Deciding on the Marketing Program Essay

International companies or marketers may choose between two alternative approaches in developing its marketing strategies or marketing mix. These two approaches are: a. Global Marketing Strategy – defines a standard marketing mix and implements it with minimal modifications in all of its domestic and foreign markets. This standard approach saves money because it allows large-scale production runs and reinforces the brand’s image. It can foster collaborative innovation. Through global marketing strategy, Global firms can effectively market some goods and services to segments in many nations that share cultures and languages. This approach works best for products with strong, universal appeal such as McDonalds and for luxury products that target upscale consumers everywhere. b. Multidomestic Marketing Strategy- assumes the differences between market characteristics and competitive situations in certain nations require firms to customize their marketing decisions to effectively reach individual marketplaces. In other words, it is an application of market segmentation to foreign markets by tailoring the firm’s marketing mix to match specific target markets in each nation. Keegan has distinguished five adaptation strategies of product and promotion to a foreign market (see figure below). 1. Global Product Strategies a. Straight Extension – introducing the product in the foreign market without any changes. This strategy permits economies of scale in production and marketing, for it involves no additional R&D expense, manufacturing retooling, or promotional modification. Once implemented successfully, it cerates universal recognition of a product for consumers from country to country. b. Product Adaptation- involves altering the product to meet local conditions or preferences. There are several level of adapatations, it could be regional version, country version, city version and retailer version. c. Product Invention- consists of creating something new. It can take two forms, Backward invention and Forward invention. It is a costly strategy but the payoffs can be great. i. Backward Invention – is reintroducing esrlier product forms that are well adapted to a foreign country’s needs. ii. Forward Invention- is creating a new product to meet a need in another country. 2. Global Promotion Strategies d. Communication Adaptation – is the process in which a company run the same advertising and promotion campaigns used in the home market or change them for each local market. e. Dual Adaptation- is the process in which both the product and communication are being changed for each market/country. 3. Global Pricing Strategies Global Firms faces several pricing problems when selling abroad, they must deal with price escalation, transfer prices, dumping charges, and gray markets. f. Price Escalation- needs to adjust the marginal cost depending on the added costs including the currency-fluctustions risks to the product’s factory price inorder to attain the same profit locally. Because the price escalation varies from country to country, the question is how to sell the prices in different countries. Companies have three choices: iii. Setting uniform price everywhere iv. Setting a market-based price in each country v. Setting a cost-based price in each country g. Transfer Price- different prices that is being charged to its subsidiary in different countries/market h. Dumping – it occurs when a company charges either less than its costs or less than it charges in its home market, inorder to enter or win a market. i. Arm’s-lenght price – the rpice charged by other competitors for the same or a similar product j. Gray market – it occurs when the same product sells at different prices geographically. 4. Global Place (Distribution Channels) Strategies Many companies/manufactuers think their job is done oncethe product leaves the factory, however they should pay attention to how the product moves within the foreign country. They should take a whole-channel view of the problem of distributin products to final users. k. Seller’s international marketing headquarters- the export department or international division makes decisions on channels and other marketing mix- elements l. Channel’s between nation- gets the products to the borders of the foreign nation. The decision that is made on this link includes the types of intermediaries, type of tranportation, and financing and risk arrangements. m. Channel’s within foreign nations- gets the products from their entry point to final buyers and users. II. Deciding on the Marketing Organizations Companies manage their international marketing activities in three ways: through export departments, international divisions, or global organization. a. Export Department b. International Division i. Geographical Organization-each with vice presidents per region and each regional vice presidents has country managers who are responsible for a sales force, sales branches, distributors, and licensees in their respective country. ii. World Product Group-each with an international vice president responsible for worldwide sales of each product group iii. International Subsidiaries- each headed by a president c. Global Organization Several firms have become truly global organizations, these companies however faces several organizational complexities thus Bartlett and Ghoshal have proposed circumstances under which different approaches work best. They describe forces that favor ‘global integration’ versus ‘national responsiveness’. They distinguish three organizational strategies: d. A gloabl strategy treats the world as single market. e. A multinational strategy treats the world as a portfolio of national opportunities. f. A â€Å"glocal† strategy standardizes certain core elemetns and localizes oter elemets.

Effective Reading Strategy for Efl Students in No.9 Middle School in Beijing Essay

