather than social if come to the practical way and it is judged by economic criteria alone. This point of view comes to the employees mind most of the time leading to not to concentrate much in their work which automatically results in bad productivity. The role of corporation is to make a profit and maximize social welfare through the efficiency of the employees. In some cases where employees are not much social responsible for the organization than it would be very difficult for the managers or corporation to do the best out of the work and lead the group, resulting in bad image of the organization and bad internal environment There is the concern for the efficient use of national resources, because of social costs; profitability is not necessarily the best measure of effectiveness which affects the organization goal. Lack of interest of the employees towards social responsible in their business also not good for the organization Competency sometimes makes the stake holders to go beyond the limit forgetting their social responsibility that harm the nature and organization too. Being socially responsible costs organisations money, and sometimes the bill is huge. Therefore the organization think to do for profit maximizing rather than be social responsible. Discuss social responsibility barriers that inhibit an organisation Barriers that inhabit an organization Social responsibility has certain costs. Its not the natural thing to be responsible. Greed and selfishness work against social responsibility. When greed and selfishness become higher values, social responsibility goes out the window. One of the problems with our culture is that we worship wealth. People who have a lot of money are heroes to us and we strive to emulate them. We see wealth and power as an indicator of merit and virtue. But people who are rich and want to be richer, and corporate and industrial leaders whose jobs are to put the prosperity of their companies at the top of their priorities, often trivialize social responsibility, and this sets the tone for the whole culture. In social responsibility every individual in the organisation is not social responsible towards the work, it depends upon the people behaviour and motivation level within the organisation. Today every people think about wealth rather than social responsibility that they possess towards the organisat ion. This is the barrier in the organisation. For e.g.:- in an organisation if certain facility is lacking for the staff then staff will suffer and this management must be think which in reality they dont. This lacking of facility may affect the work out going on within the organisation. Flow of information in the organisation should be well enough to avoid any conflicts between the staff but it arises due to the problems that every employee are not social responsible. A vendor to the company first think towards the money he/she will get from doing particular kind of work.

Class Consciousness in Country Music :: Music Musical Class Essays

Class Consciousness in Country Music The term class consciousness, like any term which attempts to define group mentality, is somewhat imprecise. This lack of precision, of course, lends itself to the provocation of scholarly dispute. Historians of the labor movement in the United States have written volumes about both the meaning of class consciousness and the question of whether American workers possess it, however defined. While there are some demurs, most historians, including the non-Marxists, have accepted a Marxist interpretation of the term "class consciousness."1 Generally, Marxists insist that class consciousness is composed of two elements, a recognition by a particular group that they occupy a common, usually inferior, position within a society, and a commitment to changing that position through some type of political activity. "Class consciousness," according to an oft-cited definition by the English Marxist historian E.P. Thompson, "happens when some men, as a result of common experiences (inherited or sha red) feel and articulate the identity of their interests as between themselves, and as against other men whose interests are different from (and usually opposed to) theirs. The class experience is largely determined by the productive relations into which men are born or enter voluntarily.2 Regardless of how class consciousness is defined, most historians of the labor movement in the United States, Marxists and non-Marxists alike, agree that American workers never developed it. Their explanations of why this is so, however, vary. Some of the more acceptable explanations for this lack of class consciousness among American laborers are the racial and ethnic minorities within the work force, the greater social mobility of the American worker compared to that of his European counterpart and the generally higher wages received by American workers, which it is claimed, allows them to join the middle class. Recent historians have identified as a cause republican virtues nourished by the American Revolution which established a political democracy in the United States before the coming of the Industrial Revolution.3 The failure of American workers to become class conscious in the Marxist sense does not, however, indicate a willingness to accept the status quo. Rather American workers were acutely aware of their inferior economic and social status. The method they chose to improve their status was trade unionism, not politics. Trade unionism sprang from what Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor termed class awareness, a camaraderie among workers devoid of political consideration. This class awareness of American laborers, historians contend, is evident in the long, arduous and ultimately successful struggle to build a trade union movement.

