Product life cycle Essay

Identify and assess the relevance of the ‘product life cycle’ to the notion of employee engagement. Employee engagement can be viewed through the four stages of the product life-cycle Step one is the introduction of the concept of employee engagement, its principles, strategy for enhancing engagement and involving employees, process of change to ensure engagement is fully embedded into the organisation. Step two is growth and growing the concept of engagement through a number of mechanisms: * Support from senior and line managers * Development of line managers in engaging staff * Clear communication and involvement strategy * Involving staff in organisational and job design * Encouraging self and career development planning * Identifying mechanisms for continuous staff feedback * Evaluating and adapting engagement strategies. Step three is reaching maturity and embedding and maintaining the above factors through continuous involvement, participation, communication, evaluation and action And finally, step 4 is the inevitable decline, even though there is a decline it is still important to retain key employees, and their skills and knowledge, and therefore to continuously involve them in managing the change and future strategy. The employee engagement life cycle is an important tool for HR professionals to use to assess how the engagement product fits with the business’s objectives and strategy. Evaluate the future for employee engagement in the UK and global economic context. Future action plans include: * Involving workers in identifying factors that will engage them further * Consideration of the demographic data and identification how to engage staff from all backgrounds at different levels * Further evaluation of the link between engagement practices and performance * Development of managers that can motivate and inspire staff Monster (2011) the online job advertising website conducted an international survey on employees’ views of their line managers and uncovered the following results: * Only 10% described their manager as ‘brilliant’ * 73% feels their manager does not invest in their self-development * 70% believe that they could do their manager’s job to a higher standard * 41% of UK workers felt their managers were totally incompetent Line managers are pivotal to enhancing engagement through empowering, motivating, inspiring, coaching and helping the employee develop themselves to enhance performance. Key areas where managers require further development include: * Responding to grievances and confronting issues * Empowering and involving workers on decisions that impact on them * Treating all team members equitably and with respect and providing constructive feedback * Recognising and appreciating efforts (particularly discretionary effort) * Being driven to deliver on commitments and promises made. Assess the future role of the HR professional and the HR function so far as the sustainable implementation of employee engagement practices is concerned. In order for HR to become more strategic, they need to ensure the HR strategies and the business strategies are aligned and both contribute to the overall business aim and objectives. If this is achieved then HR can be a driving force for creating an organisational strategy for competitive advantage. HR practitioners can determine organisation capability and engagement levels to flexibly adapt to changing environmental and customer needs through an evaluation of: the current resources in terms of skills, knowledge and behaviours; and organisation design and development. Once the HR practitioner is vertically integrated within the business, they will be able to take advantage of future opportunities by becoming a key player in the strategic decision making process through providing extensive knowledge in terms of organisational capability in taking the opportunity to grow into new markets, or determining future strategies and actions required.

Math in Early Childhood Article Review Essay

Math Journal Review The purpose of this article was to explain the use and importance of programs such as the, â€Å"What’s the Big Idea† program instituted at the Bennington Library in Vermont. The â€Å"What’s the Big Idea† program aims to provide librarians with techniques and tools for introducing preschool and kindergarten students to science and math through literature. Picture books and stories are used a lot because stores are great conveyors to memorable messages about since and math. It also gives children the tools they need to be able to look at books and seek out math and science concepts and connections within the text. The program focuses on child directed and hands on explorations rather that adult directed instruction allowing the children to gain personal acts of discovery through play. â€Å"What’s the Big Idea† focuses on four main math and science concepts; numbers and operations, patterns and relationships, changes over time, and geometry and special sense. For each topic there are activities, projects, and books that correspond with the chosen topic. There are different activity centers that are also set up. Some are set up for large group and small group and some are set up for independent exploration. They offer things such as interactive graphs, geoboards, jars with small objects for sorting, blocks, and other manipulatives. Something new that I learned was that I didn’t know that libraries offered programs like that. I knew that had reading groups and programs but I didn’t realizes that there were also libraries that offered programs to also promote math and science concepts as well. I like how they use books first to gain an idea and then tie it into math and science by exploring the concepts in the story a little further to better their understanding not only of the story but of the math and/or science behind it. A way that I can see this information being useful in the future is to have programs like this available to all libraries nationwide. In the article it said that it started out in Vermont and spread to libraries in New York, Delaware, and Texas. With children having access to programs like this from the preschool level they will then enter kindergarten with a greater knowledge base and with deeper understanding of the math and science concepts that they will need for the rest of their lives.

