Kantian Capitalism

Kantian capitalism focuses on the corporation as an individual with rights, the exercise of which is limited to the extent that the rights of others are affected. As such, the corporation and its managers are responsible for the consequences of their actions on others. A utilitarian perspective would present the argument that the liability of corporations in the effects of its actions depends largely on whether or not Kantian capitalism focuses on the corporation as an individual with rights, the exercise of which is limited to the extent that the rights of others are affected.As such, the corporation and its managers are responsible for the consequences of their actions on others. The Stakeholder Theory in Kantian capitalism focuses on a rights perspective however as there is no balancing of rights overstepped and benefits made. There is simply a remuneration of the said rights offended by the company’s acts, regardless of the number of people benefited or the extent of the g ood resulting from such act. A utilitarian perspective would present the argument that the liability of corporations for the effects of its actions depends largely on the extent to which the general public is benefited.The balance struck in this theory is between the rights of the stakeholders of the corporation with the consequences of corporate procedures. There is thus an acknowledgement that the corporation has a responsibility to those of the public disturbed by its actions, thereby placing value in each person and not merely justifying their losses as means to a greater good. The classical look at capitalism would not bother with the outside perspective as it would draw only into itself and its benefactors, in this case the stockholders. Management would then simply protect the claimant privileges of those contributing to the resources of the company, the stockholders and stakeholders. Kantian capitalism however looks beyond these assertive rights and places greater priority o n the rights of individuals outside the corporation yet still affected by its workings.The legal justification for the theory presents the corporation as a judicial person endowed with rights and duties of natural persons, yet not possessing the same characteristics. A judicial person in the form of a corporation begins its existence upon action of its component members yet its existence persists even after such members desist from their commitment, so long as one or more still remain or others should take the place of those who leave. However, being judicial persons, their existence is dictated and constrained by law. The laws clearly establish that the rights of stockholders from gathering their share from the company is secondary to the rights of customers, suppliers, local communities and the like to seek redress for grievances they might have incurred in relation to the company.Economic justification would bring in external factors affecting management capitalism. As the nature of the consumers, the effect upon the locality and the competition in the community converge to work upon the reality of running the company, the need to keep within the bounds of their duties surfaces. To state plainly, no matter the ideal management in capitalism prefers the benefiting of only their own management and patrons, the facts would prefer the practical giving back to clientele, distributors, and the like. There is then a greater benefit to the company’s longevity as result regardless to how such acts may translate to profits for the meantime.There is need to remember that there is a balance that must be sought. So far the playing field has been drawn so as to seem biased towards the rights of outsiders. The balance is struck in that Kantian capitalism permits the use of people as mere means to an end, when these people are conscious of the role that they play and give express permission to be used as such. The rights perspective stabilizes this situation by prov iding these persons must be active parts of decision-making regarding their participation in the company. The prevalent paradigm of respect for others and the preservation of rights will not be defeated then. It is then a joint future that the corporation seeks to address when they formulate plans.This theory, in law and in actual practice in the market substantiates reason. Efficient management would need to answer the company’s liabilities to the community. The externalities should be taken into account to further the progress of the company as ignorance of the same would result in long-term degradation of the quality of service produced. By following the theory of Kantian capitalism, the sting is taken out from the suppressive reign of corporations as costs are not passed onto outsiders but is accounted for by the persons causing them. There is then a redistribution of resources and a striking of market equilibrium.Ideally, markets operate to provide the best product or se rvice to consumers at the cost required by companies to produce such. The idyll of the market place requires the control of externalities not by the community but by the corporation. Thus long-term benefits are taken into account and not short-term profit. Kantian capitalism thus answers for an expanding and growing economy.A more stable economy would thus attract more investors, not just to mean that new corporations and more competitors are encouraged, but that more stockholders are encouraged to contribute to the growth of already existing corporations. The old goal of capitalism, to provide profits to stakeholders, is therefore still addressed. This time, even taking into account the distribution of such profit not just to the oligarchy or to a select few but to a more widely spread out class distribution. The arguments against capitalism and Rightist extremism is, in this way, buffered as the paradigm rotates closer to a central, or a right closer to center perspective.Works Ci tedEvan, W. and Freeman, R. (). â€Å"A stakeholder theory of the modern corporation: Kantian capitalism.† Ethical Theory and Business, 3rd ed. 1988.

Grandparent Rights

My First Grandson How many of you have grandparents that have played an important role in your life? Were they there when you needed them? According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, there are over 29 thousand children in Idaho alone who are being raised by their grandparents. I am one of those grandparents. On November 21s, 2004 Destin Hardy was born and this is when the bond of grandparents and grandchild began. Destin was 12 months old when his parents decided to move to Washington. It was so hard for me to let him go. I knew however that anytime I wanted to see him I was able to.It was in 2006 when my grandson and my son came down for a visit, they ended up staying with us on a permanent basis. My son was 20 years old and was just getting back on his feet, so I suggested that Destin stay with us until my son had a stable environment for him to go to. I at this time didn’t know the big effect this would have on my life. Another kid was all I could think about. I wasn’t worried I wouldn’t be able to do it, as I have raised four children of my own. I was actually worried about how to do it. Raising a child in today’s world is more difficult than when I was raising my children.Being a grandma and being a mother are two different things. I wanted to spoil him rotten. And as we all know once spoiled, always spoiled. So life began with a spoiled baby. It didn’t take to long for me to change to the mother mode though. My parental instinct took over and all of the skills I had used before came back to me. Destin was so active at this age. He loved the water and playing ball. I think his favorite thing to do was to jump on the trampoline or was it riding the lawn mower with â€Å"my wavier† (Xavier), as he called him. Even at night time he would want to read or color.I placed him in preschool at the age of three and watched him grow with knowledge. I can remember that every day I dropped him off; he would take my hand and show me the parakeets and the big parrot. He had to make sure they knew he was there. While attending preschool, Destin began reading at a higher level than expected. He was five and graduated with a preschool graduation diploma with special recognitions â€Å"Outstanding Learner†. This was a proud day in grandma’s life. Guiding Destin and talking to him as if he was a mature child helped with his language skills and communication skills.He is a very intelligent young man and knows more than an average child should know at his age. At the age 6 1/2 Destin decided that he wanted to get involved with football like his uncles. I thought about this long and hard deciding that it wasn’t in his best interest. I then decided that Tai Kwon Do would be better for him. He could use a little more self-discipline and balance skills. What a great idea. Destin’s accomplishments have been great. In one year he graduated 4 belts and received his green belt one month ago.From the day that Destin was born, to watching him turn into a little man. Destin has brought a great joy to my life. I would never take back a minute of sharing his life with him. I wonder what the future holds for my grandson. I know that with the right guidance and love he will go on to accomplish great things and one day be a great leader and mentor to his children and grandchildren. Bibliography http://healthandwelfare. idaho. gov/Children/EarlyChildhoodInfo/ActiveParenting/tabid/161/ctl/ArticleView/mid/1373/articleId/583/Grandparents-Raising (U. S Census Bureau, 2005-2009)

