Change Agent Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Change Agent - Research Paper Example I plan on becoming a change agent in my community by creating a non-profit organization to promote both recycling and alternative energy. Creating awareness starts by educating the public about the problem. Each person in the United States is currently generating 4.7 pounds of waste everyday of which 33.4% is recycled, 12.6% is burned in combustion facilities, and 54% makes it to the landfills (Recyclingfacts, 2008). The excessive amount of waste going to the landfills is hurting our environment. The government is running out of places to accumulate more trash. Some of the materials that people can recycle include paper, aluminum, plastic, and glass. The organization I will establish will gather information about all the recycling centers available within 200 miles of the community. This information will be given to every member of the community so that they can utilize the knowledge to make changes in their daily habits. People should also be aware that a lot of these recycling centers will pay people for recyclable material. Some of the basic tactics people must learn is that the different materials should be stored in separate bags. The energy crisis is hurting the pockets of all Americans. Fuel prices are rising and there seems to be no end to how high they might reach in the near future. The current price of a gallon of gasoline is $3.93 a gallon (Reuter, 2012). My organization will take the initiative of analyzing consumer reports to determine the best green cars in the market. After evaluating the alternatives I will create a list of cars that people in my community can purchase to save money on gas. The information of the cars will include the price, brand, features, technology, and most importantly fuel efficiency of each vehicle. Two of the most promising green cars in the marketplace are the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. Another important aspect of the non-profit organization will be educating the

Principle Of Wearing Gloves Nursing Essay

Principle Of Wearing Gloves Nursing Essay Gloves are mainly used for protection of hand from the contamination with organic matter and microorganisms and also wear to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms to both patients and staff. However, a decision to wear gloves including its types should be based on an assessment of the risk associated with the care activity, specific nature of the task to be undertaken and the potential for contamination with microorganisms and hazardous chemicals. Perhaps, sterile gloves are used especially for the following practices . The rationale for wearing gloves will indicate the choice of glove required. . Major indication of wearing gloves are: The choice between sterile and non-sterile gloves is based on contact with susceptible sites or clinical devices. Sterile gloves have been recommended to be worn in the following circumstances some of the reason behind wearing gloves includes: During the procedure of Surgery. Surgical wound dressings Invasive procedures, for example lumbar puncture, for immune compromised patients. Procedures requiring an aseptic technique. Insertion of invasive devices, for example urinary catheters. Sterile pharmaceutical preparations. Warm saline or water Removing dressing and cleaning wound is the most painful wound care interventions. The application of cold cleaning solutions to wounds can be unpleasant and harmful to wound healing. Different techniques and solution are being used for dressing and irrigation in practice. The use of saline or water as cleansing solutions or leaving out the cleansing step resulted in similar infection and healing rates. However, the decision to use tap water to cleanse wounds should take into account the quality of water, nature of wounds and the patients general condition. Steps of wound Assessment Assessing wound via palpation mainly for Swelling Separation of edges Lightly palpate for localized area of tenderness or drainange May need to culture drainange if present Assess for pain. The initial wound assessment takes in the big picture location, shape, and size. Location Location of the wound can give clues to the cause. For example, a sacral wound may be the result of sitting long time in the same position specially the elderly patient or patients has a weakness musculoskeletal system applying pressure on sacrum. Used anatomic land marks and language while documenting location of wound. For example, right medial malleolus is preferred to right inner ankle. Trochanter is preferred to left hip. Body diagram is useful to document wound location Shape Shape of wound also can shed light on the cause of the wound. For example, a linear wound on the posterior mid thigh of patients who uses a wheel chair could be caused by pressure from the edge of the seat. A triangular sacral or coccygeal wound could be due to shearing and pressure forces caused by movement in bed. Tracing is useful to document size for irregular shape. Follow the facility policies and procedure for tracing. Always be sure to written consent and adhere to facilitys policies and procedures if wound is photographed. Use wound film with size markings included or place a ruler in the photograph for perspective. Size Measure the wound in 3 dimension length, width and depth. Measurement should be always in centimeters. To measure length place the measuring guide at greatest length (head to toe) likely to measure the width place measuring guide at greatest width (side to side) never the less to measure depth gently insert a cotton-tipped applicator into the deepest part of the wound. Place a mark on the applicator at the level of the skin (may be the clinicians thumb and index finger or an actual ink mark on the applicator) then hold the applicator against a centimeter measuring device to determine the depth of the wound. if possible measuring the wound by the same nurse for each subsequent assessment. While measuring the wound depth, moisten sterile, cotton tipped applicator with sodium chloride solution. (Dont use a dry one, which could injure newly formed granulation tissue.) Place the applicator tip in the deepest aspect of the  wound  and measure the distance to the skin level. If the depth is uneven, measure several areas; document the range and which part of the  wound  is the deepest. Types of tissue   identify the types of tissue for example viable tissue i.e. granulation, clean non-granulating, epithelial non viable (necrotic) may also visualize muscle tendon subcutaneous in the  wound  bed, estimate how much of each is present, such as 60% granulation, 20% slough, and 20% Escher. Document the percentages on a flow sheet to allow for assessment  of  wound  healing or deterioration. Wound integrity    If  your  patient has a full thickness  wound, assess for undermining, a hollow between the skin surface and the  wound  bed that occurs when necrosis destroys the underlying tissue. On the other hand, it is a passageway within and beyond the  wound  walls or base.   Examine the  wound  for the presence of supporting structures, such as tendons or bones. Note any orthopaedic hardware and be alert for foreign bodies, such as sutures and staples, all of which increase infection risk.  Wounds  with tunnelling or undermining are especially vulnerable for retained dressings. Lastly, assess for foreign bodies, such as a forgotten suture or lint. Exudate Follow  your  facilitys guidelines for defining None, light, moderate and high amounts. Describe the exudates types as serous, serosanguineous, sanguinous or purulent. Infection can affect the color, consistency, and amount of exudate as well as cause an odour. Examine wound edges Check for the characteristics like attached, unattached, fibrotic or scarred (closed) and rolled edges (epibole). In full-thickness  wounds, particularly when undermining (tissue destruction that occurs underneath intact skin around the perimeter of the wound) is present, the edges may curl under and delay healing. A white, shiny appearance at the  wound  edges may be the result of epidermal cells migrating across the  wound  to resurface it, which signals healing. Peri wound skin Assess the skin around the  wound  for color, moisture, intactness, in duration, edema, pain, and presence of a rash, tropic skin changes, and infection. For example, the color can be pink, red, blue, pale white, or gray; in darker skin, you may note deeper skin tones. Pink usually indicates healthy skin; red may indicate friction, pressure, or beginning infection; blue or pale white is often a sign of compromised circulation. The skin surrounding a  wound  may have too much moisture (maceration), which could increase the patients risk of fungal or yeast infection. Assess the peri wound skin for primary skin lesions. Documentation Documentation is a very crucial tool for nurses to evaluate provide proper nursing care plan, support mutual relation between the health professionals or colleague, it facilitate to meet and maintain professional and legal standards. Documentation of complete wound assessment includes pertinent history related to the wound. Depending on nature of wound assessments flow sheet can be used as alternative to reduce the documentation time . A wound assessment will be performed and result in documented evidence of a type of wound and a etiology of wounding Location of wound Dimensions of wound Clinical appearance of the wound Amount and type of exudate Presence of infection, pain, odor or foreign bodies State of surrounding skin and alterations in sensation Physiological implications of wounding to the individual Psychosocial implications of wounding to the individual and significant other.. Some of the examples of documentation are like Patients care plan Observation chart Wound assessment chart FBC and Daily drain chart GCS Chart Progress notes, etc. Risk and Complications Sometimes, a large amount of fluid may leak from around the drain site, making the gauze dressing completely wet. If this happens, use soap and water to clean the area. Pain may accompany drain removal and persist after removal. Impaired wound healing may be a complication if fluid accumulates beneath the skin. Infection and injury to adjacent tissues may also occur. Occlusion of the tubing by fibrin, clots, or other particles can reduce or obstruct drainage. Infection may develop at the tubing exit site. Other complications may include breakage of the drain, difficulty in removal, inadvertent removal, pain, puckering scar, and visceral perforation. The patient may develop allergic reaction. .