Cosmetics and Products

AVON -STUDY CASE- Analiza contextului global al afacerilor prin prisma factorilor de impact asupra industriei cosmeticelor The cosmetic industry is one of which products tend to be countercyclical. Demand for such products normally remains constant and unaffected by economic distress. The color cosmetics are predicted to see a slowdown in volume demand. A growing trend in the cosmetic industry is the introduction of ‘green’ products. More than one in seven (16%) of global beauty products launched in 2008 were certified organic, ethical or natural.There are concerns that the global economic climate will stifle new product development, innovation and sustainability programs in 2009. An economic slowdown usually curbs companies from investing in research and development and it is that research that has brought forth a wealth of green cosmetics. For example, retailers such as Wal-Mart are increasingly requiring more ecofriendly supply chain. There are forecasts that consumer s are unlikely to give up their commitments to organic products just to save a few pennies. 8% of consumers will remain loyal to a company that has a social and environmental commitment. Many consumers are now ‘voting with dollars’ for organic products and supporting brands that support values similar to their own. Economic factors mainly affect the purchasing power of customers. The more customer demand for the product the more profit to the organization, at the same time if there is no customers demand it’s going to affect the organization in a negative manner.So economic factors are very important external factors and affect the cosmetic industry. Economic factors include: Unemployment rate, Economic growth rate, Interest rate. Other factors that influence the cosmetic industry are the government and legal basis. Also for AVON some of the risk factors are: Success depends on our ability to execute fully our global business strategy, May experience financial an d strategic difficulties and delays or unexpected osts in completing our multi-year restructuring programs or long-range business review, including achieving any anticipated savings and benefits of the initiatives thereunder, The key personnel, The business is conducted worldwide primarily in one channel, direct selling, The taxes, political issues, legal and regulatory risks are also to be taken intoconsideration on international markets, May be subjects to financial risks related to their international operators, including exposure to foreign currency fluctuations, Competition,A general economic downturn, a recession globally or sudden disruption in business conditions, A disruption of a key information technology system, process or site could adversely affect their operations, The ability to anticipate and respond to market trends and changes in consumer preferences, Government reviews, inquiries, investigations, and actions could harm our business or reputation, Protection the i ntellectual property rights, specifically patents and trademarks, Involvement in future, in the legal proceedings. Analiza mediului ramurii Avon Production considers its two closest competitors to be Mary Kay and Revlon.Avon is nearly 8 times larger than Revlon. In terms of channel of distribution, Mary Kay most closely resembles Avon because both use a direct marketing approach. Revlon in contrast sells its products through cosmetic counters in department stores and pharmacies. Avon has 42000 employees worldwide and Mary Kay has 5000 and Revlon has 5600. The large difference in company representatives is attributable to the necessity of employing more people to sell directly to customers than selling products through a storefront. The revenues of Avon also far exceed those of its closest competitors, with Mary Kay selling $2. 0 billion and Revlon selling $1. 35 billion in 2008 as compared to Avon’s $10. 37 billion. [pic] We face competition from competing products in each of our lines of business, in both the domestic and international markets. Worldwide, we compete against products sold to consumers by other direct-selling and direct-sales companies and through the Internet, and against products sold through the mass market and prestige retail channels. We also face increasing competition in our developing and emerging markets. Within the direct selling channel, we compete on a regional and often country-by-country basis, with our direct-selling competitors.There are also a number of direct-selling companies that sell product lines similar to ours, some of which also have worldwide operations and compete with us globally. Unlike most other beauty companies, we compete within a distinct business model where providing a compelling earnings opportunity for our Representatives is as critical as developing and marketing new and innovative products. Therefore, in contrast to a typical consumer packaged goods (â€Å"CPG†) company which operates within a broad-based consumer pool, we must first compete for a limited pool of Representatives before we reach the ultimate consumer.Direct sellers compete for representative or entrepreneurial talent by providing a more competitive earnings opportunity or â€Å"better deal† than that offered by the competition. Representatives are attracted to a direct seller by competitive earnings opportunities, often through what are commonly known as â€Å"field incentives† in the direct selling industry. Competitors devote substantial effort to finding out the effectiveness of such incentives so that they can invest in incentives that are the most cost effective or produce the better payback.As the largest and oldest beauty direct seller, Avon’s business model and strategies are often highly sought after, particularly by smaller local and more nimble competitors who seek to capitalize on our investment and experience. As a result, we are subject to significant competition for t he recruitment of Representatives from other direct selling or network marketing organizations. It is therefore continually necessary to innovate and enhance our direct selling and service model as well as to recruit and retain new Representatives.If we are unable to do so our business will be adversely affected. Within the broader CPG industry, we compete against large and well-known cosmetics and fragrances companies that manufacture and sell broad product lines through various types of retail establishments. In addition, we compete against many other companies that manufacture and sell in more narrow Beauty product lines sold through retail establishments. This industry is highly competitive, and some of our principal competitors in the CPG industry are larger than we are and have greater resources than we do.Competitive activities on their part could cause our sales to suffer. We have many competitors in the highly competitive gift and decorative products and apparel industries globally, including retail establishments, principally department stores, gift shops and specialty retailers, and direct-mail companies specializing in these products. Our principal competition in the highly competitive fashion jewelry industry consists of a few large companies and many small companies that sell fashion jewelry through retail establishments.The number of competitors and degree of competition that we face in this beauty and related products industry varies widely from country to country. If our advertising, promotional, merchandising or other marketing strategies are not successful, if we are unable to deliver new products that represent technological breakthroughs, if we do not successfully manage the timing of new product introductions or the profitability of these efforts, or if for other reasons our Representatives or end customers perceive competitors’ products as having greater appeal, then our sales and financial results may suffer.Global cosmetic and t oiletries market is witnessing significant growth in terms of sales and technological advancements over the past few years because of increasing consumer awareness towards personal hygiene and health. Growing concerns regarding skin care is particularly fueling the robust growth across all market segments and geographies. Increasing demand for organic and natural cosmetic and toiletries products is creating new growth opportunities in this field which is encouraging the emergence of new market players in this arena.One of the major reasons behind the considerable growth of global cosmetic and toiletries industry is the shifting of production units to cost effective Asian economies like India and China. Emergence of new distribution channels like online retailing is driving the growth of this market. Increasing consumer preferences towards the use of herbal and natural cosmetic products is forcing the cosmetic and toiletries manufacturers to change and adapt strategies according to c onsumer preferences.Worldwide market for cosmetics and toiletries products was severely affected by economic downturn, but with the global economy recovering, this market is projected to witness a significant growth and reach the value of USD 19. 2 billion by the year 2015. However, difficulty in obtaining credit and weakening consumer confidence are affecting consumer spending on cosmetics which is one of the major challenges faced by this industry. Presence of large domestic markets is helping emerging economies to recover from deepening economic crisis.Cosmetics and toiletries market is still in its embryonic stage and holds strong growth potential in near future. Consumption of cosmetic and toiletries products is no more limited to female population alone. Male grooming products are emerging as an important segment of this market. Skin care products, hair care products, face cleansers, and premium shaving products are important offerings for male grooming products market. The US and Europe is the largest market for sun care and skin care products. Products with natural and organic ingredients are in increasing demand in European and North American markets despite of high cost.Major reason behind this increased demand of organic products is better health benefits offered by these products. Rising environmental concerns, carcinogenic nature of synthetic cosmetic ingredients, and increasing awareness about sustaining resources are some of the major factors propelling the growth of organic and natural ingredients in cosmetic industry. Worldwide market for cosmetics and toiletries is categorized into skin care, hair care, fragrances, make-up, oral care, baby care, bath and shower, deodorants, color cosmetics, men’s grooming, sun care, and others.For the environmental analysis, it should be taken into consideration the five forces of Porter: 1 Threat of new entry This factor analyzes the ease with which firms may enter into an industry. Competitive indust ries are likely to attract many firms which will strive to capture a market share. This is likely to reduce the overall profitability of firms which are present in the industry. In order for firms to enjoy long term profitability, they should develop customer loyalty within their industry.This will ensure that although new firms enter an industry, their market share is unaffected since customers have faith on their products. Development of customer loyalty is achieved through innovating new products which meet the unique market needs. The cosmetic industry has a low threat of new entrants. This is due to several factors. The first is the huge costs of entry. Developing unique cosmetic products requires a lot of resources both in terms of research and development and the actual manufacturing process. Few middle and small scale firms have access to the funds and expertise required to perform this effectively.Another factor which discourages entry into this industry is the huge competi tion present in the industry. In addition to the huge competitors such as Avon, Revlon, Clinique, Estee Lauder, LR, Mac and Unilever, who have a large market share, there are many other small scale competitors who also have a small market share and who reduce the overall profitability of firms in the industry. 2 3 Bargaining power of customers The bargaining power of customers analyzes the power which consumers have relating to price changes in the industry.This factor analyzes the power which consumers have in manipulating price changes due to shifts in demand (Aaker, 2000: 102-120). When consumers have a high bargaining power, the manufacturers and sellers may not adequately predict future demand by the market. This may make them unable to achieve long term profitability due to unpredictable demand patterns. The cosmetic has a high bargaining power of customers. This is due to the increase competition and availability of cosmetic products from a variety of manufacturers.Since thes e products have high substitutes, then it is possible for consumers to force manufacturers to reduce their product prices through purchasing those of their competitors. This is a challenge which manufacturers of cosmetic products face across the world. 4 Bargaining power of suppliers This factor analyzes the power which suppliers have regarding making price changes for their products. Suppliers who have a high bargaining power are able to influence price changes through using techniques such as market manipulation through hoarding and restraining supply.Although some of these strategies are illegal in many countries, suppliers usually apply them when they want to effect price changes. The cosmetic industry has a low bargaining power of suppliers. This is due to the high number of market players and large supply of diverse products to the market. There are many cosmetic products which are developed by both large and small scale manufacturers. Due to the huge supply, consumers have th e power to influence the market prices as opposed to the suppliers. 1 Threat of substitutesThe threat of substitutes arises when there are similar products developed by competitors which satisfy the market needs. When consumers have access to substitute products which can satisfy their market needs, then manufacturers and suppliers lose their bargaining power. Consumers are able to purchase competitor’s products if they are not satisfied with product price or quality. In order for suppliers to tackle the challenge of threat of substitutes, they have to innovate products which meet the needs of their target market segments. In the cosmetic industry, there are many competitors as has been discussed.There is therefore a high threat of substitute products. If manufacturers sell their products at higher prices, or if the products are of low quality, then consumers are able to purchase substitutes from the many competitors who are present in the market environment. It is therefore essential for the market players in the cosmetic to be innovative if they are to tackle the challenge of the threat of substitute. 2 Barriers to entry and exit Barriers to entry and exit refer to the challenges firms face when entering or leaving the industry respectively.It has been discussed that there are huge costs which are associated with entry to the cosmetic industry. These costs include costs for developing the products as well as research costs. These are some of the barriers to entry in the cosmetic industry. In addition, there are many competitors who reduce the overall profitability of the industry, which makes it a barrier to entry. Finally, the many large scale cosmetic firms which enjoy economies of scale make it a barrier to entry especially for middle and small scale firms. Barriers to exit include the high development and research costs.Due to the high costs associated with developing cosmetic products, it is difficult for firms to leave the industry without achie ving the costs for production. There are also many machines and equipment used in developing cosmetic products and disposing these at a fair market value is difficult hence making it an exit barrier. 3 4 Seller and buyer concentration The cosmetic industry is appealing fir people of all age groups and social backgrounds. There are many cosmetic products which are tailored to meeting the needs of different market segments. The buyer concentration can herefore be deemed as low since there are many buyers who cut across different market segments both in the developed countries and the developing countries. However, the seller concentration may be deemed as high in developed countries. Many large scale cosmetic producers are concentrated in develop countries such as the United States, France and Germany. For instance, the cosmetic industry is valued at $6 billion in France and $12 billion in Germany. In the US, it is valued at over $20 billion. However, the seller concentration in devel oping countries and emerging markets is relatively low.Few firms have ventured into developing products which meet the specific needs of this market segment. In order to achieve long term profitability, new market entrants should focus on this neglected population segment. The high seller concentration in the developed countries leads to high competition and an overall reduction in profitability for cosmetic firms in this industry. Analiza competentelor functionale Avon Distribution We presently have sales operations in 65 countries and territories, including the U. S. and distribute our products in 42 other countries and territories. Unlike most of our competitors, which sell their products through third party retail establishments (e. g. drug stores, department stores), we primarily sell our products to the ultimate consumer through the direct-selling channel. In our case, sales of our products are made to the ultimate consumer principally through direct selling by approximately 6 . 