Foreign Direct Investment in Bangladesh

Home  Ã‚  About Bangladesh  Ã‚  Investment and Trade  Ã‚  FDI in Bangladesh Foreign Direct Investment in Bangladesh| | | | Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has played a key role in the modernization of the Bangladesh economy for the last 15 years. | Inflows of Foreign Direct InvestmentThere was an inflows of $666m foreign direct investment in 2007 which raised significantly in 2008 to $1086m. As of 2011, inflows of foreign direct investment recorded to $1136. 8m. Inflows of foreign direct investment during 2007-2011Source: World Investment Report 2011  Private Investment Statistics Year| Proposed Local Investment| Proposed Foreign Investment| Total Proposed Investment| Growth %  | | Project| BDT| Project| BDT| Project| BDT| | 2005-2006| 1754| 18370| 135| 24986| 1889| 43356| 124. 62| 2006-2007| 1930| 19658| 191| 11925| 2121| 31583| -27. 15| 2007-2008| 1615| 19553| 143| 5433| 1758| 24986| -20. 9| 2008-2009| 1336| 17117| 132| 14749| 1468| 31867| 27. 54| 2009-2010| 1470| 27414| 160| 6261| 1630| 33678| 5. 67| 2010-2011| 1298| 39976| 148| 26935| 1446| 66912| 98. 71| 2011-2012| 1604| 497078| 209| 338910| 1813| 835989| 212| * March, 2012Source:Bangladesh Economic Review-2011 (Bangla version),  Ministry of FinanceForeign and Joint Venture InvestmentIn the year 2009-10 (February), there were 89 new foreign and joint venture investment projects registered to BOI which amount to $590m.The projects were invested to mainly in the service, engineering, clothing and agricultural sectors. Sectorwise foreign and joint venture investment during 2010-2011** As of March, 2011Source:Bangladesh Economic Review-2011 (Bangla version),  Ministry of FinanceCountrywise foreign and joint venture investment during 2009-2010* Country| No. of Projects| Proposed Investment (US$ m)| Saudi Arabia| 3| 478. 652| Australia| 4| 2. 036| USA| 5| 2. 990| Finland| 2| 3. 023|India| 9| 8. 451| South Korea| 12| 33. 768| Malaysia| 3| 3. 056| Netherlands| 5| 8. 544| China| 12| 21. 000| United Ki ngdom| 5| 3. 507| Pakistan| 2| 0. 990| Japan| 8| 2. 624| Denmark| 1| 1. 217| Sri Lanka| 2| 0. 646| Canada| 2| 1. 017| Taiwan| 1| 0. 502| Singapore| 4| 1. 929| Turkey| 1| 0. 150| Greece| 1| 0. 156| Italy| 2| 1. 039| Hong Kong| 5| 14. 805| Total| 89| 590. 102| As of February, 2010Source:Bangladesh Economic Review-2011 (Bangla version),  Ministry of Finance|

Mainstreaming: Special Education and Regular Classroom Essay

Mainstreaming is an important issue and realism that has a direct impact on all parties involved, including educators, students and parents. Mainstreaming is a matter that has become very controversial and therefore it requires important awareness and understanding from all peoples involved. One essential way of gaining this understanding and awareness is by reviewing what mainstreaming really is, as well as the positive and negative aspects that may arise from it. Defining the Issue: Mainstreaming. Mainstreaming, now more commonly referred to as inclusion, is thought of as the integration of exceptional students into regular educational settings, in which emphasis is placed on participation rather than placement (Perry, Winne & Woolfolk, 2000 p. 136). A classroom that is mainstreamed, is one which includes many different types of learners; in other words, mainstreaming is a classroom that accommodates students with disabilities and those without, as well as those students who are thought of as being gifted with an IQ score of above average. Disabled children in a mainstreamed classroom may vary greatly in the types of disability they might have. For example, children may have one or more of the following disabilities: physical, behavioral, mental or learning disability. It is evident then, that a classroom that is mainstreamed will indeed present a number of challenges for the teacher, since he or she must accommodate to so many different needs of the students. The main purpose of mainstreaming is to â€Å"equally support and promote a typical classroom experience for all students† (Lyness, 2001, p.3). However, this does not exclude the usage of outside support services such as teachers’ assistance or resource rooms. Therefore, the basic idea of mainstreaming is for students to receive assistance, while also benefiting from a regular classroom atmosphere. Positive Viewpoints of Mainstreaming There are a number of interesting points that support the idea of mainstreaming. For example, in a mainstreamed classroom all special education students must have an Individual Education Program (IEP). An IEP is an â€Å"annually revised program detailing present achievement level, goals and strategies, drawn up by teachers, parents, specialist and if possible the student† (Perry, Winne, & Woolfolk, 2000, p. 138). The use of the IEP is geared to meet the needs of the special education student. This is an issue that should be further educated and explained to the parties involved, most importantly the parents, since most of them feel that their child may not be receiving the support that they need in order to perform adequately in a regular classroom. As mentioned previously, students in a mainstreamed classroom receive support services such as teachers’ aids and access to resource rooms. Resource rooms are generally equipped with materials that are designed to meet the needs of the special educational student. A student may spent as much time as they need in the resource room with a special education teacher in order to receive the extra help they need. Another point that supports the idea of manstreaming is the fact that it seems to be beneficial for all students, both disabled and non-disabled. For example, placing special education students in a regular classroom reduces the risk of the student as being labeled or stigmatized. This point stands out clearly in the statement by Perry, Winne & Woolfolk (2000) that Segregation away from the mainstream in special classes robs disabled students of the opportunity to learn to participate fully in society, robs non-disables students of the opportunity to develop understanding and acceptance of the disabled, and increases the likelihood that the individual will be stigmatized (p. 139). Also, a classroom that includes and involves different types of learners is one that will be more accepting of the differences present amongst the students. According to studies by Lyness (2001), research has shown that students without disabilities who are in a mainstreamed classroom accept and value the differences in their classmates, have enhanced self esteem, and a genuine capacity for friendship. It is important for students to respect the differences of their peers, which is what a mainstreamed classroom helps to accomplish. Negative Viewpoints of Mainstreaming Along with the good points of mainstreaming come a number of interesting points that do not support the idea of mainstreaming. For example, in a mainstreamed classroom a child may not feel a sense of belonging from other children. This may been displayed in the form of teasing or ridicule, in which the special education students self esteem is greatly affected. Feelings of inadequacy to keep up with non-disabled students may also arise amongst special education students. Perry, Winne & Woolfolk (2000), state that â€Å"disabled students can be just as socially isolated in a regular class as they would in a special education class, across the hall across the country† (p. 139). Another pessimistic viewpoint of mainstreaming is the great demand that is places on the teachers. With so few teachers available and the large amount of students in need of assistance, it is impossible for teachers to focus special attention on individual students with special educational needs. This creates a problem for both the teacher, whose job becomes absolutely over whelming and stressful, as well as the special education student who lacks the vital support and attention that he or she may need. Mainstreaming may also place pressure on special education students. For example, a special education student may feel that he or she may have to perform at the same level as his or her fellow classmates even though the disability they possess prevents them from doing so. Fracine McNamara states how â€Å"mainstreaming is very difficult for special needs children ?and it is hard enough for a regular education child to keep up with the curriculum and the world, it is even harder for a children with road blocks† (Pantazis, 2000, p. 11). My Opinion As this paper demonstrates, I also agree that there are positive and negative aspects that are associated with mainstreaming. I do agree that children should have individual programs that support their needs, as they would receive in a special education program; if these needs can be met within a regular classroom, all the better. I also believe that by placing special education students in a regular classroom, this can increase their motivation to perform well in school. Often, when children are placed in special education classrooms, they do not perform to the best of their ability because they are stigmatized into thinking they can not do better. I also believe another advantage of mainstreaming is the fact that special needs children may begin to model the positive behaviors of regular students  such as completion of homework, improved social skills and age appropriate behaviors. This is especially important for children with behavior problems, since they often may need a positive role model in order to perform to the best of their ability. I also believe that in some cases exceptional students are very good in non-academic areas such as sports, drawing and mainstreaming allows these students to share their skills with regular students. This, in turn, is beneficial for both parties. However, I also believe that in some cases mainstreaming is not the best option for all special needs children. Some children’s needs go far beyond what a regular classroom can offer. Self-contained programs are necessary for these types of children, programs that teach children skills that will be useful to the in the real world, and also prepare them for community living. These life skills may include personal hygiene, money managing, basic household chores and safety. Also, severely handicapped children need to be in contact with other students who share a common affliction. This is not likely to happen in a mainstreamed classroom since regular students outnumber special education students. By taking a closer look at the definition of mainstreaming as well as the positive and negative aspects associated with it, one can perhaps acquire better understanding and awareness of the issue. As this paper has demonstrated, there are both positive and negative viewpoints of mainstreaming, which in turn, cause large amounts of controversy. However, the most important issue, which must not be forgotten, is it is vital to help all students obtain the best education possible. References Lyness, D. (2001). http://www. kidsheath. org Pantazis, S. (2000). http://www. epinions. com Perry, N. , Winne, P. , Woolfolk, A. (2000). Educational Psychology. Scarborough: Allyn and Bacon Canada.