Durex Marketing Plan Essay

The Durex brand is well known and well trusted. So was the company’s marketing strategy. Condoms are most used by the 16 to 35 age group – a group most at risk in terms of sexual behaviour. For an older target group, the relevancy of Durex products wanes. This group is in a different life phase and has different sexual needs. Most people over 35 are married or in long-term relationships and therefore use other protection. While brand name recognition in this group is still very high, the product is no longer considered as relevant. The traditional and ongoing challenge, according to Durex global marketing head Mark Critchley, is to constantly attract new customers to the company’s primary age group, 16 to 35, to compensate the natural drop on the upper side, 35 plus. â€Å"We call it youth recruitment, we have to keep attracting young consumers to the brand as older consumers use Durex less because the condom is less relevant to them. † Critchley said Rather than just replenishing the existing consumer base, over the past few years Durex has taken the decision to expand its business concerns into other areas of sexual well-being. Durex wanted to expand its product base; to stretch the market by introducing products that would be relevant to the lives of its older consumers. The company started by researching potential consumers. In the past five years Durex has polled more than a million of them, focusing on different themes: concept level, users’ research (every time a new product is launched the product is always tested with consumers before launching), online research and also a comprehensive worldwide sexual wellbeing survey, led by an independent research company. The results showed that there was an opportunity for Durex to expand into new product categories, by shifting its brand positioning from safer sex to better sex. The goal for the company’s marketing team was therefore to expand Durex’s market and map out various products which consumers want to use to improve their sex life. The company also wanted to change the perception of these products. â€Å"whilst the traditional sex toy in many cases is effective, they look awful. We wanted to ensure our products are well designed, effective and don’t look pink and phallic. Critchley said â€Å"The goal for Durex in stretching the brand is to appeal to both males and female consumers, all our products therefore need to be well thought through and relevant. † survey, led by an independent research company. The results showed that there was an opportunity for Durex to expand into new product categories, by shifting its brand positioning from safer sex to better sex. The goal for the company’s marketing team was therefore to expand Durex’s market and map out various products which consumers want to use to improve their sex life. The company also wanted to change the perception of these products. â€Å"whilst the traditional sex toy in many cases is effective, they look awful. We wanted to ensure our products are well designed, effective and don’t look pink and phallic. † Critchley said â€Å"The goal for Durex in stretching the brand is to appeal to both males and female consumers, all our products therefore need to be well thought through and relevant. † Communication for Durex Play has also taken a different track. Durex has long used the internet to communicate with young adults across the globe and provide them with safer sex information in their own language. With Durex Play, however, the company moved to use above-the-line communication such as TV ads, a method not much used for these products before which again helped to change consumer perceptions about these goods. For the younger target group, Durex’s communication focuses on education, prevention and encouraging condom-use. Durex Play focuses more on the slightly older audience, emphasizing the fun and experimental values. Product Definition Durex is the world’s best-selling brand of condoms, and with a large variety of condoms, lubricants, vibrating rings, and other types of sex toys, it’s no wonder that they’re so widely used. The standard Durex condom is the Durex Natural Feeling Condom, which comes with water-based lubricant inside and reservoir tip to help provide a natural feeling during sex. An alternative to this classic is the Durex Enhanced Pleasure, which has a special contoured shape that creates both more sensitivity and a better fit to help enhance the experience. Looking for something a little more exciting? Try Durex High Sensation condoms, which differ from other ribbed condoms by having large ribs towards the open end, leading in an increase in sensation for your partner. Another condom in that same vein is the Durex Her Sensation condom, which with its specifically positioned ribs and berry scent will certainly please your partner, if not you as well. Don’t think that’s exciting enough? Then try the Durex Intense Sensation with its raised stud texture, which is sure to lead to a unique and memorable experience. And for those who love both ribbing and studs, there’s the Durex Pleasuremax, the ultimate in pleasure from Durex. Looking for something in particular with your condom? Want to extend the experience for as long as humanly possible? Durex’s new Durex Performax condoms are for you then, as they contain a special climax control lubricant inside to help extend your experience long into the night. Interested in sensitivity and thinness? Durex Extra Sensitive Condoms are 20% thinner than the standard condom and have a fitted shape which greatly enhances the sensation while reassuring that you stay protected. Another similar condom is the Durex Maximum Love Condom, which, besides being thinner, comes with an extra-smooth silky lubricant inside to help increase sensation during sex. However, if you’re more interested in the safe part of safe sex, try Durex Extra Strength Condoms instead, which use premium latex to ensure that the right combination of pleasure and protection occurs. And for those of you who want some fun with your sexual experience (and who doesn’t want that? ), Durex Colors & Scents Condoms and Durex Rainbow Colored Condoms come in a wide variety of colors and scents to help add that special touch. There’s also Durex Natural Feeling Non-Lubricated Condoms for those who are sensitive to lubricant, and Durex Avanti Polyurethane Condoms for those who are sensitive to latex, so no one has to miss out. And if you’re unable to decide on just one type of condom, Durex offers a Sampler Pack where you can choose up to four different types to try out. It’s no surprise then that Durex condoms are considered some of the best in the world! And with condoms being fairly inexpensive, buying them wholesale and trying out lots of different types has never been so easy! Durex also offers a number of excellent lubricants as well. One is Durex Play More, which is designed to help enhance intimacy and is a long-lasting lubricant. Another is Durex Play Longer, which helps delay climax in order to extend the experience even longer. Then there’s Durex Play Warmer, which provides a warming sensation on contact, which is sure to be a real pleaser. Finally, there’s Durex Play Tingling, which with its minty scent and tingling sensation makes an excellent type of massage lotion. And of course, all of these lubricants can be used on condoms.

Research Problem Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Problem - Research Paper Example Since these numbers must be absorbed into the system, public expenditures on education are continually rising to unsustainable levels. The challenge on financing is increasingly being felt, negatively impacting knowledge transfer. The second factor affecting transfer of knowledge is culture. Most Middle East countries have very conservative cultural norms. This is especially evident in the role of women. Women are generally perceived to be less capable in leadership positions, family priorities, etc. Although the trends are gradually changing, a father in Saudi Arabia has the impression that he is better placed to educate his son than his daughter. This implies that there are generally less girls than boys in schools; the reasons as to this why are purely cultural. Consequently, the society remains less educated inhibiting the flow of knowledge. The third factor is political instability. Saudi Arabia as a country has not experienced any form of political turmoil in recent years. However, Yemen, Iran and Syria are all countries that have experienced political unrest in one form or another. This affects neighbors of such countries; Saudi Arabia being one of them. This civil unrest in the aforementioned countries may spread to Saudi, considering the fact that it, like those countries, is headed by a monarchy – a contributive factor for the unrest sweeping across Arab countries in recent times. This unrest affects all sectors of the country’s landscape, part of which education and information are. Western countries have been major drivers of technology, a factor that continues to revolutionize the acquisition and dissemination of information. However, the Middle East has continued to display anti-Western tendencies. Iraq has been investing in nuclear power plants, an effort that does not sit well with the West and the world in general while Iran openly expresses ‘hate’ for the United States. This means that Middle

Fairly Contemporary Issue about Global Political Economy Essay

Fairly Contemporary Issue about Global Political Economy - Essay Example The dominance is a political one in the sense that the dominant state does have the power to exert influence to other system of states. During the post war, economists have studied hegemony and its' importance in global political economy. Kindleberger raises the thought that the world economy has to have a stabilizer for it to be stable and the stabilizer had to be one state. Keohane, on the other hand, presented the idea that most hegemony is established for self-interest. This he explains that in most cases once the hegemony fades the regimes established does linger in the economy for a long time (Keohane 103). Therefore, we argue: in view of the hegemonic theories by Keohane and Fukuyama how does the rise in power by other states cause the fading of hegemony? And also how does globalization affect the American hegemony? Fareed looks at the Post American world, which he states is not about power shift in the political aspect of the global economy, but rather it represents the rise of the rest of the states in terms of economic growth. Fareed explains that the political stability, economic connection and technological connection have enabled the American dominance in the market to lessen and allow other states to rise above the American dominance. Fareed looks at the world in 1979 where the countries that were considered to have a robust economy were 33 countries (Fareed 30). The rest of the countries were locked out of the economic system. However, Fareed states that the post-war era has seen the collapse of communism systems and the soviet empire and a global market system been born in this new era. Let us consider the case of Russian and its rejection of the American influence. Russian strongly believed that central Asia and its backyard. The political interests of both Russia and the United States of America translate to some form of competition between the two nations to gain control over these regions. However, it is clear that the Russian state and the United States had one common interest to block the emergence of new nuclear power. The rise of Russia against the influence of the Americans was due to the fear that they would lose their control over central Asia if the United States influence continued to grow. The U.S had the upper hand considering their stable economy and their policies that looked good. The situation between the US and Russians over the Middle East does prove that hegemonic influences are usually based on self, and it is true that a better state in terms of the economy does gain the upper hand in the influence. The Russians did manage to get influence once their economy rose to match the Americans economy and this happened once the Soviet Union was dissolved. Fareed examines the fade in American dominance, in fields that are key economic indicators of growth. Fareed gives an example the field of patterns produced where china stands to outdo America. Fareed also gives an example of the expansion of Chinas power in Asia as well as Africa, which in the earlier years was US hegemony. Fareed explains that, in any political system, there can never be two dominant countries. Fareed asserts that the rise of the rest of the world is an economic phenomenon. The shift of dominance from industrial, financial, educational social cultural dimensions is evident. The American dominance is evident at the politico-military level. The rise of the rest of the world does define new roles in the global system not only politically but also

Managing Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managing Finance - Essay Example It could also be defined as a financial a and quantitative statement prepared and approved prior to a defined period of time of the policies to be pursed during those periods. Beyond Budgeting (BB) is an alternative that is more adaptive and devolved. It replaces the budgeting model with a more adaptive and devolved alternative. Criticizing budgets is not new. But to define a set of principles, that guides leaders towards a new management model, that is lean, adaptive and ethical, is (Robin Fraser, Jeremy Hope). A budget is a too static instrument and locks managers into the past - into something they thought last year that it was right. To be effective in a global economy with rapidly shifting market conditions and quick and nimble competitors, organization have to be able to adapt constantly their priorities and have to put their resources where they can create most value for customers and shareholders(Juergen H. Daum). In order to do that, they need the right concepts, management processes and tools, concepts such as the Beyond Budgeting Management Model. The introduction of new management instruments such as the Balanced Scorecard, which help to better align the entire organization with corporate strategic objectives and to focus it on the essentials, has created the right foundation. Because if corporate strategy and the objectives are clear for all people in an organization, one can principally react faster to changing market conditions. But then the fixed budget comes into their way and prevents them from really doing the right things. Though what is often missing is a more flexible operational planning and control model. The Beyond Budgeting model wants to fill exactly this gap. NEEDS FOR BEYOND BUDGETING The management system's task is to institutionalize decisions through management processes on strategy adjustments, but also on adjustments of operational enterprise activities and resource utilization plans. This should enable the enterprise to continually control and optimize its short and long-term success in a dynamically changing enterprise environment. TECHNIQUES The goal setting technique: It should be based on agreeing external benchmark based targets, not on negotiating fixed targets. This is focusing mangers on beating the competition and not on meeting the budget. If the market goes up, a manager is still challenged to do better than competitors. The motivation and rewards technique: It should be based on recognizing and rewarding team-based success. Today, no single person can act alone in achieving specific targets for an organization. To reward people individually for reaching specific targets will create tension and mistrust in the organization, which is a recipe for bad performance. The strategy and action planning technique: It should be devolved to operating mangers and made continuous. It should not be managed centrally as an annual event. Only this way a company is able to use the know how from the people at the customer front to adapt fast and constantly to changing market needs. The resource utilization technique: It should be based on local access to resources (within agreed parameters), not on the basis on allocating them through annual budgets. Only this way frontline managers are able to act fast in front of threats and to