4 million active independent Representatives. Representatives are independent contractors and not our employees.Representatives earn a profit by purchasing products directly from us at a discount from a published brochure price and selling them to their customers, the ultimate consumer of our products. We generally have no arrangements with end users of our products beyond the Representative, except as described below. No single Representative accounts for more than 10% of our net sales. A Representative contacts customers directly, selling primarily through our brochure, which highlights new products and special promotions for each sales campaign.In this sense, the Representative, together with the brochure, are the â€Å"store† through which our products are sold. A brochure introducing a new sales campaign is usually generated every two weeks in the U. S. and every two to four weeks for most markets outside the U. S. Generally, the Representative forwards an order for a campaign to us using the Internet, mail, telephone, or fax. This order is processed and the products are assembled at a distribution center and delivered to the Representative usually through a combination of local and national delivery companies.Generally, the Representative then delivers the merchandise and collects payment from the customer for his or her own account. A Representative generally receives a refund of the price the Representative paid for a product if the Representative chooses to return it. We employ certain web enabled systems to increase Representative support, which allow a Representative to run her or his business more efficiently and also allow us to improve our order-processing accuracy.For example, in many countries, Representatives can utilize the Internet to manage their business electronically, including order submission, order tracking, payment and two-way communications with us. In addition Representatives can further build their own business through pe rsonalized web pages provided by us, enabling them to sell a complete line of our products online. Self-paced online training also is available in certain markets, as well as up-to-the-minute news about us. In some markets, we use decentralized branches, satellite stores and independent retail operations to serve Representatives and other customers.Representatives come to a branch to place and pick up product orders for their customers. The branches also create visibility for us with consumers and help reinforce our beauty image. In certain markets, we provide opportunities to license our beauty centers and other retail-oriented and direct to consumer opportunities to reach new customers in complementary ways to direct selling. In the U. S. and selected other markets, we also market our products through consumer websites (www. avon. com in the U. S. ). Promotion and MarketingSales promotion and sales development activities are directed at assisting Representatives, through sales aid s such as brochures, product samples and demonstration products. In order to support the efforts of Representatives to reach new customers, specially designed sales aids, promotional pieces, customer flyers, television and print advertising are used. In addition, we seek to motivate our Representatives through the use of special incentive programs that reward superior sales performance. Periodic sales meetings with Representatives are conducted by the district sales or zone managers.The meetings are designed to keep Representatives abreast of product line changes, explain sales techniques and provide recognition for sales performance. A number of merchandising techniques are used, including the introduction of new products, the use of combination offers, the use of trial sizes and samples, and the promotion of products packaged as gift items. In general, for each sales campaign, a distinctive brochure is published, in which new products are introduced and selected items are offered as special promotions or are given particular prominence in the brochure.A key current priority for our merchandising is to continue the use of pricing and promotional models to enable a deeper, fact based understanding of the role and impact of pricing within our product portfolio. From time to time, various regulations or laws have been proposed or adopted that would, in general, restrict the frequency, duration or volume of sales resulting from new product introductions, special promotions or other special price offers. We expect our pricing flexibility and broad product lines to mitigate the effect of these regulations.Competitive Conditions We face competition from various products and product lines both domestically and internationally. The beauty and beauty-related products industry is highly competitive and the number of competitors and degree of competition that we face in this industry varies widely from country to country. Worldwide, we compete against products sold to co nsumers by other direct-selling and direct-sales companies and through the Internet, and against products sold through the mass market and prestige retail channels.Specifically, due to the nature of the direct-selling channel, we compete on a regional, often country-by-country basis, with our direct-selling competitors. Unlike most other beauty companies, we compete within a distinct business model where providing a compelling earnings opportunity for our Representatives is as critical as developing and marketing new and innovative products. As a result, in contrast to a typical CPG company which operates within a broad-based consumer pool, we must first compete for a limited pool of Representatives before we reach the ultimate consumer.Within the broader CPG industry, we principally compete against large and well-known cosmetics and fragrances companies that manufacture and sell broad product lines through various types of retail establishments. In addition, we compete against many other companies that manufacture and sell more narrow beauty product lines sold through retail establishments and other channels. We also have many competitors in the gift and decorative products and apparel industries globally, including retail establishments, principally department stores, gift shops and specialty retailers, and direct-mail companies specializing in these products.Our principal competition in the fashion jewelry industry consists of a few large companies and many small companies that sell fashion jewelry through retail establishments and direct-selling. We believe that the personalized customer service offered by our Representatives; the amount and type of field incentives we offer our Representatives on a market-by-market basis; the high quality, attractive designs and prices of our products; the high level of new and innovative products; our easily recognized brand name and our guarantee of product satisfaction are significant factors in helping to establish an d maintain our competitive position.International Operations Our international operations are conducted primarily through subsidiaries in 64 countries and territories outside of the U. S. In addition to these countries and territories, our products are distributed in 42 other countries and territories. Our international operations are subject to risks inherent in conducting business abroad, including, but not limited to, the risk of adverse currency fluctuations, currency remittance restrictions and unfavorable social, economic and political conditions.See the sections â€Å"Risk Factors – Our ability to conduct business, particularly in international markets, may be affected by political, legal, tax and regulatory risks† and â€Å"Risk Factors – We are subject to financial risks related to our international operations, including exposure to foreign currency fluctuations† in Item 1A on pages 7 through 15 of our 2011 Annual Report. Manufacturing We manufac ture and package almost all of our Beauty products. Raw materials, consisting chiefly of essential oils, chemicals, containers and packaging components, are purchased for our Beauty products from various suppliers.Most of our Fashion and Home products are purchased from various third-party suppliers. Additionally, we design the brochures that are used by the Representatives to sell our products. The loss of any one supplier would not have a material impact on our ability to source raw materials for our Beauty products or source products for our Fashion and Home categories or paper for the brochures. Trademarks and Patents Our business is not materially dependent on the existence of third-party patent, trademark or other third-party intellectual property rights, and we are not a party to any ongoing material licenses, franchises or concessions.We do seek to protect our key proprietary technologies by aggressively pursuing comprehensive patent coverage in major markets. We protect our Avon name and other major proprietary trademarks through registration of these trademarks in the markets where we sell our products, monitoring the markets for infringement of such trademarks by others, and by taking appropriate steps to stop any infringing activities. Research and Product Development Activities New products are essential to growth in the highly competitive cosmetics industry.Our research and development department’s efforts are significant to developing new products, including formulating effective beauty treatments relevant to women’s needs, and redesigning or reformulating existing products. To increase our brand competitiveness, we have sustained our focus on new technology and product innovation to deliver first-to-market products that provide visible consumer benefits. Our global research and development facility is located in Suffern, NY.A team of researchers and technicians apply the disciplines of science to the practical aspects of bringing products to market around the world. Relationships with dermatologists and other specialists enhance our ability to deliver new formulas and ingredients to market. Additionally, we have satellite research facilities located in Argentina, Brazil, China, Mexico, Poland and South Africa. In 2010, we invested in our R&D facility in Shanghai, China to increase our ability to develop products to better meet Asian consumers’ needs. In 2011, our most significant product launches included: SuperShock MaxMascara. Moisture Seduction Lipstick, Outspoken Intense by Fergie Fragrance, Step Into Fragrance, Anew Genics Treatment Cream, Anew Solar Advance Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 45, Solutions Youth Minerals Restorative Night Cream, Skin So Soft Perfecting Oil, Advance Techniques Damage Repair 3D Rescue Leave-in Treatment, Super Enchant Mascara, and ExtraLasting Makeup. The amounts incurred on research activities relating to the development of new products and the improvement of existing prod ucts were $77. 7 in 2011, $72. 6 in 2010 and $65. 4 in 2009.This research included the activities of product research and development and package design and development. Most of these activities were related to the development of Beauty products. Environmental Matters In general, compliance with environmental regulations impacting our global operations has not had, and is not anticipated to have, any material adverse effect on our capital expenditures, financial position or competitive position. Employees At December 31, 2011, we employed approximately 40,600 employees. Of these, approximately 5,400 were employed in the U. S. nd 35,200 in other countries. Seasonal Nature of Business Our sales and earnings typically have a seasonal pattern characteristic of many companies selling Beauty, gift and decorative products, apparel, and fashion jewelry. Holiday sales generally cause a sales peak in the fourth quarter of the year; however, the sales volume o holiday gift items is, by its nat ure, difficult to forecast. Fourth quarter revenue and operating data was as follows: | |2011 |2010 | |Fourth uarter revenues as a % of total revenue |27% |29% | |Fourth quarter operating profit as a % of total operating profit |2% |33% | The fourth quarter operating profit comparison between 2011 and 2010 was unfavorably impacted by a $263. 0 impairment charge, or 31% of full year operating profit, recognized in the fourth quarter of 2011. The fourth quarter operating profit comparison was partially offset by lower costs to implement our restructuring initiatives in 2011 compared to 2010.The fourth quarter of 2011 included costs to implement our restructuring initiatives of $8. 7, whereas the fourth quarter of 2010 included $58. 3 of costs to implement our restructuring initiatives. Finance The financial statement of the company in 2011 is: Internationalizare Avon [pic] As the world's largest direct seller, Avon markets leading beauty, fashion and home products to women in more th an 100 countries through more than 6 million active independent Avon Sales Representatives. The countries are:Albania, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grand Cayman Island, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand,Nicaragua, North Cyprus, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Africa, Spain, St. Croix, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay,Venezuela. When the Avon lady comes knocking at the door, she'd better speak good Portuguese. Or Spanish. Or even Russian. Cosmetics giant Avon Products (AVP) is increasing its revenue these days, with sales outside of the United States really driving business. The company reports first quarter 2011 total revenue of $2. billion, 7 percent higher than that of first-quarter 2010 and in line with company targets. Net income jumped 238 percent to $143. 6 million, thanks to stronger sales and restructuring. â€Å"We are pleased with the early progress against our commitment to return the business to mid-single digit revenue growth,† says Avon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrea Jung in an earnings statement. â€Å"We are squarely foc used on restoring growth in Brazil and Russia in the second half, and ensuring execution in gross margin improvement and cost control. † Revenue in Latin America, which includes Mexico, was up 16 percent during the quarter while North American revenue was down 2 percent.Central and Eastern European sales were flat although Russia was up 3 percent, while Western Europe, Middle East & Africa's first-quarter revenue increased 16 percent and Asia Pacific, which includes China, reported a first quarter revenue decline of 6 percent. Analysts are pleased with the company's results, but some wonder if the company can keep the momentum going. Zacks Investment Research has assigned a short-term hold rating, although the long-term recommendation is currently underperform. Restructure, then compete Avon is currently in the middle of a multi-year restructuring program designed to accelerate investments toward growth opportunities, streamline manufacturing operations, and improve cost effec tiveness and efficiency in general. Restructuring should save the company $430 million a year when fully implemented by 2012. After that, keep an eye on the competitors. Avon faces competition from various products and product lines both domestically and internationally,† Zack says. The internationalization of Avon most take into account some factors, such as: Political Factors †¡ Tax policies †¡ Employment laws †¡ Trade restrictions and tariffs †¡ Political stability Economic Factors †¡ Economic growth †¡ Interest rates †¡ Exchange rates †¡ Fluctuation in oil and gas prices Social Factors †¡ Emphasis on safety †¡ No animal testing †¡ Green Environment †¡ Philanthropic Issues †¡ Technology Factors †¡ Automation †¡ Technology incentives †¡ Rate of technological change †¡ Technologies Adaption External Assessment: Avon Opportunities 1. A growing trend in the cosmetics industry is the introductio n of ? green? products.More than sixteen percent of beauty products launched in 2008 were certified organic, ethical, or all natural. 2. Eye makeup market 3. The cosmetics industry tends to be countercyclical. This means that those are industries for which the demand is either not correlated with the business cycle. The demand for their products is not much affected by availability of current income, but by other personal, social or economic factors. The recession also contributes to the industry being counter-cyclical. There is an upsurge in people joining the industry in the past six or eight months and there's absolutely no doubt that this is because of the recession and the effect on employment. 4.Aveda cosmetics found that sixty eight percent of consumers will remain loyal to a company that has a social and environmental commitment. 5. Urban Trendsetters markets 6. Geographic growth  ± enormous growth opportunities existed in countries with huge populations such as China, Ind onesia and India. 7. Demand for cosmetic products normally remains constant and unaffected by economic distress 8. The baby boomers are aging and they are more conscious on their appearance, beauty and also improving their looks. Emphasize direct selling in emerging and developing markets External Assessment: Avon Threats 1. Competition such as Mary Kay and Revlon 2. Rejection of internet selling by sales representative 3.Global economic climate stifled new product development, innovation and sustainability programs in 2009. 4. In terms of color cosmetics, environmental International Inc. predicted that many of these markets will see slowdown in volume demand. 5. Inflation rate and Rising cost of commodities 7. Direct-selling becoming more popular – Amid the financial crisis Aussie mums are increasingly turning to direct selling and at-home product parties to supplement their household income. 8. They are a multilevel based company that sells inferior quality with a higher pr ice tag than what it is worth 9. Avon products outpaced by ‘jazzier? products to women who favored more exciting product lines 10. Decreased earning opportunities