Travel Writing

The reluctance to enter this climatic journey was brought upon the experiences of other riders. The facial expressions and comments I was hearing as people exited the ‘Mechanical Emotion Drawer' was unbelievable. The excruciating pain being hidden behind anxiousness and expectation. Every small, timide step forward added to the suspense making me want to break free of my personal pride. The source of my anxiety is in the U.S.A, where they are renowned for making the impossible, possible and reaching new heights in technology. Being a British Asian (Living in England) the creativity and imagination for producing the best inspires me, just like what I was about to experience. As I looked into the skyline of this masterpiece park, one ‘Godzilla' like stature dominated my view. It stood tall, bright red in colour and dominant across this sea of other great participants. This added to my sense of fear and I began to realise that anticipation would soon turn into reality. As I queued impatiently along with four of my fearless cousins, constant screaming and shouting was heard. This was coming above my head, as this piece of high-tech metal flew at a great pace. As I approached the end of my queue, clear, loud and precise instructions came from speakers beside me. ‘Pregnant woman, people with heart problems, back problems should not enter this†¦' As I heard this message , I started to question why this announcement was read out. The message continued, read in a firm manner. ‘This is due to the high speed and great heights this †¦' After hearing this I shut out the rest of the instructions. At this pacific moment, I felt, dare I say it, scared. All I could hear was the laughter and the normality of the conversations my fellow occupants of the seats that we would soon sit in. My personal pride and respect was brought into doubt when my silence was questioned as fear and cowardliness, but as stupid as it sounds I quickly dismissed these suggestions. I used reverse psychology tactics and questioned back, ‘Your frightened, that's why your asking!' Clever eh! My time eventually came and the automatic barriers opened before my glaring eyes. I hurried forward, this was to show my unconditional confidence I had. I sat on these comfortable, leather, soft seats and then only I realised one key point. There's no way back from here! As soon as everyone were seated my legs were lifted slowly behind me. I was literally lying down and, believe me, I was as nervous as going to open some important exam results. Safety padding came slowly down from above me and escape was impossible. This horror machine commenced and all you could hear was the screeching between the contact of the track and each individual open cabin. I felt somewhat relieved to have a secure seat and the thought of me turning back was out of the question. Twisting, turning, looping movements were what I was expecting as we were taken up on top of the skyline. I began to question my real respect, for why I come on death defying stunts?

Tourism and Premium Advantages

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Tourism Advantages and Disadvantages of Tourism Tourism is the act of travel for the purpose of not only recreation, but also the provision of services for this act. It†¦ Premium Advantages And Disadvantages Of Tourism Advantages and disadvantages of tourism Nowadays many people travel around the world. They get new experience, emotions, relaxation But is it that good? In†¦ Premium Advantages And Disadvantages Of Tourism. if the natural resources are destroyed for the settlement of hotels, it may be a disadvantage for everyone in the country. For example, in Maurtius , when tourists†¦ PremiumAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Tourism In Mauritus a computer literate the use of the manual system will be easier for them to work. * Advantage of the New System . * Easier to maintain and update data†¦ Premium Advantages And Disadvantages Of Tourism – Short Essay New pedagogy St vincent & Grenadines Island is a small island with limite d education facilities. Primarily motivated students can easily start their own†¦ Premium Advantages And Disadvantages Of Tourism Name: ____________________________ Number_____ Form ____ Class _______ Date: ______ /______ /______ Name: ____________________________ Number_____ Form ____†¦Premium Advantages And Disadvantages Of Increasing Tourism Activity In Different Countries ] Bottom of Form Similar discussions: advantages and disadvantages of tourism Advantages and disadvantages of the internet. Increasing the living standards†¦ Premium Advantages And Disadvantages Of Direct Selling: Perspectives Of Both Tourism Operators And Tourists for a tourist using direct selling. The third section will discuss the advantages and disadvantages for a tourism provider using direct selling. Finally, the essay†¦ Premium Tourism Advantages And Disadvantages

Laughters

Laughters A wise man say, â€Å"A laugh is a smile that bursts. † A very good morning Madam Chairperson, honourable judges, distinguished time keeper, and members of the floor. Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed and honour to be given the chance to stand here in front of you, the audience. My task today is to share with you about, â€Å"Laughters. † Parents of newborn babies learn quickly there are many different ways for a baby to cry. One type of cry means the baby is hungry, another says the child needs to be changed and yet another may mean it simply wants some attention.Though these cries may seem indistinguishable to an outsider, parents learn to respond with exactly what their child needs. Parents don't tend to put as much thought into what their child's laugh might mean, unless it sounds really weird and indicates an attack to the people surrounding. In fact, very few people think about differences in laughter at all. We often ask ourselves, why do we laugh? The answer may seem obvious: We laugh when we perceive something funny. But the obvious answer is not correct, at least most of the time.According to the expert Robert Provine; A PhD neurobiologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, most laughter is not in response to jokes or humor. Laughter isn't under our conscious control. Infants laugh almost from birth. In fact, people who are born blind and deaf still laugh. So we know it's not a learned behavior. Researcher also says that laughter may be just a simpler way to communicate and show agreement over certain matters.Laughter is a mechanism everyone has. It is part of the universal human vocabulary. All members of the human species understand it. Unlike English or Bahasa Malaysia or French, we don’t have to learn to speak it. We’re born with the capacity to laugh. Laughter is a message that we send to other people. We know this because we rarely laugh when we are alone, do we? La ughter is also specifically a social structure, something that connects humans with one another in a profound way.According to Provine’s findings, people are 30 percent more likely to laugh in a social setting that warrants it than when alone with humour-inducing media. That means that you're more likely to laugh with friends while watching a comedy together than when you're watching the same show or movie by yourself. Though there are many ways to laugh, from giggles to guffaws and from chuckles to cackles, it turns out that we humans laugh for many reasons, some of them are odd. So what are some of the different types and reasons for all the laughter?In first place, The Fake Laughter. This type of laughter comes in handy as a way to get along with others, that’s why sometimes we laugh at things that just aren’t funny, whether we’re with our boss, with our teachers or with our friends. Second, The Contagious Laughter. Imagine you're out for dinner with a group of friends. Someone tells a joke and gets one person laughing, which gets a second person laughing, and it continues to one another. Hence, a circle of laughter is created. Is catching laughter like catching a cold?It's very likely. Besides that, The Nervous Laughter. During times of anxiety, we often laugh in a subconscious attempt to reduce stress and calm down. Laughter lowers the levels of at least four hormones that are associated with stress, so after a good giggle you should be far less tense and anxious. However, nervous laughter usually just heightens the awkwardness of the situation. Let’s move on to The Belly Laughter. Belly laughter is considered as the most honest type of laughter.It may also be the hardest type to experience, because we have to find something truly hilarious before we'll let go with the kind of laughter that has us clutching our bellies and gasping for air. Next, The Silent Laughter. This happens when you laugh so hard no sound actually c omes out and sometimes, tears are coming out of your unsuspecting eyes . It’s like the laugh gets confused and forgets to come from the back of your throat. This laughter stays lodged inside of your brain and you hear it loudly in your head. Lastly, The Unappropriate Laughter.Fortunate because laughter is fun (and  good for your health  , remember? ). Misfortunate because this type of laughter could potentially offend someone else or ruin a particular mood. You've probably heard some motherly person say, â€Å"It isn't polite to laugh at others' expense. † Classic examples of this are to laugh while attending a person’s funeral, or maybe when someone farted, which is pretty funny, that you’re the only one who heard it or smelled it. If someone else hears your laughter they could be infected by it, because we all know that laughter is contagious.I’ve mentioned few ways of laughter; The Fake Laughter, The Contagious Laughter, The Nervous Laughter , The Belly Laughter, The Silent Laughter and lastly The Unappropriate Laughter. Ladies and gentlemen, which laughter do you prefer? This list of different types of laughter is not the end-all be-all, but it is pretty close. Even so, laughter takes on many different forms. As has been said, we`ve all heard the phrase â€Å"laughter  is the best medicine. † But what matters are when laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Thank you.