Video Clip with Written Assignmen Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Video Clip with Written Assignmen - Essay Example Though the changes have not contributed much in changing the public figure of nursing, nurses have gained sovereignty, accountability in addition to increasing their duties in the health care. Contemporary nursing on the other hand is exclusive as it includes not just knowledge from a specialised body, but also making use of composite level of technology, vast actions and attained skills (Auerbach et al., 2007). This era faces nursing scarcity and therefore in order to meet the growing demand, nurses are required to continue with their contemporary roles and responsibilities. Incentives for maintenance ought to be developed in order to support these aging and experienced nurses as well as postponing their retirement. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics the clinical health care industry is currently made up of over 2 million strong nurses. Nurses are of different types with a broad capacity of responsibility and their profession is obtained differently. The first part will analyse the traditional roles of RNs in Australia and Internationally as well as identifying the factors leading to extensive scope of their roles and responsibilities. The second part will discuss the expanded roles and responsibilities of RNs drawn from related literature. The results of these changes to the clinical care will also be discussed. Most of these responsibilities go beyond the legal boundaries with the problems that come with compromising the safe care patients. Lorenzo et al. (2007) describes that this kind of situation may lead to a state of confusion, anxiety and conflict experienced by the registered nurses. The traditional role of RNs included accessing, planning, evaluating and implementing nursing care of the injured and the sick patients. Nurses have considerably improved on their scope of duties by offering education services as well as clinical training in contrast to that of licensed practical nurses (American Nurses Association, 2006). The first

Long Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Long Paper - Essay Example This implies that the world should not be concerned with reducing consumption but reducing wastage since there are adequate resources for all people. Reduction of wastage can be accomplished through saving and recycling. While wastage can be found in almost all societal aspects, the most common forms include energy wastage and water wastage. Energy wastage can be attributed to lack of efficiency, using gas-guzzlers, and other practices that people may consider irrelevant such as leaving the water running while brushing the teeth. Although people may think that they are using the resources as they should, they may be wasting and still not realize it. According to statistical data, more than half of the energy produced is wasted through inefficiency and the fuel guzzling (Natural Resources Defense Council). The power plants also lead to high levels of power wastage. According to statistical data, power plants convert a mere 30% of the overall energy input into operational electricity. This implies that almost 70% of the fuel energy is wasted during the beginning of the power production process (WWF). These companies can improve the ir efficiency if they were willing to commit more financial resources into the power production process. This process can be improved if these companies could combine both power and heat production. These companies insist on using high heat production methods and situating these plants away from where people live. If this could be improved, there could be more than enough energy for usage in industries and homes and the call for reduction of consumption would not be relevant. The automobile industry is the other high-energy wastage sector in the society. An average automobile emits an approximated three times its weight in carbon dioxide annually. A vehicle with a consumption rate of approximately 7.8 liters in every 100 km travelling 10,000 miles annually would emit an

Chinese Managerial Ethics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chinese Managerial Ethics - Case Study Example Both of these schools of thought taught that the interests of the individual should be of less priority than the interests of the community. It should be no surprise that when companies from Western countries have arrived in the last thirty years to do business in this "new" China, they have been surprised by some of the cultural differences. Cultural values in Europe and in the Americas, in many instances, value the individual more than the community. As a result, companies have often gone to China to do business, and come away feeling that they have dealt with a corrupt culture; that they had operated under expectations that turned out to be unproven; that each person within a Chinese company has a different perspective on a given situation, and will even stab each other in the back to gain an advantage (Blackman, 2000). The area of copyright protection is one on which Chinese and many Western companies seem to disagree - many Chinese companies appear to have a more relaxed view on copyright violations (Whitman, Townsend, and Hendrickson, 1999). The confusion resulting from the apparent differences in business ethics between many Western companies and their Chinese counterparts has led to a significant interest in the ethical principles governing Chinese management. Kylie Redfern and John Crawford presented "An Empirical Investigation of the Influence of Modernisation on the Moral Judgement and Managers in the People's Republic of China" in Cross Cultural Management, a vignette-based survey of managers across China that sought their responses to several ethical scenarios. These managers came from 21 of China's 28 provinces, which were ranked by their "modernisation" using a scoring system devised by the authors. The authors combined the provincial scoring system with the attitudinal responses returned by the managers to determine whether managers in more modernised provinces had business ethics that were closer to Western norms than those in less modernised provinces. The research in this paper rests on two assumptions: that Individualism and Collectivism (the desire for individual wealth versus the desire to work for the greater good of one's society) are in opposition, and that exposure to Western values will cause Chinese managerial ethics to "converge" toward those found in Western companies. However, there is research that indicates that the Chinese do not necessarily see a polar opposition between the good of the individual and that of the society (Egri, Ralston, Murray, and Nicholson, 1996). This is in large part due to the Chinese concept of guanxi - a concept of business relationships that is different from that held by most Western companies, and may explain much of the confusion that has hindered positive business dealings between Chinese businesses and companies in the West. Guanxi refers to a complex relationship that combines friendship and partnership, while prizing individual ascendancy as well - a relationship that benefits both the individual and the community. Pye (1992) defines guanxi as a network of "dyadic relationships between individuals in which each can make unlimited demands on the other[involving] reciprocal obligations for assistance"(pp. 4-5). This sounds much like the Confucian (and Communist) ideals of sacrificing one's own personal interest for

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in action Article

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in action - Article Example Kellogg has had a rich history of corporate social responsibility which is designed to address the challenges posed by the dynamic external environment. The company has been involved in a wide range of activities and initiatives which are aimed at enhancing the quality of life both within and beyond the organization. In terms of activities internal to the organization, Kellogg encourages employee volunteerism, promotes diversity at work place and ensures a healthy and safe workplace. It ensures provision and sale of nutritious product in a bid to promote healthy living for all its customers. As a part of its CSR initiatives Kellogg contributes to various institutions which promote healthy living and food consumption among its customers. This includes contribution of funds to YMCAs Activate America campaign, Action for Healthy Kids initiative which is involved in reducing obesity among kids; the Kelloggs Swim Active program which provides swimming facilities to youngsters in the UK, as part of its mission to promote healthy lifestyles; the Global FoodBanking Network which is actively involved in providing hunger-relief to various countries across the world etc., among many others. The motto of the company indicates a strong social commitment as an inherent aspect of its trade, a tradition which the management has followed since over a hundred years. Its dedicated efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment for its workforce, promotion of equality and diversity at workplace, a dedicated commitment to conserve and protect natural resources for promoting sustainable growth; and a broad social goal of ensuring well being of the community at large, as a part of its corporate social responsibility strategy, helped the company gain widespread acclaim and support. It helped the company in creating a positive reputation in the market, and in generating goodwill among its investors. The company