Bill Gates :: essays research papers

Bill Gates We read books for a number of reasons but usually because we want to or we have to. When you pick up a book it falls into one of three types, dependent on whether it is a want to or a have to type of book. First there's the kind of book you pick up and like the look of but then the first chapter is so bad that you have to put it down because you are either too confused by the plot or you discover it has been written in some obscure untranslatable language. The second type is where the first chapter is slightly disappointing but it is worth pursuing so you read on. These books are often the type you recommend to friends although you have only the basic sketch as to what they are about (such as any pulp fiction novel - you've read the story somewhere before but you are on holiday so it is either this or the guide book). The third type of book is a rare breed indeed. This is the book you read and then read and then read some more. It is the type of book that you miss things for. If you like computers and want to know more about them, about the history, and about the most important figure in this industry, then this is definitely "the third type of book." The book that I was able to read was Gates by Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews. It was about how man named Bill Gates became the foundation of computing industry and how he reinvented an industry- and made himself the richest man in America. William (Bill) Gates is the computer industry's youngest billionaire. As president and CEO of Microsoft, he has made several important contributions to the world of technology. Most people would probably picture him as being a computer programmer but not with holding the position of chair and chief executive officer (CEO) of a corporation. Actually, Bill Gates is both a programmer and CEO. To talk about Bill Gates one has to talk about the history of Microsoft. Gates' family was financially well off. His father, William H. Gates II, is a prominent attorney. His mother, Mary, is the director of First Interstate Bank. Early on in life, Gates' parents placed him into Lakeside, an academically challenging private school. While at Lakeside, Gates met his close friend and future business partner Paul Allen. Together they entered the world of programming at Lakeside. It all started on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, where one of the

Ri Paper For Internal Circulation Only Raffles Institution 2012 Essay

Passage 1 1. What is the writer hoping to emphasise by italicising ‘does not’ and ‘cannot’ in line 6? [1] Lifted â€Å"Just because money does not buy happiness does not mean money cannot buy happiness,† says Elizabeth Dunn, a social psychologist and assistant professor at the University of British Columbia. Paraphrased The author hopes to emphasise †¦ (the contrast / difference between) what money often fails to do but actually has the potential to achieve. {MUST attempt to explain ‘does not’ and ‘cannot’. Merely saying that there is a difference/contrast is stating the obvious. E.g. ‘Does not’ is different from ‘cannot’. = 0m.} 1 2. Using your own words as far as possible, explain how we use money wrongly (line 8). [2] Lifted a. we tend to value GOODS over experiences, b. OURSELVES over others, Paraphrased a. People tend to think that commodities/things {must be tangible} are more important than experiences, b. People value themselves over others/self-centred†¦ OR spend on themselves rather than others, c. THINGS over people. c. People prefer spending on objects rather than people. d. [Inferred] We are spending on temporary pursuits and cravings that tend to disappear over time. {MUST capture the comparison (the reason it is wrong is because the preference is wrong). Need not follow the sequence in the answer scheme.} 3-4 points – 2 marks 1-2 points – 1 mark d. †¦ the spending that makes us happy, it turns out, is often spending where the money vanishes and leaves something INEFFABLE in its place. 1 For Internal Circulation Only 3. Using your own words as far as possible, explain three reasons why experiences are ‘inherently more social’ (line 28) [3] Lifted As experiences are inherently more social – when we vacation or eat out or go to the movies it is usually with other people, †¦we are liable also to RELIVE the experience when we see those people again. And past experiences can work as a sort of social adhesive even with people who did not PARTICIPATE with us, providing stories and conversational fodder in a way that a new watch or speedboat rarely can. In addition, †¦experiences do not usually trigger the same sort of PERNICIOUS comparisons that material possessions do†¦ (lines 2835) Paraphrased a. [Inferred] Experiences naturally involve interaction with people and 1 b. We are likely to recall / revisit / reminisce / recollect the experience when we meet those people again. c. People can also bond with people who were not present / strangers / others (through the sharing of anecdotes/conversational material). 1 1 d. Experiences do not cause hurtful comparisons†¦ OR experiences do not make people envious/jealous/ [inferred] insecure. 1 {MUST capture negative connotation.} 1m per point for any 3 of the above points. Maximum 3m. 4. Why does the writer use ‘seeming’ in the phrase ‘even for seeming essentials like cars, houses and, clothes’ (line 41)? Use your own words as far as possible. [1] Lifted Paraphrased Much of the impetus for a. Such needs are (could be) perceived to be crucial for discretionary spending everyday life even though they are not. OR†¦ even for seeming essentials like cars, b. Suggests that the author has doubts about whether houses, and clothes†¦ these objects are crucial. OR†¦ OR We might MISTAKE that c. The  writer feels that it is wrong to associate happiness with material/luxury goods. motivation for happiness, or for having a better life, but it is driven by something else, a human {Answer MUST include the idea of doubt and the need to compete or to fit explanation. in. Denied: sarcasm, cynicism, mockery Accepted: sceptical/scepticism (on its own), sceptical about this.