E-Business Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

E-Business - Case Study Example Hoffman & Novak (1996:51) described the internet as a "phenomenal marketing opportunity". This same definition was later echoed by Palmer & Griffith (1998:45) when they state that, the internet has created a new revolution in marketing by providing much more than just a new medium through which organization communicate to the public. E-marketing has become an important phenomenal for Business to Business, Consumers to Consumers as well as Business to consumers marketing. As the fight of market shares and quest for product success continue, e-strategy has offered marketers and businesses all the necessary tactics, and methods to give their product a break through, or remain competitive (Frost et al. 2001). This assignment examines and evaluates the supply chain management functions of an ebusiness. Using Wal-Mart as a case study, the paper examines the electronic business platform of the organisation with attention on the supply chain. Supply chain management (SCM) is a tactical and management tool employed by present day business to efficiently integrate suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses, and customers so that a company's merchandise is produced, distributed at the right quantities, locations, and the right time (Cheng, Lai & Gunasekaran 2006). This is to minimize system wide costs while satisfying service-level requirements (Cheng, Lai & Gunasekaran 2006). ... Using Wal-Mart as a case study, the paper examines the electronic business platform of the organisation with attention on the supply chain. 1.1Overview of Supply Chain Management Supply chain management (SCM) is a tactical and management tool employed by present day business to efficiently integrate suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses, and customers so that a company's merchandise is produced, distributed at the right quantities, locations, and the right time (Cheng, Lai & Gunasekaran 2006). This is to minimize system wide costs while satisfying service-level requirements (Cheng, Lai & Gunasekaran 2006). Today, SCM gained momentum and received due attention from practitioners and researchers. It has become present day managerial competitive weapon for improving performance (Ramsay 2000). To minimize wastages and meet up with customers demand. Customers and suppliers are important stakeholders. "Stakeholders are those individual or groups who depend on the organisation to fulfill their own goals and on whom, in turn, the organisation depends" (Johnson et al 2005:179). An organisation SCM set the pace and the platform for this to take place. Wal-mart is the largest grocery retailer in the United States with estimated 20% of the retail grocery and consumable business as well as the largest toy seller in the States having 22% share of the market, and the highest private employer with about 1.9million workers and employees. The company had a net income of US$11.3Billion in 2007. Thus, this study was initiated to investigate the application of supply chain management strategy in Wal-mart in its electronic business platform. Using Porters competitive advantage, Porters value chain framework, and the SWOT analysis, the company was

A Different Conception of an Ideal Government in the Case of a Hobbess Research Paper

A Different Conception of an Ideal Government in the Case of a Hobbess Civil Society - Research Paper Example Hobbes acknowledges the value of freedom or liberty as something that cannot be gotten in nature but only possible in civil society. However, the insufficiency with this definition is well exemplified when discussing the importance of positive or civil liberty that exists in any civil society as espoused by Rousseau. Rousseau argues that idea Hobbes idea creates negative liberty or civil society that is typified by ‘unlawful chains’ that compels people to conform to a system they actually do not agree with. Another criticism against Hobbes's state of nature relates to the existence of man as pre-social. Rousseau wonders how a man would be considered pre-social yet in the state of nature, most qualities attributed to him are social in nature. Rousseau describes the aspect of pride as one that can only take place in a social environment. It must be understood, nonetheless, that both of these two scholars base their arguments on men’s qualities that are interpersonal in nature. According to Rousseau, it is misleading when Hobbes claims that the life of man is solitary and yet he has inferred used the concept of neighbourliness where people are not likely to get satisfied with resources at their disposal, because they are envious about what their neighbours have. Hobbes supports a government that is headed by a ruler or king. In this case, people would confide their power or sovereignty in the hands of kings as a way of being more resolute and consistent in exercising political authority. Furthermore, Hobbes indicates that once the people have surrendered their absolute power to their ruler or king, they do not have any right to rebel against his wishes.

Outline the strategies adopted by the Apple Corporation in the last Essay

Outline the strategies adopted by the Apple Corporation in the last few years which has led to a transformation of the company's fortunes - Essay Example Apple faced several years of stagnation until Jobs was called back as interim CEO in 1997. Before Jobs returned Apple had lost its focus or core competency, offering 15 different products, none of which were in high demand on the computer market. He immediately put together a group of seven board members, including former CEOs from Oracle, Intuit and IBM. Apple implemented several changes under Jobs’ new leadership. Among them were cost control measures, streamlining and reformulating the product line and introduction of new products such as the iPod. After the introduction of the iPod, revenues increased from â€Å"below $10 million to $40 in 2005† (International Center for Market Research 2006). Apple’s diversification into electronics and media, with its online i-tunes store, created renewed interest in the company. Revenues from Mac computers has increased since 2005 as well. The challenge for Apple, Inc. currently is determining what types of products and se rvices will generate greater revenues. Consumers’ electronics and technology needs change over time, as new products appear on the market. Different segments require different product types, based on lifestyle and occupation. For those in creative occupations such as web design, graphics and advertising, Apple’s Macintosh computers with desktop publishing and graphics software are desirable products. For music lovers iPods are more desirable. This is a much larger segment, including several decades of consumers, though the largest portion is likely between the ages of 14 and 21.

International Construction Contracts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

International Construction Contracts - Essay Example ligation that is voluntary, contrast to paying different compensations for restitution and tort in order to reverse any unjust enrichment, the English law places value on making sure that people truly consent to the deals binding them in court2. In general, a contract is formed when an individual makes an offer that is accepted by another person by communicating their performing or assent terms. If these terms are certain and contracting individuals can be presumed based on their behavior intending that the terms and condition are binding, the agreement is enforced. According to English contract law, contract law works best in situations where an agreement is achieved, and a resource to courts is not needed due to parties understanding their duties and right. According to the failure to give possession clause, which is Clause 43. 2, states that in case a contractor incurs costs or suffers delay from failure on the employer’s part to give possession according to the terms guided by sub-clause 42.1, the contractor shall, after consultations with the employer, determine the extension of time entitled to him or her according to clause 44, and the cost that shall be added to agreed contract price3. In this case, the contractor incurred additional cost due to delays cause by the employer. The contractor requested for time extension and additional cost to compensate for the cost incurred during the time and that shall be incurred in futures due to the delays. NCG should not to follow the conflict resolution process and accept the 60% offer given. I would advise NCG to avoid any other pursuit for more time and cost because according to the conditions of work contract of civil engineers construction 4th edition, the company is entitled to an extension of time and cost as decided by the engineer. According to this situation, the engineer had determined that the time and cost that the project needed was half of the cost and time. According to the English law, the engineer

New Test Development Project Risk Monitoring and Control Assignment

New Test Development Project Risk Monitoring and Control - Assignment Example Basically, the project monitoring and evaluation in this project management are meant to provide objective and reliable up to date information about the progress of the project and as such helps eliminate unnecessary risks. Four basic indicator systems will be used in the project monitoring and control which includes; Schedule Performance Monitoring, Program Metrics, Technical Performance Measurement (TPM) and Earned Value (EV) (Kerzner, 2006). An in-depth monitoring and control of scheduled risks will be conducted to gauge the extent of the damages caused by such risks if any will be undertaken during the project implementation. After 30days, the project management staff will conduct a scheduled performance monitoring indicator to establish whether the time allowed for a risk that may occur as a result of the delay caused by the NATA in granting accreditation of the assays was within the acceptable limits. This process will be done to ensure that the overall implementation period of the project is not compromised by risks caused by NATA. The project monitoring and control tool will also be used to check the effectiveness of the rejection of the risk to proceed to offer service without NATA accreditation. The process will find out if adopting the risk would have dented the image of a project as earlier been presumed. There are other risks such as technical risks that have been identified as possible causes of delays in the implementation of this project. However, program metrics and earned value (EV) are some of the indicator approaches that will be used to monitor and control the adopted response strategies. The project has adopted risks such as the failure of assay design, challenged validation report by NATA assessor and service redundancy. Likewise, during the implementation of the project risk monitoring will be done against the above-named risks to estimate the effectiveness of the decision of adopting them.  

Madinah Cardiac Centre Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Madinah Cardiac Centre - Research Proposal Example Madinah Cardiac Centre The retention of health workers has been noted to be a very important requirement for ensuring quality delivery of healthcare. Meanwhile, most health facilities in Saudi Arabia go through very difficult times trying to achieve employee retention due to high incidence of employee turnover. This is the problem that has informed the proposed study, seeking to find ways in which the existing problem of high employee turnover can be solved. Based on literature reviewed, it has been established that when employees have sufficient control at the workplace to bring to bear their experiences, dynamism and innovation, they feel part of the overall management of the organisation. This situation is no different for health workers also. Meanwhile, in order for employees at the health sector to be given the room to operate in the manner described, it is important that the concept of employee engagement will be institutionalised at the health facilities. Because the need to undertake employee engagement has been noted to work best when institutionalised, the study seeks to use the concept of cultural metaphor through a social system approach to investigate the best modalities that can be used in making employee engagement a permanent part of the health facilities. Once this is achieved, it will be expected that instead of the health facilities to engage their employees once a while, employee engagement will actually become a permanent part of their organisational culture, where they will be practiced on a permanent basis.

Participation 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Participation 4 - Essay Example Probability sampling uses random sampling method, where the researcher selects parties to the study randomly. This ensures that the study eliminates bias and makes it easier for the researcher to estimate the sampling error. In his article painter describes the use of probability sampling in research. The example he focuses on is on selection of households from a certain cross section area. The study may focus on selecting all households, which will include even newer households. Alternatively, in selecting a sample the researcher can exclude the newer households and consider those that have resided in the area for a while. The study, therefore, will use a cluster sample, which will focus on areas with old residents. The focus was on European waters and their efforts to improve the status of these waters. In this study, they use judgmental sampling method. In their research, they have selected certain water bodies that they intend to examine and come up with ways of improving their status. The rationale for using judgemental sampling method is that the water bodies are certain and; therefore, the researcher has to focus on a certain area of

Judea Declares War On Germany Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Judea Declares War On Germany - Essay Example Germany at that time was going through an economic crisis so the declaration was really a surprise. I was also surprised to see such a document which is a facsimile of the original British newspaper. First, I never realized that Jews were very powerful during that time- financially and politically. Imagine, thousands of Jews in the US forming assemblies to bring down Germany on its knees through an economic boycott. The thing that shocked me was the fact that Jews were always represented as poor, helpless people on movies about the Holocaust. This piece of information in history actually confused me because it changed my ideas about the Jews. Another thing that I can say about this article is that the way the news was written seems biased. The news did not seem to report only the facts because it was followed by articles with words about â€Å"Hitler’s terror†. If I were reading that newspaper that time, my opinion against the Germans would also be influenced negatively because I would feel that they are bad people. The lesson that I can learn from this article is that people should be conscious of their accusations against another group of people because they may not want the consequences later.