Pulling the Wool Essay Example for Free

Pulling the Wool Essay Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The sharp contrast between William Smith’s Lectures on the Philosophy and Practice of Slavery and Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave leads to important conclusions about the vast differences in perception between those who owned and those who were owned in the period of American slavery. Smith’s work implores his fellow White landowners to practice what he sees as a just treatment of African slaves. However, his contempt for abolitionists and belief that Northerners are off the mark in understanding the state of slavery in the South show his belief that the institution itself is appropriate, even God-driven, and that only a minority of slave owners may require correction. Moreover, what drives Smith’s philosophy—the very religion from which Douglass saw the greatest brutality spring forth—causes him to assert and reassert the necessity of slavery for both White landowner and African slave. One cannot help but be struck by the stark contrast Smith’s work shows to the real-life experiences of the ex-slave Frederick Douglass as he recounts a life in which all of Smith’s proposals are brutally and routinely disregarded.                  William Smith’s Lectures on the Philosophy and Practice of Slavery and Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave offer a stark contrast between the two men’s views on American slavery. Smith, a White proponent of slavery, outlines what he believes to be a proper and just relationship between master and slave, and disparages those slave owners who do not follow the tenets of this relationship. However, he never hesitates in stating his full support for the institution itself. Douglass, who bears the burden of slavery firsthand, reveals to the reader a world vastly different from the â€Å"fat, sleek, and cheerful, and long-lived† (Smith, 1856, p. 291) slaves of some of Smith’s observances. His own journey from slavery to freedom affords the reader a view into a brilliant mind in contrast to what Smith (1856) believes can only be the equivalent of â€Å"minors, imbeciles, and uncivilized persons† (p. 282). It is Douglass’s account of his awakening, from a young slave ignorant of the reasons for his bondage to a learned man of inalienable self-respect, which topples the entire premise of Smith’s philosophy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Smith believes the teachings of the Christian Bible dictate the proper relationship between master and servant. Smith (1856) also details what he sees as a moral imperative on the part of White landowners to have â€Å"guardianship† (p. 277) over â€Å"God’s poor, committed to [the benevolent White master]† (p. 309), believing that they must â€Å"control and protect them for their profit as well as work them for [the slave and slave owner’s] mutual profit.† (309). In Smith’s estimation, slavery is proper and just because he assumes White intellectual and moral superiority over the African slave. He never confuses his call for benevolent treatment of slaves with the idea that the institution itself may be unjust.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Smith lays out what he believes are the rights of slaves according to both Christian doctrine and the law of men in his society. He divides the duties of the master into 3 main categories: â€Å"the duty of masters to their slaves considered as ‘their money’, their duty to their slaves considered as social beings, and their duty to their slaves considered as religious beings† (Smith, 1856, p. 283). In the first part, concerning slaves considered as masters’ money, Smith includes all of the physical needs of the slave. Working conditions, food, clothing and bedding, sleep and rest, housing, and free time are all detailed according to what Smith sees as ideal treatment. Woven into the framework of these requirements is a Christian code that reminds the master that he, too, will have a master in heaven. (p. 277). Smith begins by discussing the rights of the slave in regard to labor. Interestingly, Smith (1856) first focuses on what he calls a known â€Å"idleness† (p. 284) among slaves and warns slave owners to be dutiful in making their slaves accountable for their labor. He weaves a pattern that not only offers a sense of Christian duty on the part of the slave owner, but of the slave as well. It is Smith’s insistence upon the righteousness of slavery as a Christian imperative that continues to inform and guide his philosophy. Likewise, in all of the other physical comforts he asks the slave owner to provide the slave, he asks the slave owner to â€Å"give unto your servant that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a master in heaven† (Smith, 1856, pp. 278-279). While Smith admonishes those he believes violate the Christian mandate, he shows some confidence that there is not a crisis in the treatment of slaves. In condemnation of the attitudes of Northern abolitionists, he says that â€Å"A most fanatical spirit is abroad in the land on the subject of domestic slavery. The inhumanity of masters at the South is greatly exaggerated† (Smith, 1856, p. 278). He goes on to compare the treatment of Southern slaves as equivalent to that of hired help in the North. Smith seems on one hand to implore the White master to better the circumstances of his slaves in order to save his very soul from damnation, while on the other to denounce the efforts of the Northern advocates of freedom. He truly believes in a system of slavery wherein the slave is completely satisfied with his lot in life, and the landowner finds himself a benevolent overseer who will profit in life and in heaven. The other two sections of Smith’s call to righteous treatment of slaves follow a vein similar to the first. He repeatedly denounces those masters who violate his ideal image of slavery while insisting on the justness and necessity of the institution itself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While Smith’s ideal slavery leads the reader to envision sunny pastures with young Black slave children frolicking and elders laughing and singing merrily, Douglass’s account of real slave life offers a startling contrast. All of the Christian mandates of Smith’s slavery are turned asunder, and, in fact, it is the very observance of the religion which causes some of the harshest abuses to occur. Born a slave on a Maryland plantation, Douglass witnesses repeated acts of brutality upon the adult slaves in his company. The rumored son of the master, Douglass is given some favor in his early years, although he is never fed or clothed enough. Held up to Smith’s view of slavery, Douglass’s constant hunger and discomfort seem all the more intolerable. If one compares the specifics, Smith’s work calls for slaves to be offered a variety of the plantation’s food, cooked well and prepared ahead of time so that slaves may enjoy good nutrition and take two-hour lunches to properly digest their meal. Douglass’s reality, a measly monthly supply of pork or fish and corn meal doled out uncooked, makes Smith’s (1856) vision of the â€Å"early roasting ear, the ripe fruit, the melons, the potatoes, the fat stock†(pp. 297-298) seem like paradise for a slave. In contrast, Douglass, in chapter 3, describes a large and plentiful garden that slaves were routinely whipped for stealing from. Later, living with another master, Edward Covey, Douglass and his fellow slaves are afforded 5 minutes to eat before returning to the field to work until midnight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Douglass’s account of his years in bondage read like a response to Smith at every turn. Douglass recounts continual starvation and discomfort, a world wherein his only clothing as a child was a linen shirt. While Smith talks of coats, hats, and shoes, Douglass speaks of children from 7 to ten years old running naked in winter for lack of clothing. While Smith discusses the necessity for comfortable beds and encourages the master to set up separate quarters to encourage fidelity and morality among slaves he believes are less geared toward fidelity than Whites, Douglass speaks with disgust of unrelated groups of people huddled together on dirt floors sharing a blanket in winter. Douglass’s journey lands him in completely different circumstances when he is taken to live in Baltimore with family members of his master, and he shows a different side of slave life in the city. However, perhaps the greatest indictment against Smith’s Christian ideal comes when the mistress of the house changes her demeanor from warm, humane, and welcoming to harsh and cruel under the â€Å"fatal poison of irresponsible power† (Douglass, 1845, p 18). Douglass (1845) notes that â€Å"the cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage† (p. 18). Douglass shows how, no matter what steps one may take to set a proper course for slavery, to offer the best of worlds for all involved, the premise cannot but collapse under the weight of its injustice. Setting a proper course for slavery is suddenly seen as being as impossible as setting a proper and just course for murder or betrayal. In Douglass’s experience, the inhumanity of slavery leads to dead souls performing hideous acts upon their subjects. There is no room for benevolent treatment in a reality based on the subjugation and demoralization of others. Perhaps the most striking difference between the two men’s view comes in the story of Douglass’s outcast grandmother. He describes how, after raising generations of a plantation owner’s family as well as her own, she is left alone in the woods in a hovel to fend for herself, far from the care of her extended family. Smith asks the reader why it should be difficult to afford the elderly the soothing hand of relatives in his or her final days, and he implores the master to see that the older slaves are given the respect and care they have a right to. There is a grave sadness in the story of Douglass’s grandmother who, treated like chattel, is offered no such comfort.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If Douglass’s account leaves the reader with anything, it is the impression that religion and the benefit of being on the fortunate side of a brutal reality have pulled the wool over Smith’s eyes. It is hard to imagine that Smith’s reflections are a mere cover for his undying support for slavery; he truly seems to believe that Christian charity, manifest destiny, and the rights of everyone involved can merge to form an ideal state of slavery. It is his undying belief in the inferiority of the African slave that ultimately makes him comfortable with the situation. One sees, however, that it is no secret to even the least experienced master that â€Å"if you teach [a slave] how to read, there would be no keeping him† (Douglass, 1845, p. 20). That one fear alone—educating the slave—would not be a fear if the slave were truly the inferior creature described in Smith’s accounts. And Douglass, who eventually does just what the White master fears, provides evidence that there can exist no happy bondage, Christian or other, among human beings. References Douglass, Frederick (1845). Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Boston: The Antislavery Office. Smith, William A. (1856). Lectures on the Philosophy and Practice of Slavery. Nashville: Stevenson and Evans.

The balanced equation shows that two moles of silver nitrate react with one mole of copper Essay Example for Free

The balanced equation shows that two moles of silver nitrate react with one mole of copper Essay Qualitative Observations: * The copper was a orange/red colour before being submerged. * While the silver nitrate AgNO3 was a clear colourless liquid. * Immediately after the copper was submerged it turned black. * The copper wire was resting on the bottom of the beaker. * After prolonged submersion the wire became thicker as more precipitate was formed on the wire. * After prolonged submersion the solution became a clear light blue solution. * After 24 hours a silver/grey crystalline structure formed around the wire and on the bottom of the beaker. Processed data table: What I measured Value (unit) 3sf Uncertainty Mass of reacted Cu 0.332(g)  ±0.002g Number of reacted Cu 0.00522 mol % uncertainty =  ±0.605 Mass of reacted Ag 1.804(g)  ±0.002g Number of reacted Ag 0. 0167 mol % uncertainty =  ±0.166 Constants table: Constant Value Mr(Cu) 63.55 gmol-1 Mr (Ag) 107.87 gmol-1 Calculations Balanced chemical equation between copper and silver: Cu (s) + 2Ag+ (aq) → Cu2+ (aq) + 2Ag (s) Mass of reacted Cu: Uncertainty: m(Cu)= Original weight – final weight m(Cu)= 2.020 – 1.688 =  ±0.001 + 0.001 m(Cu)= 0.332 g =  ±0.002 Number of reacted Cu: Uncertainty: Mr(Cu)=63.55 gmol-1 n(Cu)= 0.00522 mol (3sf) n(Cu) % uncertainty =  ±0.605 Mass of reacted Ag: Uncertainty: m(Ag)= Original weight – final weight m(Ag) = 105.139– 103.335 = 0.001 + 0.001 = 1.804 g =  ±0.002 Number of reacted Ag: Uncertainty: Mr(Ag) = 107.87 gmol-1 n(Ag) = 0.0167 mol (3sf) n(Ag) % uncertainty =  ±0.111 Calculation of Ratio n(Cu) : n(Ag) 0.00522 : 0.0167 total % uncertainty =  ±0.111+0.605 1:3.20 % uncertainty =  ±0.716 1:3 % uncertainty =  ±0.7 Conclusion This reaction is an example of a single replacement redox reaction, as the copper element replaces an element in a compound, silver nitrate producing silver and copper nitrate. During the reaction the silver is reduced as it gains electrons and the copper is oxidized as it loses electrons. Cu (s) + 2AgNO3+ (aq) → Cu(NO3)2 (aq) + 2Ag (s) The balanced equation shows that two moles of silver nitrate react with one mole of copper to produce one mole of copper nitrate and two moles of silver. The molar ratio between Copper and Silver should be 1:2, which you can see by the coefficients in the balanced equation. Therefore my hypothesis is wrong as I have 1 more mole of silver than I should have, therefore my mass of silver was larger than expected or the moles of copper was lower than expected and my mass of copper was lower than expected. Yet our small precision error, or random error attributed to the precision of instruments is  ±0.716%, which indicates that our range excludes the accepted value of 2. Therefore our must have some experimental error. This experimental error can be determined as a percentage through the following formula: % This experimental error is incredibly large. As my systematic error is small, I can determine that experimental error is the cause of the deviation from the accepted value. Evaluation The random error in this experiment was due to the number of operations needed to determine the ratio therefore an increased level of accuracy in the equipment would have increased our ability to determine a more accurate result. Increasing accuracy in equipment would have aided the experiment although the accepted value was still outside the range of random error. There are several possible factors for the large experimental error. The first and most prominent of these reasons is the likelihood of the silver crystals still being saturated with water. Due to the time constraints on the experiment there was limited time to leave the crystals drying in the oven, indicating the possibility of there being water contamination with the silver. This would have increased the measured mass of the silver and therefore increased the value of n(Ag) increasing our ratio. This experiment could be improved if the crystals were left to dry in the oven for a longer time period, which would enable all of the water molecules to evaporate and not contaminate our sample. Another possibility as that during the decanting some crystals were removed from the beaker. This would have decreased the mass of silver, thus decreased the n(Ag) decreasing our ratio. As our ratio was larger than accepted value it is unlikely that this played a significant part in the experimental error of my experiment. To ensure that this would not effect a future experiment I would use a filtration system using filter paper instead of using a decanting method. Experimental error could also have been generated through having an incorrect copper measurement. An incorrect copper measurement could have been caused by copper flecks flaking off the wire into the solution and then being decanted out, though our method did try to remove this possibility by adding more silver nitrate it is still a possibility. This would have meant that we calculated less moles of copper than actually reacted. To ensure that this would not effect our results we should have left the extra silver nitrate for longer to allow it too react with any left over copper flecks.