} 1 2 For Internal Circulation Only 5. Explain what the writer means by ‘Talking about money and happiness in the same breath, it turns out, is not necessarily a surrender to crass materialism.’ (lines 47-48) [2] Lifted Talking about money and happiness in the SAME BREATH, it turns out, is not necessarily a SURRENDER to CRASS materialism†¦ Paraphrased a. Connecting / Linking money and happiness†¦ OR Talking about / discussing money and happiness together†¦ b. is in reality not always giving in to†¦ OR a submission to†¦ OR being a victim of†¦ c. a vulgar desire for material goods. OR excessive/shallow desire for luxury goods. 3 points – 2 marks 1-2 points – 1 mark. Passage 2 6. â€Å"If you are a single male driving around in the Ferrari with nobody next to you, it is a glaring omission.† (lines 14-15) a) Why does the writer refer to the Ferrari in line 15? [1] Pt Lift (not possible) Other trophies simply do not bring the payoff one expects. Says Loewenstein, â€Å"If you are a single male driving around in the Ferrari with nobody next to you, it is a glaring omission.† Inference a. A Ferrari is an example of a ‘trophy’. b. A Ferrari is a well-known example of a highly desired product. c. A Ferrari signifies high status / wealth in society. {Any of the above will be accepted.} 1 3 For Internal Circulation Only b) What does ‘glaring omission’ (line 15) imply here? Pt Lift (not possible) Other trophies simply do not bring the payoff one expects. Says Loewenstein, â€Å"If you are a single male driving around in the Ferrari with nobody next to you, it is a glaring omission.† [2] Inference [Inferred from ‘glaring’] a. It is strongly believed/popularly accepted that/very obvious {‘Emphasise’ and ‘highlight’ are not accepted because the question is not asking for the writer’s intention.} [Inferred from ‘omission’, reinforcing stereotypes.] b. that driving a Ferrari/luxury sports car will attract women / ladies / females / companions / partners. {Direct paraphrase of the quote is not acceptable.} 1 1 7. ‘A life that was constantly happy was not a good life’ (lines 30-31). Explain why this is a paradox. [2] Pt Lift â€Å"Part of the meaning of life is to have highs and lows. A life that was constantly happy was not a good life.† Inference [Must capture the clash.] a. We aim/wish/expect for maximum/optimum happiness in our lives all the time AND any of the following [Must capture what ‘good life’ entails.] b. Yet, a good life is one that has ups and downs, not just ups OR c. Yet, a good life is one with adequate/comparable negative experiences, not just positive experiences OR d. Yet, it is not just happiness that is ‘good’ but the ‘bad’ (of lows) is also seen to be ‘good’ {The key idea here is to question the value of ‘constant’ as a ‘good’ thing.} Answers will get either 2 marks or 0 mark. 1 1 4 For Internal Circulation Only 8. Summary Using material from paragraphs 2 to 5, summarise what Matthew Herper has to say about why wealth does not bring a constant sense of joy, why happiness is overrated, and the relationship between money and happiness. Wealth does not bring a constant sense of joy as†¦ Pt a. Lift Re-phrase â€Å"Part of the reason is that people are not people do not know how to use their money very good at FIGURING out what to do to get happiness with the money,† (lines 6-7) OR {Main idea of a lack of knowledge people are incompetent when it comes to understanding how to use money about how to manage money.} People generally OVERESTIMATE (line they have unrealistic expectations of the 8) {Students must capture the idea that it is off the mark.} the amount of long-term PLEASURE they will get from a given object. (lines 89) The way people spend money can make them less happy. (lines 9-10) Other trophies simply do not bring the (line 14) b. c. d. e. (Enduring) joy / happiness / positive outcomes that they can derive from something/object. The way people spend money can make them less happy. Other possessions also may not deliver f. g. {Do not accept ‘prizes’ / ’plaques’ / ’rewards’} PAYOFF one expects. (line 14) the rewards / utility / happiness we hope / wish to have. The central problem is that the human Next, our brain is accustomed to brain becomes CONDITIONED to pleasant/happy/joyful experiences as positive experiences. (lines 15-16) OR You can get used to anything, be it hanging by your toenails or making millions of dollars a day. (lines 19-20) Getting a chunk of unexpected money registers as a good thing, but as time passes, the response WEARS off. (lines 16-18) Mood may be set more by heredity†¦ (line 20) h. with time, their effect on us weakens/dies off/subsides. i. Lastly, our happiness level may depend on our genes 5 For Internal Circulation Only j. k. than by anything else†¦ (line 20) But this raises another question. How IMPORTANT is happiness anyway? (line 23) People with chronic illnesses describe themselves as happy, but they would still pay large sums for better health. And although healthy individuals are not much happier than quadriplegics, they would pay large sums of money to keep the use of their limbs. (lines 23-26) Some of life’s most SATISFYING experiences (line 26) do not bring happiness. (line 27) â€Å"Part of the meaning of life is to have highs (line 30) and lows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (line 30) A life that was CONSTANTLY happy (line 30) was not a GOOD life.† (lines 30-31) more than other factors. OR predominantly / mostly [Inferred] However, the significance / necessity / crucial nature of happiness is still in doubt. [Inferred] Even supposedly happy people find happiness insufficient [Inferred] as they are willing to pay to ensure certain privileges†¦ OR health. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. Besides, some of the most gratifying/rewarding experiences do not make us happy. A meaningful life should also have its joyous and sad moments. A life that is always / perpetually happy is not fulfilling. t. u. {Do not award for point s in the absence of point r.