What I hope to gain from the MPA program at Metropolitan College of Essay

What I hope to gain from the MPA program at Metropolitan College of New York - Essay Example My work as a Counselor, Case Manager and Housing Specialist at organizations such as Help USA and Women In Need, has been deeply satisfying. My experience with the homeless has made me aware that there is a tremendous reserve of goodwill and monetary aid available in society, from both government and private sources, which can be directed towards the betterment of the economically underprivileged. It is the tragedy of our times that the full potential of these programs fails to reach the intended target, mainly because of poor implementation. This makes me determined to enhance my skills in leadership, management, marketing, finance and planning, so that I can significantly enhance my contribution to an organization, and become a more effective catalyst of constructive change. After more than a decade’s experience in the not-for-profit sector, the MPA Program at Metropolitan College of New York seems to be tailor-made for me! The program’s emphasis on policy research and implementation, strategic planning and analysis of financial costs, is just what I require to gain the theoretical knowledge which I can translate into practical organizational change at my workplace. I believe that my personal strengths, which include my love for working with people, my persuasive skills, assertiveness, and readiness to articulate problems, combined with the applied learning I gain from Metropolitan College of New York, will help me realize my goal of playing a part in the betterment of society. I am also confident that my twelve years as a working professional in the not-for-profit sector will be an asset to the classroom experience of my peers, and enable me to contribute positively to Metropolitan

Business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business law - Essay Example The issue in respect of this question requires an analysis of invitation to treat, unilateral offer, offer, acceptance, rejection and past consideration. Each of these elements would be discussed and an evaluation in line with the facts would be made. An offer has been defined as an expression of willingness by one party known as the offeror, to contract or be bound on stated terms, provided that such terms are accepted by the party to whom the offer is made that is the offeree. The courts have distinguished between an offer and an invitation to treat, this is because the latter is merely an expression of willingness by one party to enter into negotiations and so is not unconditional and there is a lack of intention. Invitation to treat has been defined as an expression of willingness of a party to enter into negotiations with another with the hope that a contract would be reached at the end of such negotiations. (Fisher v Bell)1. As for advertisements, it has been strictly said to b e an invitation to treat (Partridge v Crittenden)2, however, the courts have interpreted advertisements in a manner which allows for certain exceptions to be created and the main reasons for that has been cited to be intention to be bound and certainty (Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.)3. Further, the advertisement of an auction sale is generally only an invitation to treat (Harris v Nickerson)4. The opinions as to when an offer is made have differed. The next issue that would be looked into is acceptance which is defined an unequivocal assent to the terms that has been proposed by the offeror. The general rule for the acceptance of an offer is that the offer should be accepted unconditionally and must be communicated to the offeror. ( Holwell Securities v. Hughes5) . However, there are a number of exceptions to the rule of communication of acceptance and one of them is the highly criticised postal rule. The rule has been criticised because of the adoption it took despite the vario us option that were available to it. In Adams v Lindsell6 it was held that the acceptance takes place when the offeree posts the letter of acceptance. Instantaneous modes of communication has lately been scrutinized by the courts (Lord Wilberforce in Brinkibon Ltd. v Stahag Stahl GmbH), the courts have been supportive of the fact that communication should be made to the offeree and he must have knowledge of that in respect of instantaneous mode of communication. As far as the advertisement that has been placed by Mary is concerned it can be said that it is clearly an invitation to treat and cannot in any way be construed to be a unilateral offer as there is no intention in that respect. In respect of the information that she provided to Rose it was merely an invitation to treat whereby she discussed that she would reduce price and so there was no offer in that respect. In respect of the message that had been left by Rose of the 800 pound, it can be said that that was an offer which had been made by Rose. As far as acceptance was concerned, Mary did try to make the acceptance, but the problem that arises in that respect is the fact that there had been a problem in respect of the instantaneous mode of communication and so the communication did not take place and therefore the acceptance is not effective. In the case of Matthew it can be said that he did not make an offer was it was conditional upon him receiving the payment from his father and therefore does not satisfy the criteria for a valid offer to be existent. In respect of silence constituting to be acceptance it has been an accepted phenomena that silence cannot constitute to be acceptance. (Felthouse v. Bendley)7 . Considering the decision on silence, the act of John leaving the cheque and silence of Mary would not lead to an acceptance. Furthermore, the actions of Mary destroying the cheque also go against the notion of acceptance by conduct and therefore no acceptance has taken place. As far as past c onsideration is concerned, the courts have clearly laid down the fact

Pennsylvania Black Bear Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pennsylvania Black Bear - Research Paper Example Those with black color are prevalent in the east while the brown phases from blond to cinnamon are mainly found in the west (Shoemakera 15).An adult male bear weighs between 350 and 500 pounds while a female may have 150 to 250 pounds even though, some male bears go up to 600 pounds occasionally. Black bears rise to about three feet high when standing on all fours and from six to seven feet when upright. The sounds made by bears are distinctive ranging from growls, woofing and jaw popping. The females communicate with their cub through huffs and low grunts while the cubs whimper, chuckle and bawl. Other distinctive features of a black bear are the tracks. The footprints of the hind legs resemble those of man and the toes are five. The front foot of a bear is shorter than the rear foot which is long and narrow. The claws may at times be visible. Black bears are herbivores. They maintain movement mainly at night or early hours of the morning in search of food. They feed on a variety of things such as berries, corn, beechnuts, grass, carrion, honey and insects (Fergus 32). They fatten up before winter for hibernation at the summer and the fall periods during which they take most of the time to feed amount to a close of twenty hours a day and consuming close to 20,000 calories. During winter, they remain dormant and choose to remain in their dens which are made up of rock caverns, excavated holes and hollow trees, underneath trees, dead falls and bushy thickets. The heartbeat during hibernation slows down tremendously and the body temperature drops. At this period, bears do not feed drink or pass body fluids such as urine (Gordon 45). The most prevalent season for mating is between early June and mid- July during which bears become very aggressive to one another. In January, sows give birth mostly to a litter of five. The newly born cubs are toothless, sightless and have less hair that is inadequately distributed on

The case of cadmium poisoning in japan Research Paper

The case of cadmium poisoning in japan - Research Paper Example In most zinc ores, this element occurs in minute quantities. Excessive exposure to the Cadmium chemical is the result of Cadmium Poisoning. Human exposure to Cadmium causes damage to the body. The high levels of toxic compounds in Cadmium are dangerous to humans and the environment. If the chemical is taken orally or inhaled, it can cause tremendous health issues for the human body, and there have been numerous reports of fatalities after exposure to the body. Immediately after contact of large amounts of Cadmium with the body, the Cadmium poisoning poses a threat to the body. Small amounts of the chemical do not require much to detox the body. However, according to reports, 10 milligrams of cadmium is dangerous to the body. The most common disease associated with Cadmium is the Itai-itai disease. It is a severe form of chronic Cadmium poisoning, and it is caused by prolonged oral Cadmium ingestion. It harms the body by causing renal and bone injury. During the initial stage, femoral pain and lumbago are present. This pain gradually spreads t hroughout the body. If pressure is applied to the bones, the pain increases. Additional damage to the bones can cause the body to worsen. If the patient is bed-ridden, the body continues to deteriorate. The first study presented in this research analysis of Cadmium Poisoning in Japan is a study on the â€Å"Influence of Drinking and/or Cooking with Jinzu River Water on the Development of Itai-Itai Disease.† The second study is a Comparison between â€Å"Cadmium in Rice and Renal Effects among inhabitants of the Jinzu River Basin.† The third study focuses on the â€Å"Influence of Consumption of Cadmium-Polluted Rice or Jinzu River Water on Occurrence of Renal Tubular Dysfunction and/or Itai-itai Disease.† According to the study on the â€Å"Influence of Drinking and/or Cooking with Jinzu River Water on the Development of Itai-itai Disease,† the authors’ focus was on evaluating the amount

