Relationship Between Global and Local in Globalization Essay

Globalization is the process by which different individuals, states, regions, societies and cultures have become integrated through a global network. This can be categorized as either political which includes global leadership, formation of regional bodies, Economic globalization which includes trade, communication, transportation and social globalization which includes religion, education among others. Due to the dynamic nature of globalization, states and individuals have found it necessary to adapt to the different changes in order to survive. Thus it has become evident that globalization has affected the society both at global level and at local level. This paper will focus on the relationship between the global and the local in globalization with examples in the political, economic and social areas. At global level, globalization is evident in almost all areas of life as no one state can survive without interacting with other states. It has led to the co-operation of states in many different areas. For example, in the political arena, states have to ensure that laws that govern them conform to the norms in the international community and more specifically international law. Member states have had to form regional bodies and international organizations that deal with issues that affect them for example, war, food security, environmental problem, poverty among others. Furthermore, political globalization has created a form of hierarchy in the international community where as the developed countries e. g. U. S. A and Britain dominate the less developed countries e. . African states. In terms of economic globalization, we have seen the emergence of common markets based on the ability to exchange goods and services from one country to another depending on the availability of resources and labor. For example globalization has greatly contributed to the migration of people from countries with less developed markets to those that have greater opportunities and large amounts of wealth. In terms of social globalization, we have seen the rise of interaction at global level on the basis of religion, culture, technology and education. The most significant of these areas has been technology as it has greatly facilitated the interaction of people from all parts of the world not only through social networks like facebook, yahoo and twitter but also through business and education forums. We can say technological advancement has been the greatest contributor to globalization. Globalization is also evident at local level and can been seen through the way that both individuals and even governments try to keep with the changing times. This can also be categorized as above in the global level in terms of political, social and economic areas. In the political arena, we see our local leaders changing in order to identify themselves with a specific target group, in economics, we see people moving from rural to urban areas in search of a better way of life while in the social context, this can be seen through education for example where students are encouraged to learn additional languages to make them more marketable in job market, religion for example people of different religious backgrounds working together for the better good of the country and most of all through technology that facilitates the interaction of people from all parts of the country. It is clear to see in both areas- global and local globalization has had its impact on all areas of life. The relationship between the two therefore comes about when the locals or governments have no other choice than to adopt to whatever trends come up in their day to day lives. In terms of politics, due to the fact that states have formed alliances and organizations within the international community, it is inevitable that whatever actions they perform conform to the norms and rules that have been set out by the groups they belong to. For example in terms of laws, countries have to ensure that the laws that govern them go hand in hand with the treaties or agreements that they have entered to. This is to say that a country cannot pass a law at the local level that is against a law that they agree to abide to at the international level. In economic terms, we see how both local and global globalization intertwines especially with the rise of regional and international common markets. One good example is the formation of the European Union which led to all countries within the union adopting one common currency- the euro which has from that time on become the official currency of the region both within the individual countries and in the region at large. On the social front, we see how people of different countries each with different cultures have come together in one aspect of the other. For example looking at education, local schools and varsities have to get accreditation from different organizations both locally and internationally to ensure that students who got throw their system are recognized both within the country and also in the international community. In terms of religion we see the relationship through the fact that local churches, mosques, temples follow the same teaching under one leadership for example the Catholic Church elects archbishops who have to be approved by the pope-the leader of the Catholic Church who is not even necessarily a citizen of that country. From the above, it is clear to see that theirs is a very strong relation between the global and the local in globalization. This is mainly because the world is a global village and interaction between states and individuals is inevitable and people therefore have to do whatever is necessary to keep up with the changing times. This is further enforced by the fact that states (which represent the local population) have to participate in the international community. No man is an island therefore interactions between entities are inevitable.

Consulting Services in Information Technology Essay

Before discussing the role of consulting service firms in procurement of Information Technology resources and solutions, we will first describe some rules of thumb that dictate the selection process for aforesaid purpose. The basic rule is â€Å"the simpler the better†, but this often leads to oversimplification of complex tasks (Braley, 2009) and we must avoid wastage of time and resources that occurs due to unnecessary attention to detail. There is a myth that a well-written contract is of primary importance in procurement process. This assumption is not true and leads to a lack of effort in making things go right. Next rule is that one must not sacrifice effectiveness of day to day data collection and other important activities on the assumption that output is the sole primary concern of the system. Schedule of projects must be realistic, which is rarely the case, leading to a myth that projects never complete on time (Braley, 2009). Having discussed some of the myths and realities of IS procurement, we will now compare and contrast the approaches of different consultancy firms in selection process. Accenture is a worldwide corporation that provides services in the areas of outsourcing, management consulting and technology (Accenture, 2009). As their value proposition â€Å"High Performance. Delivered. † suggests, they value constant innovation to perform better and their results show that their commitment to their clients is exemplary. Extensive research is their strongest arm which lets their clients procure the best available solution to their specific problems. Accenture works together with customers, including governments, to help them perform much better (Accenture, 2009). Their 2008 revenues were in excess of $25 Billion and income was around $1. 6 Billion showing strong growth from their 2007 results (Wikipedia, 2009). In contrast, Infosys, based in India, has slightly different values but the same quest for excellence. This $4 Billion revenue generating company provides technology-enabled business solutions to help businesses win in a Flat World (Infosys, 2009). The term Flat World is of key importance here. Their philosophy of by passing structural issues and minimizing bureaucratic hassle is embedded in this term. Today, they lead worldwide in the â€Å"next generation† of IT and consulting (Infosys, 2009). Their philosophy enables them to use IT to introduce dynamism in a corporation to make it flexible to adapt to rapid changes in today’s world. We discussed two successful IT consultants with very different philosophies but one goal: to provide their clients with the specific solutions that make them leaders in their fields. Accenture believes in extensive research and harnesses its power, whereas Infosys flattens an organization for timely and helpful results. The rules of thumb, that we discussed earlier, are evidently practiced within both consultancies we discussed. For example, Accenture practices the simplicity rule when it uses research to know exactly what is required by client and the level of understanding of end users. Infosys does not let perfection of RFP hinder its flat world dream by putting least emphasis on mere documentation and more focus on tangible results. One trend in today’s IT market is for more and more IT consultancy firms to venture into solution-builder business themselves (Wikipedia, 2009). This diversifies their market portfolios and increases their customer base. We conclude our discussion by pointing out that the trend mentioned above is good for customers as it provides them complete IT solutions within one roof. Both the consultancies we discussed aim to be that one roof for governments and corporate clients.

The Buyer is Boss

Millie and Liza have been friends for the longest time. Some months ago they decided to share an apartment, and that is how they found the two-bedroom unit they are currently renting. Asked what their first major buy was after the move, they chorused that they just both got laptops. Both of them had desktops, Millie even has a superior type which helps in her work as a graphics designer. Liza, a writer, had an old desktop which sufficed for word publishing and internet access.However, they stressed they needed the laptops because â€Å"the apartment is small, there is no room for two desktops,† justifying that they needed the gadgets and did not just want them. However, they had different ideals for a laptop they have in mind. Millie, being a graphic designer, needed a high-end mobile computer which will be superior in memory and speed—and the bigger the monitor, the better. Liza, on the other hand, was more conscious about the price. She wanted a laptop that will work just like her old desktop, and she has set a budget to stick strictly on.Friends have warned them that laptops will cost more than powerful desktops do, but the need for space was of primacy. They went on to research and window shopping. Through Yahoo Answers, a web service where people can connect to each other for questions and answers about almost anything, they found the best suggestions: computer stores in the area and eBay. While the computer stores option gave competitive prices and models, the two girls agreed they will get cheaper units from eBay. They checked the site for a couple of weeks using a single user account, and finally found the laptops.It was Liza who found hers first. It was an mid-model Compaq Presario 1400 which was â€Å"released in 2002 according to my research. † Apparently, Liza was researching each of the product she saw and took note of which will give her the best computer with what little money she has. Millie got hers, a second-hand MacBook, about a month after, and she too went through the research ordeal. They asserted that shopping in eBay will require lots of patience, research, and inquisitiveness, else one might end up â€Å"with a D-class item†.Luckily, their finds were both A classes. Both Liza and Millie were contented with their laptops, but they now agree with their friends that â€Å"it is costlier to live with a laptop†¦ we have to buy mice to avoid overusing the trackpads, and soon we might need a [laptop] cooler, and I noticed that my laptop hangs more often than my old desktop,† says Liza. But given a choice to spend their money on some other things, Millie declined. â€Å"With these space-saving gizmos, nothing else will be better. † AnalysisAllen (2003) describes the five processes in a buyer’s purchase decision making: problem recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and post-purchse behavior. Looking at the buying process that tr anspired between Liza and Millie, it is obvious that they both went through the whole process. They realized the need to get laptops, gathered information, selected the best offers, bought the items, and came up with the feedback. Both of them had criteria for the laptops they want—recommendations, function (save space), and usage.However, Millie focused on quality and performance because of the demands of her job, while Liza was more concerned about her budget. All these are part of their awareness, then follows the search for information. Rohan (nd) asserts that information search may be internal (based on knowledge and past experience) or external. Millie and Liza resorted to external sources. There are four types of external sources: personal (family and friends), commercial (advertisements), public (news and bulletins), and experiential (tried product). (Buying Decision Process, 2006) In the case, a mixture of personal and commercial were utilized.Because the criteria fo r the laptops are clear, the process was easy for the two. They were able to sort out the purchase decision process of where, when, and if to buy, after which they came up with the concluding feedback that they were satisfied with their purchases. In some instances, parts of the buyer decision process may be skipped or reversed. This is determined by high-involvement or low-involvement. High-involvement purchases are those that require investment as they are costlier and have serious effects to its buyers (e. g.appliances, jewelry) while the low-involvement purchases are simple things that can be bought (e. g. bread, milk, burger). (Buying Decision Process, 2006) Brooks (1999) ratifies this by saying that the buyer decision process is highly situational and involvement level-dependent. Furthermore, he states that involvement may be influenced by economic, psychological, performance risk, and decision novelty factors. This theory is highly visible in the case. Millie and Liza had hig h-involvement purchases to make, and the factors played a major role.Economically, Liza was more conscious than Millie, but it is the other way around with regard to the product’s performance risk, though psychologically and in relation to decision novelty the two were consistent. The buyer decision process happens everyday to everybody. All buying processes require a person to go through at least two or three steps in the process, which may lead to a sale or not. When applied theoretically, the buyer decision process is a good tool for consumers to choose their wares, and for merchants to know how to target their consumers. For Millie, Liza, and their sellers, it definitely worked.