Corporate social responsibility and its theoretical foundations Essay

Corporate social responsibility and its theoretical foundations. Australian firms and CSR - Essay Example The term Corporate Social Responsibility though a invention of few decades back but has existed in various forms from the earliest days of businesses. Companies manipulate their businesses processes and go one step ahead then the industry to create a positive impact on the society. Corporate social responsibility of companies can be viewed in two general ways Companies share and invest their income for the benefit of the society. Companies follow the industry standards or apply best practices in their business as to be more responsible and ethical. To understand the basic concept behind CSR we have to learn what binds an organization to be socially responsible. Every organization has stakeholders which exist at all levels of business operations and are major contributors of the business. The company has to show its competency and loyalty to its stakeholders and the community that the business is not only concerned solely with the expansion and betterment of the business but it is als o keen and responsible in contributing towards the growth and betterment of its stakeholders and the society it operates in. As a gesture of company’s conviction and dedication, they engage themselves in such activities which in some way will help in the prosperity of the society and will leave an everlasting impression on those they helped. Also at the same time they can include such policies and practices into their business which portray the company’s business processes as more ethical and morally correct. Concept and Benefits Social responsibilities of corporations comprise of ethical and managerial principles to guide a business enterprise. This is because it deals with everything from corporate image, public relations, environmental liability, lawsuits, relations with governments and worker morale. These corporate responsibility principles are guided by another set of principles. The first and the basic principle is that the firm’s or company’s prod uct raises or enhances the quality of life. Three basic types of processes are identified to implement corporate responsibility principles. They include of environmental management, issues management and stake holder’s management. (Gail Thomas, 2006) Number of factors drive the corporate responsibility trend. One major factor which make organizations more socially responsible is that companies which do not engage in CSR activities might be viewed as those who are only interested in the growth and expansion of their business and are not at all concerned with the betterment of their various stakeholders and the society. Hence ruining the image of the corporation in the mind of people which is a serious risk for business. On the other hand the benefits of CSR for corporations are limitless. Although the benefits would not be monetary directly instead would require investing in quite heavy amounts but in return the corporation earns a position of a reputable contributor to the so ciety enhancing the brand image, employees will have more dedication to work for a company who works for mutual benefit of the society and the stakeholders especially the investor’s would be more confident. Australian Firms and CSR There are a lot of Australian companies who are listed amongst the more socially responsible organizations. BHP Billiton , Telstra, Rio Tinto , Pacific Hydro , Arup Australsia and many other corporations. BHP Billiton is Australia’s largest firm by market capitalization. It employees over 40,000 people all over the world which makes it rank amongst the largest mining companies in the world. As it is the largest firm in Australia and has global operations so it has engaged itself in many socially responsible activities and made it a priority so as to maintain the trust and confidence of the stakeholders and investors. Various socially responsible initiatives has been taken by BHP Billiton which have contributed greatly to well being and uplif t of Australian society and also in other countries where its operating. Along with initiatives for the

Law of Insurance Contract Disputes Personal Statement

Law of Insurance Contract Disputes - Personal Statement Example For consideration also is the choice-of-law analysis as Travelers Insurance is located in New Jersey while Aetna Casualty and Surety are in Virginia.  Ã‚   The court is correct in siding with Aetna in this case. A failure to exercise the right to respond to an offer for settlement (either by acceptance or rejection) is construed as a waiver on the part of the claimant. Two years is a long enough period of time to make a reasonable response and failure to do so constitute unreasonable delay (Stempel, 1998). The statute is presumed to have started or accrued from the time of the accident (October 1981) and not on the date of the initial offer by Aetna Casualty (November 08, 1982). The claimant, in this case, did not file any case within the two-year limitation of the statute. Civil claims should be filed within two years from the date of the accident in order to avoid the possibility of a dismissal (Schneider April 26, 2004). The offer to settle was initiated instead by the adverse party of the claimant. Further, the record shows claimant's counsel did not contradict the evidence showing customary industry practice is to respond to a settlement offer within a few weeks, not in months or years. Additionally, the claimant did not indicate immediate acceptance but only signified it a year and three months after the initial offer was made – on February 4, 1984, from the offer date of November 08, 1982 (Matthews, 2009).     

