Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Marketing the New Product of IMMO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Marketing the New Product of IMMO - Essay Example The product should be differentiated and branded differently and it should target different segments of the market as well as well as be priced differently. Further in terms of forecasting demand for the product, it is advisable that the organization obtains orders from the law enforcement agencies as well as from retailers before deciding on the number of units that should be manufactured at launch and in the four quarters of the first year. The objective of this report is to help the management of the organization to decide on the different strategies that it should undertake to ensure that it is meets its full potential in profitability and market penetration. Throughout this document the author has carried out an in depth analysis of the organization, its products, the markets that it wishes to penetrate and the current economic conditions and makes the necessary conclusions and recommendations. In this report the author first analyses if IMMO Tech should proceed with its plans to market the new product, and then the if the organization should enter into any international markets and if so which ones in particular. ... alyses if IMMO Tech should proceed with its plans to market the new product, and then the if the organization should enter into any international markets and if so which ones in particular. Further the author also analyses which market segments and target markets should they focus on, who the target consumers are and which social demographic and lifestyle characteristics they have to share. Once the author studies the different demographic groups in and their similar characteristics the author then goes on to advice the organization on the importance of standardizing or differentiating the products according to the market segments that are targeted and how this can be done to suit the different markets. Next the author analyses the pricing strategy and which strategy should be adopted at the early stages of the product's life cycle, the retail price that should be recommended to the stockists. Since the pricing strategy has been recommended the author then goes on to study and analyze the implications of charging different prices in different markets and the extent to which exchange rates play a role in the context international business. In the final sections of the document the author then analyses if IMMO should develop a range of accessories, if the organization does decide to produce accessories then, how will they add value to the brand and the profitability of the organization. How will it be done in a manner that it rivals can copy Then the author goes on to analyze how and where IMMO should promote and advertise its smartphone, how many units should IMMO Tech manufacture in the run up to the launch And finally how many should be produced in the first four quarters after the launch Once all of the above has been analyzed in detail the author then draws
Monday, October 28, 2019
Real Estate Investment Trusts in China
Real Estate Investment Trusts in China Real Estate Investment Trusts in China: how can we learn form American model to develop our REITs system? Ouyang Chun Abstract The real estate market is a burgeon market and is an essential part in the Chinese economy. During the past decades, the government made all their efforts to boost its development by using foreign countries experience. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) model is new method to finance for city development. Since 2007, Chinese government began to test whether this model is suitable for China. The paper addresses the situation of Chinese REITs and the factors influencing REITs operating in China. Using the American REITs model for reference, the paper also discusses how to solve this problems and how to implement REITs model in China. I. Introduction The real estate market is booming in these years, particularly in China. The demand of finance as well as the housing supply makes China searching for other more efficient financing methods to meet the increasing requirements. Recently, with the releasing of the law restrictions and the reform and opening-up, more and more diversified investment methods are being tested in China. The Chinese government is now trying to find a new financing method by learning from foreign experience and integrating it with the Chinese situation. The REITs is considered to be one of the most efficient and suitable investment tools in China. REITs first appeared in the USA in 1960s. With over 40 years of development, REITs was successful in America because of complete laws and professional evaluation agencies. REITs developed rapidly in both their size and numbers since 1990 in America (Chan et al., 2002), and now it is a very mature investment model in the USA, benefiting the individual investors by running properties under the professional institutions. A REIT is a mutual fund to collect money from both individuals and institutional investors, with the exemption of the taxation, investing to different categories of real estate projects in different regions indirectly, and it is also can be traded on the stock markets (Jones. C, 2007). According to the Baker Review (Baker, 2003), the institutional investors prefer to use REITs, which is a tax transparent investment tool, to stimulate and to improve the rent stock as well as to stabilize the market. This tax transparent feature means that there is no need to pay double tax on REITs. Since 2007, the Chinese government established some test spots by choosing several potential projects, examining the feasibility of REITs in China. However, almost all the tests failed by various factors. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the factors influencing the REITs adapted to the Chinese market. The paper also examines the experience from the USA, which has the most mature REITs model in the world, and contrasts with the Chinese REITs model. As part of the task, the paper addresses the countermeasures for the factors influencing REITs feasibility in China by giving the law supports, improving the REITs models and establishing the professional evaluation system. The paper first examines the definition and the properties of REITs and then addresses the current situation of REITs operation in China. It then considers the factors which influences why REITs did not particularly adapt to China before. The paper then introduces the experience of REITs in America and also the reasons making REITs successful in the USA. The final part of the paper considers the countermeasures for making REITs adapt to China in the future and draws some conclusions. II. The current situation of REITs in China In this section, the paper will first address the potential of REITs in China, giving some reasons why REITs is considered to be the most suitable financial tool in China. The paper will then examine the reasons influencing REITs developed in China since 2007. A. The potential of REITs in China The National Association gave the definition of the Real Estate Investment Trusts as followed (NAREIT): ââ¬Å"[a] REIT is essentially a corporation or business trust that combines the capital of many investors to acquire or provide financing for all forms of real estate. The aim of REITs is to invest to the real estate market and to receive the returns, it just like the stock shares held by the investors, which creates the possibility to indirectly invest to the market with professional management. REITs is suitable for China because of its features, the liquidity, the diversification of risk and the available capital. The Liquidity of REITs is that it can be traded on the open markets just like the stock shares, which means that the individuals or the institution can invest to the real estate market even though they are not the professionals in this area. It also gives them a chance to withdraw their asset quickly when the market is depressed instead of the long period of the direct investment (Eichholtz, 1996, Hoesli et al, 2000,Walpole, 1999). Eichholtz also pointed out that (Eichholtz, 1996) REITs can diversify the risk of the investment. The capital of the REITs will be divided into several parts to invest in different category of properties and in different regions. The development in China is unbalanced even in the metropolitans. Thereby, REITs will spread the risk efficiently for the investors and improve some undeveloped area where the direct investment did not participate in. REITs welcomes all kinds of investors including the retails and the institutions. Because it does not need too much assets to involve, REITs may collects enormous money and becomes a non-ignored capital in the market (Walpole, 1999). REITs can be cultivated stronger in China because of the massive of the retail investors, thereby, the available capital of REITs may become incredible huge and will benefit substantially for the Chinese real estate market. B. The reasons influencing of the Chinese REITs Since 2007, the Chinese government set up several test points to examine whether REITs adapted to China, however, almost all the projects failed, which exposed many factors influencing REITs operating in China. The supporting laws and policies is non-enough. The Chinese government published few supporting laws or policies for REITs. REITs returns are mostly attribute form the exemption of the tax, but there are still not any policies or laws published to exempt the taxes of REITs, which makes the incomes of REITs are very low. Thereby, the investors in China still wait and see to determinate whether invest to REITs market. The complicated properties of the projects make the evaluation difficult. Due to the limited test spots, the competition in Chinese REITs was very sharp since 2007, more and more conglomerates joint or had a will to join at that time, the projects they brought to the test spots is significantly huge for the Chinese REITs system. There was not enough preparations for such big properties in this market, such as the laws, the regulations as well as the evaluations systems, which is considered to be the most important part in REITs investment, did not prepare maturely at that time. Therefore, as the test began, the problems appeared gradually, the valuation of the properties was evaluated incorrectly or the values of the whole project were not easy to evaluate which caused the investor was not able to grasp the information precisely. The unclear ownership of the Property Portfolio reduced the value of the REITs. After the project started, this problem appeared significantly, a larger of buildings which were prepared to be the asset pack existed problems, the use or the property of lands are not correct or the approval process is not complete. Such buildings are not allowed to invest to the Chinese REITs market due to the laws. Thereby, these problems affected the evaluation of the asset directly and also affected launching the REITs definitely. The rental fee can not be collected efficiently. The Chinese government established some development areas in the past decades, in which the investor would be benefited when they established the projects by some policies. These policies exempted the rental fees from their buildings for a particularly period, which effected the operating of REITs dramatically, because the most important factor, the returns, was affected. A non-returnable property would not make and profits for the REITs products obviously and would confuse the investor on how they would get their incomes after they invested, therefore, it would not be approved by the market definitely. Although there were many defects in Chinese REITs, we could avoid these disadvantages by using other countries experience for reference. The American REITs model is one of the most mature models in the world. Their development history, their REITs structure as well as the reason of its success are worth us to reflect our REITs model. III. The REITs model in USA and the analysis of the reasons of the success of RIETs in America In this part, the paper will analyze the reason of the success in the American REITs. The paper will first give a brief history of the REITs in the USA and address its structure. After that, the paper will focus on analyzing the reasons promoting REITs market to boost and boom in recent years. A. A brief history of the REITs in America The modern pattern of the REITs appeared by the Wall Street in 1960s even though the idea of it can be dated back to 1880s. In 1960, in order to stimulate the depressed real estate market, the United State published the Real Estate Investment Trust Act, which gave the supporting law to the new invest model (Klame. P et al, 2001). This Act defined the regulation of REITs and also gave it the exemption from the federal taxation, which means there is no need to pay the double tax while using this investment