Cultural Artifacts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cultural Artifacts - Essay Example All these and many other aspects altogether represent our culture and its evolution over time. To prove my point I will concentrate on architecture how it is reflective of the culture. It not only represents the present but also has traces of the past. By observing architecture of any society over the years you can observe the evolution of their culture. It shows our values and beliefs. Architecture actually encompasses all three eras, traces of our past, needs of our present and aspirations of our future. Archeology In order to fully understand evolutionary process of architecture we need to develop sound understanding of archeology and dating methods. Crucially understanding of the past depends on the efficiency of the chronological dating methods employed. Indus civilization As we all know Indus civilization is one the oldest civilizations of the world. Some of the things found in excavations dates back to as early as 2800 BCE (McIntosh). A good understanding of their culture was developed through the literature found in some of the writings, pottery and remains of the buildings. The Indus civilization is distinctive in its indigenous development from the cotemporary civilizations. Its architecture does not bear any sign of warfare of that time. They had elaborate drainage system and well planned urban layout. Although scarcity of any building was observed, which could be identified as temple or monument? Architecture and Sculpture History According to historians large wooden houses, palaces and barns were being built in India from around 1700 BC. Although it does not have much creativity and durability was also questionable. (Subcontinent) Some stone architecture and sculpture started in India in 300 BC under the influence of Greeks and Persians. Artifacts are a good source of studying the economic and cultural conditions of any time. It was well reflected in the buildings of that era also. In fact the understanding we have developed about the older civiliz ations and their evolution and growth was achieved by studying the artifacts of those times. Indians moved from traditional wooden architecture to stone architecture and fine masonry work under the influence of foreigners. But the artifacts they produced had the Indian touch and were reflective of their culture. Rock Architecture History of Rock architecture in India dates back to eighth century. There are remains of a temple in Ellora in central Asia. (William J. Duiker) It was named after the holy mountains and it is beautifully carved out of a hill side. Traces of this form of architecture were also found in Africa. It is reflective of the technological advancement of that time because carving a mountain needed a lot of skill and equipment. It is also reflective of the religious beliefs of the time. Most of the religious architecture of that time consisted of Buddhist cave temples and monasteries. The next millennium witnessed impressive sculptures and paintings. Religious archit ecture evolved from caves to monumental structures. They were even decorated with ceilings, door frames, relevant paintings and other accessories which marked the welfare of the civilization. Islamic Architecture When India was conquered by Mughals Indian architecture took a large leap forward. Mughals were found of architecture. Magnificent buildings all over India are a proof of their taste and love for

Understanding Three Psalms of the Old Testament Essay Example for Free

Understanding Three Psalms of the Old Testament Essay Psalm 78 and Psalm 89 are both referred to as â€Å"maskils. † According to Gordon Churchyard (2004), a maskil may be the name given to verses that teach their readers something of value. The Book of Psalms published by the International Bible Society in the United States, however, explains the word â€Å"maskil† as a literary or musical term (Psalm 78, 1984). The fact remains, though, that every psalm of the Old Testament is unique as a teaching tool of religion. Although neither Psalm 78 nor Psalm 89 have been written by David, and Bible commentators guess that Psalm 132 might have been written by Solomon, the regal heir of King David, all three psalms have an extraordinary message to convey to the believer who may be reminded of the duties of man toward God, and the latter’s promises made to man, through these psalms (Churchyard). Psalm 78 is said to have been written 720 years before the holy birth of Jesus Christ (Churchyard). This maskil of Asaph is a story about the Children of Israel from their experience of slavery under the mighty pharaoh of Egypt until their time under King David, the opposite of the pharaoh in God’s perspective. This psalm is a reminder to the Children of Israel that the God who saved them from the clutches of slavery is ever prepared to rescue them from all troubles, provided that their hearts are loyal to Him, and their spirits are faithful to Him. In the beginning of the psalm, Asaph relates that this reminder is most important for the future generations of Israel, who are expected to be more loyal and faithful to God than were their forefathers. As a matter of fact, their forefathers had proved to be quite disobedient to God. Despite the fact that He showed them miracle after miracle especially at the time of Moses, who was the chosen one of God to lead the Children of Israel out of the clutches of slavery, the Children of Israel expressed doubts in their beliefs about the faithful love of God. Whereas He continued to UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 2 shower His blessings upon them, they refused to believe in Him with the absolute faithfulness that should have appeared to them as a necessity given the extraordinary miracles they were being made to witness (Psalm 78). The Children of Israel kept on doubting the love and faithfulness of God even though He had, among other things, punished their enemies by turning their water into blood, and had helped out the Children of Israel in the desert by letting springs flow out of a rock. â€Å"In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;† reads the psalm, â€Å"in spite of His wonders, they did not believe. † The psalm reminds the reader that the consequences of unbelief could be fatal: â€Å"So He ended their days in futility/ and their years in terror. † The Children of Israel had also turned to idol worship despite the physical evidence of God’s care for them. So, God took revenge because He is a jealous God (Psalm 78). Psalm 78 also reminds the reader of the mercy of God when it reads: â€Å"Time after time He restrained His anger/ and did not stir up His full wrath. / He remembered that they were but flesh/ a passing breeze that does not return. † Even though God could have eradicated everybody who showed unfaithfulness to Him, He decided not to do so, seeing as the Children of Israel were not a threat to Him. Moreover, it can be understood from the psalm that God wanted the future generations of Israel to benefit from the teachings and miracles of the earlier generations. Thus, He replaced the pharaoh’s leadership over Israel with David’s godly leadership, once again, as a mercy to Israel. Psalm 78, therefore, ends on a hopeful note: â€Å"And David shepherded them with integrity of heart/ with skillful hands he led them† (Psalm 78). UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 3 Psalm 89 also brings King David to mind when the writer of the maskil reminds God of the covenant He had made with His servant, David. Bible commentators believe that this maskil was composed by three different people in three separate periods of time (Churchyard). All the same, the psalm serves as a teaching instrument of religion explaining that it is not God who breaks His promises, but man who refuses to keep His commands time after time (Psalm 89, 1984). God had promised David that He would take special care of His servant as well as his descendants who kept the law of the Lord. Thus, the psalm glorifies God for His covenant, and expresses that the only fortunate people are those that know how to glorify God. Besides, the heavens and everything on earth glorifies the Lord, and the angels too are busy praising Him. Everything is obedient to God. It is only man that has been given the right to oppose God’s law and commandments. Hence, one of the descendants of David, the â€Å"anointed one,† is being ridiculed by his enemies apparently because he has violated the decrees of God. Although the psalm does not provide any information about why the â€Å"anointed one† is being punished, it can be inferred that God is not quickly coming to his rescue because the man has disobeyed the Lord. After all, God had spoken about David: â€Å"If his sons forsake my law/ and do not follow my statutes,/ if they violate my decrees/ and fail to keep my commands,/ I will punish their sin with the rod,/ their iniquity with flogging†¦. (Psalm 89)† God remains faithful to His promise. He would not punish a descendent of David without a genuine reason. God is fair, which is the reason why the psalmist appeals to God toward the end of the maskil with a desperation that may only be reduced or eliminated by the loving mercy of UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 4 the Lord. Before praising God and ending the psalm with His praise, the psalmist once again reminds God about the faithfulness He showed toward His servant, David. He also refers to God’s â€Å"great former love† for David. Still, it is expected that God would not go against His promise made to David, which included punishment for his descendants that disobeyed the Lord. The psalmist insists, however, on being forgiven once and for all because he finds that God’s punishments are truly unbearable: â€Å"How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? / How long will your wrath burn like fire? / Remember how fleeting is my life. / For what futility you have created all men! † The psalmist continues to remind God about his condition despite the fact that God is all-knowing at all times: â€Å"Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,/ how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,/ the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O Lord,/ with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one† (Psalm 89). Psalm 89 ends with praise of God, informing the reader that the â€Å"anointed one† with his complaints and desperate pleas nevertheless understands that God must be praised despite the pain that the â€Å"anointed one† is suffering from. In other words, God punishes for a wise reason, and even if man does not fully understand his flaws it is important for him to praise God before He answers the prayers of the suffering man. God cannot be blamed for suffering. Rather, man must learn to glorify Him despite the suffering, and thereby open the channel of communication with God who is expected to sooner or later deliver the believer from suffering (Psalm 89). This is, indeed, the most important teaching of this psalm. Psalm 132 also acts as a reminder of the covenant that God made with His servant, David: â€Å"One of your own descendants/ I will place on your throne / if your sons keep my covenant/ UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 5 and the statutes I will teach them,/ then their sons will sit/ on your throne for ever and ever. † Another point of similarity between Psalm 89 and Psalm 132 is that both act as pleas for God’s mercy for the sake of David. Thus, Psalm 132 reads: â€Å"For the sake of David your servant,/ do not reject your anointed one. † Yet, this psalm does not offer any complaints or desperate pleas unto God. Rather, this is the â€Å"song of ascents† or the â€Å"song of climbing† that mostly serves to remind the reader of the special importance of Zion and of Israel as a whole in God’s plan (Psalm 132, 1984; Churchyard). The song of ascents discusses the temple of God that David had been planning to build, but which was only completed in Solomon’s time. More than four hundred years after Solomon, Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilt the temple of God, which is why Bible commentators believe that this psalm may have been written by Nehemiah or Ezra if not by Solomon (Churchyard). In any case, the psalm identifies Zion as the dwelling place of the God of Israel, a place of ultimate bliss on earth where abundance would replace poverty and the enemies of God would be crushed â€Å"with shame†. The psalmist agrees that the temple of God and Zion are the places where God must be sincerely worshipped. He invites God to His own dwelling place. Moreover, he prays for the sincere ones of God, His priests and His saints, who would all worship the Lord together in His dwelling place (Psalm 132). Although Psalm 132 does not make a complaint, the fact that it starts out with the remembrance of David, â€Å"O Lord, remember David/ and all the hardships he endured,† allows the reader to infer that David is acting as a spiritual intercessor of his people just as the Messiah is for the Christians. The song of ascents is essentially a song of worship, a reminder to God that UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 6 His people remember how to praise and worship Him. Furthermore, His people would like Him to answer their needs with the mention of one of His favorite chosen ones, David (Psalm 132). Thus, all three psalms serve their unique purposes: Psalm 78 as a reminder about the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God; Psalm 89 as a desperate plea made to God with His praise; and Psalm 132 as a reminder to God that His people remember how to worship Him, and still seek His special mercy that was previously shown to David. References Churchyard, Gordon. (2004). â€Å"Free Bible Commentary on Psalm 78, Psalm 89, Psalm 132 in Simple English. † Easy English. Available at http://www. easyenglish. info/. (22 April 2007). 2. â€Å"Psalm 78. † (1984). The Book of Psalms. Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, p. 70-73. 3. â€Å"Psalm 89. † (1984). The Book of Psalms. Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, p. 81-83. 4. â€Å"Psalm 132. † (1984). The Book of Psalms. Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, p. 123-124.