Socciological Reasearch Proposal- Violence and gun control Term Paper

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Marketing for nonprofit organisation - Essay Example Marketing scholars have similarly contended that the aforementioned only functions as an obstacle to public sector organisation's capacity for the design and, more importantly, implementation and adherence to marketing strategies and plans. Even though management and marketing scholars have tended towards the critical perception of public and non-profit organisations, others insist that these perceptions are, to a large extent, both outdated and misinformed. Certainly, many public and non-profit organisations tend towards the aforementioned characteristics but, many others do not. The failure of some marketing and management scholars to recognise this is an outcome of their own misconceptions regarding public and non-profit organisational models and structures and does not, necessarily, reflect the reality. Indeed, marketing scholars have proposed that the capacity of public and non-profit organisations to succeed, to respond to external environmental conditions and to achieve their strategic objectives is, to a large degree, predicated on the presence, versus absence, of a well-formulated marketing strategy. This is also the position that this research adopts and which it shall seek to establish through focus on Oxfam, a non-profit UK charitable organisation. By formulating a strategic marketing plan for Oxfam, the research shall establish that indeed, the key to organisational success is often, at least partially, dependant on a well-designed marketing plan. Company Overview: Oxfam The Oxford Committee for Famine relief, popularly known as Oxfam, was established in 1942, in the wake of the Nazi occupation of Greece, France and other European nations. From the outset, the organisation's objectives were specifically humanitarian and, more precisely, focused on the relief of hunger and famine aid. While it is a UK charitable organisation, its activities are global, seeking the address of famine and poverty wherever it may be found, irrespective of region, country or geographic and cultural boundaries (History of Oxfam,' 2007). In order to attain its objectives, Oxfam primarily relies on individual and private sector charitable donations. The proposition being forwarded in this research is, within the context of a global environment which is replete with charitable organisations, many of whom operate on a global level, accessing donations and accumulating the requisite resources for the fulfilment of strategic objectives is, more often than not, difficult. Quite simply stated, there is extreme competition, with the key to success being a marketing plan as which centralises the organisation in the minds/consciousness of potential donors. Research Methodology The study relies on two data collection methods. The first is secondary sources, or relevant literature, both academic as found in journal

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Metaphysics of Philosophy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

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The Prospectus and Dissertation Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Prospectus and Dissertation - Coursework Example This comes in handy in determining the approval of the proposed dissertation. It introduces the problem statement and argues the case with facts on the importance of writing the dissertation to address the question. It is basically an overview detailing to the reader about the problem statement. This holds the key to approval. It is therefore important that it is written well and convincingly. When writing this part, the writer also has a chance of finding more facts about his planned dissertation from previous research. The writer’s opinions should be factual; personal judgments without basis could lead to the proposed dissertation being ruled out (Joyner and Glatthorn) The third element of the prospectus caters for the methodology that the writer plans to use. One should be wise to detail the methods of research and evaluation that are best suit for his or her scope of study (Gonzales, 47). It is important to detail the proposed methodology since the committee could also help with additions. It proves to them that the writer has a grasp of content in the dissertation topic and can therefore carry out meaningful research (Roberts, 97). Lastly, as the department of planning of University of California writes, the prospectus has a conclusion. It concludes the details highlighted therein and tends to beseech the committee to view the proposed dissertation as being worthy of their

Opinions about balancing between information sharing and information Assignment

Opinions about balancing between information sharing and information protection - Assignment Example Information sharing and information protection are the two sides of the same coin. Without the existence of a possibility to share information, the concept of information protection sounds absurd. The other way round, without the existence of the systematic mechanisms for protecting information, information sharing is not possible. For, to put it simply, the crux of entire information sharing and protection is to enable the sharing of information with the right individuals and agencies, in just the right format, at just the right time and to just the right extent. The entire scope of online data sharing is hinged on the trust that the concerned individuals and agencies will safeguard the information they receive and will do their best to protect the awkward situations arising owing to information sharing (Smith, 1994, p. 114). Hence, information protection is primarily about trust. So information protection stands to be a pivotal aspect of all the processes aimed at information sharing. Respecting this trust necessitates the envisaging of designing the apt practices that assure that the information being shared does not get into the hands of unauthorized elements (Smith, 1994, p. 114). Information protection also assures the reliability and accuracy of the information being shared and that the right information happens to be accessible as and when required. In a practical context, data protection is not a barrier to information sharing, but rather assures that the information accrued from individuals and organizations gets shared appropriately and within the constraints of a disciplined framework. So, information protection deals with the recognition of benign considerations that protect the safety and confidentially of the sources that may be drastically impacted by the revelation of the information pertaining to them (Nissenbaum, 2010, p. 106). Yet, it is also a fact that too much safeguarding of information may turn out to be constraining and