tool (Klame. P et al, 2001). REITs did not make any significant achievements in the first decades, but grew dramatically from the 1990s, in which erupted a housing market collapse (Harvard University, 2003). Due to the low cost of management and the diversity of risk, more than 200 companies in America invested indirectly to the real estate market, the total assets exceed $ 12,000 billion until January 2000 ,and now, the American public real estate market is the biggest and most mature market in the world (Klame. P et al, 2001). B. The current situation of REITs in America The structure of REITs investors in America are divided into three parts, 55% in the domestic institutions, 25% by individuals and 7% by the foreign investors (Friday, 1999). REITs benefit all forms of the real estate projects, such as office buildings, shopping centers and private housing (Klame. P et al, 2001). The aim for the REITs was first defined for the retail investors, but attracted the institution investor since 2004, which increased the numbers of the trades as well as the liquidity of the REITs (Chan et al., 2002). Moreover, the REITs investors in America can obtain about 90% of the income of the REITs and do not need to pay any tax from their incomes, thereby making the benefits they receive higher than the stock markets (Klame. P et al, 2001). C. The reasons of the success of American REITs With almost 50 years development, REITs in the United Stated became the most mature one in the world. The reasons for that are varieties. The first reason is the government published a lot of supporting laws. With these Acts, REITs developed rapidly. The REITs did not make many achievements at the very beginning, but the American government made all their efforts to push this investment method to success. With the Tax Recovery Act in 1986, the REITs in the USA first grew tremendously after experiencing the bubbles and the depression in 1970s. This Act weakened the limited partnership by restricting their tax exemption and cancelling the accelerated depreciation accounting method of the real estate. The Act also loosened the access standard of the REITs, which made the REITs companies not only owned the real estate assets, but also could manage the properties. Moreover, most of the REITs added the low debt provision in their organizational files, which would absolutely reduce the risk in operation. These changes attracted the investor to join this boom market and promoted the development of REITs. At the end of 1999, the most important Act, REITs Modernization Act, passed and published in 2001. This Act reduced the distribution proportion to 90%, and stipulated the companies could dominate the profits freely after they pay the tax from their un-distributed incomes. Therefore, REITs could use this profit to maintain the existing properties, invested to new properties or pay the debt. As a result of that, this Act increased the investment chance and promoted the business performance. These Acts helped REITs to become more flexible, more focus in customer demands and a more profit-seeking institution. The supporting laws and policies are definitely important, however, REITs needs more supporting from the financial system, and the evaluation system is considered to be the most important systems in REITs development. The evaluation system in the U.S. is quite complete. With the experience of over 100 years financial operation, the Americans accumulated substantial finance evaluation experience. When REITs started, the evaluation of the REITs products were not difficult tasks to finish. Almost all the REITs projects had been evaluated correctly, which provided accuracy information to the investors. Due to the REITs market is not difficult to enroll, most of the investors, including individuals and institutions, could operate readily when they joined the market. That absolutely promoted the REITs boom in the United State during 1990s. In addition, REITs companies in America invest to specific objects. Compared with China, the U.S. REITs concentrated in existing real estate projects, which means the companies preferred to operate the buildings rather than to establish one. That would absolutely reduce the risk for REITs, which attracted a lot of investors. These three factors motioned above supported the REITs developed very fast since 1990s and make it becomes one of the most efficient and mature REITs model in the world. The Chinese REITs may probably enlighten form these experiences and avoid the problems by learning their developing history. IV. Countermeasures To establish a relatively complete environment for REITs investment, China would probably benefits from the American experience. The paper will provide some suggestions which might helpful for improve the REITs in China. A. Exemption of the double tax of REITs As Chinese REITs markets were mainly affected by the investment environment, especially the supporting laws, the Chinese government could refer to the American model to release the law restricting gradually. The most exigent problem which should be solved first is the taxes on the REITs products. The American experience exposed that the transparency feature of the tax is the most important factor promoting REITs market boost. Without the tax transparency, the returns of the REITs would be very low. The Chinese government should use this experience for reference, exempting the double tax on the REITs, stimulating the REITs markets by raising the returns. B. Introduction for the public Due to the returns of REITs are a little bit higher than the stock markets and the investment skill is fairly easy to grasp, both the individual and the institutional investors would be willing to invest to this market. However, the REITs market was not flourishing as the exception, that is mainly because most individuals in China did not understanding what was REITs and how many retunes they could received by the REITs, even the specialists would not invest lightly due to the unclear information of supporting policies of the REITs. If the government really want to boom the REITs market, they should focus on publicize the REITs products to the citizen and publish the very clear supporting policies or law to enhance the investors confidence. In order to extent to market of REITs, it should absorb both individual investors and institution investor to join. However, the Chinese government paid more attention on the institutions instead of considering the individuals, which cause the ins ufficient funds of the REITs markets. Obviously, the institution investors are quite cautious and would not invest their money to the uncertain finance products such as REITs, which would directly lead the depression of the REITs markets and also caused a vicious circle : no investors, no money and no money, REITs market would not attract investors. To change this situation, money from individual investors is necessary because the asset from individuals is fairly huge in China. The government should use this kind of power, just like the U.S. model, to support the unstable REITs market at its very beginning. Using the bank sell model, which is just like the fund sell model in China, and minimizing the unit of REITs just like the American to create the chance for individuals to enroll. C. The clear investment aim The investment object is another severe problem in Chinese REITs model, REITs companies in China used to prefer invest to the big projects. Because the limitation of the test spots, the opportunities are very competitive. Most of the companies used their best properties to join this market, these properties are so huge that could not be evaluated very clearly before they used them to invest. Therefore, due to the unclearly evaluation of these properties, the information for the investors are ambitious, which would definitely cause severe problem in them investment decision-making. Moreover, REITs in China is a relative new investment methods for both individual investors and institutional investors, with the unclear information, investors therefore would not have a willing to buy this kind of finance products, they might consider that REITs is a very risky products for them to invest. That is also a reason why investors enthusiasm for this investment tool is not very high as the expe ctation. However, the situation in America is complete change. At the very beginning, REITs was considered to be a quite popular invest method, the reason for its depression is the only the double tax. Thereby, when the government released the tax and published some supporting laws to regular REITs, its market grew suddenly. That is because almost all the properties, which are provided by the REITs companies in America, were not very huge at the very beginning and were evaluated clearly before they came into the markets. Even some properties are relatively big, having been given exhaustive information for the investors. Therefore, investor could easily invest to these products with this information and would approximately calculate the incomes they would return. Such experience should be used in Chinese REITs market, establishing the professional evaluation agencies to provide the official evaluation reports to the investors, making sure the information they received is true and int act. That might greatly stimulate the investors confidence and give them a positive signal that the REITs is a fairly formal investment tools for them to choose. V. Conclusions The Chinese real estate market is booming these years, but it is by no means that all of the foreign finance methods suitable for China. When we want to use some advance experience to the Chinese market, we should consider it very clearly, not only learn the structure of concept of the new method, but also we may need to figure out the essential of it and in what situation we will use it. According to the REITs, we may understand that even its concept is fairly suitable for Chinese situation, the operation details is also quite difficult to follow. It might need several years to establish our own REITs market and to publicize it to the whole citizen. That is not the task which only to publish some REITs products, it is also a task to build a whole REITs system, including the supporting policies or laws, complete the evaluation system and extending the REITs spots. All of them need time to finish. Therefore, we could not run it so fast but to make sure every step is moderate and effic ient. In this circumstance, we may probably find some new problems and new chance for us to develop our REITs, and also we might discover some new ideas or methods to make the REITs more efficient and more suitable for China. References Barker, K. (2003) Review of Housing Supply: Interim Report-Analysis (London: HMSO). Chan, S. H., Erickson, J. Wang, K. (2002) Real Estate Investment Trusts Structure, Performance, and Investment Opportunities (Oxford: Oxford University Press). Eichholtz, P.M.A., ââ¬Å"Does International Diversification Work Better for Real Estate than for Stocks and Bonds?, Financial Analysis Journal, January-February, 1996, pp. 56-62. Friday, H.S., G.S. Sirmans, and C.M. Conover, ââ¬Å"Ownership Structure and the Value of the Firm: The Case of REITs, Journal of Real Estate Research, 1999, vol. 17, no. 1/2. Harvard University (2003) The State of the Nations Housing 2002 (Massachusetts,
Friday, October 25, 2019
War on Drugs is a Domestic Problem Essay examples -- essays research p
WAR ON DRUGS IS A DOMESTIC PROBLEM Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã The new policy that the government has unfolded on the War on Drugs, has pointed the finger of responsibility toward stopping terrorism by stopping the individual drug users. Terrorism affects the entire world, and the United States has assumed a position at the spearhead to confront it. There is no way to actually stop terrorism, but one way to financially divert the problem is to stop the money from flowing to the organizations. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã The War on Drugs has been taken to a new level since the attack on the United States in September. Just two days before the attack in New York and Washington D.C. a shipment, being distributed by the Columbians, of Afghan heroin, reported to be 53 kilograms, was seized in New York. (Denny) This event demonstrates how the terrorist and the narcotics trade are linked together. Without the funding of drug trafficking, many terrorist organizations would not be able to continue operations at the current levels. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Drug traffickers share common traits along with the terrorists of the world. A drug trafficker does not have a general regard for human life. The only thing that matters to the trafficker is the money that is made from the illegal sale of the product. Whether the money comes from a twelve year old in anyone of the main cities in the United States or from a terrorist organization does not matter to a trafficker. This di...