Pepsi And Analysis Product Life Cycle

Pepsi And Analysis Product Life Cycle The PLC model is of some degree of usefulness to marketing managers, in that it is based on factual assumptions. Nevertheless, it is difficult for marketing management to gauge accurately where a product is on its PLC graph. A rise in sales per se is not necessarily evidence of growth. A fall in sales per se does not typify decline. Furthermore, some products do not (or to date, at the least, have not) experienced a decline. Coca Cola and Pepsi are examples of two products that have existed for many decades, but are still popular products all over the world. Both modes of cola have been in maturity for some years. Another factor is that differing products would possess different PLC shapes. A fad product would hold a steep sloped growth stage, a short maturity stage, and a steep sloped decline stage. A product such as Coca Cola and Pepsi would experience growth, but also a constant level of sales over a number of decades. It can probably be said that a given product (or products collectively within an industry) may hold a unique PLC shape, and the typical PLC model can only be used as a rough guide for marketing management. This is why its called the product life cycle. Pepsi-Cola is still second in the carbonated drinks market and remains in the shadow of Coca Cola in terms of market share, perception and image. (Business Week, 2010) However, Pepsis insightful marketing techniques (comic strips, television ads etc.) prevented a fall of its position in the beverage industry. The study shall aim to critically analyse the product life cycle of Pepsi and would further extend to assess the consumers behaviour and satisfaction towards Pepsi in New Delhi Market (India) Limitations: There are some limitations bound with this study, Such as shortage of funds, limited resources and Small sample size (n=100). The random sampling which will be used in this study may not represent the complete population. 1C. WHY IS THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC CHOSEN? By using diversification techniques and brand management, Pepsi was able to increase its volume of sales and get a stronger market position. Nowadays, Pepsis carbonated beverages division clearly remains behind the snack division in terms of profitability and share percentage of operation earnings. Our impression is that the profits of the snack division help create the illusion that the beverage sector is as successful as the management wishes it to be. The present study aims to analyse in detail the product life cycle of Pepsi in Indian market, the study shall also focus on analysing the consumers behaviour towards Pepsi in New Delhi market. 1D. WHAT CONTRIBUTION WOULD THE PROJECT MAKE? Brand loyalty is a buyers preference for the products of Pepsi. Pepsi can create brand loyalty through continuous advertising of brand and company names, patent protection of products, product innovation achieve through its research and development programs and emphasis on high product quality and good after-sales services. It is effective influence in the way in which people perceive the product or the company. By creating feelings of warmth, affection and belonging to a product, a firm is able to relate brand to human personalities. The study would contribute towards identifying the customer needs and expectation towards Pepsi in New Delhi 1 e. objectives and research questions of the study Research objectives To analyse the product life cycle of Pepsi To determine the customers behaviour and satisfaction level towards products of Pepsi in New Delhi market To know from the consumers about the specific reasons behind the preference of products of Pepsi over other Cola drinks Research Questions Why do consumers prefer Pepsi over other Cola drinks What attracts/draws consumers towards Pepsi in India? 2.0 METHODOLOGY AND METHODS OF ENQUIRY RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research Methodology defines the purpose of the research, how it proceeds, how to measure progress and what constitute success with respect to the objectives determined for carrying out the research study. (Kothari, 2007) The appropriate research design formulated is detailed below. RESEARCH DESIGN The research design is the basic framework, which provides guidelines for the rest of the research process. (Prasad, 2006) The present research can be said to be exploratory. The research design determines the direction of the study throughout and the procedures to be followed. It determines the data collection method, sampling method, the fieldwork and so on. NATURE OF DATA PRIMARY DATA: Primary data is basically fresh data collected directly from the target respondents; it could be collected through Questionnaire Surveys, Interviews, Focus Group Discussions Etc. SECONDARY DATA: Secondary data that is already available and published .it could be internal and external source of data. Internal source: which originates from the specific field or area where research is carried out e.g. publish broachers, official reports etc. External source: This originates outside the field of study like books, periodicals, journals, newspapers and the Internet. DATA COLLECTION Primary data: Primary data will be selected from the sample by a self-administrated questionnaire in presence of the interviewer in New Delhi (India). SAMPLE SIZE The survey will be conducted among 100 respondents in New Delhi (India) Sample Area: New Delhi (India) Sample unit: It will not be possible for the investigator to survey all the consumers of Pepsi so this study is based on the sampling study that will be done on the sample size of 100 persons residing in Central Delhi (New Delhi-India), this central part of New Delhi is chosen for a simple reason that it is a wonderful mix of people belonging to middle class/upper middle class/higher class SECONDARY DATA: Secondary data will be collected through Articles, Reports, Journals, Magazines, Newspapers and Internet SAMPLING TECHNIQUE Random sampling technique is employed to extract the fruitful results. This includes the overall design, the sampling procedure, the data collection methods, the field methods and the analysis procedures SAMPLING PROCEDURE ACTUALLY EMPLOYED The process that will be employed to select the sample in New Delhi (India) is simple random sampling. Simple random sampling refers to that sampling technique in which each and every unit of the population has an equal and same opportunity of being on the sample. In simple random sampling, which item gets selected is just a matter of chance. ANALYTICAL TOOLS Simple statistical tools will be used in the present study to analyze and interpret the data collected from the field. The study will use percentiles method and the data will be presented in the form of tables and diagrams. INITIAL LITERATURE REVIEW Product life cycle management (or PLCM) is the succession of strategies used by business management as a product goes through its life cycle. The condition in which a product is sold (advertising, saturation) changes over time and must be managed as it moves through its succession of stages. Like human beings, products also have their own life-cycle. From birth to death human beings pass through various stages e.g. birth, growth, maturity, decline and death. A similar life-cycle is seen in the case of products. The product life cycle goes through multiple phases, involves many professional disciplines, and requires many skills, tools and processes. Product life cycle (PLC) has to do with the life of a product in the market with respect to business/commercial costs and sales measures. To say that a product has a life cycle is to assert four things: that products have a limited life, product sales pass through distinct stages, each posing different challenges, opportunities, and problems to the seller, profits rise and fall at different stages of product life cycle, and products require different marketing, financial, manufacturing, purchasing, and human resource strategies in each life cycle stage. There are many stages in a products life cycle, some of them are explained below: Stage Characteristics 1. Market introduction stage costs are high slow sales volumes to start little or no competition demand has to be created customers have to be prompted to try the product makes no money at this stage 2. Growth stage costs reduced due to economies of scale sales volume increases significantly profitability begins to rise public awareness increases competition begins to increase with a few new players in establishing market increased competition leads to price decreases 3. Maturity stage costs are lowered as a result of production volumes increasing and experience curve effects sales volume peaks and market saturation is reached increase in competitors entering the market prices tend to drop due to the proliferation of competing products brand differentiation and feature diversification is emphasized to maintain or increase market share Industrial profits go down 4. Saturation and decline stage costs become counter-optimal sales volume decline or stabilize prices, profitability diminish profit becomes more a challenge of production/distribution efficiency than increased sales It is claimed that every product has a life period, it is launched, it grows, and at some point, may die. A fair comment is that at least in the short term not all products or services die. Jeans may die, but clothes probably will not. Legal services or medical services may die, but depending on the social and political climate, probably will not. Even though its validity is questionable, it can offer a useful model for managers to keep at the back of their mind. Indeed, if their products are in the introductory or growth phases, or in that of decline, it perhaps should be at the front of their mind; for the predominant features of these phases may be those revolving around such life and death. Between these two extremes, it is salutary for them to have that vision of mortality in front of them. However, the most important aspect of product life-cycles is that, even under normal conditions, to all practical intents and purposes they often do not exist (hence, there needs to be more emphasis on model/reality mappings). In most markets the majority of the major brands have held their position for at least two decades. The dominant product life-cycle, that of the brand leaders which almost monopolize many markets, is therefore one of continuity. Studies shave revealed that the customers are attracted more towards the companies which are innovative in nature and enjoy good brand image in the market. Innovation is now a priority in most firms around the world just as quality was two decades ago. The challenge then was how to transform a quality program and results into a quality image. Today the need is to gain image credit for developing an innovative organization and a flow of innovative products. Having a reputation for creativity not only interjects energy and respect, but adds new product credibility to support a firms culture and strategy. Business Week recently ran a story on the 25 most innovative companies (e.g. Apple, Google, 3M, Toyota, Microsoft, G.E., Procter Gamble, Nokia, Starbucks, IBM and Samsung) as determined by a survey of over 1,000 executives. Among the ideas these firms used to foster innovation was freeing time to experiment, patent sharing, having an innovator-in-chief and developing innovation metric s. While interesting, the story made the unfortunate implication that a reputation for innovativeness was due to the current strategies, processes, culture and product flow of the firm and, further, that such a reputation would result in financial success. The reality is far different. Perceived innovativeness is driven by many factors, some reaching far into the past. One factor is undoubtedly the heritage of imagination. For over 50 years, 3M has been known for its philosophy of empowering innovators. Apple, the No. 1 firm in the survey, is still drawing on Steve Jobs legacy of the first Apple nearly 30 years ago. IBM gets credit for establishing the computer industry some five decades ago. G.E.s reputation may be influenced more by the legacy of the founder, Thomas Edison, than the Jeff Immelt revolution. (Aaker, 2006) The effect of brand awareness on buying decisions tends to regard product choice as a very intricate problem-solving process (Foxall, 1992). However, in many low involvement situations, consumers do not have the time, the resources, or the motivation to engage in such EPS processes. They are used to being passive recipients of product information, who need to spend minimal time and effort to determine brand choice (Foxall, 1992). A simple heuristic method, such as buying well-known brands used as a basis for brand choice when consumers undertake commonly repeated product purchases, may explain why firms marketing low involvement products often invest considerable sums of money into advertising, in order to generate and maintain brand awareness. (Hoyer, 1984) Brand awareness is a dominant factor in both initial (trial) and repeat-purchase decisions, even when the quality of the national brand was inferior to that of a non-national brand. Hoyer and Brown (1990) Similar conclusions were obtained in the replicated study of Macdonald and Sharp (2000), further evidencing the effect of brand awareness on purchase decisions. Familiarity with a brand has an influence on consumer confidence towards a brand, which, in turn, affects the intention to buy that brand (Laroche et al.1996). Familiarity is measured by the experience and information possessed by the consumer for a specific brand hence such information will exert some effects on purchase intentions, thus constructing one of the loyalty dimensions (Bloemer et al., 1999). If we look at the Pepsi-Cola Company from the outside, there has been a certain amount of repetitiveness in its development. By following the trends and focusing on how to lower the price as much as possible, they managed to create a successful company. By investing in the development of the bottling and distribution sector, Pepsi found their balance in the market. (Nels, 2008) Then in 1920s Pepsi-Cola Company failed because they didnt concentrate enough energy on branding. Within a few years Pepsi was declared bankrupt twice. By the end of the 1930s the company was reorganized from inside and the marketing policy drastically changed. Major investment was now directed towards making people more familiar with the product. After acquiring Mountain Dew, new sources of financing and revenue opportunities were needed because the acquisition was not an instant success. Therefore, in 1965 Pepsi merged with Frito Lay. In the 1980s the decreasing sales in the beverage market induced the industry to adjust with more aggressive marketing strategy and new products. In fact, Coke marketed a new cola formula, whereas Pepsi persisted with promotional efforts and improved customer responsiveness to increase sales volume. (Thomas and Alexander, 2005) Following these cyclical changes in the marketing policy of the firm (every 20 years there is a huge turn over), one could conclude that this is the time for PepsiCos to readjust. The circumstances underlying the merger with Quaker Oats are significant. Nowadays, the market is rapidly changing and its becoming saturated. The entrance into potential new markets is more complex than ever consequently, the only way for the company to expand is by gaining market share by mergers or strategic alliances. Furthermore, the marketing strategies in foreign markets like China and India are experiencing problems in customer responsiveness. Currently, the beverage sector is following a trend of continuous launch of new products in order to attract new customers. In this sense, the challenge for Pepsi is to be able to sustain such a trend and conversely, to remain a leader in their market.