} However, there may be at least one Yet, there remains a significant link IMPORTANT relationship between between money and happiness in that money and happiness†¦ (lines 31-32) †¦ happy people tend to have higher happy people earn more. incomes later on in their lives. (lines 3334) OR So, while money may not help make people happy, being happy may help them make money. (lines 34-35) Total: 21 points, 11 words that cannot be lifted Points ≠¥ 14 12 – 13 10 – 11 8–9 7 5–6 3–4 1–2 Marks 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 6 For Internal Circulation Only Wealth does not bring a constant sense of joy as†¦ people do not know how to use their money {a} and have unrealistic expectations {b} of the enduring joy that they can derive from something {c}. Other prized possessions {e} also may not deliver the rewards we wish to have {f}. Next, our brain is trained to be accustomed to pleasant experiences {g} as with time, their effect on us subsides {h}. However, the significance of happiness is still in doubt {k}. Even supposedly happy people find happiness insufficient {l} and are willing to pay to ensure their health {m}. Besides, some of the most gratifying experiences {n} do not make us happy {o}. A life that is always happy {r} is also not fulfilling {s}. Yet, there remains a significant link {t} between money and happiness – happy people earn more {u}. (16 points, 116 words) Vocabulary: 9. Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage. You may write your answer in one word or a short phrase. Passage 1 Futility (line 3) noun Philosophers and gurus, holy books and self-help manuals have all warned of the futility of equating material gain with true well-being Answer should capture: ï‚ · Does not achieve purpose  OR lacks meaning ï‚ · Negative connotation Intriguing (line 8) adj The intriguing explanation for the poor wealth-to-happiness exchange rate is that the problem is not money, it is us. Answer should capture: ï‚ · Arousing intense curiosity OR very interesting ï‚ · Intensity 1 mark ï‚ · Hopelessness ï‚ · Uselessness ï‚ · Lack of purpose or meaning ï‚ · Efforts are in vain Accepted ï‚ · Ineffectiveness ï‚ · Meaningless ï‚ · Pointlessness 0 marks ï‚ · Wastage ï‚ · Worthless venture ï‚ · Failure ï‚ · Improbable ï‚ · Inability ï‚ · Foolishness ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Ability to arouse intense curiosity Fascinating Deeply/very interesting Appeal strongly To captivate Very interesting and unexpected Very interesting and surprising ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Capture interest Arouse curiosity Extremely interesting Thoughtprovoking ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Interesting {indication of intensity is not very apparent} Exciting Puzzling Ignorance Surprising Curious Intellectually stimulating 7 For Internal Circulation Only impetus (line 40) noun Much of the impetus for discretionary spending – even for seeming essentials like cars, houses, and clothes – comes from a desire to send certain signals about our buying power and our tastes. Answer should capture: ï‚ · The idea of a push or drive. Quell (line 45) verb And $5,000 worth of new stuff, or even $500,000 worth, is unlikely to permanently quell that need. Answer should capture: ï‚ · Suppressing. 1 mark ï‚ · (Sustained) drive ï‚ · Push ï‚ · Motivation ï‚ · A moving force ï‚ · Impulse ï‚ · Stimulus ï‚ · Boost Accepted ï‚ · Catalyst ï‚ · Thrust ï‚ · Spur ï‚ · Spark ï‚ · Trigger ï‚ · Incentive 0 marks ï‚ · Impulsive ï‚ · Penchant ï‚ · Impetuous ï‚ · Attack ï‚ · Assail ï‚ · Reason ï‚ · ï‚ · Subdue Suppress ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Quiet Satiate / Quench Satisfy Appease Fulfil (incidental / part / whole) Allay Pacify Assuage ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Vanquish / Defeat {wrong context} Stop / Halt / Cease Remove Overthrow / Overcome Repress Oppress Extinguish Destroy / Annihilate Kill Dispel Diminish Literally Figuratively Approximately {the idea of estimation, not accepted} Ostensibly Actually Effectually Basically Passage 2 Virtually (line 1) adverb Surveys have found virtually the same level of happiness between the very rich individuals on the Forbes 400 and the Maasai herdsmen of East Africa. Answer should capture: ï‚ · For the most part. ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Nearly; Practically; Almost completely Almost wholly Almost entirely For the most part Just about ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Almost Effectively Essentially ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · 8 For Internal Circulation Only 10. Application Question: Drake Bennett talks about how pro-social spending can lead to happiness while Matthew Herper argues that money does not lead to happiness. Which writer’s views do you find more persuasive? Discuss the relevance of the arguments presented in both passages to you and your own society. [8] ï‚ · ï‚ · Answers that refer to only material from one passage would not be awarded more than 3 marks Explanation/evaluation should not just be a paraphrase of authors’ opinions Possible points From Passage 1 Bennett 1 Extract For deep-seated psychological reasons, when it comes to spending money, we tend to value goods over experiences, ourselves over others, things over people. (lines 9-11) Possible explanations & S’pore context Relevant : In a society that is economically driven more than anything else, this is not a surprise. This drive, whether marked by early economic migration, post-war rebuilding, separation from Malaysia or simply Government push, remains sustained, if not stronger. Material success is celebrated and sheer narcissistic consumption is validated by commercial as well as social media. Examples : 2011 SMU study – S’porean women are significantly more materialistic than their American counterparts. Relevance of 5 ‘C’ [cash, credit card, car, condo, country club] notations despite more than a decade of use Not so relevant: There is a rising trend of S’poreans spending on people rather than objects; in 2007, Finance Minister Tharman had indicated clear tax concessions for charity spending and to focus Singapore as a ‘philanthropy hub’. More people, not just the rich, are donating generous sums to their alumni schools, religious charities and other organizations catering to  specific demographics such as the elderly, physically disabled, terminally ill etc. There is also increase in charity through CSR, whether by global MNCs or S’pore GLCs. Of course, the real intention behind the generosity is debatable but as corporations form a substantial percentage in a small workforce, the evidence is mathematically there that ‘we, the management/employees of company X, Y, Z†¦ are altruistic and caring’. There is a rising trend of social entrepreneurs opening restaurants to help the less fortunate and former prisoners. 