Understanding Customer Relationships Essay Example for Free

Understanding Customer Relationships Essay I further confirm that I have not shared my work with other candidates. Table of Contents Cover page1 Table of Contents2 Task 1: Keeping stakeholders informed 3 6 Task 2: Collecting stakeholder information 7 9 Task 3: CSR – Gaining an Internal Perspective 10 12 Task 4 REPORT To:Marketing Manager From:Marketing Assistant Date:25th November, 2011 Subject:Keeping stakeholders informed INTRODUCTION: Communication is defined as the process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs or behavior (www. erriamwebster. com/dictionary). It is a two-way process and plays a central role for effective relationships within an organization (CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing Study Workbook, pg 135). For communication to be effective, the receiver must understand the message in the manner the sender intended for it to be received. As with majority of organizations, stakeholders are an integral part of any organization and must be well informed of necessary decisions and activities of the said organization. With reference to the recent oil spillage crisis, it is important that BP communicates to the following stakeholder groups – a. FOUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT BP NEEDED TO COMMUNICATE WITH AND THEIR SCOPE OF INTEREST ARE: Governments and regulators: Government alongside the regulatory agencies established by the government to dominate the industry, are responsible for formulating policies which govern offshore drilling processes and also ensure that the interest of the public is protected from the activities of the oil companies. Both bodies need to be informed of the spillage to allow for monitoring of the situation and deployment of resources and assessment teams to establish shoreline protection and clean up priorities. (http://www. env. gov. bc. ca/eemp/resources/strategies/oilstrat. htm) The information would further assist the government investigate the cause of the spillage in order to take necessary legal actions and also help with legislation of regulatory laws which governs oil exploration by the oil companies. . Stakeholders and analysts: The stakeholders include shareholders and investors who have financial interests and commitments in BP. They should be informed of the spill and every progress made by BP, so that they are kept abreast of the financial implications and expenditure that would arise from the spillage, cleanup process and compensation cost which might result in a loss in revenue for BP and ultimately their financial interests. c. Local communities: Local communities are usually members of the community within which an oil project is situated and in this case, the community where the oil spill has occurred. They would also include the local media, medical organizations, nongovernmental organizations active within the area, local security forces etc. Organizations must establish themselves as reputable members of a community. (www. ou. edu/deptcomm/literature review. htm) By establishing a reservoir of goodwill in the community it is often easier to gain community support during a crisis (Sellnow, 1993). As such, affected residents of the local community around where the spillage occurred should be communicated to and assessed for physical and behavioral health effects the spillage might cause especially if the residents depend on oil, fishing or other affected industries in the locality of the spill. BP should also inform the local communities on steps it has taken or would take to combat the effect of the spillage on the environment and possible compensations to the communities. d. Customers: These vary from domestic fuel users to agricultural and aviation users of bulk LPG. All BP customers should be contacted and informed of the spillage as this might affect the supply of various products as supplied by BP. The multiplier effect of shortage of products by BP would not only mean a loss in revenue for the customer whose livelihood depend s on sale of products but also on the end user as might be in the case of retail fuel consumer and inadvertently more loss to BP. 2. ADAPTATION OF MESSAGES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP For a communication to be effective, the message passed must be well understood by the party for whom the message is intended (decoder) for and must be able to communicate back to the sender. BP must ensure that it communicates information about the spillage to the above mentioned stakeholders in respect to their functions and adaptabilities. o For the government, a series of meetings should be arranged where discussions regarding assessments, clean up exercises and monitoring policies are discussed and reported back to the government the progress of the situation. Stakeholders are to be informed via mails or financial reports the cost analysis of the clean up exercise as well as financial implications of the spill incurred by the company. o BP should seek to invite non-governmental organizations who focus on environmental policies and issues to assist with implementation of programs designed to help residents within affected communities. o Customers can be reached more effectively a nd interpersonally through in depth interviews, viral online communications, web based interactive programs and feedback channels on BP’s website. . TWO COMMUNICATION TOOLS THAT COULD BE USED TO ENHANCED THE MESSAGE The purpose of communication is to get a message across clearly using methods or tools that would effectively target the intended receiver. These tools could either be verbal or non-verbal tools of communication. To communicate its intent, BP must use the following communication tools to enhance the credibility of its message:- ? PR: Public Relations is defined as a planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organization and its publics (IPR). In enhancing the credibility of its message, BP would use PR to not only ensure that its intended target receives its message, but would also help reshape and boost the consumer perception of the BP image in light of the spill crisis thereby, warding off unfavorable rumors. ? Direct Marketing: This is the most targeted method of communication as it seeks to target individual customers with personalized messages and build relationships with them as they respond to direct communications (UCR online syllabus; session 7, pg 8). Direct marketing is defined as the planned recording, analysis and tracking of customer behavior to develop relational marketing strategies (Institute of Direct Marketing, UK) Using direct marketing, a well thought out and planned message is made available by BP to target each stakeholder group and solicit positive responses from each group to help manage the spill crisis. 4. EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNICATION TOOLS OUTLINED ABOVE †¢ Direct Marketing: One of the benefits of direct marketing is that it allows for direct interaction with the consumers and hence immediate responses are obtained from the consumers. This in turns also ensures that BP’s personalized messages are well targeted and monitored such that the aim of public relations in helping to enhance consumer perception of BP’s image is also attained. BRIEFING PAPER From:Marketing Assistant To:Marketing Manager Date:17. 12. 2011 Subject:Collecting Stakeholder information Information is defined as the data formatted or structured to support decision making or define the relationship between two facts (Zikmund/Babin: Essentials of marketing research; 3rd edition). It is a marketing asset which impacts on performance of an organization (CIM Study Workbook, pg 108) 2. INFORMATION TO BE COLLECTED BY BP IN RELATION TO ITS STAKEHOLDERS o Local Communities: BP would seek to collect information about the local communities which would include population count, availability of amenities such as hospitals, roads, schools, water, electricity, income levels, gender, age etc. It would also seek to identify the general occupation of residents in the community (e. g if farming or fishing is the main stay of the residents and the effects of the spill) and income/lifestyle of residents. It would also seek to understand the culture and ethnicity of the people so as not to strain relationship with its communities. BP should also seek to collect information about its communities to help assess the social and environmental impacts of its project within such communities. o Government and regulators: As these two bodies promulgate policies which govern the exploration of oil wells, CSR and offshore activities, it is important that BP is up to date with its information on all offshore and environmental laws so as to protect itself from abjurations. It would also collect information to understand its tax liabilities and entrepreneurial activities in collaboration with both bodies. . 2USEFULNESS OF INFORMATION COLLECTED TO BP †¢ For Budgetary control:- Greater control and more informed decision making are possible when all costs of all operations are available †¢ For Planning: Information helps BP make adequate plans for its operations within its communities, or act in accordance to governing policies and also inform actions to address/prevent health effects in affected communities during a spill crisis †¢ For decision making: Adequate data collected would be used for making strategic decisions for its sector and management plans. . 3USEFUL INFORMATION TO BE COLLECTED BY SCREENPLAY MARKETING MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS LTD. To ensure our relevance and maintain our market share over the next six months, we must seek to collect the following information about our varying clients in order to effectively meet their needs and surpass their expectations: ? Clients’ activities: we must seek to collect information about each client’s various activities within the next 6 months and plan media campaigns around those activities to meet intended consumers. Customer attitudes: We would need to interview and collect information on target segments of consumers to assess how well they match our ideas and fit into clients’ marketing plan ? Competitors’ activities: Over the next 6 months, we would need to identify who our competitors are through secondar y research and collect information about their activities in order to help us plan our strategies ? Markets: it is important that we carve our niche market and gather necessary information on them. We would need information as to who are clients are, their products, existing/potential market for the product all necessary for us to have an idea on how best to position our client’s product for an increase in market share. 2. 4ONE METHOD OF COLLECTING INFORMATION In order to collect the necessary information, I would recommend the Secondary method of data collection. Secondary data is data that has not been specifically created for the purpose at hand but can be used and analysed to provide marketing information where primary data is not yet available or not sufficient(CIM Study Workbook, pg 110). This is a preferred choice of data collection because it – o Helps to make primary data collection more specific since with the help of secondary data, we are able to make out what are the gaps and deficiencies and what additional information needs to be collected. o Is less expensive and economical to conduct seeing that the information is readily available and does not require the process of collecting new data o Saves time o It provides a basis for comparison for the data that is collected by the researcher (www. managementguide. com) DISCUSSION PAPER Prepared for: Marketing Manager Prepared by: Marketing Assistant Subject:CSR – An Internal perspective Date: 17. 12. 2011 INTRODUCTION: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is about how businesses align their values and behaviour with the expectations and needs of stakeholders not just customers and investors, but also employees, suppliers, communities, regulators, special interest groups and society as a whole. CSR describes a companys commitment to be accountable to its stakeholders. CSR demands that businesses manage the economic, social and environmental impacts of their operations to maximise the benefits and minimise the downsides (www. srnetwork. com) 3. 1 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT The purpose of this project is to seek to form a committee to propose and identify a CSR activity for ScreenPlay Marketing and Media Communications Ltd to embark on as its efforts in giving back to the society in which its business operates and increase our awareness of environmental consciousness. 3. 2BENEFITS OF CSR TO THE ORGANISATION Consumers increasin gly do not accept unethical business practices or organizations who act irresponsibly (www. simplycsr. co. uk). The benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility cannot be overemphasized and a carefully planned CSR would help our organization to †¢ Develop and enhance relationships with customers and society thereby retaining customers whilst attracting new ones †¢ Enhance brand image so customers’ perception about the brand is positive †¢ Attract, retain and motivate employees A key potential benefit from  CSR  initiatives involves establishing the conditions that can contribute to increasing the commitment and motivation of employees to become more innovative and productive. www. ic. gc. ca/site/csr-rse. nsf/eng/h_rs00100html) †¢ Sharpen decision making and help reduce risk 3. 3. IMPORTANCE OF INTERNAL COOPERATION AND PARTICIPATION It is important that a good working relationship exists between all departments of our organization on this project so as to ensure completion of tasks and fulfillment of our set objectives. It is envisaged that with team work and co ntribution of ideas from all each department involved in this project would yield productivity and also ensure the success of our CSR project. 3. IDEA ON IMPROVING OUR ORGANISTION’S ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY One idea I would like to suggest to increasing our environmental responsibility is the adoption of a child from the eye department of the children’s ward at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital. There are at present about 300 cases of children with cancer of the eye been treated at the hospital. It is my proposition that we render our CSR to the kids in this ward by sponsoring a child every quarter to the Suraksha Children’s Hospital India – a top hospital in India noted for treatment of eye tumors in children. The relative low costs of surgery and living expenditure has influenced the choice of Suraksha Children’s Hospital and the intervals at which each child would undergo a treatment would not be cumbersome for the organization to bear. We would work in conjunction with a team of doctors at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital to assist in compiling names of beneficiaries of the treatment through a series of preliminary requirements for each beneficiary. This would include age, severity of case, and income level of parents – as this would be aimed at children whose parents cannot afford the treatment cost in the state. This project would be tagged ‘The ScreenPlay Media Communications â€Å"Light a world† project. 3. 5COST IMPLICATION FOR PROPOSED CSR PROJECT The cost for this project is outlined below: †¢ Hospital fees: This would cover cost for accommodation in the hospital for the number of days from the date of admittance to the discharge date and would also cover administrative and drug fees. †¢ Surgery fees: includes surgery fees, anesthetic fees, blood transfusion (if necessary) and surgeon’s fee. Accommodation fees: this take care of accommodation and feeding costs for the accompanying ward/parent of the child †¢ Travel/logistics fees: covers flight fares for child and accompanying ward along with visa application fees. It would also cover for transportation for the beneficiaries upon arrival in India. This cost is estimated at a total of N750, 000 (? 3,000) per quarter and totaling N2, 250,000 (? 9,000) per annum for 3 kids. RESEARCH Prepared for:Mark eting Manager Prepared by:Marketing Assistant Subject:Maintaining the work/life balance Date:30. 11. 2011 EMAIL To:[emailprotected] com (marketing manager) Cc: [emailprotected] com, [emailprotected] com, [emailprotected] com Subject: Committee set up on Proposed CSR Project Dear Elliot, Trust you are fine. As per your memo dated 16th November 2011on setting up a committee for the proposed CSR activity, kindly see below the list of intended participants from the various departments:- a. Ore Odusanya (HR department): Having worked with Ore in the past few years, his analytical and interpersonal skills in relating with people would be very useful in this project . Trish Banner: (Accounts department): Trish’s skill in handling financial transactions as well as contacts within the travel agency would suffice in this project and assisting with obtaining relatively low fare prices for each beneficiary. c. Gladys Knight (Creative department): her artistic talents would help create the right messages for advertisement purposes which would position the brand as foremost in connecting with its s ociety. Her wits and acute sense of judgment would also aid in ensuring that the right candidates are chosen for the project. . Ken Rice (logistics department): an ardent and hardworking colleague, though in the HR department but with an ability to drive and ensure prompt delivery of projects would ensure that logistics such as visas, hotel booking and transportation of each beneficiary is handled promptly at designated timelines. I would also like to suggest that the committee is convened soon so as to enable us conclude the plans within the shortest time frame possible and liaise with the team of doctors in Nigeria and India for the commencement of the project. It would also afford us time to put together a media campaign to boost publicity. Best regards Lolah Adebambo Project Leader REFERENCES Book Sources Vincent. K CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing Study Workbook, 2009/2011 (BPP Learning Media, London) Internet sources www. ic. gc. ca/site/csr-rse. nsf/eng/h_rs00100html (accessed in December 2011) (www. merriamwebster. com/dictionary). (accessed in November 2011) (www. csrnetwork. com) (accessed in December 2011) [pic]