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Imported Medicines: A Strategic Shift in Human Thinking Essay
Internet and online businesses gradually change our lives. What used to be impossible two years ago now has turned into a matter of daily performance. With Internet, we are no longer limited in our activities and can broaden the scope of all major operations that have previously been unachievable. Healthcare and medicines are not exceptions, and where Internet works to provide us with additional opportunities for communication, we have finally been given a chance to reconsider the costs of all healthcare services and medical preparations. Online medical markets have produced an irreversible change in the structure of healthcare services and human thinking. With the advent of the new technological age and the growing globalization, customers have become more attentive to what they buy and how much they pay for it. Imported medicines purchased online offer a competitive alternative to brand-name drugs. Simultaneously, imported drugs are not always licensed and may create serious health risks. In this situation, the state should actively work to impose severe price restrictions on the major brand-name drugs and to develop effective monitoring systems with regard to the imported drugs that are sold online, to guarantee that customers are given a viable choice and are not limited in their access to quality healthcare services and medical preparations. True, the growing customer commitment to imported medicines is the result of the national pharmaceutical marketsââ¬â¢ being largely non-regulated. Americans typically pay the highest prices for brand-name drugs because, unlike Canada and many other countries, the United States does not impose price controls on pharmaceutical companiesâ⬠(Colliver). The growing number of online pharmacies reflects the misbalanced nature of the price strategies, to which present day pharmaceutical companies adhere. Despite the fact that brand-name drugs are sold with significant discounts, the majority of healthcare insurance plans does not cover them and does not make them affordable for consumers. The current economic crisis makes Americans more attentive toward their expenditures, and online pharmaceuticals offer an excellent opportunity to obtain the needed list of medical preparations for a much lower price. ââ¬Å"If the government doesnââ¬â¢t get its act together, and with 47 million who are uninsured, there is a marketplace for alternative supply of some of these drugsâ⬠(Colliver). It appears that in the current system of healthcare services customers are not given any relevant choice. With the absence of price restrictions, pharmaceutical companies feel free to establish prices as high as they deem necessary, making customers seek effective alternatives elsewhere. That is why imported drugs as such, and online imported drugs in particular have caused a strategic shift in human thinking, giving people a chance to resolve their health issues at a lower cost. With the growing number of Internet users and given the cost-effectiveness of imported drugs, customers are no longer willing to stick to traditional purchasing practices and choose a technological way of resolving their health issues. More and more people realize the benefits of online pharmaceutical marketing. Many of them enjoy the freedom of choice and convenience they are offered by online pharmaceuticals. ââ¬Å"More Americans appear willing to take a calculated risk in the absence of prescription drug coverageâ⬠(Colliver). In other words, when health and life are at stake, customer will not think twice before ordering an affordable imported medical preparation from online suppliers. For many of them, imported medicals offer the most attractive and acceptable option; that is why online companies gradually grow to cover larger shares of online markets even without any specific advertising. Unfortunately, ordering imported drugs online is not always safe. Despite the fact that technology has forever changed the direction of human thinking and has made the process of purchasing imported drugs fast and convenient, imported drugs are associated with substantial risks. Customers cannot always be confident that they buy an authentic drug from an authentic foreign manufacturer. Some Web sites hawk controlled substances without a prescription or falsely purport to get drugs from a Canadian pharmacy or other more trustworthy source. While operators try to separate themselves from such operations, itââ¬â¢s tough to tell the differenceâ⬠(Colliver). Even if the government imposes strict limitations on pharmaceutical prices, the shift that has already occurred in customer attitudes will require time to be reversed. The problem is not in imported drugs; given the growing globalization trends, imported drugs will keep conquering larger shares of pharmaceutical markets. The problem is that for customers to purchase imported products is a matter of ââ¬Å"no other choiceâ⬠. Many of them are no longer willing to return to conventional medical practices. As a result, and taking into account that online businesses will further work to conquer the minds and spirits of the American customers, the state should develop effective monitoring systems that will impose price restrictions and will control imported drugs sold online, to provide customers with a reasonable choice and to give them another chance for recovery. Conclusion Imported drugs and Internet have produced an irreversible change in customer attitudes toward healthcare. Beyond broader access to imported medical products, customers are given an opportunity to reduce their costs and to purchase medical products in fast and convenient manner. Given the threats which imported non-licensed products may produce on human health, and taking into account the growing customer commitment to purchasing imported medicines online, it is the stateââ¬â¢s responsibility to develop effective regulatory and monitoring strategies that will not limit customer choice but will guarantee safety of all imported medical products.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Labor Negotiations Essay
Many times, the process of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations is referred to as being ââ¬Å"an artâ⬠. Although it is guided by various labor laws and there are multitudes of theories that claim to have established best practices in the field, every negotiation simply has too many unique variables to consider to ever be approached as anything more than an art. Even in the short span in which new negotiations are required to reach an updated contract, too many changing factors on both sides of the table are apt to make the extrapolation of one bargaining scenario to the next inefficient and ineffective. There is no ââ¬Å"one-size-fits allâ⬠approach. What worked best in one instance could potentially fail with dire consequences in another. To attempt to define, or even identify a structured component to the process would be futile. People, personalities, economics, demographics, policy and law are not static, nor are needs, wants, concepts, trends or priorities. Deception and intimidation during negotiations is commonplace, and unfortunately sometimes holds more relevancy than fact. For these reasons,à it is important for labor negotiators to be able to anticipate the worst, but hope to ultimately achieve a best case scenario. The final, ratified contract is applied to both parties, and hopefully in the end, it represents what is best for all involved. There are many potential stakeholders depending on the industry, but in the case of the community of Pleasant Ridge, it is the students and that ultimately have the most to lose. This can easily be forgotten when bargaining teamsââ¬â¢ self-interests take hold. Deciding on the appropriate bargaining techniques and strategies requires a very well-thought out, careful approach. Whatever approach is used has to take into account the past, current and future needs of both parties, and has to be based on an accurate analysis of external and internal data, as well as political considerations. Successful negotiators must be adaptable and flexible in their thought processes and behaviors, and must be willing to compromise as situational needs dictate. As several different personality types compete and interact, even within the confines of one bargaining team, negotiations can be a very daunting process. All of this is important to keep in mind as we examine and analyze the case of the community of Pleasant Ridge. Bargaining Strategy A bargaining strategy should only be determined once all of the relevant, factual information has been reviewed. That is not to say a strategy cannot be changed depending on circumstances once negotiations begin, but it is useful to set the tone for negotiations and help insure a mutually understood strategic concept among bargaining team members. Recent labor relations practice has moved away from traditional adversarial bargaining, or ââ¬Å"zero-sumâ⬠bargaining, and has focused more on interest-based bargaining, or ââ¬Å"win-winâ⬠bargaining. According to Cutcher-Gershenfield, ââ¬Å"A close look at the interest-based experiments in labor relations reveals that adversarial institutional patterns have often been rejected in favor of more collaborative, problem-solving techniques without a full appreciation of the underlying reasons for the establishment of the original institutional patterns.â⬠(1996, 323). In theory, winning with interest-based bargaining is presu med to be agreement of the parties to a ratified contract that both can live with (Kearney, 209, 134); not ââ¬Å"winningâ⬠in the sense that one partyà ultimately prevails over the other on any particular issue. In the case of Pleasant Ridge, there is no single reason to preclude interest-based bargaining as an effective strategy. As the Pleasant Ridge Board of Education (Board) and the Pleasant Ridge Classroom Teachers Association (PRCTA) commence negotiations over a new CBA, it is important to note that both parties are in a relatively good position. From a fiscal standpoint, the school is doing well. Student enrollment is increasing, local property revenues are increasing and State Revenues are expected to increase for the upcoming school year. While none of these items are guaranteed, barring any unexpected national, state or local political catastrophes, short-term projections should remain fairly accurate and consistent. This may place the Board at a slight disadvantage during negotiations when considering ability to pay, especially considering the PRCTA membershipsââ¬â¢ apparent adversarial position. It serves to underscore the importance of the Board to sincerely attempt to negotiate a finalized contract during the first steps of the process. In comparing wages, hours and working conditions, the PRC TA is not far off when it is reviewed against comparable teachersââ¬â¢ unions. Even when considering labor markets that are competitive in the long run, however, the over-all analysis should include information about employer attributes because labor markets do not adjust instantaneously (Eberts and Stone, 1985, 274). The consequences of ignoring district-specific information are potentially serious, according to Eberts and Stone (1985, 274). To push an employer into economic oblivion as the result of unrealistic contract demands could have disastrous consequences for all involved. While the membershipsââ¬â¢ concerns are very important, they must keep in mind their best interests in finalizing a contract with few to no concessions quickly. It is up to the PRCTA to educate their members on the long term affects their present actions may have. Additionally, in a world of economic uncertainty and increasing demand for education reform, the PRCTA is better suited to act quickly so that public sentiment and political forces have less likelihood of effecting policy change before they have a ratified contract. A ratified contract provides strong protections for union members against ever-changing political forces. Bargaining Position of the Board Labor negotiations can be a strategic nightmare fraught with competing priorities and concerns from every affected player. For the community of Pleasant Ridge, the primary considerations of the Board and the PRCTA during negotiations will predominantly revolve around advancing self-interests, whether they impact external stakeholders or not. That is an almost inherent aspect of the process. Public and political sentiment may or may not be secondarily considered, and will certainly be impacted, but those concerns typically do not guide the negotiations process. Kerchner and Koppich argue in their article, Negotiating What Matters Most: Collective Bargaining and Student Achievement, ââ¬Å"that it is in the public interest for teacher unions and school districts to negotiate student achievement goals even though neither may want to do so.