Morrie Schwartz Essay -- essays research papers

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a true story of an old man and his way of dealing with the knowledge that he is slowly dying, and a disease is taking over his body. Morrie Schwartz was Mitch Alboms college professor more than twenty years ago. We are first introduced to Morrie while Mitch is flipping through the television channels and suddenly hears Morrie’s name. Mitch had not heard from his from professor for years and had not tried to get in touch with the professor, so the news he heard next from the screen was a shock. Morrie Schwartz, his college professor had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Scierosis or (ALS) an incurable and fatal disease that takes over your nervous system. It is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after a famous baseball player who fell victim to it. There is no cure for ALS at this time and treatment is focused on management of the symptoms, involving a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech, respiratory, and nutritional therapies. Moderate exercise may help maintain muscle strength and function. Drugs can also treat excessive saliva and drooling, and speech therapy can help compensate for loss of muscular control of the mouth. As the disease progresses and muscular degeneration spreads throughout the body, various devices may provide support, such as ankle braces, neck collars, reclining chairs, wheelchairs, and hospital beds. Respiratory support and feeding tubes are required when the person loses cont...

Summary of Teaching Philosophy and Objectives Essay -- Philosophy of E

Summary of Teaching Philosophy and Objectives My desire to teach is based upon the belief that teaching will provide me with a challenging and rewarding career. This is my second college experience as I have accomplished a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and pursued jobs in the field of retail management and the banking industry. However, I found those career paths to be lacking in terms of fulfillment. I have come to the realization that I want my life’s work to accomplish more than a numerical salary. Teaching is the profession that will provide the opportunities for me to reach these goals. The philosophical stance that will guide my approach to teaching is idealism. For I believe that the individual is a creation of God’s own image and has free will. With this established, the process of learning is self-initiated. Plato best described this principle of idealism in his writing entitled â€Å"Allegory of the Cave† in which he states: â€Å"Whereas, our argument shows that the power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already; and that just as the eye was unable to turn from darkness to light without the whole body, so too the instrument of knowledge can only by the movement of the whole soul be turned from the world of becoming into that of being, and learn by degrees to endure the sight of being, and of the brightest and best of being, or in other words, of the good.† I agree with Plato’s reasoning that our cre...

Becoa Report On Investing Currencies In The Far East :: essays research papers

BECOA Report on Investing Currencies in the Far East Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the world today, the possibilities are endless for people who want to make money. These opportunities may exist in the form of a bond, currency, stock, or business venture, but the common tie between them is that it is possible to make money if you research the market and impose the proper strategic plans. In this report, the issue of investing money in the currency markets of the Far East will be my main area of interest. The Far East offers great potential for a currency trader who wishes to make money. I also have the option of investing in the European currency market as well, but I feel that the European market is somewhat too volatile for any significant gains to be made by pursuing any countries within. As is evident from classroom work in this course, the Far East has the greatest potential of any area in the world to be the next big area, in terms of economic expansion. With the many countries available to select for currency trade, it is very difficult for a student with limitedresources to accurately and to the best of his or her's ability to make any significant amount of money on the currency market. However, I believe that by my researching the countries trends in areas such as: Inflation, Capital Investments, Unemployment, Exports, Budget balances, and Real Growth rates, that this is the key to making money through currency exchange. In this report my selections for currency exchange will justified by using the above areas as well as currency trends and volatilities, that prove Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan were all good strategic investments. Japan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first country that I chose to buy currency in was Japan. Japan, as many people know is a country that has proven itself as having one of the world's most powerful and stable economies. When we examine the Real Growth Rate in Japan (Fig. 1, pg: 7), we can see that the Japanese economy is growing every year over the charts history. In the late 80's and early nineties the Japanese economy was peaking and still continues to grow, with recent reports that the Japanese economy could rise once again as seen in the chart with 1995's increase. The second factor for Japan that I took into affect was their low levels of inflation. In (Fig. 2, pg: 7), we can see that the inflation level in Japan is very low, which means that the cost of goods in Japan does not widely

