Anita Roddick (The Body Shop) Essay

Inspiring profiles and best practices for entrepreneurs Twenty-six years ago the Brighton Evening Argus ran a story on a dispute between two funeral parlour owners who were upset about a new cosmetics boutique which had opened up next door. It wasn’t the nature of the business they were getting hot under the collar about, but its name. They thought the green shop front emblazoned with the words Body Shop in gold leaf might put off prospective customers. â€Å"They wanted me to change my shop front which I had just spent  £870 of my  £4,000 loan on,† recalls Roddick. â€Å"My smart move was to call the Argus and tell them I was being threatened by Mafia undertakers who wanted to close me down.† The press loved it. The story of the beleaguered single mum with the house in hock trying to support her two kids with a bootstrapping start-up worked a treat. The small splash made Body Shop a cause celebre, won plenty of local support and won an important battle to get the business off the ground. The anecdote is a small aside, recounted with a chuckle and a hint of outrage in a long interview. But although the battles got much bigger as Roddick grew her business into the multinational retailer it is today, anyone with even a passing familiarity with the Body Shop story will instantly recognise the defining characteristics of its fiery feisty founder in those early days of the business: Ethical Anita versus the big bad world. There has never been any compromise in Roddick’s views on how business should be done: this is why her husband Gordon was tasked with handling the City suits (â€Å"they didn’t like me talking about sexual tension at work†) and why she stepped away from the business in 1998 when the shareholders said a campaigning chief executive was not what they wanted for Body Shop. You might think after thirty years of business and the comfort of a healthy shareholding and a wedge of cash in the bank Roddick’s hunger for campaigning might have diminished. But little has changed since 1976. Her latest venture, a publishing start-up, produces books on ethical matters. It promotes her on the speaking circuit and all the profits going into campaigning. The only difference is now she occupies the position of an icon for women and female entrepreneurs: â€Å"something I don’t take lightly† And there is still plenty to shout about when it comes to what she sees as an ethical vacuum in business today. Suffocation She rails against the suffocation of UK businesses as we outsource to cheaper countries; the failure to preserve the needs of shareholders in public companies; the lack of respect for the responsibility of business to the community at large; the ongoing need for women to conform to a male template in order to succeed; the lack of recognition of the value that employees bring to a business. â€Å"Being ethical in business is not about giving stuff away† Roddick is emphatic about what this means in practice: not sandals, beards and group hugs in the boardroom but the adoption of simple moral values. â€Å"People use the excuse of business to leave their morals at the front door and I don’t know how they get away with it.† But can ethical business really fit in with the cut-throat world of today? Her business, she says, is living proof. She describes Body Shop as a â€Å"great business experiment† which is still proving a point: you can run an entrepreneurial business, provide a return to shareholders while campaigning on ethical issues and placing a high value on human capital. â€Å"Being ethical in business is not about giving stuff away. It’s about your relationship with your employees, it’s about the aesthetics of the workplace and it’s about communication,† says Roddick. â€Å"There is no reason why the workplace can’t be a genuine creative place, why there can’t be flexitime, why there can’t be transparency and even good manners.† If Roddick doesn’t sound like a business woman it’s because she has never claimed to be one. She puts her success down to a need for a livelihood and sees herself as the accidental entrepreneu r.

The impact of hosting the World Expo 2020 on Dubai’s future economic, social and cultural life

Introduction This proposal outlines the following research question: in what ways, positive or negative, will the World Expo 2020 affect Dubai, the surrounding region, and the world in generalThis is an interesting topic for two primary reasons. The first is the personal workplace experience of the author, which involved a position at Dubai Media Incorporated (Dubai TV) conducting analysis about current affairs in the UAE region. The second is the fact that this is a landmark moment in the history of Dubai, the UAE, and the Middle in general, as it is the first time that an international exposition has been held in the region. It is possible that it will lead to the development of new forms of culture; the old may be reformulated and developed in unique ways, but it may also be fused with ideas and institutions from abroad to create novel cultural hybrids. This idea of bringing regions of the Middle East together with the rest of the world was explicitly supported by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s leader, who argued for the importance of ‘a renewed vision of progress and development based on a shared purpose and commitment’ (Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE, 2013). The possibility that the Expo 2020 will be a crucible for interacting creative forces across the world is, moreover, encapsulated in Dubai’s chosen theme: ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ (Big News Network, 2013). Research questions This research will aim to answer the following questions: What factors are likely to contribute to the success or failure of the World Expo 2020? What are the social, economic, and cultural changes that Dubai is a likely to experience? How will be Dubai’s future in the global stage change as a result of this event? How might Dubai use the World Expo 2020 as a marketing tool? How might Dubai use the symbolic economy to aid its cultural and urban regeneration and shape its new urban identity? Will Expo 2020 commentary and press show Dubai in a positive or negative light? Literature review Due to the very recent nature of the announcement, there is almost no literature dealing directly with the relationship between Dubai and the Expo 2020. However, there has been considerable commentary in the form of political and economic punditry, much of which is academic. Piers Schreiber, Vice President of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs at the Jumeirah Group, claimed that ‘the Expo will create up to 270,000 jobs in the region, bringing great economic and social benefits’ (cited in Wilson, 2013). Among these are an injection of roughly ˆ17.7 billion into the economy and a migration of talent from abroad (Wilson, 2013). These estimations are supported by the forecasting group Oxford Economics, which claims that the event will contribute nearly $40 billion to Dubai’s GDP and create 277,000 new jobs over the next seven years (Big News Network, 2013). A similar argument is put forward by Rose and Spiegel (2009), whose work suggests that ‘mega ev ents’ lead to a substantial increase in trade (approx. 30%); however, they also show that ‘unsuccessful bids to host the Olympics have a similar positive impact on exports†¦trade is attributable to the signal a country sends when bidding to host the games, rather than the act of actually holding a mega-event’ (p1). Although Sheik Mohammed has claimed that the â€Å"Dubai Expo 2020 will breathe new life into the ancient role of the Middle East as a melting pot for cultures and creativity† (Big News Network, 2013), the goal of cultural diversity has been questioned due to the strong emphasis on boosting an ‘Islamic economy’, which suggests continuity more than change (Wilson, 2013). Based on comparisons with other ‘mega events’, it is often argued that the effects of the Expo 2020 are likely to be negative for Dubai. Rose and Spiegel (2009), for example, stress that much of the evidence for the benefits of mega events is commis sioned by groups with biasing agendas (e.g., Humphreys and Plummer, 1995; Fuller and Clinch, 2000, both cited in Rose and Spiegel, 2009). The same is argued by Nitsch and Wendland (2013), who also point to the large initial investment in facilities and infrastructure associated with mega events, which can place a considerable burden on the local or national economy; there tends also to be a dramatic and unpredictable effect on property prices. The conclusion of Nitsch and Wendland (2013) is that mega events tend to have an overwhelmingly negative effect on population growth (i.e., a population decline), as measured relative to a control group. However, Nitsch and Wendland (2013), and Rose and Spiegel (2009), point to the difficulty of estimating the impact of major events. Problems quantifying the effects, especially on phenomena such as labour markets, are often exacerbated by the fact that many studies are commissioned ex ante by biased groups. Moreover, in conducting analyses suc h as this, it is difficult to find an adequate sample size due to the infrequency of mega events. Then there are problems with the intangibility of cultural and social spillover effects, as well as the economic multiplier (Rose and Spiegel, 2009). Methodology The effects of the Expo 2020 are best assessed using a variety of methodological approaches, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. From the quantitative side there will be content analysis-case studies and statistical analyses. From the qualitative, there will be surveys, questionnaires, and interviews. In terms of research philosophy (or methodology, strictly speaking), this research will take both an objectivist and a subjectivist approach (Crotty, 1998). It would be advantageous to use what Nitsch and Wendland (2013: 4) call a ‘difference-in-differences methodology’. This draws ‘before and after’ comparisons, and in this case would entail looking at the effect of former Expos on host nations and cities and extrapolating about the probable effects on Dubai. Bibliography Crotty, M. (1998) The foundation of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in Research Progress. Sage Publications: London Big News Network (Nov 2013) Dubai wins right to host Expo 2020 http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/218715287/scat/3a8a80d6f705f8cc/ht/Dubai-wins-right-to-host-Expo-2020 [Retrieved 03/02/2014]. Nitsch, V. and Wendland, N. (2013) The IOC’s Midas Touch: Summer Olympics and City Growth, CESIFO WORKING PAPER NO. 4378, Centre for Economic Studies & Ifo Institute. Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE (2013) Our Bid http://expo2020dubai.ae/en/our_bid [Retrieved 03/02/2014] Rose, A. K. and Spiegel, M. M. (2009) The Olympic Effect, NBER Working Paper No. 14854, The National Bureau of Economic Research http://www.nber.org/papers/w14854 [Retrieved 03/02/2014]. Wilson, J. A. J. (Dec 2013) Global Islamic Economy Summit and World Expo 2020 boost Dubai’s Halal credentials, The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jonathan-aj-wilson/global-islamic-economy_b_4366436.html [Retrieved 03/02/2014].