â⬠(2007). While morally laudable, realistically this will most likely never happen outside of the legal environment, and is way beyond the scope of this analysis. Contract length could be the most important protection the Board could achieve. A two year contract would be very beneficial for the Board, because it removes the dangers of making accurate financial projections too far in the future. It would also allow the Board more flexibility in bargaining positions that are tied to economics because they would not be invested in a lengthy contract should political or economic factors significantly change. Aside from a two year contract, the Board should support a 3% raise the first year of the contract, and a 3% raise the second year, conditioned on the promise of the PRCTA membershipsââ¬â¢ public support for the upcoming millage. This would get the PRCTA membership very close, if not above, a competitive market salary within their own comparable communities at a relatively quick rate, while bolstering the financial position of the Board to be able to implement future contractual raises should the millage be approved. Additionally, the Board will not incur all of the increased costs of implementing the salary increases all in one year, making it more palatable for the school district in general, while not simultaneously rendering the budget unsustainable. The Board should also support agreement to grant tenure in the 3rd year on the condition of the elimination of the one year wage payout provision. Not only does this achieve comparability within the comparable community context, it serves as a huge future economic win for the Board. In the event layoffs become necessary, the burden of paying out a yearsââ¬â¢ salary toà any tenured teachers would be an undeniable savings should the school district experience tough economic times. Since decreasing the class size to 25 would increase the number of teachers required, it would be more fiscally responsible for the board to leave this item status quo. The Board could add an amendment allowing for the hiring of teacherââ¬â¢s aides should the classroom population exceed 25, but it shouldnââ¬â¢t be an initial position. If push comes to shove and this single item becomes a deal-breaker, the Board and the PRCTA could revisit the issue at 27 students, as long as an agreement could be achieved with a provision requiring no additional teachers or classroom space. à There is no guarantee that the student population will continue to increase, so agreeing to this item could have unintended financial consequences later. It is never outside the realm of reality that one teacherââ¬â¢s salary could mean the difference between balancing and not balancing the budget. Reasonable Settlement for the Union In determining the reasonableness of a settlement for the PRCTA, several factors should be considered. Typically, wages are at the forefront of union demands, and the fact that the Board is willing to raise salaries to levels above the comparable communities the PRCTA selected should speak volumes. That alone may be enough to achieve ratification. In addition, the PRCTA needs to consider the effects of having an arbitrator decide their fate. If the Board is being reasonable in their proposal, there is no reason to chance the final decisions in the hands of an individual who may or may not agree with position of the PRCTA. The Board has not requested concessions, comparable wages have been offered, and other positions lean toward the comparable communities of the union. In a fact-finding or arbitration scenario, the Board would undoubtedly be able to find comparable communities supporting their position. According to Crawford, final offer arbitrationââ¬â¢s distinguishing feature is that it threatens bargainers with a settlement determined by the relative desirability to the arbitrator of their final offers. This creates incentives for bargainers to move their final offers closer to what they think the arbitrator wants, even if they are uncertain of his wishes (1981, 207). In the Pleasant Ridge scenario, the position of the Board is more than reasonable, and should ultimately be accepted as such by the PRCTA, rather than advancing to fact-finding or final offerà arbitration. Fact-Finding ââ¬Å"The consequences of impasse are evident in the amount of private and public resources spent on civil litigation, the costs of labor unrest, the psychic and pecuniary wounds of domestic strife, and in clashes among religious, ethnic and regional groups.â⬠(Babcock, Lowesenstein, 1997, 326) Should the parties reach impasse and the matter be referred to fact-finding, the Fact-Finder should make a recommendation based on the school districtââ¬â¢s current and projected future financial position (ability to pay), the current political environment as far as public education policy is concerned, and to a lesser extent, should consider the proposals in comparison to those of comparable communities. In making a settlement recommendation, the Fact-Finder should find the initial position of the Board to be quite consistent with that of the PRCTA, as well as quite generous and reasonable. It is almost certain that a Fact-Finder would agree with the Boardââ¬â¢s position on wages and tenure. It is reasonable to think that he or she would agree on tenure, but possibly decrease rather than eliminate the year of salary payout, unless they considered a layoff situation a financial hardship. If the Board could successfully present that as a business case, a Fact-Finder may agree. With regard to class size, a three to five student decrease should not present a significant enough business case to cause the school district to absorb an increase in additional teaching salaries and roll-up costs. A Fact-Finder should support that item as remaining status-quo. Final Offer Arbitration The board would undoubtedly have to go to arbitration to remove the politics of implementing a contract from their hands should the parties not be able to reach a settlement. With two of the board members being labor union members, and three endorsed by the Pleasant Ridge Central Labor Union (PRCLU), not going to arbitration would be political suicide. As demonstrated in previous board elections, two members lost to candidates who were endorsed by the PRCLU, showing the strength that the PRCLU exhibits. Having a neutral party force a contract on both sides would be the only political out the Board members would have. In a final offer settlement package, it is of the utmost importance that both parties consider the mostà desirable benefits that could be achieved, and tailor the final offer package around those. Prioritization of issues is significant, as well as is reasonableness. In the final offer package, it would be incumbent on the Board to submit lower contractual wage increases, potentially to 2% each year of a two-year contract, with class size and tenure remaining status quo, with the elimination of the one-year wage payout provision. For the PRCTA, it would be beneficial to package a deal containing a 5 year contract with 2% wage increases for each year of the contract. Considering they really have nothing to lose since concessions arenââ¬â¢t being considered, they should also incorporate the decreased class size of 25 students, and tenure to reflect the 3 year comparable. Even if the arbitrator sides with the Board, the PRCTA hasnââ¬â¢t lost anything besides the one-year payout provision. Likely, that is something that will affect very few of the current members. REFERENCES Babcock, L., & Loewenstein, G. (1997). Explaining bargaining impasse: The role of self-serving biases. Advances in behavioral economics, 326. Crawford, V.P. (1981), Arbitration and Conflict Resolution in Labor-Management Bargaining. The American Economic Review. 71(2). Papers and Proceedings of the Ninety-Third Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association. 205-210. Cutcher-Gershenfeld, J. (1996). Bargaining Over How to Bargain in Labor-Management Negotiations. Negotiation Journal, 10(4), 323-335. Retrieved on March 22, 2014 from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1571-9979.1994.tb00032.x/abstract. Eberts, R.W. and Stone, J.A. (1985), Wages, Fringe Benefits, and Working Conditions: An Analysis of Compensating Differentials. Southern Economic Journal. 52(1). 274-280. Kearney, R.C., Labor Relations in the Public Sector, Fourth Edition. CRC Press. 381. Kerchner, C.T. and Koppich, J.E. (2007). Negotiating What Matters Most: Collective Bargaining and Student Achievement. A merican Journal of Education. 113(3). 349-365. Retrieved on March 22, 2014 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/512736. Walton, R. E. (1994). Strategic negotiations: A theory of change in labor-management relations. Harvard Business Press.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Gamma Rays essays
Gamma Rays essays Starting with nuclear fission is important because, nuclear energy is being looked at as one of the next main power sources of the future, and this energy is made through the process of nuclear fission. Nuclear Fission is the main way of producing nuclear energy, it occurs when a free neutron with a heavy element is split into two smaller nuclei. Fission reactions release neutrons, gamma rays, beta rays, and a extremely large amount of heat. Any combination of lighter nuclei may be produced as long as the total number of protons and neutrons equal those in the original fissioning neuclous. (http://hyperion.advanced-org/3471/noNetscape/fission.html) with the energy that we get from nuclear fission, we also get large amounts of nuclear waste. The main three types of nuclear waste that we get are alpha radiation, beta radiation, and gamma radiation. In this paper I will discuss gamma radiation, also known as gamma decay and how I believe that this form of waste should be used because of all the possible ways it could benefit us. It also would help in the removal of some of our nuclear waste because it would be putting a waste, that once did nothing, to practical use. Gamma decay occurs because the nucleus is at energy state that is too high. The nucleus falls down to a lower energy state and, in the process, emits a high energy photon known as a gamma particle (www.bionet.schule.de/radiodata/threetypes.html ). A photon is a small unit of light and is also referred to as gamma rays. Gamma rays are like X rays, only much more energetic and harmful to humans. These rays were previously only made in outer space and absorbed by the ozone, but because of pollution, we have -N burned a hole into the ozone which is letting them through. We are also producing them ourselves by the process of nuclear radiation. Photons/gamma rays can have very bad effects on the human body. Although a dose of just 25 rems(ro...
Monday, October 21, 2019
Important Events essays
Important Events essays There are many important things that happened in history. One of them would be World War II. This was a very important time in America. Many men and women during the holocaust were losing their lives because of one mans beliefs of ethnic cleansing. This was one of the lowest points in the history of the world. The U.S was forced to do something. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor it lead to many years of blood, sweat and tears, which would eventually become worth it in the end. Our involvement in the war was crucial and led to the end of Hitlers reign and freedom to all Jews who were persecuted just because of their ethnic background. This was just one thing that was important in U.S History. Another important thing that happened in U.S History would be the civil rights movement. In WWII we were fighting for the freedom of the Jews but persecuting the African Americans in our own country. The black population in America were separate but equal. The blacks were by no means equal. They were required to go to separate schools. They werent even allowed to drink out of the same water fountain. And rightly so this upset the African American population. The African Americans decided to protest led by great men such as Martin Luther King Jr. They practiced non violent forms of protesting which led eventually to the end of the separate but equal way of life. A third important thing in U.S History would have to be Woodstock. Woodstock was held on a farm in New York and drew thousands of people to this great rock and roll concert. The theme of Woodstock was make love not war. Woodstock occurred during the war and Vietnam in which thousands of U.S soldiers were killed. The young people in America were opposed to the war. This is why Woodstock was such a big event. It was a place were young people could protest the war peacefully. Also Woodstock was the birth of many Rock and Roll&a...