A Focus On The Superments In Singapore Economics Essay

A Focus On The Superments In Singapore Economics Essay Economics is a social science, that studies the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services, and can be used to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze a given market. The question I selected for further investigation through economics is, To what extent do supermarkets in Singapore resemble an oligopoly market structure? THEORY AND MARKET INFORMATION The supermarkets in Singapore are an indispensible part of society. Catering to the needs of all, Supermarkets are said to be the building blocks of the society. The phrases Im going to NTUC and Im at Cold Storage have found a common place within the Singaporean society with over a million people or approximately 25% of the population regularly visiting a supermarket. Despite the numerous supermarkets in Singapore, the market is dominated by four large firms; NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage, Sheng Siong and Giant. An oligopoly is a market form, in which firms are few and large; the entire market is dominated by a small number of sellers, where the top 4 or 5 sellers control over 40 % of the market share. Based on the fact that the market under examination has the assumed scenario, where the four largest firms control over 40% of the total market share, the market under investigation has been hypothesized to be an oligopoly. There are several factors that are inherent in the structure of an oligopoly. These include assumptions and characteristics such as the following: Barriers to Entry: Most oligopolies have distinct barriers to entry, usually the large-scale production or the strong branding of the dominant firms. Barriers to entry may also be legal restrictions such as patent rights, or collusion among the existing firms to keep new entrants out by cutting prices sharply to make it impossible for the new entrant to be competitive or produce at that price. In the case of the market for supermarkets, there are substantial barriers to entry, which include the size of the plants of the existing firms, import made from abroad and strong brand name of the firms. These act as a barrier to restrict the entry of potentially new firms into the market, further enhancing the position of existing firms in terms of market share Interdependency of Firms and Price Stability: In an oligopoly, firms are said to be interdependent as the outcome of an action of one firm depends on the reaction of the rival firms. As there are just a few firms, each firm needs to take careful notice of each others actions. Interdependence tends to make firms want to collude and so avoid surprises and unexpected outcomes. If they can collude and act as a monopoly, they can maximize their profits. Thus the firms are very interdependent and this is shown by the concept of the kinked demand curve (Figure 1). The kinked demand curve applies the effect of interdependency in respect to the supply, demand and price fluctuations within an Oligopoly market. The kinked demand curve works on the assumption that, in reality, the firm knows only 1 point on the demand curve, the one that it holds at present (A). If the firm were to raise its price, then it would be unlikely that the competitors would raise theirs and so, the firm would lose its demand to the other firms. Thus, demand would be elastic above point A, where the firm is currently operating at, as a small increase in price would lead to a large fall in quantity demanded. However, if the firm were to reduce its prices, it would be likely that the other firms would reduce theirs too. Also, instead of reducing it to the level of the firm, the other firms may lower it even further to make up for the lost sales, by gaining more. Hence, demand would be inelastic below point A, as a decrease in price would lead to a negligible increase in quantity demanded. Hence, it is said in an oligopoly that if a firm were to change its prices, it would be the only loser. This reduces the incentive of the firms to compete by lowering their prices. This helps in maintaining price stability in an oligopoly market. Thus it is unlikely that one supermarket would cut their prices to draw market share away from other competitors. However, firms may gain an advantage by lowering their pr oduction cost per unit (economies of scale) to cut costs to a more competitive level, while still making super-normal profit. Also, being profit-maximizers, the firms operate at MC=MR. But the shape of the MR curve is such that, even if the marginal costs were to increase, it would still equal their marginal revenue and the firms have a range for profit maximizing. Benefits of economies of Scale: Large firms, in an oligopoly, have an advantage of benefits to scale. Larger firms enjoy discounts when buying raw materials in bulk, and borrow capital at lower interest rates. Thus in the Long Run, the firm would reap in the benefits of the economies of scale. An economy of scale is defined as an advantage of increased production where the cost of production or servicing one unit decreases with each additional unit produced or serviced  [1]  . These more efficient firms would be able to wipe out competitors in the Long Run and may become the lone producer, i.e. the monopolist. In diagram 2, it is clearly evident that a firm is able to sell a larger quantity Q2 at a lower price per unit than producing a lower quantity Q. Non-Price Competition: As firms do not compete in price competition, they engage themselves in non-price competition. In contrast to the homogenous goods of a Perfectly Competitive Market, an oligopolistic producer relies heavily on differentiating its products. Although the products may be substitutes, they have minor differences. Product Differentiation can create a strong foothold for a company and increase their market share. Another way for a company to do this is through branding. This effect can be seen in Apples itouch which has help Apple gain a considerable share of the MP3 market. Advertising also also plays a critical role in the firms market share. In the context of this investigation the effect of product differentiation will be a key area for the collection of data. The factors that are taken into account are membership benefits, location, free samples, amount spent by each firm on advertising and operating hours. These theories presented help structure the basis for testing how the market under investigation conforms to an Oligopoly.