1. 1 Background of study In China, English is a compulsory course, so in Chinese education system has an examination at the final end of each term in Junior or Senior high school. In the examination, it is mostly used as a way to test students’ English level, so English becomes an important course in school education. The exam will test students’ listening, reading and writing ability. Therefore teachers are paying more attention on students’ ability on reading, listening and writing. Based on researcher understanding about teaching reading, researcher wants to do some research about investigating what types of cognitive reading strategies are used in middle school in Beijing. Aim at cognitive reading strategy researcher wants to the researching about it. And which one is the most commonly used during the reading class. Through the researcher tries to find some problems to teaching at the same time, it also referred in the research. Research paper is more focused on students learning strategy and teachers training process. For experienced teachers, who are good at summing up experience through their teaching then using in the teaching process. Through this study researcher gets more information about how to teaching reading and reading strategies. 1. 2 Statement of the Problem Researcher finds some problem when doing the research. In the real classroom, teachers have no enough time to give exercises for different level of students when they did reading class. In Chinese secondary school, English teacher should attention on arrange time effectively. Give enough time on  teaching four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing and doing exercises at the same time. Sometimes students can’t concentrate on these four skills, how to improve their ability in those four skills in the same time is the problem. As a researcher need research some teachers and related their teaching experiences they told some skills that teacher should change some basic teaching methods in their classroom . Teacher are not limited on traditional English teaching, but also created some new methods to adapt on different level of students in the classroom teaching. Effectively and improve their ability is important. Teachers are not only teaching knowledge but also pay attention on students’ attitude and taken in strategies in the classroom. The research is search about teaching reading strategy in Chinese middle school. Researcher chooses a famous middle school to finish the questionnaires. However the defect is all of participates are coming from same school. It can not full access to information and data. It is a problem for the research. To achieve the goals researcher should considers how to choose different level students to finish the questions and consider the teacher’s experiences to complete all questions. It is a challenge for researcher. 1. 3 Aims of the study This research is aimed to find out one useful cognitive reading strategy among the students used when they doing reading. It can enhance students reading ability when they doing exercises or in the examination. It also becomes a useful strategy when students do reading comprehension in the examination. Although there are many types of cognitive reading strategy in reading comprehension, how to choose one strategy when students doing reading is become a problem and it also can help students save time during their English examination. 1. 4 Research objectives At the end of the research, researcher will list of some reading strategies when teacher teaching reading in the class. After analyze the data, choose one strategy is used among students used. The research objectives are: 1 To investigate the cognitive reading strategies in a middle school students in Beijing 2. To investigate which type of cognitive reading strategy is most commonly used among the students. 1. 5 Research questions The research will seek answers to the following questions: 1 What are the cognitive reading strategies of middle school students in Beijing? 2 Which type is the most common used by the students? 1. 6 Rationale of the study Because the research is survey about reading strategies, so in the beginning of the research, researcher will list down what are the types of reading strategies of middle school students in the school teaching. â€Å"There are plenty of strategies for the beginner reader and many can be adapted to fit the needs of more advanced readers as well. † (Dorit Sasson, 2007). Then researcher chooses 45 students (15 students are attended in the pilot study) based on their different grades and gender to answer the question. Finally through analyze the data researcher chooses one common cognitive reading strategy is used in middle school students in Beijing. 7. Limitations of the study Research questionnaires are based on the No. 9 middle school students. Limited is both of the students and teachers are in the same school and numbers is the problem. Although their students’ levels are different but the whole English levels are not too low. And choose the students’ number is less than get enough data. Both the quantity and quality are not exactly. So these are the limitation about the research. CHAPTER ? LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 1 Introduction The first part of this section deals with the definitions of reading. Secondly it will discuss about Issues relating to English in the secondary curriculum in China. Thirdly is reading strategies. The last part will focus on the types reading strategies. Both of the contents are mainly concerned in the real classroom in Beijing. 2. 2 Definitions of Reading Reading is a huge topic, potentially beset with myriad difficulties not easily addressed in a book of this length. Brindley (1994) in her introduction to the ‘Reading’ section of Teaching English offers a helpful starting process: Reading is a complex area. We can use the term to mean the process itself, or a response to literary text. It is means reading is combine with other knowledge that used in the teaching English. Use the technical term to explain what is meaning and give the answers. Andersen et al. (1985) has shown that ‘Reading is the process of construction meaning from written texts. It is a complex skill requiring the coordination of a number of interrelated sources of information. ’ His opinions is talking about reading is a process which connected the writer’s writing skills and writing content. It needs reader has own reading skills or strategies to understand the meaning of reading materials. What the content is and writer wanted conveyed the information to reader. It is a difficult thing between the writer and reader. There is a book By Joan Brooks McLane, Gillian Dowley McNamee, in one chapter is described that â€Å"Reading can be compared to the performance of a symphony orchestra. This analogy illustrates three points. First, like the performance of a symphony, reading is a holistic act. † It stands for when reader reading an article, they must focus on all contents and used different reading strategies, mobilize all positive factors that you have when they reading. â€Å"Second, success in reading comes from practice over long periods of time, like skill in playing musical instrument. † Everyone known that want to be successful man, they must persist in one thing that they choose. Like a player play the wonderful music, they used lots of playing skills and they need long time to practice well. Reading is the same thing like player. If they want to master the reading strategies, they should study how to read and need lots of time to practice and improve their reading comprehension. â€Å"Third, as with a musical score, there may be more than one interpretation of a text. The interpretation depends on the background of the reader, the purpose for reading, and the context in which the reading occurs. † It needs reader give their opinions after they reading the text. Because of there are many different between everyone, so after they read the text their understanding is also different. 2. 3 Issues relating to English in the secondary curriculum in China Course Description â€Å"In describing the role of a foreign language, the 1993 syllabus emphasized its instrumental value for ‘acquiring cultural and scientific knowledge, gathering information, and conducting communication with the world’ (Ministry of Education 1993: 1). † In the Chinese principle of curriculum, English as an important role in the secondary school teaching. The purpose is â€Å"foreign language teaching in China was ‘to meet the needs of the Open Door Policy and to speed up the socialist modernizations’ (Ministry of Education 1993: 1). † It stands for China should study how to become a modern country among all over the world. And welcome foreigners come China to do the business or study. The new curriculum is changed. â€Å"Using English for the acquisition of knowledge and recognizes the humanistic value of a language in the transformation of the learners’ cognitive and personal development beyond its instrumental value in knowledge acquisition. † English is becoming a popular course in the new principle of curriculum. Students should learn more knowledge not limited in the grammar or the acquisition, but also for the human value’s benefit and personal development. â€Å"English language learning, as described in the 2003 curriculum guidelines, can help students develop ‘intelligence, affect, attitudes, values, and character’ (Ministry of Education 2003: 1). † The Ministry of Education is more attention on students’ to built good educate environment and provide fully development space for students. Course Objectives â€Å"The 1993 syllabus stressed two basics: basic linguistic knowledge and basic language skills. † It is traditional and easy syllabus for students to do before 2003. However in 2003, The Ministry of Education published new syllabus objectives is ‘to help students further clarify the purpose of learning English and develop autonomous learning and cooperative learning abilities; to help students develop effective English learning strategies’ (Ministry of Education 2003: 2). Students’ language use ability is based on ‘a mastery of knowledge, skills, affect, learning strategies, and cultural awareness’ (Ministry of Education 2003:2). Students should master one language when they learning in the classroom. According to the new curriculum, â€Å"An English course should help develop students’ ‘critical thinking ability, information gathering and analysis ability, problem solving ability, and a world vision’ (Ministry of Education 2003: 2), which are essential for a citizen in the twenty-first century (Pasch and Norsworthy 2002). †English is become a course in the classroom teaching and popular in China. It develops students’ ability in all aspects. All these reflect a humanistic approach, which, according to Johnson and Johnson (1998: 158), â€Å"respects the integrity of learners, allowing for personal growth and responsibility, taking psychological and affective factors into account and representing whole-person learning, going significantly beyond the use of English as a conduit of knowledge acquisition. † It needs learners has own opinion’s and some factors will change based on their experiences and reality. Course Design The 1993 syllabus required only one compulsory module. There were no specifications for the teaching aims and demands for Grade 1. Grade 2 and Grade 3 shared one set of aims and demands in general and distinctions were made only in some aspects of listening, speaking, reading and writing for the two grades. It means there is no specific teaching aim between three grades. And how to distinguish by some aspects on four teaching skills, there are listening, speaking, reading and writing. The new curriculum offers two modules (one compulsory and one elective) and grades the aims and demands with a four-band system according to learners’ language use ability, and describes each component at different bands in detail. From the new curriculum syllabus, it has targeted for each grades of students and the aims of teaching aid. The ability-banded framework can help solve such problems as the unbalanced development of the curriculum in different regions, the learning gaps between different stages (primary, junior secondary and senior secondary), and the waste of resources as a result of repetition in the curricula. Based on different backgrounds and others, teacher used different methods. The ability-banded design also provides more flexibility and openness in the curriculum, making it more possible to teach students with diverse competences. Students can learn special technical skills provide the needs of social. Teaching Aims and Demands For teaching aims and demands, the 1993 syllabus emphasized the development of two basics: basic linguistic knowledge and basic language skills. It isolated linguistic knowledge into discrete items, for example, word class, sentence structures. And confined linguistic skills to classroom application, for example, ‘students can understand classroom English and the explanation of new language points with language learned, do question and answer on the text, and retell the story orally or in writing’ (Ministry of Education 1993: 2-3). The new 2003 curriculum gives meaning to both knowledge and skills and integrates the two by engaging students in active use of the language with what they have learned as knowledge and developed as skills and by describing the language ability as what they can do with the English language. For example, students know language forms and their functions in real communication, under- stand and master the ways to describe people and objects, to describe the development of events. For students’ all round development, the new curriculum stresses the development of their affect, learning strategy and cultural awareness along with their linguistic knowledge and linguistic skills, and defines specific teaching aims and demands for these components at different bands. Implementation Guidelines The implementation guidelines help to reach the goals set for a curriculum. The guidelines in the new curriculum, as compared with those in the 1993 syllabus, are more concrete, hence playing a stronger guiding role. Ministry of Education (2003: 23-25): The guidelines for teaching include â€Å"focusing on all learners and helping them lay a solid foundation for lifelong development; attending students’ affect and creating a pleasant, democratic and harmonious learning atmosphere; reinforcing the guidance for students’ learning strategies and helping them develop autonomous learning ability†. These guidelines represent the learner–centeredness philosophy in curriculum development (Nunan 1988: 2003). For teachers’ better understanding of the teaching methods, model teaching plans are provided. Ministry of Education (2003: 40- 42) â€Å"For assessment, the stress is put on the explanation of the underlying rationale. It emphasizes that ‘both formative assessment and summative assessment be used and attention be paid to the motivating and facilitating roles of assessment in students’ learning’†. 2. 4 Reading Strategies The best definition of a reading strategy is the tactics or actions teachers implement in order to approach and make sense of a reading text. Reading is important and necessary for human especially at the present day which technology is growing rapidly. D. C Mitchell (1982:1) wrote that â€Å"reading is the way to express meaning from writer to reader. It is the way to exchange ideas of writer according to his/her styles. The ability to grasp these ideas is depending on reader’s experience, language knowledge and attitude as a fundamental basis. † Reading is a Rebecca L. Oxford (1991:1-163) classified reading strategies into four categories: 1. Memory Strategies 2. Cognitive Strategies 3. Compensation Strategies 4. Social Strategies 1. Memory Strategies are personal strategies that depend on skills and ability of each person by using something close-by as a tool for understanding, learning and memorizing that passage. This is the definition of memory strategies. It means users use memory to remember the reading contents. 2. Cognitive Strategies are essential in learning a new language. Cognitive strategies are typically found to be the most popular strategies with language learners. Based on the reader’s comprehension, they use their cognitive to understanding the reading materials. 3. Compensation Strategies enable learners to use the new language for either comprehension or production despite limitations in knowledge. Compensation strategies are intended to make up for an inadequate repertoire of grammar and, especially, of vocabulary. 4. Social Strategies is a term of social behavior; it is communication, and communication occurs between and among people. Learning a language thus involves other people, and appropriate social strategies are very important in this process. 2. 5 Teaching Reading Strategies Teaching reading strategies will increase students on reading skills in the core subject areas; this will also improve the student’s level of achievement. When Student’s are lack of knowledge will affect their ability to learn, read or write in all subject areas. Furthermore, helping students learned to read and write in the core subjects-areas will increase a student’s ability to read in all core subjects. A student’s reading comprehension skills will improve at the same time. That’s why teaching reading strategies is important in the classroom teaching. The teacher can use reading strategies that connect the students’ interest in core subject areas, this can help a student maintain their focus, improve their ability to understand and then apply what they read to the real world. . Reading is a blend of word recognition and comprehension. This involves the response of printed motivation but the growth of sense or knowledge, is the real meaning of reading. The reading process is a mix of finding words and comprehension that involves recognition of printed incentive however, the development of meaning or understanding is the core of reading about meaning. The reader should think and talk about what they are reading and the meaning of the passages, and connect them to what makes sense. Teachers and parents should assist the student by having them begin underlining the most important words in the reading material. The process of pre-reading teaching strategies will help improve reading comprehension. Effective language instructors show students how they can adjust their reading behavior to deal with a variety of situations, types of input, and reading purposes. They help students develop a set of reading strategies and match appropriate strategies to each reading situation. Strategies that can help students read more quickly and effectively include five different types. There are Previewing, Predicting, Skimming and Scanning, Guessing from context and Paraphrasing. Next researcher will list down some characteristics about each reading strategies. First type is previewing: reviewing titles, section headings, and photo captions to get a sense of the structure and content of a reading selection. Second type is predicting: using knowledge of the subject matter to make predictions about content and vocabulary and check comprehension; using knowledge of the text type and purpose to make predictions about discourse structure; using knowledge about the author to make predictions about writing style, vocabulary, and content. Third type is skimming and scanning: using a quick survey of the text to get the main idea, identify text structure, confirm or question predictions. Fourth type is guessing from context: using prior knowledge of the subject and the ideas in the text as clues to the meanings of unknown words, instead of stopping to look them up. The last type is phrasing: stopping at the end of a section to check comprehension by restating the information and ideas in the text. 2. 6 Conclusion This chapter is related some review about the definition in reading, compare between old syllabus and new syllabus in China Education system, reading strategies and how to teach reading strategies in the classroom. These four parts provide more information about reading comprehension and it is very useful for teachers training. CHAPTER ? METHODOLOGY 3. 1 Introduction This chapter provides detailed information regarding the process of collecting the data for this research. The aspects of the research method that are being focused are the subjects, instruments, questionnaires, method of data analysis and also research procedures. 3. 2 Research Design This research is a procedure for collecting and analyzing quantitative data access the research problem. The questionnaire is for Chinese students. It is a survey in No. 9 middle school in Beijing. This design has chosen because it really suits with how the study is carried out. 3. 3 Research Population For the pilot study and the questionnaire part, the population is all Chinese students and teachers are come from No. 9 middle school. The pilot study researcher chooses 15 students because there are totally three grades and each grade has three students to answer the pilot study. All together the questionnaires give the 30 students to answer it. Another part is the teachers’ part, there are three teachers attended in the pilot study and another six teachers are answering the teacher’s questionnaire. 3. 4 Research Sample The samples that had been taken into consideration consist of 30 different grades students of No. 9 middle school in Beijing. The samples are from same school and the school is well-known in Beijing. The samples are also from different level, their learning background also different. In the samples, it also included 6 teachers are teaching three grades of No. 9 middle school in Beijing. Their teaching experiences are different, because two of them are new teachers. Their teaching experiences are not enough. It can contrasts in different teachers and get the different data during the research. 3. 5 Research Instrument To meet the purpose of this study, the researcher looks at the types of reading strategies and which type is more common among students used and teacher teaching in the classroom. To conduct the process of this study the researcher uses questionnaires for the students and teachers. This questionnaire forms are distributed to the students. This is to gather information of the student’s background and their learning and the teachers’ teaching experiences and methods about reading strategies. The students are given answers and elicit responses regarding the research question. Teachers answer the research question based on their teaching experiences. 3. 6 Pilot Study It is to check the reliability and validity of results. In the research paper, in order to make sure the questions and data are stable and consistent in the questionnaires. The researcher distributed the questionnaire form to 15 other Chinese students from No. 9 middle school in order to get feedback about the questions, and then revise the survey 16 based on the written comments. The researchers will analyze their answer and data which is focused on the types of reading strategies. After they answer the questions, the researchers will discuss with the sample and analyze the questions. Will make sure each item is clear. The questions are aligned to the researcher to get the research purpose. As a result of the analysis, there are 15 items which are of the questionnaire. From my statistics the r=0. 79 3. 7 Data Collection Procedure About the questionnaire, researcher followed the procedure of searching information, constructing the questionnaire, inviting the participants, E-mailing the questionnaire, waiting for response, asking back the completed questionnaire. 3. 8 Data Analysis Procedure The researcher analyzed questionnaire data by using descriptive statistics. The procedure includes input data, summed score method to analyze data, report by using tables and summary of the major results. CHAPTER ? FINDINGS 4. 1 Introduction The main aim of this chapter is to investigate the types of cognitive reading strategies and cognitive reading strategies in the classroom among the middle school students in Beijing. In order to achieve these, data are obtained from a questionnaire that provides answers for the following research question: 1. What are the cognitive reading strategies of middle school students in Beijing? 2 Which type is more common among the students used in the classroom? 4. 2 Questionnaires Two set of questionnaires are distributed to two different groups of subject: the students and the teachers. The first set of questionnaire is distributed to the three grades students who are in No. 9 middle school. The questionnaire is distributed to gather information about student’s reading strategies and through their reading process, which type is used more widely among students in the classroom. The second set of questionnaire is distributed to six English teachers from the same school to find out about teachers teaching reading strategies in the classroom. The information and data gather from the questionnaires are calculated using the ‘percentage’ method. 1. Set 1: Student’ s questionnaire There are three sections in the student’s questionnaire. First section is background information. Table 4. 1 shows the students background information. TABLE 4. 1 Student’s background information 1. Gender |Gender |Male |Female |Percentage | |Students |15 |15 |50% | 2. Grade. |Grade |1 |2 |3 |Percentage | |Students |10 |10 |10 |33. 3% | The data collected shows the total students are 30. Male and Female percentage are equal in the table. And there are three grades in the No. 9 middle school, the percentage of each grade also the same reached at 33. 3%. The data is suitable to analysis. TABLE 4. 2 Types of Reading Strategies TABLE 4. 2. 1Skimming and Scanning Item NT UNT ST UT AT (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) B1: I briefly skim the 1 5 5 7 12 text before reading (3. 3%) (16. 7%) (16. 7%) (23. 3%) (40%) B2: I skim/ scan to get 3 2 6 10 9 the main idea (10%) (6.7%) (20%) (33. 3%) (30%) From the table, 60% students like skimming reading strategies before reading the text. Only 4 students or 13. 3% never use this strategies when they reading the text. Therefore they like skimming reading strategies very much, and some would rather remain neutral attitude on this strategy. Students can get main idea through they skim/scan the reading materials. The percentage is very high in these reading strategies. Illustration 4. 2. 2 Previewing [pic] The bar chart shows the percentage of the students who use previewing reading strategies in the classroom. The middle of blue and yellow bars means that the majority of people keep in neutral about these two questions, Section B question 3 and 4. It reflects that 9 students or 30% and 12 students or 40% not always use it in the classroom reading. Only 3 students or 10% strongly agree use previewing strategies during their reading. And 2 students or 6. 7% never use it. The data is average in this bar chart. TABLE 4. 2. 3 Predicting Item NT UNT ST UT AT (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) B5: I usually make 4 11 11 2 2 predictions as to what (13. 3%) (36. 7%) (36. 7%) (6. 7%) (6.7%) will follow text. The table of 4. 2. 3 is about students use predicting reading strategy in the classroom. Number of each option is average. Four students or 13. 3%, they never use it during the classroom reading. Most of students are thinking it is â€Å"usually not true of me† or â€Å"Somewhat true of me†, percentage of it reach 36. 7%. Contrast it the students who choose â€Å"Usually true of me† or â€Å"Always true of me† has 4 students only. They prefer use it during their reading. TABLE 4. 2. 4 Guessing from context Item NT UNT ST UT AT (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) B6: While I am reading,  I reconsider and revise 5 8 9 5 3 my prior questions (16. 7%) (26. 7%) (30%) (16. 7%) (10%) about the text based on the text’s content. B7: While I am reading, I consider and revise my background 6 7 11 4 2 knowledge about the (20%) (23. 3%) (36. 7%) (13. 3%) (6. 7%) subject based on the text’s content. Question 6 and 7 are related with the fourth type of reading strategy: Guessing from context. The students are also keeping the neutral attitude about this strategy. For question 6, there are 13 students or 43. 4% they don’t like use it. It takes up most of time doing reading comprehension. Only have 8 students or 26. 7% they always use it in the classroom reading. However the question 7 has some related with question 6. Already almost half of student they choose â€Å"never or usually not true of me† this option. Another 11 students or 36. 7% choose â€Å"Somewhat true of me†. Last 6 students they like use it very much in the classroom reading. Item NT UNT ST UT AT (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) B8: While I am reading, I try to determine the 1 11 11 7 – meaning of unknown (3. 3%) (36. 7%) (36. 7%) (23.3%) – words that seem critical to the meaning of the text. B9: As I am reading, I evaluate the text to determine whether it 3 8 12 6 1 contributes to my (10%) (26. 7%) (40%) (20%) (3. 3%) knowledge/ understanding of the subject. Two questions are also about â€Å"Guessing from text†. From the data analyses about this two questions, students who choose the same options with Question 6 and 7. There are 12 students or 40% who never use this strategy. 11 students sometimes use it, but there are only 7 students often use it. No one always use this strategy during their reading. Some data are the same with question 9. There are 11 students or 36. 7% who never use guessing from text strategy in the classroom. 40% students use it seldom. And only 7 students or 23. 3%, the number of students who choose this options is same with question 8. TABLE 4. 2. 5 Paraphrasing Item NT UNT ST UT AT (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) B10: I summarize/ paraphrase the material that I am 3 8 7 3 9 reading in order to (10%) (26. 7%) (23. 3%) (10%) (30%) remember the text. B11: After I have read 2 8 13 4 3 a text, I review it. (6. 7%) (26. 7%) (43. 3%) (13. 3%) (10%). B12: After I have read 5 11 7 6 1 a text, I evaluate what (16. 7%) (36. 7%) (23. 3%) (20%) (3. 3%) I have read. B13: After I have a read 1 5 12 10 2 a text I summarise it. (3. 3%) (16. 7%) (40%) (33. 3%) (6. 7%) The last type of reading strategy is Paraphrasing. These four questions are related to the paraphrasing. From the data analyse we can see that most of the students are keep neutral about this strategy. They are neither use it often nor they always use it and still maintains their neutral options through their chosen. Item NT UNT ST UT AT (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) B14: I search out  information relevant 1 10 5 10 4 to my reading goals. (3. 3%) (33. 3%) (16. 7%) (33. 3%) (13. 3%) B15: I evaluate whether what I am reading is 4 8 10 6 2 relevant to my reading (13. 3%) (26. 7%) (33. 3%) (20%) (6. 7%) goals. The last two questions also connected with paraphrasing. There is some different with last four questions. It is happened in the post-reading strategies. It is based on the reflection that readers give feedback after they did reading in the classroom 4. 2. 2 Set 2: Teacher’s questionnaire Set 2 consists of three sections. There is section A: Background information, Section B: The time arrangement about teaching reading and Section C: Teaching reading strategies in the classroom. TABLE 4. 4 Teacher’s background information 1. Gender |Gender |Male |Female | |Teachers |1 |5 | |Percentage |16. 7% |83. 3% | There are six teachers to participate in the research questions. Five are female or 83. 3% from the table analysis. Only one male participate in the research, percentage is 16. 7%. 2. Teaching Grade |Grade |1 |2 |3 | |Teachers |2 |2 |2 | |Percentage |33. 3% |33. 3% |33. 3% |. All of the six teachers are teaching Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3. Percentage is average 33. 3%, it shows researcher consider about the data analyze stability and choose the same teacher who teaching in the same grade. The data is easier to analyze and has pertinence for teaching purpose. 3. Education Qualification |Education Qualification |Bachelor degree |Master |Doctor | |Number |4 |2 |- | |Percentage |66. 7% |33. 3% |- | There are three levels for the education qualification, Bachelor degree, Master and Doctor. Four teachers or 66. 7% their education qualification is Bachel.

Immunology HIV Concept Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Immunology HIV Concept Paper - Essay Example There were various things that were discovered in the experiment. The analysis was done on 1752 patients. The result from these patients indicated that more than half did not show CD4 count while a quarter of the patients record did not indicate WHO clinical stage on the first appointment form (Haskew et al. 3). Moreover, the analysis showed that 108 patients were from the IPC program while 1644 were from the VCT services (Haskew et al. 3). There was also additional information from the multivariable analysis. In the analysis, those patient that were found to be HIV positive through VCT services had more than twice chances of presenting to first clinical visit in the Worlds Health Organization(WHO) clinical stages 3 or 4 (Haskew et al. 3). This was as compared to those that were found to be HIV positive in the IPC. At the same time, the affected individuals that were tested through VCT services had more than twice higher odds of presenting to first clinical visit with CD$ of less or equal to 350 cells/ul (Haskew et al. 3). This was as compared to those that were tested positive in IPC. There was also some variation in the mean CD4 count at a first clinical visit. The number of individuals testing positive through VCT was somehow lesser as compared to those that tested positive through IPC. On the other hand, the gender and marriage status played a significant role in determining clinic visit. The male that were divorced or widowed were independently linked to stage 3 or 4 as per visit (Haskew et al. 4).

Ethics Dealing between Principles of school and Teachers Research Paper

Ethics Dealing between Principles of school and Teachers - Research Paper Example The principal of any educational institute, being the highest in rank has the biggest responsibility in his or her shoulders of being ethical. People on such posts often face many ethical and legal problems which they have to deal with. This paper highlights some of such ethical and legal problems faced by principals of educational institutes and how these problems are being dealt with and what further steps could be taken to handle a situation, it also mentions the impacts of unethical conduct by teachers in schools and their effects on children. In specific it brings to light issues in educational institutes like ethical conduct towards students, their performances and between professional colleagues. Educational institutes are not only a place of education but it is also a place that helps build the personality of a person’ and human development may be one of the most important aspects of any person’s life and educational institutes plays a significant role toward it . ... Since education is closely related to teaching students not only about studies but also about building a better personality, the administration of the school have to think about policies like what things are punishable for students and what kind of punishments should be appropriate in teaching them a lesson while not going overboard. There are many punishments that are suspension from school, being expelled or even corporal punishments. Such punishments can either help students in teaching them a lesson or it could shatter their confidence leading to more rebellious attitude. The question that arises from the matters of punishment is whether punishing students has helped them and to what limits a student should be punished. Corporal punishment is a serious violation of ethics, it is described as any form of physical punishment that involves the voluntary infliction of pain for an offence it may be administered as a punishment or even as a deter, most commonly administered way of corp oral punishment is paddling. Whether corporal punishment should be allowed or not has been one of the biggest questions in the field of education. Corporal punishment has been banned in almost 30 states in America since 1989 which includes states like New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, Ohio and many more (Corporal punishment in public schools, by state). It is still legal in almost 19 states in America, where students are spanked by teachers. In an article on ABC news on corporal punishment the author talks about such incidents where students where paddled and talks about the effects it had on the students. He quotes ‘Tenika Jones says the

Introduction to Communication-Cultural Sensitivity Coursework

Introduction to Communication-Cultural Sensitivity - Coursework Example President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had seen the need for people to live together in peace despite their differences and accept cultural diversity by advocating for â€Å"the science of human relationships.† This brief paper examines the value of cultural knowledge in fostering peace and goodwill. Discussion – the cultural theory of sociology and anthropology states that culture is the sum total of the way of life of a group of people; the individual inherits the social legacy of this group and is profoundly influenced by this cumulative legacy of experiences of prior generations (Kluckhohn 1985). This legacy consists of the beliefs, values, and norms of the particular group and it may be hard or difficult for a person to deviate from this upbringing by doing something else which contradicts the wishes of the group to which he or she belongs. A clear understanding of this premise is necessary to connect with this individual through interpersonal communication. The anecdote I am narrating here is about a new kid who emigrated from the Far East. He hails from Japan and is distinctively Japanese in his manner of speaking, dress, and behavior. However, he also speaks excellent English as he had been privately tutored while still in Japan as his parents were from the middle-class and could afford a tutor for a foreign language lesson. He seems friendly, outgoing, fun-loving, inquisitive, intelligent, and highly sensitive too. People from the Far East countries of China, Japan, Korea, and to a large extent also in other countries where Confucian values are prominent including Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have a humble and deferential attitude towards other people, especially of elders. In this regard, I knew my new neighborhood friend will always defer to the wishes of his parents. It is inconceivable or unthinkable for him to go against their wishes, unlike most of American kids who instead value personal freedom and individuality to

Target market and branding (Bayer Aspirin case) Essay

Target market and branding (Bayer Aspirin case) - Essay Example ne and hence it is always advisable to consult the doctor before beginning the regime Target Market A target market refers to a group which a certain organization has decided to fashion its marketing campaign to address (J & V. 2012). A well established target market is the initial strategy to a marketing strategy. Target markets are usually separated by noticeable and distinguishable aspects. These aspects include geographical segmentation, psychographic segmentation, product related segmentation, and behavioral segmentation. In addition to these segmentations, market researchers are searching for methods to identify defined target groups which are smaller and better. There are four main strategies outlined by marketers for the purpose of satisfying the target market. These include undifferentiated marketing, differentiated marketing, niche marketing and concentrated marketing (J & V. 2012). The target group for Bayer Aspirin is a set of all people suffering from pain related issues of from all ages. In addition, its target group includes patients suffering or with suspected heart attack. Selecting a target market is extremely beneficial to any business as it enables the business organization to direct its products or services to those consumers with high potentials for the growth of sales, product interest and brand loyalty (J & V. 2012). First, it helps in identifying growth potential. A small group of consumers usually afford the firm with a great opportunity to increase sales. Irrespective of size, a target market usually captures those customers that are most likely to increase their sales of the organizations, products over time. Secondly, selecting a target market helps in building interests in the product. Customers in a target market always share different... Marketing plays a particularly significant role in managing a developing organization. It involves communicating the values of products or services to potential customers. Generally, marketing is the overall strategies as well as functions of promoting the products and services to the customers. In addition, marketing helps to manage customer relationships in a way that benefits the organization as well as its shareholders (JFP, 2009). Marketing, as a science assists in choosing target markets through market segmentation and market analysis. Moreover, it does that through understanding the consumer behavior and through the provision of superior consumer value. There are five leading marketing concepts which a firm can choose to carry out their business. These include the product concept, the production concept, the holistic marketing concept, the selling concept and the marketing concept.In conclusion, it is clear that marketing plays a very vital role in promoting products or services of any business organization. Bayer Aspirin needs to be marketed in order for its sales, to increase. Through marketing and identifying the target market, Bayer Aspirin can attract many customers.Branding of Bayer Aspirin has also played a tremendously significant role in increasing the sales of the organization. Images on the packets of Bayer Aspirin give customers a good impression hence attracting customers as well as building customer loyalty. Through continuous marketing and branding, the Bayer Aspirin will attract more customers in the near future

Israel and The Middle East Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Israel and The Middle East - Research Paper Example There are traces that have been found for the beginning of the conflict and it was the large-scale immigration of Jewish to Palestine especially after the Zionist movement was established as one of the main reason behind the conflict (Pressman, â€Å"A Brief History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict†). There is evidence of too much violence in recent times between Israelis and Palestinians. The vital point is that Israel has been confined to illegal military activity since 1967, in the vicinity of Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This is a continuing and original violence against which all Palestinian acts of violence have been directed (Pressman, â€Å"A Brief History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict†). In the year 1947, British Government asked the United Nations to deal with the question of Palestine. As per 1937 Peel Plan the majority of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) gave privilege to the partition of Palestine into two states comprising of Arab and Jewish one. According to the UNSCOP, the Jewish state would be about 55% and the Arab state would be about 42% of Palestine and the remaining territory, including Jerusalem would be termed as an international zone (Pressman, â€Å"A Brief History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict†). The Arab state would have about 400000 Arabs and the Jewish state would have 500000 Jews. In the year 1947, on 29th November, UNSCOP’s majority reports were accepted by the United Nations General Assembly as resolution 181. The Jewish people had accepted the partition but the Arab people had rejected it. Approximately right away, warfare started in Palestine between Jewish and Arab forces (Pressman, â€Å"A Brief History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict†). The conflict had existed for a long time and still it is found to be present in Palestine between the Arabs and the Jews. The main objective of the study is to find out the relationship between the Israelis and

Importance of FDI and Export push to China Essay

Importance of FDI and Export push to China - Essay Example   Foreign direct investment and the export-push remain important to the economy of China. The foreign direct investment and the export push have played a significant role in making reforms and continuous improvements in both internal and the external economic environments of China. The foreign direct investment in China occurs in joint ventures, cooperative enterprises, and the foreign owned enterprises. From the late 1980s, the China entered into a period of large-scale industrialization and an active reform on the FDI, exports, and domestic market consumption, which form the primary drivers of its economic growth. China has built its economy on matters of exports much faster than the other economic heroes of Asia have. The foreign direct investment is also another very important factor in the economic development of China. There is a good establishment relationship between the foreign direct investment and the international export trade in that the FDI usually follows exports by its logic (Lu and John 2002:312). The huge FDI influx recorded has increased an annual rate of China by more than 10 per cent since 1985 on wards. This has been accountable for the China’s economic growth. The recent studies have reaffirmed the importance of inward foreign direct investment for the sustainable growth in China. The phenomenal growth of the export links and the inward foreign direct investment of China have various indications. The annual total growth within the same span of time was 21 per cent.   China by this time accounted for 0.75 per cent of the world’s export in 1978. The share rose to 3.3 per cent a year later. By 1994, china exported manufactured goods worth 100 billion US dollars clinching the eighth position in the world in terms of production. The foreign direct investment has a direct influence on the export rate of the republic of china. In an isolated case in 1970s, the Chinese republican produced the largest share in the world export ma rket. The country also took the second position in terms of foreign direct investment after the United States. Since 1993, the total FDI of the republic of china has been raising up to 200 billion US dollars, which amounts to 31 per cent of the total FDI in all the developing countries (Chen 2012:397). The share of foreign exports of china increased from negligible amounts in the early 1980s to 20 percent in 1992 then to 41 per cent in 1998.

Violence in the NBA Essay Example for Free

Violence in the NBA Essay Violence in the NBA is spontaneous as well as erroneous. Due to its competitive and physical style of play, players usually get involved in altercations which eventually lead to a free-for-all brawl which is unbecoming of a sport that is known to produce gentlemen of finesse and prestige on and off the court. Each ruckus is always in focus of the meticulous and keen eyes of the media as well as the public. Arguably, it is reflective of what the sport of basketball wants young fans to emulate without the violence of course. Yet violence within the league is rampant amidst the guide of game officials, which are always on the forefront of any untoward incident that tends to spoil the spontaneity and momentum of the game. Due to the spontaneity that is in the nature of the sport, nobody can predict may it be a fan or a referee whenever an imminent brawl is about to take place. Some basketball analysts say that this aspect of the game is what draws fans from all walks of life to the game itself. Violence is exciting as much as athleticism is. Thus, making the sport of basketball a game where masculinity is exemplified and where violence is considered a norm. Players display fits of anger and sparks fly which sometimes involve irate fans. In most recent memory, â€Å"basketbrawls† were instigated by young and raw players which are considered the future of the NBA. Basketball is more than a game of brawns. It is a sport that is fueled by strong emotions that lead to spontaneous violence. Basketball Officiating: Boon or Bust? Being a referee in the NBA is not â€Å"a walk in the park† job at all. Referees are expected to have a rational and sound judgment in every call they make. Each decision of a referee is a crucial part of his job and whenever he makes a call or decision, not only players will react but fans will retaliate in every call as well. Referees are not highly considered to have a vital role in the NBA yet they act as a shock absorber in every loophole that the game has. They are always lambasted by players and fans alike yet they are there to stabilize the pace of the game and performing the task of mandating the rules of the game. Some might say that they are simply doing their job for the betterment of the game but recently there has been an official that was involved in a gambling issue over at Las Vegas. With this in mind, some fans have really lost their complete trust on referees. And fans don’t really care about referees or game officiating at all, fans flock the arenas to watch their home team win and not to be victimized by mediocre officiating. Fans have meticulous and keen eyes when it comes to bad calls as much as referees are also sharp on making calls on players. However, some decisions made by a referee are not favorable to a home team which creates a ruckus among the fans, this happens whenever a call is made and fans don’t like it which results to an unpleasant feedback among the fans. At some instances, fans sometimes instigate â€Å"basketbrawls† and before the referees know it some guy has a fist on his face already. This creates a self-defeating image for the NBA. Remember that this is not ice hockey or football where athletes wear protective gears that will protect them from imminent injuries that result from abrupt and unexpected altercations during the game. An example of â€Å"bad† officiating happened recently when rookie Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks unintentionally hit Toronto Raptors guard T. J. Ford when the latter was driving towards the basket. This created an eclectic plethora of feedbacks around the league. For the fact that Ford has been hampered with injuries since he entered the league which some experts say that Horford’s foul wasn’t intentional yet it was made one because Ford is frail and has a history of serious injuries. Now, this is not objective officiating per se, Basketball is a contact sport and it’s a reality as well as a conviction that is shared by players. Reputation and a player’s salary is always at stake in every call a referee makes. Though Horford was fined and suspended for a couple of games, the Atlanta Hawks rookie showed sportsmanship by visiting and attending to Ford at the hospital, a deed of a suspended player which does not usually happen and simply shows how some kids in the NBA show class and finesse which is good for the image of the league. Hoopsworld. com correspondent Jason Fleming has this to say about the incident: â€Å"But does anyone out there think Horford intentionally tried to hurt Ford? He felt horrible about it after it happened and even went to the hospital to spend time with Ford in Atlanta. He explained the foul, too, to anyone who would listen after that game on Tuesday. † (Fleming, J. 2007. p. 1) When it happened with a minute and a half left, we were still down by eight [92-84], Horford said. He got the steal. I just tried to go and block the shot. When he went up, I went up too. He tried to use the rim and I thought he was going to stay on [one] side so I went up and tried to hit the ball and I hit his head. † (Fleming, J. 2007. p. 1) He just made a good move and fooled me. Horford said. (Fleming,J. 2007. p. 1) â€Å"That quote has been seen repeatedly. And, if you ask the Raptors, they also wont say it was intentional. Heck, even T. J. Ford understands it wasnt intentional. † (Fleming,J. 2007. p. 1) It wasnt a dirty play at all, Ford said. I think I just kind of tricked him with the move and he got caught in a bad spot. Hes a good kid. I told him Im not holding anything against him. (Fleming, J. 2007. p. 1) â€Å"During those hours in the hospital, where Horford talked to Ford, it was Ford picking up Horford. I know that Horford feels awful about it, Colangelo said. He spent a couple of hours at the hospital with (T. J. ) last night and, true to T. J. s form, he was probably doing more of the consoling. I think the kid (Horford) was pretty shaken up about it. He felt awful. I dont think there was any intention to do harm. (Fleming, J. 2007. p. 1). â€Å"So, with these multiple accounts of no intent of harm on the record, again, why did Al Horford receive a one-game suspension? Is it because of how bad it looked? Is it because of the fragility of Ford given his past issues with his neck and spine? Is it because this could have been much worse than it was? Honestly though, thats going to be true going forward too. No matter what anyone says, basketball is a contact sport. Sure, contact is regulated by the calling of personal fouls, but players get fooled all the time. To be real clear here, this is no different than a player going for a steal on a dribble and accidentally hitting the player with the ball in the groin. It happens. Fouls are called. Basketball moves on. Sometimes players have to leave games with injuries. † (Fleming, J. 2007. p. 1). Basketball Fans versus Athletes Basketball is inherently a physical and competitive sport. Suffice to say that the sport exudes hints of violence due to the physical nature of the game. Yet sometimes the physicality of the game goes overboard and results to chaotic brawls which include players and fans alike. At some instances, these spectators are usually the linchpin to instigate basketbrawls. The heat of the game overwhelms everyone in the stadium and before you know it beer bottles, stadium paraphernalia and other objects are being thrown at the arena and add more tension in an already brewing commotion among players. There are numerous instances that players are overwhelmed by their emotions and retaliation is always imminent on the part of these players. We have to consider that due to the competitive nature of the game, these athletes have high testosterone levels that result in extraordinary aggressive behavior. Which leads us to a behavioral disorder called Intermittent Explosive Behavior which is imminent in these athletes. Intermittent explosive behavior is described as a disorder as having extreme expressions of anger and uncontrollable rage which is inappropriate to a certain situation. George Orwell, author of the book Shooting an Elephant: The Sporting Spirit has this observation about the role violence plays in every sport aside from basketball: Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting. (Orwell. 1950. ). This quote tells us that no sport has an inherent sense of fair play. And every sport is fueled by athleticism and sportsmanship camouflaged by arrogance as well as a certain sadistic nature in terms of watching it for the sake of the gratification brought about by violence. In the NBA, there are numerous basketbrawls but nothing compares to the infamous Pistons-Pacers brawl that happened on November 19, 2004 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan, The incident that is better known as â€Å"The Malice at the Palace† sparked a myriad of negative feedbacks from the media to the public. This was arguably the most notorious basketball incident in recent memory since the â€Å"Bad Boy Days† of the Detroit Pistons of the late 80’s. The incident generated repercussions throughout the league and legal authorities as well. The incident involved Indiana forward Ron Artest and Detroit center Ben Walllace. Wallace was on his way for a fastbreak lay-up when Artest abruptly grabbed the former with his two arms causing Wallace to fall in an awkward manner. Wallace then retaliated by shoving Artest causing the latter to almost hit the bench. After this, chaos followed and players from both teams left the bench to join the fray and Piston fans joined the ruckus as well. Punches were thrown be it player against player or player against spectator. It was an embarrassing moment for the NBA and generated speculations about the conduct of players in the league. Each player in the NBA was placed under public scrutiny and is considered responsible for each deed he commits on the court as well as off the court. Sadly, media attention focused on Ron Artest which was suspended for a season, there was a debate regarding Artest rushing to the stands to hit a fan who threw a cup of beer on him, commentators said that it was not a valid excuse to rush to the stands and retaliates in order to hit the fan. The media heavily blamed the players for instigating the melee which was a huge upset for the entire league. Speculations of hooliganism in the league were fueled by the incident and Piston fans were placed in close public scrutiny. The Pistons had defeated the Pacers in a tight Eastern Conference Finals series five months prior to the incident, which eventually paved the way to their first championship since the Bad Boys Era. The game on November 19 was televised nationally on ESPN as well as locally on select Michigan television stations including Detroits NBC affiliate WDIV-TV (Channel 4) and statewide across Indiana through the Central Indiana bureau of FSN Midwest (which was later spun off to FSN Indiana), would be the first rematch between the two rivals since the Eastern Conference Finals. And emotions found its way to run high on either team (Wikipedia Pistons-Pacers Brawl. 2004. p. 1). Let us take a closer look on what transpired after the infamous incident: Players and spectators who were part of the incident are deemed to be subjected to criminal charges and will be thoroughly investigated by The Auburn Hills Police Department as well as the Oakland County Prosecutors Office. Two spectators filed and claimed monetary damages. The final legal actions of the incident for those involved may take months to determine (Wikipedia Pistons-Pacers Brawl. 2004. p. 1). â€Å"On November 30, Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca announced that he will seek charges against all players involved in the melee. † â€Å"Whoever was involved in fisticuffs will be charged, regardless if they were wearing a jersey. Its obvious there were several Pacer players and fans that dealt blows. †(Wikipedia Pistons-Pacers Brawl. 2004. p. 1). When Basketball Rears its Ugly Head Players are always at risk whenever they display unruly behavior on the court yet most players dont really care about the consequences that will be brought about by such behavior. Players dont really care about consequent suspensions as well as fines for their misconduct. Players are not really concerned that they are being watched by people around the world and each action they make is a mirror image of the NBA. These athletes are only there to perform their best because that what they are paid for and does not really mind if they are playing â€Å"prison rules† basketball in a prestigious league such as the NBA. What is surprising about the violence which is apparent in the NBA is that people couldnt care less about it. Arguably, NBA afficionados are used to the competitive and physical style of play wherein players thrive upon. And whats contradicting is that these players are deemed responsible for their actions on the court yet sometimes they themselves enjoy a little fistfight once in awhile. Since the incident in Detroit which was called â€Å"The Malice at the Palace†, some basketball analysts bluffed that having a resident psychiatrist in every team in the NBA will help each player as much as a physical condition trainer helps a player with regards to physical health, so why not consider mental health as well? One of the most penalized game altercations after the infamous Pistons-Pacers brawl would be the Knicks-Nuggets brawl which happened on December 16, 2006 which resulted to the suspension of seven players from both teams and a fine of $500,000 dollars each. The fine was arguably stiff due to the fact that Commissioner Davide Stern was trying polish the leagues image since the Pistons-Pacers brawl. The altercation started when Denver guard J. R. Smith was on a fastbreak and was about to dunk when suddenly New York rookie Mardy Collins strangled him when he the former was in mid-air causing Smith to fall hard on the floor. New York guard Nate Robinson rushed to them then pushed Smith in order to break the fight. The three players were surrounded by the team mates and officials who were trying to restrain the altercation. Yet this didnt help restrain the imminent on-court fight which was further escalated when Denver forward Carmelo Anthony strangled Robinson. At this time, New York forward David Lee was holding back Smith but the latter broke free and tackled Robinson then slammed Smith on the courtside resulting spectators and media to depart from the scene. Again, chaos overwhelmed the hardwood and more fighting followed. More pushing and shoving followed as well then eventually cooler heads prevailed and order was restored. Yet the seemingly restrained fight was inflamed again when Anthony made a cheap shot on Collins, The Nuggets star sucker-punched the Knicks rookie which had Knicks players chasing after him while he was leaving the court (Wikipedia Knicks-Nuggets Brawl. 2006. p. 1) The media has speculated that Knicks General Manager and Head Coach was the main culprit for the brawl which generated the notion that was Thomas dire attempt to revive the physical and rough brand of play which was reminiscent of the Detroit Pistons â€Å"Bad Boys Era† for him to inspire his team and give them the confidence boost they need in order to overwhelm a sense of inferiority against upper echelon teams. Criticisms surfaced as well due to the fact that Commissioner Stern didnt hand Thomas a suspension for his verbal provocation on Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, telling the latter not to enter the paint which suggested that the Knicks were planning mayhem right at the start of the game itself. Denver Head Coach George Karl said that this was a mediocre attempt on insulting his friendship with former Knick coach Larry Brown who was fired by Thomas and had a tumultuous relationship with after Browns departure from New York (Wikipedia Knicks-Nuggets Brawl. 2006. p. 1) George Karl was furious the next day and made a harsh comment on Thomas saying: â€Å" Thomas made a bad situation worse. Hes a jerk for what hes trying to do. My team has blown 10-point leads, 11-point leads with two minutes to go. I watched Utah blow a 12-point lead to Sacramento two nights before that with four minutes to go in the game and youre telling me that Im running the score up? Hes an asshole † (Karl. 2006) The comments made by Carl was scrutinized and criticized by media men speculating a brewing bad blood between Carl and Thomas which dates to Thomas firing of Larry Brown who happens to be a close friend of the Nuggets mentor (Truehoop. com. 2006. p. 1) With this in mind, violence in the NBA does not start from players alone. One cannot help on being skeptic on how coaches think and manipulate their players. In the aftermath of this Knicks-Nuggets brawl, speculations on coaches surfaced on how they motivate as well as manipulate their players. Specially players who are raw and new to the league. Prior to this incident, New York Knicks GM and Head Coach Isiah Thomas was being accused already to display provocative tactics as well as unruly behavior among these are: ? The pre-season game versus New Jersey Nets on October 27 was glimpse of things to come. Thomas confronted Nets assistant coach Tom Barisse after a potential on-court brawl that resulted from a hard play which involved a Nets player and three Knicks players. Nets head coach Lawrence Frank didnt acknowledge or responded to the bickerings of Thomas. Thomas exclaimed that: The better teams dont like when the teams on the bottom give them a hard time Sometimes they get a little upset with that. We have to give them a hard time and I hope they dont take it personally. (Thomas. 2006) ? In a game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 11, Thomas appeared to instigate a fight against Spurs forward Bruce Bowen, which Bowen accused Thomas of yelling at his players to â€Å"break his foot! † In retaliation how Bowen used his legs on when Knicks guard was attempting a jumpshot. Other than that, Thomas started shouting match against Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. Thomas said: I was trying to stoke a little fire. We were playing three games in four nights against a pretty tough opponent in a getaway game. We were almost ready to pack our bags. (Thomas. 2006. p. 1). He later mentioned his Bad Boys Era in Detroit and exclaimed that if ever someone tried that on him, â€Å"I would murder him† (Thomas. 2006. p. 1) Thomas actions and innuendos were unbecoming of a hall of famer and a team general manager. This lead to a bevy of feedbacks about his conduct not only as a team official but a person as well. Perhaps this was a result of the job pressure he was receiving from the media and fans who wanted him out in New York. Thomas was considered to bring the unfavorable atmosphere in Madison Square Garden. Final Analysis The imminent violence that thrives in the NBA will always be part of the game. People have to accept the fact that every sport will be dealt with the consequent physicality and relative competitiveness that is a crucial part of every sport that is played. The NBA should do its part in assessing each brawl accordingly so as to be fair to the players. Players have should be responsible for their actions on court and off court as well. Its a good thing that the league has started having a dress code in order to polish the image of its players. Yet it doesnt end there and players should always carry with them a sense of sound conduct amidst the strong emotions that is always at play during games. Sportsman-like rivalry coupled with a sense of camaraderie will always overwhelm the hint the ugly notion of prison rules basketball. But players will always be true to their game which comes along with their passion for the game that makes the notion of violence a norm in each game played. References Fleming, J. 2007. Horford’s Suspension Unfair. p. 1. Retrieved December 13,2007 from Hoopsworld. com Levesque, J. 2004. Violence part of NBAs history. Retrieved November 23,2004 from Seattlepi. com Celizic,M. 2004. Fans as much to blame as players. Retrieved November 22,2004 from MSNBC. com Wikipedia. 2007. Violence in Sports. Retrieved December 20,2007 from Wikipedia. com Wikipedia. 2007. Pistons-Pacers Brawl. Retrieved December 22,2007 from Wikipedia. com Wikipedia. 2007. Knicks-Nuggets Brawl. Retrieved December 26,2007 from Wikipedia. com ESPN News Services. 2007. Raptors guard Ford injured after flagrant foul in victory. Retrieved December 11,2007 from ESPN. com Orwell, G. 1950. The Sporting Spirit, Shooting an Elephant. p. 153 New York: Harcourt, Brace, Co.

Organisational Behaviour Essay Example for Free

Organisational Behaviour Essay I. Introduction An organisation is commonly defined as a group of people who work together in a consciously coordinated social unit for a shared purpose. Management refers to the activity of controlling and organizing people to accomplish its goals. In today’s increasingly global and competitive environment the effective management of people is even more important to the successful performance of the work organisations. Therefore, the managers need to understand the main influences on how people behave in an organisation setting. Mullins (2008, p.4) defined organisation behaviour (OB) as ‘the study and understanding of individual and group behaviour, and patterns of structure in order to help improve organisational performance and effectiveness’. It comprises a synthesis of a variety of different theories and approaches. Therefore, this essay opens by briefly explore a number of interrelated disciplined to the study of organisational behaviour, before examining the relevance of four main approach to the subject in today’s workplace. Finally, it discusses the purpose of organisations. II. Interrelated discipline to the study of organisational behaviour The study of behaviour can be viewed in terms of three main disciplines – psychology, sociology and anthropology. The contribution of all three disciplines has played an important role to studying organisational behaviour. Psychology is the science and art of explaining mental processes and behaviour. The main focus of attention is on the individuals and explores such concepts as perception, motivation, perception and attitudes. It is arguable that McKenna considers psychology as the key discipline in studying organisational behaviour. There are five key areas in Psychology that can impact on organisations; these are: psychological psychology, cognitive psychology, development psychology, social psychology and personality psychology. Psychological aspects are useful to the practical applications such as job analysis, interviewing models or selection, but it provide too narrow view for understanding of organisational behaviour which ‘is not concern with the complex detail of individual differences but with the behaviour and management people of people’ (Mullins, 2008, p. 7). Watson (2008) defined sociology is more concern with the study of social behaviour, relationships among social groups and societies. It focuses on group dynamics, conflict, work teams, power, communication and intergroup behaviour. It is possible that Watson considered sociology to be the key discipline in studying organisations though he also places emphasis on economics. The structuration reflects the dual effect that individuals make society and society makes individuals. Watson (2008, p. 30) presents six strands of thought applied to his framework for analysis. He further presents six substantive areas applied to the six strands of though in a matrix which are work, society and change; work organisations; the changing organisation and the management of work, occupations and society; work experiences, opportunities of meanings; and conflict challenge and resistance in work. This discipline is valuable to the organisation. It helps managers recognise the relationships between large-scale social forces and the actions of individual. However, Mullins (2008, p. 7) argues that the study of organisational behaviour cannot be studied entirely in single discipline. Although each discipline has an important contribution, it just underpins the study of subject. Indeed, Mullins synthesises interrelated disciplines which are psychology with sociology, anthropology that explore culture and behavioural factors; economics that attempts to provide a rational explanatory framework for individual and organisational activity; and political science that is study of power and control between individual and groups; in his framework for analysis of organisational behaviour. III. Four main approaches In Mullins’ framework, the study of organisational behaviour is concerned with not only the behaviour in isolation, but with interaction among the structure and operation of organisations, the process of management and behaviour of people that are affected by external environment. He applies a number of approaches to organisation: 1. Classical  2. Human Relations 3. Systems 4. Contingency 1. Classical Approach The classical writers considered organisation in terms of purpose and formal structure with attention to hierarchy of management and technical requirements of organisation. Frederick Taylor with the Scientific Management had a major contribution to the Classical Approach. Taylor’s theory was based on the psychological discipline that is concerned with the study of individuals’ behavior. He believed that individuals behave rationally toward financial incentive. Worker would be motivated by highest possible wages by doing highest grade of work. Furthermore, his main objective is to find more efficient methods and procedures for the task design and control of work. Combined with training workers, it was always possible to find the one best way to perform each task. It was criticized that since workers passively do repeated task and paid by result, the less human approach can cause a decline in worker morale as well as in skill requirements, reducing flexibility.Nevertheless,massive productioncompanies stilladopt partially Taylor’s theory in order to maintain or increase productivity. For example, Mc Donald uses the payment method of Taylor’s theory to motivate and encourage the workers. The human who work in fast food restaurant are trained to do a limited number of tasks in precisely. 2. Human Relations Approach Human Relations is a managerial approach based on the consideration of and the attention to the social factors at work and the behavior of employees. Attention is paid to the informal organization and the satisfaction of individual’s needs through groups at work. Elton Mayo (1880-1949) conducted Hawthorne tests on organizations to access productivity. He moved away from scientific beliefs on money and discipline towards importance of group belonging (social study). The tests examined effect of group piecework pay system on productivity. The result is that workers did not necessarily seek to maximize production in order to receive enhanced bonuses but social pressure caused them to produce at group norm level. On the other hand, the research was originally intended to examine effects of lighting on productivity. As a consequence, productivity increased regardless of lighting level was due to workers’ receiving attention. The Hawthorne effect adopted in Human relation approach suggested that good supervision and environment increase satisfaction and other variables affect this, such as structure, leadership, and culture. Unlike the classical thought with consideration of improving productivity, human relation approach ‘strove for a greater understanding of people’s psychological and social needs at work as well as improving the process of management. However, Mullins (2008, p. 29) criticized human relations as a ‘unitary frame of reference’ and oversimplified theories. Even today the Hawthorne experiment is still useful for describing the changes in behavior of individuals and groups, and opened the door to more experiments by other sub-division of approach known as neo human relation. 3. Systems Approach The system approach to the study of organizations combines the contrasting position of the classical approach, which emphasized the technical requirements of organization and its needs ‘organization without people’, and human relations approach, which emphasized the human fulfillments and social aspects – ‘people without organization’. This approach inspires managers to regard organization as an open system interacting with environment and to view total work but not the sum of separate parts. In Figure 2.5 (Boddy, 2008, p.60), the system consists of a number of interrelated subsystems, such as people, power, technology or business processes system; which add complexity and interact with each other and external environment. It is stated that any part of an organization’s activity affects all other parts because there are areas overlap between various subsystems. Therefore, it is the task of management to integrate these interrelated subsystems and direct efforts of members towards the achievement of organizational goals. The system approach, which is components of interrelated subsystems, provides analysis of organizational performance and effectiveness while the socio-technical approach takesorganization as viewed by the individual members and their interpretation of the work situation. In time of increasing globalization, technological change has influenced on the behavior of people and other parts, thus the whole system. It is valuable for manager to manage the total work and coordinate the technical change and the needs of individuals. 4. Contingency Approach According to Mullins (2008, p. 31), the contingency approach rejects the idea of ‘one best form or structure’ or ‘optimum state’ for organizations. The organizations needs to be flexible to cope with change and managers need to change structure and processes required. This approach influenced many management practices such as market research, PR or strategic planning, which stress response to external conditions. Furthermore, it emphasized that the practice depends on people interpreting events and managers be able to have subjective judgments as much as rational analysis. The contingency approach is relevant to management and organizational behavior. It provides a setting in which to view large number of variables factors that influence on the organizational performance. Hence, it enables process of management to change the structure of organization at the expense of the need for stability and efficiency. IV. The purpose of organizations As defined earlier in this essay, organization is a group of people who work together in a structured way for a shared purpose. It is a task for management to clarify strategy, which tell people how to work, where to go, and what to achieve. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the nature of strategy for the formal organization in order to study organizational behavior. Johnson et al. (cited in Mullins, 2008, p. 350) define the strategy is ‘the direction and scope of an organization over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with aim of fulfilling stake holder expectation’. People dimension of strategy is concerned with people as a resource; people and behavior and organizing people, therefore, influencing behavior of people to achieve success and motivation of individuals are central part of organization’s strategy. Mullins (2008, p. 352) stated that ‘the goals of an organization are the reason for its existence’. It is the desired state for organization to pursue in the future. Therefore, an organization gains its effectiveness and performance through achieving its goal. To be effective, the goals need to be clearly stated and understandable, thus making impossible for people in organization to perceive. It is clearly evident that goal setting promote immediately behavior of people at work and it can be considered as successful tools of increasing work motivation and effectiveness. An organizational goal are likely to achieve when informal goal, which are defined by individual and based on both perception and personal motivation, are compatible with organizational goals. Therefore, it is crucial role for management to integrate the needs of individuals with the overall objective of the organization. Organizational goals are generally translated into objectives that set out more specifically the goals of organization. Drucker (cited in Mullins, 2008) indicated eight key areas for setting objectives, which ‘are needed in every area where performance and results directly and vitally affect the survival and prosperity of the business’. SWOT analysis, which focuses on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing the organization, draw out strategic implication.First, Strengths are internal aspects of organization that give it competitive advantage over others in the industry such as size, structure, technology, reputation or staffing. Second, Weaknesses are those negative aspects that place organization at a disadvantage regarding to other. Examples of weaknesses could be operating within narrow market, limited resource, and lack of information. Third, Opportunities are favorable chances arise from external environment which provides potential for the organization to offer new, or to develop existing goods or services. Finally, Threats are external elements in the environment that cause trouble for the organization. For example, change in law, increasing tax or competition from other organizations. SWOT analysis may be used in evaluating any decision-making situation when a desired end results (objectives) has been defined. V. Conclusion In conclusion, this essay has been identified the main approaches to the study of organization. In the first section, it provides a discussion on the interrelated disciplines of Organizational behavior, which is Psychology and Sociology. McKenna stated his idea that psychology has the biggest contribution to the study of subject; whereas Watson placed emphasis on sociology. However, the subject is rooted in multidisciplinary and cannot be undertaken in any single discipline. In Mullins’ framework, he examines a broader view, and then presents four main approaches to the study of organizational behavior. In the final section, this essay has defined the strategy that directs to the goal and objective of organization, and commented on the usefulness and relevance of SWOT analysis in evaluating the strategy.

Freedom of Speech in Saudi Arabia

Freedom of Speech in Saudi Arabia Twitter is one of those social media that has revolutionized the way of sending thoughts to the whole of the world. It has rapidly changed the way of communicating with the people living at any place of the world. Its importance cannot be denied in any case. There are billions of people that are well aware from this medium. They have maintained their accounts in it to get the latest happenings in the country and in the outside world. This medium has become the reason for awareness in the Kingdom Saudi Arab. People are attached to it to get the information they need. They are not in exception and are making full of this facility. In the recent years, the amount of accounts prepared by the people living in the kingdom has been increased. People have started recognizing its importance. There are many reports issued by independent research institutions of the world that are supporting this fact. People in KSA are now well aware of its benefits and are recognizing that it is the best source to connect them with the world. It is not only the reason of creating a contact with the people, but they can also express their views with the world. The world has changed, due to this sort of medium. The awareness of the issues has been spread about in the world. People are now able to discuss these issues and provide their suggestions on them. Openly and bluntly speaking, the revolutions in the recent years, in the Arab countries are brought because of Twitter. In Saudi Arabia people can come up to one stage to share their thought. They know what else is better than this. While being at home, using twitter on their computers and mobiles, they are promoting freedom of speech. It was considered that there was lesser freedom to talk and express one’s views in KSA, but this is not the case anymore. People have got the environment that is performing its duty very well for them. Statement of purpose It is significant to know what is happening in the world. If you are not aware of all, this means, you are losing something important. Twitter is about knowing whether the people are concerning themselves with the innovative ways of chatting and expressing thoughts with others or not. This medium has created awareness among the people in KSA, and how you can raise your voice while being there. It has become the best platform for spending time on reading and discussing the news. This platform is not only limited to the news of the world that sometimes bore a person, but the entertainment stuff also exists in it. People in the Saudi Arabia are also having fun while reading funny and entertainment tweets. People were unable to criticize the policies of the government before this, and the local media were always talking about the qualities of the kingdom. Now the people are well aware and have a platform that will make sure that their voices and thoughts will be conveyed to the relevant authorities and the issues will be solved. One of the important things is that you can promote the things that you are doing. The persons living in the society come near to each other and they become able to convey their thoughts to a huge amount of people. it was not possible in the recent past. Importance or relevance of the project This project is very crucial for everybody to know about. People spend their whole of the lives searching for something that will make them able to show their beliefs to the world. There are still many people who do not think that it has become simpler than the past to convey their suggestions and views to the rest of the people. The reason for this might be that they are not having opportunities to do so; it is the responsibilities of the people living nearby them to make them aware of any such change and to provide them facilities. KSA is a place where the people have started recognizing its importance. The world has been changed and the processes of doing things have also been modernized to a large extent. The people should be told to use this medium to convey their problems and views to the whole of the world. The time has been changed and the importance of Twitter has been increased all around the world. Now the public gathering is held due to the help of these like media, that are very easy to access by everybody and are less expensive or sometimes, they cost nothing to the users for connecting themselves with the world. This creates social awareness among the masses especially in the countries like KSA where the kingdom prevails and it is difficult to convey the opinions and the views over any issue, like the criticism on the government for a project that did not suitably solve the issues of the people. Now the people are capable to show their concerns to the relevant authorities of the country. The rules and regulations and the ethics should not be exploited in the wake of freedom of expressions. Sharing views and making a tweet means you have to be in a limit that should not be crossed by hook or by crook. If the people are being provoked to destroy the system of a country, their minds are being agitated with the hatred by using a social medium. Relevance to communication theory Twitter also understands to fulfill the requirements of the communication theory. This theory is very vast and covers all the factors that occur in the social media including the face to face, chats, and likewise sort of communication. People in Saudi Arabia are able to follow to their desired personalities as in it the â€Å"following system† prevails. You get tweets in which, the persons to whom you are following, share their thoughts. It is the communication software that is being used widely by the people of the world. They are getting most of it by connecting themselves by following the people they like. Twitter is evolving with the passage of time. More and more features are being included into it so that the people could make full of this media. Various sorts of companies with their twitter accounts attract the employees from all around the world. This is known as innovation, which was never thought in the past. When there are many benefits of it, there are many factors that are becoming the reason of its misuse. Some people are negatively using it and are becoming the reason of many problems. They are making the environment unsafe, which is not policy of any social media. Still, there are a lot to do to make it safer place to be at. The management of the Twitter is not able to have check and balance on all the tweets of the people. It is the people’s social responsibility to make sure that they use it for the positive works. Communication has become very easy and comfortable with the invention of this medium in the KSA. It is least expensive and affects the huge amount of people. Their number is being increased in the Saudi Arabia. They are concerned about this media and provide their feedback when needed and when they think it is suitable to take participation in the issues being discussed. Just an account is what you need to get your message spread all around the world. The multi-national, educational, charity and governmental organizations in KSA are using this medium and making full of this facility. They share their message in the shape of tweets and call for the opinions of the people. They are not required to spend huge sum of money on the advertisements whereby the feedbacks of the people is difficult to take and provide them the solution at spot, if they have any problem. The other pitfall of them is that the message of only one side comes into scene and the other party waits for the right time to get in contact with the first one, to tell him, what the issue was with his message. This might be creating barriers in the way of all freedom of speech. People of the Saudi Arabia are well known with all these kinds of factors. They know attracting a huge amount of people has become very easy now. Communication theory is all about transferring the information from one person to another. It should be conveyed effectively and this is what is provided by Twitter. The feedback is taken from the audience, whether desired or not, they are not bound to provide or not to provide the reply to a certain situation. Nobody is there to halt their ways in this regard. Feedback is very crucial without it; the process of communication is not completed. When the people are able to provide their feedback with ease, there is no issue with the freedom of speech in the society. It is what the society of the KSA has started recognizing.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Our Only Hope to Feed Seven Billion Peo

Modern Agriculture Farming experienced little change from the end of the medieval age until the middle of the twenty-first century. (Baker, 2014) When the tractor became the common farm tool and replaced the horse, crop yields remained much the same. (Baker, 2014) From 1866 until 1938, corn yields in the United States were reported at 30 bushels an acre. This, when compared to medieval yields, is not much higher than a good growing year in medieval times. (Baker, 2014) Innovation was drastically stalled by the Second World War and the Korean conflict. However, by 1951, crop yield began to steadily increase as new technologies like fertilizer and hybrid corn breeds became more readily available in the United States.(Baker, 2014) After the introduction of these innovations, corn yields in the United States, from 1952-present, showed an increased yield of 2 bushels an acre per year. (Baker, 2014) This simple increase, not only of corn, but other grain sources has led to a huge increase in the population of the world. The population has increased more rapidly in the last 200 years than any other time in history. This may seem like a relatively short time, but when compared to the history of agriculture this is a very short time period. Consider that it took over 1000 years for the world to reach a population of 1 billion and only 207 years to reach 7 billion. This is an exponential explosion in the population. Throughout history, agriculture, through several revolutions, has made it possible to sustain the world population. Through innovations such as the plow, crop rotation, and fertilizer, yields have grown and supported the population. But how will modern agriculture support a population of 7 billion people? There is n... ... Biosafety?" Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies 9.2 (2002): 461-500. Web. 1 Mar. 2014. Levetin, Estelle, and Karen McMahon. "Chapter 11: Origins of Agriculture." Plants and Society. The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008. 177-186. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. Paarlberg, Robert. "GMO Foods and Crops: Africas Choice." New Biotechnology 27.5 (2010): 609-613. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. Pray, Carl, Latha Nagrajan, Luping Li, Jikun D. Huag, Ruifa Hu, K.N Selvaraj, Ora Napasintuwong, and Chandra Babu. "Potential Impact of Biotechnology on Adaption of Agriculture to Climate Change: the Case of Drought Tolerant Rice Breeding in Asia." Sustainability 3(2011): 1723-1741. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. Xia, Lanqin, Youzhi Ma, Yi He, and Huw D. Jones. "GM Wheat Development in China: Current Status and Challenges to Commercialization." Journal of Experimental Botany 63.5 (2012): 1785-1790. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.