9 For Internal Circulation Only 2 †¦ higher â€Å"prosocial spending† – gifts for others and donations to charity – was indeed correlated with higher selfreported happiness. (lines 18-20) Relevant : well-known philanthropists such as popiah king Sam Goi, Elim Chew of 77th Street, remisier Peter Lim, Chinese Chamber of Commerce ex-president Chua Thian Poh, Mustaq Ahmad of Mustafa Centre etc have gone on record to say so on newspaper interviews. Hong Kong billionaire loves to donate to Singapore, especially for education charity, for the same purported reason. The education system also introduces students to prosocial spending. The persistence of students in doing charitable acts also suggests happiness and satisfaction obtained. Not so relevant: This is not a technical disagreement. While the actual amount on ‘pro-social spending’ could be higher, it is usually by a small group of uber-rich AND older persons. The majority of Singaporeans, especially youth, have gone on record in many academic surveys that high levels of nuanced selfish material consumption is more rewarding than engaging in others’ welfare. The intense hours and anxiety spent on studying/work necessarily need to see material purchases as a direct reward. Perhaps this material reward can THEN lead to social happiness by the envy/admiration they evoke – e.g. for a Prada handbag, for the possession of a prized virtual weapon for a Diablo 3 PC online game character. This could be an unintended consequence of a meritocratic society. Most parents would also largely spend on their children and obtain great satisfaction. 3 money spent on experiences – vacations or theatre tickets or meals out – makes you happier than money spent on material goods. (lines 21-23) Relevant: Points to support this will  be relatively difficult based on available Singapore studies. Typically, Singaporeans vacationing will covet purchases from overseas; theatre ticket purchases locally may indicate a need to belong to a certain materially privileged crowd rather than the sheer love of the arts. Nevertheless, any qualified evidence is welcome to support agreement however the difficulty is in establishing the level of happiness obtained. Not so relevant: Typical youth population notes that playing World Of Warcraft or getting a new iPhone 4S is far more meaningful; middle-aged men and their toy figure collections; ladies of all ages on record saying that splurging on themselves, expensive cosmetic treatment more rewarding than anything else – refer to any Friday URBAN section of The Straits Times. As mentioned in earlier point, first the money has to be spent on material goods and THEN the experience related or shared can increase your happiness as a corollary. 4 As experiences are inherently more social †¦ we are liable also to relive the experience Relevant : the rise of alumni associations locally, aided by social media, have greatly increased networking; heritage and memorabilia gatherings are on the rise with 10 For Internal Circulation Only when we see those people again. And past experiences can work as a sort of social adhesive even with people who did not participate with us, providing stories and conversational fodder in a way that a new watch or speedboat rarely can 5 (lines 28-32) Talking about money and happiness in the same breath, it turns out, is not necessarily a surrender to crass materialism – it can also be a route to a new and more humane way to think about vitally important things like consumption, satisfaction, investment, and value. (lines 47-50) rich persons being key drivers behind these projects. Various hobby groups would also be relevant such as cycling clubs, dragon boating groups or cosplay groups. Not so relevant: There are hobby groups based on material goods such as car clubs or clubs for owners of toys. Material goods can also generate a sense of nostalgia. Relevant: SMU Board chairman Ho Kwon Ping and wife Claire Chiang regularly  promote pro-social spending and business; they are seen as new-age positive materialists and intellectuals. Christina Ong, boss of homegrown Club 21, is known for widespread charity outreach and growing her business, with equal pleasure. Not so relevant: For the majority of Singaporeans who lack such education or reflective practices, blatant monetary and property acquisition is the norm and only leads to a vicious cycle of debt, miscalculated risk-taking in investment etc From Passage 2 1 Extract People generally overestimate the amount of long-term pleasure they will get from a given object. Sometimes, Loewenstein notes, the way people spend their money can actually make them less happy. (lines 8-10) Possible explanations & S’pore context Relevant: Just the consumer electronics industry here can attest to this; spending on upgrading of Apple smartphones from 3Gs to 4 to 4S; disposing of existing LCD for widescreen and 3D monitors, graphics cards in favour of new ones even though all are fully functional; rising number of secondhand computer parts shops is evidence of increasing technology shopping, which ultimately leaves one unhappy and insecure in the face of inability to keep up with the latest. While the tech spending may supposedly be mostly for males, the females display this ‘overestimation of long-term pleasure’ in copious fashion couture purchases and cosmetics. The increase in level of credit card debt is also an indication of less happiness as a result of overspending. Not to relevant: A basic level of income is necessary in Singapore to live a comfortable life. With a median household income of S$6000, anyone earning less would be hard pressed to live comfortably. In wired Singapore, having electronic goods is a necessity and can help attain more happiness in terms of education and interacting with peers. 