A Report on Tsings Friction Essay Example for Free

A Report on Tsings Friction Essay Anna Lowenhaupt Tsings book Friction: An Ethnography of Global Connection begins with a rough overview of the global patterns and schemes in communication through a critical exploration of the more general premise of global connections present everywhere. As the author claims that the book is not a history of philosophy but rather an ethnography of global connection (Tsing, 2004, p. 1), there appears a strong concern for the presumably existing ties between the minor and major aspects of the society. As Thomas Yarrow notes, the books main concern is to capture the dynamic through which different kinds of knowledge and culture come into contact with one another (Yarrow, 2006, p. 291) which is a logical and obvious contention behind the book. The first part of Tsings book delves into the concept of prosperity by looking into the various sides of capitalism and an exploration of its causes and effects from a larger perspective. As the first part lays down the vital notions needed to better understand the foundations and contemporary manifestations of capitalism, it also raises several issues revolving around the intricate connections around the world. It opens up the entry point upon which the author will weave continuously the discussion surrounding the global environment of politics that surround the rest of Indonesia as well as the local communities residing in the country. Considering the fact that Indonesias population grew significantly from 1980 to 2001to a little less than 50% (Indonesia: Environmental Issues, 2004), the book makes it clear that the rise in the population has conversely resulted to a sharp imbalance in the environment. The book makes it a point that capitalism has also shared a huge role in this imbalance, heightened in no small way by the population boom in the past as well as in the present times. As Tsing notes, proliferation, too, is a key principle of capitalist expansion (Tsing, 2004, p. 27) which brings the idea that the population expansion with the combination of capitalist expansion are evidences of proliferation. And this proliferation in turn creates the environment of frontiers which are not just edges but particular kinds of edges where the expansive nature of extraction comes into its own (Tsing, 2004, p. 27). In essence, the opening parts of the book, including the first chapter, are primarily divided into two sections. While the first section deals with the concept of frontier and the resources which comprise it founded on the ethnographic observations during the middle parts of the 1990s, the second section deals with aftermath of the crisis during 1997 when frontier-making spiraled out of control (Tsing, 2004, p. 28). The second chapter of the book delves into the concept of Natural Universals in the global context. For establishing the connection between God and Nature, the book inevitably draws the parallels between universality of a supreme being which is God and the universality of nature through the environment. While the chapter probes into the universality of capital-N Nature which is the awe-inspiring, lawlike systematicity of the cosmos of and of life on earth (Tsing, 2004, p. 88), the book also inevitably draws the essential link between Nature and the rest of the world. Further, the second chapter attempts to establish the presumption that through the realization of an existing generality among things can one begin to act on the idea of thinking globally. That is, the realization of the commonality among the various elements and entities in the world through their predominant generalities helps us overcome the barriers that hinder us from thinking on a large scale and attain the end of global connections. Tsing firmly makes this point by stating that as long as facts are apples and oranges, one cannot generalize across them; one must first see them as fruit to make general claims (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). This makes the book even more mind rousing as it nears its middle part. While it exposes certain critical observations such as the inability or failure of individuals to realize the common general thread which holds people together as one, the book in turn brings into consciousness the probable ways in which to achieve the challenge of realizing the more general claims. The book also observes that generalization is where small details support great visions and the universal is discovered in particularities (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). This presupposes the notion that generalization to the universal requires a large space of compatibility among disparate particular facts and observations (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). It also translates into the idea that tentative and contingent collaborations among incongruent seekers of knowledge as well as their incongruent forms of knowledge can create compatible facts and observations from incongruent ones (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). These observations discussed in the book brings us face to face with the core of what the author is presupposing: the idea that mere generalizations are just as they are without getting hold of the particulars that comprise them. And these particularities, when tied altogether, comprise the larger whole where the rest of Nature and of the world operate as a single entity. Further, the book reminds us that cultural analysis thrives on the description of specificity since it is the best method upon which we are able to acquire a critical distance from the common-sense platitudes and everyday assumptions of our lives and the powerful ideologies that keep us in their thrall (Tsing, 2004, p. 122). It reaffirms the claim that missing the knowledge about the particulars disarms one with the capacity to approach and comprehend the more obvious reality behind our common-sense understanding of the world. The section of the book entitled Nature Loving further concretizes and reinforces the belief that the various interactions involving various types of knowledge and culture are solid approaches in studying universal claims. Taking the rainforests of Indonesia as a concrete illustration, the book reiterates the belief that people have always been in contact with nature. One example to this is the fact that there are nature lovers who are devoted to outdoor activities such as camping, mountain climbing, rafting, and scuba diving (Tsing, 2004, p. 122) and that these people only comprise a small portion of the larger population whose daily lives involve contact with Nature such as those people living in Indonesia. In essence, the book also attempts to bring into light the observation that Nature and the cultural processes have been commonly attributed with various disjunctions and differences as well as with the heterogeneous factors which intertwine along the way. The book reveals these things as part of what people commonly refer to as globalization. The book further concretizes this observation in the chapter A History of Weediness where the author explores the interdependence of species by reflecting on the beasts and flowers, not just as symbols and resources, but as co-residents and collaborators (Tsing, 2004, p. 172). It entails the belief that there should be respect with the way in which people treat the environment. There appears to be a hint of the presumption that the patterns upon which the societies have changed over time have also led to the significant alteration in Nature. The book penetrates deep into the analysis by juxtaposing the observations of the poet Kristiandi Tanumihardja into the observations of people from the scientific community to the masses of the society. In particular, the cornerstone of these observations from the book relates the idea that nature has its own way of communication which is evidently unique in its own mysterious ways. While the book discusses the human attempts to unveil the mysteries behind the way Nature communicates not only by the scientific community but also by the world of literature, it also hopes that even with such limited understanding the attempts might bring us closer to knowing how to live in a multispecies world (Tsing, 2004, p. 172). The last chapter of the book entitled Freedom begins with the idea that travel changes the way we imagine our home places (Tsing, 2004, p. 213). This brings the reader to the presumption that there ought to be movement in order to arrive at a better and more fulfilling comprehension and appreciation of ones own environment. Only through such movement can there be a broader understanding of the global connections existing. And these movements can be further juxtaposed with the various social movements and upheavals in the past, including the social movements not only confined within the community of civilians but also with the environment. In The Forest of Collaborations which is the last chapter of the book, the author expounds on the subject of the types of collaborations where political gains and compromises can be assessed through constant attention to these kinds of collaborations and their effects (Tsing, 2004, p. 268). It sums up the general contention of the book in studying global interconnections and the many particularities involved in comprising the larger whole. With a special emphasis on the environmental status of Indonesia, the book reports facts about the predominant themes in analyzing the ethnography of global connections as well as the discoveries in previous years and contemporary times which establish what one can perceive as the indicators of globalization. References Indonesia: Environmental Issues. (2004). Retrieved November 2, 2007, from http://www. eia. doe. gov/emeu/cabs/indoe. html Tsing, A. L. (2004). Friction: An Ethnography of Global Connection. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Yarrow, T. (2006). Book Review: riction: An Ethnography of Global Connection By Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing. Political and Legal Anthropology Review, 29(2), 291-296.

Similarities And Differences Between Tourism And Event Management Tourism Essay

Similarities And Differences Between Tourism And Event Management Tourism Essay 1 Introduction Development of tourism industry must adapt to the tourism products of tourism demand, development of event tourism also needs to adapt to mass tourism products of tourism demand, while the core of tourism products is tourism attraction. Tourist attraction is a natural tourist attraction, cultural object, and the fundamental property and function is attractive to tourists and stimulates peoples travel motivations (Margaret Deery;Â  Leo Jago; Liz Fredline, 2004). The most basic function OF tourist attraction is to attract tourists to the destination. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to look for the similarities and differences between tourism management and event management, and the event tourism will be the focus to link the both. 2 Definitions Tourism management is relying on creative thinking, integrating tourism resources to achieve the optimal fit of resources, environment, transport and market, and finally to achieve the creative process of objectives of tourism development (Witt, S. F., Moutinho, L., 1996). Event management is the management activity to suit all levels and types of political and economic activities, sports events, the main tourism, conferences and exhibitions, entertainment, carnival and others based on the explosive growth of government and non-government agencies (Boris Gruschke, 1998). It is not only different from government administration, but also different from ordinary commercial enterprise management across organizations. Event tourism refers to the form of taking one-time or regular festivals held as the core attraction for destination marketing, or enhancing the special tourism activities (David Getz, 2008). Holiday celebrations often accumulated a rich local cultural content, and very strong participation, entertainment, therefore, the planners of event activities often try to create an atmosphere of festival or celebration in order to attract wider attention, more tourists, and even create a recycling of tradition. 3 Similarities between tourism management and event management In my opinion, the most important similarity between tourism management and event management is event tourism, which is reflected both in tourism and event activities. Tourism Management Event Management Event Tourism Management Figure 1 Similarity between tourism management and event management Compared with the general types of tourism activities, event tourism has its own distinct characteristics: One is the distinctive endemic characteristic. Production of a tourism event will often rely on local characteristics and cultural customs to attract local source (Julie E Otto and J. R. Brent Ritchie, 1996). Arising from the festival with a distinctive local features travel, it is easy to win the favor of the depth of the root causes of tourists. Second is the activity concentration. Event tourism activities are concentrated in a particular period of time, usually a fixed time period, and activity is very compact arrangement, which makes the tourists tourism activities and tourism experience with significant concentration of features. If the event activities are charming, tourists generally stay longer. Third is the widespread influence. Large scale of event tourism activities often lead to larger concerns, to attract people from all over the world concentrated in one activity enabling collaboration, feel the local atmosphere of the event (David Getz, 1997). This will bring large and widespread impact to the regional tourism development and local economic, social and cultural development. Fourth is the comprehensiveness of effects. A major event tourism activity held brings both a direct economic benefit, but also brings indirect benefits to other aspects of stealth, will promote the development in various aspects of the host. Event tourism has these features, combined with festivals by tourists with high levels of consumption, repeatability, a longer residence time, etc., features, making event tourism as a concern of the object for the regional tourism development, increasing people attention (Robyn Stokes, 2008). Australia by virtue of holding this special festive event of Americas Cup yacht race became one of the worlds most famous tourists; China Qingdao through Beer Festival, Ocean Day spread out their unique marine culture, successfully created the image as the characteristics of the marine city. It shows the organization of festivals, especially the organization of large-scale events, often become the focus of media attention. Event tourism for the city provides a stage to show their image, any one ad, any marketing activities are difficult to match with the effectiveness. Large scale of event activities Participated in event Improved Infrastructure Community interests Increased Media coverage Increased Travel promotions Increased Capacity Visitor Satisfaction Community Satisfaction Increased Identity Increased Visiting host people Word of mouth Increased Tourism image Impression of decline over time Figure 2 The link between event and tourism 4 Differences between tourism management and event management Using system theory, with project management theory, it can understand the event tourism from four levels (John Swarbrooke, 1999): the basic principles and concepts (Tourism event is a project, project management should be implemented); system development cycle (tourism event development life cycle); systems and procedures (using specific management techniques and procedures); organizational behavior (set up reasonable organizational structure and effective encouraging project members). Table 1 Comparative analysis of tourism event features and project definition Definition of project Characteristics of tourism event 1, including a single, definable goal or end product or result. Tourism event is non-routine, is the special event occurring within a certain period. It is an identifiable task, has a certain economic goals, social goals. Major tourism festival (Mega-event) on tourism has huge economic and social impact. Large-scale festival events can be regarded as sub-sub tasks. 2, unique. Project is the activity with only one type, and can never be completely repeated. Tourism event is usually carefully planned. This nature makes tourism events different from the spontaneous events and happenings unique. It is impossible to repeat, if failed, could not recover. 3, the temporary activities. Life-cycle, once the goal to achieve, the project has ceased to exist. Tourism event has a certain deadline. While some festivals held regularly, but the result of the project objectives, stakeholders and the Environment (ie project system) will change, so this new festival should be regarded as new projects. 4, requires the use of various professional and organizational skills and ability. Tasks and skills required also vary with the project. The process of the operation of tourism event is across a number of management functions units: government, business, public and many industries. Tourism events success is inseparable from their extensive support and collaboration. 5, may be unfamiliar. Very uncertain risk factors. The complexity of the process organization operation of tourism event, integrated not only manifested in not only the characteristics of tourism products in general, it also has its own characteristics and attributes. 6, there is some risk. The failure of the project may pose a threat to the organization or its goals. Tourism event has the risk for every stage, failure of tourism festival activities could adversely affect tourism destination in fairly long time. 7, is to achieve the goal of a process to work. A project to go through several different stages; stages of conversion tasks, manpower, organization and resources will change with it. Tourism event during the operation and management may still happen. There may be individual specific projects that are not fully defined in terms of projects; most projects have in front of three or four features. Comparative analysis from the table, tourism event at least meets the before six items. It can be concluded: Tourism event is a project, project management theory is applied to the tourism event products. Tourism event is present the life cycle. The life cycle of tourism events is it similar to the dynamic process of the natural life cycle of birth, growth, maturity, decline and death, which includes concept, planning, implementation and operation of four stages (I McDonnell, J Allen, W Otoole, 1999). Purpose of understanding the life cycle issues travel section is very important to manager of the project: on the one hand, tourism event highlights the project life cycle in project management plan, review and analysis, implementation process, the management of each process systems analysis is the basis for the next phase of the operation, which requires management system, a comprehensive understanding of project life cycle tourism festival, and at different times to take corresponding measures; on the other hand, life cycle process is for each project objectives, which requires the project manager should be on the festivals understanding of the project life cycle and the project aims t o combine effective management by objectives (David Getz, 1997). Therefore, the managers to respond flexibly to the changing environment need to have a life cycle management culture, in order to ensure the smooth operation of the events. 5 Conclusion As a project, the tourism event should be analyzed with a systematic approach. Management of tourism event, in the face of complex elements in the events project system, managers must first carry out systematic analysis of each element. Tourism event project system is an open system, project managers must from the system level, organizational level and technical level to evaluate the system, senior managers will need more from the system level to analyze the system. To understand the main system of property projects of tourism events, particularly in the development of tourism event is the important status in the major tourism events and huge tasks. Event tourism as the bridge to link tourism and event activities, in the tourism development assumes more and more important functions and role. Although it shows the similarities and differences between tourism management and event management, for the issues of the operation idea of tourism event, development strategy and effects, we should pay more concerns. Word count: 1,529

