American Psychological Association. Just The Fact Essays - Gender

American Psychological Association. "Just The Facts About Sexual Orientation And Youth" APA Psychiatry . March 2010 In 1975, the American Psychological Association has called on psychologists to take the lead in removing the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with lesbian, gay and bisexual orientations. The discipline of psychology is concerned with the well-being of people and groups and therefore with threats to that well-being. The prejudice and discrimination that people who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual regularly experience have been shown to have negative psychological effects. I believe that the American Psychological Association leaves out any biased background in all factors do to them not viewing sexual orientation as a mental illness and more as you are born the way you are. The American Psychological Association published in the state of Washington in 2010 and has their added and updated the article up to 2017 which I believe that it helps with their credential's do to them keeping the article updated. The American Psychological Association intended the artic le for college students and the youth making their information easy to read and understand by using general terms. How this adds to my research would be is that they view homosexuality as sexual classifications one of them being inherent and the cultural orientation. How their trying covey the reader is the learning of gender through social factors such as schooling, the media and family.By buying all blue or pink, making sure the boy will have trucks and army men, and only dolls or tiny kitchens for the girl they are starting the gender role socialization process right away. Therefore, I ask myself to what extent am I defined by my gender? Gender roles start at such a young age and are present throughout a person's life. This idea is prevalent not only by their family and friends, but also in the media, workplace, and politics. How this compares with my other article is that how Dr. Elizabeth Morgan is trying to convey to the reader is by a research that she did in 2010 she gathere d a group of men and women form all different types of race, culture, religion and countries and her studies concluded that no matter what man and women are affected by so many different aspects of social standards regarding what's right and wrong.

Pros and cons of Lithuanias integration to the EU Essay Example

Pros and cons of Lithuanias integration to the EU Essay Example Pros and cons of Lithuanias integration to the EU Essay Pros and cons of Lithuanias integration to the EU Essay thus the door to the EU, one of the most powerful political and economical unions, was opened. Although Lithuania strives to join the EU structures and the markets of the West economy, controversies surrounding the necessity of Lithuanias integration to the EU have reached its peak of debates. This question can be solved considering the main economical problems of Lithuania and the ways to solve them. They can be defined as relations with Russia, problematic situation in agricultural sector , fear to be inadequate to compete with the West. The first problem of Lithuania is relations with Russia. In spite of increased integration with the EU, Russia remains Lithuanias main trading partner. The crisis could therefore worsen the trade balance and slow down growth in the industrial sectors exporting to Russia. Even if political aspects of these relations the imperialist ambitions of Russia, the fluctuation of democracy and political stability could be denied, Lithuania still should admit that the crisis of Russia proved how it is ruinous to have affairs with such unforeseen partner. So, in comparison with Russia, the EU remains progressive and successful economical union that guarantees for each member their place in European market. The second reason of integrations to the EU enmity is problematic situation in agricultural sector. In fact, the majority of farmers are still incapable to compete, their labour productivity is low, the cost price is high. Lithuania still cannot implement and enforce the Community veterinary and sanitary requirements and upgrade the establishments to meet Community standarts. In addition, little progress is made in land reform and privatisation. Delays in land titling have seriously constrained the development of a proper land market. Further restructuring is needed for a more efficient and viable farming sector. On the other hand, if Lithuania does not join the EU, the number of farmers will have to decrease anyway. However, Lithuania will have to solve the problems of farmers employment and competition. So, in this case the question , whether Lithuania is able to solve it with its own means and to cope with all problems alone, can be derived. The EU allies claim that the EU subsidies more means than Lithuania will have to contribute to the EU budget. In conclusion, despite the EU promises to solve such problems of its future members, the agricultural sector remains the key area, which Lithuania has to improve itself. The third and final problem of Lithuania to join the EU is inadequacy to compete with the West. Some interest groups have already felt problems that are waiting after Lithuanias integration to the EU. The enterprises that at the moment get the financial support of the state, will incur losses. The enterprises trading with Russia also will incur losses , because the import barriers will increase. On the other hand, the barriers joining the common EU interior market will be abolished. According to some of the EU allies, although Lithuanias participation in the common EU market will increase competition, this will induce business and enterprises to reformation, cause the maintenance of Lithuanias economy and increase the level of livelihood. The best thing that the membership can offer to Lithuania is the restriction of bureaucracy in business sector and the concession of more freedoms and opportunities for initiative businessmen. In conclusion, despite the fact that the future membership to the EU will cause for Lithuania competitive pressure and it will condemn Lithuania to reform and revive its industry and agriculture, but in the long period the membership to the EU should guarantee for Lithuania both economical and financial stability. Summing all pros and cons in controversies surrounding Lithuanias integration to the EU, it is useful to remind that Lithuanias integration is delayed, because such state as Lithuania presents many problems. The most important of them are difficult relations with Russia, problems in agricultural sector and inadequacy to compete with the West. To decide whether such state as Lithuania has to join the EU, is a very debatable question. Indeed, the fact that integration causes not only positive, but also negative effect propose a conclusion that Lithuania, in comparison with other stronger states, still should wait.

Should Gays be Allowed to Adopt Children Research Paper

Should Gays be Allowed to Adopt Children - Research Paper Example They study. They work, and pay their taxes just as the heterosexuals do. There is no distinct quality that a heterosexual has that one would find missing in either a gay man or a lesbian. Gays and lesbians exhibit all the qualities that society feels should be observed. Qualities such as responsibility, ability to love, and trustworthiness et cetera. These are the qualities one should look at when deciding who is capable and who is not capable to adopt a child (Brodzinsky 165). Looking at sexuality is the same as looking at a person’s religion or political affiliation in order to determine their ability to adopt. It is wrong. The public should accept that apart from their sexual orientation the gays and lesbians are equal in every way to heterosexuals. There is no reason to deny them their adoption rights. If, the society does deny them this right, it would blatantly be exhibiting discrimination to sexuality which would lead to a rise in discrimination (Jackson 84). This discr imination would be against race, religion, gender et cetera. These are the exact vices the society has been trying all along to eradicate. In the United States alone, as of today only few states permit full legal adoption by the gays and lesbians with also a few states totally making it illegal for them to adopt. The other states are in a gray area. This is because the issue of adoption gets handled by the state courts which give their rulings also based on the state laws and depending on the judges and clerks. Some judges are liberal and permit these kinds of adoption whereas others are conservative hence do not allow for such adoptions to take place. States that permit gay and lesbian adoptions include Indiana, New York, California, Maine, Illinois, Connecticut, Oregon and Arkansas. This adoption is illegal in states like Louisiana and Arkansas. Others like Utah allow for a single person to adopt. At the same time prohibiting adoption by people who are cohabiting i.e., not in a le gally binding marriage. Since it does not allow gay marriages, it is practically making gay adoption hard to be successful (Brodzinsky 177). The antagonists view to laws that permit gay and lesbian adoption has little basis of argument to their case. The group believes that a child would benefit more growing up with a father and mother figure both involved in their upbringing. The group goes ahead to claim to allow such adoptions to occur undermines the balanced way of child rearing. On the other hand, protagonists to this ideology believe that a child does not need a distinct male and female parent as their role models when growing up. They argue reiterate that what the child needs is love, care and compassion from both parents. Some studies have shown that a child who gets raised by gay and lesbian parents on issues that society cares about nowadays such as school performance, self-esteem, social adjustment et cetera seem to statistically indistinguishable from those children rais ed by married heterosexual couples (Brodzinsky 123). The protagonists argue that promotion of the set up of a nuclear family should be avoided. This is because the world today is changing. This fact should encourage society not to cling onto the traditional family models of the past. The ideology of a nuclear family with a married father and mother is no longer the sole acceptable alternative. The reason countries are beginning to award legal rights to such couples is because they

Relation between Race and Social Inequality in the United States Assignment

Relation between Race and Social Inequality in the United States - Assignment Example The original grouping of people into races was valid as a taxonomy concept. There were different races such as Negroid, Caucasians, Asiatic, Polynesians, Xanthochroi and so on (Lewis, 1990). The term Ethnicity refers to the imaginary, informal and formal groupings that are made to club people with certain common features such as geographic location, language, religion and so on. Accordingly, we have people from different ethnicities such as Arabs, Jews, Whites, Hispanic, African Americans, Asians and so on. An ethnic group may have people from different races, religions and physical features (Omni, 1986). The terms race and ethnicity by themselves are innocuous and can be regarded as medical and sociological terms. However, unfortunately, dominant whites in USA started using these terms in a derogatory and insulting manner in the early 17th century, leading to the beginning of social inequalities. The white settlers of USA began treating the native Indians as mentally and socially inferior who were not worthy of being considered as human. This was a deliberate attempt to grab the lands of the native Indians by branding them as worthless and socially inferior to the whites. Later when the plantations came up, Africans were brought into the country as slaves. The dominant whites then usurped the rights of their slaves, calling them racially inferior beings that were fit to work only as slaves. Social inequality is more archaic since it allows the dominant race members to practice discrimination against people of their own race and ethnicity. Therefore, it can be expected that a rich wh ite would discriminate against a poor white, but not with as much severity as he would discriminate against a poor African American (Oliver, 1997). The proliferation of race and ethnicity has unfortunately given rise to racism, racial stereotyping and other ills. African Americans or blacks are regarded as

Amercian History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Amercian History - Essay Example And, of course, as there are with any widespread political movement, there were economic reasons why the Revolutionary vanguard declared independence. Legislation passed by the British Empire made it increasingly difficult to operate apart from the state itself. Taken together, all of these factors comprised what Americans now characterized as â€Å"tyranny†, as it is phrased in the Declaration of Independence, put to the pen of Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Any account of the American Revolution will inevitably say there was no one true cause, or reason, for the Declaration; instead, a broad array of social, economic, ideological, and philosophical reasons can be described as contributing factors to what led to the creation of the United States. In the years leading up to the American Revolution, sentiments against Great Britain seemed to center on ideological and philosophical shifts away from desires to remain attached with the mother state. But in the decades before the Declaration, shifts seemed to occur on the political and even economic level. The Seven Years War drained the financial reserves of the British Empire, and the Navigation Acts, designed to alleviate this pressure, caused resentment among the American Colonies. Additional political and economic burdens on the colonies by the financially downtrodden Empire, such as the Sugar Act, Currency Act, Stamp Act, and Revenue Act between the years 1764 and 1766, led to a rift in political interests. Stories like that of Ebenezer Macintosh, and his protests against the British Parliament’s passage of the Stamp Act, illustrates for historians and students of history alike what direction American feelings for British were going in, even a decade before the Americ an Revolution officially began. Today, American historians look back as far as 1763 to see the earliest examples of strong Parliamentary interference in the

Theories of Consumer Decision Making

Theories of Consumer Decision Making The concept of consumer buying behaviour is not new, it has been discovered ages ago .The current marketing strategies focuses on consumers buying behaviour. The marketing aim is to grow and make best use of their market share. Consumers decision making process is highly sensitive and is based on their learning and experience. The paper explains about the consumers psychological factor particularly learning and its effect on buying pattern. Learning has been explained with the help of theories, using black box and stimuli response theory. The black box explains the consumers decision making process and factors that affect buying decision. In addition this model also highlights the market stimuli, market environment, buyers stimuli and the buyers response. These internal and external factors aim to influence the purchasing pattern of every single consumer. Buyers are highly sensitive while making decisions and marketing stimuli provide necessary information and knowledge about the product or service. Consumers are also influenced by social and psychological elements like society, family, personal, motivation and learning. In practical consumer use personal thinking or experience to response repetitive buying. The self learning helps to reduce the buying options and narrow down the substitutes available in the market. Today modern companies have adopted the customized marketing techniques to understand the thinking and decision making standards. The cognitive learning helps the buyer to remember the previous purchase each time when similar arise buyer will use own experience to make decision. Satisfied consumer will not go for information search which comes after problem recognition and others steps in decision making. Marketers can influence post purchase decision by positive learning. Provided examples indicate the importance of buying behaviour and fortune 500 companies have used these elements to increase their retention rate. E.g; Dettol marketing explains the buyers response and trust which they have developed by using psychological marketing and positive cognitive learning. To enhance the learning process Marketer used education and awareness program to develop the learning of every single consumer. E.g. Toyota Lexus on other hand also focus experience as their marketing strategy. By understanding the need and market trust they introduced Lexus (Premium product) which leads the market from decades. Marketing techniques plus additional value added service enable them to enhance the customer experience. Toyota consumers were happy and satisfied with original band. By constructive experience Toyota succeeded to develop new market for luxury automobiles. While exploring consumer learning it was observed that customer retention has a direct relation with positive learning. It is also suggested that marketers must use buyer behaviour and need as the primary research of market study. Financial products and services require more understanding of consumers. It also needs to develop conceptual framework together with service marketing to deal with individual consumer. As explained its become more challenging for the marketers to understand, satisfy and influence the consumer to use financial services. By focusing customer experience, strong perception, service quality and trust marketers can influence the decision making and supplier choice. Parasuramans, A., Zeithaml, V.A. and Berry, L.L. (1985) says that its very difficult for a consumer to choose financial products and supplier because of the intangibility of product, and supplier reputation. Together with Ansoffs model and focus existing product and existing market marketers can increase buyer behaviour through target marketing. Outcome suggests that companies must emphasize on the elements that impinge on the buyers behaviour together with decision making. Learning can be deployed to evaluate individual response which has been proved by examples in the literature. Significantly, the end result suggests that learning can be use as communication and interaction tactic to view individual response especially financial products. Table of contents 1.0 Introduction Business success can be obtained through the appropriate study of consumer behavior. Consumer buying behavior is a multi step process, which involves buying, paying, using and reconsidering the same product over again. To understand the buying pattern or actions is very imperative as it directly influence the business success. As mentioned by Caslione, John A, (2009) the marketing strategies must meet consumer preferences in recession time in order to gain competitive edge. Most commonly buying activities reflects the strategy use by the companies for marketing and fulfilling the market needs. So consumers are considers to be the entry and exit to a successful business. To understand the consumers decision making it is important to understand the cognitive factors affecting their needs, choice, preference and final and post purchase experience or learning (5 Ws of marketing). Research done on buyer behavior helps to understand the deciding process in two ways i.e. collectively and individually. Both individual and collective buying process is affected by other factors like demographics, environment and perception. (Foxall, Gordon R, 1987) mentioned through the behavioral research companies can forecast the buying frequency and product preferences. Theory of Consumer behaviour and decision making The decision making theory was examined and modified by Nicholas Bernoulli and Oskar Morgenstern but it originate about 300 years ago. The theory was based on the expectation of decision outcomes which was a cognitive process. Later the theory was modified with the addition of value and satisfaction. In addition Allen Shocker explains the complexity and steps which involve in decision making. (Michael Richarme, 2005) Degree of involvement is another important factor while looking and making decision. Researchers also proved that the marketing activities have huge impact on consumers psychology which helps to take decision. Consumer behaviour is a psychological function which involves the customer to undergo the identification of their needs, searching methods to fulfill the needs and make purchase decisions accordingly. The process can also be described as collecting, interpreting, making plans and executing it for successfully buying the desired product (Lars Perner, 2008). The behavioral approach of the consumer is highly dominated by their psychology. The first model of consumer decision of making process was developed in 1963 by Howard and later edited in 1969 which has become the current theory of consumer behavior. The updated model provides an integration among the several psychological, social, and market pressure on the buyers choice and information (Howard and Sheth, 1969). Source: http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/10107/1/Consumer_Behaviour_Theory_ _Approaches_%26_Models.pdf) 1.2 Consumer Decision Making Process Consumers cannot make their decision alone, rather they need to interact and look up for the information from various sources like their own concept, reference groups, environment, other buyers and sellers etc. (Source: http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/10107/1/Consumer_Behaviour_Theory_ _Approaches_%26_Models.pdf) The consumer decision making process is interaction between the stimulus for the purchase, the characteristics or need of the consumer and their corresponding response. The stimuli can either be intra or inter personal from the consumer. This can further be explained by the BLACK BOX MODEL which emphasizes on the connection between the response and the stimulus of the buyer. (Cindy Dietrich, 2010) The companies plan and process their marketing stimuli, whereas on the other hand social factors like political, economic and cultural, impact the environmental stimuli. Fig# 5 the Black Box Model (Source:http://marketing5.net/Buying-behaviour-and-decision-making-criteria-of-Base-of-the download-w11405.pdf) The box encloses the characteristics of buyer and their decision making process which helps the buyer to decide and response. Internal and external factors have been represented in the model as buyer characteristics and environmental stimuli respectively. These factors together influence the decision process and buyer response as described in the figure above. From the identification of problem till the post evaluation of the decision each step is very critical for the buyer which directly affects the marketing strategies. Positive learning reduce the steps in decision making where consumer narrow down the choice, information search, alternative, here consumer behaviour to buy the specific product. All these process relate to buyer psychological factors, motivation, learning, personality etc. on the basis of information gathered the buyer tries to select the best available option while making the purchase. (A) How the selected factor affects the behaviour theoretically? Origination and influence of learning on buyers behaviour The cognitive method is the greater part of mental psychology which founded by early Marketers back (360 B.C). The memory or learning theory was developed by Aristotle who linked learning and knowledge as a mental process. In 1950 Hubb developed a model called Stimlus- organism- response which was dominated by behaviorism approach. (Hope J. Hartman,2001) Consumer decisions are influenced by individual uniqueness like age, life style, self concept, personality, occupation and economic condition. The purchase decision also influenced by individual learning and past experience. (Kotler, 2006) Learning refers to actions performed or information received. It arises from experience and interplay of wants, stimuli, response and reinforcement. Once the consumer has learned from their experience they try to discriminate and recognize the difference between similar buying stimuli and adjust their response to it consequently. Learning theories are also important to marketers in order to create the demand for a product using the buyers knowledge, motivating reasons for purchase and also backing them up with positive reinforcement (Frans Giele, 2009). Learning evolves over a period of time and helps the consumer to improve their knowledge. There is a continuous impact on the behavior of the consumer and their purchasing activities in future. The information gathered using different learning processes help the consumers to create a guide and mental framework for their purchasing pattern, behavior and decision. Learning is also closely to perception as it serves to be the raw input for the consumer knowledge which they have gained from previous buying occasions. (Mario Glowik, Slawomir Smyczek, 2011). Perception can better be explained as a process which the consumer uses to select, organize, receive and interpret their buying need and enrich their learning for a better purchase decision. (William j. Mcguire, 1976) said that perception is more important and has high influence than other stimulus. In this way the consumer evaluates the various brands and products which come to their mind. Often the compared aspect of the product relates largely to the psychological and functional benefits offered by the products or brands. (Thomas M. Aslin, Michael L. Rothschild, 1987) Marketers must understand the importance of learning/ experience as first impression is the last impression and it is important for the company to retain the existing customer as it is always cheaper and consecutively make new loyal customers. Other market factor like service quality and sellers eminence are also a part of human cognitive process which directly affects the buying pattern. (Kau, Daleen and Serene, 1995) New marketing strategies should focus to enrich customers experience by enhancing their learning/ experience and benchmarking those processes to increase market segment and share. Mental learning determines that for how long does particular information retains in human mind. This process involves different activities that a consumer relates while buying the particular product or service and then this information becomes the knowledge for future reference. Consumer retrieves the information from the memory if the same or similar product or service is observed. Effective marketing strategies and tools help to create a lasting impact on the cognitive learning of the consumers. (Mark D. Uncles, Grahame R. Dowling, Kathy Hammond and Angelo Manaresi, 1998) Marketers can use behavioral learning to enhance the consumers experience associated to their products as a large market segment loves to follow the current market trend and feel satisfied with their decision. Example 1: Dettol antiseptic has excellent advertisement which has made a lasting impact on consumers mind by using their marketing slogan of Be 100% sure. This advertisement has created a long and positive image on consumers mind since ages. Even after the launch of other brands of antiseptic liquids like Savlon by JJ, consumers still look for Dettol as their first choice while making a purchase decision as Dettol has made a strong brand image. Example 2: Allen bought Mercedes Benz S-class and told his boss and the boss admired the comfort, safety and power while driving, he will be happy to hear positive response and feel satisfied with the buying decision and feel proud to associate with the brand. Service products require more concentrated and customized service and experience. As they affect each customer in different manner and individually. Consumers level of involvement influences their buying behavior decisions which can be classified into three categories: Repetitive/routine buying, limited and extensive decision. Level of satisfactions/learning is also important to decide the nature of buying behaviour in future. Consumers keep their learning experiences as a catalogue and categories them as positive or negative which they use for future reference. Example 3: A Toyota customer will remain loyal to the brand if he has a good experience with his previous purchase of its models and associated services. So when the company introduces new car segment like Lexus which belongs to niche market, the customer will not hesitate to buy the product since his experience is affirmative. 2.0 B: Why is customer experience important to marketers in explaining buyer behaviour? Consumer behaviour and decision making process has been one of the favorite research topic for marketers since ages. Authors like Sheth (1974) recommended that consumer decision making is largely influenced by their family, awareness, knowledge and power of their attitude for the brands available in the market. Consumers use detailed information and their past experience to minimize brand ambiguity. Therefore managers must ensure that each purchase experience leads them to higher satisfaction and positive learning about their product and brand. Allen m. Weiss, Nicholas h. Lurie, and Deborah j. Macinnis, (2008) mentioned in their paper that Marketers can play with the psychology of the consumer as consumers compare each product in their mind. Companies need to identify about the consumers, what they want and which products make them happy. Fortune 500 companies have chosen marketing activities like advertisement, pricing, packaging and labeling to attract their customers. Modern marketing practices have moved on to CRM, service quality which leads to strong brand image and name. Service quality has emerged as an influencing characteristic in consumers learning, as a goods service quality leads to positive learning and rewarding experience for the consumer. Example 4: Dell is famous for their products and after sales services. In case of any technical assistance needed, the company sends their team to solve the problem at the customers residence. So the customer is highly motivated to trust and buy their product. Dell used customer experience and feedback to improve their product and service quality. 2.1 Explanatory examples (Marketing and Managerial Implications) 2.1.1 Dettol (Reckitt Benckiser) Strong marketing and brand image is behind the success of Dettol. Marketers have carried extensive research, advertisement and learning campaigns. The company has focused to educate and make every single consumer aware about personal hygiene and germ free environment. The marketing slogan of Be 100% sure has created a positive image and brand in consumers mind. The cognitive learning has helped the company to influence the buying behaviour and decision making of the consumers. Dettol has used several marketing strategies which were designed to influence the learning of consumers to ensure that whenever they think of antiseptic liquid they must think of the only brand i.e. Dettol. Through the use of learning and awareness programs, the company has successfully expanded their business and product categories from personal care to total care. E.g.: They first launched their antiseptic liquid followed by toilet soap, hand wash, shower gels and bars, shaving creams etc. Dettol has used mar keting knowledge and communication to develop the need of the product which was supported by various marketing and advertisement programs. Sayantani Kar, (2009) mentioned that Consumers are highly influenced with learning approach adopted by Reckitt Benckiser hence they are loyal to the brand. Dettol marketers have chosen psychographic and behavioral segment to target the selected consumer and then penetrate by the use of marketing channels. Competitive marketing and advertisement is the powerful USP (unique selling proposition) which helped them to grow and develop strong image which directly influenced the buyer behaviour. By using cognitive and behavioral learning factor company is rapidly engaged in research and development to extend its product line. (Prerna Raturi, 2006) Several business rivals like PG, Unilever have tried to focus on consumer learning and succeeded to break the market to some extent but being a pioneer and strong brand, Dettol remains as their first preference. 2.1.2 Lexus (Toyota Motor Corporation) Being an automobile market leader the company has transformed itself into quality conscious company. Toyota is well known for its durability, performance, luxury and features. Consumers have learned the superior quality and performance by experiencing Toyota cars. Company has a wide segment market which starts from middle income to high income groups. Toyota has transformed high end market with clever marketing and using consumer experience. (Bill Vlasic, 2012) Through encouraging experience they have entered in to niche market where traditional rivals like, BMW, Benz and Volvo dominate the market. By understanding the need of their existing customers they took innovative steps and broke the market share and successfully launched LEXUS. Lexus is a premium car and also one of the largest selling brands in the world. Carl Howe (2007) mentioned that Lexus used direct and target marketing by which they targeted loyal customers who were happy with Toyota models, while they carried massive marketing plans to focus and educate the consumers that Lexus belongs to Toyota but it is a more value added product. They used words like same family but different child concept to introduce Lexus. The new concept was high value leading to high price which influenced buyers to experience the new product. Consumers have responded greatly to the new model which resulted in greater sale for the company, since the cognitive learning was affirmative which insisted them to try the new model Lexus hence upgraded their behavioral learning. Alan Ohnsman and Makiko Kitamura (2011) stated that the after sales service was one of the key marketing features together with the product that enabled the marketers to develop lasting impact on consumer psychology and they succeeded to influence buyers behaviour. (C) Best product category and its implications. 3.0 Financial Services (Banks) Financial services are the most discussed topic in todays economy. By narrowing to financial products like, Personal banking and Investment banking particularly, service marketing has introduced many models to understand and deal with the problems. Consumer behaviour is one of the biggest issues which differentiate these two markets (product, service). Services are different from goods because of their heterogeneity, inseparability, intangibility, perishability and customization which make it difficult for marketers to identify and practice the service standards. Major Banks and financial institutions have realized the importance of consumer psychology toward financial products which influence the final decision. (McKechnie, Sally, 1992) To make a purchase decision for a financial product the consumers are not completely aware of the utility and consequences, the learning is developed simultaneously with the product use and Therefore its highly critical for the marketers to acquaint with personality, consumer thinking, relationship, service quality etc. which directly affect the buyer preference. The financial services are not a one- time purchase but there are several two- way transactions for long time. These services need the trust, confidence and mutual rapport of the consumer in the financial institutions. Lunt, Peter, (2005) explains that Marketers invests plenty of time to facilitates and establish a mutual relationship to print positive image in the consumers cognitive learning which they consider to assess the creditability of the institution repeatedly. It also benefits the institution in long term business with individual consumer. Trials are not available for these products and services, most of consumers use their experience to make decision every time. So customer experience, trust and brand image are the main wisdom drivers which influences the buyer to select from available financial facilitators. 4.0 Conclusion The object to study the consumer behaviour and decision making is to examine the role of determinates that influence the final decision of consumer. The justifications and explanation was based on available consumer decision making theories, buying behaviour model and deep study of selected determinant learning. While exploring the determinants it was observed that marketing stimuli, an external and internal factor plays a critical role in consumer psychology which influence individual response. These elements affect the final purchase of every single product or service. Therefore its highly critical for the marketers to identify and effort to narrow down the difference between consumer and supplier interest. Study also indicates the major difference between product and service and also suggests addressing them with more focused marketing. As a service based product buyers are more conscious about the cost and outcome of the specific product because of intangibility of the product it is difficult to communicate with the consumer. Learning encourages the buyer to understand and provide a clear feedback of any particular product. If the consumer is happy with the product or service the feedback will be highly positive which also influence the buyer to straight rebuy without considering other options. In financial products consumers are always scare with the outcome of the decision and highly depend on their previous learning. Marketers have used this element to understand the needs and want to optimize the satisfaction level, which is actually developing positive attitude to rebuy the same product. Marketers can use modern methods to reduce the level of negative out come by spending more on developing consumer learning and experience. The right use of service quality, customer relation and satisfaction helps to create long term business with every customer which also reduces the brand switching. It is also observed that companies and marketers cannot solely depend on learning determinant. While investigating the determinants it is seen that marketing stimuli also affect the buyer behaviour. The choice of marketing mix product, place, price, promotion) significantly changes the taste and choice of buyer. Marketers must design the strategies to reduce the flaws and ensure that the right message is conveyed to the consumers. The primary aim of marketing is to develop the need, attract, educate and influence consumers to buy the product. Therefore proper market study, product design, segmentation and targeting should be ensured by the marketer. 5.0 Learning from the assignment Consumers involve in buying and decision making process every day. The learning and decision making affects every time one use the product or service. Being continuous process its crucial for the buyer and the marketer to understand the process behind the decision process and what factors affect the buyer on each purchase. Being a marketing student the assignment helps to understand the available theories in details. Exploratory assignment determinants of buying behaviour helps to comprehend the practical implication of each determinant like Marketing stimuli, external and internal factors. By using exploratory research on chosen factor it was observed that it is very critical for the company and the marketer to understand the consumer need, preference, satisfaction and loyalty. Companies cannot rely on each determinant which influences buyer decision because consumer keeps changing their buying decisions. Strong marketing is also one of the key successes for every company which involves more focused, targeted and innovative communicative tools to address the need of the consumer with offered solution. Assignment also facilitates to analyze the practical illustration from the world renowned companies. While exploring their marketing strategies particularly which helps to learn from their practices. Critical analysis help to understand the pros and cons of every option which the marketers use address the problem. The assignment also encourages self learning, theories and their implications. Being a future manager it is quite helpful to discuss and address the problem in details. The positive outcome is to address the problems with solutions which help to groom the thinking and brainstorming process being a decision maker and manager. Strong marketing is the key of todays competitive business, it was an opportunity to learn and evaluate the possible solutions while understanding consumer decision making process which will help to take positive decisions in future time. 6.0 Appendix Fig#1 Theory of customer buying behavior (Source : http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/10107/1/Consumer_Behaviour_Theory_ _Approaches_%26_Models.pdf) Fig #2 Decision making through information search (Source: http://www.consumerpsychologist.com/cb_Decision_Making.html)

United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland

Great Britain is made up of three countries, England, Scotland and Wales. It is an island off the coast of north–west of Europe. Britain is part of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital is London. There are many different landscapes in Britain, from high mountains to rolling hill sand valleys. Places like Wales, the Lake District and northwest Scotland have high mountains and steep slopes made out of solid rocks. This landscape was made millions of years ago during the ice ages, when moving glaciers of ice made deep valleys, steep mountain slopes and long lakes. The southern and eastern parts of Britain are made up of smaller rocks that have weathered and become fertile farmland. The highest point is Ben Nevis – 1343 metres above sea level and the lowest point is Holme Fen – 3 metres below sea level. The population is 57,970,200 people, the population density at 239 people per square km. 92% of British people live in urban areas while only 8% live in rural areas. Great Britain is completely surrounded by sea, isolating it from the rest of Europe. No part of Britain is far from the sea, which is an important resource for fishing, tourism and ports. Britain†s rivers provide drinking water for towns, and irrigate farmers† crops. However rivers can cause floods. The northern and western portions are mountainous. The highlands – the Pennine Chain, forms the backbone of northern England. Rolling plains occupy most of central and eastern England. The western part of the central region is known as the Midlands. To the east lies The Fens, a marsh area. To the south, an elevated plateau slopes upward. The terrain of Scotland is mountainous but is divided into three regions, from north to south: the Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Southern Uplands. The Highlands occupy more than a half of Scotland, the most rugged region on the island of Great Britain. Wales has an irregular coastline and many bays; the biggest is Cardigan Bay. Except for narrow and low coastal areas, mainly in the south and west, Wales is mostly mountainous. Great Britain has quite cool summers and mild winters. The weather changes from day to day. The climate is temperate – the country does not have long periods when it is hot or cold. Western parts of Britain receive more rain and snow during the year than south and east. This is because southwesterly winds bring water from the Atlantic Ocean to the west, which falls as rain where it meets the mountains on land. There are large amounts of water in this area and a shortage in the south and the east. Britain†s climate is getting warmer. Average temperatures have risen 0.5 °c since 1850. This is enough to start the polar ice caps melting. If the ice caps continue to melt, large areas of southern and eastern England will be permanently flooded. The mean annual temperature ranges between 11.1 °c in the south and 8.9 °c in the northeast. Fogs, mists, and overcast skies are frequent, particularly in the inland regions. Like the climate of the rest of Great Britain, Scotland is influenced by the surrounding seas. As a result, extreme changes are rare and temperate winters and cool summers are the major climate features. Low temperatures are common in the winter season. Precipitation ranges from about 3810mm annually in the western Highlands to about 635mm annually in eastern areas. The climate of Wales, is a lot like England†s, it is mild and moist. Annual rainfall changes with elevation, ranging from about 762 mm in coastal regions to more than 2540 mm in the Snowdon massif. As a result of the relative warmth of the nearby seas, England has a moderate climate. Precipitation is heaviest during October, it averages about 760 mm annually in most of England. England has some agricultural and mineral resources but must rely on imports of both. Approximately two-fifths of the land area is arable, and the richest soils are found in the east. The soil is generally rocky and infertile, except for that of the Central Lowlands. Much of the soil of Wales is of infertile rocky or leached types. The most fertile soils are in the southeast and in a few coastal areas. Only about 8.5% of Britain land is forested, and half of this was planted forty years ago. Britain†s natural forest cover has been cut down over hundreds of years, especially in the 18th and 19th century. The most common species of trees indigenous to Scotland are oak and conifers mainly fir, pine, and larch. Large forested areas are rare, and woodlands are in the southern and eastern Highlands. Vegetation in the elevated regions consists largely of heather, ferns, mosses, and grasses. Practically all of the cultivated plants of Scotland were imported from America and Europe. More than 3/4 of the land is used for agriculture; farming and grazing occupy the same amount of land. The most important crops are wheat, oats, and potatoes. Other crops include barley, turnips, and fruit. Wales has ferns and mosses in low-lying, wet areas. Grasslands are mainly at higher elevations. Crops include barley, oats, potatoes, and hay. Less than 10% of the land is under cultivation, and about 40% are in grazing land. Forests cover only about 4% of the land, but government reforestation programs are increasing in the area. England used to be heavily forested, mainly oak and beech in the lowlands and pine and birch in the mountains. Woodlands now make-up less than 4% of the total land area. Many types of fruit trees grow in England, including the cherry, apple, and plum trees. Gorse is a common shrub. Many varieties of wildflowers also grow here. During the eighteenth century, Britain gained an empire by colonising parts of North America, Africa and Asia. By the nineteenth century, England was bringing back much wealth from these colonies. The trade in slaves and other goods from the colonies supplied the money to build the factories and the machines of Britain†s Industrial Revolution. The country developed heavy industries like coal mining, iron and steel manufacturing, engineering and shipbuilding. However in the twentieth century other countries revolutionised and began to compete with Britain in the overseas markets – so British exports declined. From the 1950†³s on, many former Britain colonies in Africa and Asia became independent and made their own industries, this affecting Britain†s imports and exports. All over Britain factories, mills etc closed. By the 1990†³s the worst of the decline had finished and Britain began to concentrate on new hi-tech and service industries. In the last 25 years, microelectronics has become one of the fastest growing sectors of Britain industry. It is a new phase of industrial growth which scientists call re-industrialisation. The future for Britain as a manufacturing nation looks good and it depends on whether it can develop and specialise in hi-tech industries such as aerospace, computers, electronics, telecommunications and biotechnology. The private car is the most popular form of transport for most British people. The British rail company is becoming more modernised – with new high-speed rail services. Air transport in Britain is also important and very popular. The British industry is now more efficient and competitive in the world markets because of the government†s actions of new industrial growth in depressed areas and growth of service industries – in financial, shopping and transport. Telecommunications are administered by British Telecom. 29.5 million telephones were in use in the mid-1980s, giving Britain one of the world's largest telecommunications systems. In the 1980s 15 commercial program companies gave the television on a basis; satellite-broadcasting services have also been introduced. Four television channels are broadcasted at the moment and soon a fifth. 50 commercial firms in the main cities run local radio stations. 124 daily and Sunday newspapers and more than 1000 weekly newspapers are published in Great Britain. 15 London newspapers circulate nationwide, and 6 of them have daily circulations of more than 1 million. Britain is a constitutional monarchy – the queen is the head of the state but politics is controlled by their parliament. There are two houses of Parliament – The House of Commons – who are elected by the public and The House of Lords – made up of peers. The main British political parties are Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat. There are also Welsh and Scottish parties who want to be separate from England. The political party system has existed since the 17th century. Several parties win seats in Commons, but Great Britain has worked as a two-party system for more than a century. The majority party forms His or Her Majesty's Government, and the second party is officially known as His or Her Majesty's Own Loyal Opposition. The opposition leader is paid a salary from public funds for that role. Britain has a long history as a great political and powerful country. Britain is trying to rebuild its economy by regaining its political importance. Great Britain is primarily an industrial and commercial nation. It has major industries like transportation, communications, steel, petroleum, coal, gas and electricity. It is a world leader in international trade, it imports foodstuffs and materialism, and exports finished and manufactured goods. Gross Domestic Product – $1,018,000,000,000 (US) Gross Domestic Product per capita – $17,690 (US) Money – pound sterling. One pound = 100 pence. Chief Economic Products – agriculture, fishing, mining, manufacturing. Employment Breakdown – 58% Trades and Services 2% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing Education is very important to everyone in Britain. All children have to go to school once they turn five, and must attend till they turn sixteen. Two education systems exist – one is free and funded by the government and the other is private where parents pay school fees for children†s education. Students can continue their education at colleges at higher levels or universities – there are 46 universities. The government is trying to encourage more students to go into higher education. Religion – The Church of England has the most members, 54%, in Great Britain. Most members, however, live in England. The second biggest religion, is the Roman Catholic Church (13%). Catholics are spread throughout the country. Other religions include Protestantism (which includes the religions of Wales and Scotland), Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. Health – General physicians in Great Britain are part of the National Health Service, although some also have private patients. The service provides full, free medical care to all people. Family Life – Most British people live in houses and 15% live in flats. In the last five years many people have been moving out of towns and cities to live in the countryside because of the urban problems like crime, traffic and air pollution.

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The main person that has shaped my personality has been my mother. She has show n me how to conduct myself as a woman, a professional, and as a mother. She has always worker d and shown me and my sister the value of work. Her hard work Instilled In me the desire to succeed. My mother has always been my Inspiration. At a young age my mother came to the US, she had no knowledge of the language mum chi less of the way of life out here. Although the language barrier she managed to meet and ma r rye my dad.My mother quickly found out that America wasn't all It seemed. She married and the n struggled to provide for me and my father. He was a spoiled American kid, In my mothers word s, with opportunities only dreamed of by my mother. She stuck it out and had me and my sis term. Later she divorced from my dad and provided for us all by herself. She started working at South Chicago hospital as a housekeeper when I was only 6 wok s old. Since then she has held her Job and worked two, even thre e Jobs to provide for me an d my sister. The road has been long but she tells me she never regrets it.She has been sat bled and living proof that it can be done. My mother did it without any education and it was a f reign land to her. She now has bought and paid for her home and a condo in Florida, and has law yes helped and provided for me, my sister, and her grandchildren. My mother is my idol. I wish she could see the impact and structure she has instilled on my life. I am so proud to have such a dedicated and hard working mother. She inspires me to do the Impossible. If she can overcome all the odds then I can at least try to.

Gradeur of tang essays

Gradeur of tang essays Last Friday, I feel privileged to attend the concert named the Grandeur of Tang, performed by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. This was held at the Esplanade concert hall and in attracted a huge crowd. Before we entered the hall, we could feel the impact when we saw a number of Chinese dressed in the traditional Chinese costumes for the formal occasion. The moment we entered the concert hall, we were excited to see the platform filled with many traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu and dizi and they were all organized in a systematic and neat order. On the platform, there were also impressive instruments such as the two large drums on both sides of the stage and more fascinating was the replica of the ancient bronze chime bells which was indeed an impressive backdrop. After the settling down, the much anticipated performance began with the piece The Rainbow Skirt and The Feathered Coat composed by Gao Weijie, who was inspired by a piece from the Tang dynasty. As most of us know, the Tang dynasty in China was widely regarded as the golden era of Chinese arts and culture. However, the dynamic piece of music was disrupted when the enthusiastic audience clapped at one point before the music ended. Therefore, the orchestra had to stop under the maestros order but they regained momentum shortly after. The performance was further enhanced by the recital of Tang poetry, which was accompanied by some music played by the orchestra to set the mood and tone. This benefited the audience greatly as it enabled them to relish the experience and helping them convey the appropriate mood of each poem. The poem was recited by two narrators, Yang Ou and Johnny Ng. Yang Ou recited the poem in a lively and clearer tone which made it full of expression and attracting the audience attention. The recitation of poems by Johnny Ng was less attractive as it was accompanied by loud pieces of music which easily en...

Biometric devices and applications Essays

Biometric devices and applications Essays Biometric devices and applications Paper Biometric devices and applications Paper Biometrics is a combination of two words. Bio means life and metry means something to measure. Biometrics is defined as the statistical measurement of biological observations. It means using the body as a password. Biometric technologies are used to verify person by using physical characteristics and personal traits. Biometric identification systems provide a computer system that allows authorized users to log. The system has many advantages as compared with systems that provide passwords. Biometric devices and applications have been growing worldwide. They are expected to be the way for accessing personal computer systems. According to research it is expected that biometric expenditure will reach $300 million in 2008.   Biometrics works on the principle that everyone in the world is different. This uniqueness can be used for computer security and identity verification (Blackburn, 2001). A person is first registered on the biometric system. The unique characteristics of the individual are accomplished by the biometric system. A mathematical algorithm converts these personal characteristics into digital representation. This digital representation is a profile and used to compare when the person authenticates. A biometric measurement is used for authentication. Real time biometric measurement is used to compare with the stored profile of the registered user. Authentication is based simply on the process that a match will allow the user to access the system. If the match fails than the user cannot access the system. System administrators can set the strictness of the biometric identification system depending upon the nature of the organization. Organizations like banks, government facilities, airports, etc will have a strict biometric identification system (Blackburn, 2001). Fingerprints, face, iris, voice, signature and hand geometry are the most common implemented biometrics. Other modalities are being researched and developed. There is no best biometric technology. A variety of factors are taken into consideration when implementing a biometric system. Each system has its own set of security risks. Location, how critical data is and numbers of users are some of the factors which are taken into consideration when implementing a biometric system. Sensors are used to collect biometrics. Data is collected by sensors for recognition and converted into digital form. Digital cameras and telephones are examples of sensors which are used to collect biometrics. A biometric template consists of digital data which is collected by sensors from biometric samples. They are compared in a biometric identification system. Several factors have inhibited the growth of biometric technologies. The huge cost of implementing them is one of the major factors that have hindered the growth of biometric technologies. However as hardware and software prices fall it is believed that the cost of biometric technologies will continue to fall. Newer biometric identification systems are more accurate and secure than previous systems. The internet has also pushed the growth of biometric identification systems. E-commerce websites have been implanting biometric identification systems to allow secure access and protect their consumers from fraud and theft of confidential information (Blackburn, 2001). Currently new technologies are being developed in the field of biometrics. Vein pattern identification is one of these technologies which use infrared light to produce a vein’s image. This technology works on veins which are difficult to erase or tamper with. Another technology is ear shape identification which measures ear geometry. Research is also being conducted on body odor identification. Another development is being undertaken in the design of systems that use body salinity identification. These systems use natural level of salt in the human body to identify people. DNA matching is a potential futuristic technology which could be the ultimate biometric technology. Research is being conducted in palm print identification and electronic nose identification systems (Blackburn, 2001). Biometrics is an evolving field which is being used in various industries and circumstances. Biometric technologies have been defined as automated methods of recognizing identities by using physiological and behavioral characteristics. Automated methods include mechanisms to scan images of personal characteristics. They can also include compressed images which are stored in databases. Finally these automated methods can also act as interfaces for applications (Blackburn, 2001). Another important factor in the design of biometric identification systems is the distinction between physiological and behavioral characteristics. Fingerprints, iris patterns and blood vessel patterns are examples of physiological characteristics. Behavioral traits include typing patterns, unique speaking ability and speech identification. Identification and verification are two different characteristics which are taken into consideration during the design of biometric technologies. Identification includes the process by which the brain performs identifications. Verification is the process to authenticate a person’s identity. Retinal scans are electronic scans of the eyeball’s wall. They remain stable and have accuracy. The disadvantage of such a system is that it requires close contact and might not be acceptable to the public. Another biometric system in use is iris recognition. It records iris by using video technology. It does not require close physical contact. However the system is relatively expensive to maintain and requires huge computer storage. Finger imaging is the most popular and common biometric system in use. It records fingerprints using an optical scanner. It is popular in law enforcement agencies. It is also a reliable biometric system. The disadvantages of the system are that it requires close physical contact. It can also cause recognition problems (Bowman, 2005).

American Railroads Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Railroads - Essay Example This essay discusses one of the most important historical transportations of the United States that helped to develop the modern and flourishing country that it is today. The essay discusses American railway system and it's railroads that had great impact on American history and culture. By linking the nation with a tight network of rail transport, the railroads placed America firmly at the forefront of the international trade, facilitating the cost effective transportation of production from mining and other big industries such as steel and agriculture. While the rail transportation in the modern United States of America is one of the most advanced in the world, such success can be attributed to those courageous and visionary people who saw railroads as a tool that would place the country at an economic advantage and as a driving forcer of the economic and social development of the nation. The researcher of the essay states that if not for the economic advantages and transport feasi bilities brought around by the railroads, America may not have been able to capitalised on its land resources to develop the mining and agricultural industries nor would it have been able to manage the spreading of population across all regions of the country. In conclusion, the researcher sums up his study on the railroads presented in the essay and suggests that it is fit to say that American Railroads had formed the backdrop for making the American dream of prosperity and development and reality.

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Globalization - Essay Example Globalization we can is inevitable in this day and age. Now that it has taken place there is no turning back and no country that has been touched by globalization can reverse the process and survive and prosper. This is because today economies are more complex and complicated than ever and technology has shrunk the world to such an extent that all countries and economies are interdependent and cannot survive individually (Kustin, 1993, pp. 4-8). Long Term Befits of Globalization The benefits of globalization are many and while there are many short term benefits of globalization likewise we can also name many long term benefits of it. Some of the short term benefits of globalization have been the lower cost of goods and services that have been achieved by the use of comparative advantage and also economies of scale. For instance having goods produced in China has lowered the prices of many goods that are currently sold in the United States. Big retailers like Wal-Mart contract manufacturers in China to produce for them due to the cheap labor that is available that will give them a price advantage, which they will not be able to gain if the goods were produced elsewhere - where labor was more expensive. Likewise globalization has helped increase service levels like has been done in the health care industry in North America. The issues related to the acute dearth of radiologists in North America has been addressed by radiologists in India, based in India being hired to fill the vacancies, however unlike in the past they are not physically present North America but carry out their duties virtually with the help of modern day... The essay looks at the external forces that have to be encountered by organizations that are preparing to go global or are already global. In the next section the essay then investigates why some organizations choose to stay local or regional while others decide to go global and how the local and regionally focused organizations survive in this day and age. The impact of the internet and other technological innovations on globalization are closely evaluated in the next section. The article then goes further and looks at the broad gains and losses that have been made from globalization in the last decade or so. Next the paper goes on to look at the main reasons behind international expansion being key to the growth and survival needs of today’s multi-national companies. Last but not least the author gives his personal opinion on globalization and concludes by summarizing the main points covered in this essay. This paper makes a conclusion that globalization today is inevitable and no country nor economy that has been touched by globalization can turn back the clock and survive without globalization because all economies and countries are interdependent on each other for their survival and globalization is the thread that keeps them all connected. There have been many short and long term benefits of globalization such as lower priced goods being manufactured and individuals having access to products and services that they never had before. Likewise though, there have been many long and short term drawbacks due to globalization.