Principle Of Wearing Gloves Nursing Essay

Principle Of Wearing Gloves Nursing Essay Gloves are mainly used for protection of hand from the contamination with organic matter and microorganisms and also wear to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms to both patients and staff. However, a decision to wear gloves including its types should be based on an assessment of the risk associated with the care activity, specific nature of the task to be undertaken and the potential for contamination with microorganisms and hazardous chemicals. Perhaps, sterile gloves are used especially for the following practices . The rationale for wearing gloves will indicate the choice of glove required. . Major indication of wearing gloves are: The choice between sterile and non-sterile gloves is based on contact with susceptible sites or clinical devices. Sterile gloves have been recommended to be worn in the following circumstances some of the reason behind wearing gloves includes: During the procedure of Surgery. Surgical wound dressings Invasive procedures, for example lumbar puncture, for immune compromised patients. Procedures requiring an aseptic technique. Insertion of invasive devices, for example urinary catheters. Sterile pharmaceutical preparations. Warm saline or water Removing dressing and cleaning wound is the most painful wound care interventions. The application of cold cleaning solutions to wounds can be unpleasant and harmful to wound healing. Different techniques and solution are being used for dressing and irrigation in practice. The use of saline or water as cleansing solutions or leaving out the cleansing step resulted in similar infection and healing rates. However, the decision to use tap water to cleanse wounds should take into account the quality of water, nature of wounds and the patients general condition. Steps of wound Assessment Assessing wound via palpation mainly for Swelling Separation of edges Lightly palpate for localized area of tenderness or drainange May need to culture drainange if present Assess for pain. The initial wound assessment takes in the big picture location, shape, and size. Location Location of the wound can give clues to the cause. For example, a sacral wound may be the result of sitting long time in the same position specially the elderly patient or patients has a weakness musculoskeletal system applying pressure on sacrum. Used anatomic land marks and language while documenting location of wound. For example, right medial malleolus is preferred to right inner ankle. Trochanter is preferred to left hip. Body diagram is useful to document wound location Shape Shape of wound also can shed light on the cause of the wound. For example, a linear wound on the posterior mid thigh of patients who uses a wheel chair could be caused by pressure from the edge of the seat. A triangular sacral or coccygeal wound could be due to shearing and pressure forces caused by movement in bed. Tracing is useful to document size for irregular shape. Follow the facility policies and procedure for tracing. Always be sure to written consent and adhere to facilitys policies and procedures if wound is photographed. Use wound film with size markings included or place a ruler in the photograph for perspective. Size Measure the wound in 3 dimension length, width and depth. Measurement should be always in centimeters. To measure length place the measuring guide at greatest length (head to toe) likely to measure the width place measuring guide at greatest width (side to side) never the less to measure depth gently insert a cotton-tipped applicator into the deepest part of the wound. Place a mark on the applicator at the level of the skin (may be the clinicians thumb and index finger or an actual ink mark on the applicator) then hold the applicator against a centimeter measuring device to determine the depth of the wound. if possible measuring the wound by the same nurse for each subsequent assessment. While measuring the wound depth, moisten sterile, cotton tipped applicator with sodium chloride solution. (Dont use a dry one, which could injure newly formed granulation tissue.) Place the applicator tip in the deepest aspect of the  wound  and measure the distance to the skin level. If the depth is uneven, measure several areas; document the range and which part of the  wound  is the deepest. Types of tissue   identify the types of tissue for example viable tissue i.e. granulation, clean non-granulating, epithelial non viable (necrotic) may also visualize muscle tendon subcutaneous in the  wound  bed, estimate how much of each is present, such as 60% granulation, 20% slough, and 20% Escher. Document the percentages on a flow sheet to allow for assessment  of  wound  healing or deterioration. Wound integrity    If  your  patient has a full thickness  wound, assess for undermining, a hollow between the skin surface and the  wound  bed that occurs when necrosis destroys the underlying tissue. On the other hand, it is a passageway within and beyond the  wound  walls or base.   Examine the  wound  for the presence of supporting structures, such as tendons or bones. Note any orthopaedic hardware and be alert for foreign bodies, such as sutures and staples, all of which increase infection risk.  Wounds  with tunnelling or undermining are especially vulnerable for retained dressings. Lastly, assess for foreign bodies, such as a forgotten suture or lint. Exudate Follow  your  facilitys guidelines for defining None, light, moderate and high amounts. Describe the exudates types as serous, serosanguineous, sanguinous or purulent. Infection can affect the color, consistency, and amount of exudate as well as cause an odour. Examine wound edges Check for the characteristics like attached, unattached, fibrotic or scarred (closed) and rolled edges (epibole). In full-thickness  wounds, particularly when undermining (tissue destruction that occurs underneath intact skin around the perimeter of the wound) is present, the edges may curl under and delay healing. A white, shiny appearance at the  wound  edges may be the result of epidermal cells migrating across the  wound  to resurface it, which signals healing. Peri wound skin Assess the skin around the  wound  for color, moisture, intactness, in duration, edema, pain, and presence of a rash, tropic skin changes, and infection. For example, the color can be pink, red, blue, pale white, or gray; in darker skin, you may note deeper skin tones. Pink usually indicates healthy skin; red may indicate friction, pressure, or beginning infection; blue or pale white is often a sign of compromised circulation. The skin surrounding a  wound  may have too much moisture (maceration), which could increase the patients risk of fungal or yeast infection. Assess the peri wound skin for primary skin lesions. Documentation Documentation is a very crucial tool for nurses to evaluate provide proper nursing care plan, support mutual relation between the health professionals or colleague, it facilitate to meet and maintain professional and legal standards. Documentation of complete wound assessment includes pertinent history related to the wound. Depending on nature of wound assessments flow sheet can be used as alternative to reduce the documentation time . A wound assessment will be performed and result in documented evidence of a type of wound and a etiology of wounding Location of wound Dimensions of wound Clinical appearance of the wound Amount and type of exudate Presence of infection, pain, odor or foreign bodies State of surrounding skin and alterations in sensation Physiological implications of wounding to the individual Psychosocial implications of wounding to the individual and significant other.. Some of the examples of documentation are like Patients care plan Observation chart Wound assessment chart FBC and Daily drain chart GCS Chart Progress notes, etc. Risk and Complications Sometimes, a large amount of fluid may leak from around the drain site, making the gauze dressing completely wet. If this happens, use soap and water to clean the area. Pain may accompany drain removal and persist after removal. Impaired wound healing may be a complication if fluid accumulates beneath the skin. Infection and injury to adjacent tissues may also occur. Occlusion of the tubing by fibrin, clots, or other particles can reduce or obstruct drainage. Infection may develop at the tubing exit site. Other complications may include breakage of the drain, difficulty in removal, inadvertent removal, pain, puckering scar, and visceral perforation. The patient may develop allergic reaction. .

business law :: essays research papers

Business Law BA 434 SE Midterm Exam 2001 Spring Term Question One: Jim's promise is not enforceable under the contract law. A contract consists of 3 elements: 1) offer, 2) acceptance, and 3) consideration. The offer must be definate. It must have 1) subject, 2) price, 3) offeree, 4) quantity, and 5) time for performance and it must be communicated to the offeree. Applying the elements of a contract to the facts before us, the contract began when Jim offered Pam a place to live. He basically stated that all she needed to do was to come and see him. By accepting Jim's offer, Pam traveled to see Jim, thus completing the contract. However, Pam assumes that in Jim's consideration, he will pay for her incurred expenses as long as she visits him. Jim is not bound to the contract because the offer was not definate. Yes, Jim offered Pam, the offeree, a place to stay, however, he did not stated when the act could be performed nor did he state exactly what "providing a place to live" included. Meaning, he only offered Pam a place to reside, and there was not mention of Jim handling any other expenses. Jim's offer lacked quantity, time for performance, and definate communication. Thus, this intended contract is non-binding due to the indefinate offer. Question Two Due to the methods of terminating a contract, Oneal was relieved of his contract. A contract consists of 3 elements: 1) offer, 2) acceptance, and 3) consideration. The offer must be definate. It must have 1) subject, 2) price, 3) offeree, 4) quantity, and 5) time for performance. Now applying one of the methods by which a contracts are terminated to the facts before us, when the Opera House burned to the ground, it made it impossible for both Oneal and Jordan to perform. Oneal was bound to the contract, in that he accepted the offer, however, because the Opera House ( the contracted location) was no longer avail for use, he was not able to perform his duties of singing. Jordan was bound to contract because he offered Oneal a place to sing for six months, however, the torching of the Opera House made the providing of the stage practically impossible. The impossibility of performance made the breach of contract legally possible.

Project Management Conflict Resolution Essay

Overview: Shirley was the manager of new products division at an e-commerce company. She and Maggie, one of her team members, interviewed Jesse for a new position on their project team. Maggie did not feel Jesse was the right fit for the position and strongly opposed his candidature. Shirley felt differently and hired Jesse. Six months after Jesse was hired, Shirley left the project to start her own company and recommended that Jesse and Maggie serve as joint project leaders. Maggie agreed reluctantly-with the stipulation that it be made clear she was not working for Jesse. The General Manager consented; Maggie and Jesse were to share the project leadership. Within a month of this development, Maggie was angry when she felt that Jesse was representing himself to others as the leader of the entire project and giving the impression that Maggie was working for him. She called for a meeting with the General Manager to see if he could clarify the issue again and resolve the conflict between them. Maggie said to the General Manager, â€Å"Right after the joint leadership arrangement was reached; Jesse called a meeting of the project team without even consulting me about the time or content. He just told me when it was being held and said I should join them. At the meeting, Jesse reviewed everyone’s duties line by line, including mine, treating me as just another team member working for him. He sends out letters and signs himself as project director, which obviously implies to others that I am working for him.† Jesse replied: â€Å"Maggie is all hung up with feelings of power and titles. Just because I sign myself as project director doesn’t mean she is working for me. I don’t see anything to get excited about. What difference does it make? She is too sensitive about everything. I call a meeting and right away she thinks I’m trying to run everything. Maggie has other things to do-other projects to run-so she doesn’t pay too much attention to this one. She mostly lets things slide. But when I take the initiative to set up a meeting, she starts jumping up and down about how I am trying to make her work for me.† How is the General Manager going to resolve this conflict? The issues: * Personality clashes * Lack of respect * Authority * Egos * Disagreements about the right way to manage. Problems: Major – Project delay, Client dissatisfaction, Miscommunication, Effectiveness Minor – Confusion, Rumours, Low morale Tying theory to the issue Conflict is defined as a disagreement of persons or groups of persons considering a situation as inconsistent with their own interests (Boulding 1963, Robbins 1974, Putnam & Wilson 1982, Hocker & Wilmot 1985). A conflict can oppose somebody to himself or herself (internal conflict), to other persons, groups of persons or to institutions (Thomas 1992). Several definitions synthesis made in organization theories (Putman & Poole 1987), psychology (Thomas 1992) or information systems (Barki et coll. 2001) considers three properties of interpersonal conflicts: interdependence, interference and disagreement. By itself, each property cannot be considered as a sufficient condition. Interpersonal conflicts are more dependant of their overlapping. †¢Interdependence exists when each party reaches a specific goal, at least because of the actions of the other party. In essence, interdependence is a structural condition for conflicts in a professional context because of respective consequence s of the way the other party acts. †¢Interference is a behavioral condition for conflict and occurs when one or several parties oppose the other party’s attainment of its interests, objectives, or goals. Interference thus represents the central behavioral node of any conflict (Barki et coll. 2001 p.198). †¢Disagreement is a cognitive condition for conflict and corresponds to divergence of interpretations toward values, objectives, needs, methods, etc. Disagreement refers to disputant behaviors and is considered as the central process associated to conflict (Wall & Callister 1995). In the above context, these causes can be task (or process) oriented versus affective (or relational) oriented (Deutsch 1969). Conflicts about tasks are issue oriented and arising from differences between activities to be performed, whereas affective conflicts refer to personalized disagreements or individual disaffections. The first ones can be considered as differences of  points of view rarely assorted of negative emotions while the second ones can raise frictions and tensions which can affect team performance (Jehn & Mannix 2001). The 4 different conflict types drawn from task and affective orientations are: Conflicts about task definition and execution are caused by the way organizational processes have to be adapted or transformed to fit with IT process requirements (for examples: how invoices and orders must be established, new data codification, signature validation process). These conflicts can be â€Å"internally initiated† when users compare the way they achieve their tasks and perceive organizational inconsistencies (Besson 1999). They can also be â€Å"externally initiated† because of the process constraints imposed by information technology to be implemented. Value conflicts are psychologically based. They refer to ideology by which some people share beliefs and make sense of their worlds (Trice & Beyer 1993). Firm subunits may have their own subculture varying in their ideological content (Stewart & Gosain 2006). In IS, value conflicts may arise on inconsistency between cultural principles of users or group of users and the perceived underlying strategic objectives assigned to IT implementation (Leidner & Kayworth 2006). Power conflicts concern the way individual autonomies and capabilities of influence are likely to be distributed among employees. A Analysis and Solution: In this case, there are several issues between Maggie and Jesse. First and foremost, Maggie feels that Jesse is incompetent, thus her perceptions of his capabilities are skewed and has little respect for Jesse. On the other hand, Jesse feels that Maggie seems to have an issue with titles and  placement of authority. There appears to be a clear lack of teamwork and trust. There is also the appearance of self-promotion and miscommunication. This conflict did not originate from conflicting goals, but is related to the individuals involved. It is due to personality clashes between the individuals and some of the reasons are: * Lack of respect for each other * Power conflict * Value conflicts * Working styles * Incorrect perceptions formed due to lack of personal interaction. * Personal dislike. The General Manager needs to meet with them and explain to them how the personal conflict between them is affecting the project and the team as a whole. The goal here is to get them to at least communicate with each other to get everything out in the open. Confidentiality is key here, but it is also important that they are really listening and hearing each other. Remind them that what is discussed in the room does not leave the room. During the meeting: * Inquire as to what (are) the issue(s)? Get it all out on the table – let them vent. * What are their perspectives?  * Work with them to develop criteria for solutions to their conflict. * Ask them their ideas on how to move forward with resolving the issue based on the criteria agreed to, that may help to resolve the conflict. * What alternatives can they come up with to work together effectively? * Can they come to consensus on any of the alternatives? * Ask them to think about what they can do to get past the issue, or put it aside, in order to move forward with working together. What alternatives exist? This should happen overnight – let them sleep on it. * Provide feedback on their working styles as it is hindering team spirit. * Set up off-site sessions to get the team together to improve bonding and overcome personal biases. * Emphasize on the need to separate personal prejudices from the task at hand. The General Managers role here will be to get them talking to each other about their ideas to resolve the conflict and, ideally, coming to a consensus on how to resolve it. It is important to remember that the manager cannot resolve it for them; they need to do so themselves. He is  just facilitating the discussion for them. Help them work toward coming to consensus on resolving the conflict by asking questions, probing for details, etc. If one comes up with an idea, see how that idea might be tweaked so that it is acceptable to the other individual. How can the other add to the idea so that it might work for his/her also? Remember also that sometimes consensus cannot be reached and the conflict is not able to be resolved, but you still need these individuals to work together. How might they do so? What do they need to work together professionally and cordially toward the successful conclusion of the project? Once a consensus has been reached – or there is agreement on how to work together in spite of the conflict between them – review what was agreed and get their commitment that they will continue to work on the resolution of the conflict (as we know it won’t go away immediately!) and abide by the plan they developed to resolve it. The General Manager should also: * Clearly define the responsibilities and set guidelines for both. * Make the dependencies between Jesse and Maggie clear and ensure that their goals are aligned to take care of the dependencies. * Take a commitment that key decisions are taken jointly. * Create a communication plan, escalation mechanism and set up ground rules. * Ensure that both Jesse and Maggie promote project interest over self interest. * Take steps to build mutual trust, as it is key to minimizing unhealthy conflict Advantages: It is important that the team members involved in a personal conflict take ownership of their issues and work constructively to resolve them. This will ensure that the project is not in jeopardy and all the stakeholders have confidence in the team leadership. Once the power conflict is resolved, a collaborative and consultative environment can be created which is conducive to productivity and efficiency. In such an environment, projects are one time and on budget. Disadvantages: A possible disadvantage is that to maintain a balance of power and effective collaboration wherein there is no perception of subterfuge, substantial time commitment is required. Also, even with the time commitment, there no absolute guarantee that the feeling of distrust will eliminated entirely. Recommendations: Follow up with them both individually and together to check on how things are going over the next few weeks and months, and provide them the support they need to continue to head in the right direction of an improved working relationship. References: Barki H. & Hartwick J. (2001), â€Å"Interpersonal Conflict and Its Management in Information SystemDevelopment.†, MIS Quarterly. Besson P. (1999), â€Å"Les ERP à   l’à ©preuve de l’organisation†, Systà ¨mes d’Information et Management. Boulding K. (1963), Conflict and Defense, New York, Harper & Row. Deutsch M. (1969), â€Å"Conflicts: productive and destructive†. Dans F. E. Jandt, à ©d. Conflict resolutiontrough communication. New York, Harper and Row. Hocker J.L. & Wilmot W.W. (1985), Interpersonal Conflict, Dubuque. Jehn K.A. & Mannix E.A. (2001), â€Å"The dynamic nature of conflict: A longitudinal study of intragroup conflict and group performance†, Academy of Management Journal. Leidner D.E. & Kayworth T. (2006), â€Å"Review: a Review of Culture in Information Systems Research: Toward a Theory of Information Technology Culture Conflict†, MIS Quarterly. Markus M.L., Tanis C. & Fenema P.C.V. (2000), â€Å"Multisite E RP implementations†, Association for Computing Machinery. Communications of the ACM. Putnam L.L. & Wilson C. (1982), â€Å"Communicative Strategies in Organizational Conflict: Reliabilityand Validity of a Measurement Scale†. Dans M. Burgoon, à ©d. Communication Yearbook. Putman L.L. & Poole M.S. (1987), â€Å"Conflict and negociation†. Dans Handbook of Organzational Communication. Newbury Park, CA, Jablin, F. M., Putman, L. L., Roberts, K. H., Porter, L.W., Robbins S.P. (1974), Managing Organizational Conflict, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall Robey D. & Taggart W. (1981), â€Å"Measuring Managers’ Minds: The Assessment of Style in Human Information Processing†, Academy of Management. The Academy of Management Review, Stewart K.J. & Gosain S. (2006), â€Å"The Impact of Ideology on Effectiveness in Open Source Software Development Teams†, MIS Quarterly. Thomas K.W. (1992), â€Å"Conflict and Conflict Management: Reflections and Updateâ⠂¬ , Journal of Organizational Behavior Trice H.M. & Beyer J.M. (1993), The Cultures of Work Organizations, Englewood Cliffs, PrenticeHall. Wall J.A.J. & Callister R.R. (1995), â€Å"Conflict and its Management,†, Journal of Management

Modern Marriage: The Ultimate Test

Have the roles of men and women in marriage changed in modern society? There are many theories hoping to answer this controversial question. One theory comes from David Popenoe, a Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University. Popenoe's theory of roles in marriage is that a modern marriage needs to be reestablished to a more traditional way of living, or to â€Å"restore the traditional nuclear family of bread-winning husband and full-time housewife that flourished in the 1950's† (Page 186). Another theory comes from Karen Zittleman (Ph. D), an education author and teacher; who takes her theory of modern marriage and brings it to a younger generation. Zittleman's theory of marriage roles is â€Å"in more ways than one, especially biologically, boys and girls are more similar than different and that gendered stereotypes and expectations have a developmental history that starts with learned notions of femininity and masculinity† (Page 236). Both Popenoe's and Zittleman's t heories are factually effective. Popenoe opens his reading with a firm questioning on the role shift in modern marriage, and he manages to effectively back his claims throughout the essay.Zittleman also opens her reading strongly, jumping right to the point of her thesis and study. Zittleman uses studies conducted by other psychologists, statistics, and many factual statements. Popenoe uses studies conducted by other psychologists and many facts to support his thesis. However, Popenoe's theory on such a controversial topic leaves very little or no room for ambiguity or interpretation while Zittleman leaves her theory open to her readers. Popenoe justifies his theory by first establishing the so-called confusion in today's marital roles.He explains how the right family life of having â€Å" a legally and culturally dominant bread-winning husband and an economically dependent full-time housewife† (Page 186) has drastically changed to â€Å"much confusion over family expectatio ns and marital gender roles† (Page 187). Throughout his study, he explained how there were three major downfalls for the shift in martial roles: broken families, women failing to juggle family and work life, and negative repercussions for men. After noting studies and works done by Bronfenbrenner and Bowlby, Popenoe discusses the biological attributions with the shift of family martial roles.Popenoe explains that â€Å"a stronger case should be presented at this time, one of declining family stability and personal well-being† (Page 193). With this, Popenoe reveals his â€Å"Seven Tenents for Establishing New Marital Norms,† which is a remedy for society's confusion over marital gender-role expectations. Step one in his â€Å"Seven Tenents† explains how both girls and boys should be trained according to their abilities. Step two explains that young people should grow up with the expectation that they will marry once, and they will wait for marriage until th ey are in their late 20's.Step three includes specific ages that are proper for men and women to marry. Step four explains that single men and women should start saving for their married lives. Step five infers that women are encouraged to leave the labor market once children are born. Step six explains that the father should take primary responsibility for the children after time with their mothers. Step seven infers the balancing of domestic and paid work. However, Zittleman would mostly disagree with Popenoe's theory. In Zittleman's study, she first justifies her theory by presenting two studies done by other psychologist on middle school children: â€Å"†¦ iddle school is a critical time for gender identity development† (Page 238). The first set of charts displays the sex and race of the students in 5 public middle schools. Zittleman reveals that â€Å"gender plays a significant role in the lives of middle school students, expanding some options, but more often limi ting the academic and social development of females and males† (Page 241). Zittleman then reveals charts that convey answers that display â€Å"The best thing about being a boy and the best thing about being a girl. † â€Å"Both sexes had more positive things to say about being a boy than being a girl† (Page 241).Zittleman then proceeds to pose the questions, â€Å"What is the worst thing about being a boy and what is the worst thing about being a girl? † For boys, â€Å"they listed fighting, discipline, poor grades, fear of homophobia, and difficulty with friendships and emotions† (Page 241). For girls, â€Å"relational aggression† was the top answer for most, and that included gossip, spreading rumors and the trust in friends. Zittleman jumps to her main point of importance in educating schools about gender equity. Like many theories, there is always room for critique, especially a theory about such a controversial topic.One of the main dow nfalls of Popenoe's essay was the overall structure and organization. For example, Popenoe opens his essay with an introduction that was not well fitted for a reader. Another organizational flaw in Popenoe's essay is the lack of charts. Popenoe brings a lot of studies and facts to his piece, but there were too many studies placed together which could confuse some of his readers. Popenoe says that although decline in population is not an imminent problem, this trend displays the sentiment among many adults that they do not value having a family as a lifestyle that will â€Å"fulfill their major values. In addition to this trend, he correlates the increase in divorces as an indication of a decline in the value of family. He points to the fact that women are increasingly economically independent and therefore able to divorce. He points out that regardless of the fact that this decline is seen in the eyes of feminists as a gain in equality for women, it does not change the fact that it could be seen as the main cause of the breaking up of the nuclear family unit. Popenoe's thesis and argument on the whole appear to be extremely obtuse.It seemed that he came at the issue through a very narrow track of research that did not take into account other societal problems that contribute to divorce and other reasons he cites for the shift in martial roles. Popenoe did a wonderful job when it came to finding facts and studies that proved his theory. Nevertheless, there were too many facts to register which depleted the essay’s effectiveness. Zittleman however faced a few challenges herself in her study of â€Å"Being a Girl and Being a Boy. † Like Popenoe, one of Zittleman's main downfalls in her essay was the organization.Unlike Popenoe, Zittleman opened her essay with a personal study. Zittleman, also took advantage of using charts, but there were an overwhelming amount. Some studies in Zittleman's essay really didn't need to be represented in chart form; a simple written explanation would have been better for the readers. There were a few charts that were sometimes unclear to the readers. At times throughout their essays, both Popenoe and Zittleman became unaware of their audience, which could have explained the distorted views in Popenoe's essay.It can be argued that Zittleman's target audience could be students, but it mostly pertains to the professors and teachers. When it came to Popenoe, his target audience was rather confusing at times; I really couldn't place a proper target audience for his essay. Both Popenoe's and Zittleman's essays try to answer the question of the shift of roles in modern marriage. Though Zittleman uses charts and Popenoe doesn't, the styles in both works are best understood by an audience of pre-educated readers in this topic. After re-reading both studies done by both authors, heir area of study is similar, but the way they approached it was completely different. All in all, both Zittleman and Popenoe d o a great job when it came to supporting their thesis. Zittleman achieved her goal as a writer when it came to appeasing for a wide range of audiences. Popenoe, however, focuses so much on proving his theory with facts that he fails to remember he has a wide variety of readers. Although I personally disagree with Popenoe's theory, he still did a great job in supporting his work factually.

What To Do If You Don’t Want To Work Anymore

What To Do If You Don’t Want To Work Anymore You find yourself totally checked out at work. You just can’t bring yourself to care- let alone work- let alone work hard. Your attitude has slipped. You can’t remember why you’re even doing what you’re doing. Trouble is: this can have a terrible impact on your career. Don’t let your current attitude impact your future reputation. First: Fight Through Work ApathyHere are a few strategies on how to combat a complete lack of interest in your job, or  work fatigue.1. Change your mind.Sometimes it really is a simple matter of faking it ‘til you make it. You can change the way your brain works. You can make your attitude more positive- just by trying. Start by rethinking your job as not just the bane of your existence. Until your two weeks notice are in, this is still your job and you still have to do it. Restart your thinking. Find something you can love about your work. And if you can’t, start strategizing how to change jobs.2. Reward yo urself.Figure out a way to be able to get through your day. If you finish working on that one task you’re dreading, allow yourself a hot chocolate with a coworker. If you finish a huge project, allow yourself to take a personal day and do something fun. Stay on top of your inbox for a week, and take yourself out to dinner!3. Think about the future.It might just be a rough or boring patch. Consider having a conversation with your boss about moving forward, perhaps taking on more interesting work, or shifting to another department. Start setting up the meetings now that will help you realize your best future. If you’re sure it’s not just a temporary slump, start preparing for what you might need to do to get yourself into a position you do want.Then: Make the Life Changes Necessary to Get Back on TrackIf you’re sure it’s the job and not your problem, start strategizing about your next steps. The worst thing you can do is rely on a job you hate just b ecause you have to stay afloat or you’ve let inertia get the better of you. Find yourself a job situation that lets you live a life you actually like. Here are a few things to keep in mind.1. Rethink your relationship to money.Money isn’t just stuff. It’s time, freedom, possibility. It’s a family. It’s travel. Figure out which is more important to you- money, or time. If money is your priority, you’ll never free yourself from the rat race. If time is, then it’s time to start prioritizing the things that matter. Rather than buy that extra latte or designer purse, why not save it for a mortgage fund or a family trip? Material goods can end up putting you in a loop of need and want that no amount of work will ever get you out of. And remember: the less you make, the less you’ll pay in taxes!2. Cut corners.Save money and eat better by eating at home. Think of your car not as a status symbol but as a way to get safely from place to place. If it’s a nice day outside, consider a picnic instead of a movie. A movie night at home instead of concert tickets. Take up running instead of shelling out for gym membership. See every expense as another piece of your life you’ll have to sacrifice. Spend mindfully.3. Choose work you care about and take action right away.This is the most important thing. Take ownership of what you do by believing in it. Figure out a way to incorporate what you really care about into your professional life. And if you’re not there yet, don’t worry. Just get the ball rolling. Start doing the work you’ll need to do to get there.

Trustworthiness and Credibility of Public Office

Trustworthiness and Credibility of Public Office Trustworthiness and Credibility of Public Office Greece Finance Minister #ProfesorVaroufakis, a political economist, economics professor, and author of several academic texts in economics and game theory, in a TV interview, warns leaders of the European Union of â€Å"inevitable contagion† if Greece leaves the eurozone. This economic prediction, regardless of evidence, was immediately taken as feasible, made the headlines of several reputable newspapers, and attracted the attention of EU leaders including the European Central Bank Manager who even recorded Varoufakis’ TV interview. What if a non-academic politician made a similar statement? Are media and public reception the same? THE BRIGHT SIDES OF ACADEMIC INTELLECTUALS WE CALL NERDS One advantage of having a strong academic background is intellectual credibility; a reputation gained from scholarly achievements and contributes to the credibility of a public official. Politics according to literature consist of relationships and interactions between people and government. However, the legitimacy of political statements is highly dependent on public official’s academic integrity and intellectual credibility. Minister Varoufakis’ political statement, therefore, is readily taken as legitimate as it was delivered by a university economics professor, academic text author or person with unquestionable academic integrity and intellectual credibility. Another advantage is the fact moral credibility is often gained when people trust your academic intellect and inspired by your professional recommendations. Results of several communication management types of research suggest that trust and credibility often determine the legitimacy of public statement that either not directly or immediately verifiable. For this reason, politicians without academic, intellectual, and moral credibility are often faced with problems legitimizing their decisions and policies. The public according to research is not only interested in finding a confusing mix of controversial or contradictory information but credibility and trustworthiness of the person making the statement. Academic and Politics are Entirely Different Worlds Academic intellectuals are normally operating under conditions of openness and free discussion, freedom to research, and pride themselves as sources of objective knowledge and worthy of public trust. For this reason, most academics usually do not agree on corporate-funded technology research that often requests them to maintain confidentiality and alter basic academic practices. These practices are some of the reasons why authors like Posner want academic intellectuals to stay out of politics. The first disadvantage of the electing academic intellectual in public office is the fact that social and political affairs are best left to experts. Second, since academic intellectuals are hired, paid, tenured, and closely controlled by professional norms, they are unlikely to become romanticized or emulated social models. Third, since a good politician possesses organizational and sociability traits, political will and patriotic heart, caring and an expert in public affairs, and a person of conscience, an objective, and norm-controlled academic intellectual are unlikely to become one. In reality, most academics are not the type of people who enjoy socializing, caring, exercising political will, and resolving issues with the conscience. In case an academic decided to enter politics and got elected, he or she is more likely to become a â€Å"judge† politician, a public servant who makes political decisions and policies based on academic objectivity and professional norms rather than conscience and political will.

How To Write Content That Sells Anatomy In A 6-Figure Post

How To Write Content That Sells Anatomy In A 6-Figure Post We all know that content marketing is a great, long-lasting way to increase revenue in your business. The good thing is, there are a lot of different ways to do it. Guest blogging, podcasting, webinars, social media, plus others like  proving yourself as an expert in various social media groups. The problem is, as Im sure youve discovered, not all the content you write actually does anything to bring in sales! Sometimes you write a piece of content and see a huge influx of leads/sales. Other times, youd be excited to hear a cricket chirping. So, how are you publishing content that sells? In this article Id like to show you the process I go through while creating content which has led to as much as 6 figures in real revenue from a single post (and many other examples). How To Write Content That Sells: The Anatomy In A 6-Figure Post via @JeremyReevesBefore I get into the step-by-step process I go through, I first have to get you to fully understand something... Social Shares And "Eyeballs" Do Not Matter Yes, I know they're good at helping with SEO. But if your content isn't producing real revenue, who cares? The point of creating content is to produce sales, not shares or views. Just think about all the cute memes you see on Facebook. They're inspiring. Sometimes they make you tear up (the ones about sons and fathers always get me!). They get insane amounts of shares. What good are social shares if your content doesn't sell? #sales #contentmarketingBut they don't lead to sales. The first mental shift you need to make is to stop caring (as much) about shares and instead focus on coming up with content ideas that make real sales. That said, let's jump into the good stuff, shall we? Step #1: Know Exactly Who You Can Help And What They're Looking For If you're going to sell more, you have to know exactly who it is that you're selling to. You also have to know exactly what it is that they want! This is something we all know, but very few of us really do the dirty work to figure out. Recommended Reading:  How To Find Your Target Audience In Content Marketing The more important point here is that once you know exactly who your perfect customer/client is, and exactly how you can help them best, you need to structure your content around those issues. You need to think in terms of the following sentence... "How will this content directly pre-sell a new client or customer on doing business with me?" Here's an example: I have a client I'm about to start working with. She's a naturopathic doctor who uses customized treatments based on your micro-nutrient profile to help high net worth individuals live a more high-performance lifestyle through their health. Her new program will be in the range of $6,000 per year (there are various price points). One of the things I'll be doing for her is building an automated webinar. When strategizing the content, you can bet I won't be talking about "7 steps to get a better night's sleep". That would do nothing to pre-sell the service we offer. Instead, it will be something along the lines of... "How A Simple 10-Minute Blood Test Can Boost Brain Performance 37% In 7 Days" I'll come up with something better than that (I haven't started the research yet), but you get the idea. It calls out to our specific audience (high performers) and will pre-sell them on her actual treatment. Write content that sells by  asking yourself, How does this pre-sell my business? #sales...Here's another example: I build sales funnels for my clients. My ideal client is someone who's already doing well, but wants to take their business to the next level and doesn't want to do all the work themselves. I could  write a blog post talking about the top 10 sales funnel tools I use for creating sales funnels. In fact, considering "number" posts get a lot of shares, I'm sure it would do well! The problem is, that doesn't pre-sell my own services. That simply pre-sells my audience on the tools I use but does nothing to demonstrate my own expertise. See the difference? How do you find content ideas that sell? Read this 5-step process. #sales #contentmarketingCompare that with a guest blog post I wrote for Visual Website Optimizer. That single blog post brought me in well over $100,000 in sales. Why? Throughout the rest of this article, I'd like to break it down for you. Let's start with... Step #2: Infuse Controversy Into Your Content Long form sales letters are a controversial topic. I won't go into all the details on that, but if you're a marketer, you're probably familiar with them. Maybe you even still think they don't work. (Hint: They do. I recently wrote a 45-minute long video which is producing a positive ROI on $10k per day ad spend.) The point is, this article sparked up A LOT  of controversy because the main audience was people who understood and were actively doing split-testing. I wrote this because I knew they might be interested in split-testing a long form letter after reading my article, and I was right. When you're developing article ideas, create a list of all the myths in your industry. Then make a list of all the "truths" in your industry that are false. For example, most people think eating breakfast in the morning helps you lose weight. The problem is, that's absolutely false. Your metabolism doesn't change over that short of a time period. In fact, many people lose weight by skipping breakfast so they can eat more satisfying meals later. Me included. THAT  is a good post, with a great chance of going viral because it might spark up some controversy. Controversial content inspires interest. Make it actionable to make it sell. #sales...The reason you want controversy is two-fold... Virality:  If you're looking for more people to view your post, controversy will help make that happen. Resonance:  Think of people like Rush Limbaugh or Howard Stern. You either LOVE or HATE them. But the fact is, the people who love them are absolute raving fans! The way you make more sales is by having raving fans, not people who are moderately interested in you. And now that you've chosen a topic that will spark up a little controversy in the industry, you need to plan out... Step #3: Demonstrate Proof And Expertise One of the secrets of a high-converting offer is demonstrating expertise. Infomercials are the masters at this. I'm working on an infomercial project right now and the amount of time they put into figuring out how to demonstrate the effectiveness of their products is absolutely breathtaking. The good news is you can do this through your content. Demonstrating proof and expertise is all about creating an "aha" in the readers' mind. You want to get them nodding in agreement with you. It creates a psychological connection... the same as sitting in an audience and nodding along as the speaker (i.e. the big authority in the room) gives his or her talk. You also want to make sure you sprinkle bits of proof throughout your content. One of my structures for an article is talking about a specific issue, and then giving some sort of example which adds credibility. This is why it's important to have a running list of case studies/testimonials and experiences you can pull from while you're writing. Include case studies, testimonials, and experiences in your content to build credibility.It doesn't just have to be a testimonial, though. There are a lot of different ways to be seen as an authority on your topic. Here are 7, just to get you started... Publicity:  People gain instant respect for anybody who has been talked about on the news! Scientific studies/statistics:  I use this primarily for health-related projects, however, you can find studies on almost anything these days! Simply look up "your topic statistics" in Google.  For example, "email marketing statistics". Stories:  Stories are the gateway to someone's heart. Compelling stories allow you to tap into the subconscious mind of your prospects and develop an instant bond unlike any other method of persuasion. Specialization:  Who do you trust more to fix your clogged arteries... your general doctor  or a heart surgeon? Comparisons:  Showing comparisons is the equivalent of demonstration. I've seen increases of 20%+ in conversion rates for my clients when adding comparison charts in the right places! Dismantling myths:  If you can break someone free of a myth that's hurting them, and get them to believe you, it gives you instant authority. Empathy:  The key to great marketing is understanding your customer better than your competitors. Similar to stories, empathy opens up the mind and allows them to quickly trust you, even if they hardly know you. Those are just a few pieces of proof you can sprinkle throughout your content. Once you've added in enough proof to get the readers to realize you're an authority they can trust, it's time for... Step #4: Salt The Wound Salting the wound is a crucial step. This varies for each person because you're all selling different products/services, but the point here is making the following connection in the reader's mind: The normal way is hard and/or ineffective My way makes it easy and effective That's it! The product/service you're selling is likely already making it easier, faster, and more effective for the person who's buying it. But you have to demonstrate that! In your content that sells, you have to spell out, in detail, the process needed to get the end result. You don't want to skimp here. You want to be extremely thorough and take it step-by-step. (Note: You should also do this in your main sales pages, like I do here.) You do this for two reasons... For The DIY'ers:  You want to make sure you're adding a lot of value to those people who will take your advice and actually do it themselves. If they do, great! Show How Complicated It Really Is:  You'll also have a huge portion of people who want to get it done, but then see how much work it's going to take and subconsciously decide that they'd rather hand the project to an expert (i.e. you). In other words, you're selling the process and end results. Yet by laying everything out in specific detail, you'll automatically attract those people who want the end result, but don't feel like going through the work to get it. For example, I once wrote an article for another very well-known blog (CrazyEgg) talking about crafting emails. In that article, I went into depth about my process for writing emails. For me, it's all intuitive and quick because I do it everyday... However, if you didn't write emails everyday like I do, it seems very daunting. That's why this step is so important. You're adding tremendous value to those who want to do it because you're telling them exactly what to do. Plus, you're proving your authority, because experts have step-by-step systems in place to do the work they do. Finally, you're automatically attracting those who see that you're an expert, understand why to do it, but don't want to do it themselves. It's a beautiful thing! Content that sells shows why the normal way is hard, then demonstrates a more effective way.And that's where the next step comes into play... Step #5: Understand The Exact Next Steps That Need To Happen Finally, you need to have 2–3 different lead generation options to send people to, based on your goals and the level of sophistication of your content. Let's say you're talking about a very basic topic in your marketing. An example could be a chiropractor talking about 3 ways to reduce lower back injuries. People who respond to this type of information will be at the beginning of their buyers' journey. In that case, you shouldn't immediately ask them to do business with you. Instead, you should send them to some sort of lead generation offer that is similar to what they just read. (So for example, a free report with 7 more steps to reducing injuries.) Compare that to an article talking about a 30-second stretch that reduces back pain NOW. People who resonate with that article will have back pain at this very instant. That means they would be much more open to calling you immediately to come in for an appointment because they want the solution right away. Content that sells inspires immediate action. #sales #contentmarketingConclusion If you put all these tips together and keep them in mind as you're strategizing your content, you should see an increase not only in CTR from your articles, you should also see a noticeable increase in readers turning into customers and clients. The best part is, all of these strategies can be directly applied to your sales funnel in your emails, webinars, sales pages, and everything else you're using to make more sales! I developed these strategies while building sales funnels for my clients, and simply used the same ideas for the very beginning of the funnel (i.e. the content/attraction part). Take a few minutes to re-read this so it really sinks in. Then go ahead and start figuring out how/where you can implement them in your business. And, of course, let me know if you have any questions and if this article has helped you!

A Letter to my High School Counselor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Letter to my High School Counselor - Essay Example As an initial matter, I realize that many people go to college in order to secure a high paying job. My family has reminded me, for instance, that college is expensive and a huge investment in my future. There is no question that I will be forced to find a job in order to pay back my student loans. In addition, I further recognize that employers value students with particular types of degrees and who graduate from highly-ranked universities. Had I chosen to pursue my engineering studies at Berkeley, there is no doubt that I would have been granted access to elite employers from around the world. Finally, I recognize that many colleges today are rethinking their programs and their curriculums. There is a growing amount of pressure for colleges to prepare students for employment; more particularly, prospective students are very interested in knowing the average employment rates and the average salaries of each college's graduates. This, in turn, has led to an emphasis on programs which cater to engineering, science, and business. In the final analysis, both students and colleges seem to be more interested in seeing colleges prepare students for high-paying jobs. These imperatives are both economic and practical given the increasing costs of education and the value which employers and society place on particular types of education and skills. Despite these arguments, many of which are valid, I am not persuaded that short-term employment prospects are strong enough to change my mind. I may be a traditionalist, but I have always envisioned education as something much broader and much more significant than a sort of quasi-vocational training. I have chosen to major in English literature because I believe that college is more about training the mind in a more interdisciplinary manner.

State Coordinating Boards and accountability measures Essay

State Coordinating Boards and accountability measures - Essay Example In order to enhance competitiveness in the international marketplace, Governments are increasingly focusing on the need to improve the quality of human capital that is the product of higher educational institutions. Therefore, there is an accountability that is being demanded of these organizations, through the use of external evaluation and performance measures to assess the quality of the education that is being imparted and the effectiveness of policy outcomes. These moves are posing a threat to academic freedom, which gives an individual the right to â€Å"study and teach whatever he or she wants to without threat of sanction† [Tierney, 1998, pp 41], even if this course of study may be such that it does not contribute to maximizing economic returns for the public dollars that have been funneled into education. Educational institutions have traditionally functioned with autonomy because that makes them more â€Å"flexible and responsive, given their relative freedom from command and control by centralized Government†¦..[The result] is higher levels of organizational innovation and more variety within national systems of higher education† [Dee, Henkin and Chen, 2000, p 204]. However, increasing economic pressures leading to the corporatization of higher education are impinging upon the autonomy of educational institutions [Bok, 2003] and pose a serious threat to the achievement of true academic goals [Kirp, 2003]. The conflict between maintaining academic autonomy while simultaneously persevering policy accountability is an ongoing one, in which State Coordinating Boards are faced with the greatest difficulties in defining their role and achieving the right balance between autonomy and accountability.

Engineering material Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Engineering material - Essay Example The central part of the specimen possesses reduced cross-sectional area than the end parts. The reduced gauge ensures that the highest stresses occur within the gauge, and not near the grips of the load frame, preventing strain and fracture of the specimen near or in the grips (Fabila 2010). Incremental application of the tensile load to the specimen and its corresponding extension are recorded and plotted by a computer in the form of a load versus elongation graph. This graph is converted into an engineering stress versus engineering strain graph, which is later used to calculate material properties such as yield strength, Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, resilience, and toughness of material. The experiment was conducted on specimens made of Mild Steel (Grade 250), Aluminium 6061, Copper, and Brass. All test specimens had an initial gauge length of 25 mm. All other dimensions of specimens are given below: Each specimen was measured using the calipers to determine the diameter and cross section. A gauge length was determined and scribed into the specimen so the distance between two marks could be measured after the tensile test was completed (Fabila 2010). The specimen was securely placed into the jaws of the Instron load frame so that it was equally spaced between the two clamps (Fabila 2010). The axial and transverse extensometers were attached to the reduced gauge section of the specimen. Care was taken to ensure that the axial extensometer was set correctly, and the transverse extensometer was across the complete diameter of the specimen (Fabila 2010). The test with each specimen continued until fracture. After that, the specimen was removed, and the equipment was reset for the next test. The results of the uniaxial test were used to calculate material properties using the formulas provided below. The results of the tensile tests

Analysis of a NewYork landmark Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of a NewYork landmark - Term Paper Example The paper intends to reveal certain facts of the Statue of Liberty based in New York. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and the beginning of a new life in the land of liberty. Moreover, the depiction of the landmark regarding the history of New York and the character of its inhabitants will also be discussed in the paper. In order to explain about what The Statue of Liberty communicates towards the history of New York City, it can be affirmed that the landmark can be duly regarded as a symbol of character of the city and the residents residing there. The landmark is often viewed to be a famous tourist attraction in New York since a long time period. The Statue of Liberty shows a picture of the slavery system being crushed in the feet of the lady as portrayed in the Statue. It also depicts the improvement of the life of the people of New York. Earlier in the United States, there exists the slavery system. This Statue reveals the abolition of t slave system in the history of New York and the rise of a better life style of the residents of the city. It is often considered to be a universal symbol of freedom against the slave system prevailing in the city along with the nation (Murthy Law Firm, â€Å"Statue of Liberty†). The Statue of Liberty not only communicates about the history of the previous days but also the characteristics of the citizens residing in the city. Along with the abolition of the slave system, the statue also highlighted the start of an efficient life of the people. The torch of the lady is a symbol of the characteristics of the residents of the city. New York is a city with large population having kind nature. This character has been reflected by the statue (Fleegler 193-196). The Statue of Liberty communicates a lot of information about the city of New York. The statue itself is a universal symbol of freedom which reveals the abolition of slave system

Acid Rain Part I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Acid Rain Part I - Essay Example According to the Federal Monitoring Data report, Pennsylvania, since 1987, has been ranked as the first state that experiences an excess of the acidic rainfall. However, the level of acidity varies from place to place that are located in Pennsylvania. The highest acidic content in rainwater is found in Leading Ridge located in Huntingdon County. The average rainfall pH is 4.08. This particular pH value is considered to be 33 times more in concentration of acidity than the normal rain water that is unpolluted. Any value that is below the pH value of 7 is considered to be acidic. The lower the value the more the acidity of the rainwater. The normal rain water is considered to have an average pH value of 5.6 (Park, 2013). Lewistown Pennsylvania is therefore affected by the coal-fired power plants, large number of automobiles and factories that emit pollutants to the atmosphere. The resultant effect of these pollutants in the atmosphere therefore form acidic rain, fogs, snow and other particulate matter (Park,

Influence of Global Warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Influence of Global Warming - Essay Example Influence of Global Warming An increase in the greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere can been attributed to human pollutants which are seriously changing the earth’s climate on a large scale. The warming of the earth is a result of industrialization where factories are excessively emitting greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and many others. The millions of cars are also responsible for the emissions of these greenhouse gasses. The greenhouse gasses are responsible for making a layer which insulates the atmosphere and this traps excessive heat from the sun which prevents it from being reradiated back into the space. This results in the generation of more warmth which is commonly referred to as global warming. Global warming in itself is not very wrong but the major cause for concern is the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted which is excessive and has resulted in some of the coldest parts of the earth getting hot to the extent that glaciers are beginning to melt. This causes the levels of the sea to r ise since the quantity of water will be increased which can lead to the displacement of people from their homes. It can be noted that the aspect of global warming is topical issue that has influenced debate across the whole globe. Basically, global warming is the excessive heating of the atmosphere as a result greenhouse gas emissions which will trap excess outward bound heat from radiating into space.

Acid Rain Part I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Acid Rain Part I - Essay Example According to the Federal Monitoring Data report, Pennsylvania, since 1987, has been ranked as the first state that experiences an excess of the acidic rainfall. However, the level of acidity varies from place to place that are located in Pennsylvania. The highest acidic content in rainwater is found in Leading Ridge located in Huntingdon County. The average rainfall pH is 4.08. This particular pH value is considered to be 33 times more in concentration of acidity than the normal rain water that is unpolluted. Any value that is below the pH value of 7 is considered to be acidic. The lower the value the more the acidity of the rainwater. The normal rain water is considered to have an average pH value of 5.6 (Park, 2013). Lewistown Pennsylvania is therefore affected by the coal-fired power plants, large number of automobiles and factories that emit pollutants to the atmosphere. The resultant effect of these pollutants in the atmosphere therefore form acidic rain, fogs, snow and other particulate matter (Park,

Miscarriages of Justice are Inevitable if we are to Ensure that Essay

Miscarriages of Justice are Inevitable if we are to Ensure that Criminals are Convicted - Essay Example The criminal justice system in England and Wales is a complex social institution that is heavily regulated under the law. In a society that is fair and just, the innocent people should be protected from being charged for a crime that was committed by other people By all means, the criminals should convicted and be punish for their criminal acts. To come up with a fair and just criminal system, the prosecutors should be neutral and impartial when it comes to making decisions whether or not to convict the defendant from the crime he or she is being accused of1. Miscarriages of justice are one of the most serious problems we have in our society. Despite the lawyers’ effort in giving justice to the innocent people, there are quite a lot of legal cases wherein the poorest sector in our society failed to receive fair treatment and justice. As a system, the law unites the society as a whole. Therefore, each individual should wholeheartedly respect and abide with the law. Since a seri es of wrong conviction on innocent defendants could weaken the effectiveness of our criminal justice system, miscarriages of justice is often kept a secret from people outside the group of lawyers and juries. Miscarriage of justice is referring to the inability of the court to reach the desired end result for justice. To promote a fair and just legal system within the society, it is necessary to prevent miscarriages of justice... Miscarriages of Justice Miscarriage of justice is pertaining to many criminal cases wherein the defendant suffers from a wrongful imprisonment. In line with this, Layne explained that one should be clear that there are two different types of wrong conviction. First, there is a possibility wherein a guilty or not guilty defendant is unfairly convicted by not giving them a fair trial or has been legally discharged by the judge, detained on remand, or acquitted during the court trial. The second type of wrong conviction is when an innocent defendant was convicted for a crime done by other people. On top of these two types of wrong conviction, there are also cases wherein innocent victims can be detained in a prison cell without being charged guilty of a crime3. In line with this, the term miscarriage of justice is often referring to the second type of wrong conviction wherein an innocent defendant has been wrongly convicted but can also increase public concern each time a defendant who is guilty of a crime has been acquitted by the Court4. Given that issues related to miscarriage of justice are mostly kept unpublished, the continuously increasing number of cases associated with miscarriage of justice remains a social problem. In fact, wrongful conviction can eventually become a norm within the legal system in UK5. Because of the past and current cases of miscarriages of justice throughout the United Kingdom, the need for â€Å"corrective justice† arises6. According to Sir William Blackstone, â€Å"It is better to let ten guilty men go free than to wrongly incarcerate one innocent man†7. Despite the fact that it is wrong to convict an innocent person of crime he did not commit, there are quite a

Analysis of Indias Automotive Industry

Analysis of Indias Automotive Industry INDIAN AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY The automotive industry is one of the largest industries worldwide and in India as well. The automotive sector is a vital sector for any developed economy. It drives upstream industries like steel, iron, aluminum, rubber, plastics, glass and electronics, and downstream industries like advertising and marketing, transport and insurance. The automotive industry can be divided into five sectors:- Passenger Cars. Multi- Utility Vehicles (MUVs). Two- and Three- Vehicles. Commercial Vehicles Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) / Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (MHCVs). Tractors. We will be looking at the Passenger car industry in India. Despite a head start, the passenger car industry in India has not quite matched up to the performance of its counterparts in other parts of the world. The primary reason has been the all-pervasive regulatory atmosphere prevailing till the opening up of the industry in the mid-1990s. The various layers of legislative Acts sheltered the industry from external competition for a long time. Moreover, the industry was considered low-priority as cars were thought of as unaffordable luxury. HISTORY OF INDIAN AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY Initially, in the post-liberalization period, the automotive sector, especially the passenger car segment, saw a boom, derived primarily from economic vibrancy, changes in Government policies, increase in purchasing power, improvement in life styles, and availability of car finance. The passenger car industry was finally deregulated in 1993. However, the automobile industry, which contributed substantially to the industrial growth in FY1996 failed to maintain the same momentum between FY1997 and FY1999. The overall slowdown in the economy and the resultant slowdown in industrial production, political uncertainty and inadequate infrastructure development were some of the factors responsible for the slowdown experienced. In FY2000, the sector experienced a turnaround and witnessed the launch of many new models. Two things that stunted growth of this industry in the past have been low demand and lack of vision on the part of the original equipment manufacturers (QEMs). However, the demand picked up after the liberalization of the regulatory environment, and global QEMs- who enjoy scale economies both in terms of manufacturing and research and development (RD) entered the Indian market. This has resulted in a big shift in the way business is conducted by suppliers, assemblers and marketers. PASSENGER CAR INDUSTRY IN INDIA: HIGHLIGHTS Passenger car sales are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% over the period FY2004-2007. The six broad segments in the car market today are- Mini, Compact, Midrange, Executive, Premium and Luxury. In the medium term, growth in the Indian passenger car industry is expected to be led largely by the Compact and Mid-range Segments. The critical success factor has changed from price to price value. In terms of engine capacity, the Indian passenger car market is moving towards cars of highest capacity. With the launch of new models from FY2000 onwards, the market for MUVs has been redefined in India, especially at the upper end. Currently, the higher-end MUVs, commonly known as Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), occupy a niche in the urban market. With the success of SUVs, the line of distinction between passenger cars and MUVs in the Indian market is getting increasingly blurred. Domestic car manufacturers are now venturing into areas such as car financing, leasing, and fleet management, and used-car reconditioning /sales, to complement their mainstay-business of selling new cars. During April August 2006, the passenger car sales in India at 332159 units, marked a growth of 5.3%over the previous year. The growth in the domestic sales of passenger cars was led by strong growth in volumes reported by compact and mid size segments. While the share of mini and executive segments declined in the period under study, the share of other segments increased. For instance, the share of compact segment in the domestic car sales increased from 59.7% in April August 2005 to 64.9% in April August 2006, mid size segment from 20.5% to 22%, and the share of Premium segment was stagnant at 0.7% in the same period. New variants launches, easy availability of finance at relatively lower interest rate and price discounts offered by the players have played an important role in driving the sales growth in the domestic passenger car industry. KEY DEMAND DRIVERS Traditionally, disposable income was perceived as the key factor driving passenger car demand. But over time, other factors that are known to have an impact on demand have emerged. These include the need for greater mobility, non- availability of public transport services, availability of cheap finance, development of the used-car market, introduction of new technologically superior models, increasing levels of urbanization and changing consumer profiles. The credit for growing the Indian Compact Segment, and in fact, the Indian Passenger car industry goes partly to the Korean manufacturers (HMIL and the erstwhile Daewoo) and the Indian player Tata Motors. The HMIL Santro was launched in September1998 and created a sensation on account of its aggressive pricing at Rs.2, 99,000. The Santro became successful as HMIL had got the price -value equation just right. While Daewoos Matiz picked up only seven months after its launch, the Santro was selling more than 3000units a month only 2 months after its launch. HMIL had infact, planned its entry into the Indian market with the 1495cc Accent but later opted in favour of the smaller car. At the time the Santro was launched, both the options available in the segment- Fiat Uno and the Zen-had been around in the Indian Market for quite some time and lacked novelty. Santro was not only cheaper but also incorporated a multi-point fuel injection (MPFI) system that offered superior fuel economy to Zens carburetor system. The Matiz was launched in November 1998. Its 800cc engine immediately encouraged comparisons with Maruti 800. The initial launch price of Matiz at Rs. 3, 55,000 was significantly higher than the Santros Rs, 2, 99,000. Given that the Matiz was smaller than the Zen and the Santro, the initial impact was not so strong. In May 1999, Daewoo launched stripped-down variants. The launch of the cheaper versions saw the sales of Matiz reaching almost 2000 units in May 1999 and recording an average monthly sale of 3123units in FY2000. However, the financial crisis faced by the parent, Daewoo Motor Corporation affected the performance of the Indian subsidiary (that was reporting net loss and had significant borrowings). Subsequently, the Indian subsidiary halted production. MUL now has 4 cars in the Compact Segment: the Swift, the Zen, the Alto and the Wagon R. In terms of market share, Zen steadily lost share in FY2000 to its competitors. Despite this, there is no denying that the Zen is one of the bigger success stories in the Indian car market. With 3 models, MUL is the market leader in the Compact segment. The Alto arrived in India when there was little room for man oeuvre in a crowded compact segment. It was launched in 2 versions, the LX and the VX. The base version is priced competitively with the deluxe version of the Maruti800, while the higher-end version competes with the based versions of the Zen and the Wagon R. The 1061cc Wagon R is available in four manual transmission variants (LX, LXi, VX and VXi) and one automatic transmission variant (AX). Since its introduction in February 2000, Wagon R has been selling in the 1500-3000units per month range as against 5000-8000units per month range for the Santro. The presence of the already well-established Matiz and the Santro meant that the novelty factor did not work too well for Wagon R. However 2005 has been a revolutionary year for Maruti since its new Launch Swift has been a huge success in the market and the most demanded car as well. The other cars in the compact segment to have made an immediate dent in the market with their launch are the Palio of Fiat India and the improved version Indica V2 of Tata Motors. Indica was the third largest selling car in FY2002 in this segment, after Santro and Zen. On the other hand, Palio was launched at the time when the passenger car industry was witnessing a slump but the model cut across the barriers and was able to create a market for itself. However, the success of this model was short-lived and the sales declined thereafter. Nevertheless, launches of new variants (such as the diesel version) helped sales recover marginally. The size of the compact segment has increased as a result of the high growth rate attained by the models in this segment. The changing price-value equation, coupled with the declining interest rates and easy availability of finance, has prompted consumers to move towards the compact car segment from the mini segment. The high rate of growth achieved by the compact segment has attracted the attention of other players also; including GM. GM has entered the compact segment with the launch of its Opel Corsa Sail in May2003. FUTURE OF CAR MARKET IN INDIA The Indian automotive market offers tremendous opportunities due to a strong GDP growth, increased urbanisation, an expanding middle class, an upward migration of disposable incomes and availability of easy financing options. The Indian automotive industry is dominated by two-wheelers, while cars account for about 10.7 percent of the total industry. The potential for growth is enormous. The Indian Governments Automotive Mission Plan 2006-2016 states that the Indian passenger car market is expected to reach 3 million by 2015, making India as one of the top 10 car markets in the world. India is also expected to remain as the second-largest two-wheeler manufacturer, the largest tractor and three-wheeler manufacturer and the fourth-largest truck manufacturer in the world by 20151. The main considerations driving customer preference are mainly reliability and economy. GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT STILL LIKELY IN THE FUTURE Post-liberalization, the government has made specific attempts to reduce barriers and controls, such as allowing 100 percent foreign direct investment in the automotive sector and reducing customs tariffs on automotive components. The government has also set an ambitious target of increasing the revenue turnover derived from the automotive sector from about 5 to 10 percent of the GDP by 2016. The emphasis in the future is expected to be on exports of small cars, multi-utility vehicles, two-wheelers and components. With regard to emission norms for passenger cars, the government has proposed the implementation of Euro-IV emission norms from 2010 onwards, which is likely to lead to an increase in car prices. According to Avik Chattopadhyay Deputy General Manager, Marketing, of Maruti the Indian government is expected to continue the process of reforms even in the future. The Indian passenger car industry is dominated by the small car segment, and more specifically the compact car segment, both in terms of growth rates as well as contribution to total passenger car sales. Due to the fact that India is a low-income market, the dominance of small cars is expected to continue even in the future. Tata Motors, a leading Indian OEM, has plans of launching a small car at USD 2,326 in 20083. This is expected to convert a lot of two-wheeler prospects into passenger car customers. This is also expected to lead to other OEMs launching similar products/reducing prices and the creation of a new segment (below even the mini-car segment). Rural customers are also expected to be likely target segments for this car. The four-wheeler market (including commercial vehicles) is dominated by Asian OEMs, with American OEMs occupying only about three percent of the market. Hence, resurgence from the American OEMs seems likely in the future. Recently, the American OEMs have a lso announced their plans for capacity expansions however, the main difficulty is their lack of expertise for making fuel-efficient, small cars. General Motors (GM), in order to circumvent this, has recently announced the launch of a Daewoo small car (known as the Spark) in India in 2007. The used-car market is also expected to grow in the future, especially considering the fact that the ratio of used-car sales to new-car sales is about 1:1 in India this is less than the global ratio of 2:1. The major OEMs, including Maruti, Hyundai, GM, etc., have already decided to enter this market as used car dealers. Increased market share for fuels other than petrol is expected in the passenger car segment, especially considering the rising prices for petrol. Diesel is expected to capture about 35 percent of the market share in 2010, the current share being 30 percent. Maruti and Hyundai, two major gasoline players, have announced their plans to enter the diesel market as well. LPG as a fuel is also gaining popularity as it is cheaper than petrol and requires less maintenance and conversion costs as compared to CNG. Research work on bio diesel as a fuel for the future is also underway. The Indian manufacturing may go through periods of overcapacity as the vehicle capacity estimations are about three million passenger cars in the next five years. A recent trend observed is the sharing of manufacturing facilities for example, a deal between Maruti and Nissan, wherein the former is expected to produce cars on its assembly lines labeling them as Nissan. The use of Aluminum in automotives is expected to increase especially since this helps in boosting fuel economy, performance and safety, while reducing emissions. The use of electronics in manufacturing is also expected to increase. INDIA: THE SOON TO BE SMALL-CAR HUB Small cars constitute about 78 percent of the domestic demand, making India the third-largest producer of small cars after Japan and Brazil. Therefore, the government has decided to launch a programme to make India a small car hub in the future a recent reduction in excise duties from 24 percent to 16 percent exclusively for small cars being an initiative in this direction. The major players not present in this segment have also drawn up plans for entering this segment in the near future. Players with expertise in small car, such as Maruti and Hyundai, have formulated plans for ramping up production capacities. It is likely that with the small car volume increase (both due to domestic volumes and exports) in the next decade, domestic players, such as Tata Motors, would become strong global players. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TO CONTINUE STRONG GROWTH This segment has shown strong growth over the last 5 years (at CAGR of over 20 percent), and the growth is likely to continue in the future as well as this is mainly dependent on economic progress and road-network availability, both of which are growing at a fast pace in the country. According to the National Highway authority estimations, the growth of highways is expected to proceed at a CAGR of about 6 percent during 2006-2015, in contrast to a growth of about 1.2 percent during 1951-1995. The future is also expected to witness more product sophistication with increasing power to weight solutions especially for the truck segment. Multinationals have already made an entry in the segment with MAN, Daimler Chrysler and Volvo already present in the market. INDIA FIRMS VENTURING ABROAD Manufacturing occupies about 60 percent of the total direct overseas investments by Indian companies in various sectors. The Indian automotive companies, including both Indian OEMs and well as component manufacturers, have been investing mainly in the domains of forging and casting, particularly in European countries. So far, the industry has witnessed 16 acquisitions (five in 2005). The collapsing auto ancillary industry in these regions makes the deal extremely affordable for Indian companies, providing them market access and brand enhancement opportunities in a new region. Indian companies are also investing in emerging Asian economies such as China to establish a new sourcing base in the region. Global automotive players: sourcing parts outsourcing RD base to India The auto component exports sector is expected to show a strong growth with an estimated CAGR of 34 percent by 2014. All the leading OEMs in the world are already sourcing components from India, mainly in steering systems, casting products and electrical, such as motors and wiring, harnesses. The Indian automobile industry has four major segments commercial vehicles (CVs), passenger vehicles, three wheelers, and two wheelers. The market share for each of these segments of the Indian automobile industry, for the year 2003-04. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) , the Indian passenger vehicle market has three categories passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), and utility vehicles (UVs). The passenger car market is further divided into various segments based on the length of the car (Refer to Exhibit II for a detailed description of the lengthwise classification of passenger cars. The Indian automobile industry was a highly protected slow-growth industry with very few players till the opening up of the Indian economy in 1991. Low manufacturing costs, availability of skilled labor, an organized component industry, and the capability to supply in large volumes attracted global auto majors to set up their operations in India after the ope ning up of the sector. For example, Fiat and DaimlerChrysler started outsourcing their component requirements to India. 100 percent Indian subsidiaries of global players, like Delphi Automotive Systems and Visteon, exported components to other parts of the world. Macroeconomic factors like government regulations, low interest rates, and availability of retail finance played an important role in the rapid development of the automobile industry in India during the late nineties (Refer to Exhibit III for an understanding of the impact of the Union Budget on the Indian automobile industry over the years).. The leading Indian manufacturers are aggressively aspiring to become Tier-I suppliers the OEM: aftermarket ratio in exports has changed from 35:65 in the last decade to 75:25 at present. According to a Government of India estimate, there are 400 large firms in the organized sector and about 10,000 firms in the unorganized sector. The entry of more foreign companies in the sector is expected to lead to greater regulation, pruning of the spurious market and the unorganized players ceasing to be stand-alone companies, and entering into either contract manufacturing or becoming ancillary units. India is also showing an increasing prowess in automo tive design and development. Global MNCs, such as GM, Ford, Delphi, Visteon, etc., have already set up their RD centers in India. The main advantage of these centers is the low development costs it takes 1/5th of the costs to develop or engineer products in India as compared to global rates. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The present study of the marketing strategy of the Maruti Suzuki (Pvt.) Limited revolves around the following broad objectives: To study the evolution and growth of the Maruti Suzuki (Pvt.) Limited in the context of the automobile revolution in India; To study the growth strategy of the Maruti Suzuki (Pvt.) Limited and the marketing methods followed by it in this regard. To study the small car revolution in India and the contribution of the Maruti Suzuki (Pvt.) Limited to it. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN DATA SOURCES. Determining the sample size and the period of the required research. Designing the research tools. Defining the objectives of the research work. PRIMARY DATA Questionnaire. Survey. Personal Interview Discussion SECONDAY DATA Newspapers Journals Magazines QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN Questions chosen are open ended as well as close ended; and objectives behind choosing such question is availability of data SAMPLE DESIGN Sample unit: DD Motors Wazirpur, Mayapuri, Okhla, Competent Motors Moti Nagar Extent: 8 Weeks Sample Size: 59 MARUTI SUZUKI Very often, there is an analogy drawn between the state of the great Indian roads and the pace of economic development in the country. Needless to say, its not a very pleasing comparison. So the average Indian customer who rides the roads of India is naturally extremely cautious when it comes to investing in a vehicle. Only those rough and tough enough to survive the potholes and nightmarish surfaces can pass muster. In such a scenario, a foreign company launching a car in the Indian market was bound to be looked upon with skepticism and suspicion, more so, if it had South Korean origins. South Korean companies were perceived not to be quality oriented. The failure of Korean companies like Lucky Gold star (later to be re-launched as LG, which is another marketing success) and the bad word of mouth for Daewoo led to this perception. MARKET PRESENCE In the late 1990s, car manufacturers like Ford, General Motors, and Fiat were faring miserably in the Indian market. Maruti had a market share of a whopping 79 per cent in the passenger car segment. Daewoo and Telco were creating hype over the impending launches of their cars Matiz and Indica, respectively. In such a scenario, the top management of Hyundai Motor India Ltd, which has South Korean origins, had a tough decision to make. It was a big gamble to go ahead with the launch of the small car -Santro. The Hyundai management stuck to a simple strategy launch a quality product in the most promising segment. With the latest technology and price it aggressively. In the pre-launch period in late 1997, the company commissioned market research project to understand the, Indian consumer psyche and specify a benchmark for the pricing policy. The results of this survey and the actions taken thereafter had a bearing upon the success of the product later on. The Indian consumers showed an immense dislike to the shape of Santro. One consumer even likened it to a funeral hearse. A second important result was that Hyundai is an unknown brand with almost zero brand equity amongst Indian consumers. The company immediately undertook the initiative of reshaping and customizing the car for the Indian customer. The tall rear end was reduced and made more aesthetically appealing. The Santro was all set for the Indian launch. MARUTI-MARKETING GENIUS Here came the most important aspect of the launch the marketing strategy. This was a factor that could make or mar the success of the Santro. Hyundai tied up with the advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi, who hit upon a novel strategy. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan was roped in to be the brand ambassador. A three-pronged strategy was designed to attract the consumer: Educate Indian Consumers about Hyundai Create hype and expectations about the Santro Explain the virtues of the Santro The TV Press Campaign broke in June 1998. The initial TV spots and the press campaign showed Shah Rukh Khan being approached by a Hyundai official to advertise the Santro. Shah Rukh was not convinced about Hyundai and he was shown to ask all questions a normal Indian consumer is expected to ask. What is Hyundai? Why should I advertise for the Santro? Will it match customer service expectations? What about dealer networks? How can an international car meet the requirements of Indian roads? As the campaign went through all of these questions, the Hyundai official answered Shah Rukh Khan. By the time the car was actually launched, Shah Rukh Khan proclaims, he is convinced. He declares that he is now ready to advertise the Santro since he is certain that the Santro is the car for India. This high profile campaign backed by some very innovative media buying, which went for maximum coverage with the minimum budget, broke all grounds in terms of creating consumer expectations and hype in t he market. Along with the Advertising Campaign, the Sales Team worked burning midnight oil in creating the dealer network across the length and breadth of the country. The wide dealer network would prove to be invaluable in ensuring that the Santro would be available to anyone who wants to buy it. An important pre-requisite for the dealer network was a fully functional workshop area with imported international standard equipment and engineers trained in Hyundais parent training centre in South Korea and localized training provided in the Chennai Plant. RANGE OF PRODUCT SERVICES The race for Indias small-car market has begun. But only those among the big four who get all their strategies right will win this unforgiving contest. The prize: not just the largest automobile segment, but also survival in this market. Theyre lined up for the last lap. With Market India becoming a minefield for the worlds largest auto-makers, the Formula I have become brighter than the red lights that have stopped them in their tracks so faronly the small car will enable endurance. Bumper-to-bumper, therefore, the combatants are accelerating towards the small-car segment. Amounting to 60 per cent of the Rs 14,500-crore automobiles market, and hitherto monopolized by the Rs 8,454-crore Maruti Udyog with its Maruti 800 and Zen, its the final frontier between survival and extinction. So far, accustomed as they are to the priorities of the customer in the developed markets, the global auto-makers have taken many wrong turns in India. Only now, after many knocks, crashes, and repair job s, are they back on track, heading towards their destination. But neither the road nor the end-point of their journey is wide enough for all of them. At a projected 6-lakh unit by 2000, demand for cars is still 25 per cent less than the number of F-150 pick-up trucks sold by the $153.62-billion Ford Motor Co. in 1997. But the importance of India on the world auto map is strategic. With an estimated total capacity of 58 million units a year, the global auto industry is racing far a head of the demand of 45 million units. Markets in North America, Europe, and Japanwhich account for 74 per cent of the demandhave become saturated. Global car-manufacturers will need to plant their feet in a low-cost, young, stable market to sell their products to create a global supply-base for cars and components. The first wave of manufacturers simply failed to make a splash in India. They were revving up for a growth that never happened. Their entry reasoning: since India had been a small-car market for years, it was only a matter of time before it enlarged to ac commodate bigger, luxury cars. That the logic was flawed has now become evident. India is still a small-car market for anyone who wants both revenues and profits. Not surprisingly, Ford (which launched the 1,300-cc petrol and the 1,800-cc diesel Escort in 1996), the $178.17-billion General Motors (which entered with the 1,600-cc Opel Astra in 1996), and the $72-billion Daewoo Groups Rs 963.37-crore Daewoo Motors (which launched the 1,498-cc Cello in 1995) are limping at the starting-block. None of the 3 has managed to chalk up sales of more than 18,000 units a year. Even Maruti Udyoga joint venture between the $12.12-billion Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan and the Government of Indiahas been unable to grow the luxury segment. At 18,000 units in 1997-98, its 1,300-cc Esteem luxury cars sales fell by 28 per cent. Explains B.V.R. Subbu, 43, Director (Sales Marketing), Hyundai Motor India: Traditional mid-car buyers are turning to small cars; they are waiting for new technologies. Within 8 months of the 1,468-cc Citys launch in January, 1998, the $48.87-billion Honda Motor has sold 4,180 cars in the Indian market, which is more than the combine d sales (3,317 units) of the Astra and the Escort. But despite Hondas initial success, the luxury-car segment has platitude, and there seems to be room for just one player. In the past 3 years, the segment has shrunk in value, dashing car-makers hopes of rebuilding their futures in India. Naturally, the only safe haven that remains is the small-car segment, which is 2.45 lakh units in size. And the only segment expected to grow at 15 per cent a year for the next 5 years. The new millennium cannot but belong to the small car. However, economics of upstream manufacture will only ensure survival. Sophisticated downstream skills are essential to make inroads into the tough Maruti Udyog territory. COMPANY POLICIES BUILDING STRATIGES But strategies, like cars, must feed on volumes. And how much is the sub-compact segment likely to yield in 1998-99? Maruti Udyog expects the sales of the Zen to cross the 1-lakh-unit mark. Assuming that at least a third of the small-car owning populationthis includes customers who have been using the Maruti 800, say, for at least 3 yearsgraduates to a sub-compact, which means a market for at least another 1 lakh car. Even if the 2-lakh mark is not breached in the next 5 months, 1999-2000 will be the Year of the Upgrade, the economy permitting. This is why the second wave is focused on the small segmentfrom the mini to the sub-compact to the small car. On that relatively stable bandwagon is perched the goliath, Maruti Udyog, 2 newcomersthe $28-billion Hyundai Motor of South Korea and the Rs 7,450.34-crore Telcoand one revitalized company, Daewoo Motors. By drawing on their intrinsic strengths, each is evolving a unique strategy to overtake competition. BT test-drives the strategic re sponses of the second wave and assesses their chances of survival. In less than two decades, India has ascended the ladder of global competitiveness and improved its business environment for investors through a consistent focus on economic reforms. Even more creditable is the fact that this growth comes on the back of an ever-strengthening social infrastructure supported by vibrant democracy. India today is the hotbed of entrepreneurial activity. Wealth creators and world-beaters are visible in sectors after sector. Indias economy has more than doubled in real terms since reform began in 1991. Consumer demand, increasing three to five times faster than the economy, reflects the aspirations of a vibrant, growing and young middle class; India is home to 20 per cent of the worlds population under the age of 24. With more than 200 television channels offering a window to the world, Indians are perhaps the most rapidly evolving consumers across the globe. Successful economic reforms, favorable media disposition and an overall positive economic scenario h ave placed a spotlight on the country. Indian companies are making overseas acquisitions, capital markets are booming, FIIs are pumping money in, FOREX reserves are a record high and the political economy has gained credibility in the global investor community and world media. Innovative products, innovative processes, innovative manufacturing methods are enticing foreign investors and multinationals to India. What is `India for the world? It is a millennia-old civilization. It is also the worlds premier IT services provider. The worlds back office a global R D hub. Emerging small-car hub. Repository, arguably, of the worlds largest number of engineers, doctors, accountants, and so on. To bring it all down to a single idea India is ready with vario