Beauty in “The Bluest Eye” Essay

The Bluest Eye is a brilliantly written novel revealing the fictional trauma of an eleven-year-old black girl named Pecola Breedlove. This story takes place in the town of Lorain, Ohio during the 1940’s. It is told from the perspective of a young girl named Claudia MacTeer. She and her sister, Frieda, become witness to the terrible plights Pecola is unintentionally put through. Pecola chooses to hide from her disabling life behind her clouded dream of possessing the ever so cherished â€Å"bluest of eyes†. The Breedlove’s constant bickering and ever growing poverty contributes to the emotional downfall of this little girl. Pecola’s misery is obtained through the touch of her father’s hand and the voice of her community’s struggle with racial separation, anger, and ignorance. Her innocence is harshly ripped from her grasp as her father rapes her limp existence. The community’s anger with it’s own insecurities is taken out on this poor, ugly, black, non-ideal, young girl. She shields herself from this sorrow behind her obsessive plea for blue eyes. But her eyes do not replace the pain of carrying her fleeing father’s baby. Nor do they protect her from the shady eyes of her neighbours. Though this book discuses negative and disturbing situations, it teaches a very positive lesson. The theme of The Bluest Eye is that of depending on outside influences to become aware of one’s own beauty and to fabricate one’s own self image can be extremely damaging. Topic Tracking: Beauty Beauty 1: Claudia is constantly faced with white ideals of beauty. For Christmas one year, she receives a blue-eyed, blonde-haired, pink-skinned doll. Rather than adore the doll, she destroys and dismembers it as a result of her anger. Claudia feels she can never measure up to the beauty of white children, the beauty that all the world reveres. Beauty 2: The Breedloves are poor and ugly. At least that is how they think the world views them. Their beliefs that they are ugly come from white American media always portraying whites as representations of what is beautiful. Because of this, they do not strive for more, for they think that they do not deserve to have more. Beauty 3: Pecola wishes that she had blue eyes. She thinks that if her eyes were blue, and therefore beautiful according to white American standards, then her problems would go away and her life would be beautiful. Then maybe, her classmates and teachers would not despise her and think she was so ugly. She so hates hersel f that she stares at herself in the mirror trying to figure out where her ugliness comes from. Beauty 4: For one year Pecola prays that her eyes will turn blue. She has many problems in her life, starting with family issues, and she thinks that if she had blue eyes, her problems might go away. And even more than that, if she had blue eyes, people would see her as beautiful, and then she would be able to see herself as beautiful too. Being a black little girl in a society that idolizes blonde-haired blue-eyed beauty, Pecola thinks she is ugly. Pecola sympathizes for the dandelions because she knows what it is like to be devalued. She finds beauty in the weeds, for she thinks that people see her as a weed. Beauty 5: A new little girl, named Maureen Peal, comes to Claudia and Frieda’s school. Maureen is revered for her looks, which people deem beautiful. She has lighter skin and eyes than most of the other children, and everyone adores her because of this. She is looked upon as beautiful because her characteristics are somewhat more â€Å"white† than other black people’s. This causes many to be jealous of her. However, Claudia and Frieda are not jealous. They see through the standards placed on beauty, and if Maureen is what is beautiful, this means that they are not beautiful (according to society). Beauty 6: When the girls are walking home from getting ice cream after school, they pass a movie theater with a picture of Betty Grable on the building. Maureen and Pecola both say that they love Betty Grable, an icon for white American beauty with her blonde hair and blue eyes. However, showing her disdain for such standards placed on beauty, Claudia says that she prefers the actress, Hedy Lamarr, who has dark hair. Beauty 7: In her younger years, Pauline Breedlove occupied herself by going to the movies. It was here that she got her first glimpse into what idealized beauty was. She saw the Hollywood blonde-haired, blue-eyed bombshells as being true representations of beauty. And anything that strayed from these looks, including her own, was seen as not pretty. American society placed their standards of beauty onto the world, and because of this, many people began to realize how far away they were from those standards. Beauty 8: Pecola goes to visit Soaphead Church with the hope that he will be able to fulfill her wish to have blue eyes. She thinks that with blue eyes, all of her problems will disappear and the world will love her because she will be beautiful. The world, seen through blue eyes, will also appear beautiful to Pecola. Beauty 9: Claudia prays that Pecola’s baby will survive. She needs the baby to live to counteract society’s standards set on beauty, which say that blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girls are all that is pretty. Claudia hopes that with this new black baby people will change and see blackness as something that can be admired and something that is beautiful. Topic Tracking: Culture Culture 1: Mr. Henry moves into Claudia and Frieda’s house. One day, the girls come home and when they walk in Mr. Henry greets them. He flatters them by telling them they look just like Greta Garbo and Ginger Rogers, two white American female actresses. These two actresses represented American society’s ideal beauty, with their blonde hair and blue eyes. They, and other actresses like them, were so idealized by the media that it forced young American girls, both white and black, to question their own beauty if it differed from the standard of blond hair and blue eyes. Culture 2: After seeing the cup with Shirley Temple on it, Claudia explains her ill feelings for her. Shirley Temple was the epitome of what all of America adored in little girls: her bouncy blonde curls and big blue eyes. This sickened Claudia, as she was so different from Shirley Temple and all of the other little girls who looked like Shirley. Culture 3: Claudia tells the story about the doll she recei ved for Christmas one year. This doll was a beautiful doll that had blonde hair, blue eyes, and pink skin. Instead of appreciating the doll like most other children would have done, Claudia dismembered and destroyed the doll. She was sick of having American ideals of beauty placed on her, which said that being white with blonde hair and blue eyes was what was deemed as beautiful. Culture 4: This excerpt from a first grade reading primer describes the perfect white family. Morrison uses these excerpts in many points of the story to illustrate the dichotomy between the ideal white family, and the family of blacks, specifically Pecola’s family. The reading book perpetuates the stigma that what is seen as â€Å"ideal† in American culture means having a neat little house, run by two loving parents, with two children, one of which has blonde hair and blue eyes, and a fun loving dog who plays with the children. This social stigma presses on children who are â€Å"different† that are reading these books, and makes them think they are abnormal and unacceptable. Culture 5: The Breedloves are described. They think they are poor and ugly, and it says that much of the reason they think this is because of the white American media. The media, as part of our culture, sets the standards for what defines beauty, and anything straying from these standards is viewed as ugly. Culture 6: Pecola is constantly faced with the standards set on her society by American culture. She cannot even enjoy a piece of candy without feeling that she is different and lacking in some way in terms of beauty. When she goes to eat her Mary Jane candy, she is mesmerized by the little girl of Mary Jane on the cover, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl. These cultural pressures of what defines beauty make Pecola aware of just how much she strays from that defined beauty. This eventually leads to her desire for blue eyes, which in turn leads her into madness. Culture 7: When Pecola, Maureen, Claudia and Frieda are walking home from the ice cream shop, they pass a theater with a picture of Betty Grable on it. Young girls are bombarded with American culture’s ideals of beauty, such as pictures of famous actresses. Betty Grable in particular , with her blonde hair and blue eyes, makes Pecola and Maureen want to look like her. However, despite all of their hopes and wishes, they will never be able to look like that, and they are left as the victims of a culture that standardizes and limits young children. Culture 8: During her younger years, Pauline Breedlove spent a lot of time at the movie theater. It was here where she learned American standards of true beauty. Constantly faced with actresses like Jean Harlow, the ultimate Hollywood blonde bombshell, Pauline was forced to examine her own beauty in terms of Harlow’s. She realized that she did not look anything like Harlow, and based on this, came to the conclusion that she must be ugly. However, her feelings of ugliness were purely based on cultural standards set on her through the medium of Hollywood. Culture 9: Claudia feels the need for Pecola’s baby to be alive and healthy. She wants the baby to survive because she wants to counteract the cultural emphasis placed on white girls with blonde hair and blue eyes, exemplified by the types of white baby dolls most children adore (dolls that look like Shirley Temple). If Pecola’s baby lives, maybe people can learn to love a black baby and see black as beautiful too . At least this is what Claudia is hoping for. Culture 10: Pecola beats her arms like a bird, and attempts to fly up to the sky. However, she cannot. The reason she cannot is because she has been held back by the culture in which she lives, a culture that values white beauty, and ignores black beauty. It was an inevitable end result that Pecola would never be able to achieve the standards of beauty she wanted to. She was born a black child, and unfortunately, her culture does not accept black beauty. Thus, her dreams would never be fulfilled. And even though she thinks she has blue eyes, the world around her does not recognize her as she wishes to be seen. And because of this, she is driven to madness, caused by the pressures and social standards of her culture.

The Scientific Revolution by Eirika Edwardsen

The Scientific Revolution was crucial to the development of â€Å"modern† European thinking. It effected every aspect of life, and changed ideas that were the basis of stability in the society of Europe during this era. The effects were not only felt during this time but also continued to help shape and mold life and the way people thought for many decades after. Areas such as mathematics, science, theology, philosophy, literature, and art were all areas that were effected by the Scientific Revolution. The impact of the revolution played a major role in changing people†s views and ways of thinking. Everything that was taught to be right and true was now being questioned by a large number of people. The churches† hold on society and peoples† lives no longer had the grip that they maintained for thousands of years. With science opening eyes, people could see the facts about many things. The Earth was not the center of everything know to man, and the power of God did not effect the planets many yearly changes. Nature was a whole new concept, people began to explore and question everything that they had always been curious about. By having so many people becoming known for their ideas, scientific thinking gained the popularity that ultimately helped people change the old ways of thought and made it able for large groups to accept this new information. The Scientific Revolution helped to change modern thinking by offering new ideas that had the facts to back them up. If offered change in a society that needed nothing more. Those questioning life and everything that it included now had some answers and were able to see that by observing and researching, learning about almost anything was possible. The revolution not only helped in education, science, mathematics, and the arts, it helped open the opportunities for new religions to take a place in the developing world. The difference between the medieval understanding of the universe and the scientific view was basically knowledge versus faith. The medieval understanding was that the Earth was the center of all being and everything changed or developed by some act of God. God was the ruling power and the Earth was here to serve Him just as people were put on the Earth to serve God and reach a better life in Heaven. The Earth was thought to be divided into different levels that held places for those who were considered sinners and those who believed in their faith enough to be considered worthy for a place in heaven. Science changed and challenged these ideas. Scientific views said that the Sun, not the Earth was the center of the Universe. There were other planets, and satellites. Yes, God played his role, but it was not part of how the universe worked. The Earth and the universe were considered mechanical, things that could be learned, researched, and expanded. Science provided explanation that made sense to a large number of people, and this intimidated the church. The church knew that these ideas about the universe must have some fact or else they would not have been so intimidated by them. Shaken enough that they developed and Index of books with information that were forbidden to be read. The Age of Enlightenment was a time when education, the arts, theatre, and other such areas became powerful aspects of society. The leaders of this era sought to impose freedom of print and education. This is the time when philosophers were in their glory. As the Scientific Revolution broadened the ideas about nature, the Elightenment broadened thoughts of society and how it could or could not flourish. The effects of the age included changes in politics and how they intervened with everyday man and his life, thoughts of man no longer being a sinner damned into hell but rather a condition such as life that is ever changing and can be improved with education and conditioning, and also it provided ideas that would help improve religious toleration. Times such as The Scientific Revolution and The Age of Enlightenment did not come and go at a rapid rate. Decades upon decades of slow introduction of new ideas were necessary so that a revolution would not begin. These two eras offered information into a stagnant society. Not everyone would ultimately grasp these ideas, many were content living their lives they way the had been for hundreds of years.