Art In Society Essay

Art is an influential means of presenting the true meaning of beauty in humankind which cannot be expressed by any other ways. It bonds people from all forms of society in such a way they respond to ideas that is universally pleasing to them. Art has the magic in shaping a harmonious society as long as it is being expressed to entertain in a positive and beneficial way. To be able to know the impact of art in a society, it is only required to classify any forms of art in their true and artificial meaning. Although people have different significance to art, the objective in making a true piece of it usually involves human kindness, pride and responsibility. Since art is always influenced by the society it also has a connection with different societies. An egalitarian society in general uses the principle that all men regardless of any race are equal under the law. In industrial society the form of society is in societal structure which means that the society itself is bound by its own rules and structure and separated from other society. Beyond the societies are the doctrines and values. Utilitarianism is the principled policy that an act must have a benefit in order to be morally good. In western principle, this emphasizes that the greatest thing must happen to the most number of people to prove its worth as a utilitarian act (Commitment, 2007). Spirituality pertains to the soul or its love for God or its affections as inspired by the divine Spirit. To classify, the association of spirituality and utilitarianism in art can have different manifestations. Believers of utilitarianism can portray art in any angle, depiction, style, forwardness and with few limitations. Spiritual art however, may emit from the personal spiritual experiences of the artist although the art form is not really related with religion (Sumartono, 2001). Work Cited: Commitment, G. O. (2007). A Wisdom Archive on Utilitarianism [Electronic Version]. Retrieved August 14, 2007 from http://www. experiencefestival. com/utilitarianism. Sumartono. (2001). SPIRITUAL ART AMONG SPIRITUALITIES [Electronic Version]. Retrieved August 14, 2007 from http://asianchristianart. org/exhibitions/asae2001/pages/spiritual-art. html.

Murder of Nixzmary Brown Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Murder of Nixzmary Brown - Article Example r old girl who was abused emotionally, sexually, and physically by her step-father over an extended period of time before being murdered at her parent’s home in New York. The suffering endured by the helpless little girl did not appear to go unnoticed. However, the problem was that the adults who noticed welts on her body, or other odd marks, were reluctant to approach the authorities about what they were witnessing. Years before Nixzmary’s step-father finally put an end to her life by viciously hitting her on the head, there were signs that appeared to indicate that Nixzmary was not developing as a healthy normal little girl. According to (Dan, 2006) it was only after Nixzmary’s tragic death that a pattern began to emerge in the sequence of odd coincidences in her earlier life that showed that she was being exposed to extreme suffering. According to Dan (2006) school workers in Nixzmary’s school often reported that she would be absent for extended periods of time. In addition, it was not uncommon for her neighbors to notice unsightly welts among other unexplained injuries on her body. It would seem that Nixzmary was an uncommonly clumsy child because her mother would often state that she fell down, or banged her arm or head on a piece of furniture; thus causing these marks on her body. According to Siegel & Welsh (2009), the family’s neighbors even noticed that Nixzmary was underweight and scrawny for her age. Though child welfare workers were alerted about the case, they did not report any oddities, and left the family to itself. Staff members from Nixzmary’s school even tried to visit her at home when she began to be absent on a regular basis. However, they were stopped from entering the house where the little girl was being systematically tortured unless they could produce a warrant that permitted an investigation. In January, 2005, Nixzmary’s step-father, Cesar Rodriguez came home and found a cup of yoghurt missing (Cohn & Russell, 2012). Upon

American Criminal Justice and Terrorists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

American Criminal Justice and Terrorists - Essay Example This has gathered momentum and sanctity after the declaration of the global war against terror. The law does not allow physical power to force a terrorist to give out the secrets that he or she might be withholding. Whether it is the special purpose jails like Guantanamo Bay in Cuba or some many others elsewhere, it has been held invalid by various courts simply because no charges were filed on many of them. If the cases were to go to Military tribunals, violence could become the way of life. On 29 June 2006, the US Supreme Court4 ruled that the Guantanamo prisoners can not be tried by military tribunals. This was a land mark judgment and a major setback to the Bush Government. This also upholds the fact that the courts are having a different idea when it comes to trying the terrorists or as the US Government calls them, 'unlawful combatants'. And the courts find it 'hurting their conscience' when confessions are taken from people unethically, using torture which is either locally manufactured or outsourced.

Substance Abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Substance Abuse - Essay Example The reach of substance abuse also extends to schools, communities, health and welfare agencies, the justice systems and to society at large. We all shoulder the costs (Beverly Conyers, 2003). Children of substance abusers suffer the most, from direct effects on their physical and mental health to influences on their own use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs. The family's role in the development and results of substance abuse is unique: it suffers some of the direst consequences and holds the potential of the most powerful protective influences against it. A focus on families is critical to understanding and preventing the destructive intergenerational cycle of substance abuse and addiction. Alcoholism and drug abuse often are referred to as family diseases because the serious negative consequences of addiction and the importance of recovery affect not only the substance abuser but also all members of the family. There are certain reasons as to why people start substance abuse (Pauline G. Boss, 2001). Parents and family members can have an enormous positive impact on children's substance-use decisions and behavior. No protection is absolute, but parents hold the greatest number of tools and have the greatest opportunity to shape children's choices when it comes to trying and continuing to use cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. People are spending more years unmarried. ... Increase in divorce The recent trend shows that the number of divorce have increased over time. Parental divorce can have an important impact on a child's risk for substance use. For example, teens with divorced parents are 50 percent likelier to drink alcohol than teens with married parents. Increase in single parent families Children who grow up in two-parent homes are at lower risk for any kind of drug abuse than children who grow up in single parent homes. Families today are equally likely or more likely to be comprised of childless couples with two careers, single parent families or cohabiting couples with children than they are of the 'typical' family of years past. Increase in Economic disadvantage The financial condition of a family can lead a person to substance abuse. The increase in single-parent families has served to broaden the economic inequality across households, often with single-mothers comprising the poorer end of this spectrum. However its still not clear that the relationship between substance abuse and economic condition is very strong. To fit in a group of friends Children or teens when moving around places and cities due to the professional life of a parent or due to any other reason, make new friends everywhere. The new friends might be doing substance abuse hence to fit in with them the children have to be like them that is to do substance abuse otherwise they are not included in the group. Peer pressure Peer pressure is a major reason for children doing substance abuse. The peers call children names and tease them about not doing substance abuse. The children usually don't like being called names and being teased by others. Hence to prove the others

What is an american Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

What is an american - Essay Example an citizen does not only involve holding an American passport but it also entails respecting the ideas of the American founding fathers such as George Washington, James madison and Benjamin franklin (Dahl 134). Being an America also entails observing the American cultures and having a sense of belonging to them. A real American respects the American culture in terms of music, sports, language and norms. An American is that kind of person who will salute when they hear their olden native songs play since they understand where they country has come from and what it has gone through. America is a country that has been through a lot to achieve its stability and the successes it has now. An American is a kind of person who understands that life does not come on a silver platter since they have seen their country go through a lot. An America is a person who understands that achieving good things requires action exertion and effort (Uba 34). America has been involved in wars and even political assassinations to achieve its excellent political structure and hence an American must be a person who can persevere a lot. America is associated with famous innovations such as being the first people to step on the moon and also inventing the computer. This therefore means that Americans are big dreamers and innovators and they are people who work towards limitless innovations. Americans are a kind of people who understands that making ends meet one must use their brains and wits perfectly. America is home to the largest and most famous universities and hence an American is a person who values education. On average every American takes their education to the degree level. On the other hand an American is a person who understands that it is not education that matters it is how you use your brain that matters. This has been showcased where dropouts such as bill gates have ended up being innovators of very useful technology and have created worldwide employment even without

Portfolio Investment Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Portfolio Investment Theory - Essay Example At portfolio balance theory national and foreign assets are imperfect substitutes; market participants are holding both types of assets at equilibrium. Macroeconomic shocks are affecting expected returns of national and foreign assets and changes relative asset demands. Assets markets are balanced with a change in exchange rate. Current and capital accounts surpluses/deficits are among the most important macroeconomic shocks affecting relative asset demand. In portfolio balance theory a sterilized sale of foreign currency denominated bonds by Central bank creates an excess supply for foreign currency denominated bonds and an excess demand for domestic currency denominated bonds. For market to come to the equilibrium price of the domestic bonds must rise and price of foreign bonds must fall. That means that domestic interest rate must fall and foreign interest rate must rise. Domestic currency must appreciate in order to equalize real returns on both assets. (Kereya, I. 2002) Rational investors would tend to choose more value over less, and usually prefer to limit and minimize their risk. There are many optimal portfolios offered by dealers and brokers on the forex market that an investor can utilize to support his goals. Over time a balanced portfolio, by diversification, helps to increase investors' chances of success.These portfolios are formed by bringing together groups of assets in different proportions, and then setting out to ascertain the resultant amount of risk and returns associated with each group of assets.A balanced Portfolio investment approach assumes imperfection in assets that are denominated in foreign and domestic currencies. Investors in the foreign exchange market should be able to diversify their investments between domestic and foreign assets, based on the amount of risk and the returns expected. Sterilized intervention in forex alters the relative supply of foreign and domestic funds available, and investors tend to rebalance th eir portfolios, since exchange rates can be affected due to fluctuations in the relative supply of foreign and domestic assets.A balanced Portfolio investment Strategy also aims to achieve the right combination of growth, risk and income for investors that want a management approach that is conservative, and which includes bonds, stocks, and cash. Another channel of sterilized intervention impact in the foreign exchange market is the noise trading approach. Noise traders are traders that utilize statistical or technical analysis in order to forecast the future price of a given asset. unlike traders who consider the fundamental value assets before and buying or selling the assets, These traders try to identify a price trend and also consider the behavioral pattern of fellow traders, using these as a source of information. This though, can lead to a rise to the tendency towards herding. It is also possible to use sterilized foreign exchange intervention to disrupt short-run trends and this might affect the decisions made