Tesco's failure in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Tesco's failure in America - Essay Example Reasons for the Failure Market Positioning Positioning may be defined as the process of creating an image in the minds of the target market for the brand (Ferrell, O. et al., 2000). This positioning can be functional, symbolic or experiential. Functional positioning tries to solve problems and provides benefits to the customers (e.g. - Wall mart’s everyday low prices); symbolic positioning creates affective fulfilment (e.g. - Apple’s products give an ego boost to owners) and experiential positioning provides both rational and emotional fulfilment (Lao, 2013). TESCO entered USA through Fast and Easy (F&E) stores. The F&E stores were positioned between the discount supermarkets and the upscale organic stores. F&E stores were labelled as stores which will provide ‘healthy’ food at low prices. Thus TESCO tried to position itself between Wal-Mart and Trader Joe’s (Sonne & Evans, 2012). The positioning of F&E was neither functional nor symbolic. Wal-Mart succeeds due to its promise of everyday low prices whereas Trader Joe’s provides snob value to the rich and entices them to be different and buy organic food. Trader Joe is clearly positioning it’s product for the rich and Wal-Mart for the mass market. TESCO’s positioning was not enticing to either of the 2 segments. There was no market which wanted health organic food products at low prices in USA. Only 3 % of American population follows the healthy lifestyle unlike in UK and Europe where this trend is the norm (Sonne & Evans, 2012). ... Trader Joe is clearly positioning it’s product for the rich and Wal-Mart for the mass market. TESCO’s positioning was not enticing to either of the 2 segments. There was no market which wanted health organic food products at low prices in USA. Only 3 % of American population follows the healthy lifestyle unlike in UK and Europe where this trend is the norm (Sonne & Evans, 2012). Thus positioning itself as a store with a healthy image in a nation which loves fast food and soda was the biggest mistake committed by TESCO. This was one of the main reasons for their failure in USA. Customer Relationship TESCO had a troubled relationship with USA customers. This was because it ignored the cultural differences between USA and UK.TESCO looked more like a coloniser who stuck on to its customs and culture rather than adopt the culture of the new country. Some of the mistakes leading to a troubled customer relationship were – Low Brand Recognition USA unlike Europe is obses sed with brands. Americans are willing to spend more money if they consider the brand good and worthwhile (Piercy, 2012). Fresh & Easy was an unknown brand to them. The name TESCO was not associated with F&E stores in any way. TESCO focused its money and resources in opening more stores rather than advertisements on brand building. The Fresh & Easy stores were also highly dependent on private labels in a market which likes to see and buy branded products. This was a big mistake in a country which likes to buy branded products. Lack of Service In order to keep the costs low, F&E stores had adopted the self check out system. The staffs in F & E stores were also kept

Gilgamesh Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gilgamesh - Essay Example â€Å"The mind’s sensitivity to the meaning of life is impaired by fixed notions or perspectives on what it means to be human. There is an infinite continuity of meaning that can be comprehended only by seeing again, for ourselves. We read stories – and reading is a kind of re-telling – not to learn what is known but to know what cannot be known, for it is ongoing and we are in the middle of it† (Brown, 1996). In other words, by learning about the experiences of others, we are able to determine how to behave in order to achieve similar or different results. These stories can thus act as either example or warning, or sometimes both. The epic story of Gilgamesh is a good example of this type of literature. Gilgamesh provides both warning and example as he epitomizes the ideals of his society yet has not achieved enlightenment until after he undergoes a transformation of the spirit. At the beginning of the story, Gilgamesh is introduced as the strongest and best of all God-kings who ever lived. As a being two-thirds God and only one-third human, he has everything desirable in a being – looks, wealth, great deeds, strength and courage. He seems to have every right to be proud and he behaves accordingly. However, the things that prove his greatness, his wonderful temples and other works, are accomplished as a result of his cruelty to the people of his domain, forcing them to continue working on his building projects instead of building up their own comforts or helping others. He even goes so far as to rape women regardless of age, marital affiliation, social class or presence of others: â€Å"Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother / The daughter of the warrior, the bride of the young man† (Tablet 1). After hearing a number of complaints, the goddess Aruru creates Gilgameshes opposite in the form of Enkidu. Where Gilgamesh is civilized, Enkidu is wild; where Gilgamesh is cruel and selfish, Enkidu is caring and giving. Although the two of

Globalisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Globalisation - Essay Example This country has a multi-ethical population of 39 million as per 2010 of which 82.6% are Christians, 11.2% Muslims and other religions take the remaining 6%. It is currently in a transition stage trying to implement a new constitution that was adapted in 2010 a process in which it is planning to move from its current administrative subdivisions of 140 districts and 7 provinces to a form that will have 47 counties each with an elected governor. The GDP of this country as by 2010 was estimated at $ 32 billion with an annual growth rate of 5.4%. Its main parts of the economy are tourism, agriculture, and light industries. In addition, it has six full-pledged public universities and approximately thirteen private ones (Bureau of public affairs 2012). Globalization has played a great role in shaping the African economic and political landscape (Falola & House-soremekun 2011). Kenya being one of them, it has experienced drastic changes on various aspects of its economy. Agriculture is the engine of the Kenyan economy (Robbins & Ferris 2003). Although Kenya has almost all its northern and northeastern parts as semi-arid, it continues to enjoy vast agricultural productions from its southern, western, and central part that are agriculturally productive. In the recent years, we have had what we call globalization of markets, which has enabled this country to export its excess agricultural products. It has also enabled it to get more farm inputs and equipment to enhance its agricultural productivity. Globalization, through globalized market has been a very big boost to the economy of this country. Another impact of globalization on Kenya’s agricultural sector is attraction of foreign investors. These investors, who have mainly invested in horticultural products planted on large tracts of land for export, have caused an increase in Kenya’s exports to other countries resulting to Kenya being ranked among the leading exporters of vegetables and other horticultu ral products in the European Union market (Mithofer & Waibel 2011). Another important sector of this country economy is the tourism sector. This country has a vast range of natural resources that include landscape, people, climate, and wildlife (Bowden 2007). These natural resources act as tourists’ attraction. Globalization has enabled this country to enjoy an increasing number of tourists’ visitation. According to Jafari (2003), Kenya is the most popular tourists’ destination in Africa, receiving about 6% of the total tourists who visit the African continent. This sector has played a very vital role in this the economic development of this country. Another way that globalization has contributed in improvement of this sector is through attraction of foreign investors. These investors build resorts and other facility on tourist attraction points, which provide accommodation and other services to tourists. Actually, I think is the sector of the Kenyan economy tha t has experienced the impact of globalization. Globalization has also influenced greatly the Kenyans ‘lifestyle. With market diversity, which results from globalization, Kenya has been able to import some of the products that it does not produce locally. According to (USTR 2005) Kenya is currently the 80th largest export market for U.S. goods. These exports have greatly influenced the people’s lifestyle form their eating habits to the way they communicate and socialize with one another. It is

Roger Williams Quotation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8

Roger Williams Quotation - Essay Example This letter, which was written in 1655, explains fully his views of religious freedom. He also elaborates on how religious corruption in government, creates difficulties in religion. According to him, all people should have equal rights to be associated with the religion they choose, and their rights should be protected by the law. The government should, therefore, have no control over whether one is a church follower or not. God did not love some people more than others and, people should live together as a community according to Williams’ belief. The ship used in this quote symbolizes the society that existed at that time. This, therefore, showed that all different religions should be able to live without separation or disagreement in a society. It is assumed by different theologians and scholars that William used the ship as a symbol because he used a ship to travel to the Western Hemisphere, where he was able to attain the freedom of religion. William was very strong in what he had believed and therefore, he was able to launch the First Baptist church in Providence. He also initiated a colony of religious minorities; which was, by then, known as Providence Plantation. William’s idea of religious freedom has a great impact on the society today. Every person should have freedom of choice on which religion he or she should follow. The intervention of the state and the government, as William states, brings more problem than what people should experience in religion. This means that belief of an individual should not be dependent on rules of the state and should, therefore, be protected by the law. I, to a great extent, support his idea of the ship, which symbolizes living together as a community of different religions despite the fact that they have different beliefs. This is Christian value that should be emulated by every person.  