Low income and education Essay

This essay will consider if children from low income families are disadvantaged in the education system. It will examine if there is a direct link between poverty and low educational attainment. As far back as 1959 the Crowther Report identified a link between low incomes and low attainment levels. This was followed in 1963 by the Newsom report that found many secondary modern schools were deficient and argued that the less privileged 50 per cent of children did not receive their fair share of resources. (P Young, Mastering Social Welfare, p. 180) Recent research from the Institute of Education has shown that children from poorer families are no more likely to gain qualifications than they were a generation ago. A study carried out by Barbara Jefferis, a research fellow at the Institute of Child Healthfound a strong link between social background and cognitive development. The research carried out found the gap between educational attainment between the richest and the poorest in society widened as time went on. (The Guardian, August 9th 2002) The British Medical Journal published a study in August 2002 that firmly points at poverty and social deprivation as some of the most significant factors why some children do less well than others. Nick Davis points out in his book, The School Report: he is not uncovering the unknown but exposing something that no one with any power will admit. The ‘great unmentionable’, Davis shows, is the direct correlation that exists between educational performance and poverty. (N.Davis, 2000) David Miliband, the Minister of State for school standards, has stated that only 14 per cent of young people from lower income backgrounds go to university, compared to 75 per cent from more advantaged homes. For some children the first step in education is nursery education. Although not compulsory nursery education is now available to all three and four year olds. A scheme set up by the government provides nursery vouchers for all three and four year olds. These vouchers are used to purchase OFSTED inspected nursery education. State run nursery schools are available in many areas, although these may not have the same resources as private ones. High  quality nursery education may be available although only parents with a higher income may be able to afford the extra costs than those provided by the voucher scheme. Many educational experts consider that pre school education is a vital foothold in education. If a child is unable to achieve the best possible start in education it may reflect on their educational achievement. The government’s response to this is the Sure Start scheme. Sure Start is aimed at pre school children which as well as focusing on education focuses on health. In recognizing that a child’s early years are vital to their future success, Sure Start provides better opportunities for young children. Support is also offered to parents in preparing them to assist their child to succeed. (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ucu/suppfam.) As most parents of children living in poverty may have a limited education themselves support for parents is essential in helping their child succeed. Very early education begins in the family home through interaction, as education can break the cycle of poverty, parental education and parenting skills may be more important than economic factors. Deprivation may effect a child’s education in many ways. Children that live in poverty often live in the most deprived areas of a neighbourhood. These areas often have schools which may be at the lower end of performance league tables. League tables show that schools in areas of social housing or with high numbers of private rented accommodation perform less well than schools in more affluent areas. Schools whose pupils are mostly from large inner city council estates are often referred to as sink state schools, hardly aspiring for those pupils that attend them. As the parents or parent of these pupils have limited income they are not in the position to move to a better area which has access to a better school. If they were able to secure a place in a better performing school outside the area, they may be unable to afford the traveling expenses. Families with higher incomes are able to move into catchment areas of the better schools. Parents are often willing to pay more to live near a high achieving school. (Gibbons and Machin, 2000) Selective education is available in Britain, although most of this is in fee-paying Independent schools. Others are known as ‘grant maintained schools’, and they may use their own methods of selection. This often excludes children from low income families and particularly those from the  worst areas. School performance League table’s 2000 show that the top one hundred schools for GCSE results were either Independent or Selective, with just one exception, Thomas Telford School that is comprehensive. [Education league tables 2000 D.f.E.E.] Reports show that attainment varies according to the socio-economic backgrounds of children. In 1998, only 45 per cent of 11 year-olds in schools with high numbers on free school meals reached the Government’s attainment targets in English and Maths, whilst more than 60 per cent reached that target in other schools. (Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion, 1999, p.26) The government has introduced some policies in education to help reduce inequality. These include Education Action Zones; these were established in areas of high deprivation. Along with money from private-sector sponsors and government they can attract better teachers through higher salaries. Homework clubs are set up, enabling pupils a quite place to study and the necessary resources. (Haralambos and Holbrn 2000) Barnardos an organization that works with children recognise the link between educational attainment and poverty. Currently they are involved in various projects with children from deprived families; one of these is setting up homework clubs in schools and libraries around the country. Children from low income families may not have access to books in the home or educational toys. A quiet place to do homework or studying may be unavailable. Family visits to museums and other places of educational interest may be unavailable in households of low income. These types of visits encourage and motivate children to succeed. Public libraries can provide a valuable resource in assisting a child’s learning. As well as providing free access to books many hold reading hours and various forms of fun learning. Computers are now widely available for free use in many public libraries with access to the internet. As computers are now widely used in schools, having access to one at home would certainly improve a child’s ability in school. Pupils from low income families are less likely to have access to a computer in the home. When online resources are available in school they may also be less able to make use of them than pupils who have experience of using the internet at home. The government did introduce a scheme for poorer families, enabling them to purchase recycled computer at low cost, however this never got further than a pilot scheme amid allegations of poor management. Financial problems may increase stress amongst parents which may reduce their ability to assist in adequate educational support. Parental stress has been identified as a factor towards truancy. It maybe considered that certain background characteristics are linked with truancy. Children are more likely to truant if they are from low income families, live in social housing or live with only one or neither parent. (Casey and Smith 1995) Research carried out at Cambridge Universityestablished a link between truancy and poverty in primary school children. The study looked statistics on truancy in London boroughs between 1997 and 2000. Council education welfare officers and 98 parents on low incomes were also interviewed. Researcher Ming Zhang says the parents who were questioned said they sometimes forget about their younger children’s schooling when they hit financial trouble. ‘For many people this may be a bizarre excuse for primary school children not to attend school. Yet for families facing financial difficulties, the problem is real.’ As these primary school children progress to secondary school bad habits have already set in. The study also considered attitudes among education welfare officers and parents. Both agreed that the blame lay with irresponsible parents. They did not link between poverty and truancy amongst primary school pupils. [www.news.bbc.co.uk/education] Although this research suggests there is no link between poverty and truancy, forgetting to send a child to school because of financial worries may be considered as a link. At present the education authorities can be seen to be tackling truancy, however this is mainly aimed at secondary school pupils. LEA’s are taking action against persistent truants and educational welfare  officers are visiting the homes of absent pupils. Connexions is another government initiative aimed at helping young people. Connexions provides a personal advisor for all 13 to 19 year olds, their aim is to keep young people in education, work on truancy and improve educational achievements. As well as providing career advice and other services they try to encourage school leavers into further education. Children from low income families leave full time education earlier and with fewer formal qualifications than those from higher income families. Only 14 per cent of young people from lower income backgrounds go into higher education. At a time when the government is encouraging all school leavers to go into further education, then onto higher education this may be seen as an issue for concern. In September 2001, The Excellence Challenge was introduced; this is a three year programme. The key purpose is to improve links between schools, colleges and universities, over 190 million pounds has been committed to increase the number of young people from poorer backgrounds who apply and enter higher education. (www.dfes.gov.uk) Schools in poorer areas are disadvantaged when they need to fundraise to provide more resources. A report published in May 2000 by the research charity Directory for Social Change claims that rich and poor schools are drifting further apart. Schools in deprived parts of the country are up to 500,000 worse off than those in well-to-do areas because they are unable to compete in fundraising stakes. Eighty per cent of state primary schools held fundraising events to buy books. While one in five schools generated less than 1000 a year in donations, one per cent got over 25,000. Five per cent of secondary schools got less than 1000 per year while three per cent received more than 250,000 in donations. The report described parental donations as a hidden fault line that is widening into inequality of opportunity for children. The report also warns that the pursuit of cash is putting undue pressure on teachers and diverting them from teaching. [www.literacytrust.org.uk/Database/povertyupdate.html] The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said that the number of pupils leaving school without basic qualifications has decreased. In 2001, a quarter of GCSE students failed to pass any subject with grades A-C compared with a third ten years previously. Similarly, one in four 11 year olds failed to achieve target level 4 in English in 2001 compared with more than four out of ten in 1996. The improvement in primary schools serving high proportions of low income children was at least as good as the national average. In considering the evidence it may be concluded that low educational attainment is correlated to poverty. Education may be a route out of poverty but it appears not everybody has the same opportunities. Research does show that with the help of pre- school nurseries, Sure Start, the Education Action Zones and the Excellence Challenge progress can be made in alleviating inequalities in education. BIBLIOGRAPHY Casey, B. and Smith, D. (1995) Truancy and Youth Transitions, England and Wales Youth Cohort Study, London: Policy Studies Institute. Davis, N. (2000) The School Report: Why Britain’s Schools Are Failing. Vintage Haralambos and Holborn. (2000) Sociology Themes and Perspectives. London: HarperCollins. Howarth, C, et al. (1999) Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Young, P. (2000) Mastering Social Welfare. Macmillan Press. The Guardian, August 9th 2002 Education League Tables. D.f.E.E. www.dfes.gov.uk www.homeoffice.go.uk/ucu/suppfam. www.literacytrust.org.uk/Database/povertyupdate. www.news.bbc.co.uk/education.