2 The central problem is that the human brain becomes Relevant: Just looking at government financial decisions which affect the majority of the population – after a while, 11 For Internal Circulation Only conditioned to positive experiences. Getting a chunk of unexpected money registers as a good thing, but as time passes, the response wears off. An expected paycheck does not bring any buzz at all  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and does not contribute to overall happiness. (lines 15-19) Not so relevant: Since the Singapore population composition keeps changing with addition of foreigners, for the majority of the new citizens, this buzz is sustained. As Singaporeans also travel more, they might be more aware of societies which are not as fortunate as Singapore. Relevant: raising a family is universally seen as rewarding; the Government keeps promoting childbearing YET almost the first twenty years of a local child causes much stress for parents – working mothers post-maternity leave and the perennial maid/mother/mother-in-law management; young couples griping about childcare and choice primary schools; until the child is in a choice pri school and moving on to a premier sec sch, the parents put themselves under great duress. There is growing feeling that work-life balance is impossible and people are focusing more on their careers. Not so relevant: Hard to convince for majority local context but there is evidence that a positive change in attitudes to raising children is present, thanks to religious organizations, pro-family policies, national movements e.g. DadsForLife!. There are people who are giving up their careers for the sake of their children. There is also a push for women to return to the workforce after raising their children initially. 4 †¦ happy people tend to have higher incomes later on in their lives. So, while money may not help make people happy, being happy may help them make money. (lines 33-35) Relevant: There are professional who have given up their careers to take up their passions such as opening restaurants and bakeries, and they are doing well. There is an increasing number of entrepreneurs who pursue their passions. The main issue here is that happiness is independent of money and they do not have any links. Not so relevant In 2012, S’pore ranks high in benchmarks of physical comforts – healthiest country in the world, richest country in the world BUT ranks 90th in Happiness Index. Almost the entire local labour force can be on record for having technically higher incomes through their lives but the cost of living never lets up. Singaporeans are not happy or not happy enough but they keep making money anyway. the public becomes numb to the government’s welltimed monetary handouts and utility bill/town council fee reductions; the public expects more consultative engagement for sustained happiness. Recent feedback from the public seems to suggest that people overlook what is good in Singapore and focus on only the negative in terms of healthcare,  transportation, housing, and standards of living. Possible reasons could be a lack of sufficient information about life in other societies and countries. 3 Some of life’s most satisfying experiences do not bring happiness. For instance, having children actually makes people less happy over the short term (lines 26-28) 12

Internal, External Essay

| Identify the key actors and forces in the company’s marketing environment that affect its ability to serve its target customers effectively.The marketing environment can be defined as everything that surrounds an organization’s environment and can affect its operation.The business environment consists of the actors and forces that affect an organization’s ability to develop and maintain business with its targeted customers. These are the Micro Environment, the Macro environment and the internal environment.The micro-environment of an organization can best be understood as comprising all those other organizations and individuals who directly or indirectly affect the activities of the organization. The following key groups can be identified as: their suppliers, marketing intermediaries, customers, competitors and the public. * Neil Saab, PROCTER’s European head of laundry products development * Edward Arwell, PROCTER’s Chief Marketing Officer * scientists and over 60,000 consumers * Dutch press * PR Firm hired by PROCTER * Europe targeting consumers’ associations, washing machine manufacturers, retailers * and anybody else who would listen * Dutch consumers’ union * Six test institutesThe Macro environment is the non specific aspect in the company’s surrounding that have the potential impact on the organizations strategies. This environment comprises general trends and forces which may not immediately affect the relationships that a company has with its customers, suppliers and intermediaries, but sooner or later, macro-environmental change will alter the nature of these relationships. These are demographic forces, economic factors, natural, technological, political and socio cultural factors. * For ULTRA WASH, they had claimed a technological lead based on their formula and this was keeping them ahead * Environmental campaigners in Sweden were keen on the effects of the product * Freedom of speech allowed Procter to lobby openly against their competitorThe Internal Environment refers to those activities within the local influence which includes it marketing