Explain, in detail, the process of hearing in humans.

Explain, in detail, the process of hearing in humans. Explain, in detail, the process of hearing in humans. What factors can affect our hearing in terms of perception of loudness, pitch and direction? What part does psychoacoustics play in our perception of sound. Introduction The ear can be divided into three sections each performing a specific role to change sound particles into messages the brain can read. The three major parts of the ear are the outer, middle and inner ear. Simplistically it is somewhat like a mechanical process that changes an analogue signal into a digital message that your brain can understand. However, there are certain factors that can affect our hearing in terms of perception of loudness, pitch and direction. Psychoacoustics needs to be considered when looking at the process of hearing as it examines the relationship between sound and the effect it has upon the brain. Physical Description of the Ear The process of hearing utilises all three sections of the ear. The first section, the outer ear consists of the pinna, the auditory canal and the wax. The pinna is the main part of the ear that you can see, its role, to collect sound and direct it down the auditory canal towards the ear drum. The outside of your ear is perfectly designed to collect sound. This design helps to determine the sounds direction. Sounds waves bounce off the Pinna depending on from which direction they came from. The sound reflection from the Pinna alters the pattern of the sound wave which the brain is able to distinguish and determine where the sound came from. The auditory canal is the main pathway of sound, its role is to direct sound towards the eardrum, the canal is also where earwax is produced. The purpose of ear wax is to keep the ear canal clean by collecting dirt and debris. Once the sound wave has passed through the outer ear and has been directed down the auditory canal to the middle ear it hits the Tympanic Membrane (Ear Drum), this is a very tight thin piece of tissue which converts the sound wave into vibrations. The ear drum separates the outer ear with the ossicles, these are the three main bones in your ear. When the ear drum vibrates this causes the bones to move, the vibrations set the bones into motion passing the signal from one bone to the other. These tiny bones are called the Malleus (Hammer) directly connected to the ear drum, the Incus (Anvil) which is attached to the Malleus and finally the Stapes (Stirrup) which is attached to the Incus and is the smallest bone in the human body. The stapes is attached to the oval window, a membrane which is part of the cochlea and separates the middle ear from the inner ear. The inner ear is the most complex and detailed part, containing the main sensory organ called the cochlea. Its role is to convert the vibrations absorbed through the ossicles and passed through the oval window membrane into electrical impulses. The cochleas shape is a small spiralled tube resembling a snail shell, this is filled with fluid and miniscule hairs. The vibrations from the stirrup cause the oval window membrane to flex which in turn sets the fluid into motion, the moving fluid brushes across thousands of microscopic hair cells called cilia, These are tuned in to certain frequencies, higher frequencies by cillia located near to the oval window membrane and lower frequencies by cillia located at the apex of the cochlea. This allows it to act as a frequency spectrum analyser. The cillia convert the vibrations into electric nerve impulses sent to the brain by the auditory nerve which is then interpreted as sound. Psychoacoustic Phenomenon Psychoacoustics also needs to be considered when looking at the process of hearing as it examines the relationship between sound and the effect it has upon the brain. The Doppler Effect is an example of this. It â€Å"is the change in frequency of awave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave.† For example, a car emitting a constant horn sound starts to approach you at speed as you are stood at the side of the road. As the car approaches you, the sound of the horn starts to get louder and higher in pitch. Once the car has passed you the sound of the horn starts to lower in pitch and decrease in volume. As the vehicle passes, sound waves from the horn are crowded together in front of the car, the crowded sound waves produce the relatively high pitch sound, as the car passes the sound waves are more spread out resulting in the relatively low pitch sound, as you can see on the diagram below The second phenomenon that can affect our perception is the Haas effect. If two sounds of equal frequency content and intensity are played from different directions, we will only hear the first one to arrive, and we will perceive only one sound coming from that direction. An example of this used in public address systems so that multiple speakers do not affect the perceived direction of the sound coming from the stage. Second part (also 750 words): Giving at least 2 significantly different examples, discuss why certain instruments sound the way they do, How do factors such as their physical construction and the method of playing affect their individual characteristcs and timbre? How does the harmonic series come into play, and how does this determine concepts such as scale and temperament Acoustic Guitar Construction and playing style A guitars construction is split in to three parts, the body, the neck and the head. The sound generating part can be found on the body and is called the soundboard. The soundboard has a large round hole in the centre called the sound hole. Also attached to the soundboard is a piece called the bridge, to which one end of the six strings are attached. The bridge has a thin, hard piece embedded into it called the saddle, which is the part that the strings rest against. When the strings are plucked, the vibrations travel through the saddle onto the bridge and then into the soundboard. The soundboard then vibrates. As the body of the guitar is hollow, these vibrations are amplified and emanate from the sound hole. Harmonic Series When a note is struck on a guitar the sound produced is a series of notes. The first harmonic, the fundamental is the loudest and lowest of the series. Along with that you are also hearing tones that accompany the fundamental and are responsible of making the guitar sound the way it does. Guitar harmonics are created when you lightly touch the string at specific positions and then pluck the string, when plucked the string vibrates at its fundamental frequency, also vibrating the integer multiples of the frequency as displayed on the diagram below: The performance of the guitar depends on the quality of the wooden soundboard. The Timbre of the can have a huge impact on the choice of wood, the way the wood is supported, the glue and even the varnish are all taken into consideration as this can have an effect on the sound of the guitar due to the quality of the sound produced DRUM A drum consists of a skin, a shell or body and a mechanism that holds the two pieces together. The skin of the drum is a flexible membrane, stretched tightly around the rim. Drum skins were originally made from animal skins but nowadays most use synthetic skins. The skin is held onto the rim in a variety of ways. Some use tacks or glue while others use ropes or adjustable metal brackets to attach the skin to the body. When a drum is struck, it makes a loud sharp sound followed by a rapidly decreasing tone. The sharp sound is called the attack, and it is made by a stick or hand banging onto the surface. The strike also pushes the drum head downwards. Because the drum head is elastic, it springs back up again with a lot of energy, causing it to go up higher than the position it started in. This causes it to spring back down again. The drum skin goes up and down very quickly, pushing air in front of it and creating the tone, sometimes known as the decay. Some drums, such as the snare, have a sharp attack with almost no tone. Others, like frame drums, have a more mild attack with a tone that goes on and on. The hair cells in the organ of Corti are tuned to certain sound frequencies, being responsive to high frequencies near the oval window and to low frequencies near the apex of the cochleaThe hair cells in the organ of Corti are tuned to certain sound frequencies, being responsive to high frequencies near the oval window and to low frequencies near the apex of the cochleaThe hair cells in the organ of Corti are tuned to certain sound frequencies, being responsive to high frequencies near the oval window and to low frequencies near the apex of the cochleaSecond part (also 750 words): Giving at least 2 significantly different examples, discuss why certain instruments sound the way they do, How do factors such as their physical construction and the method of playing affect their individual characteristcs and timbre? How does the harmonic series come into play, and how does this determine concepts such as scale and temperament Second part (also 750 words): Giving at least 2 significantly d ifferent examples, discuss why certain instruments sound the way they do, How do factors such as their physical construction and the method of playing affect their individual characteristcs and timbre? How does the harmonic series come into play, and how does this determine concepts such as scale and temperament Second part (also 750 words): Giving at least 2 significantly different examples, discuss why certain instruments sound the way they do, How do factors such as their physical construction and the method of playing affect their individual characteristcs and timbre? How does the harmonic series come into play, and how does this determine concepts such as scale and temperament Bottom of Form