Business CourseWork (Should NewPostcom Introduce a 10-day military Essay

Business CourseWork (Should NewPostcom Introduce a 10-day military training course) - Essay Example mployees declared the training beneficial for their discipline, confidence and incentive to work as well as for future teamwork collaborations, something that is evident from their professional record as well. The costs of the military training were recorded, as well as the difficulties in the way of the launch of such a training course. However, in view of the great benefits of such a program, as well as keeping in mind the positive results and cost effectiveness thereof, it is recommended that the training course be launched. This project will undertake to discover whether it is practical for telecommunications firms, such as New Postcom, to introduce a 10 day military training course for its new employees. It was observed that some firms have concluded that the new generation of Chinese professionals lacks the professionalism to function effectively at work. Some of the senior managers have laid the blame on the pampering of the new generation that was brought up under the One-child policy of China; being the only child at home, the young professionals were pampered a great deal by their parents and, consequently, did not develop a responsible and independent character. Therefore, some of these employees, who lacked the incentive to work hard professionally, underwent a 10 day military training course in order to improve their professional skills: motivation, confidence and hard work. The project aims at finding out whether such a military course would, indeed, be so beneficial. This would be done by surveying the employees who have underwent such a training course to find out if they felt any benefits of the training course. They will be handed questionnaires to answer that would help gauge their feelings concerning the course. Direct interviews, both of the employees and the employers who are supervising them, will also be conducted. The first set of interviews, as well as the questionnaires, will shed light on what benefits the course had on the employees,

Project Management (CASE STUDY) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Project Management (CASE STUDY) - Essay Example For the Scantel project the tabulation of the time required by various activities and the estimation of the critical path method is calculated and shown in Appendix - 1. From the table it is known that the most critical events are No. 1, 4, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15,34, 35, 36, 46, 47, 48, 40 and 50. The meaning of this is that, the completion of these activities are crucial for the completion of the project. If there is a delay in these activities, the entire project can get delayed. If these event numbers are interpreted from the Scantel event listing, (Appendix 21.3), it shows that the critical path activities lie mostly in the processes of The activities that are related to these activities are the start systems engineering, complete interface transient tests, complete compatibility testing. These activities can cause delay because this was the first time such system was being developed. It will be very critical because, Callister has to first decide the major parts of the system, their functions and how they are related to each other. After the architecture is decided the next issue is to decide whether the components should be developed in-house or to be bought and redesigned. Hence, the procurement of all the prototypes and overall simulation is going to be a potentially time delaying event. The next group of ac... The instrument Development team which was heavily consulted by the Scantel team for these activities, had very little experience of this type of work. Also in the Instrument development team, young software engineer had been recruited to handle this job for the Scantel project. But based on his expertise it was difficult to determine the completion times confidently. All testing activities which include events 34, 36, 47, 48 and 49 are all events that can cause potential time delays. These testing activities can cause potential time delays because it involves the coordination and analysis of all the subsystems. But it is healthy for the project to be on a tight schedule in this phase because it will be advantageous in the later stages of the project. The cost or time overrun in the early stages of the project might actually be a superior design effort which would reduce the time and money required for the entire effort. If early stages of the project looks expensive, it is possible that it could bring down the costs at the later stages of the project. Especially event 34 can be delayed because of possible delays in development of lens, development of chassis and body and development of the display system. In the network it is shown that the main tasks associated are separated into engineering, testing and rework phases. It seems that each phase i s independent. But the potential threat of rework after the system and integration testing would be strongly dependent on the amount and quality of prior engineering. The testing events may cause time delay to the project because all the prior engineering works have to pass this stage and sometimes

Health care Essay Example for Free

Health care Essay Leaders are the key people for any organization’s success, for they play an important role in directing and influencing how employees work. Leaders have a lot to do in order to promote healthy behavior by employees for instance in a health organization, leaders need to influence workers in away such that they maintain their healthy behavior at hand. Since health is a very sensitive issue, it needs a lot of concentration as pertains the behaviors of the employees. Leaders need to effect financial incentives to the workforce to encourage health behavior. This incentive tends to upgrade the health of the employee through reduction in the risk that he/she would have faced. This also have an impact on the target and efficiency on the output. For a health organization for instance, workers will produce better result for they are comfortable. There should be provision of tools that encourage safety and wellness. This helps to improve the health of the worker throughout the working period. With general fitness, the worker is healthy at the same time able to behave well when it comes to delivering, urgency and proficiency. Leaders need to involve senior management in promoting emotional health and productivity. Since the management is the one that is much close to the workforce and are the ones implementing strategies, in campaigning for this will make it possible for the out come to be a good healthy behavior from the work force. Leaders need to offer economic incentives for the betterment of the lives of the workers. When it comes to economic wellbeing, one needs to access social amenities with ease. When assisting workers in their workload as providers of their houses through gaining from the economies of scale the health organization gets, workers will access appliances easily thus enabling them to get what they need utmost cheaply. This will make their life well as they have the full diet affordably thus better health. Better health leads to better behavior. Leaders need to educate employees on safety at work. This tends to ensure they get to know how to handle things with care as health organization tend to operate with lots of risky items. With their knowledge on this, they will tend to observe correct protocol with respect thus remaining discipline. With correct protocol follower, they will never be infected thus which means they are adhering to the healthy behavior taught by the responsible body. Health care is a broad field that deals with lives of individuals. For the preparation of interviews, many areas need to be covered for the exact and discrete information to be unveiled. For my analysis, I will consider my interview questions directed to the health care interviewees. It will be categorized into five major items that need to be emphasized on.