Guide to Mental Health Self-Help Support Group Experience Essay

Guide to Mental Health Self-Help Support Group Experience - Essay Example They touch the family, friends, and caregivers as well. How the symptoms are managed depends on a great degree on the amount of information provided by the mental health professional. In addition, the cultural perspective will often dictate the level of shame and stigma that must be overcome and how treatment will be provided. The medical model seeks to reinforce the importance of lifelong abstinence by encouraging the patient to attend counseling and twelve step groups. These support groups are frequently used as adjunctive interventions and are philosophically interwoven into many social and medical model treatment programs. Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) was founded in the 1930s by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, two alcoholics who discovered that they could maintain their sobriety by helping other alcoholics. AA is often referred to as the most effective and widely utilized treatment for addictions (Royce, 1981) and this is the primary reason why our group chose this mental health support group. Aside from this, it is now an international self-help fellowship which offers support to all people who want to quit drinking. Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous and other anonymous support groups are structured on the AA model and utilizes its â€Å"Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions† as the basis of their recovery program. The fellowship and principles offered at meetings encourage individuals to remain sober by taking life â€Å"one day at a time† and to work toward spiritual development and character change. Alcoholics Anonymous currently has more than one million members in the United States with 52,000 groups while they have almost 100,000 members in Canada with 45,000 groups. They also have members outside US and Canada averaging 730,000 distributed in more than 45,000 groups. They have a total of 2,082,980 members and 105,294 groups in their organization including the loners and members in

Asses sociological explanations for ethnic differences in educational achievement Essay Example for Free

Asses sociological explanations for ethnic differences in educational achievement Essay Asses sociological explanations for ethnic differences in educational achievement. 20 marks. Ethnicity refers to shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group of people from another. That is, ethnicity is a shared cultural heritage. The most common characteristics distinguishing various ethnic groups are ancestry, a sense of history, language and religion. Modern Britain is said to be a multicultural society made up of many different ethnic groups. Achievement within education is very varied across cultures, with some such as Chinese and Indian students performing above the average, and African-Caribbean and Pakistani students performing well below average. There are many factors which can reduce a child from an ethnic backgrounds attainment. For instance, Material deprivation. Material deprivation focuses on income inequality and the material problems that are associated with it. An example of such a study is J. W. B Douglas, The Home and The School (1964). He argued that an interlocking network of inequalities existed which operated against many working class students. This included, differential effects of regional and variations in educational provision and expenditure. Also, housing and environmental factors. Which led to chances of access to good primary schools. Therefore, hindering the chance of access to top streams. As a result, minority ethnic children are more likely to live in low-income households. This means they face the problems that Douglas highlighted, the material factors, such as poor quality housing, no working space and even possibly bad influence of peers. One other reason for differences in educational achievement between ethnicities is the basic family life. African-Caribbean communities have a high level of lone parenthood. Actually, it is estimated 50% of African-Caribbean households have a lone-parent . This can mean that many face financial problems, this can lead to lower achievement in school (Douglas’ material factors). Conversely, single mothers can be a positive role model or influence for many young girls, meaning they perform better in education. Another explanation for ethnic differences is Language. For many children of an ethnic minority English is not their primary language. This can be a disadvantage because they may not understand exams as well as others. Also they might struggle to express themselves with limited English. Finally, some teachers may mistake poor English for a lack of intelligence, when actually this could be completely untrue, meaning that a clever child may be let down by the teacher who might not push the student to their full potential. However, you could argue that Chinese and Indian students first language isn’t English, on the other hand in these two cultures it is the norm to learn English as a strong second language. Therefore, they are not hindered by the second language barrier, as opposed to Bangladeshi’s for example. Language was such a big issue that Bernstein (1973) categorised students into two groups. Elaborated and restricted. In the case of an elaborated code, the speaker will select from a relatively extensive range of alternatives. However in the case of a restricted code the number of these alternatives is often severely limited. Bernstein’s work was not always praised. For instance, Labov (1974) argued that young blacks in the United States, although using language which certainly seems an example of the restricted code, nevertheless display a clear ability to argue logically. Their lack of knowledge concerning the subject may reach further than just the exams they have to take. For instance, due to the large amount of failing black Caribbean’s and Bangladeshi’s (a combined total of 41% managed to get 5 A* C grades), teachers may be subconsciously prejudiced against ethnic minorities. This can lower the students attainments in many ways, one is that the teachers give the student lower grades. Another way is that the teacher negatively labels a student of ethnic minority which can lead to self-fulfilling prophecy. Racism can also lead to conflict between students and teachers, making learning a much harder task. Lastly, racism can lead to low-self esteem among ethnic minorities. A researcher who studies this was Howard Becker (1971). Becker Interviewed 60 Chicago high school teachers. He found that they judged pupils according to how closely they fitted image of â€Å"ideal pupil†. Their conduct appearance influenced judgement. Middle class was closest to ideal, working class furthest away labelled as badly behaved. As a result you can see, if teachers labelled students on how they look, you can imagine how they would label a whole ethnic race. Another factor for ethnic differences in educational achievement is the ethnocentric curriculum. There are several reasons why ethnic minorities may struggle due to this curriculum. One is that the subjects often focus on British culture; naturally White British students will have grown up with this culture, so they might have a greater understanding of the content than students who grew up in a different culture. Another reason is that the content of the curriculum could lower ethnic minorities self-esteem, this is because often the white character is seen as â€Å"good† and superior whilst the ethnic minorities are seen as â€Å"not as academic†. However, it is crucial not to forget that every ethnic minority underachieves at this level. In fact, in the UK, Chinese and Indian pupils score better grades than the â€Å"White† ethnic race. One of the main reasons for this is the support of the parents. Research has shown that some parents of ethnic minority, such as Chinese and Indian, take more interest in their child’s education, they also encourage their child more than other in other cultures. This obviously leads to higher achievement for the child. Not only the parents play a part. Some teachers may stereotype some ethnic minorities to be intelligent and hard-working. This encouragement and sort of support can aid a student in raising their grades. To conclude, there are many sociological explanations for the ethnic differences in educational achievement, from language barriers to family life at home. However, it is important to remember not all ethnic minorities to underachieve. Rafi Kentafi Lindill 12P.

SWOT Analysis of the Fashion Industry

SWOT Analysis of the Fashion Industry Conducting a SWOT analysis, that is, reviewing the strengths of an organization, its weaknesses, opportunities it can capitalize on for maximum profits, and the threats to achieving its full potential provides very invaluable information to the organization about the market and understanding the industry, as well. The analysis is used to define both the unfavorable and favorable factors and their impacts on goals of the business. The fashion industry, which is very volatile, is not an exception, it too has its own share of strengths and opportunities which once utilized by an organization can help it grow substantially and weaknesses and threats which the organization must strive to minimize to the lowest possible levels. One of the strengths of Oakley as a company in the fashion industry is the growing income levels. The growth in individual incomes increases the amount of disposable income and hence many people are able to purchase their products. Growth of sports through funding by international sponsors is also a major strength as it has led to a significant increase in the number of sportspersons who are the highest consumers of Oakley Inc products like prescription eyewear, watches, shoes and electronics. Despite the downturns, the fashion industry has continued to grow over time and is one of those industries that are far away from reaching their peak. This can be partly attributed to the ever growing population and the increase in the propensity of people to don fashion attire. With efficient management, Oakley Inc has the potential to be the leading multi-national company in the distribution of apparel, sunglasses and footwear. Oakley Inc has built a reputation and a name for itself as being a producer of high quality products and the owner of about 575 patents a figure of about 1100 trademarks. It has successfully worked on creating a large customer base and trade connections. It also has in its possession a large talent of labor which has led to the production of high quality products. This has established it as a market leader enjoying many industrial advantages over its competitors guaranteeing a higher volume of sales compared to other companies in the industry. One of the greatest weaknesses facing the company is the development of some products which do not command a large following. This leads to these products staying in the distribution outlets for a long time leading to stagnation of capital. Losses are incurred as the limited sales made are not able to meet the production costs of the product. To avert this, the company should produce a limited number of products in each line and test its appeal in the market by monitoring the quantity of sales made per unit time and then deciding whether the product is viable to the company. Another weakness in the fashion industry is infrastructural development. The development of infrastructure has been very slow thus unable to keep up the pace of growth of the sector. It is therefore, a bottleneck in the industry as it hinders efficient distribution of company products to some areas. Curving out a niche for itself in the fashion industry has not been an easy ride for Oakley Inc. Building a reputation for itself has been a major weakness as a lot of investment has had to be done in advertisements and market research to determine the best market places and consumer needs. The company has also had a hard time competing with other companies in the same industry due to the low prices attached on these companies ¿Ã‚ ½ products. To survive this, the company has had to lower its prices while ensuring that they are in balance with the returns to avoid losses. Extensive advertising campaigns on quality have also given it an edge over those companies offering their products at lower prices. Oakley, Inc has had to maintain a huge and expensive work force which is spread over an outsized ecological area and which requires constant communication and monitoring. For this to work to its advantage, extensive evaluation of the personnel is required to ensure competence and also the ability of the workers to work under minimum supervision (Montgomery pp.1-2). There are many opportunities that the company can capitalize on to reap maximum profits. Expected investment is one of the opportunities that can benefit the company. The fashion industry is ever growing, and there is an increasing number of stakeholders in the industry willing to invest fashion. The company can take this opportunity to increase its capital base so as to be able to enjoy large economies of scale. The company should monitor international barriers to trade and make a move into new areas once these barriers come down. Abolition of these barriers can also help the company acquire high quality and less costly fabrics. Development of new products and services can lead to a remarkable growth on the profits of the company. Continued introduction of new products and various designs to the market can help ensure a growth in sales. Introducing special price packages for regular buyers of Oakley products would help in retaining these customers and increasing the appeal of the business to customers. Technological advancement and investment in information technology is an opportunity that can greatly help the company to minimize its operation cost. Oakley, Inc can rely on information technology to offer more customers friendly services like informing regular customers of a new design or product. Relying on e-commerce to sell its products online can help grow its geographical market area to cover the entire globe hence higher sales. The Company should evaluate end user response to its services to gain information on what areas of its services to improve. This would go a long way in helping the organization acquire new customers as well as retain its old ones who are satisfied with the services being offered (Johnson pp.D1). The organization should also take the opportunity to expand and cover a larger geographical area. It should grow into the untapped markets and offer its products and services in these regions. Having a large customer base would increase its profits. Acquiring better supply deals, for example, a less expensive textiles supplier would greatly minimize the operation cost of the company. The company can also retain its suppliers but negotiate for better deals with the aim of increasing its profit margin. Linking up with other companies in the industry is an opportunity that should not be ruled out. Linking up with another fashion company would increase the customer volume greatly. There are many threats facing organizations in the fashion industry. Shopping for products like expensive sunglasses and footwear is greatly impacted by the global economy. A downturn in the global economy means that less people are likely to purchase these products. This leads to low income to the company during this period. To minimize the effect of this, the company should devise a mechanism of lowering its operation cost to the minimum possible levels to avert possible losses due to its operating costs exceeding income. Trade barriers are a threat to the company as it has been unable to venture into some markets due to strict market regulations. It has also hindered the company from acquiring low cost raw materials for manufacture of its products which would have increased its profit margin. Shifting trends is also a major threat to the company. A change in the fashion trend may render some of the company products useless and obsolete. The company therefore has to ensure continued development of new products to maintain its sales. Some government legislation can also be a major threat to investors in the fashion industry. Intervention by the government can come with it rules which are very costly to adhere to and also competition from unexpected quarters, for example, from multi-national fashion companies due to liberalization of the market (Leibowitz pp.22). The international sports calendar has a huge impact on the sale of Oakley products which are mainly composed of athletics products. The company should devise a mechanism of maintaining the sales even in off peak seasons. This can be achieved through having a line of brands which are not sports related. Over the next few years, huge investments are expected to be made in the fashion industry. New companies are likely to crop up and this will lead to a strain on the available labor force. This will be a limiting factor to the continued growth of the company. To prevent this, the company should start training its own fashion staff. This would in future give it an advantage over the other companies which would be experiencing a shortage of the same. The company can therefore, transform this threat into an opportunity by selling some of its staff to the other businesses for a profit. The organization also faces the threat of being vulnerable to attacks by its major competitors. It should therefore, have all the mechanisms of counteracting this in standby so that it does not fall to accusations from other fashion companies. The rising fuel prices have become a major hurdle for almost every business in the world. A huge upward surge in fuel prices can destabilize an investment. To counter this, the company should ensure that it has its own fuel reserve so that it is not immediately affected by the changes in fuel prices as it will have time to adjust while relying on its fuel reserves. With its own reserve, it can benefit from this threat by providing that much needed resource to its competitors at a large profit margin.

Case Study of Best Buys Inc Expansion

Case Study of Best Buys Inc Expansion Best Buys, Inc has emerged as a special electronic retailer in US and other areas operating from Richfield, Minnesota. The main strategy for international expansion used by BBI is MA with dual branding by creation of competition between acquired stores and Best Buys. The case study shows that the strategy has been successful and workable in western world. Within reduction of trade barriers by China and allowing 100% FDI in retail segment, BBI is trying to follow same strategy in China. But Chinese market being totally different from the Western context, BBI has faced challenge to cut across the dual branding strategy. The report highlights the main strategic issues raised followed by recommendations. PESTEL Framework The PESTEL framework is devised to understand the strategic issues underpinning the business from external sources (Johnson, Scholes Whittington, 2008) Figure A-1: PESTEL Analysis PEST Factor Key Points Implications for BBI POLITICAL (Opportunity for BBI to expand in different Chinese market.) Liberalization in Chinese retail market from 2004 Reduction in entry barriers like compulsion of domestic partners. Big market for imported product. (www.Businessinasia.com) Increase in competition from stronger global players of retail business. Growing knowledgeable domestic retail players. ECONOMICAL (Constrains from free directive growth in China) Shift to market oriented economy. Relatively high domestic savings rate. Uneven economic development among different states of nation. Growth in manufacturing sector. (CIA, 2010) MOST IMPORTANT Need for appropriate market segmentation to target specific people and Chinese province. Require to restructure its cost base to suit by sourcing its materials from China to satisfy the cost conscious needs of small towns and cities. SOCIAL (Opportunity for BBI for establishing its brand in strong position on customer mind.) Increase in middle class people. Rising income of newly educated class. Focused on functional aspects of products. (CIA, 2010) Potential opportunity of making profits by targeting young educated individuals in metro cities. TECHNOLOGICAL (Threat for BBI due to unprotected IPR.) No laws on Intellectual property rights (IPR). Improved technological due to spillover effect from other MNCs. ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL (Opportunity for BBI to keep away potential entrants.) High legalities for land acquisition. Procedural delays to grant permission. Being first international company in retail segment gives advantage to earn profits and create efficiency (Kotler, 1997). 3.0 PORTER FIVE FORCES: By analyzing the competitive nature of Chinese retail market, market position of BBI can be assessed to formulate strategy to neutralize these forces (Porter, 1985; Lynch, 2007). Force Strength and Implication for BBI Competitive Rivalry BBI caters only to CE retailing. Consolidation of retail segment has increased challenge. Emerging established domestic players. HIGH Innovative marketing is the key strength for BBI. Well known for its customer centricity. Powers of Suppliers Increasing domestic electronics suppliers. Global suppliers with high bargaining power. LOW BBI presence established with sourcing office developed good relationship with local suppliers. Power of Buyers Low brand recognition while buying product. Consumers preference for national brands. Products bought on basis of price and functionality. MEDIUM Although the power of buyers is medium BBI should make sure that it should reach its distributed customer through its distribution channel due to presence of vast regional difference. Threats for New Entrants Highly fragmented Chinese retail market. Entry of global retail players. Newly emerging domestic players. HIGH Concentrate to differentiation from others. Focus on targeting both segments of customers. 4.0 SWOT analysis: Factors Implication for BBI Strength Presence in China for sourcing electronic products since 2003. Innovative marketing skills. Established brand in US and surrounding regions. Developing and maintain relationship with established suppliers. Personal relationship is basis of business in China. Weakness Being a foreign MNC. Lack of knowledge for operating in Chinese customer segments. Lack of quality human resources. Acquisition of Five Star has reduced the foreign liability and increased local knowledge. Retail training of International Standards for employees. Opportunity Highly fragmented market. Increased demand for branded products in Tier 1 cities. Income growth in Tier 2 cities. Establish retail chain to create brand awareness. Need for creation of robust distribution network. Threats Rampant price wars. Entering global players. High domestic savings rate. Consumers differing away to purchase on credit terms. Cost focused strategy for price sensitive segment and focused differentiation branded products in Tier 1 segments (Johnson et. al., 2007) 5.0 Key Strategic Issues: Analyzing internal and external factors various key findings have been listed below with their strategic implication on BBI. Key strategic findings Analysis tool Key findings Strategic Implications on BBI PESTEL Analysis Huge differences in living standards. Increase in disposal income. High savings rate among middle income group. Establish stores to cater both segments to maintain both requirements: Functionality for cost focused and Differentiation for Tier 1 segment. PORTER FIVE FORCES Strong domestic competitors. Global competitors entering the market. Leveraging on first mover advantage, establish relationship with suppliers and buyers. SWOT Lack of local knowledge of different Chinese regions. Domestic retailers driving on price wars. Consumers buying less on credits. MA can fulfill local knowledge and developing relationship with established with local suppliers can cut cost low. 6.0 Strategy Formulation: TOWS Matrix: Different strategic options are formulated using TOWS matrix to address the strategic issues highlighted in analysis. INTERNAL FACTORS IN CHINA Strengths Weakness Established brand name Best Buys. Relationship with Chinese suppliers. International player. Well versed with new innovative technology. Acquisition of Five Star (75% Share). Experience in retail segment. Small number of BBI stores. Lack of retail skilled employees. Lack of local knowledge. Foreign liability. EXTERNAL FACTORS Opportunities Competitors lack of International retail standards and technology. Emerging markets Increasing young educated preferring branded goods. SO Strategic options Dual brand strategy Five star for cost focused and Best Buys for focused differentiation. Influencing young customer segment in Tier 1 market. WO Strategic options Increase on developing retail skilled employees. Increasing promotional packages. Reducing cost using technology. Threats Global economic crises. Legal regulations. Lower cost competition. High savings rate. Low credit purchase. ST Strategic options Developing brand recognition. MA with domestic retailers. Leveraging on suppliers potential. WT Strategic options Good product offerings Zero percent interest rate on EMI credit purchase. (Source: Johnson et al., 2008, p367) 7.0 Recommendation: A detail explanation and classification of strategies on basis of Ansoffs Matrix is detailed in appendix A. A primary analysis has been carried out using number of performance indicators to eliminate options which may not be suitable for BBI, leaving the 3 most appropriated strategies which can be followed. A combined approach of incremental market development and penetration followed simultaneously. First Stage: Create brand awareness and recognition among Chinese customers. Influence young educated customer segment. Second Stage: Use of dual branding strategy for two different segments Cost focused for customers believing in functionality and cost; Focused differentiation for brand conscious customers.

Landmines Essay examples -- Research Paper Violence Papers

Landmines On a beautiful, sunny morning in November 1994, an 11-year-old girl set out in search of firewood. Her grandmother had awakened her, warning that if she returned empty handed, there would be no food that day. Pausing under a shady tree, Amelia looked up and wondered if there was any way she could reach all those branches. Testing the possibility, she jumped. She missed the branches, but when she landed, there was a loud crack, like a lightning bolt. Amelia was immediately thrown back up into the air. She tumbled to the ground and passed out. It is very hard for Amelia to remember when she regained consciousness. People can usually remember the first face they see, but Amelia would never see again. She remembers feeling wet, drenched in her own blood, and hearing the voice of her grandmother -- praying between sobs. Most of all, she remembers the excruciating pain. Amelia lost her left leg, most of the fingers of her left hand and her eyesight. The account goes on to speak of her drive to live, but she cannot help wondering what is to become of her in a society that survives on physical labor. Despite her strong will, she knows she will always be a burden to her family, someone who eats but does not work. Amelia fell victim to an anti-personnel landmine, a silent killer hidden in the grass [1]. Amelia is by no means alone. Every month over 2,000 people are killed or maimed by mine explosions [2]. Most are civilians killed or injured long after hostilities have come to an end. The toll comes not only in human life, however. Also crippled by widespread use of landmines are the fragile economies of war-torn nations. The devastation continues for decades, long after all the battles have ended and all the soldiers h... ...pidemic of Landmine Injuries. (Geneva: ICRC, 1995). 5. Jody Williams. Landmines and Measures to Eliminate Them. (Geneva: ICRC, 1995). 6. International Committee of the Red Cross. Report of the International Committee of the Red Cross for the Review Conference of the 1980 United Nations Convention on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects. (Geneva: ICRC, 1995). 7. Louise Doswald-Beck, Peter Herby, Johanne Dorais Slakmon. Basic Facts: The Human Cost of Landmines. (Geneva: ICRC, 1995). 8. Physicians for Human Rights. Landmines: A Deadly Legacy. (New York: Human Rights Watch, 1993). 9. United States Department of State. Hidden Killers: The Global Problem with Uncleared Landmines. (Washington DC: Department of State Publications, 1993).

The Chocolate Tree :: Botany

The Chocolate Tree Fossil records are unable to provide information of on the center of origins of the cacao tree. The cacao tree is in the Sterculiaceae family. The first growers of the cacao pods were probably the people who entered the lowland rain forests of the Amazon Basin between 10,000 and 200 B.P. The full name of the cacao tree is Theobroma cacao. Most of the information of the cacao have been derived from the cultivated crop. The life and reproduction life cycle of Theobroma cacao is identical to a tropical rain forest tree species. Cacao grows optimally in minimal moisture and shade. Cacao is dispersed in small, medium and large areas. This is probably the result of animal dropping the seeds after eating the tasty inside of the pods. Cacao pods are very diverse in morphology. These morphological difference suggests genetic differentiation. The Amazon region is considered the birthplace of the wild cacao tree. T. cacao appeared with the arrival of human species in South American. It have been suggested that T. cacao is the result of a cross between T. pentagona and T. leiocarpa. Cacao was not been selected for its seeds, but instead for the pulp surrounding them. Selection for the seeds begin in Mesoamerica. The seed pulp was used as a beverage. Cacao cultivation by the Indians, notably the Aztecs of Mexico and Mayas in Central America was established before the New World was discovered. The next question would have to be how did the cacao tree cross the sea. Christopher Columbus brought a cacao beans back to Europe from the Gulf of Honduras. This cargo of cacao beans were the first specimens to enter Europe. The Aztecs settled in Mexico two hundred years before Cortes conquest of Mexico. When the Spaniards invaded the palaces of Montezuma they found a large number of cacao beans. The cacao beans were used in a drink called chocolatl. The was typically the drink for the most elite in the society. This is the treatment that was done on the cacao prior to storage. Sun dried beans that had been roast in pots. The husk were removed, the nibs were placed on flat or concave stone, then ground and shaped with a roller. The fluid mass is then mixed with corn and spices and made into cakes. The chocolatl drink is made from a piece of the cake mixed with water and mixed with a molinet.

The Most Memorable Event in My Life

According to my experience, the most memorable event in my life was realizing the significance of being honest. At the age of sixteen, I was not only stubborn but also naive. I always thought that I was a perfect girl who would never have any fault. Those attitudes caused some negative consequences, such as ignoring people's suggestions, or being harsh to realize how foolish I was. I was an exchange student at Japan when I was sixteen years old. At the beginning of exchanging experience, I felt curious and excited to be in a totally new environment.People around me spoke different languages, and majority of them had different culture and background from mine. Initially I did feel pleased to talk about my culture with new friends, but those feeling didn't last long. After few days, I suddenly felt exhausted and embarrassed at Japan. I didn't understand the class, and I couldn't even ask questions. The main difficulty was expressing my ideas in understandable ways. Later, I found the t extbook in Chinese version to catch up class materials.Unfortunately, the teacher announced that the quiz would come shortly. At that moment, I was not only lost but also scared. I tried my best not to be behind, but ability of learning independently disappointed me a lot. There were misunderstanding of basic principles and concepts existed when I was studying. However, no one could help me to understand better. At the quiz day, the whole class seemed confident except me. During the quiz time, I cheated at my neighbor’s paper when she went to washroom and exam proctors caught me.After the quiz, my counselor was shock when she knew what happened. I received the punishment from school with one-week volunteer time. At the same time, my best friend advised me to apologize to my counselor because she trusted so much. After several days, my counselor finally talked and taught me the importance of being honest in life. After long time, I still remember this experience. This made me recognize that people were not perfect, but you could make little progress every day to get closer to being perfect.

Family structure Essay

Marriage and divorce statistics show that the Australian people can safe   there family and stay long together, according to the statistics which were currently done on marriage, they show that the people who are married they are still staying together and taking care of there families while the divorce rate is at a very lower rate. The family formation in Australia is complex but it is defined as two people or more people related by blood, marriage. In Australia the family is either composed of couples with or without co-resident of any age, lone parents with co-resident children and other families’ member such as brothers’ sisters living together where by no parent –child exists. Research   has also shown that the number of families that are living in Australia are residents of Australia, and the number of children without there families is very minimal, research has also shown that adoption rate is very high in Australia. Due to the different culture in Australia women and men are the essential elements in life, they understand the importance of a family and understand the structure of a family the culture proposes on the importance of a family to the Australian people and how a man and a woman should be treated in the basis of a family. A man and a woman bring up a family and with this understanding there is need of a man and a woman to play a vital role in the society, therefore there relationship should be valued, in Australia gender relationships are not strict and there are no cultures that support any strict issue on gender relationships. The Arabian have an extended type of a family where by each person is regarded as a basic unit of the society. Therefore this influence of the extended family has an impact on the social and political life in Saudi Arabia. Within this type of a family there is the respect for age, gender roles of men as provider’s and women playing a role in the house hold issues A woman life in Saudi Arabia (2008). The family decisions are always made by the father who is the head of the family although any person who is a member of the family has to give opinions but not in the making of the decisions. Socially this type of family came as a result of the way they live, the Saudi Arabia people socialize among themselves, they marry and they do there business together Marriages and divorces, Australia. (2009). Traditions have supported this type of family structure that is through the strong background of Islamic rules economic and political ideas. Gender in Saudi Arabia is very strict for most of the families and has some cultural habit. The way they figure out the gender role some traditional cultures are very supportive on them for example the role of women in Saudi Arabia are regarded as not obligatory in that certain task are limited to them, they are not supposed to be seen in making decision in fact they should look upon the manhood for the decision making, they cannot be leaders in anyway this is because the inherited culture on women has subjected them up to today to remain dominant Holmes (2008). In Saudi Arabia only men are supposed to vote no woman who is supposed to vote on any political leader, therefore politics have been dominated by the manhood not the women. In Saudi Arabia education has been referred mainly to men, research has shown that the number of people who are educated in Saudi Arabia are men, they have negative impact on educating a woman whereby there traditions define that a woman is supposed to remain and take good care of the house hold wile the man needs to go and work, therefore education is very important to a man not a woman Faith and Freedom (1995) Conclusion The family structure in Saudi Arabia is different from the family structure in Australia. Saudi Arabia people have been driven by there inherited traditions and culture as well as there beliefs on the way of a family, the role played by each member of the family is still remains unchanged. Alsabt. M. (2006) According to the Australian structure of family it has evolved from its traditions to the modernity way of a family. REFERENCES A woman life in Saudi Arabia (2008) http://americanbedu.com/2008/03/06/a woman’s -life-in-saudi-arabia(accessed April 23,2010) Effect of family structure on life satisfaction Australian evidence (2010) http:ideas.repec.org/p/iae/iaewps/wp2004n24.html. (Accessed April 22, 2010) Marriages and divorces, Australia. 2009. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/cat/3310.0 accessed April,2010 Holmes,m 2008. Gender and Everyday life. Hoboken: Taylor & Francis. http://reader.elib.com.au.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/Reader.aspx?p=350241&o96&u=%2fv (accessed April 24, 2010) Faith and Freedom (1995) women’s human rights in the Muslim world, Syracuse University Press Alsabt. M. (2006) Arabian Business and Cultural Guide http://www.traderscity.com/abcg/cultur11.htm (accessed April 25,2010)

UOB Bank Advertisement

UOB Lady’s Card -â€Å"The men don’t get it† 1. 0 Introduction of the Company United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) is a leading bank in Asia. It provides a wide range of financial services through its global network of over 500 offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Western Europe and North America, including banking subsidiaries in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and mainland China.UOB (Malaysia) offers an extensive range of commercial and personal financial services through its branches, subsidiaries and associate companies: commercial lending, investment banking, treasury services, trade services, cash management, home loans, credit cards, wealth management, general insurance and life assurance. UOB also plays an active role in the community, focusing on children, education and the arts. UOB has been established the annual UOB Heartbeat Run to raise funds for charity.Today, UOB is rated among the world’s top banks by Moodyâ€⠄¢s Investors Service, receiving B for financial strength, and AA1 and Prime-1 for long-term and short-term bank deposits respectively. UOB is proud to be the first to unveil the revamped UOB Lady’s Card in Malaysia. Besides sporting a new card face, the purpose of the advertisement shows that UOB Lady’s Card is staying relevant to the needs of modern women with new features.It is the first in the market to develop a mobile phone application, â€Å"Lady’s Soulmate† dedicated to ladies, which helps card members access privileges through Google maps and a directional guide based on AR technology. Consumers can download the Lady's Soulmate application from the Android Marketplace to compatible mobile phones. It will also be progressively made available on Apple App Store, Ovi Store by Nokia and Blackberry App World. The ad clearly show that the UOB Lady's Soulmate application marks a new era for the UOB Lady's Card, as it remains in touch with the progress o f women nd technology. The advertisement does show its effectiveness as the card was already available in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, has a current membership of over 500,000. The advertisement expected to attract more than 500,000 new lady users. The company claims that the UOB Lady’s Card is targeted to more than double by 2014, driving the continued growth of the bank’s card business in the region. 2. 0 Discussion of the Advertisement 2. 1 Target Market The revamped UOB Lady’s Card placed a strong emphasis on health, beauty, fashion, connectivity and discovery.This make over of the UOB Lady’s Card is timely as a group same gender consumers seek to strengthen the brand promised to valued card members. The ad targets young adult women, and they will buy products not only for them but to show their financial health in their lives. We acknowledge that today’s women are more independent financially, assertive in their choices, mobile and techno logy savvy to stay â€Å"connected†. The reason for the advertiser to choose this market segment is because female young adults may look for the requirement as stated before. 3. 0 Advertisement SourceThe ad focuses on two trendy lady’s high profile, smiling with full of satisfaction, public may easily attract by them who emotionally aroused. The two ladies show in an appropriate way to market the company’s credit card as they are looking relax and rejoice, their face expression and body language prompt the desire of women to obtain the credit card. It also shows that they are able to keep constant contact with privileges and deals via smartphone, the women looked grateful to get the information from their mobiles. Technology on tap is but one of the many benefits available to Lady’s Card members.The new UOB Lady’s Card proposition centres around providing a total financial and lifestyle solution which complements the modern woman who is constantly on the move from connectivity, discovery, fashion and money matters. 3. 1 Visual and Verbal Content Basically the kind of visual image used in ad is photographs. There is a few images show in different ways. The rectangular picture with blank background is composite â€Å"paste-up† of several images from various sources used, whereas the whole image of two ladies adopts â€Å"superimposed† over each other. The others small images place near to the related information.The roses for both types of credit cards seem to stand for women product. The corporate logos included in the design of credit card, the consumer already familiar with the logo. The car and branded stuffs symbolize exclusivity or luxury, visually depicted the financial strength for the group of target market they can have. From the ad, we can see that two young women wearing high heels with an eye catching smile. The clothes and adornments they are wearing look striking as they walk in confidence, simply r elated to self egoism. It seems like two best friends sharing the same privileges and deals from the credit card.The image shows their legs walk together depicted they shopping together, which also shows young women concern about social need. Many women become more financially independent and career orientated. The body language of the models in the ad seem like they don’t have financial worry. Although there are often claims of gender bias and the results have showed that women in general will have a much more impulsive buying behavior than that of their male counterpart. Through this natural disposition it will often hinder them from being able to ever becoming an efficient money saver.Thus, those offer deals in the ad may attract their attention. 3. 2 Semiotic Analysis It has bold print stating â€Å"If we had our way, it would be Wednesday everyday† and smaller print that promotes the offers of the credit card and targets women to purchase the related product and s ervice especially on Wednesday. The ad is implying that women in society now can take care of their financial, yet still targets them to purchase more by using the credit card. At the core of the UOB Lady’s Card popularity is the endearing philosophy of this female-only product, â€Å"The Men Don’t Get It. More than just a signature tagline, it is an acknowledgement of the financial strength and independence of women, and the freedom of choice that is available to them. Now, underpinned by technology and refreshed with a host of new privileges, the company seemed like confident that the Lady’s Card will continue to be preferred, extending their leadership in the female space, I would find this advertisement particularly interesting because it is promoting friendship, financial solidity, health and beauty standards in our society, women's roles as consumers which afford to pay and the graphics of the ad focuses on.It is promoting credit card that only for female , which have previously been viewed as women's products and it will also influences women to buy these products on men's behalf. The two models are wearing striking outfits and expensive adornments. This influence perpetuates the sociological role of women in society as financial takers, as well as encouraging them being active in caring about their appearance and their need to use health and beauty products. This ad clearly promotes the credit card which special designed only for female, that’s why the word stated there the men don’t get it†.The roses symbolized that the only attention of the company focus on the specific needs of women. They have taken a 360-degree approach in the Lady's Card makeover, leveraging our insights into women over the years and research around the region. 3. 3 Layout and Design The headline shows in an appropriate way to has three-quarters up the page or advertisement space. The advertiser position headline statement where it can be seen quickest, this can make sure the reader generally know what is all about.They avoid putting headlines at the very top of the space because the reader’s eye is naturally drawn to between two-thirds and three-quarters up the page or space, which is where the main benefit statement needs to be. The advertisement involves the reader in writing style of using the second and third person-‘you’ and ‘she’. Refer to the reader as ‘you' and ‘she’ in the description of the ad does for the customer to get them visualizing their own personal involvement. The advertiser describes the service as it affects them in a way that they will easily relate to it.This advertising can be defined as using â€Å"cool† tones. It is often referred to as a ‘Black Art', because it is mysterious but cheerful. 4. 0 Publication The advertiser has chosen the two most common print media are newspapers and magazines. Print media is important because it can reach such a large audience, and the great number of specialized publications enables businesses to focus in on a target audience with a specific set of characteristics. The advertiser picks the right time as the Malaysia Mega Sales start from July until September 2010. The consumers can use their Lady’s Card for exclusive privileges.NEWSPAPERS When deciding upon a newspaper in which to advertise, there are three physical criteria to consider: distribution, size, and audience. Newspapers are either daily or weekly, come in a standard or tabloid size, and reach nearly all of the reading public, which is estimated to be around 85-90 percent of the population. Because of the broad demographic reach of most newspapers it is difficult to target a specific audience; however, newspapers are effective in increasing awareness of a business' products and services in a specific geographical area.Types of ads placed in newspapers include: display ads, classified ads, public notes, and preprinted inserts. Newspaper ads have some flexibility in their size. For instance, the UOB ad only takes up half portion of a page, while others might span one or two full pages. Regardless of this flexibility, newspaper ads can only use limited special effects, such as font size and color. These limitations lead to advertising â€Å"clutter† in newspapers because all the ads look very similar. Therefore, advertisers must use original copy and headings to differentiate their ads from their competitors.This is why the advertiser show theirl exclusive shopping, dining and beauty privileges, and the latest technology, a mobile phone application called â€Å"Lady's Soulmate†. MAGAZINES With magazines an advertiser can focus in on a specific target audience. Audiences can be reached by placing ads in magazines which have well-defined geographic, demographic, or lifestyle focus. The advertiser has placing the ad in the localized edition of a national magazine. In addi tion to the above factors, it is also important to consider the nature of the magazine ad copy.Magazines allow elaborate graphics and colors, which give advertisers more creative options than do newspapers. Also, recent surveys have indicated that informative ads are the most persuasive. Therefore, it is important to include copy and art work that is direct and presents important product information to the consumer, such as how the product works, how it benefits the consumer, and where it can be purchased. Besides The Star, it also can be found in female magazine such as New Tide, July 2010.Those magazines are targeted towards young adult women interested in beauty, fashion and relationships. This advertisement is promoting both UOB Lady’s Classic and UOB Lady’s Platinum cards for women. 5. 0 Hierarchy Model Response The AIDA Model Attention The feature followed by ad agencies is AIDA, which acronym stands for Attention, Interest, Desire and Action. The first A equals getting the attention of the readers. The ad in the form of a headline-â€Å"Wednesday every day’’ has grab the attention as it perks the curiosity of readers.The images of the credit cards with the symbol pertain to the company introductory paragraph. The advertiser gets the attention of consumer immediately by using the Wednesday special offer deals; therefore readers will read the rest of the articles. The advertiser is generating an emotion, women walking in confidence with big smile and setting up a situation. UOB (Malaysia) became the first foreign bank to recognize the affluent female segment in Malaysia when it launched the UOB Lady's Card. The ad plays with fear and greed for a moment.These two emotions combined as a key because almost every women would be Interested and has a certain amount of greed (possess everything that they want) and also has fear (questioning what if they missed the chance to get all the great offer deals). The advertiser didn’t use the headline to play the biggest benefit. They choose to appear that not only true but also in an exclusive way. The ad plays on emotions in their headline; the two models address happiness and satisfaction, pump up their egos or show the luxury and branded items. The advertiser chooses the middle part to present the benefits in aspect of the credit card service.The readers may pay more attention on the â€Å"FREE† word which showed in the subhead lines. Interest After the advertiser got the consumer’s attention, they focus on building their interest and supporting what the ad told them thus far. The advertiser makes the reader really want the card but have to start a twinge of reality. Consumers may compare the benefits they offered with the competitors. The newly developed mobile application-â€Å"UOB Lady’s Soulmate App† based on AR technology, female young adults which consider as tech-savvy group may show their interest in the ads.Another way is that the advertiser building interest to include sub headlines throughout the copy. The readers will be more interest when there are a lot of offers with the â€Å"Cash Back† or ‘FREE† words on the sub headlines. Next, the reader embarks on the ever-challenging task of justifying her purchase; especially she wants to do a large purchase. In consumer’s interest section, the ad uses emotion to address the fact that this purchase is a good bargain, the right step, a sound decision, etc. In addition to that, the advertiser let the customer know what will happen if consumer purchase their service.This can be found in â€Å"With it in the bag, every lady gets what she wants, when she wants it†. Depending on this ad, the negative result might be the fact that she misses all those grand offers from the product service. She will have to struggle to get all the same stuffs but in more expensive price or other consequences without the credit card. â€Å"If we had our way, it would be Wednesday every day’’, implies that the consumers can enjoy spending every Wednesday. The goal here is to create a few statements that will cause the customer to say, Oh! I didn’t think of that.Desire The third step in AIDA indicates the desire to buy. This section is really turns on the charm. The ad is written to tug on the heartstrings in order to create that final desire to buy. Perhaps the biggest benefit of the ad is they can get â€Å"FREE Coach Bags & Accessories Every Day†. By using the â€Å"UOB Lady’s Soulmate App†, the interactive application is able to display the latest deals and offers within a 2km range of the card member's location and also contains a personal assistant feature to help connect members with people who are important to them.Customers will have all the information they need right at their fingertips. The advertisement turns deep down inside their consumer to have two desires. The first is the desire to use the convenience of connection that not just technology. The second is the desire to obtain more things and the most common reason is to get a free branded items. The 2010 Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival sweeps the nation up in a frenzied shopping fervor! This is the best time to pump them up and get them excited about the credit card service. They have not yet come to the justification stage where price might play a factor.While always, from the aspect of desire, the ad portrays the best and biggest benefits their customers will receive. It speaks to the joys of being able to relax and run an errand in the whole range of bargains of, the sub headlines of the article indicates that the customer can experience from restaurants, spas, facial service while doing their shopping of the day. Action The final A in AIDA stands for action. During the action phase of convincing, the ad gives them enough motivational cause to take action and buy. At the moment get to this poin t, the customers should have all the information they need.The company as the seller will have walked them through each step of the buying process and emotional journey to the point of purchase. A few ways to create action with the copy are: â€Å"Apply now and get 20 entries for your first minimum RM50 swipe within 30 days from your new card approval†, â€Å"the more you swipe, the better your chances! † The advertisement motivate the readers look forward to get better deals on that special day, which can be found in â€Å"Wednesday are simply wonderful when you have the new UOB Lady’s Card. † The point of the action phase is to get the readers moving. The advertisement ade them drool with the exclusive deals, answered all their questions via Dedicated Customer Service Line, filled them with benefit and the company don’t want to lose them at the end. 6. 0 Overall Opinion In personal view, the main message of this advertisement is prominent. The bi ggest part of the advert is the main benefit statement. This is the part that entices the reader to read on. The ad offers a single impressive benefit, quickly and simply. Research proves that where responses are required, the best adverts are those which offer an impressive, relevant benefit to the reader.This point cannot be stressed enough; the advertiser keep it quick, simple and to the point. More information has stated bottom of the ad, reader who wants to know more detail can read through there. Younger generations are extremely visually literate. The advertiser had thought about the vocabulary and language to use and clearly know their target audience. The ad has avoided any words or grammar that would not be found in the newspaper that the target group would read. Therefore message can be read in quick and easy to absorb. The ad has use a clear layout, clear fonts and clear language.They don’t distract the reader from the text by overlaying images or using fancy font s. They use simple language, avoid complicated words, and keep enough space around the text to attract attention to it. The advertiser also avoids cluttering the advert with fancy images, colours and backgrounds, which make it easy to read. The advertisement has incorporated something new. The Consumers can download the Lady's Soulmate application to compatible mobile phones. The ad clearly show that the UOB Lady's Soulmate application marks a new era for the UOB Lady's Card, as it remains in touch with the progress of women and technology.Consumers respond better and are more easily attracted initially to a concept that is new or original. If they've heard or seen it all before it will be no surprise that they take no notice at all. The advertisement induces reader to believe there's something in it for them right from the start. The advertiser has developed a proposition that is special or unique and emphasizes this. The revamped UOB Lady's Card also comes with a new card face for both UOB Lady's Classic and UOB Lady's Platinum cards. UOB Malaysia is the first foreign bank to recognize the affluent female segment in Malaysia when it launched the new UOB Lady's Card.The ad also states that they provide Wallet Guard coverage and Purchase Protection Plan for the purchases which make their service special. The Advertising Standards Authority or equivalent would prevent the advertiser from making overly extravagant claims anyway, but they still attempt to make their offer seem perfectly credible. 7. 0 Recommendations From the advertisement, the readers might feel the card only available in exclusive world as the car stands for luxury. Not all but some of the readers might feel that the exclusivity rewards, and special treatment reserved for a special few, not for them.The website or service line should explain further to those customers that misleading by the pictures. They can emphasize on the protection plan to place themselves a credible image. The words-† The men don’t get it† didn’t stated clearly that whether the male readers can apply this credit card for the lady. For male readers, they may think they can use this card without the offers which women interested at. The conditions should write clear, not that small which stated in the advertisement. I am not sure that buying branded items necessarily causes happiness to a woman.But many of them tend to believe the advertising; they may feel a let-down when their existing card does not bring the desired partner or other increase in status. When they have such expectation, buying a branded item would be necessarily, make them feel happy. More insidious is the indirect effect, namely that they have to work hard and go into debt to buy all this stuff. That, in my opinion, the debt hidden behind is what makes people unhappy. The company should come out a proper financial plan and clarify to the consumer before the consumer purchase their services.

Character and Point of View in “The Red Convertible” Essay

â€Å"The Red Convertible† is a short story by Louis Erdrich, in which two native American brothers named Marty and Henry decide to buy a red convertible Oldsmobile together. The two brothers spend much of the summer travelling around together in the car until the older brother, Stephan, is deployed to Vietnam. When Stephan returns, he is not the same and Marty tries desperately to recover their past relationship. The round, static, perseverant character of Marty in â€Å"The Red Convertible† is revealed through the first person point of view. The younger brother in the story, Marty, is round and static. Throughout the entire story, the reader is given insight into Marty’s thoughts and feelings, such as, â€Å"I was sorry I’d ever bought it, though, because of Stephan, and I was also sorry I’d bought color† (Erdrich 5). Marty does not openly convey this statement to his family. Marty’s beliefs and values do not change over the course of the story. In the beginning he, â€Å"thought back to times we’d sat still for whole afternoons† (5) and in the end of the story he yells at Stephan, â€Å"wake up, wake up, wake up!† (8). This shows that at the end of the story, Marty wants things to be normal just like he did in the beginning of the story. Marty’s perseverant nature influences the story because it shows how deeply he longs for his relationship with his brother to be normal again, and creates a sense of desperation. For example, Marty says, â€Å"One night Stephan was off somewhere. I took myself a hammer. I went out to that car and I did a number to its underside. Whacked it up† (6). This shows how much he is willing to do to make Stephan normal again despite Stephan’s serious condition. Also, when Marty says, â€Å"By the time I get out of the river, off the snag I pulled myself onto, the sun is down† it is implied that he tried to save Stephan from drowning, again showing how desperate Marty is to have his brother back. The point of view of the story is first. The author repeatedly uses statements like â€Å"I’m laughing so hard† (10) and, â€Å"I walk back to the car† (10). This makes it clear that the story is being told from Marty’s point of  view. The effect of using a first person point of view in the story is allowing the reader to have an emotional connection with Marty because it puts the reader in his shoes. The story may not be effective if told from another point of view such as third dramatic because the reader would not be able to fully understand the depth of Marty’s connection with his brother because his feelings would not be expressed in the story. The round, static, perseverant character of Marty is revealed through the first person point of view. Because the story is told from Marty’s perspective, it reveals how desperately he wants Stephan to get better. For example, Marty says â€Å"I tell you right then I wanted to smash that tube to pieces† (5). This shows how he was ready to destroy something he worked hard for in hopes it will help to make his brother better. Throughout the story Marty continues to do things to try to make Stephan better and through the first person point of view the reader sees how often he hopes and tries to accomplish this. By the authors use of the first person point of view, it allows the reader to be put into Marty’s shoes, therefore developing a round, static character and reveals to the reader how perseverant Marty was due to his relationship with his brother. Work Cited Erdrich, Louise. The Red Convertible. Print.

Soccer Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Soccer - Speech or Presentation Example It focuses less on the items, and more on the people who play it. Football is a life changer. As Pele, arguably the greatest footballer of all time, said, â€Å"I hope that all young people in the world are inspired by some of the positive lessons I learned in my life about overcoming obstacles, expressing creative flair, taking care of your health, and encouraging teamwork, loyalty and honesty. These are things that have an impact on, and beyond, the football field.† What I am saying today is not a radical new idea. Organizations from around the world are seeing the impact that football has on the children of this world. Football Programs for Kids by KidsHealth.org and the African push for promoting sports under the banner letsplay.org are just a few examples of that. Why football? Because, in football, every person goes down at some time; it is up to him decide to get up and it is up to his teammates to tell him he is worth it – that he has to get up! This is what hap pens to everyone in life too. You fall. You have to get up. Some people don’t get up at all. Some people get up slow. Some people get back up instantly. It is all about will. And it is all about whether someone can inspire you to get up or not. That is what football teaches you – to help others, to focus on what you need to do to get back up yourself, to train hard and play harder.

Plan for growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Plan for growth - Essay Example JCPenney has become a digital leader as well by advancing jcpenney.com website’s mobile commerce functionality. The website provides its customers with suitable and convenient shopping options using which, they can get the merchandise shipped to their homes. JCPenney’s current efforts are directed at developing an enterprise-wide inventory network that would make its customer service more efficient in terms of reduced delivery time. You have rightly pointed out that understanding the way customers like to receive communications is an essential element of growth and social strategy of any business. Nevertheless, having realized that young customers make a large part of the company’s customer base, JCPenney has directed its attention toward attracting younger customers by introducing more in-store attractions popular among young generation that can be exclusively found at JCPenney. The chief financial officer of JCPenney reflects upon the company’s growth st rategy and the ensuing increase in profitability saying, â€Å"By successfully focusing on our core business strengths, we delivered three consecutive quarters of positive sales and developed a strong foundation for growth† (Record cited in JCPenney,

London Stock Exchange Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

London Stock Exchange - Research Paper Example This research objective to evaluate and present aim of the Taurus London Stock Exchange Project that is to turn stock trading paperless, with the aim of making transactions smoother and more convenient for London Stock Exchange traders. The Taurus project started in 1986 from the 'big bang', an event at which the London Stock Exchange was turned into a self-regulating operation which was overseen but not fully controlled by the Bank of England. The offshoot of this 'big bang' was that many of the restrictions that were previously placed upon the London Stock Exchange were no longer in place and the Exchange could now enforce rules, regulations and software to improve the service. The United States and Japanese Stock Exchanges were primarily electronic at this time, with the London Stock Exchange taking three to six weeks to complete a transfer and the other international exchanges providing transfers in days. The London Stock Exchange needed to move from this paper-based time-consumi ng style of trading and move onwards into the future, and this was one of the main aims of the Taurus project. Taurus (Transfer and Automated Registration of Uncertified Stock) had the aim of providing a paperless service to the London Stock Exchange and reduce the burden on those in the back office. The project had the aim to move to computerized shareholdings which would reduce both time and cost to the London Stock Exchange. ... The offshoot of this 'big bang' was that many of the restrictions that were previously placed upon the London Stock Exchange were no longer in place and the Exchange could now enforce rules, regulations and software to improve the service. The United States and Japanese Stock Exchanges were primarily electronic at this time, with the London Stock Exchange taking three to six weeks to complete a transfer and the other international exchanges providing transfers in days (Currie, 1994). The London Stock Exchange needed to move from this paper-based time-consuming style of trading and move onwards into the future, and this was one of the main aims of the Taurus project. Taurus (Transfer and Automated Registration of Uncertified Stock) had the aim of providing a paperless service to the London Stock Exchange and reduce the burden on those in the back office (Bergman et al, 2002). The project had the aim to move to computerized shareholdings which would reduce both time and cost to the Lon don Stock Exchange. Taurus was originally planned to be a software database containing a computerized database of all the investors and shareholders plus their stocks and holdings that operated through the London Stock Exchange as a central operator (Keil et al, 2002). The ownership of stocks would be as simple as an entry into this database, something which is represented by the stock markets of today. There were several aims of the project beyond those mentioned above. Firstly, the movement to a paperless system would remove the need for countless jobs and resources and could potentially have saved the London Stock Exchange millions of pounds. This movement was backed by several prominent economists and politicians of the day, as well as by those residing in the City

Charlotte's web Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Charlotte's web - Essay Example It is true that in life the presence of both of these characters is important because both contribute a greater good of all to the world. The story describes Charlotte as a simple gray spider who tries to save Wilbur from being the food of the humans by planning a scheme in his favor. The story is an interesting example of friendship between two creatures different in size, shape, and nature. It explains that in life we need a company in order to survive, no matter if the friendship is for selfless or selfish reasons. Charlotte’s Web is a story elaborating how one can achieve anything if only they have the willpower and a string determination. It helps children understand the importance of will and teaches them a lesson and makes this book a perfect one to be read by all the children. Despite charlotte’s size she proves to be very helping for Wilbur, the pig, by saving its life with the power of her web. The spider’s web to an individual’s eyes seems weak and fragile but the story reveals that even if something seems weak and dainty doesn’t mean it is one. "A spiders web is stronger than it looks. Although it is made of thin, delicate strands, the web is not easily broken. However, a web gets torn every day by the insects that kick around in it, and a spider must rebuild it when it gets full of holes" (White et al 55). Secondly, to charlotte her web is like a paper, a medium through which she communicates. She uses her web to convey the messages to the people as she believes â€Å"People believe almost anything they see in print" (White et al 89). So, no matter how small a creature is if it knows its potential than nothing can stop it from using its power to make a mark. If Charlotte wouldn’t have been there then Wilbur could h ave died, who was triple her size. There is not much relation between fences and freedom for Wilbur, it seems that he has grown fond of being pampered by his owners. He is doubtful if he would like freedom, as at one occasion he

Effective Team and Performance Management Essay - 1

Effective Team and Performance Management - Essay Example But that was just a start of the many lessons that I learnt concerning working in a group. The process of team formation was a unique experience as I had to work with people I did not know neither had interacted with before. Thinking back on the way that the team initially got together, I can clearly understand why Tuckman (1965:87-89) developed his four step model. The very first thing we had to do was select a leader, and since all of us were quite uncomfortable and held back a little, Hana who was the first to break the silence and quite seemed to be directing the group, was chosen as the leader of our group. We were four members in the teams diverse both in gender, race and culture. I realized that this could possibly present a problem as noted by Cox (1991:57) concerning diverse teams, but this was proved wrong as different members though uneasy at first, brought in different thoughts and perspectives into the group discussions and the search for a solution as shown by Kravitz ( 2011). I got to understand that a team would not be able to get focused direction without a leader who fosters the team towards bonding, familiarity and working together rather than individually (Chieh-Wen, Yi-Fang, & Ming-Chia, 2010:1299). Notably at first we had to develop rules on how the team would work out, the various expectation of the team and how we need to behave to accomplish various tasks and accountability. Though initially I felt I did not own the group or understand exactly what we need to and how we need to do it, after laying out the rules and interacting for while and after realizing that my team members were as anxious as I was, I became more comfortable and gained trust in the group. This is certainly a reflection of one of Hackman’s (2002:54) that a team needs to have a strong direction and focus in its direction and needs to develop a structure upon which tasks are assigned. This is clearly noted in the manner with which various tasks are roles were assi gned in the team. One of the most unique lessons that I gained were from the survival activity. Not only was I able to see my team develop its own unique character, but me and my teams became as one dependant on each other and highly seeking to accomplish the same thing. Different team members tended to have different characters. While two were action oriented, one was more of realist while I was a planner engrossed on details (Chieh-Wen, Yi-Fang, & Ming-Chia, 2010:1302). At first I thought it incredulous but fun that we had to take animal names for our group and had to develop a survival strategy for our species to survive in a constraint environment. As we continued with our survival strategy I thought, aha, this is not about just some other random assignment, but was rather a deeper look into team building, what makes teams act in togetherness, have the same goal, same zeal and work together proactively to attain what is good for all in the group (Cook, 2009:124; De Jong, & Elfri ng, 2010:540). This is highly reminiscent of the social exchange theory which looks at how different people in a team exchange resources in manner that created utility for our group and enabled us to be able be able to brainstorm and come up with effective survival tactics for the lion in the jungle (Flynn, 2005:743). It also made me think of Freud’s group behavior model where he notes that people often have a herd instinct which potentially