plans and strategies, how they are implemented and its research and development. Actors in the internal environment include: * David Fritz, ULTRA WASH’s global coordinator of detergent marketing * Top executives at ULTRA WASH Head Office in the UK * Other management and staff of ULTRA WASH Show how each of the actors/forces you have identified in question 1, directly (or indirectly) impacted on ULTRA WASH’s final decision to revamp and relaunch the defective Eno/Ersil Power.For ULTRA WASH, the SWOT analysis summarizes the main environmental issues in the form of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.Strengths of ULTRA WASH: * Power branded in Netherlands, UK and France * Biggest advance fabric detergent over 20 years * They had the technological lead Weaknesses of ULTRA WASH: * Did not act on private warning from Procter before they went public * Did not effectively counter Procter’s negative campaign against their product * Ultra Wash image damaged and undermined as they were slow to act Opportunities of ULTRA WASH: * To launch Power in 11 other countries Threats of ULTRA WASH: * Flaw discovered in technology by rival competitor * The need to withdraw their once successful product from the market * Leading supermarket emptying shelves of the product * Various tests confirmed damaging effects of their products With all the negative publicity that ULTRA WASH had received from Procter, various media agencies as well as tests that proved the product was in fact damaging, it was in ULTRA WASH’s best interest to revamp and re-launch their product.The Impact of the Actors in the Micro EnvironmentThe lobbying and negative campaigning done by Procter’s executives sensitized the public on the damaging effects of ULTRA WASH’s product therefore reducing the demand in the market.Various Scientists confirmed that the product was faulty also confirming to the public that this product was not ide al for their laundry.The Press and PR Firm hired by Proctor hammered bad publicity that contributed to the decline in sales of this product. As the Customers are the most important to consider, a re launch was necessary to correct the past manufacturing errors and reclaim their loyalty. It was also important to create a new image in the minds of the target market by changing their perception. The Impact of the Actors in the Macro Environment * Legal: ULTRA WASH also had on going legal battle with PROCTOR, it was important to end that chapter and show some differentiation in their rebranded product. * Technological: Advances in Technology would create opportunity for ULTRA WASH to develop a new detergent with the correct product mix that would meet environmental specifications. * Social and Cultural: PROCTOR was able to freely express their opinions and change the perception of the general product thereby reducing the market share of ULTRA WASH. The Impact of the Actors in the Internal EnvironmentThe entire series of events proved that  the Executives and marketing personnel at ULTRA WASH were not fully equipped to handle all the negative publicity and did not act expeditiously to recover from this problem. Top Executives should have heeded the secret warnings of PROCTOR and test their product privately to prevent an international outburst. The strategies were not enough to protect their product. Internal branding was important as ULTRA WASH needed to re create a core product with distinctive values that distinguishes it from its competition. ULTRA WASH needed to highlight the true benefits to be from using their product. Brand strategies must be communicated to staff so that they understand the company character on which the company brand is built. Investment in staff training is required to achieve the service levels required for the brand strategy.In order to be successful and to reclaim their market share, ULTRA WASH would need to revisit their team strategies, review their research and development strategies and improve on their technological advances.| Question #1 A company’s marketing environment refers to factors outside of marketing, which has either a direct or indirect affect on the company’s ability to develop and maintain successful relationships with its target market. (Various Environmental factors Affecting Marketing Function, 2012) An understanding of a company’s marketing environment is instrumental in the development of its SWOT analysis as the marketing department would be able to identify the strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities. The marketing environment can be divided into three sub- categories which are internal environment, micro- environment and macro- environment. (Various Environmental factors Affecting Marketing Function, 2012) Ultra Wash Power detergent was affected by factors and actors from these three marketing environment which hindered the company from serving its target market. The internal marketing environment of a company refers to factors and actors that are part of the company, which the company has control over. These factors have an influence on the operations of the organization and a high level of control is placed over this environment, as the organization can change it strategies to ensure that these factors support marketing. (The marketing environment, n.d.) (Various Environmental factors Affecting  Marketing Function, 2012) Ultra Wash was affect by the following in its effort to serve its target market: – Research and Development: this is the creation of products, improvements to existing products or the production process through a combination of basic and applied research. The aim of research and development is to position the company as a market leader through competitive advantage. (Research and Development , n.d.) – Company’s Imagine- refers to what consumers think about your business when they hear the name of the product or business. (Image , n.d.) – Top Management: this refers to marketing decisions taken by members of the Board of Directors, shareholders and executives. Micro- environment refers to factors