Successful brand extensions in the FMCG industry

Successful brand extensions in the FMCG industry INTRODUCTION Brand extension or brand stretching is a marketing strategy in which a firm marketing a product with a well-developed image uses the same brand name in a different product category. The new product is called a spin-off. Organizations use this strategy to increase and leverage brand equity (definition: the net worth and long-term sustainability just from the renowned name). An example of a brand extension is Jello-gelatin creating Jello pudding pops. It increases awareness of the brand name and increases profitability from offerings in more than one product category. A brands extendibility depends on how strong consumers associations are to the brands values and goals. While there can be significant benefits in brand extension strategies, there can also be significant risks, resulting in a diluted or severely damaged brand image. Poor choices for brand extension may dilute and deteriorate the core brand and damage the brand equity. Most of the literature focuses on the consumer evaluation and positive impact on parent brand. In practical cases, the failures of brand extension are at higher rate than the successes. Some studies show that negative impact may dilute brand image and equity. In spite of the positive impact of brand extension, negative association and wrong communication strategy do harm to the parent brand even brand family. Organizations frequently follow brand extension strategies. This paper investigates the impact of category similarity, brand reputation, perceived risk, and consumer innovativeness on the success of brand extensions in FMCG, durable goods, and services sectors. A set of hypotheses were developed and tested in a study amongst 153 consumers. The findings show that extensions into categories more similar to the original brand tend to be more readily accepted. Likewise, the reputation of the original brand is an important factor influencing the success of the extension. These findings are consistent across FMCG, durable goods, and services brands. However, perceived risk about the extension category was only found to enhance acceptability of extensions for durable goods and services brands. Innovative consumers are more positively disposed towards service brand extensions than FMCG and durable goods brand extensions. REVIEW OF LITERATURE In his paper, Hem Leif E a set of hypotheses were developed and tested in a study amongst 701 consumers. The findings show that extensions into categories more similar to the original brand tend to be more readily accepted. Likewise, the reputation of the original brand is an important factor influencing the success of the extension. These findings are consistent across FMCG, durable goods and services brands. However, perceived risk about the extension category was only found to enhance acceptability of extensions for durable goods and services brands. Innovative consumers are more positively disposed towards service brand extensions than FMCG and durable goods brand extensions. (Factors Influencing Successful Brand Extensions By: Hem, Leif E.; de Chernatony, Leslie; Iversen, Nina M.. Journal of Marketing Management, Sep2003, Vol. 19 Issue 7/8) In his paper, Thamaraiselvan, Raja, projects the intense competitive environment where companies launch new products to satisfy constantly changing consumers preferences. The new products are prone to failures due to many factors. Companies take efforts to reduce new product failure rates to maximize their returns for their stakeholders. A brand extension, leveraging existing brand names to new product categories is one such strategy to reduce the risk of new product failures. This study primarily focuses on how consumers evaluate brand extensions for FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) and service product categories in Indian market conditions. It explores how exactly the consumers evaluate different product categories based on factors like, similarity fit, perceived quality, brand reputation and perceived risk. It brings out the impact of brand reputation of the core brand and perceived service quality on the brand extensions evaluations. It highlights the role of perceived risk invo lved in the extended product category in brand extensions evaluations. Most importantly, this study establishes the relationships among similarity fit, brand reputation, perceived service quality and perceived risk in extended product categories through appropriate multivariate analysis. (How do Consumers Evaluate Brand Extensions- Research findings from India. By: Thamaraiselvan, N.; Raja, J.. Journal of Services Research, Apr2008, Vol. 8 Issue 1 ) In his article, Park, examines two factors that differentiate between successful and unsuccessful brand extensions: product feature similarity and brand concept consistency. The results reveal that, in identifying brand extensions, consumers take into account not only information about the product-level feature similarity between the new product and the products already associated with the brand, but also the concept consistency between the brand concept and the extension. For both function-oriented and prestige-oriented brand names, the most favorable reactions occur when brand extensions are made with high brand concept consistency and high product feature similarity. In addition, the relative impact of these two factors differs to some extent, depending on the nature of the brand-name concept. When a brands concept is consistent with those of its extension products, the prestige brand seems to have greater extendibility to products with low feature similarity than the functional b rand does. (Evaluation of Brand Extensions: The Role of Product Feature Similarity and Brand Concept Consistency. By: Park, C. Whan; Milberg, Sandra; Lawson, Robert. Journal of Consumer Research, Sep91, Vol. 18 Issue 2 ) In his research paper, Hem Leif, projects that the most successful brand extensions are considered to be those having high perceived similarity between the parent brand and the extensions, and being well known in the marketplace. However, previous research has mainly examined the effects of overall measures of perceived similarity between a parent brand and an extension. Correspondingly, little is known about the effects of different areas of consumer knowledge. This study investigates the effects of three types of perceived similarity (usage, associations, competence) and three areas of consumer knowledge (original brand, original category, extension category) on evaluations of brand extensions. The results indicate that some types of perceived similarity and knowledge are more important than others. These findings imply that brand managers need to identify and measure the relevant types of perceived similarity and knowledge that will affect evaluations of brand extensions in order to design effective communication strategies for extensions. (Effects of different types of perceived similarity and subjective knowledge in evaluations of brand extensions. By: Hem, Leif E.; Iversen, Nina M.. International Journal of Market Research, 2009, Vol. 51 Issue 6 ) In his article, Swaminathan, focuses on the impact of a new brand extension introduction on choice in a behavioral context using national household scanner data involving multiple brand extensions. Particularly, the authors investigate the reciprocal impact of trial of successful and unsuccessful brand extensions on parent brand choice. In addition, the authors examine the effects of experience with the parent brand on consumers trial and repeat of a brand extension using household scanner data on six brand extensions from a national panel. In the case of successful brand extensions, the results show positive reciprocal effects of extension trial on parent brand choice, particularly among prior non-users of the parent brand, and consequently on market share. The authors find evidence for potential negative reciprocal effects of unsuccessful extensions. In addition, the study shows that experience with the parent brand has a significant impact on extension trial, but not on extension repeat. (The Impact of Brand Extension Introduction on Choice. By: Swaminathan, Vanitha; Fox, Richard J.; Reddy, Srinivas K.. Journal of Marketing, Oct2001, Vol. 65 Issue 4 ) INDIAN FMCG INDUSTRY The Indian FMCG sector is the fourth largest sector in the economy with a total market size in excess of $13.1 billion. It has a strong MNC presence and is characterized by a well established distribution network, intense competition between the organised and unorganised segments and low operational cost. Availability of key raw materials, cheaper labour costs and presence across the entire value chain gives India a competitive advantage. The FMCG market is set to treble from $11.6 billion in 2003 to $33.4 billion in 2015. Penetration level as well as per capita consumption in most product categories like jams, toothpaste, skin care, hair wash etc in India is low indicating the untapped market potential. Burgeoning Indian population, particularly the middle class and the rural segments, presents an opportunity to makers of branded products to convert consumers to branded products. Growth is also likely to come from consumer upgrading in the matured product categories. With 200 millio n people expected to shift to processed and packaged food by 2010, India needs around $28 billion of investment in the food-processing industry. The Indian FMCG sector is the fourth largest sector in the economy and creates employment for three million people in downstream activities. Within the FMCG sector, the Indian food processing industry represented 6.3 per cent of GDP and accounted for 13 percent of the countrys exports in 2003-04. A distinct feature of the FMCG industry is the presence of most global players through their subsidiaries (HLL, PG, Nestle), which ensures new product launches in the Indian market from the parents portfolio. Demand for FMCG products is set to boom by almost 60 per cent by 2007 and more than 100 per cent by 2015. This will be driven by the rise in share of middle class from 67 per cent in 2003 to 88 per cent in 2015. The boom in various consumer categories, further, indicates a latent demand for various product segments. For example, the upper end of very rich and a part of the consuming class indicate a small but rapidly growing segment for branded products. The middle segment, on the other hand, indicates a large market for the mass end products.The BRICs report indicates that Indias per capita disposable income, currently at $556 per annum, will rise to $1150 by 2015 another FMCG demand driver. Spurt in the industrial and services sector growth is also likely to boost the urban consumption demand. HOUSEHOLD CARE The size of the fabric wash market is estimated to be $1 billion, household cleaners to be $239 million and the production of synthetic detergents at 2.6 million tonnes. The demand for detergents has been growing at an annual growth rate of 10 to 11 per cent during the past five years. The urban market prefers washing powder and detergents to bars. The regional and small un-organised players account for a major share of the total volume of the detergent market. PERSONAL CARE The size of the personal wash products is estimated at $989 million; hair care products at $831 million and oral care products at $537 million. While the overall personal wash market is growing at one per cent, the premium and middle-end soaps are growing at 10 per cent. The leading players in this market are HUL, Nirma, Godrej Soaps and Reckitt Colman. The oral care market, especially toothpastes, remains under penetrated in India (with penetration level below 45 per cent). The industry is very competitive both for organised and smaller regional players. The Indian skin care and cosmetics market is valued at $274 million and dominated by HUL, Colgate Palmolive, Gillette India and Godrej Soaps. The coconut oil market accounts for 72 per cent share in the hair oil market. In the branded coconut hair oil market, Marico (with Parachute) and Dabur are the leading players. The market for branded coconut oil is valued at approximately $174 million. FOOD AND BEVERAGES The size of the Indian food processing industry is around $ 65.6 billion, including $20.6 billion of value added products. Of this, the health beverage industry is valued at $230 million; bread and biscuits at $1.7 billion; chocolates at $73 million and ice creams at $188 million. The size of the semi-processed/ready-to-eat food segment is over $1.1 billion. Large biscuits confectionery units, soya processing units and starch/glucose/sorbitol producing units have also come up, catering to domestic and international markets. The three largest consumed categories of packaged foods are packed tea, biscuits and soft drinks. The Indian beverage industry faces over supply in segments like coffee and tea. However, more than half of this is available in unpacked or loose form. Indian hot beverage market is a tea dominant market. Consumers in different parts of the country have heterogeneous tastes. Dust tea is popular in southern India, while loose tea in preferred in western India. The urb an-rural split of the tea market was 51:49 in 2000. Coffee is consumed largely in the southern states. The size of the total packaged coffee market is 19,600 tonnes or $87 million. The total soft drink (carbonated beverages and juices) market is estimated at 284 million crates a year or $1 billion. The market is highly seasonal in nature with consumption varying from 25 million crates per month during peak season to 15 million during offseason. The market is predominantly urban with 25 per cent contribution from rural areas. Coca cola and Pepsi dominate the Indian soft drinks market. Mineral water market in India is a 65 million crates ($50 million) industry. On an average, the monthly consumption is estimated at 4.9 million crates, which increases to 5.2 million during peak season. With the presence of 12.2% of the world population in the villages of India, the Indian rural FMCG market is something no one can overlook. Increased focus on farm sector will boost rural incomes, hence providing better growth prospects to the FMCG companies. Better infrastructure facilities will improve their supply chain. FMCG sector is also likely to benefit from growing demand in the market. Because of the low per capita consumption for almost all the products in the country, FMCG companies have immense possibilities for growth. And if the companies are able to change the mindset of the consumers, i.e. if they are able to take the consumers to branded products and offer new generation products, they would be able to generate higher growth in the near future. It is expected that the rural income will rise in 2007, boosting purchasing power in the countryside. However, the demand in urban areas would be the key growth driver over the long term. Also, increase in the urban populatio n, along with increase in income levels and the availability of new categories, would help the urban areas maintain their position in terms of consumption. At present, urban India accounts for 66% of total FMCG consumption, with rural India accounting for the remaining 34%. However, rural India accounts for more than 40% consumption in major FMCG categories such as personal care, fabric care, and hot beverages. In urban areas, home and personal care category, including skin care, household care and feminine hygiene, will keep growing at relatively attractive rates. Within the foods segment, it is estimated that processed foods, bakery, and dairy are long-term growth categories in both rural and urban areas.

Femininity Essay -- essays research papers

The New Femininity Femininity is not a word that we are encouraged to use these days. A lot of people would argue that femininity is the thing that keeps women obedient to men. However, there is a hidden assumption behind this term. The assumption is that masculinity is superior to femininity; that femininity is not a beautiful and powerful thing in its own right. I believe that women have something men do not have. Women have special qualities that belong to them as women, and they do not intend to suppress those special qualities. I think the world would be a much poorer place without femininity. ?gWhat means to be a womanh What first came to my mind was stereotypical. Passive, dependent, altruistic, intuitive emotionally open, and impulsive?cis this what meant to be the ideal women in our society? In general, men have more power in the public place such as economic and political order, while women have more power in the private place such as domestic life, family. The social whole will be best suited if each sex does those tasks for which they are best suited. In fact, men and women have biologically different capacities and interests (aggressive vs. maternal feelings, etc) In the role of the family, men have power in making decision and the women have control of housework. ?@?@?@?@I had encountered to see the different aspects of gender role in two societies. These two societies have their own values and beliefs that keep the man and the women different. However, th...

Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide :: Death Medical Medicine Essays

Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide To die or not to die, that is not the question if you've been diagnosed with a terminal disease in America. The question is how. Should you be forced to suffer all the pain the disease brings, or should your doctor be able to legally help you die in a peaceful, painless way? That is the question that the Supreme Court, religious groups, physicians, and many others are trying to answer. The problem is that it doesn't have a clear answer. Oncologist Ezekiel Emanuel (1997) addresses the issues of physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia and explains why Americans ought to think twice before legalizing physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. He begins by explaining the difference between the two methods. Physician-assisted suicide is when the doctor gives you the means, such as drugs, which you administer yourself. Voluntary euthanasia, however, is when the doctor actually performs the fatal procedure after the patient has confirmed his/her wish to die. (1) Following this explanation, Ezekiel uses historical references, cites court cases, scientific studies, and case studies from other countries to support his position. He also maintains that there are four myths that have been perpetuated which imply the following: 1) The issue of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is relatively new, born from technological advances. 2) There is strong support for physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia . 3) Patients in the most extreme pain are the most interested in physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. 4) Euthanasia practices in the Netherlands prove that physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia will not get out of control here in America. (2-4) Emanuel dispels these myths one by one. In response to myth #1, he quotes the Hippocratic oath, which specifically opposes euthanasia. Emanuel claims that euthanasia was often provided at the time that the Oath was written. He dates the beginnings of the euthanasia debate in America back to 1870, and presents historical facts to support his response. (2) Regarding myth #2, Emanuel blames "vague" poll questions for those which show that the majority of Americans support physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. Research, which he cites, has shown that support for these practices does decrease when patients aren't described as terminally ill and experiencing constant, intense pain. (3) Studies in both the Netherlands and Washington state are used to refute myth #3. Both report that the minority of people who request euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide are actually requesting it due to severe, unrelenting pain.

Personal Freedom and Nonconformity in Kobo Abes Novels :: Kobo Abe Literature Society Freedom Essays

Personal Freedom and Nonconformity in Kobo Abe's Novels â€Å"No man or woman is wooed by theory alone.† (WITD 32) In declaiming the ability to woo by theory, Kobo Abe betrays his desire to do exactly that. Trained as a physician, Abe has a mindset which leans toward the scientific method: one of hypothesis, experiment, result, and conclusion. In this case, the original hypothesis posed that a man could woo by theory alone, the experiment was the attempt of a wooing guided by theoretical principles, the result a failure, and the conclusion drawn is that such a wooing is not possible, disproving the original hypothesis. We see in this procedure not only Abe’s predilection for theory and introspection, but we also are provided a glimpse at the motivations of a man who would initially believe in a theory of wooing, a concept which to many might seem an obvious contradiction. His novels, indeed, is rife with the contradictions that have been Abe’s trademark, and it is in his attempt to unify these various contradictions to prove a common theme of personal freedom and nonconformity that the novels gain the greater part of its power. In The Woman in the Dunes, Abe describes the nature of reality: the individual reality, wherein it ultimately springs forth from the unconscious mind, and the social reality, where the individual reality, at least in terms of its manifestation, can be either suppressed or encouraged by the type of society in which the individual lives and works. It is a complex attempt to unify these two realities, and to reach a sort of accord whereby the individual self can find expression and participate in a meaningful manner in the social reality. In other words, he is attempting to bridge that chasm, the gap that separates the constricting perception of day-to-day social reality from the larger and far less stable absolute reality, of which the day-to-day social reality is but one small part. Abe deals with these themes through the image of the sand. The sand is formless, and yet it becomes a barrier blocking the protagonist’s attempts at escape. It sucks moisture from his body, but also traps it, causes wood to rot, and, in the final pages of the story, becomes a massive water pump. Abe uses sand imagery as a means to convey both the absurdity of the social day-to-day reality as well as a means by which an almost Zen-like meditative state is induced in the protagonist, through which he may achieve a higher level of consciousness.

The Bermuda Triangle

â€Å"Only God and the Sea knows what happened to those great ships†- U. S. President Woodrow Wilson . By this quote Woodrow Wilson argues that while having so many incidents over the pass century within the area of the Bermuda Triangle; many people make inferences on what they believe is true , but no one actually knows the truth behind it all . The Bermuda Triangle is a triangular area of the North Atlantic Ocean and it lies between Miami ,Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico, and of course the Island of Bermuda. The Bermuda Triangle is 140,000 Sq. miles in size . (Paranormal Encyclopedia . om) The Bermuda Triangle has become a controversial issue world wide. The Bermuda Triangle is a social issue due to: The history of it, Paranormal Activity, and how it has effected people in strange ways. . The Bermuda Triangle was first discussed by Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century . Christopher Columbus first wrote about it in a journal entry in 1492. He wrote that . â€Å" A Gr eat flame of fire crashed into the sea one night and that a strange light appeared a few weeks later. †After hearing this story many people thought it was a meteor and left the story alone for years and years.In 1918 when a Navy seal ship; the Cyclops with 300 men aboard and 10,000 tons ore on board sank somewhere between Barbados and Chesapeake Bay. However, the ship never sent out an SOS distress call. ( â€Å"But the region didn't get its name until August 1964, when Vincent Gaddis coined the term Bermuda Triangle in a cover story for Argosy magazine about the disappearance of Flight 19. †) The disappearance– of the aircraft (Flight 19) was flown by Amelia Earhart from Fort Lauderdale to start her (Around the World journey) but was never completed because in 1965 her plain had circumnavigation and disappeared within the Bermuda Triangle area.Strange history waled to the Bermuda Triangle has also led to many nicknames and paranormal theories. The Bermuda Triang le has many different names such as : â€Å"The Twilight Zone†, â€Å"Port of Missing Ships†, â€Å"Hoodoo Sea†, â€Å"Triangle Of Death†, â€Å"and â€Å"Limboo Of the Lost† but the most famous name is â€Å"The Devil's Triangle,†(TDT). They call it that because many people came up with the theory that the devil is at play and has a lot to do with the deaths within the Bermuda Triangle area.However others think that it's a black hole sucking the ships into another dimension or others theories state that the lost city of Atlantis and possibly UFO's (Unidentified Flying Object) have a lot to do with the disappearances. Many people have different answers but who are we to say if it's true or not . There has been record of proof to show that someone has survived a wreck in the Bermuda Triangle. People pass through The Bermuda Triangle everyday and come home alive (Cary Gordon) her plane lost control when flying over the Bermuda Triangle and sh e was able to control the plane and land it in Miami in 2007.There is still unknown information left unsolved about the Bermuda Triangle and many people are willing to continue their research until they find out the real mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. There has been stories of how the Bermuda Triangle has affected people in a lot of ways like in a book based on the Bermuda Triangle (â€Å"Secrets and Mysteries of the World†)- Author Sylvia Brown wrote that â€Å" My doctor friend reported seeing a pyramid crystal on the top under the water. He tried to get closer to it but was repelled by what seems to be an electric force that went through his body and apparently cured his cancer. In conclusion the Bermuda Triangle has been a social justice issue due to: paranormal activity; the history of it; and how it has effected people in many ways. The Bermuda Triangle is one of the most famous phenomena in history to have as many disappearances ;ship and plane wrecks in the history of wrecks. The Bermuda Triangle will be discussed for years to come due to it's controversy and many different theories. To the mystery is still left unsolved and still will be forever unknown until it has been solved.

Grievance: Trade Union and Workers

Grievance in Industry There are many factors in industry, which make a worker unhappy and dejected. May be his fellow workers are non-co-operative or his foreman’s sarcastic or harsh remarks on his own personal problems outside the factory or domestic matters. Poverty, undernourishment, debts, unemployed dependent, etc. may be working adversely in his mind. He look around and finds everybody being unkind to him. He is aggrieved and wants to ventilate his feelings and reactions. A well-defined grievance procedure is an important element of a sound industrial relations machinery.Prompt and effective disposal of workers grievance is the key to industrial peace. The grievance procedures set up by agreement with a union provides a medium for the workers to transmit his grievance to management in an orderly manner and get the answer in writing Meaning and Nature of Employee Grievance According to Michael J. Jucius, the term ‘grievance’ means â€Å" any discontent or di ssatisfaction, whether expressed or not and whether valid or not arising out of anything connected with the company that an employee thinks, believes or even feels, is unfair, unjust, or inequitable. The definition is very broad and covers all kinds of dissatisfaction, which an employee has while doing his job. A grievance means any discontentment or dissatisfaction arising out of anything related to the enterprise where he is working. It may not be expressed and even may not be valid. It arises when an employee feels that something has happened or is going to happen which is unfair, unjust or inequitable. Keith Davis has defined grievance as â€Å" any real or imagined feeling of personal injustice which an employee has concerning his employment relationship. A grievance represents a situation in which an employee feels that something unfavorable to him has happened or is going to happen. In an industrial enterprise, grievance may arise because of several factors such as: a. Viola tion of management’s responsibility such as poo working conditions, b. Violation of company’s rules and practices. c. Violation of collective bargaining agreement, d. Violation of labour laws, e. Violation of natural rules of justice such as unfair treatment in promotion. The essential of a grievance in an organization are as under: i.The discontentment arises out of something connected with the organization: The sources of grievance lie within the company such as unfair treatment by the supervisor, violation of company rules, etc. do not constitute a grievance. Such outside sources are beyond the control of the employer. ii. A grievance may be expressed or implied: It is comparatively easier to identify express grievances. They are manifested in several ways, e. g. ; gossiping, active criticism, argumentation, increased labour turnover, carelessness in the use of tools, materials and poor workmanship, etc.Grievance are also implied by indifference to work, day dreamin g, absenteeism, tardiness, etc. it is not wise to recognize only expressed grievances and overlook the unexpressed ones. In fact, unexpressed or implied grievances are more dangerous than the grievances which are started because it is not known when the implied grievance may explode. It requires a high order of skill for an executive to identify such grievances. iii. The discontent may be rational or irrational: rational grievance is a genuine one, which must be removed by the management.On the other hand, there are grievances which are emotional in nature and are based on sentiments, distorted perception, lack of proper thinking, etc. these are totally irrational or psychological. It is difficult to handle such grievances. Sources of Grievance The causes of grievances may be grouped under three heads, viz. , i. Grievances resulting from Management Policies a. Wage rates or scale of pay. b. Overtime c. Leave d. Transfer- improper matching of the worker with the job e. Seniority, pro motion, and discharges f. Lack of career planning and employee development plan g. Lack of role clarity. . Lack of regard for collective agreement. i. Hostility towards a labour union j. Autocratic leadership style of supervisors. ii. Grievances resulting from working conditions: a. Unrealistic b. Non-availability of proper tools, machines and equipment for doing he job. c. Tight production standards. d. Bad physical conditions of workplace. e. Poor relationship with the supervisor. f. Negative approach to discipline. iii. Grievances resulting from Personal Factors a. Narrow attitude b. Over- ambition c. Egoistic personality. Handling of Grievance Grievances are symptoms of conflicts in enterprise.So they should be handled very promptly and efficiently. Copying with grievances forms an important part of manager’s job. The manner in which he deals with grievances determines his efficiency in dealing with the subordinates. A manager is successful if he is able to build a team o f satisfied workers by removing their grievances. While dealing with grievances of subordinates, it is necessary to keep in mind the following points: i. A grievance may or may not e real. ii. Grievances may arise out of not one cause, but multifarious causes. iii. Every individual does not gives expression to his grievances.For the purpose of handling grievances efficiently, it is necessary to find and analyses the grievance of the subordinates. If a grievance is found to be genuine or real, the corrective action should be taken immediately. But if the grievance arises due to imagination or disturbed frame of mind of the worker, then it is necessary to explain and clear up the matter. Before dealing with the grievances, their causes must be diagnosed. But when the grievance are not expression by the subordinates, it is manager’s job to detect the possible grievances and their causes.He may realize the existence of grievances because of high labour turnover, high rates of abs enteeism and poor quality of work. These problems will go on multiplying if the causes of grievance are not cured. While dealing with grievances, a manager cannot depend upon any readymade solutions. Every case has to be dealt with on its merits. The following guidelines may be followed to deal effectively with the grievances: i. The complainant should be given a patient hearing. He should be allowed to express himself completely. ii. The management must show its anxiety to remove the grievances of the workers. iii.If the grievances are real and their causes are known, attempts should be made to remove the causes. iv. If the grievances are imaginary or unfounded, attempts should be made to counsel the workers. Grievance Procedure A grievance is the embryo of more serious trouble to come because accumulation of minor grievance may lead to major explosions. Therefore, prompt and effective handling of grievance is the key to industrial peace. This calls for systematic procedure of hand ling grievance for the just and speedy disposal of grievances. There are two types of grievance procedures for redressing the grievance of the employees.These includes i. Open Door Policy Under the procedure, the employees are free to meet the top executive of the organization and get their grievances redressed. Such a policy may work well in the small organizations, but in big organizations this may not be practicable because the top executive will be too busy in other matters. Another disadvantage of open-door policy is that lower level executives feel bypassed. This may complicate the human relations problems. Moreover, top management is not too familiar with the working conditions of the operative employees.It may be difficult for it to attend to employee grievances because of lack of sufficient information. Lastly, it is also said that the open door policy is suitable for executives to walk through and not the operative employees. The employees may even hesitate to go to top ex ecutives with their grievances. Because of these difficulties, stepladder procedure may be adopted ii. Step- ladder Procedure Under this procedure, the aggrieved employee has to proceed step b step in getting his grievance heard and redressed. Firstly, he has to present his grievance in writing to his supervisor or foreman.If he is not satisfied with his decision, he may go to the head of the department. There may by a joint grievance committee after the decision of the head of the department is not acceptable to the employee. If the committee also fails to redress his grievance, the matter may be referred to the chief executive. The grievance procedure will be said to be exhausted if the chief executive is also not able to redress the grievance. The workers should not take any action against the management until the whole grievance procedure has been exhausted. Filing of written Grievance Grievance Voluntary Arbitration Chief ExecutiveJoint Grievance Committee Head of department Su pervisor or Foreman S E T T L E M E N T The grievance assumes the form of a conflict after the workers is not satisfied with the decision of the chief executive. For maintaining industrial peace in the plant, it is advisable to refer such grievance to the voluntary arbitration. The award of the arbitration should be binding on both the parties. Grievance Procedure in Indian Industry In India, settlement of settlement of grievance did not receive adequate attention in the legislative framework till the enactment of Industrial Employment (standing orders) Act, 1946, and the Factories Act, 1948.The Industrial Employment Act provides that every establishment employing 100 or more workers should frame Standing orders which should contain, among other matters, provision for means of redressed for workmen against unfair treatment or wrongful actions by the employer or his agents or servants. Similarly, section 49 of the Factories Act provides for the appointment of Welfare Officers in ever y factory wherein 500 or more workers are ordinarily employed. These officers are generally entrusted with the task of dealing with complaints and grievances of the workers or employees.The 15th session of the Indian Labour Conference (July 1957) took up the matter of establishing a grievance procedure acceptable to both the management and workers union in an industrial unit and a sub-committee was formed for the purpose. The 16th session of the Indian Labour Conference (1958) approved the principles of industrial discipline evolved by the committee. A Model Grievance Procedures which is a part of code of discipline was drawn up. The model grievance procedure envisages the creation of a grievance machinery to administer the procedure.According to it workers representatives are to be elected for a department or their union is to nominate them. Otherwise workers representatives on the workers committee are to be taken as their representatives. The management has to specify the persons in each department who are to process the grievance at the second step. These representatives of workers and management are to constitute the joint, bipartite grievance committee. It should be noted that the whole procedure is time bound. Industrial RelationsTraditionally, the term ‘industrial relations’ is used to cover such aspects of industrial life as collective bargaining, workers’ participation in management, discipline and grievance handling, industrial disputes, and interpretation of rules, labour laws, etc. thus, industrial relations are often seen as constraints which limit the ability of the organization rather are often seen as constraints which limit the ability of the organization rather than an opportunity to develop collaborative problem solving relationship.The industrial relation (IR) function in majority of the organizations suffers from lack of planning, absence of human relations policies and predominance of short-term perspective in resolvi ng labour-management problems. The continuous neglect of industrial relations function has resulted in problems like poor work-culture, indiscipline, flouting of authority, coercion and blackmailing by unions, rise of restrictive practices, lack of mutual trust, frustration of workers, alienation of workers, etc. The concept of Industrial RelationsThe term ‘Industrial Relation’ refers to all types of relationships between all the parties concerned with industry. The parties related to industry are the workers and the management representing the owners. Thus, industrial relations connote a vast complex of relationships obtaining between management and employees, union and management, union and employees and between employees themselves. Both parties to industrial relation have a common interest in industry, but many a time, they are found to be pulling n difference directions which lead to industrial unrest. Therefore, it has become necessary to secure the cooperation of both workers and management to achieve good industrial relations. Besides management and workers, State is another party associated with industrial relations. The interference of government in industrial relations through legal and administrative measure is quite common. Thus, the area of industrial relations has been extended to relations among the state, employer and employees.According to Encyclopedia Britannica, â€Å"The subject of industrial relations includes individual relations and joint consultations between employers and workers at the place of work, collective relations between employers and their organizations and trade unions and part played by the state in regulating these relations. † According to Dale Yoder â€Å"The term ‘industrial relations’ refers to the relationship between management and employees or among employees and their organization that arise out of employment. In modern usage, the phrase ‘industrial relations’ include s the whole gamut of matters that arise due to the continuing relationship between the employers and the workers. Its scope includes three rarely distinct areas: 1. Relations between mangers and individual workers; 2. The collective relations between employers and labour (trade) union; and 3. The role of government in the regulation of these relationships. These three closely associated areas are often referred to respectively as personnel management, collective bargaining and labour legislation. Parties to Industrial RelationsSimply stated, industrial relations are the outcome of the employment relationships in industry. The government of a nation influences these relations to a great extent. Thus, there are three major variables in industrial relations: i. Workers and their Organizations: the personal characteristics of workers, their culture, educational attainments, qualifications, skills, attitude towards worker, etc. play an important role in industrial relations. Workers orga nizations, known as trade unions, are political institutions. Trade unions are formed for safeguarding the economic and social interests of the workers.They put pressure on the management for the achievement of these objectives. ii. Employers and their organizations: The employers are a very important variable in industrial relations. They provide employment to workers and try to regulate their behavior for getting high productivity from them. Industrial unrest generally arises when the employers demand from the workers is very high and they offer low economic and other benefits. In order to increase their bargaining power, employers in several industries have organized employers associations.These associations put pressure on the trade unions and the government. They also participated in tripartite bodies constituted by the government to regulate industrial relations. iii. Government : the government exerts an important influence on industrial relations through such measures as pro viding employment, intervening in working relationships and regulating wages, bonus and working conditions through various laws relating to labour. The government keeps an eye on both the trades unions and employers organizations to regulate their activities in the interest of the nation. Objectives of Industrial RelationsThe primary objective of industrial relation is to maintain good and healthy relations between the workers and the management in the enterprise. Al other objectives revolve around this primary objectives. Some of the important objectives are listed below: i. To promote healthy labour-management relations. ii. To promote the interests of employees as well as management by securing the highest level of mutual understanding and goodwill among them. iii. To raise productivity to a higher level which is the need of the day and to contributed to the economic development of the country. v. To check industrial conflicts and minimize the occurrence of strikers, lockouts and gheraos. v. To minimize labour turnover and absenteeism by providing job satisfaction to the workers. vi. To facilitate and develop industrial democracy based on workers partnership in management of industry. vii. To establish government control over industries to regulate production and industrial relations. Significance of Good Industrial Relations or Industrial Peace Good industrial relations refer to harmonious relations between the labour union and the management in an organization.In other words, in such a situation, there is absence of industrial disputes between the two parties and presence of understanding and cooperation between them. Thus, industrial relations in an organisation must be harmonious or cordial. Such relations can lead to the following benefits: 1. Industrial peace: Cordial industrial relations bring harmony and remove causes of disputes. This leads to industrial peace which is an ideal situation for an industrial unit to concentrate on productivity and gro wth. 2. Higher productivity: Due to cordial industrial relations, workers take interest in their jobs and work efficiently. his leads to higher productivity and production of the enterprise where they are working. Thus, they will contribute to the economic growth of the nation. 3. Industrial Democracy: Sound industrial relations are based on consultation between the workers and the management. This assists in the establishment of industrial democracy in the organization which motivates employees to contribute their best to the success of the organization. 4. Collective Bargaining: Good industrial relations are extremely helpful for entring into long-term agreements as regard various issues between labour and management.Effective collective bargaining and association of employees in decision- making process will bring about cooperation between labour and management. 5. Fair Benefits to workers: The workers should get sufficient economic and non- economic benefits to lead a happy life . It is possible when the relations between workers and management are cordial and the productivity is high. The employers can afford higher benefits to the workers. 6. High Morale: Good industrial relations imply the existence of an atmosphere of mutual cooperation, confidence, and respect within the enterprise.In such an atmosphere, there are common goals, which motivate all memebers of the organization to contribute their best. Consequently, there is higher productivity, higher income and increased, job satisfaction – all resulting in higher morale of the workforce. 7. Facilitation of change: Sound industrial relations, by creating a climate of co-operative and confidence make the process of change easy. Hence, full advantage of last inventions, innovations and other technological advancement can be obtained.The workforce easily adjusts itself to required changes for betterment. Industrial Unrest Industrial peace in a country is an important pre- condition for its industri al development. Industrial peace implies the existence of harmonious relationship between the management and the workers. When the relationship between the management and the workers is not cordial, industrial atmosphere is not peaceful. Such a situation is known as industrial unrest. In other words, industrial unrest refers to discontent and conflict between employers and employees.It takes the shape of strikes, lock-outs, demonstrations, etc. The relations between the employers and the employees are frequently clouded by a sense of exploitation, distrust and discontent. They give rise to industrial conflicts or disputes. Perhaps an industrial dispute is the most acute problem in industrial organization because it endangers peace in the industry. Some of the symptoms of industrial unrest are high labour turnover, disciplinary problems, absenteeism and tardiness, critical personal rating, low morale, restriction of output, etc. t is important to note that strikes and lock-outs have come to stay almost permanently in the industrial set-up of many countries. Maintenance of harmonious human relations in an organization depends upon the promotion and maintenance of discipline. No organization can proper without discipline. Discipline has been a matter of utmost concern for all organizations. There are some people who believe that maintenance of discipline is the concern of only higher echelons of an organization. But in actual practice, discipline is concerned with employees at all levels.Broadly speaking, discipline means orderly behavior of individuals towards the desired goals of the group. The word ‘discipline’ owes its origin to religion, but it was in the army that it helped achieve spectacular results. When big battles were won not by the numerically superior army, but by the one that had better disciplined soldiers who had a very high morale, a more intense motivation to win, and had the benefits of effective leadership, popular imagination ma rveled at such achievements. Discipline, thus, came to be equated with the army.But now it is widely used in schools, colleges, industries and other institutions. The concept of Industrial Discipline Discipline in industry may be described as willing cooperation and observation of the rules and regulations of the organization. It means securing consistent behaviour in accordance with the accepted norms of behaviour. Discipline is essential to a democratic way of life. Simply stated, discipline means orderliness. It implies the absence of chaos, irregularity and confusion in the behaviour of workers. In other words, disciplined workers cooperate andbehave in a normal and orderly way.Discipline may be defined as a force that prompts individuals or groups to observe the rules, regulation and procedures which are deemed to be necessary for the effective functioning of an organization. According to Ordway Tead, â€Å"Discipline is the orderly conduct of affairs by the members of an orga nization, who adhere harmoniously in forwarding towards the end which the group has in view, and willingly recognize that. † Discipline is said to be good when employees willingly follow company’s rules and it is said to be bad when employees follow rules unwillingly or actually disobey them.According to some people, discipline is a positive concept in as much as that the absence of indiscipline does not imply a state of discipline. Too often, discipline has been oriented towards punishment for the past misdeeds. Many managers and supervisors see discipline primarily as a mean to enforce external demands for responsible behaviour. Instead they expect orderly behaviour to depend primarily on fear of penalties. Thus, they exercise discipline as a punishment. But this is a negative approach which should be abandoned by the managers and supervisors in order to secure good human relation in industry.Manager should adopt a positive approach to deal with indiscipline in the or ganization. Attempts should be made to educate the workers the value of discipline. The workers should be taught self-discipline because it is the highest form of discipline in any group activity. Management should give more emphasis in educating the workers in order to change their attitude towards their work and work-place. Disciplinary action should be taken only in exceptional circumstances where no other alternative is left. It must be based on the consideration of just cause and due process of law.Aspects of Discipline There are two aspects of discipline, viz. , positive and negative aspects which are discussed below: 1. Positive Aspect: Employees believe in and support discipline and adhere to the rules, regulations and desired standards of behaviour. Discipline takes the form of positive support and reinforcement for approved actions and its aim is to help the individual in moulding his behaviour and developing him in a corrective and supportive manner. This type of approach is called positive approach or constructive discipline or self- discipline.Positive discipline take place whenever the organizational climates is marked by aspects such as payment of adequate remuneration and incentives, appropriates avenues for career advancement, appreciation of proper performance, reinforcement of approved personnel behaviour or actions, etc. , which all motivate employees to adhere to organization rules and regulations or exercise self- control. 2. Negative Aspect: Employees sometimes do not believe in discipline. As such, they do not adhere to rules, regulations and desired standards of behaviour.As such, disciplinary programmed forces and constraints the employees to obey orders and function in accordance with set rules and regulations through warnings, penalties and other forms of punishment. This approach to discipline is called negative approach or collective approach or punitive approach. This approach is autocratic in nature as the subordinates are given no role in formulating the rules and they are not told why they are punished. Negative or enforced discipline connotes that personnel are forced to observe rules and regulations on account of fear of reprimand, fine demotion, or transfer.But these are helpful in extracting Just minimum standard of performance from the employees since they work on account of the fear they have got. In fact, punishment, penalties, demotions and transfers provide or establish a climate which demotivates the employees. Hence, such climate is not helpful for the accomplishment of group goals and for enhancing the morale of employees. Importance of Discipline in Industry Discipline is the very essence of life. Absence of discipline means chaos and disorder. An industrial enterprise is an organic whole in which a variety of forces act in unison towards the attainment of its ultimate aims.Obviously, smooth and effective functioning demands a high degree of co-ordination among the various elements which for m integral parts of an organization. In an industry, big or small, manpower is the most important factor. Manpower can be used effectively only if there is discipline in the industry. Discipline should not be brought about by fear or punitive actions, it should be brought voluntarity. A man may work in the required manner under compulsion, but he may constantly be in conflict with his natural impulse and thus be under a continues strain which he can’t be considered conductive to good social relations in the work-group.What is really required is to take steps to promotion mutual confidence between the employees and the employers and highlight the identity of their interest, which are so essential to bring about the necessary discipline. Maintenance of discipline is a prerequisite for the attainment of maximum productivity, not only of the workers but also of the entire nation. It is only because of this that the underlying philosophy of discipline is conceived as inherent in t he whole field of industrial relations.Viewed against this background, self-discipline is the highest form of discipline and management efforts should be directed to encourage this. True discipline is education because it changes the very attitude of the workers towards their work and work-place. It must, therefore, be realized that discipline is to developed from within. It has to be reformative and not punitive. Preventive and Settlement Machinery of Industrial Disputes Lasting industrial peace requires that the causes of industrial disputes should be eliminated. In other words, preventive steps should be taken so that industrial disputes do not occur.But if preventive machinery fails, then the industrial disputes settlement machinery should be activated by the Government because non- settlement of disputes will prove to be very costly to the workers, management and the society as a whole. MACHINERY FOR HANDLING INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES Labour Court Industrial Tribunals National Tribun als Conciliation Board Conciliation Officers Voluntary Arbitration Conciliation Court of Enquiray Adjudication Workers Participation in management Standing Orders Tripartite Bodies Collective Bargaining Code of disciplineGrievance Procedure Settlement Machinery Preventive Machinery Preventive Machinery The preventive machinery has been set up with a view to creating harmonious relations between labours and management so that disputes do not arise. It comprise of the following measures: 1. Worker’s participation in management It is a method whereby the workers are allowed to be consulted and to have a saying the management of the unit. The important schemes of workers participation are: works committees, joint management council (JMC), shop council and joint council.These have been discussed later in this book. 2. Collective Bargaining According to Dale Yoder, â€Å"Collective Bargaining is the term used to describe a situation in which essential conditions of employment dete rmined by bargaining process undertaken by representatives of a group of workers on the one hand and of one or more employers on the other. Collective bargaining not only includes negotiation, administration and enforcement of the written contracts between the employers and employees, but also includes the process of resolving labour- management conflicts.The role of collective bargaining fore solving the issues arising between the management and the workers at the plant or industry level has been widely recognized. Labour legislation and the machinery for its implementation prepare a framework according to which industrial establishment should operate. But whenever labours laws may lay down, it is the approach of employers and trade union leaders which matters. Unless both are enlightened, industrial harmony is not possible. Therefore, the solution to common problems can be found directly through negotiation between both parties and in this context, he scope of collective bargainin g is very wide. 3. Tripartite Bodies Industrial relation in India have been shaped largely by principles and policies evolved though tripartite consultative machinery at industry and national levels. The aim of the consultative machinery is to bring the parties together for mutual settlement of difference in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill. 4. Code of discipline Code of discipline is a set of self-imposed mutually agreed voluntary principles of discipline and good relation between the management and the workers in industry.In India, code of discipline was approved by the 16th Indian Labour Conference held in 1958. It contain three sets of codes which have already been discussed later in the book. 5. Standing Orders The terms and condition of employment have been a bone of contention between labour and management since the advent of factory system. To prevent the emergence of industrial strive over the condition of employment, one important measure is the standing orders act, 19 46, it was made obligatory that Standing Orders would govern the conditions of employment.The Standing Orders regulate the conditions of employment from the stage of entry in the organization to the stage of exit from the organization. Thus they constitute the regulatory pattern for industrial relations. Since the standing orders provide Do’s and Don’ts, they also act as a code of conduct for the employees during their working life within the organization. Industrial Disputes Settlement Machinery The machinery has been provided under the Industrial Disputes Act 1947. It, in fact, provides a legalistic way of setting the disputes.As said above, the goal of preventive machinery is to create an environment where the disputes do not arise at all. Even then if any differences arise, the judicial machinery has been provided to settle them lest they should result into work stoppages. In this sense, the nature of this machinery is curative for it aims at curing the ailments. T his machinery comprises following organs: 1. Conciliation: Conciliation is a method of resolving the industrial conflict with the help of the third party, who intervenes in the dispute situation upon a request by either or the both parties.It is a procedure in which the decision making functions remains the prerogatives of the parties to the disputes as in collective bargaining. The conciliators simply assists them in their negotiations and decision making, he resolves the impasse and remove the bottlenecks Conciliation Officers The law provides for the appointment of conciliation officer by the Government to conciliate between the parties to the industrial disputes. The conciliation Officer is given the power of a civil court, whereby he is authorized to call and witness the parties on oath.It should be remembered; however, whereas civil court cannot go beyond interpreting the laws, the conciliation offer can go behind the facts and make judgment which will be binding upon the part ies. Conciliation board In case conciliation Officer fails to resolve the differences between the parties, the government has the discretion to appoint a Board of Conciliation. The Board is tripartite and ad hoc body. It consists of a chairman and two or four other members. The chairman is to be an independent person and other members are nominated in equal numbers by the parties to the dispute.Conciliation proceedings before a Board are similar to those that take place before the conciliation Officer; the government has yet another option of referring the dispute to the court of Inquiry instead of the Board of conciliation. 2. Court of Enquiry In case of the failure of the conciliation proceedings to settle a dispute, the government can appoint a court of Inquiry to enquire into any matter connected with or relevant to industrial disputes. This court is expected to submit its report within six months from the commencement of enquiry. This report is subsequently published by the gov ernment within 30 days of its receipt.Unlike during the period of conciliation, workers right to strike, employers right to lockout, and employers right to strike, employers right to lockout, and employers right to dismiss workmen,etc remain unaffected during the proceedings in a court of enquiry. 3. Voluntary Arbitration On failure of conciliation proceedings, the conciliation officer may proceedings; the conciliation officer may persuade the parties to refer the dispute to a voluntary arbitrator. Voluntary arbitration refers to getting the disputes settled though an independent person chosen by the parties involved mutually and voluntarily.In other words, arbitrator jointly appointed by the parties which is usually wasted in case of adjudication. 4. Adjudication The ultimate remedy for the settlement of an industrial dispute is its reference to adjudication by labour court or tribunals when conciliation machinery fails to bring about a settlement. Adjudication consists of settling disputes through intervention by the third party appointed by the government. The law provides the adjudication to be conducted by the labour court, Industrial Tribunal and National Tribunal.

What is a societal problem you believe needs to be addressed?

Although there are numerous societal problems that needs immediate attention but one problem which I feel needs most of the attention is society morality conflict. I would further elaborate my statement by saying that the people living in the society have become immoral and they indulge themselves in those kinds of acts that are not only immoral but they are unethical as well. Abortion is one major part of the moral conflicts between the societies as there are some people who are against it while some think that it is a human right. However, I would say that killing the baby without any valid reason or justification is not ethical. Moreover, the people are getting more and more prone to drugs and drinking and this not only harms the health of the individuals who consume drugs but it also leaves a negative impact on the society. Prostitution is also seen on a rise as the men are unsatisfied with their life partners and this is one quick way for the women to make money despite of the fact that this is not a moral practice. One more conflict in the society is occurring between the people who believe in God and the people who follow atheism. Atheists are the people who do not believe in any gods and this gives a negative connotation because most of the people in the society worship gods. Due to the rise in unemployment and the people being unable to support their living, they are left with two options; either they tend to commit suicide or they indulge in unethical acts that affect the society in a negative way and these have become a major evil for the society and the people.

Agricultural Subsidies and Development

1. The removal agricultural tariffs and subsides, according to Oxfam, would benefit developed nations because their consumers would benefit from lower domestic agricultural prices and the elimination of the taxes they must pay in order to support the subsidies. The producers in the developed world would lose this government protection from competition as well as the financial incentives. I believe there would be a net benefit from changing our agricultural policy because: ? The government program distorts a functioning market. A functioning market allows capital (investment) to flow where it can gain the highest return. If a good or product can be produce more efficiently outside of the United States, the producer and consumer benefit. The benefit to the consumer in lower prices, improved product quality and lower taxes, helps the US economy by increasing the consumer’s buying power. The higher purchasing power changes the US consumers’ outlook on their personal wealth, and thereby their future spending. The so-called wealth effect occurs when consumers’ perception of their finances allow them to spend more of their income. This higher propensity to consume by US consumers should offset the loss of domestic spending on agricultural products. ? The increase of trade also enables the more efficient producer to reciprocate in buying products or services from the US where we have a competitive advantage. Therefore, in addition to the gain in consumer spending from the improvement of consumer purchasing power, the US will gain additionally from purchases from their new trade relationship. 2. I believe that removing agricultural tariffs and subsidies will help the citizens of the world’s poorest nations. As one UN official has noted. â€Å"It’s no good building up roads clinics, and infrastructure in poorer areas if you don’t give them access to markets and engines for growth. † Increasing demand for their products will allow their economy to expand. The increase of employment, and thereby their domestic consumer spending, will have a similar effect as I described above. The higher income will spur domestic spending for other local goods and services. The net effect will be increased domestic wealth, expansion of their consumer spending, and thereby the local economy. Unfortunately foreign aid is frequently poorly managed, although necessary. The most effective program is one that enables the local economy to produce a product or service that is demanded by consumers (locally and / or internationally). 3. Historically government programs protected our agricultural business by creating the necessary supports to make farming a sustainable business. Today developed nations continue to lavish extensive support on agricultural producers in spite of the fact that the agricultural production in most developed countries is self sufficient. In the US, the agricultural industry in many states has a very powerful political lobby. Both political parties will agree to support government subsidies in order to win the support of the agricultural lobbies. The politicians often claim that their motive is to preserve a historic rural lifestyle, and they see subsidies as a way of achieving that goal. This sentiment is still believed by many voters, as some small farms do exist, but the vast amount of the $300 billion in subsidies per year go major agricultural businesses. Perhaps one reason why this is overlooked is due to the efficiency of US agriculture. The highly efficient businesses in most developed counties produce products at historically low prices. Today’s US consumer spends less than 10% of their income on food. As food prices rises, due to the falling US dollar, and the growing global economy increases demand for food products, we may be forced to spend more of income on food, and then the focus on the agricultural subsidies and tariffs may get more attention.