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Nike Marketing Strategy A Guide to Selling Benefits and Not Products
Nike Marketing Strategy A Guide to Selling Benefits and Not Products We all think we know the classic Nike marketing strategy. Just do it comes to mind pretty quickly, as do Air Jordan sneakers, famous athlete endorsements, and the swoosh logo. But is that really all there is to what Nike is doing? Or, is there something deeper behind their strategy and tactics? The Nike marketing strategy that most of us recognize isnt the one that made them famous, at least not in the early days. Discovering the Nike marketing strategy that put them on the map is where the gold is. Furthermore, just like any true content marketing strategy, ità isnt really much of a strategy at all. Like many similar success stories, it was as simple as providing real customer value.How To Follow Nike's Marketing Strategy Secrets For Success via @garrett_moonThe First Nike Marketing Strategy Bill Bowerman was a track and field coach, as well as one of the co-founders of Nike. In the mid-1970's, he began experimenting with his wife's waffle maker to design a better tread for running shoes. As the story goes, he ruined the waffle maker but invented a brand new type of shoe. Get Organized And Save Time With This Free Course! Work efficiently, stay organized, publish compelling content, and schedule everything for maximum growth. Sign up now for this comprehensive marketing course. At the end of the course, you'll have a well-thought-out marketing strategy of your own. Time's limited! Get Started Now For Free He later used that design to create the first Nike shoe commonly referred to as the "Nike Moon shoe." It was the first step of many that put Nike on the map, but there is more to the story than just a great tread- wear design and a waffle maker. There's also the story of Nike's incredible, if not accidental and seemingly counterintuitive, approach to promoting their product. Bowerman, you see, is also credited as the man who brought about the jogging craze that swept America in the late 1960's and 70's. While you would think that jogging wasnââ¬â¢t something that needed to be invented, it wasnââ¬â¢t all that popular as an exercise or activity at that time. Billââ¬â¢s work and research truly brought jogging out of obscurity and to the forefront of the minds of the public. After observing a jogging club in New Zealand, Bill began to understand the value of jogging as a traditional fitness routine. Bill immediately began writing articles and books about jogging and how it could be used as part of a fitness program. His first three-page pamphlet was called the Joggerââ¬â¢s Manual and was later expanded into a 90-page book (see below) that he wrote along with an experienced cardiologist. Jogging, the accidental content marketing showpiece by Nike founder Bill Bowerman. Along with Bill's other involvements with professional athletes, his work helped inspire the 1970's running boom that Nike clearly benefitted from. Was this the resultà of a strongà marketing strategy? Or was it just a coincidence? The answer is probably a mix of à both. It would be really great to point to Bowerman's story as a case-in-point example of content marketing at its finest, but it is difficult to do. The book was technically released before the first pair of shoes, and even before he invented the waffle tread. So, if it wasn't true content marketing, what was it andà how did it even work? 1. Put Customer Interests First Customers like great productsà and they like serious benefits. For them, things that benefit them personally are easy to justify. The Nike Moon shoes did this, but only because the customer was beginning to understand jogging and its benefits for their health. Bill's secret goal wasn't to sell shoes, he was simply promoting something that he believed in. This may not sound like marketing strategy, but it certainly should. 2. Base Your Strategy On A Felt Need Initially for Nike's audience, the felt need wasn't for better running shoes, but for a better way to get in shape. Certainly, running was already popular among kids and athletes in the 1970's, but it wasn't the widespread social activity that we see it as today. The growing white-collar workforce helped pave the way for social activities that included the promotion of cardiovascular health. Once the trend was ingrained, the need shifted and the "jogging shoes" themselves became the felt need. Want to increase product demand? Identify your audience's felt needs first. #marketing3. Believe In the Product You Are Selling It's unlikely that Bowerman's original goal was to become a millionaire as he penned the pages of his first jogging pamphlet. That wasn't why he did what he did. His only goal was to promote a sport and an idea that he believed in. As marketers, shouldn't we believe in the product and the ideas we are selling? For Bowerman, it sure made marketing a lot easier. He was "marketing" without even realizing what he was up to. 4. Sell Easily Identifiable Benefits Instead Of The Product While jogging is pretty easy to understand, the waffle tread isn't (at least not until you understand why Bowerman made it in the first place). His goal was to make the world's most lightââ¬âweight running shoe. He believed that this factor alone could dramatically improve the speed of a distance runner. His product workedà and quickly gained the industry respect that it deserved. How Nikeââ¬â¢s Marketing Strategy Evolved As the marketing landscape has changed since the 70s, so has the Nike marketing strategy. In fact, itââ¬â¢s remarkable how well the brand has adapted its approach to new trends and technologies without losing the core of their identity or brand voice. Itââ¬â¢s key to understand that while their general aesthetic and tactics have changed with the times, their customerââ¬âcentric messaging has remained consistent. 1. Embrace New Technologies While Nike's early marketing strategy centered on print publications, they later went on to dominate other mediums, like television in the 80s and 90s, through modern social media platforms today. 2. Adaptà To The Needs Of Your Audience Nike hasnââ¬â¢t historically adopted new communication platforms for their marketing just because theyââ¬â¢re chasing new, flashy objects. Far from it. Rather, theyââ¬â¢ve been quick to conquer new mediums because theyââ¬â¢re where their customers are. For example, take a look at their Instagram profile. They know their core demographic includes heavy Instagram users and so it makes sense for their brand to maintain a presence there. However, they also make sure that everything they post provides value. Rather than interrupting the flow of their followerââ¬â¢s feeds with flagrant sales pitches, they share motivational messaging. View this post on Instagram 04:40:08. â â¬Ã¢ â¬Ã¢ ⬠â ⬠280 minutes. Thats the amount of time it took @nani183 to not only prove that she was a runner, but to prove that she was a marathon runner. â â¬Ã¢ â¬Ã¢ ⬠â ⬠Hours after the winner had crossed the finish line, the first timer found victory in defeat. It didnt matter how daunting the distance was. She didnt care if she finished 4th or 4,000th forward. She just wanted to finish. â â¬Ã¢ â¬Ã¢ ⬠â ⬠Hanin told us, To be successful, you mustnt give up. Only giving up is failure. #NRC A post shared by nike (@nike) on Oct 6, 2015 at 11:01am PDT Other posts, like this one, subtly tie into the brandââ¬â¢s history while directing users to interestââ¬âspecific Nike sub-accounts on Instagram. In this case, they could have simply said something to the effect of, ââ¬Å"Check out our womenââ¬â¢s footwear and apparel profile, and our generalà running product profile." Instead, they went the extra mile and created something memorable and entertaining while staying relevant to what their audience wants to see. View this post on Instagram How to run your Fastest Mile: Step 1: Wake up hungry. Step 2: @nikewomen Step 3: @nikerunning Stay up to speed at nike.com/findyourfast. A post shared by nike (@nike) on Aug 30, 2015 at 2:07am PDT 3. Stay True To Your Sense Of Purpose They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. For Nike, that has certainly remained true. Throughout their current content marketing initiatives, Nike makes sure their brand message hasnââ¬â¢t gotten lost over time or across channels. They focus their emphasis on creating content that promotes the benefits of their products, rather than the features. Helping their customers be better at what they love to do is still the focus of their branding and message. By moving their content marketing to the platforms where their customers are it shows that they are keeping their audienceââ¬â¢s needs in mind while staying true to themselves. Nike's marketing strategy has succeeded in sustaining a global brand while many of their competitors have come and gone from the spotlight. Go where your audience is. Help solve their problems. Stay true to your brand. #contentmarketingHow To Apply The Nike Marketing Strategy To Your Own Brand The history of Nikeââ¬â¢s marketing strategy is interesting in itself. What you probably want to know at this point is how to apply these lessons to your own work. 1. Figure Out The Needs Of Your Audience Your audience is on the Internet because theyââ¬â¢re looking for answers to questions. One way to position your brand or blog as an authority on your topic or market is to create compelling content that addresses those concerns. Doing this well means understanding exactly what your audienceââ¬â¢s goals are and what they want to know, and then being there to answer and give solutions when they need them. Do this well enough, and you might even turn readers into passionate brand advocates. In Nikeââ¬â¢s case, people were looking for new ways to stay in shape. As jogging became more popular, people needed jogging shoes. Nike then smartly positioned themselves not just as a company that made shoes, but a company that helped their customers achieve their fitness goals (and just happened to make shoes that supported that goal). If youââ¬â¢re unsure what your audience is really looking for, try putting yourself in their shoes for a moment (no pun intended) and think beyond the scope of your product or service. Instead of thinking about your productââ¬â¢s features or competitive advantages, think about what goal your customer is trying to achieve. Then, be there with the information, products, and services they need to make it happen. What goal is your customer trying to achieve? Now make content, gather information, and create products that will help your customers achieve their goals. This means you need to do your research first: Recommended Reading: How To Do Content Marketing Research For A Blog Post 6 Simple Tips For Using Online Research In Your Content Marketing 2. Figure Out The Best Way To Reach Your Audience In terms of your blog and overall digital marketing efforts, this means that you need to figure out where your audience hangs out on the Web and how you can best reach them there. Which social networks are they most active on? Should you pay to promote your content on those networks? Does an email newsletter make sense for your customers? Could print collateral be something theyââ¬â¢re interested in? These are big questions to answer, but the key point to remember is that its important to go where your audience is. Before considering any content distribution tactic, think about your customerââ¬â¢s habits, what types of content they prefer, and where they prefer to find it. Make sure you're thorough in your approachà when it comes to doing everything you can to spread your content. After all, if you'reà going to try to market like Nike, then you can't afford to settle for the status quo. Recommended Reading: The 6 Types Of Social Media Content That Will Give You The Greatest Value What 10 Studies Say About The Best Times To Post On Social Media How To Make Writing For Social Media Work For Your Business 3. Create Compelling Content That Addresses Audience Needs Whether itââ¬â¢s on your blog, social media channels, video platforms, or print collateral, every piece of content you create should address customer needs. Not only that, but you need to be creating the best content on your topic anywhere on the Web. If youââ¬â¢re not answering questions, solving problems, being entertaining, or otherwise helping your audience be better at doing what they love, then itââ¬â¢s time to rethink your approach. If youââ¬â¢re unsure of what your customerââ¬â¢s real needs are, consider everything from simple keyword research to surveys to get a better idea of what kind of content you can create that theyââ¬â¢ll find valuable. You'll also want to consider what content creation budget and resources you have available. Key Takeaways About Nikeââ¬â¢s Marketing Strategy To Grow Your Brand If this all seems like a lot of information to take in, that's because it is.à If there's just one thing you remember from this post, however, it's the idea of creating content that spreads, instead of content that just sells. The Benefits Of Not Selling Here's the cool thing: Bill didn't sell shoes; he didn't need to. Instead, he sold jogging and all of the benefits that came with it. This should make us pause as marketers. Instead of selling our products we should be selling the benefits that products like ours promote. Running shoes matter to people who jog, so selling them on jogging is always a good first step. The same goes for us here at . We are a content marketing and planning tool. The more people that use content to market their business, the more copies of our software we sell. We also gain the added benefit of understanding why our customers buy what we are selling in the first place. Even in the world of content marketing, there is a lot of selling. This is fine, but it misses the real point that Bowerman so aptly understoodââ¬âspread ideas, not products. Spread ideas, not products. #contentmarketing #bloggingGood Content Marketing Doesn't Sell, It Spreads Content marketing is growing, and that usually brings fuzzy definitions that blur the lines between what something actually is and what it is becoming. It's often pegged as a process rather than a technique, but content marketing doesn't depend on a specific set of tools or a common workflow. It is about providing value and building trust with customers. Bowerman's book built trust and provided immense valueââ¬âa trait that naturally carried over to his products. He didn't intend for the book to be used as content marketing, but because, with content, the lines between value and marketing are so blurry, marketing is exactly what he did. Strategy is great. Using keywords is smart. Blogging is the future. But providing customers value, no matter the medium, will never go out of style.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Expanding Walmart into Turkey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Expanding Walmart into Turkey - Essay Example For instance, the company operates as Walmex in Mexico, Asda in United Kingdom, Seiyu in Japan and Best Price in India. It is worth mentioning that till date the business is located in around 15 countries under 55 different names (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2013). The Republic of Turkey generally known as Turkey is a transcontinental nation located in the western part of Asia. The country is considered to be a democratic, secular, unitary constitutional republic with diverse cultural heritage. Turkey is measured to be the official language that almost 85% of the people use and English is the secondary language. In terms of the present day statistics, the nation is listed in the 15th position in accordance with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) and is placed in the 17th position concerning nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Istanbul is considered to be the most populated state in the nation. In terms of education, turkey is determined to be one of the most literate countries having a literacy rate of almost 94.1% as of 2011, additionally the current health care suspect of the country is considered to be quite sound in comparison with the past. It is worth mentioning that two of the universities of turkey are glo bally recognized as the best universities in the world (CIA, 2013; Zà ¼rcher, 2004). The main objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of Turkey that would facilitate in understanding the various factors that are essential for a business to evaluate before establishing in any nation. The study would also provide a recommendation section that would help in understanding whether Walmartââ¬â¢s plan to expand in Turkey would be profitable for the company in the long run or not. Cultural facet is considered to be one of the major constituents that any business needs to consider before expanding in a new country. The vital reason behind this is that it plays a major role in the dynamics of the way in
Friday, October 18, 2019
How sedentary lifestyle affect identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
How sedentary lifestyle affect identity - Essay Example By this time, everybody should know the health effects of inactivity, almost as damaging to the mammal body as cigarette smoking and pets are just as susceptible. The earth is definitely getting heavier because obesity is an epidemic in the developed countries. New cases of adult onset Diabetes (also known as Type II Diabetes) are growing at an astronomical rate in the West, where 350 million people now have the disease and more than three million people succumb annually. Shockingly enough, more children are getting this version of Diabetes, which at one time was extremely rare in those under eighteen. In addition, coronary disease (heart attacks) and hypertension evolving into debilitating or fatal strokes are more common in the immobile person. Many works have blamed the sedentary lifestyle on the technology age and it is true that many more people hold an office-type job in 2012 then the populace did in the 1960ââ¬â¢s. However, the average Western adult only works forty hours a week, less than 25% of the 168-hour week. The other seventy-two hours (after subtracting fifty-six hours for sleep) lead to sedentary trouble. The kid playing video games for hours on end, the family watching the latest DVD, adults and kids alike glued to the home computer shopping and catching up on Facebook, Twitter, etc. are all inactivity red flags that identity change is eminent. . To multiply the problem, a myriad of unhealthy food choices are available, potato chips, burritos, cookies among others, with more items invented all the time. Diet and exercise are the two solutions to inactivity. Healthy, home-cooked meals with less eating out, especially at fast food restaurants, can make a vast difference in a personââ¬â¢s weight and health, and feelings of identity. Instead of dad and son watching football all Sunday afternoon, they could go out in the backyard and have a game of catch. The whole family could go for a brisk walk in the park and rather than driving around the mall trying to grab a parking space near the entrance, it would be much better to park in the nether regions and walk to the door. Gardening, housework, walking the dog (it needs the workout also) and even sex are wonderful everyday devices in which one would get exercise. Is it raining? The inactive person could try walking up and down the stairs a few times. New York Times correspondent Michael Pollan has written several tongue-in-cheek books on the subject of food, most notably The Omnivore's Dilemma: a Natural History of Four Meals. Pollan stresses that he essentially agrees with the Government in their assessment that junk food and other processed foods are not good for the human body. He also acknowledges that so-called ââ¬Å"organicâ⬠food is not that anymore, what started out as a good idea quickly turned no better than non-organic foodstuffs. In addition, modern transportation and storage methods, bringing regional foods such as Cajun nationwide, are not necessarily for the betterment of humankind. While recommending more plant matter, he stresses that humans should become a society of hunter-gatherers, as they were less than 150 years ago. Pollan in the chapter ââ¬Å"The consumer a republic of fatâ⬠speaks explicitly on the sedentary lifestyle and oddly enough blames it partly on the glut of corn produced in North America. Americans donââ¬â¢t each that much corn so the excess resulted in the massive alcohol manufacturing in the 1800ââ¬â¢s, which is still being used today (Pollan). Also high
The Prince of the Marshes by Rory Stewart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
The Prince of the Marshes by Rory Stewart - Essay Example These cases are just a cause for great concern as they have claimed the greater number of casualties in the ongoing war in Iraqi. The most worrying part of the suicide bombings is that they can occur anywhere, even in protected areas. Just two days ago, a suicide bomber killed five people at the main reception area of the hotel where we are based. Fortunately, we had just retired to our respective rooms after a press conference and cocktail party with delegates from different regions representing various groups as a way of trying to find a workable solution to the war in Iraqi which has so far claimed close to a million people since it started a few years ago. Bombing of hotels, embassies as well as other official buildings is a regular occurrence here. These are targeted as they are in most cases suspected of accommodating enemies who are sponsoring war in that country. This has so far resulted in most foreign embassies being closed down as hundreds of people have been killed in these suicide bomb attacks. It is said that some areas outside Baghdad have been rendered impassable as a result of the high degree of destruction of infrastructure that was caused by the war. Most roads were destroyed and many areas are said to be full of landmines. In fact some areas are branded no go areas. Anyway, I am attending a one month workshop which seeks to establish feasibility studies of resuscitating the telecommunications infrastructure which was also not spared by the war. The main aim of the workshop is to try and see if the new information and communication technology can be improved as away of attracting investors in the war-torn country which is expected to be peaceful once again in the near future. I hope to gain a lot of experience from this workshop as we aim to design measures that would take a long way in attempting to put investment on the agenda in this troubled country. More importantly, I will also present my paper during the
World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
World War II - Essay Example The Second World War was fought between 1939 and 1945 in Europe, in Russia, North Africa and in Asia. Indeed, the Second World War was lasted longer, was more volatile than the First World War. Moreover, the effects of the World War 1 contributed to the emergence of the World War 11. Children, women, men, military either participated in the war or was adversely affected by the war. Indeed, World War II was a global war that was under way by 1939 and ended in 1945 and largely involved all great powers and their armies in a show of might and dominance. The reference world powers later grouped themselves into two alliances, the Allies and the Axis. The war was fought using high technological weapons of unpredictable destructiveness in unsurpassed numbers with the ultimate use of the atomic bomb. It remains the most widespread and destructive war in history. Indeed about, 100 million people participated in the war where there was use of nuclear weapons. So significant was the war that th e participants sacrificed all their scientific capabilities and economic positions to succeed in the war. This paper will give the background, the causes, the participants, and the sequence of the war, the results, and the impact of the World War 11. ... The treaty equally set out the size and capability of the country's armed forces. Moreover, Benito Mussolini led the Fascist movement in seizing power in Italy between 1921 and 1925. As such, he replaced representative democracy and repressed socialist to force Italy to become a world power. At the same time, there were developments in Germany whereà Adolf Hitler ledà in establishing a fascist government in Germany. These developments worried UK and France where they consequently formed the Stresa Front with an aim of containing Germany. However, Italy invaded Ethiopia with Germany being the only major European nation to support the invasion with a trade in that allowed Italy to support Germany in absorbing Austria. Adolf Hitler on the other hand defied the Treaty of Versailles andà Locarno by reinstating his militaryà in March 1936. Indeed, Hitler and Mussolini supported the fascists while the soviet supported the Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil war in 1936 where both parties tested their new weapons and methods of warfare in readiness for war. Subsequent attacks followed later with Japan capturing Beijing, China in 1937 as Germany annexed Austria in 1938 (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 12). Additionally, Germany and Slovakia attacked Poland in 1939. As a result of this countries of common wealth were mobilized by France and Britain to declared war on Germany. As such, by 3 September, Britain and France were at war with Germany where Australia, South Africa, Canada, and New Zealand joined them in a weeksââ¬â¢ time. This marked the beginning of the Second World War. The Home front of the war was Britain because the Britons felt that
Thursday, October 17, 2019
The Theories and Practices of Public Relations and Its Writing Assignment
The Theories and Practices of Public Relations and Its Writing - Assignment Example Writing in public relations is an important aspect and the success of any form of public relation campaign depends on the writing skills of the writer. Information has to be researched well, organized in a logical format so that the intended information is delivered effectively. Good public relation writing thus is important in ensuring relevant and correct information is communicated. Public relations is planned communication (Mahoney, 2008) TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 1.0INTRODUCTION 4 2.0PART A: 4 2.1Planning and Preliminary Research 4 a)Personal Study Checklist: 5 b)Timetable: 5 2.2Research Fact sheetà 7 2.3Planning Template 8 2.4Planning Questions: 5ws and H 8 3.0PART B: 9 3.1Public relations is planned communication 9 4.0CONCLUSUION 12 LIST OF REFERENCES 15 1.0 INTRODUCTION Public relation is the practice related to the management of communication between the public and an organization (Zhao, 1999). It is the planned effort of establishing a mutual under standing between the public and an organization or an individual (Jovanovich, 1984). Public relation provides an opportunity of exposure of an organization or individual to a target audience. ... Public relation is a planned communication that involves research of relevant information, organization of the information in a clear format and the delivery to the target audience. The public relations practitioner has to identify the target audience and establish the form of information delivery that the audience will best understand. Written word is an important aspect in public relations that helps to communicate information to the public. The success of any public relation writing is in the writing skills of the writer and thus it is important to have good writing skills so as to deliver the information effectively (L'Etang, 2007). 2.0 PART A: 2.1 Planning and Preliminary Research Research and planning is a fundamental aspect of Public Relations writing. The following was the research plan that was formulated in preparation for the discussion, demonstrating planning, time management and organisation. a) Personal Study Checklist: I read and understood the assignment details and r equirements carefully Brainstorming for the assignment Noted the due date for the assignment ( 3rd June, 2011 ) Started a plan on how I was to complete the assignment Confirmed the due date from the unit guide provided by the lecturer The assignment had to be done by Friday 27th of May, before the due date Borrowed the Mahoney textbook from the library to aid in the assignment b) Timetable: 9th May, 2011 Started the assignment Read the assignment description carefully Made a note on how I was to do assignment 11th May, 2011 Brainstormed Read the instructions once again and noted the requirements Searched for documents that were necessary for the assignment Downloaded the fact
Caring For A Pregnant Woman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Caring For A Pregnant Woman - Essay Example Alternatively, communication skills are vital as a learning nurse because it helps the pregnant patient in maintaining her personal hygiene and attending prenatal services. Offering the patient a consistent healthcare review including other care plans is fundamental to improve their social welfare especially during medication (Gates & Barr, 2009). Continued good health can also be enhanced through constant daily encouragement, therapy, and treatment that matches the patientââ¬â¢s needs. This should involve other professionals such as social workers, speech therapists, and physiotherapists. 2.Advanced Labor However, in the case of advanced labor, as a learning disability nurse, I would involve other fellow nurses with different specialties. In other words, my first reaction would be to seek for external assistance to effectively facilitate the birth of the baby. Additionally, I would examine the patient's mental and physical well-being to reduce other existing barriers that could interfere with the unborn child. Therefore, in helping the birth of the baby, arranging for emergency missions while providing social care is critical to assist in tests and evaluations. Considering the evidence-based outcome in regards to individual care ensures that the delivery of the placenta and membranes match the health care needs and objectives of the pregnant woman. Putting the patient through anxiety management programs and behavior sessions aids in reducing nervousness that could interfere with the advanced labor (Hannon & Clift, 2010).
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
The Theories and Practices of Public Relations and Its Writing Assignment
The Theories and Practices of Public Relations and Its Writing - Assignment Example Writing in public relations is an important aspect and the success of any form of public relation campaign depends on the writing skills of the writer. Information has to be researched well, organized in a logical format so that the intended information is delivered effectively. Good public relation writing thus is important in ensuring relevant and correct information is communicated. Public relations is planned communication (Mahoney, 2008) TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 1.0INTRODUCTION 4 2.0PART A: 4 2.1Planning and Preliminary Research 4 a)Personal Study Checklist: 5 b)Timetable: 5 2.2Research Fact sheetà 7 2.3Planning Template 8 2.4Planning Questions: 5ws and H 8 3.0PART B: 9 3.1Public relations is planned communication 9 4.0CONCLUSUION 12 LIST OF REFERENCES 15 1.0 INTRODUCTION Public relation is the practice related to the management of communication between the public and an organization (Zhao, 1999). It is the planned effort of establishing a mutual under standing between the public and an organization or an individual (Jovanovich, 1984). Public relation provides an opportunity of exposure of an organization or individual to a target audience. ... Public relation is a planned communication that involves research of relevant information, organization of the information in a clear format and the delivery to the target audience. The public relations practitioner has to identify the target audience and establish the form of information delivery that the audience will best understand. Written word is an important aspect in public relations that helps to communicate information to the public. The success of any public relation writing is in the writing skills of the writer and thus it is important to have good writing skills so as to deliver the information effectively (L'Etang, 2007). 2.0 PART A: 2.1 Planning and Preliminary Research Research and planning is a fundamental aspect of Public Relations writing. The following was the research plan that was formulated in preparation for the discussion, demonstrating planning, time management and organisation. a) Personal Study Checklist: I read and understood the assignment details and r equirements carefully Brainstorming for the assignment Noted the due date for the assignment ( 3rd June, 2011 ) Started a plan on how I was to complete the assignment Confirmed the due date from the unit guide provided by the lecturer The assignment had to be done by Friday 27th of May, before the due date Borrowed the Mahoney textbook from the library to aid in the assignment b) Timetable: 9th May, 2011 Started the assignment Read the assignment description carefully Made a note on how I was to do assignment 11th May, 2011 Brainstormed Read the instructions once again and noted the requirements Searched for documents that were necessary for the assignment Downloaded the fact
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Compare two images Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Compare two images - Essay Example "Vermeer did not do a preparatory drawing to be filled in by color. The first stage of his paintings consists of a structure of clearly contrasting light and shade where form emerge without drawing," Arasse (1993, p.52). One of his celebrated paintings, Mistress and the Maid clearly expresses the suppressed motion and activity, where maid brings a letter to the already letter-writing mistress and both seem to be aware of the importance of incoming letter. The letter writer has stopped writing while gazing at the letter in maid's hand. It is a painting full of motion, activity, and both women are caught in mid-conversation. Vermeer, born in 1632, son of a silk merchant, had excess to the world of fashion and fine clothes and his paintings reflect this knowledge in a sophisticated and effective way. They grant opulence to the painting and its dcor. Exceptionally luminous figures, almost three dimensional against the dark background are highly coherent in their fashion and movements. If the mistress is showing the high fashion of the day of genteel families, maid, though representing a lower salaried class, is extremely neat, correctly attired and almost as attention-catching as the mistress in luminous yellow. It is not a mean feat, as maid is wearing almost a merging colour and she is pitted against the bright yellow full of life worn by a more beautiful woman. Still Vermeer does not fail in making them equally attractive. Many of his women were bright yellow and golden yellow. The cut and style of head dresses of those days was very different from styles of other countries. They are entirely Dutch styles of the day. Hair is kept simple without elaboration. In this painting, fashionable wardrobe helps to bring across the visual dialogue between the two women, while showing the difference in class, work and attitude. It is dif ficult to miss the intense psychological impact created by the just arrived letter. Vermeer is famous for using 'camera obscura' to view his subjects and present them in a moment of fluidity. MUSIC LESSON http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/catalogue/music_lesson.htm A famous painting of excellent composition, brilliant and uncommonly real foreground, with a double bass on the floor, Music Class reflects a tender moment between the pupil and music teacher. Some critics have mentioned that Vermeer might have immortalised love, pointing out the blue chair and untouched double bass on the floor; but this could be mere speculation. Painting catches a moment of arrested action as per the blurred reflection in the mirror. Most of Vermeer's painting colours show the costumes of rich Dutch merchant class in mid 17th century. After the execution of Charles I, Cromwell's administration was not a particular period of art's supremacy in England and France was plagued with internal troubles and hence, Holland had the centre stage for fashion in Europe and this has reflected many times in his paintings. The ebony framed mirror which reflects the girl from a rather impossible angle that cannot be noticed in her demeanour becomes the focal point of the painting. Vermeer, who had a special penchant for light and shadow display clearly gave more attention to that pleasure than to his subjects and it could be seen in both paintings that light has been used with
Monday, October 14, 2019
Importance of Stakeholders in Curriculum Development
Importance of Stakeholders in Curriculum Development Curriculum development requires the input of different stakeholders such as teachers, school heads, parents, community members, students, district administrators and school boards. The role of the teachers involves defining different course components that are considered relevant, in line with the latest technological development in the education sector. In addition to developing the curriculum, teachers help in executing the curriculum development findings. Teachers continuously contribute to the development of school curriculums by developing periodic course teaching plans and giving consideration to the special needs of the students (Dillon, 2009). Therefore, having a good curriculum without the input of teachers cannot help in achieving the learning objectives and goals. Although modern technology is quickly finding its root into the education system, teachers still remain at the center of the students learning progress. In other words technology must be integrated into the curri culum but it cannot provide a perfect substitute for the roles played by teachers in curriculum development and the general learning process. The other important group of stakeholders is the school administrators. Their role in curriculum implementation cannot be underestimated since they are the people that monitor the implementation of the curriculum. In addition, they employ teachers (in the case of private schools). Furthermore, they are responsible for purchasing learning materials which is an essential requirement in curriculum implementation. In other words, school administrators may influence the extent to which the school curriculum is implemented by regulating the release of the necessary learning resources. The school administrators may get information from teachers, students and even the community regarding the success of the curriculum implementation process. In addition, they can also employ the services of professional to evaluate the performance of the curriculum. The parents on the other hand support and influence the implementation of the curriculum through financial resources, that is, payment of school fees. In addition, the parents may help in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the curriculum by keeping a close check at the lessons learnt in school and monitoring the childs home assignments (homework). Moreover, the parent may stand in the gap between the child and school administration by providing the student with resources that may be required in the curriculum but are not available in school. Furthermore, the parents may help teachers to monitor the behavior and social development of the child, especially for children with special education needs. The parents can get reliable information on curriculum development by enquiring from their children or by enquiring from the teachers or school administrators. In addition, professionals such as psychologists and social workers may offer contribution on the various ways of dealing with students with special needs. For instance, professional counselors may provide various useful options of dealing with student of foreign origin or those with disabilities. Community members can assist the school administration in the implementation of the curriculum by co-operating and providing the necessary resources that may not be available in the school setting but are found within the community setting. In addition, the community members can also volunteer and act as school board members. Other stake holders in the curriculum development include the government and the professional regulation commission that provides license to graduates of different colleges and universities. Professionals and community members can source information on curriculum development and progress from government reports on the performance of schools or by enquiring from teacher s, students and school administrators. Organization of Various Curriculum Development Stake Holders The parents are usually organized into parent association. All parents are required to register with the relevant parents association where they are required to democratically elect their leaders. The parents, through this association, give their views regarding the curriculum development to the district curriculum development team. The relevant professional body such as the district association of professional counselors and psychologists, through their advisory boards, also provides their recommendations and suggestions in the curriculum development process. On the other hand, teachers have organized themselves into curriculum drafting and evaluation teams. Such teams are usually charged with the responsibility of drafting, evaluating and amending the curriculum in line with the latest technological development in the education sector. In addition, the teachers curriculum teams are also involved in the evaluation of the output of the curriculum. The various groups work well because there exists a systematic way of engaging every stake holder in the curriculum development process. First and fore most, the teachers and the curriculum development leaders provide guidance and opinions regarding what should form the content of the curriculum. Because students spend most of their learning hours with the teachers, it is assumed that teachers understand the unique academic and social needs of the students better. The teachers start by analyzing the current curriculum, that is, the strengths and weaknesses and possible areas that needs to be amended. Thereafter, opinions from the parents, community leaders and other stake holders are considered before a final draft of the curriculum is compiled. The parents curriculum development team consists of all the members of the parents association teams. However, such parents are required to register with the district curriculum development committee before their views could be considered as valid. The members of the parents team are given the mandate to choose their leadership. Through the parents leadership team, their opinions are sought and taken into consideration by the district curriculum development team. Similarly, the professional counselors association is given the mandate to elect their leaders. However, the leadership of the professional bodies supporting the curriculum development process must be approved by the district curriculum development committee. This is because professional bodies acts as advisory agents on major policy issues related to curriculum development in schools. Therefore, the district curriculum development team must ensure that such professional bodies are led by a credible team. In addition, such professional bodies work closely with the teachers and curriculum development leaders during the evaluation of the curriculum and academic performance. Other community members such as community administrators and religious leaders are also answerable to the district curriculum development team. Such community leaders must however be registered for their concerns to be given attention by the curriculum development team. They are also required to elect their leaders through which their contributions are channeled to the district curriculum development team. In addition to the reports obtained from the various groups of stakeholders in the curriculum development process, the district curriculum development team organizes a curriculum development forum every year where all members of the public are welcome to participate. Such a forum is aimed at collecting information and concerns that may not have been handled by the existing and participating curriculum development stakeholders. In addition, the district curriculum development team has put in place structures that ensure that information flows from the various stake holders to the district curriculum team in an orderly manner. Although the development of the curriculum is the responsibility of all the stake holder (the parents, teachers, community members, members of professional bodies and the school administration), the execution or implementation of the curriculum is often left to the district curriculum development team, headed by the district director of curriculum, in collaborati on with teachers and school administration. Designing a Structure for Stakeholder Involvement In Curriculum Work The designing of a comprehensive structure for stakeholder involvement in curriculum work entails a careful consideration of various factors that contributes to effective learning process both inside and outside the classrooms. Because the size of my district is considerably large with a student population of 13,000, the curriculum development team must considerably be large in order to effectively represent the big student population. The leader of the district curriculum development team would be the district curriculum director who will be charged with the responsibility of chairing all the curriculum development committees as well as providing general direction and leadership in the curriculum development process in the district. In addition, there would be a curriculum director who shall deputize the district curriculum director and would help him/her in discharging his/her duties. The district curriculum development team would also comprise other curriculum development specialists in every subject area such as mathematics and science. Such curriculum specialists would help the district curriculum director in making important decisions during the curriculum development process. The district curriculum development team would seek information and fully engage professionals, parents, the community and other relevant stakeholders when designing the school curriculum. The district curriculum development team would organize for a curriculum development research week every year in which a continuous data collection and evaluation of curriculum in schools would be evaluated. Interview Questions The planned interview with the district curriculum director made the day unique. The interview, as scheduled, commenced at noon and took about three hours, ending at around three oclock in the afternoon. The material day for the interview was 2nd January, 2013. As the chief academic researcher in the district, responsible for careers and student development in high schools, the information from the interviewee, the district curriculum director and the findings of the interview would be very important in helping me to understand the role of different stakeholders in the curriculum development process. The first question of the interview was about the defining elements of a good curriculum. I found that putting focus on the academic development of the student was a key element in developing an effective student centered curriculum. The district curriculum director explained that all the stake holders including teachers, school heads and other professionals in the curriculum development process must put the student at the center of every step in curriculum development. In addition the curriculum director explained the importance of having in place a comprehensive curriculum leadership for a successful execution and implementation of the curriculum objectives. The director mentioned two main types of curriculum leadership, that is, static or managerial curriculum leadership and a dynamic kind of curriculum leadership. He went further to explain that static curriculum leaders try to produce a certain level of predictability and routine in the day to day operations of the school. On the other hand, a dynamic kind of curriculum leadership entails a continuous process of integrating critical thinking and modern technology in the development of a visionary and goal oriented curriculum. However, the director was quick to emphasize on the need to continuously focus on aligning the curriculum to suit the modern technologically advanced world, that is, employing the dynamic kind of curriculum leadership for the realization of a learner centered and progress oriented curriculum. He explained that although teachers and school heads enjoy independence in disseminating knowledge, they must remain conscious to the dynamic work place environments and information communication technology so that the learners may be effectively packaged to adapt to the technological dynamics of the modern world. The second question of the interview session was about which groups of people or stakeholders should be involved in the curriculum development process. The director stated that a good school curriculum should cover all aspects of learning, including academic, social and physical aspects. Therefore, all relevant groups of professionals and stakeholders should be involved in the development of a curriculum that meets the expectation of both the students and the community. He added that parents, teachers, school heads, social workers, psychologists and the community should all be involved in the curriculum development process. In addition, he pointed out the need to address the interest of students with special needs when developing the curriculum. For instance, students of foreign origin or those with disability must be accorded special consideration and care in their learning endeavor. However, the director noted that the curriculum development leader must be competent when coordinating and organizing various ideas into a comprehensive curriculum development policy statement. The other question of the interview was about how to gauge the effectiveness of a good school curriculum, that is, how to assess whether the curriculum is centered on the needs of the learner. Achieving a fruitful learning experience, he posed, should be the main objective of any curriculum developer or curriculum leader. In other words, the strength of a good curriculum development does not lie in the number of policy statements it contains but it does lie in the ultimate classroom experience gained by the learner. In response to the question that was seeking a clarification on the best method to engage the input of all teachers in the curriculum development process, the district curriculum director explained that a new method of training some teachers to be curriculum development leaders is quickly gaining acceptance. Such an approach ensures that those teachers who have undergone such training shares the skills with their colleagues hence effectively disseminating curriculum devel opment skills to all teachers. The findings of the interview were found to be in line with the class readings. For instance, Wiles (2008), explains the importance of curriculum development leadership in the development of a good curriculum. He further pointed out that static curriculum leadership entails the maintenance of all the programs that are already in place. In addition, he emphasized that curriculum leadership should target the impartation of specific, knowledge, attitude and behaviors for students and at the same time help in engineering the school programs to achieve all important aspects of the learning process. Wiles added that curriculum developers should embrace change as an essential variable in the curriculum development process. In other words, curriculum development should be the principle guide to all other activities carried out in the school program. As pointed out in the interview, a more advanced approach to curriculum development where some teachers pursue special training in curriculum development and thereafter work closely with colleagues is gaining momentum. Such an approach is more effective since the curriculum leaders work both as teachers and curriculum developers (Wiles, 2008). In addition, a good curriculum development team must include teachers, community leaders and parents as analyzed during the interview. Furthermore, for the curriculum to be managed effectively there must be a detailed plan showing the time periods within which various curriculum targets are to be achieved and the roles of every participant in the curriculum development and management process. Tallerico (2012) emphasizes on the need of curriculum development leaders to provide direction .Furthermore, the curriculum leader must continuously monitor and review the outcome of the curriculum management and where possible draw up a control program. In general, the interview findings informed me on the importance of an effective curriculum in the execution of learning objectives. In addition, a dynamic approach to curriculum development is more suitable for a learner centered curriculum development because such an approach takes into account the modern technological advancement when developing the curriculum (Dillon, 2009). Furthermore, the interview informed me of the need to involve parents, teachers, school heads, the community and all other stakeholders in the curriculum development process. In addition, the interview findings further stressed on the need to have a continuous evaluation framework that helps in analyzing the success of the developed school curriculum in satisfying the learners needs.
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