and actors that are closely linked to the organization and their decisions and operations directly affect the company’s ability to serve its customers. (The marketing environment, n.d.) Ultra Wash was affected by the following three factors in this environment: – Consumer Behavior- this is how consumers select, purchase and use goods and services to satisfy their wants and needs. (Consumer Buying Behavior) – Market intermediaries: these are third party persons or organizations between the final customer and manufacturer and given the responsibility of promoting, selling and distributing of the goods and services. (Various Environmental factors Affecting Marketing Function, 2012) – Competitors: firms which sell same or similar goods and services in the same market. (Various Environmental factors Affecting Marketing Function, 2012) Marco – Environment are factors which are uncontrollable external to the company. Although these factors directly influence the company marketing decisions, they do not directly affect the company’s ability to serve its customers. (The marketing environment,n.d.) This environment is analyzed through the STEEPLE analysis. The seven areas of focus in the STEEPLE analysis are political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal and ethical. (Williams, 2013) Of which, technological, environmental, and ethical affected the ability for Ultra Wash to serve its target customers. (The marketing environment, n.d.) Question#2 Internal Environment: – Research and development directly affected the ability of Ultra Wash  to serve its target market as the company did not undertake sufficient research when developing the product. This was evident when they were faced with the facts about how the enzyme â€Å"dirt buster† affects clothing. Also they did not take heed to the warning made by PROCTER, had the company research the information made by their competitors it could have saved them thousands of dollars in damage control and advertising. – Company’s Imagine- With the information about the effects of their detergent being published in the media, the company’s image began to plummet in the eyes of consumers. The company had to take steps to try to rebuild the company’s imagine by offering a new revamped detergent gave them a chance to do this. – Top Management- David Fritz the global coordinator of detergent marketing and the Ultra Wash executives decided to ignore the warnings about the product made by Edward Artwell with the belief that recalling the product would be costly and humiliating to the company and for David Fritz his career. Micro- Environment: – Consumer Behavior- Ultra Wash revenues for the Power detergent was reducing radically due to the information on the detergent which PROCTER released and their campaign against detergent with â€Å"dirt buster†. In order for any company to be able to remain competitive they must be able to attain profits and with the constant decline in Ultra Wash revenues and profit, the company had to make changes to the product to realize an increase the sales and revenues when advertising and promotions did not work. – Market intermediaries- Many supermarket chains considered removing the products from their shelves after being informed by PROCTER about the harmful effects of the Power detergent. In order to maintain relationships with these market intermediaries, who in turn wants to ensure that they are able to maintain good relationship with their customers, Ultra Wash needed to make sure that the standard of the product was improved. This would satisfy customer wants as well as allow Ultra Wash to maintain good relationships the market intermediaries. – Competitors- The actions of the competitors PROCTOR played the biggest part of the decision to revamp and re-launch the defective Power  detergent. PROCTOR tried to assist the Ultra Wash Company by providing them with research concerning the effects of â€Å"dirt buster†; however the company did not listen and proceeded to mass launch the product. As a result of the launch PROCTER released a statement providing the public with the effects of the detergent. Although Ultra Wash made their own releases refuting those claims, increasing advertisement and promotions they were not able to convince consumers otherwise and realized deduced sales. PROCTOR continued to provide the public, including consumers, retailers and consumers’ associations with information on this product until Ultra Wash finally decided to remove the product from all markets. Marco- Environment – Technological- Ultra Wash believe that this new technology would be able to provide them with competitive advantage of being more advanced that they rest of the market. However, in the hurry to become the market leader the technology was not properly research and developed causing the company to experience major losses. – Environmental- Many environmental lobbyist in European and Sweden released public statements about the effects the Power detergent and its affects on clothes. These statements can persuade consumer behavior against a certain product as in this case. – Ethical- Consumer groups such as the Dutch consumer’s union confirmed the damaging effects of the upgraded Power detergent. Ultra Wash needed to ensure that the product standard are to the level the consumers expect as statement against a product will persuade the consumers decisions against the product. All these factors played a major part in the decision taken by Ultra Wash to revamp and re-launch the defective Power Detergent as Ersil tablets. These tablets were able to provide them with the competitive advantage as well as become the market leader for this product. References: Various Environmental factors Affecting Marketing Function. (2012, July 19). Retrieved June 10, 2013, from ebstudies: http://ebstudies.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/various-environmental-factors-affecting-marketing-function/ Consumer Buying Behavior. (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2013, from BusinessDictionary.com: