The Cosby Show American the Different Sides

The Cosby Show changed the stereotypical roles that were usually handed to black films and movies. Before the Cosby Show there were shows like Sandford & Son and Good Times that portrayed black in poverty. The Cosby Show however focused on issues that pertained to everyone with a focus on black people. They addressed issues such as pregnancy, educatiion, marriage, and even touched on music. The days of poor black in television and movies are gone. Wtaching an episode of the Cosby Show is an inspiration to everyone who sees it. Being able to watch where there is a black family not struggling to pay the rent is rejuvenatihng t6o me. We have a husband who is a doctor and a wife that is an attorney that shows examples of what living in America is like from a educational point of view versus just what a sterotypical black family life would be. The Cosby Show focuses on what it is like to be pregnant and go through labor and delivery pains in dealing with real life situations. The show also focuses on a happy married life and the problems that can arise within a family. I never knew how smooth jazz could be until I had seen an episode of the Cosby Show. Going to college is a dream that most people try to achieve. Until I had watched the Cobsy Show I was never really informed on what it would be like to go to college. I never knew there were prominent black colleges and universities. I think that being able to have a good television show that shows real life examples of life is what helps make this a graet society to live in, the Cosby Show is that show. Once in a while the show highlighted musical guest usually jazz and blues artists. Three was an episode where BB King guest starred and showed America how he helped his guitar â€Å"Lucile†. The Cosby Show is an example of if you put your mind to it you can do anything, and today America knows that.

Pakistan Elections Essay

Whilst the tenure of a democratically elected government comes to an end, political parties in Pakistan are gearing up for elections. Almost all significant parties have ruled the country one way or the other during the past five years. Perhaps, Elections 2013 are going to take place at the most critical time in the history of country. On the verge of selling their story to the public, the anti-status quo parties will have to produce a revolutionary and out of the box solutions to people’s problems, or to befool the masses yet once more. The energetic and aggressive media in its present capacity remains a major factor to influence minds. Still there is a big question mark on whether media can play their role positively and constructively. At the moment, media is the only institution which has the power to make or break the future of the country. Now when elections are just around the corner, any possible equation hinting at the postponement of elections is out of questions. Several attempts have been made and number of rumors has been floating but recent developments suggest that any such effort to derail the electoral system will not be supported by establishment. It is believed that three major factors will decide the outcome of the upcoming elections. First and foremost is an international issue, i.e. withdrawal of US and ISAF troops from Afghanistan. Three major parties (PPP, PML (N) and PTI) are on a serious quest of convincing US officials that their leadership will be the right choice to handle Afghan borders when US withdraws their troops. Two other factors will be internal but international community is keeping a close eye on it, namely economy and energy crisis. These elections will be dominated by these issues and any party who can provide solution for these problems can ultimately dominate the election results. This is slightly an idealistic statement; given the electoral process in Pakistan has its own dynamics. Yet these issues will affect the outcome of these elections a great deal. Country’s economy is severely jolted by poor economic decisions and terrorism. IMF has already declined any further assistance on economic revival. Terrorism and mismanagement of resources have coupled to shatter the economy of the country. More alarmingly, next budget is to be prepared by care taker government which is not likely present a popular budget. They will also be hesitant of making any tough decisions with little mandate. Looking for a next installment in terrorism support fund or Kerry-Lugar package will be the ultimate desire as the care taker government will not be in a position to bargain for a bail-out package from the international community. No political party has been able to assure USA that they have the most viable strategy to facilitate US exit from Afghanistan, establish peace in the region, resolution to the border issues with Afghanistan & India and controlling the growing militancy in the country. Other issues that will be of immense importance for next government include controlling the law and order situation in Karachi, de-weaponiza tion in the country, establishing the writ of state in Balochistan and FATA, a cohesive national agenda, new provinces, minimizing corruption, land reforms, farmer-friendly agricultural policy and importantly for a common man; the inflation. It will be little unfair not to discuss Tahir-ul-Qadri factor for electoral reform in these elections. Regardless of what TUQ achieved with this entire exercise, it is imperative that he certainly had an impact on pushing election commission for strict electoral reforms. All of a sudden, election commission approved rules of qualification for contesting elections and party elections etc. This is more for self-survival than for any sincere efforts for transparent elections. Elections in Pakistan have their own dynamics. This is why parties enchanting slogans of change have to get the ‘electable’ candidates in each constituency. Not only PML(N) has to embrace the once Musharraf’s supporters and PPP has to break into PML(N) and PML(Q) but a party like PTI also had to get the feudal lords, Musharraf’s supporters and infamous politicians. Fortunately for the people and unfortunately for the political parties, there has been significant awareness about electing the right candidate regardless of any party, race, prejudice, cast or other factors. In this tricky scenario, parties are trying to portray themselves as righteous and honorable entities; at the same time, they are playing their cards on the other front very effectively, i.e. dirty politics! Thanks largely to vibrant electronic and print media in Pakistan. Next few weeks will give a clearer picture of which political party is going to utilize this opportunity. But one thing can be stated with conviction that these elections will be unlike all previous elections in Pakistan. As mentioned earlier, media have the most crucial role to play. These are no doubt the most crucial elections in Pakistan after 1970. These elections will decide Pakistan’s destiny in next few decades.

Anthropology Assignment Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Anthropology Paper - Assignment Example Linguistic anthropology, the third sub-discipline, is concerned with the origin of the human language and speech with particular emphasis on some specific languages. Through comparing various languages, this sub-discipline is critical in making out relationships between different peoples. The fourth sub-discipline is social-cultural anthropology that entails the study of the three core aspects of a living population—social, economic, and political organization with a view of contributing to community development (Lakeside University, 2012). Question Two Chapter 2 discussed the attempts by early anthropologists to describe race biologically. Describe the typological and population models Typological model is an approach that anthropologists developed to classify people during the 19th and 20th centuries. This idea of classification was anchored on what is today known as race today as it classified people according to parameters like geographical regions and traits like skin col or, stature, and form of hair among others. However, this model of classification was noted to be less biological and more culture-related (O'Neil, 2011). Population model, on the other hand, sheds light on human population patterns from a genetic point of view. In this regard, this model focuses on the patterns of breeding among the human populations and look for traits such as physiological ones that can help put them apart. Although history is clear that humans do not mate as a group for a long time, this model is viewed in good light from a theoretical perspective (O'Neil, 2011). Question Three Describe the impact of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution on studies of divisions of humans The Darwinian Theory greatly influenced the studies of divisions of human in that it brought forth a new platform of scientific thinking in addition to generating numerous controversies. One, the Darwinian theory in a great way clashed with the long-held and widespread view of Creationism that encompassed the intervention of God in the existence of the universe and its creations—plants and animals. In this regard, this theory replaced the idea of divine creation with one that talked of evolution of man through a process he referred to as natural selection. In light of this, the Darwinian Theory gave new meaning to the study of anthropology by coming up with an alternative perspective on the possible origin of man (Tuazon, 2008). Question Four The scientific racialism experiment of the 18th and 19th century resulted in the concept of eugenics. Describe this term and its social consequences Eugenics is a science that focuses on controlling genetic traits of the human race with a view of improving it. Eugenics alleged that those people who belonged to the lower class possessed inferior genes compared to the ones who were socially well off. As such, a reproduction with this group with poor genetic traits would lead to a degraded society. Ignoring the social condit ions that characterize the marginalized in the society; eugenics suggested that the upper class in the society possessed quality skills like artistic and intellectual abilities. Eugenics led to many injustices across societies in the

Apple Company Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Apple Company Business Environment - Essay Example It is expected that the continuance of this trend will encourage more consumer spending and pave the way for more investment by Apple in developing new products. However, weak economic conditions have continued to exist especially within the education sector in the United States. Many states are experiencing huge deficits in budget, which may hamper Apple’s sales initiatives within the educational sector. Most of Apple’s products and components are manufactured in factories across China through partnerships with suppliers and electronic parts manufacturers like Foxconn and Inventec (Housden, 2008). The fixed exchange rate regime adopted by the Chinese government is adversely affecting any effort by Apple to cut production costs, adding to the problems faced from tariffs and anti-dumping penalties (International trade regulations). Social The use of computers, laptops, Smartphones and music players is growing worldwide, especially in the emerging economies. This presents a good opportunity for Apple to widen its market reach especially within these new and relatively unexplored markets. Customers are more adept at using these electronic devices and the use of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter has only enhanced the importance of computers and Smartphones for daily use (Aasend, 2001). Further, today’s generation places high value on education wherein strategies like offering discounts on products to students are helping Apple capture consumers from an early age and ensure their long-term commitment and preference for its products. Traditionally, Apple has always competed with Microsoft especially within the Operating Systems (OS) segment.... This paper approves that the preceding sections discuss the far, near and internal business environment of Apple Inc. Apple currently faces several issues that it must focus upon in order to ensure sustainable growth in the future. The firm must engage in its current strategy of licensing and strive to improve the economies of scope between personal computers and electronic media. Thus, the need for Apple over the coming years is to evolve into a learning organization. Besides licensing and partnerships, Apple can also consider the possibilities of joint ventures with other companies, which will allow it to develop various additional competencies. This report makes a conclusion that Apple’s primary strategy should be directed towards developing media-centric technologies and products. Nevertheless, the company should also work towards improving its computing products. In fact, Computer sales accounted for over 40% of Apple’s revenues in 2008. Apple continues to rely on the leadership and vision of its CEO, Steve Jobs. Mr. Jobs holds a considerable equity stake in the company and is one of the main reasons behind Apple’s resurgence from virtual oblivion. The reaction from the markets and consumers if he were to ever step down is rather uncertain. Therefore, the dependence on Mr. Jobs should not be a limiting factor for Apple and the firm must devise ways to operate as an organization. Such an initiative will allow Apple to strengthen its position and act through collective decision-making.

Michael Hill Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Michael Hill - Assignment Example Furthermore, the report also provides a break-even analysis emphasizing on the cost/price and volume relationship. Lastly, the report examines the control in place in the firm’s operation. Most of the information comes from the firm’s website and financial statements, as well as other reliable secondary sources. The report has four parts: situation analysis, marketing strategy, break-even analysis, and controls. Situation Analysis Market Summary Market Demographics Michael Hill engages in jewellery manufacturing and retailing. The firm sells both men and women watches and diamond jewellery. Essentially, the company operates in the highly priced diamond jewellery market. The firm operates retail outlet stores for watches and jewellery under the major brand name: Michael Hill. Moreover, the firm provides other services, including jewellery inspection, cleaning, and repairing. The firm also offers customized services to its clients by designing the chosen diamonds for jewe llery. Through a chain of 240 jewellery stores, the company and its subsidiary operates in New Zealand, Australia, United States, and Canada. However, the headquarters is in Queensland, Australia (Gray, 2011). The diamond jewellery market is a rather delicate and emotional sector, just like the clients. Clients in the jewellery market have different characteristics. However, all of them are well above the poverty line, as the products and services offered by the company and the market in general are relatively costly (Kotler, Burton, and Keller, 234). In other words, the diamond jewellery market appeals to the elite societal class with a taste for fashion and glamour. Market Needs At the time of establishment, the jewellery market had a stiff and formal atmosphere attached to it. Hill, the entrepreneur, sought to establish a new philosophy in the market that would make jewellery buying more accessible to the entire public and less intimidating. Therefore, Hill introduced a new produ ct mix strategy, subsequently removing the store clutter of giftware such as imported glassware, Chinese ornaments, and cuckoo clocks. The window display of the stores was simple, exhibiting around five enticing items changed regularly. This, combined with the attention-grabbing advertisement, significantly enhanced the attraction towards the stores. What the jewellery industry required at the time was a reconsideration of the service aspect, as the products are largely emotional. Realizing this, Hill quickly designed a marketing strategy that would meet the needs of the customers to their level of enthusiasm and passion (Hill, 2012a). The Market and Trends Based on a 1996 statistic report, New Zealand, the headquarters of Michael Hill, had 550 retailers, 153 wholesalers, and 293 manufacturers operating in the jewellery industry. As with many other New Zealand business settings, these ventures are principally small businesses, privately owned and operated. Among the 293 jewellery ma nufacturers, only three had more than two outlets. The report also shows that fifteen of the major retailers have more than three stores, and only four specialist jewellery chains having more than twenty stores were present at the time. These were Michael Hill, Pascoes the Jeweller, Kleins, and Gemtime Jeweller. Nonetheless, jewellery was also available from a number of other outlets, including fashion and department stores, antique, craft, souvenir, and catalogues shops (Gray, 2011).

Radiohead - No Surprises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Radiohead - No Surprises - Essay Example But suddenly, all over the world, gothic culture broke out, arresting conservatism and demanding the right to be musically deranged. Alice Cooper drank chicken blood on stage. For some reason, Ozzy Osborne bit the head off of a bat. Graphic tattoos, pythons and tongue piercings had become boring. Out of nowhere, a musical emancipation pronounced darker theories of death and pain that drew many punk rockers and pop culture fans into the dark. John Lennon was replaced by Marilyn Manson. Novelist Tom Wolfe labeled the 70s as the ‘Me’ Decade in â€Å"The ‘Me’ Decade and the Third Great Awakening". By the late 1970s, a culture of black lipstick, blood and men adopting female names had grown into its own genre. The State of California was easing its ban of marijuana and by 1979, the Gay Movement was red hot. Roughly between 1971 and 1984, everybody was in some type of artistic movement and expressed themselves through music. It was this era that inspired the gothic music genre unification of punk rockers, heavy metal fans, and even some conservative Rock-n-Rollers through the World Wide Web. In 1985, Jonny and Colin Greenwood, Thom York, Ed O’Brien, and Phil Selway joined the melodic movement of the misunderstood as Radiohead in Oxfordshire, England. Influenced by alternative rock, American indie and surges of punk and Britpop that surrounded them locally, the band brought their own kind of ‘strange’ to Rock. This paper is an exploration of a new era genre of music; particularly that of the fairly new punk rock band Radiohead. The focus of the study of the linguistic analysis of the musical style and songs including, Ok Computers, The Bends, and Radiohead’s 1997 release No Surprises, within the context of popular music idioms and rock. 1.1 Radiohead Radiohead was formed in Oxford because all the band members grew up and attended secondary school in Oxfordshire (Osborne, 2004: 15). Through their use of harmony, disruptive melodic figuration and rhythm, Radiohead has been able to build a reputation by accumulating a distinctive musical language, and by drawing from a musical palette characterized by a strained relationship between mainstream expectation and convention. The band’s music style is based upon garage band effects: loud and expressive, much like the American grunge bands Nirvana, Sound Garden and Pearl Jam (Hiburn, 1998:7). A significant part of Radiohead’s reputation as original composers and performers of music, punk-ish rock that did not conform to stereotypical pop-music expectations and norms. A vital part of engaging with their music is being able to track the events that form associations for the Radiohead-listener with equal events in a single Radiohead song or album (Moore, 2003: 58). Radiohead’s early music was rather mainstream. Radiohead’s first two studio recordings seemed quite primitive due to lack of a provocative esotericism that came to be associated in their later works. The making of OK Computers played a large role as a significant paradigm shift for the band, arti stically and musically (Tate, 2005: 14). Both of their first two albums, 1993’s Pablo Honey and 1995’

Paper and Coin currency Vs Electronic Money Transfer Systems Essay

Paper and Coin currency Vs Electronic Money Transfer Systems - Essay Example Bill Gates, while delivering his lecture at International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (Nevada) in January this year, said "Software is providing power, but software has got to provide simplicity. And that's why our investment levels are going up in the toughest problems: Security, privacy, speech recognition, video recognition - and all of those things we will fold into this platform."1 1. Today we are in an IT era and wish to live in a Digital life-style. Being digital has become sort of a fashion statement. The older generation expresses its reservation regarding security issues etc. but the Gen-X is fully geared up to exploit the full potential of Digital age. Well, having said about the 'attitude', it certainly needs to be pointed out that the youth of the day is not as carefree as is being branded, at times, by the elders. The fact is, the technologies like Electronic Money Transfer or Electronic Funds Transfer have proved their utility beyond doubt and we believe in this capability because we understand the intricacies of this technology. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) provides for electronic payments and collections. It is a system of transferring money from one bank account directly to another without any paper money changing hands e.g. There's will be more transpa... Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) provides for electronic payments and collections. It is a system of transferring money from one bank account directly to another without any paper money changing hands e.g. Using Internet or bank transfers. Using ATM/Debit/Credit Cards etc Payments thorough telephone (using voice synthesizers) In fact the Radio Frequency IDs (RFID) technique is also used in Electronic Transfer. RFID tags are used in a wide range of contexts like; Electronic payment cards used in many countries to pay road tolls, bus and metro fares, Electronic security tags used by retailers, 'Intelligent' luggage labels used in some airports etc Monitoring the workers within the factory/ company builiding. Advantages of Using Electronic Money Transfer Salary of an employee can be directly deposited in his/ her bank account. There's will be more transparency in money transfers. For example transfer of huge sums of money to illegal operations like financing the terrorist organizations can now be easily traced, as there will be less number of manual transactions. Money can be transferred in lesser time, usually the same day. It increases the efficiency, safety/ security standards of the bank. Such transfers are less expansive for the bank. Customer is free from the stress of carrying bundles of notes in a bag/ packets etc. hence reducing the threat of robbery. The threat of a 'Returned Check' is gone as well. It results in less paper work meaning less cutting of trees i.e. an environment friendly technique. The day is not far when we do not need to carry any wallet, Credit cards etc. in our pocket, Soon enough we may see the times when we'll have all our banking records, personal details, identification tags etc in a smart chip embedded in the ring of our middle

Models of Judicial Review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Models of Judicial Review - Assignment Example Additionally, it also involves reviewing an administrative regulation to attain consistency for measuring the effectiveness of a Constitution, statute, or a treaty. Consequently, under the US Constitution, the judicial review lacks explicit powers of reviewing any of the above provisions. Instead, in the US, the judicial review operates through making of inferences of provisions, structure, and history guiding the Constitution. It implies that in a diffuse model, common procedural rules evaluate the constitutionality guiding administrative measures and statutes (Elliot, 2001). Likewise, decisions are mainly within inter parties from the highest to the lowest courts. In other words, most court decisions are deemed retroactive as a rule if there is an unconstitutionality of statutes and this is accompanied with consequences. According to legal experts, the diffuse model of judicial review finds applicability in most countries because of its flexibility and fluidity when approaching sen sitive matters touching on the Constitution. Diffuse model of judicial review differs with the concentrated model of review in varying patterns as interpreted by the law. For example, while diffuse model originates from America, its counterpart is largely Austrian or Europeans (Forsyth, 2000). Similarly, while the concentrated model reviews the constitutionality of statues mostly found in special proceedings, diffuse model is general and is specifically concerned with administrative measures. Contrastingly, unlike the concentrated model that is less widespread because of its limited review functions, the diffuse model is more widespread because it tackles several reviews of the constitutionality. However, both explore the constitutionality of treaties and laws in their respective countries of application. Constitutional review falls into four broad categories of systems. There is the American or diffuse model that uses common

Network Interface Units Essay Example for Free

Network Interface Units Essay Wireless broadband Internet has gained more prominence among home users and small-scale businesses especially because in other setups say in legal and medical field, confidentiality is paramount and is a legal obligation. Any breach of this confidentiality is an offense. In addition, it provides inexpensive and relative speedy wireless Internet over a wider coverage area. Additionally, users expect more freedom and flexibility in using their portable computers, say at work, in the garden, and laptops hence wireless connection becomes more popular. This technology has provided users with easy access to Internet and at the same time convenience as wireless broadband technology does not use telephone cables However at the same time, it has rendered peoples personal information vulnerable to access by other users. That is, almost anyone with a good laptop with wireless connection can interfere with other networks within range especially those that are not protected form unauthorized users. This paper presents a technical report on the use of wireless Internet in domestic broadband Internet solutions. This investigation will address key areas such as how the technology works, security issues involved in the wireless Ethernet installation, implications of using wireless internet within the web based information system, configuration and setup issues, ways in which wireless internets can be made more secure and future solutions to the security concerns of wireless Ethernet internet. Introduction. The wireless networking technology operates in more or less the same way as the conventional LAN only without the physical wires. The personal computer has to have a wireless network card which is sort of an Ethernet adapter. This makes the computer establish a connection with the service provider network. Depending on the model, an access port can support up to sixteen machines. The wireless broadband technology uses radio waves that transmit and receive data on air unlike the traditional cable and ADSL broadband that use telephone lines. (Shay, 1998) Basically, all one needs is a Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) in the building where one wants to get connected. In this area there has to be radio signals. In cases where there aren’t any in sight then multiple hubs may be installed to act as logical diverters of the radio signals. A CPE comprises of NIU (Network Interface Units) which provide circuit emulation and internet data services. The Ethernet data services are simply mounted on top of the building where the Internet is being installed i. e. the transceiver and the antennae unit. The advantage of wireless broadband technology is that they are fast and more reliable than the others with up to 256kbps speeds (Tanenbaum, 2002) Wireless broadband networks transmit data to towers hosted by the service provider, which then the NUI and the Ethernet data services then pick up and deliver to a users personal computer or laptop. Wireless connections use DHCP (digital host configuration protocol) which assigns the IP address without the intervention of the configuration from the network administrator or the intervention of the user. The wireless broadband technology also uses modems just like the ADSL and traditional cables only that in wireless broadband connections the modem has an inbuilt antennae which links your computer to the nearest service provider tower (Spainhour Eckstein, 2003)

History of enlightenment Essay Example for Free

History of enlightenment Essay (1) Newtonian theory vs. Einstein and Heisenberg The Newtonian theory refers to the work of one of the earliest scientists known as Isaac Newton who stated that, the laws of nature (gravity) controlled the stable movements of objects and also maintained the delicate balance that holds things firmly to the ground. However, since then this theory has been subjected to many conflicting philosophical views and opinions that have either challenged or supported it. The emergence of Albert Einstein and his genius in physics, for instance, gave way for heated debates about the credibility of the Newtonian theory of natural law and gravity. Albert Einstein in his proposed theory of relativism helped to extend Newtonian dynamics to include motion at speeds of approaching than that of light. This new additional clause on the initial theories of gravity saw the revolutionary perception of the effect of motion on gravity. The new findings led to the disputation of the absoluteness of Newtonian theory in that, Einstein discovered some faults that made the Newtonian theory incomplete and questionable. Einstein was able to learn that some elements such as time, mass, energy, space, and even matter are not necessarily absolute in themselves, they can therefore be measured or altered by a person depending on the nature of his/her study variables. [Nick Strobel, 2001] Warner Heisenberg later emerged to add his findings on what he called â€Å"quantum† mechanics that described motion on a subatomic scale. In his findings Heisenberg, asserted that the universe was full of uncertainties that made it not an obvious phenomenon to ever understand. â€Å"The more precisely the position is determined the, the less precisely the momentum is known at this instant, and vice versa† The work of these two scientists heralded the genesis of new studies that sought to provide insights on initially abstract theories, the Newtonian one included. [Mr. Edmondson, 2000] (2) Social Darwinism and Hitler The theories of social Darwinism, provided for a healthy competition among individuals, groups, nations, and the global world as a whole for purposes of achieving social evolution amongst human societies. Social Darwinism is a derivative from the Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Natural selection according to Darwin is the process of speciation in populace that is brought about by competition between individual mortals for limited resources a phenomenon called, â€Å"survival for the fittest†.   [Johnson, D. Paul, 2008] In his book, â€Å"Main Krampf† Hitler expresses acknowledgement of both the principals of social Darwinism and natural selection, this he exhibits by asserting that the world should be classified to people’s ancestry, a classification that will involve with some people being placed on higher classes than others, he quoted the example of Germany Aryans as more superior than the blacks, Jews, and gypsies as belonging to a lesser class. Again, Hitler is seen as acting beyond the dictates of social Darwinism or even the principal of natural selection with his racial attitude towards the Jews whom he accuse of abetting racial dilution tactics in order to bring about equality. His perception of social Darwinism and natural law was about the political, social, and economic struggle between the mainstream Aryans and the minority Jews. His racialism attitudes led him to the gassing and brutal murdering of millions of Jews as a way of satisfying his own â€Å"social Darwinistâ €  theory. [Mein Kampf, 1939] (3) Sigmund Freud vs. John Locke According to john Locke, â€Å"self† is the conscious thinking thing which is in itself reasonable or conscious of pleasure and pain and proficient of cheerfulness or melancholy, and so is concerned for itself, as far as that awareness extends. In other words to him self is a character awareness and self thoughtful awareness that is fixed in the body.   [Locke, Essay, 1997] In his work â€Å"some thoughts concerning Education† he indicates it is education that fills the rather â€Å"empty human mind†, by asserting that out of the ten men he meets with nine of them are what they are, morally upright or morally rotten, useful or not, good or evil, chiefly due to their education. [Locke, Some Thoughts, 1996] Further he argued that little and almost insensible impressions we make when we are young having lasting impacts to ourselves simply due to the fact that they were the foundations of the self. [Locke, Some Thoughts, 1996] On the other hand Sigmund Freud differed vehemently with Lockean theory in that he argued that human beings behavior is controlled largely by their unconscious minds. He argued that the understanding of conscious thoughts and behavior is determined by revisiting the unconscious mind. He developed â€Å"repression† as key factor that determined unconscious, out of belief that far many people repress painful memories into their unconscious minds. He further clarified that the very process of repression took place within an individual’s conscious mind but rather in the unconscious one, and therefore many people are unaware that is happening on them. [Barlow DW, Durand VM, 2005] Finally Freud stubborn stance on the unimportance of both education and treatment to the alleviation of violence or suffering can be attributed to his changing of the system of unconsciousness and modeling it into the concept of Ego, super-ego, and id.   Super ego is ability to psyche ones morals and not taking in to account circumstantial morals situations, while Id was derived from William James early works. It is in light of this that Freud vehemently disputed the notion that the success of the population relied on education.   [Barlow DW, Durand VM, 2005] Freud model of mind has been a great challenge to the enlightenment model of rational agency which then was a core element in modern philosophy.

What Are The Factors Affecting The Employee Motivation Business Essay

What Are The Factors Affecting The Employee Motivation Business Essay This chapter gives general information and theories about motivation. The need to increase productivity and efficiency in the work place of any organization has led to increasing academic interest in the area of motivation over the years. The business environment is becoming more and more competitive all the time and managers feel pressured to find new ways to motivate their employees in order to keep them committed to the company and give their full performance. Writers have been keenly interested in knowing what factors are responsible for stimulating the ability to work. Many different theories and methods of employee motivation that range from monetary incentives to increased involvement and empowerment have come out over the years and some of these theories are introduced in this thesis. Background of the study Motivation relates to a range of psychological processes that guide an individual toward a goal and cause that person to keep pursuing that goal. Motivation often is described in terms of direction (the choice of one activity over another), intensity (how hard an employee tries) and persistence (how long an employee continues with a behavior, even in the face of obstacles or adverse circumstances). Motivated employees work harder, produce higher quality and greater quantities of work, are more likely to engage in organizational citizenship behaviors, and are less likely to leave the organization in search of more fulfilling opportunities. Moreover, highly motivated employees strive to produce at the highest possible level and exert greater effort than employees who are not motivated (Schultz Bagraim, Potgieter, Viedge, and Werner ( 2003:53). Employees need a range of motivators in order to remain engaged in their work. In response to this demand, employers are looking at how to sati sfy their employees on both an extrinsic, financial level as well as an intrinsic, psychological level. There are plenty of motivational theories emphasizing what it is that motivates people, two of these theories included in this thesis, were Maslows need hierarchy and Hertzbergs two factor theory. Moreover, Maslow (1970) offered his need hierarchy according to which human beings have their needs arranged in a hierarchy such that they are motivated to seek satisfaction of the lower levels of need first. Once that level of need is satisfied it is no longer a motivator, and the person is motivated by the next level up the hierarchy. Referring to figure 1, the basic needs such as shelter, food and warmth are at the bottom level of Maslows hierarchy, which then progresses through physical well-being, social acceptance, self-esteem, to self-actualization (realizing ones own potential). http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwnr5m6L4u1qmjqdio1_500.jpg Figure : Maslows hierarchy of needs The first four levels are: Physiological: hunger, thirst, bodily comforts, shelter; Safety and security: out of danger; Belongingness and Love: affiliate with others, be accepted; Self-esteem: to achieve, be competent, gain approval and recognition. According to Maslow (1970), an individual is ready to act upon the growth needs if and only if the deficiency needs are met. Maslows initial conceptualization included only one growth need self-actualization. Self-actualized people are characterized by: Being problem-focused; Incorporating an ongoing freshness of appreciation of life; A concern about personal growth; and The ability to have peak experiences. Maslow and Lowery (1998) later differentiated the growth need of self-actualization, specifically identifying two of the first growth needs as part of the more general level of self-actualization and one beyond the general level that focused on growth beyond that oriented towards self. These needs are: Cognitive: to know, to understand, and explore; Aesthetic: symmetry, order, and beauty; Self-actualization: to find self-fulfillment and realize ones potential; and Self-transcendence: to connect to something beyond the ego or to help others find self-fulfillment and realize their potential. Maslows basic position is that as one becomes more self-actualized and self-transcendent, one becomes more wise (develops wisdom) and automatically knows what to do in a wide variety of situations. Daniels (2001) suggested that Maslows ultimate conclusion that the highest levels of self-actualization are transcendent in their nature may be one of his most important contributions to the study of human behavior and motivation. A second well-known theory in this category is Hertzbergs two-factor theory. According to Herzberg (1959), work motivation is dependent on hygiene factors (salary, prestige) and motivators (achievement, responsibility). A person is motivated if both kinds of needs are satisfied. Herzberg (1987) declared that real motivation is only reached when a person experiences self-growth, which can only be satisfied through work enrichment. http://mathehu.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/herzberg_2.jpg?w=550h=418 Figure : Herzberg ´s Two Factor Theory Herzbergs two-factor theory of job-satisfaction is not new, as a matter of fact; it dates back to 1959 and is the outgrowth of a research study project on job attitudes conducted by (Herzberg, Mausner Snyderman, 1969). Herzberg (1959) addresses the problem of job satisfaction in terms of those factors which cause satisfaction (motivators) and those which cause dissatisfaction (hygienes). Factors which bring about job satisfaction are commonly called satisfiers or motivators and were found from the study to be related to the nature of the work itself and the rewards that result from the performance of that work. The most significant of these involve characteristics that promote an individuals needs for self-actualization and self-realization in his work. These factors are essentially linked to job content, which means they are intrinsic to the job itself. Herzberg analyzed and classified the job content factors or satisfying experiences as follows: Satisfiers Achievement Recognition Work itself Responsibility Advancement Growth According to Herzberg (1959), these factors stand out as strong determiners of job satisfaction with three of them, a sense of performing interesting and important work (work itself), job responsibility and advancement being the most important relative to a lasting attitude charge. Achievement more so than recognition, was frequently associated with such long-range factors as responsibility and the nature of the work itself. Robbins, (2003) emphasized that employee recognition consists of personal attention, expressing interest, promotion, pay, approval and appreciation for a job well done. Recognition which produces good feelings about the job does not necessarily have to come from superiors; it may come from subordinates, peers, or customers. It is interesting to note that recognition based on achievement provides a more intense satisfaction than does recognition used solely as a human relations tool divorced from any accomplishment, the latter does not serve as a satisfier. Schult z, et al,(2003) stated that some ways to improve motivation include good remuneration, effective training and skills development, a proper recognition and reward system, and employee growth prospects. Compared with the satisfiers or motivators are the factors which cause low job attitude situations or job dissatisfaction. Such factors were found from the analysis of the study results to be associated primarily with an individuals relationship to the context or environment in which he does his work, These factors are extrinsic to the work itself and are referred to as dissatisfies or hygiene (or maintenance). Dissatisfiers Company policy and administration Supervision Working conditions Interpersonal relations (with peers, subordinates and superiors) Status Job security Salary Personal Life Details on the methods used by Herzberg and his colleagues to reduce and analyze their research data will not be discussed in this paper. The satisfiers and dissatisfiers that have been listed are referred to as first level factors. Bassett-Jones and Lloyd (2005) suggests that the content theorists led by Herzberg, assumed a more complex interaction between both internal and external factors, and explored the circumstances in which individuals respond to different internal and external stimuli. There has been an enormous increase in research into motivation. Many studies have implicated relation between motivation and other behavioral and organizational variable such as workable levers over work motivation such as comparing job satisfaction, job involvement, and organizational commitment (Moynihan Pandey, 2007). They find that managers have varying degrees of influence over these different aspects of work motivation, with greatest influence over job satisfaction and least influence over job involvement. A number of variables are important for work motivation, including public service motivation, advancement opportunities, role clarity, job routineness, and group culture. Testing an explicit and implicit measure of motivation ( Lawrence Jordan, 2009). Summarizing the result of the study they came to the conclusion that the distinction between two types of motives, is real and determined by different developmental histories, activation by different incentives, and prediction of different types of behavior. Langens, Schmalt and Sokolowski (2005) indicated that, recognizing the motive structure of a person can help us get to know which incentives cause positive emotions and influence the striving for a goal, and, on the other hand, we can predict which situations can cause fear and understand how they can be avoided. Schuler and Prochaska (2001), Zimmermann (2008) stressed that along with the cognitive abilities, general achievement motivation can be viewed as the second career relevant trait, important for both academic and career success. Schuler (2000), Frintrup, (2002) stated that abilities and skills are important prerequisites of successful work performance. But when employees lack job-related motivation, these qualities cannot be fully revealed. Then, high achievement motivation, along with intelligence, becomes relevant and plays an especially important role in situations when no external pressure exists and people have to make independent decisions. As previously mentioned there are many motivational theories, studies and findings about employee motivation, but this thesis will be limited to the use of some of these researches and or motivational theories. Research question and sub questions The research question that shall be answered by the present research is as follows: what motivates employee at their workplace? In order to answer this overarching question, several sub-questions shall be considered, namely: What are the factors affecting the employee motivation? How important are incentives for the employee? To what extend does the economy of Curaà §ao motivates or demotivates the employee? What are the personal factors that can motivate an employee to commit to their jobs? How significant are the companys standard and values to the employee? Also the differences in work motivation in different level of education, age groups and nationalities will be studied. This will be possible through analysis of information gathered from employees working at the three local airlines, using the method of a quantitative research. Local airlines count 3 airlines, namely Insel Air, Dutch Antilles Express and Divi Divi Air N.V. A brief introduction of the local airlines will follow. Insel Air is an IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certified airline, operating 16 international destinations in 11 countries within the Pan-American region. In South America InselAir operates on destinations Caracas, Valencia, Barquisimeto and Las Piedras in Venezuela, Medellin in Colombia and Suriname. Destinations within the USA include Miami, Charlotte and Puerto Rico. Other destinations in the Caribbean are Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Kingston, St. Maarten, St. Domingo and Haiti. Destinations Miami, Charlotte, St. Maarten Curacao and Aruba are used as hubs. Insel-Air s international destinations and hub service give it great strength in creating connectivity within the Pan-American region while focusing on safety, on-time performance and great customer service. Insel-Air offers a Comfort Class next to an Economy Class, free on-board food and beverages, first two checked bags for free and seats with a maximum of 34 inch legroom in Comfort Class. Insel-Air operates approximately 46 flights per day with a crew of 165 employees. Dutch Antilles Express has been providing cargo services since April 2005. With two Fokker 100s DAE operates out of the hub Curacao Hato International Airport to numerous locations across the Caribbean and South America. DAE Cargo has adopted the same principles as its on-time and quality passenger services. Parallel to their expanding flight network, DAE is providing effective and quality services to more and more new locations. With the support of 134 employees, DAE carries passengers and cargo to Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Sto. Domingo, Caracas, Valencia (Venezuela), Bogotà ¡, Cartagena (Colombia), Paramaribo (Suriname) and Panamà ¡ City. Divi Divi Air N.V., is a small efficient airline giving big services with a team 12 employees. Established in 2001 and based on Curaà §ao, with a ticket office in Curaà §ao as well as Bonaire. Divi Divi Air N.V., locally known as e Divi Divi (The Divi Divi) operates about 7 to 9 flights daily between the islands. They can also cater to your specific needs with charters on demand in the region. Divi Divi operates 3 twin-engine aircraft of which two are nine seat Britten-Norman Islanders. Purpose of the study The following are objectives of this research: To investigate the causes of low employee motivation at the workplace. To identify factors that could improve the level of motivation of employees at the workplace. To suggest strategies that could improve the quality of work-life of their workplace. There are many factors that motivate people intrinsically. The motivational factor of these matters is based on human ´s urge to fulfill certain needs. Not all of them can be applied in work motivation, but the ones that are executable for this purpose are introduced next. The inner motivation factors include; acceptance, the need for approval; curiosity, the need to learn; honor, the need to be loyal to the traditional values of ones clan/ethnic group; idealism, the need for social justice; independence, the need for individuality; order, the need for organized, stable, predictable environments; power, the need for influence of will; saving, the need to collect; social contact, the need for friends (peer relationships); status, the need for social standing/importance; tranquility, the need to be safe; and vengeance, the need to strike back/to win. Reiss (2004) said that these basic desires give people inner work motivation when they seek to fulfill some of these needs. Limitations and delimitations The limitation is being considered in relation to the natural explanation to which the researcher has limited the study and the active choices to limit the study area. This study is limited to existing theories and models, and their influence and limitation on motivation of the employee. The focus will be on independent variables that the airlines and or their employee in one or another way can influence, with exception of the external factors which one cannot control directly but monitor, delimitated in local airlines. Variables that will be used are personal needs, organizational structure and external factors. Of the individual factors, the most important factors will be chosen. For organizational factors it will be limited to study the organizational culture and the incentives, the external factors, the economy will be touched. Approximately 100 employees will be studied in different education levels, age groups and nationalities. Setup of the thesis In chapter 2, a motivation factors model is presented and explained. In this part, the definition of work motivation, factors that influences the work motivation, and different work motivation theories used in the thesis are discussed. Further, different work-related behaviors are introduced and some general information. Chapter 3, the methodology used is explained e.g. the research method, procedures, instruments and representativeness is presented. Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. On the last page(s), a reference list of the journals used in this thesis is included.

PSY 301, Introductory Psychology, 2002, Exam 2 :: UTEXAS Texas Psychology

Introductory Psychology Pennebaker – October 16, 2002 Write your name and social security number on this page and also on your Scantron. Be sure to blacken in the FORM letter on the Scantron as well. 1 Which of the following is FALSE about Stage 4 sleep? A) It is the stage in which most dreams occur B) If deprived of it, individuals become exhausted and disoriented C) It is blocked by alcohol and sleeping pills D) It is marked by low amounts of eye movement E) It is not necessary every night 2 The night before his exam, Jerry was unable to sleep for more than one hour before waking-up. Which of the following best characterizes Jerry’s difficulty falling asleep? A) Sleep apnea B) Narcolepsy C) Insomnia D) Circadian rhythm E) Night terrors 3 Classical conditioning is to operant conditioning, as __________ is to __________? A) passive, active B) passive, unconditioned response C) emotional thoughts, logical emotions D) Pavlov, Freud E) conditioned stimulus, unconditioned response 4 Bill is trying to figure out the best way to increase the productivity of his workers.

Use of Literary Techniques in Miltons Sonnet Essay -- Milton Sonnet

Use of Literary Techniques in Milton's Sonnet At the prime of his life, Milton was struck with blindness. As a result of this tragedy, Milton created a sonnet about his blindness. He questioned the meaning of this tragedy, of the future, and God for his blindness within the sonnet. Within Milton's sonnet about his blindness: figurative language, personification, his intent and prosody are adopted to   convey his questions and heart felt acceptance of his blindness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Milton uses figurative language to express his grievances and discontent. He reflects upon his life and "how my light is spent," or the time he had his sight. Milton then expresses the feeling of the "dark world and wide" of the blind as his introduction to his questions. He begins to question his writing that only death can take away ("...one talent which is death to hide.."),   "lodged... useless" within him because of his new blindness. As a result, Milton begins to question God, "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" Milton wonders as to the meaning of his blindness; Does God want him to continue to write, even with his blindness, or what does God really mean? At first his tone seems harsh, but his feelings are redirected as he answers his own questions in time. His last question to God, was answered by himself as he realizes that he cannot blame God for his actions. His figurative language from the point he begins to question, up to where he begins to answer his own questions are full of implications of his thought. These implications must be picked out in order to make sense of the feeling and statement Milton is trying to make. ... ... He has accepted the fact that he is blind and has answered his own thoughts on God. Milton believes that he must make a choice to go on with his writing or "stand and wait," as he must bear the burden and continue or stop.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, Milton uses many literary techniques to express himself as he confronts his feelings with blindness within this sonnet. The uses of figurative language to introduce the dilemma and to personification for change to the solution of his problems are effectively used to contrast the mood. His prosody and intention with words creates an imaginative thought process and detail towards the sonnet. Overall, his techniques combine to convey the theme of acceptance and realization. Milton has inferred that whether or not he continues to write depends on himself and serving God.

English literature: History, Authors, Books, & Periods Essay

Dear Kipling, You are my favorite writer in the English Language who well versed in both. Prose and verse in the late- nineteenth and early- twentieth century ’s.Being interested in your creations I took more interest in knowing about yourself. You were born in Bombay, British India on 30 December 1865. In 1870 you were taken to England and stayed with a foster family and did your education there.Later you came to India in 1882 and worked as a journalist, writing poetry and fiction in your spare time. I had gone through your oeuvre and I really marveled which made me go into a deep thought of your perspective on imperialism. In 1888 you wrote ‘plain Tales from the Hills’ which won success in England. Again in 1889 you went to live in London. There you met your soul mate Caroline Balestier and married her in 1892.And then you moved to a place called Vermont in the United States where her family lived, your two daughters were born there.Then you wrote the most fantabulous work â €˜The Jungle Book’ in1894.I think you got the inspiration to write this from your environment. Because when you were writing this, your abode was in the forested area called Vermont. Alright!I have to stop here Because I want to talk more about this work. So now I am going to discuss the rest with you. In 1896, you moved with your family from Vermont to England because of some family affairs. I do not want to discuss that. Because that is not my area, isn’t it? Then your most beloved son John was born in 1897, to whom you later addressed the poem ‘If’ which very much exhibited the qualities of men during Victorian times and it is often discussed by the critics as a â€Å"stoic poem†. Then you wrote the series of works like ‘Stalky and Co’ in 1899, ‘Kim’ in 1901 and ‘Puck of Pook’s Hill’ in 1906. Your contribution of ‘Just So Stories’ in 1902 were originally written for your beloved daughter Josephine,   who died unfortunately at the age of six because of pneumonia. That’s why this work reflects the stories of children. When I was analyzing your work I came to know that it offers us a clear and sensitive picture of English people who lived in the late 19th century in India. And it is obviously seen that you are an â€Å"accurate reporter† and was capable of giving the faithful account of the commonplace and people of what you had seen. In this time, I want to take account of your uni que perspective.This is one of the things that I loved in you –that your works do not reflect anyone else’s ideologies.It always stands a remarkable thing. The preliminary study of your works had revealed an idea which is to be taken into consideration. It displays that your works of six essays, ten addresses, four volumes of letters, five full-length books, one hundred and eleven short stories, and one hundred and seventy-eight poems were in quite touching with the phenomenon called ‘culture shock’. Kipling, don’t consider me as an over-talkative person for I am going to explain what is a culture shock. Because you know what it means, but the readers of this letter have to know about it something. Culture shock is a synonym for homesickness, an experience normally associated with insecurities of childhood. This will occur when a person is suddenly removed from a familiar environment to an unusual one commonly exhibits confusion and hostility. You suffered from this effect for about eight such times at approximately five years intervals of your first forty years of your life. Even though this happens continuously, your works were highly outstanding. But some critics made this culture shock as wide as possible and criticized you every angle. I had no opinion on this matter. But I want to tell something, I think because of this culture shock only you could deliberately deliver your mind about the things that surround you, otherwise, I would miss this unique use, Kipling.Once again I repeat that it was my own opinion and it can be interpreted in some other way. Another criticism is about your famous phrase ‘White Man’s Burden’. Actually, it means â€Å"the alleged duty of the white peoples to bring their civilization to other peoples regarded as backward†. But the critics took this phrase and classified you as a ‘Racist’. Their perspective is that you are the one who differentiated as white man and backward, so they criticized in that way. But I want to look it from your view. I think you wrote it in the perspective of how I understood ie.,† Imperialism was not just a way for countries to grab power; it was also a form of humanitarianism, a way to help fewer fortune people by the governing people.† So only you mentioned that it was the responsibility of ‘White Man’s Burden’. Alright Kipling, now I come to the point which I mentioned earlier to discuss that is – The Jungle Book. Actually, it is a collection of seven different short stories. However, only three of them have Mowgli and the characters associated with him. While the rest four stories happened completely elsewhere and in different situations. When I came to analyze this piece of work I understood that its culture period is during British Raj – British ruling over India (1858-1947). So many critics call you as a racist, misogynist, and imperialist. And some argue that this piece was about the politics occurred at that time. All that shouldn’t matter anyway, because it’s a great story of imagination and above all, it opens up the relationship between you and the forest in India. And I also enjoyed the way Mowgli grows up and the way he and other animals interact with each other, it’s completely breathtaking. I believe that while you were undoubtedly a man of your time and country, your stories are less about politics and more about your own humanity. The story seems to be more similar to your life history. Though the scholars criticized this work in a di fferent way, I can’t deviate my views from the eyes of imagination and enjoyable experience which I had when I read it. Last but not the least adding to your accolades, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907 making you the youngest and first English language writer increased my zeal towards the language. With more Love, D. Joan Swarna. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Lohman, W.J. The Culture Shocks of Rudyard Kipling. P.Lang, 1990. 2. ebooks.adelaide.edu.au>kipling 3. www.study.com/academy/lesson/kipling_rudyard 4. www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/kipling_rudyard

Strategic Review of Australian Department Store David Jones

David Jones Limited (DJS) is an Australian retailer tracing its origins back to 1838 when it first opened in Sydney to sell â€Å"the best and most exclusive goods† (DJS, 31 Oct. 2009). It has since expanded to become a national retail chain comprising of nearly 40 premium department stores. The subject of this analysis is a strategic business unit (SBU) that is playing an increasingly important role in the company’s future growth strategy; namely the provision of financial services. As the result of a strategic alliance with American Express (AMEX), DJS launched the David Jones American Express (DJA) card in 2008 (ASX Media Release, 20 February 2008). To effectively analyse the value proposition of this SBU and product it is important to first examine the overall value proposition of the company. As defined by Kotler, a company’s value proposition is the set of benefits which it promises to deliver to consumers in order to satisfy their needs (Kotler et al. 009). In the case of DJS these core benefits are the provision of an â€Å"empowering level of customer service†, a distinctive store ambiance, a unique and high quality product range and international brand portfolio offered at competitive prices, and a mission statement to â€Å"be the best full line, differentiated department store† (DJS Enterprise Agreement 2006). Key aspects of this proposition include the company’s focus on quality, luxury and aspiration. In terms of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs it demonstrates a desire to deliver an experience and array of products which satisfy needs of belongingness and self-esteem in a potential buyer (Maslow 1954). It also forms the basis for the company’s positioning strategy and its marketing orientation towards customer satisfaction (AFR Boss Magazine, October 2009, p. 22). The company strives to deliver these key benefits to a primary target market consisting of â€Å"three generations of women (daughter, mother, grandmother) from households with above average disposable incomes† (DJS JP Morgan Conf. October 2009). In other words DJS has a segmenting, targeting and positioning (STP) strategy that is female skewed and aimed at the affluent ‘AB demographic’ which constitutes the top 20% of the socio-economic quintile based on education, income and occupation (Roy Morgan, 2009). The value proposition of the DJA card dovetails into this broad set of company values , offering an array of additional benefits and functionality for DJS customers that compliment the company’s market position as an aspirational brand (ASX Media Release, 20 Feb. 2008). Whereas historically the company’s branded store card was only accepted in DJS stores, the DJA card offers customers credit facilities at any merchant who accepts AMEX. It therefore leverages the AMEX brand as a leading global payments, network and travel company with its corresponding level of acceptance to offer DJS customers additional credit purchasing power and functionality (AMEX, 31 Oct. 2009). The DJA card also offers unique reward benefits and gift points to loyal customers, professing to â€Å"turn everyday spending into dream brands and dream destinations† (DJS, 31 Oct. 009). The value propositions of DJS and DJA can be considered effective for a number of key reasons. Firstly the core beliefs which underpin these value propositions have remained largely consistent over time, with only small changes in response to evolving markets. This is important given they act as the foundation of a company’s brand building process (MM 2009, p. 2-34). Secondly they are unique, leveraging DJS focus on luxury and aspiration to help differentiate product offerings like the DJA card from that of competitors. Thirdly these values augment the company’s segmenting and positioning strategy by providing clear benefits targeted to their core customer base. Lastly the value proposition is well communicated, permeating all aspects of their marketing mix and integrated marketing communications strategy through mediums such as in-store branding, direct mail, print media, publicity, and online marketing. An overall analysis of the five C’s was conducted for the DJA business unit: Company| Strengths: Joining of two strong brands, reduction of risk for DJS, wealthy customer base, strong growth of financial services, distinctive ‘house of brands’. Weaknesses: Potential damage to DJS brand by alliance partner’s actions, fee structure, lack of acceptance of AMEX cards generally, higher merchant fees associated with AMEX. Opportunities: Store expansion increasing reach of customer base for DJA card, expansion of DJA alliance, supplementary card, status program. Threats: Cardholder resentment at annual fee, alliance partner motivations, Myer IPO, supermarket co-branded cards, AMEX debt recovery procedures. | Customers| DJS retail: â€Å"DJ’s core customer comprises of 3 generations of women; daughter, mother, grandmother, with a household income of >$75,000 p. . † (Macquarie Australia Confere nce, 2009, Mark McInnes). As the DJA credit card is a product development strategy, of supplying new products to existing markets, the customers of DJA are essentially the same as the current DJS customers. | Collaborators| Strategic alliance with AMEX in the provision of the DJA credit card. International alliances with other retail stores when the DJA card is used within their stores (eg. Harrods, Harvey Nichols, etc. ). Other local ‘bonus partners’ in the DJA reward program (eg. Vintage Cellars). Competitors| DJs competitive environment is summarised using the following adaptation of Porter’s Five Forces (Porter, 1908, in MKMT, 2009, 1-26). Industry Competitors: Mastercard, Visa, and other smaller credit card providers. Along with other AMEX co-branded credit cards and store cards. New Entrants: Barriers to entry in the credit card market are high including capital for lending and the setup of infrastructure. Although these issues can be mainly overcome by forming a strategic alliance with one of the major credit card providers, as has been done in the case of the DJA credit card. Substitutes: There are a number of substitutes to the DJA credit card including EFTPOS direct from bank accounts DJS store cards, Visa Debit and cash. Power of Suppliers: Threat of forward integration by alliance partner AMEX. | Context| DJA’s operating context is defined using the following adaptation of PESTLE model (MKMT, 2009, 1-29). Political: Operating within each Australian State requires understanding of a multitude of separate state governments’ regulators, government policy and the impact on consumer confidence in the provision of credit cards. Proposed changes to the National Consumer Credit Regime currently being considered by the Federal Treasury. Economic: Performance of the credit card sector is closely linked to consumer confidence within the market, key indicators affecting consumer confidence include; GDP growth, unemployment rates, interest rates, banking sector health, public sector debt. Increasing levels of private sector credit card debt. Socio-Cultural: Current trends in fashion affecting ‘house of brands’ and indirectly the DJA card. Societal downward trend away from carrying and transacting with cash towards the use of alternative point of sales payments. Technological: New competitors in the form of online shopping experience. Legal: Operating within numerous legal jurisdictions requiring understanding of each unique jurisdiction in relation to providing financial services. Environmental: Current push towards credit card companies to introduce paperless billing. Demographic: Increasing standard of living in Australia leading to greater take up of credit cards and other lending avenues. Ageing population in Australia which is aligned with the DJS brand and the DJS core customer base. | SWOT Analysis (MM 2009, 1-25) Strengths: (S1) Brand strengths: David Jones is a strong iconic Australian brand with 170 year history (DJS JP Morgan Conf. , Oct 2009) and David Jones has offered branded credit cards to its customers for 48 years (McInnes, National Consumer Credit Regime, 12 June 2009). American Express formed in 1850 and in the 1950s, issued its first credit card (AMEX, 31 Oct. 2009). The DJA card capitalises on the strength of both brand heritages and service cultures, both locally and internationally (ASX Media Release, 20 Feb. 2008). S2) Strong financial structure with reduced risk to DJS: Alliance partner is responsible for the credit policy and owns the receivables of the Financial Services business with the transfer of $374. 3m of largely debt funded receivables to American Express (DJS FY09, 24 Sept. 2009) and so the risk associated with the portfolio sits with AMEX not DJS. (S3) Wealthy customers: Core customers have above average disposable income with a hous ehold income of greater than $75,000 (DJS JP Morgan Conf. , Oct 2009). (S4) Strong growth of financial services: 7. % growth in past year and same projected over next four years and large growth in core customer base (DJS JP Morgan Conf. , Oct 2009). (S5) Distinctive House of Brands: positioning with the best product range, great service and the reinvigoration of high-value stores (David Jones FY 09, 24 Sept. 2009). Each DJS offering needs to be distinctly branded in a way which creates an individual brand relationship with the customer whist also aligning with the overall position of the master brand of DJS itself (Aaker and  Joachimsthaler 2000). (S6) Growth of brands: Strong range of national and international brands (DJS JP Morgan Conf. Oct 2009). The growth of these brands via ‘the introduction of 50 new department store exclusive brands to its portfolio across all categories’ at DJS stores is more attractive to buyers (Samador, 28 Nov. 2008). (S7) Fee structure: High membership fees, merchant fees, and credit fees generate more cash for generous rewards program. Weaknesses: (W1) Risk of DJS brand being linked to AMEX: DJS brand linked to AMEX credit policy and debt recovery. AMEX are perceived to be a pushy credit provider, with one shareholder describing AMEX as a â€Å"low grade† card that diminishes David Jones' â€Å"prestigious reputation†, (Samador, 28 Nov. 2008). (W2) Fee structure: Internal shareholders resistance to the $99 annual membership fee and 20. 49% per annum interest rate (the DJS Store card was free to join). (W3) High merchant fees and low merchant acceptance: AMEX merchant fees are the highest of all mainstream credit cards on offer in Australia (RBA, 6 Nov. 2009). This has led to lower acceptance of AMEX compared to MasterCard and Visa Australia wide. Overall AMEX and DJS have complimentary and mutual strengths that compensate for their individual weaknesses, giving them greater combined strength. Opportunities: (O-1) DJA credit card usage outside DJS stores: The strong history of the store-card (McInnes, National Consumer Credit Regime, 12 June 2009) and the high proportion of store-card holders in the DJA card program (Samador, 28 Nov. 2008) imply that card usage is likely to continue to be concentrated in-store. Given national expenditure in Department Stores accounts for less than 9% of total retail spending (ABS Retail Trade, Sept 2009); there is large opportunity for DJA to grow revenue through usage in the wider retail market. O-2) DJA credit card usage inside DJS stores: The DJS store-card is held by many cardholders as a status symbol (Hanson, 2009, pers. Comm, 30 Oct. ). DJA may build on this perception to encourage greater spending in-store and greater in-store usage of the DJA card. (O-3) DJA cardholder expansion: The DJA card program inherited 400,000 active accounts from DJS (McInnes, National Consumer Credit Regime, 12 June 2009). However this is a small percent age of the market, given there are over 14. 3 million credit card accounts in Australia (RBA, 6 Nov 2009). Increasing the number of DJA cardholders, within the target segment, is a significant opportunity for DJA. Leveraging the increased market coverage, to be achieved by the DJS store expansion program (DJS JP Morgan Conf. , Oct 2009), is one such means of increasing cardholder numbers. (O-4) Expansion of the DJA alliance: In addition to credit cards, AMEX offers a range of insurance products, travel and financial services (AMEX, 31 Oct. 2009). DJA currently offers insurance products and travel services to their cardholders through their Gift Points program (DJS, 31 Oct. 009). DJA may offer a wider range of AMEX insurance products, travel and financial services, under the DJS brand, to their existing DJA cardholders and DJS customers. Threats (T): (T-1) Resentment of the annual fee: Many DJA cardholders, whom had migrated from the DJS store-card, resented the newly imposed $99 annual fee (DJS, 31 Oct. 2009). The resentment of the fee is re-ignited annually when the fee is levied, such t hat cardholders will continue to re-evaluate the on-going benefits of the DJA credit card. T-2) Alliance partner AMEX: Under the DJA alliance, the merchant fee is waived on purchases made within DJS stores on DJA credit cards (Hanson, 2009, pers. Comm, 30 Oct. ). Given the DJA credit card history as a DJS store-card, a high proportion of spending is conducted within DJS stores, thereby limiting the merchant fees collectable by DJA. AMEX would benefit significantly by luring DJA credit cardholders to alternate AMEX products, so AMEX would receive merchant fees on card purchases within DJS stores. (T-3) The Myer IPO: Preferential share allocations were offered to Myer One cardholders in the Myer IPO (Business Day, 23 Sept. 2009). Current and potential DJA credit card customers may have been swayed away to the Myer One card program to benefit in the Myer IPO. (T-4) Supermarket linked credit cards: The co-branded credit card market is keenly contested by department stores, supermarkets and petrol companies to name a few. Monthly retail expenditure on food is over five times greater than department store expenditure (ABS Retail Trade, Sept 2009). Customers may elect to align their credit card with the retail store where they spend the most money, the most frequently. (T-5) AMEX Debt recovery procedures: Under the DJA alliance, debt recovery is handled by AMEX. Strong debt recovery procedures and activity from AMEX may reflect poorly on the DJA card and the DJS stores as customer may not differentiate between the two. References Ansoff, I. Strategies for Diversification, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 35, Issue 5, Sep-Oct 1957, pp. 113-124. Maslow, A. 1954, Motivation and personality, Harper and Row. Aaker, D. A. , ; Joachimsthaler, E. 2000, Brand leadership: Building assets in the information society, Journal of Consumer Marketing. Kotler, P. , Adam, S. , Denize, S. ; Armstrong, G. 2009, Principles of marketing, 4th edn, Pearson Prentice Hall. Marketing Management, 2009, AGSM MBA Programs Graduate Diploma in Management. ASX Media Release, David Jones selects American Express as its strategic alliance partner for its general purpose card, 20 February 2008. Mitchell, S. , AFR Boss Magazine, October 2009, p. 22 McInnes, M. , ; Goddard, S. , David Jones – JP Morgan Conference Oct 2009. David Jones, Full Year (FY09) Results: August 2008 – July 2009, http://www. davidjones. com. au/images/corp/pdf/2009/FY09_Results_24Sep09. pdf, 24 September 2009. McInnes, M. , National Consumer Credit Regime, http://www. treasury. gov. u/consumercredit/content/consultation/submissions/downloads/national_consumer_credit_regime/David_Jones. pdf , 12 June 2009) Reserve Bank of Australia, Credit and Charge Card Statistics, http://www. rba. gov. au/statistics/bulletin. html , September 2009 @ 5pm. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Retail Trade, http://www. ausstats. abs. gov. au/ausstats/meisubs. nsf/0/0C3F2426BB831DF3CA257662000E0A71/$ File/85010_sep%202009. pdf , September 2009, p6 ASX Media Release, David Jones Selects American Express as its Strategic Alliance Partner for its General Purpose card, http://www. asx. com. au/asxpdf/20080220/pdf/317jmwgpqdm2qr. df , 20 February 2008. Samador, L. , Investors Turn on David Jones Amex card, http://news. theage. com. au/business/investors-turn-on-david-jones-amex-card-20081128-6mtb. html, 28 November 2008. Business Day, Premier results add weight to timing of Myer float, http://www. businessday. com. au/business/premier-results-add-weight-to-timing-of-myer-float-20090922-g0ly. html, 23 September 2009. David Jones, David Jones Enterprise Agreement 2006, http://www. sda. org. au/images/awards/award13. pdf, Accessed 2 Nov. 2009. www. americanexpress. com, Accessed 31 October 2009 @ 5pm www. davidjones. com. au, Accessed 31 October 2009, @ 5pm

Mobile Phones Have Improved Our Lives in Every Way

MOBILE PHONES HAVE IMPROVED OUR LIVES IN EVERY WAY We live in the era of smart phones and not that smart people. Are mobile phones really necessary or are they just toys that think instead of us and help us escape from our boring lives? On one hand mobile phones are very beneficial. Thanks to all intelligent technological tools, you can call or text anyone you want, even if they are not close. You can call the emergency if you are stuck in an accident.In addition, one of the perks is definitely the internet access which you can reach wherever you are. Whether you are waiting for someone to come and are bored, you can listen to music. Nowadays you do not have to carry and agenda with you, because this sophisticated apparatuses remember all the appointments and reminders you might forget. On the other hand, you can easily get distracted by mobile phones, what sometimes can lead to obsessions. Not to mention the radiation and its consequences which cause infertility and many other healt h risks.Is it not sad when you meet and old friends of yours for a coffee and you both end up hanging on the mobile phones and become extremely anti-social? All in all, technological phenomenon of modern time are one of the greatest discoveries so far and our lives would never be the same if they did not exist, because they have made our lives easier in every single way. I believe that the benefits of using mobile phones outweigh the disadvantages, but only if the usage is under control. Therefore, we must not let them use us, we must use them!

Advantage and Disadvantages

Scene 1 Kevin is having a party at his house Scene 2 Mahir arrives. (Music: High High by GD and TOP) Mahir: Yo, what a crazy crib you got there, bro. Kevin: Thanks, bro essay writer pay. (Insert bro shake) Mahir throws his bag on the ground and snatches the food from the table. Kevin: The rest of the guests are not here yet. Mahir: Whatever, man. The girl I met at the bar last night was so hot like the sun. She was on fire man! Background music plays: Alicia Keys – On Fire The maid stroll past him and Mahir oogles her with his eyes. Mahir: Is she your girlfriend, man? Kevin: No, that’s my maid. Mahir: I wanna hire her.Scene 3 Doorbell Rings (Billionaire –Bruno Mars) Vikram: It’s been awhile, Kevin. Kevin: It hasn’t been that long. Its been like, three days. Vikram: That’s long, man. It’s a long time especially since I’m making money. Kevin: You mean we. Vikram: Of course, of course. I meant, us. Mahir: Yo, whats up? Vikram: Have we met before? Mahir: I don’t think so. I’m Mahir. I’m Kevin’s friend. We’ve known each other since we were sharing diapers. Vikram: Yeah, sure. Whatever. Kevin behind Vikram, he’ll try to shush Mahir. Mahir grabs Vik tie Mahir: I like your suit. Can I borrow them on Monday? I got an interview.Vikram: (Laughs sarcastically) I don’t think so. Mahir: How do you know Kevin? Vikram: We’ve been corporate share holders for the past ten years. We specialize in M & A. Mostly, A Mahir: MMA? (Boxing) Vikram: Mergers and Acquisitions. Basically, we rip people off their properties. Scene 4 Kevin opens the door to find Selina standing outside the door. She just walks inside without greeting. She goes straightaway to the table laden with snacks. As she stuff things inside her bag, Mahir: Hello, how are you? Selina: Ah, goodlah. You leh? Mahir: Very good, very good. Where are you from? Selina: Klang lah. Mahir: Klanglah?What? Selina; Klang l ah! Mahir: Nice bag, yeah? Selina: Yeah, yeah. This bag very the convenient. From Giant. Mahir: So how did you know psycho Kevin? Selina: Hah? Sorry, sorry. My England not very the good. Mahir: So, where you see Kevin? Selina: There lah! You blind ah? Mahir is stunned Mahir: Oh†¦kay. I never knew Kevin was in the house. Mahir walks away. Scene 5 Door bell rings. Isabel: Bonjour, Kevin. (Air kiss) Kevin: Isabel, come on in! Shafar: Good evening, sir. Kevin ignores Isabel’s PA (Shafar) Isabel: I’m parched. I need a drink. Shafar†¦. *snaps fingers* Shafar: What would you like to have?Isabel: Diet water. Shafar: Sure. Scene 6 Shafar heads to the snack table, finding for a glass of water when she sees Selina stuffing food inside her bag. Her eyes grow wide. Selina: Can you give me that water, ah? Shafar: Excuse me? Selina: That water, ah. Shafar: waterah? Selina: Aiyo, that water ah. Shafar: Sorry, I don’t understand. Selina: Soli, soli! Water also don†™t know. Selina pushes past her to get the bottled water, which she puts into her bag. Shafar rolls her eyes, took the other bottled water and goes to the kitchen ( Out of the stage) Scene 7 Madheeha opens the door for Tarshini. Tarshini: Hello. Gives a small timid wave) Madheeha: Hello, miss. (Madheeha lets her come in) Tarshini walks in. Tarshini: Is there any toilet in the house? Vikram overhead the question. Vikram: No. there’s none. If you wanna take a dump, go outside. Vikram walks away. Both Madheeha and Tarshini look at him. Madheeha: Just go straight and turn right. Tashini: Thank you. Tashini walks away. Scene 8 Doorbell rings. Elias: Greetings. Kevin: Hello! *Elias hugs Kevin†¦. for a long time* Kevin: Come, let me introduce you to some of my friends. Elias: Okay. They both walk towards Vikram, Isabel and Mahir. Kevin: This is Vikram, Isabel and Mahir.Selina shouts for Kevin. Kevin goes. Elias does his tradional greeting on Vikram. They both said hello. Elia s: Hello, Miss. Isabel. I am Elias. Isabel: Hello, Mr. Elias. When Elias turns to Mahir, his eyes grow wide in shocked at Mahir’s attire. Elias: What are you wearing? What is this? Mahir: What are You wearing? A dress? Vik: No, that’s his traditional attire. Didn’t you go to school? Maher: shut up Kevin: Guys, dinner time! Mahir: I’m already full. Isabel: Shafar. Shafar. Shafar! Shafar: Sorry, mam. Sorry. I was having your ‘go home’ shoes cleaned. Isabel: You should be more efficient. Shafar: I will next time.Shafar sets Isabel’s table. All move towards it. They sit down, shafar stands very close to Isabel. Elias: Did you get my sheep two days ago? Kevin: What shit? Elias: Sheep, sheep you know. Baa baa Kevin: Oh, that sheep! Baa baa black sheep. That sheep? Elias: Did you cook it? Kevin: Madheeha! Madheeha comes. Madheeha: Yes, boss? Kevin: Um, the lamb we received about, two days ago? What happened to it? Madheeha: It died. Elias: It died?! Madheeha: Yeah, I killed it. Elias: I thought it died by itself. Kevin: So, did you cook it? Madheeha: Yes, boss. I’ve made my famous lamb stew with half of it.And the other half is on the barbeque pit. Kevin: That’s good! Elias, you’re very lucky. You get to taste her famous lamb stew. Elias: Alright, alright Bring me the barbequed and your FAMOUS lamb stew. Madheeha: Right away! Madheeha walks away. Elias takes his carpet and put it on the floor. Madheeha puts lamb on the table. Elias: Why is my lamb on the table? Who is it for? Madheeha: Sorry. Kevin: No, no. Elias. We have to share. Elias: Yeah, yeah. We can share on the floor. Kevin: No, no Elias. You are one, they are many. Come sit at the table. Elias transfers everything on the table. Kevin: Thanks guys so much for coming.I really appreciate your attendance here. It means so much me. I hope you enjoy the food that I personally prepared. No caterer you know? BO LUI Vikram: Bo lui? What do you mean bo lui? You just added 20 million in your bank account. Isabel: Its only 20 million, darling. Selina: Walaoeh, 2o million ah? You no share share with me ah? Kevin, I’m your long long long†¦.. long long long†¦.. so long long what cousin ah? (count fingers) Tarshini: I’ll work my whole life and I won’t even get 1 million. Isabel: That’s why you look like that. Vikram: Are you interested in doing business? Isabel: Like, no.Merging my fashion industry with your M & A is so overrated. Kevin on the other hand†¦. is like, on the other hand. Shafar, laugh! Shafar laughs. Selina: What business what business? Can make money ah? I want I want. Viktam: Do you hear the dog barking? Kevin: I open one shop for you lah. Specifically one shop for you. I open a bubble tea shop for you. Selina: Got bubble tea one meh? How you make the tea got bubble? Soap ah? Kevin: No lah, no lah, no lah. You just find a name and the shop is yours lah. Selina: Tea is cha. T ime is si kan. So, chasikan lah! Kevin: Can ah can ah. Cha Siew pao also can lah.Isabel: Kevin, would you like to lead my fashion line for males? I need an inside view on the males. Mahir: Inside view? I can give you an inside view. Elias: Inside view? Vikram: Come, let’s talk this out. Isabel: Like, no. Shafar! Shafar shows the hand to Vikram. Vikram: I can make your life miserable. Shafar: Go ahead. It doesn’t get worse than this. Mahir: Why you look so quiet? You look so depressed, girl. Tarshini: No, I’m okay. Mahir: I can’t even hear what you’re trying to say. Tarshini: No, I’m okay! Mahir: Chill girl. Continue with your depression. Tarshini: I think I’m going to go to the toilet.Vikram: So how do you know Kevin? Elias: I knew him from uni. Vikram: So you guys go way back. Mahir: Not as back as me. Elias: What about you? Vikram: Kevin is my business partner. Elias: Oh so what do you do? I’m interested in doing some busines s in Malaysia. Vikram: Kevin, you didn’t tell me Elias is a rich bastard. Kevin: Oh yeah, yeah. He deals with importing and exporting fuel. Vikram: Hey! We can use this guy! Kevin: Hey, he is my friend! Vikram: I meant, we can use a guy like that. Kevin: Okay, then. I’ll discuss with Elias and see if he’s interested in doing some business with us.Vikram walks back happily, like he just won the lottery. Isabel kept turning and hits shafar. Glares. Isabel: Get lost! Shafar :Sorry, mam. .CENSOR. Shafar: She’s such a CENSOR. Madheeha: Tell me about it. Shafar: Does your boss treat you like this? Madheeha: No, he’s very nice. Shafar: You’re so lucky. Without me, I don’t think she’ll be able to go to the toilet without me. She can’t even brush her own teeth. Madheeha: Laughs Kevin: Madheeha! Madheeha: Yes, boss! Shafar stares. Kevin: Nah, you can clear this and have the balance. All yours. Madheeha: Wah, so much ah. Selina: Wa h, so the many food ah?Madheeha takes it all to the back. Shafar: Your boss is so nice. Madheeha: Yes, he is. Isabel: Shafar! Shafar: Here I go again. Isabel: Clear my bones and you can have some of those. Shafar shows Madheeha the plate and throws it. Selina: Eh, eh Madheeha. Just now the food ah, give me some can ah? Madheeha: Can, can. No problem. Selina: We loves our food, We loves our bag, my plecious. Selina: Hey, hi hi hi. Elias: What is she doing? Kevin: She's saying hi. Elias: So many times? Seline shakes her hand, palm at the top. Elias looks startled and gives money to Selina. Selina: Wah, free money. SO good ah?Selina takes the money and walks away. Isabel: Shafar, Shafar. Where is this, Shafar? Kevin: Madheeha! Get Shafar for me please. Madheeha brings Shafar. Isabel: How many bloody times do I have to tell you I only call once? Kevin: She’s been calling your name for three times and I had to call Madheeha to get you. Shafar: You know what? I quit! Shafar starts walking away. Isabel: No worries, Kevin. Watch me. Kevin: Watch what? Isabel: Shafar, did you just forget your family’s lives belong to me? I can just make a call and they’re †¦ Cut throat motion. Kevin, can I borrow your phone? Kevin: Anything for you my dear.Kevin passes the phone. Shafar: Sorry, mam. I was just joking. Hehehe. Both Kevin and Isabel turns away. Shafar – head down Madheeha comforts her and takes Shafar away. Isabel: I’m gonna make a move. Call me up for high tea or something okay? Bring Mahir. Kevin: I’ll give you a tinker, around, let’s say, Wednesday? Isabel: Anytime will do. Air kiss. Leaves with Shafar. Elias: Bye. I better go too. Kevin: See you soon Tarshini: Kevin, I think I, I better leave. Kevin: I hope you enjoyed the party and the company. Tarshini: No. Not really. Mahir chased me to the toilet. While I was at the dining table.Kevin: That bugger. So sorry for my useless, idiotic, friend. Mahir goes thumbs up ! Wide smile! Tarshini: No hope lah. Buh bye. Vikram: So, Kevin. I better make a move. Kevin: Yeah, sure. See you. Vikram: Remember to discuss with Elias about the business. Kevin: Okay, I will. Selina: Eh, I go first ah? Selina walks out the door. Mahir: Hey man. I gotta go to another party. Kevin: Okay then. Bye! So, Madheeha cleans the place up. As Mahir was going out of the door, Selina: Eh, I forget something Everyone stares while Selina goes to the snack table and takes the last remaining box of tissue.

Big Data for Fraud Detection in Banking Sector - Free Samples

The detection of fraud in banking sector is an important part to eliminate risks of any cyber-attack or data breach. Banks are often vulnerable to fraud and this affects banks and customers (Flood, Jagadish and Raschid 2016). Most of the frauds in banking sector occur due to either human negligence or any malpractice or system defect. Frauds in banking sector impact customers and bank itself in a very negative way because both banks and customers can lose sensitive data and money. Nowadays, big data analytics has emerged as a game changer in every sector and it provides a more reliable and flexible usage in working of every sector (Fuschi and Tvaronavi?ien? 2014). Banking sector has now started to adopt big data analytics for its operations due to its usefulness, reliability and speed. The purpose of this report is to analyze big data use in banking sector and how big data analytics help banking sector to detect fraud. The outline of the report is data collection and storage system, consumer-centric product design, r mendation system and business continuity plan in case of power outage. The data in banking sector collected are credit card usage details, personal emails sending and receiving or account details or any other regular actions on a daily basis. The data collected are not only from internal source of banking sector but also from external sources which sometimes requires permission from third party. These sources are internet based navigation sites such as social media, Yahoo, Google or Bing. Google and Yahoo provide Gmail and Yahoo mail respectively (Srivastava and Gopalkrishnan 2015). The data are categorized into two types and they are primary data and secondary data. Primary data are information about employees, their head supervisors, managers, senior managers and customers, which are collected for proper functioning of banking sector. Secondary data are information of internal and external behavior and working of banking sector which are collected for different purposes and used for betterment of banking sector (Kim, Trimi and Chung 2014). Both types of data are in the form of structured, semi-structured or unstructured data. Therefore, they are arranged in orderly manner to access and operate easily on each form of data. The data in banking sector are unstructured data mainly and they are plicated to use in its initial form. Big data deals with this type of data and in banking sector, unstructured data are either machine or human generated. Machine generated unstructured data are scientific data or photographs and videos such as security or surveillance photos or images. Human generated unstructured data are internal texts within document files, logs, credit card or debit card details and emails, and website content (Raju, Bai and Chaitanya 2014). The data collection is through various sources are then mined that is data mining is done on the collected data. Data mining is exploring and analyzing of collected data to find data suitable for different purposes in banking sector. Data mining technique is used for five major categories of banking sector. They are customer retention, automatic credit card approval, fraud detection in banking sector, marketing and risk management. Data after data mining is used mainly for risk management and fraud detection in banking sector (Pouramirarsalani, Khalilian and Nikravanshalman 2017). This is explained as when data is stored in storage then big data has features of protecting thes e data from going into hands of fraudsters. Banks have massive amounts of data which needs to be stored in an efficient way. The new storage systems in banking sector for big data provides solutions and they are reconstructing the backup systems with improved performance that will not change the existing backup routine. The second solution is building a Disaster Recovery (DR) system that will help in an emergency case such as disaster or power outage. The third solution is managing data lifecycle for improvement of data utilization efficiency (Chitra and Subashini 2013). The explanation for first solution is to upgrade physical tapes from existing Disk-to-Tape (D2T) mode to the new Disk-to-Disk-to-Tape (D2D2T). The new tape provides more reliability and space to store data of size more 9TB and has high backup speed. The description of second solution is new Disaster Recovery system which is built after upgrading local backup system using tape. The Disaster Recovery system is used for storing data at different location in banking sector. The full back up in first solution using tapes is further stored in storage system that is Disaster Recovery system (Jones, Aggarwal and Edwards 2015). The storage is done by identifying unique blocks of huge data and store in Disaster Recovery system. The next backup is done to match the unique block with the blocks stored in the system to destroy duplicate data and then save all unique data. The leftover data is again checked so that no data is left vulnerable to any fraud. The left over data is also checked to analyze if any data can be effective for future purpose. The third solution is that the data is processed and stored on peripheral system and near-line data (twenty to thirty days old) is backed up regularly and stored on disks (Rao and Ali 2015). These data is tested for integration and effectiveness and to recover if any fault occurs. The long- term data (ninety days old or older ) is backed up regularly and stored on physical tapes. Both the data is then stored at different locations in Disaster Recovery system. This new storage system solution helps in better backup performance, recovery process is quick, and data storage is multi-level. The long-term relationships with customers will require fulfilling demands and needs of customers. This is achieved through customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Customer relationship management is used by organizations to optimize contact with customers and build long-term relationships (Elgendy and Elragal, 2014). The various ways are telephone calls or emails to attract and retain customers. Customer relationship management system is based on infrastructure of customer data and information technology. Electronic customer relationship management systems provides all ways of munication with the customers. The ways are sales, delivery, email, online marketing and purchasing, online banking or many other online services. Customer relationship management system in banking sector is achieved by maintaining relationships with existing customers and creating relationships with new customers (Dalir et al. 2017). The benefits are providing better service to existing and new custom ers and identification of specific values related to each sector of the business environment and existing or new customers. The other are dividing different market segments to improve long-term relationships with target customers and service fees which is charged increases revenue for banking sectors. The additional benefits are implementation of this system helps in increasing customer satisfaction and their loyalty and interest rates are increased to attract more customers (Baesens, Van Vlasselaer and Verbeke 2015). The seventh one is online advertising to attract customers and increased effectiveness and classification of customers. Electronic customer relationship management system in banking sector has a structure which is based on two factors and they are trust and satisfaction. They are mitment, loyalty, customer retention, and r mendation willingness. The other factors which construct the system through customer’s point of view are information, convenience and munication channel (Srivastava and Gopalkrishnan 2015). Trust is important for customers and bank relationship and the trust is referred to protection of every individual’s bank account details and credit card or debit card details. Customer satisfaction is a quality in bank and customer relationship that will help them to trust on banks. Customer satisfaction in bank is very important to retain existing customers. mitment is to partner close relationship with customers for valuable effort. Loyalty provides future benefits to banking sector even when there is a strong petition (Moro, Cortez and Rita 2015). Loyalty is a mitment to banks f rom customers to deal with them. Loyal customers will also r mend particular banks to their relatives or customers. Customer retention is important as exiting customers are more profitable than new customers. Therefore, fulfilling needs of existing customers is more important. The above factors help customers to willingly r mend services of bank to others as they are satisfied with services of bank. Information is correct, accurate or updated are not is necessary for the structure of the system. Convenience is important as customers will e after considering location of bank (Greenberg 2014). Geographic location of bank with working hours and others are included in the system. munication channel like mobile, ATM, text, e-mail are used by customers to know bank services. R mendation system is used as a tool in banking sector to help customer by giving service when bank employees are not available on a particular time. R mendation system provides precise and timely information to customers. The system is virtual consultant to customers providing better information and services (Ravi and Kamaruddin 2017). The r mendation system can be explained by the following process. The system analysis provides specifications that are authenticated with username and password for logging into system and questionnaire type survey for the user regarding product interest. The next two specifications are giving advice to user after the pletion of interview and when there is query regarding search engine, explanation term should be there in the search engine (Lin et al. 2015). The last two specifications are to provide answers by the expert to questions by the customer and also update the knowledge base in system (Davenport and Dychà © 2013). The system design contains human expert, knowledge acquisition facility, knowledge base, inference engine, working memory, user interface and the user. This is the system bank follows in r mendation system. R mendation system is tested using black-box and white-box testing to know that the system is properly functioning and also integrated (He, Tian and Shen 2015). The testing is also done to ensure satisfactory working of every feature. The testing is done on the database so that the data can be accessed with respective attributes and required data can be fetched. The application is important in r mendation system because it provides a platform for direct munication of user and banking sector (Ng and Kwok, 2017). This is a place where user can register and then they can login with username and password. This is a place where user can get details about banking process in about us section and also contact details of bank in contact us section. The system design is implemented in application and the working of system structure is defined in application. These are the features and functions of r mendation system and this helps in clearing customer’s doubts and queries. The customers can also give feedback in r mendation system (Flood, Jagadish and Raschid 2016). The r mendation system in banking sector are developed using information system and are also called expert system in other sectors. Survival of online business in case of power outage or any other disasters is a major discussion for any banking sector. The business continuity plan has four steps in banking sector and they are business impact analysis, risk assessment, risk management and monitoring and testing. The first step is business impact analysis that helps to identifies critical business functions and impact of loss of functions for example operational and financial on banking sector. This process is analyzed by senior management representatives and board of directors. The business impact analysis is required at times when there is disruption in power outage and any disaster (Harvard Business Review, 2017). The second step is risk assessment which helps to determine cause of power outage or other disasters. Senior management analyzes the risk through risk assessment processes and then develop program to tackle the risks. The third step is risk management which is important to develop and maintain business continuity plan in baking sector. Risk Management in banking sector is based on first two steps that is business impact analysis and risk assessment (West and Bhattacharya 2016). These realistic events can be formally declared and updated by senior management annually to employees in banking sector. The fourth step is monitoring and testing which is a confirmation to business continuity plan in banking sector that all the steps are revised and evaluated without overlooking any significant changes. This step is finally evaluated by senior bank management (Forbes 2017). This is when they can mit necessary workforce, budget and time to test the program for validation of business continuity plan in an event of any disruption in banking sector. The above discussions conclude that fraud detection in banking is a very important process and big data analytics is used in banking sector for fraud detection techniques. The discussions shows that the data collection system in banking sector is plicated as there are huge data sets in banking sector. The data collected need to be stored in places where there is security and proper storage place to be chosen. The actions to be taken on collected data that is services to customers and system to r mend customers are also discussed. The business continuity plans on the basis of possible disruptions were the key points of this report. The report overall concludes that implementation of big data and big data analytics is necessary for banking sector. Big data and big data analytics are used to collect data and store and finally use for various purposes in banking sector. Banking sectors regularly produce huge data that are sensitive and can be controlled through big data and big data anal ytics. Therefore, it can be concluded that big data and big data analytics can help banking sector to detect fraud and prevent the risks of fraud using various processes. Baesens, B., Van Vlasselaer, V. and Verbeke, W., 2015.  Fraud analytics using descriptive, predictive, and social network techniques: a guide to data science for fraud detection. John Wiley & Sons. Chitra, K. and Subashini, B., 2013. Data mining techniques and its applications in banking sector.  International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering,  3(8), pp.219-226. Dalir, M., Zarch, M.E., Aghajanzadeh, R. and Eshghi, S., 2017. 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