The LASIK Surgical Procedure :: Research Papers Essays

The LASIK Surgical Procedure LASIK is a surgical procedure done on the eyes so that people can see ok better. One would not have to wear contacts or glasses anymore. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, LASIK is a surgical procedure done to reduce the use of glasses and contacts. However doctors say that if one is comfortable wearing their contacts and glasses then they should continue doing so. Why is that? There are many risks and complications with the procedure that one must weigh out before going through with it. Before I go into detail what the risks are let me explain in detail what LASIK is. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a surgical procedure that involves permanently changing the shape of one’s cornea, which is the clear covering of the eye, using an excimer laser. The procedure calls for cutting a flap in the cornea to reveal the stroma, second layer of the cornea. A laser is used to vaporize the stroma and then the corneal flap is replaced. Sounds easy, right, however, there are many complications and stipulations that go along with this procedure. LASIK is primarily for those who are myopic (nearsighted). Those who have astigmatism (blurred vision due to an irregular shaped cornea) and are hyperopic (farsighted) are still capable of getting the procedure but have to take a greater risk. The ideal individual, according to the Eye Surgery Education Council, for LASIK is one who is eighteen years of age, has sufficient corneal thickness, does not suffer from any disease that may hinder their ability to heal correctly and, one who is either myopic, hyperopic, and/or has astigmatism. The less ideal individual is one who has a history of dry eye, takes medications such as steroids or immunosuppressants and/or has corneal scarring.

The Maturity of Men :: Media Movies Maturing Essays

The Maturity of Men It has been said that men mature slower than women and often become the joke of many conversations. Even Hollywood can sell movies based on this humor. Is it fair to say that all men are immature for their age? Of course it is not, but it seems that it is a growing epidemic among American jokes and allows a reasonable explanation as to why men are so different from women. Men take a little longer to process information and may need to make a few mistakes along the way in order to view the world as it exists. It is almost easier to say that men are immature than going into depth of how their mind works, and why they do the things they do. Although sometimes it may seem impossible for men to finally grow up, they eventually do because they realize from their own experiences what is proper and what is not. Many Hollywood films, including American Wedding and School of Rock, view men with an immature mentality but are able to explore a plot where they grow through their expe riences. In the film American Wedding, directed by Jesse Dylan, the plot follows the same theme as the first two in the American Pie trilogy. It has most of the same characters except now Michelle and Jim are getting married. The last person they would ever plan on inviting would be Steve Stifler because of his immature personality and obsession for sex. As the movie continues Stifler pretends to be sophisticated so that Jim’s future mother-in-law will invite him to the wedding. Of course there are other motives involved; but the tables turn quickly when Stifler realizes how important growing up is in order to finally settle down in life. Although in American Wedding the man characterized as immature is much younger than the one in School of Rock, it still follows the same path. This just proves that men can mature at all ages. This film, directed by Richard Linklater, has the famous Jack Black who is stereotyped as the immature male. Jack Black’s character is in his thirties but still lives in the dream that he will become a famous rock star.

Psychology in the News Essay

Adolescent has always been considered a period of experimentation and risk taking. It is a time when teenagers become extremely aware of themselves and their bodies, leading to problems with regard to body image, self-esteem and negative emotions in general. One disturbing trend in the American society is adolescent suicide. In June 2009, news item published in the San Jose Mercury news website (www. mercurynews. com) tackled the harsh reality of this grave problem surrounding the tumultuous years of the adolescent Americans. Fisher started with an account of teen suicide (Fisher 2009). After two consecutive student suicides at Gunn High School, a community forum was held to give assistance to teens bombarded with problems and in the process, avoid committing suicide (2009). During the forum held at Cubberly Community Center, the Palo Alto community tried to find the answers on how to avoid teen suicide and at the very least, find reasoning on the school’s successive suicides. Citing figures from the National Institute of Mental Health, Fisher expressed that teen suicide poses a â€Å"greater threat† to children than swine flu (Fisher 2009). She also noted the result of a one survey which estimates that 1 in 12 students had taken a shot (no pun intended) at suicide in the past year (2009). While the figures are alarming most especially to the parents, Fisher argued that no significant solutions have been placed. Community forums and counselling are the usual steps laid to alleviate this problem (2009). While there are warning signs that parents and teachers may detect, such as alcohol and drug abuse and changes in attitudes towards schools and other relationships, Fisher remarked that such signs may sometimes be hard to detect or overlooked upon, thus making it harder to prevent suicide (2009). Fisher ended by voicing out concerns over when the community would start getting serious about teen depression and suicide (2009). The news item is indeed, as the author opined, a ‘wake-up call’ on the gravity of teen depression and suicide. As a future parent, it is a cause for alarm for this author. If the current situation cannot be changed, if the number of teen depression and suicide continue to soar, it will be harder for future parents and children to get to the bottom of it. Now, the statistics are already startling, what more ten years from now? Everyone should remember that the youth is the future generation but if the future generation is constantly plagued with depression and suicide, how will they lead the nation? It is something that everyone should take seriously. The news item related to psychology on two things: first, it covers a period in the life span development of individuals, that of the adolescent. It is a time when an individual undergoes physical changes as well as personality and social development. It is a transition phase when the individual is no longer a child but not yet an adult. It covers human development, which falls under developmental psychology, the study of changes in people from birth through old age. . Second, the news item relates adolescence with a common developmental problem, which is suicide. It has been known that suicidal behavior among adolescents is linked to psychological problems such as depression, drug abuse and disruptive behavior. As such, they are directly related to the field of psychology. As aforementioned, depression is a leading cause of suicidal behavior and depression, as everyone knows, is a common mood disorder. It is important to bring to light the issue of teen depression and suicide, not only to treat it but to prevent it in the first place. As the author of the news item said, it does not take two or more suicidal incidents to take the problem seriously. Work Cited Fisher, Patty. â€Å"Teen suicide needs Attention†. San Jose Mercury News. June 2009. 3 August 2009 < http://www. mercurynews. com/ci_12523782? nclick_check=1>