Analysis of Young People’s Buying Behaviour

Analysis of Young People’s Buying Behaviour 1.0 Introduction In a very conservative and traditional context, businessmen used to focus on the consumers lying between the age group 30 and 45. However, things have changed in the last two decades, in the sense that more and more young people are entering the markets as potential buyers (Michman et al., 2003). One simply cannot accept the fact that consumerism and the material aspects of life are confined merely to the older generation. Actually, the young people of today are much more in tandem with the varied aspects of consumerism and materialism. In this context, it has become imperative for the businessmen to understand and have a pragmatic insight into the buying behaviour of the young people, so that they can target their marketing strategies and business plans as per the needs and aspirations of this potent and influential consumer segment. It is a must for the businessmen to understand as to how the young consumers perceive and value their products and services. Realistically speaking, th e more competition oriented and proactive businessmen are already in the process of narrowing down their focus on the young consumers. Yes, to a great extent, the young people of today are more receptive of and vulnerable to varied promotional and advertising approaches (OShaughnessy OShaughnessy, 2003) . Also, the youth in the current times does have an access to disposable income, which it prefers to spend on luxury and consumer goods. Still, this in no way justifies the utterly simplistic conclusion that the young consumers are sitting ducks. Actually, the young consumers are not merely lured by the expensiveness of a product, commodity or a service. The young people, like any informed consumer segment, do intend to desire value for money and are open to only those products and services, which add to their sense of well being and individual identity (Simpson et al., 1998). With the rise in the numbers and purchasing power of the young consumers, the businessmen not only need to know about this consumer segment, but must also put in efforts to orient their business strategies and promotional activities, as per the expectations of this consumer base. 2.0 Mega Trends Shaping Young Consumers May sound strange, but, the expectations and aspirations of the consumers in every age and time tend to change and alter? Each age has its own concept of individuality, family, identity and social status, and the preferences of the consumers do respond to these mega trends. 21st century being the age of information and the internet, the young people of today should not merely be expected to be cognizant of the mega trends unravelling in their age, but also that they being young are more likely to suit their buying preferences in consonance with these rampant trends (Manolis, 1999). Businessmen who are oblivious of the mega trends influencing the young consumers are more likely to be left behind in the race for survival and sustenance (Rotfeld, 2001). In that context, it will be really interesting to touch on the mega trends to which the young buyers of today are exposed to. 2.1 Fading of Age Barriers Changing consumer values are influencing the buying behaviour of young people. So it is necessary for the businessmen to understand as to what ticks the contemporary young consumers. The consumers of today have an age defying approach towards consumption (Fine, 2002). People no more consider age to be a marker of personal identity. On the one side the consumers affiliated to the older age groups are getting more open to the products designed and marketed with the young people in mind (Lancaster Reynolds, 2005). On the other side, in case of young people, not only their buying power has considerably increased, but they are being extended a greater autonomy, as far as their buying decisions and aspirations are concerned (Roberts, 2002). Todays young consumers acquire brand awareness and develop brand loyalties at a very nascent stage (Lunt, 2002). So, the businessmen who are cognizant of this trend can expand their customer base, by altering their marketing and promotional strategies, so as to make them age neutral and focused more around the values and aspirations that are common to all age groups. This way then can reap double benefits from their advertising investments. They can woo the young people, without alienating their mature consumer base. Any businessmen who is competition minded simply cannot afford to ignore the trends shaping the buying behaviour of the young buyers. 2.2 Health and Fitness Going by the augmenting trend towards fitness and mental well being, the young consumers today are immensely health conscious (Iacobucci, 2001). The young buyers have a holistic approach towards consumption and do believe that physical fitness and mental well being are of paramount importance. It is not a wonder that most of the advertisements one comes across in media publications and broadcasts feature young and healthy people with a positive and fun loving approach towards life. Businessmen do need to take cognizance of this trend, actively moulding the buying behaviour of young people. Today, a significant number of young consumers in Europe and United States believe that their consumption patterns should be such that, they should insulate them against the life style diseases (Sirgy Samli, 1995). Consumers groups are increasingly taking steps and measures to assure that the vendors and companies adhere to the established health standards and regulatory norms (Mazis Raymond, 199 7). Hence, the most logical conclusion will be that a businessman who chooses to target this trend towards health and convenience and alters ones manufacturing and promotional strategies to highlight this trend is bound to reap manifold benefits and profits. On the contrary, ignoring such consumer aspirations or simply failing to highlight them, are bound to alienate young buyers, who may then chose to transfer their buying potential to the businesses that are more sensitive and responsive to their expectations and needs. 2.3 Changing Family Values One more trend that is impacting the buying behaviour of young people and of which businessmen need to take cognizance of is the changes in the life stage cycles and family structures in the modern society (Dizard Gadlin, 1990). Though it is a fact that most of the young people do prefer to stay in their nuclear families, but there exist a significant proportion of young buyers who prefer to leave their families and live alone, on their own. Also the young people of today prefer to spend a significant part of their lives as singletons (Nathan, 2007). Hence, this trend is destined to shape the buying behaviour of young people. They are more likely to prefer products and services that are not manufactured, packaged or priced with the family consumer in mind, but are rather customized as per the requirements of the single young people. Businessmen do need to keep an alert watch over the altering social trends and must customize their service procedures, manufacturing plans, packaging s trategies and pricing policies, with an eye on the mindset of contemporary young and single buyers (Alhabeeb, 1999). May, sound funny, but good businessman by necessity needs to be a demography and sociology expert. It is next to impossible to attract the young buyers, without having an insight into the social and cultural trends that shape their buying behaviour. 2.4 Time Constraints The young people of today, including the young women are career oriented and do not have the time and patience to indulge in elaborate household chores and responsibilities. The time at the disposal of the young people of today is more scarce and dearer then what it used to be two decades ago. In every aspect of life, be it fitness, entertainment, personal grooming, nutrition, etc, the young buyers place a high premium on convenience and economy of time (Michman Mazze, 2001). The entire fast food industry is to a great extent dependent on the patronage of young buyers, who do not have the time and patience to wait long for elaborate meals. So, if an enterprising businessman who is aware of this trend towards convenience and could offer products and services that could extend the desired benefits while assuring convenience and economizing on time, is destined to own a booming business. 2.5 Mixing of Gender Roles The other thing that is bothering the young consumers of today is the fading of the gender roles (Fulton Maddock, 1996). Just two decades ago, the varied aspects of Western culture, be it education, cinema, media, arts, etc tend to focus on defining as to how a boy or a girl should look or behave like. However, the role models available to the contemporary young buyers are oft gender neutral. The young women of today by necessity are required to develop male attributes like assertiveness, aggressiveness and confidence (Fulton Maddock, 1996). Similarly, the young men in the contemporary Western society exhibit female attributes as being conscious about looks and personal grooming, dieting to improve health and fitness and spending more time at home and not being averse to indulging in household chores and responsibilities (Fulton Maddock, 1996). Thus, the type of products and services that the young buyers of today prefer to subscribe to are definitely not the same that they used b e just twenty years ago. Businessmen need to learn from this shift in the buying preferences of young people and must respond appropriately. 2.6 Need for Connectivity In the modern times, marked by high divorce rates, breaking families and loosening of social bonds, young people do look for products and services that fulfil their need for connectivity (Roberts Foehr, 2008). If this is not so, then how can one explain the success of social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter (Tassel, 2006). The revolution in telecommunication technology could also be attributed to the need of the young people and aspiring professionals to remain connected. At an emotional level, young people tend to cherish business organizations, products and services that endow them with an opportunity or a portal to bond or connect with their friends, loved ones and likeminded people. Therefore any business aspiring to be a rage amongst its young clientele simply cannot afford to overlook this fact. Businessmen determined to influence and convert the young people need to add a connecting element to their products and services. Varied mega brands like McDonalds and St arbucks, to a great extent owe their success to their ability to create venues where young people can feel comfortable to mingle with the people they like. So the businessmen of today are not only required to know about the buying habits of young people, but are also required to be able to think like their young clients, at least conceptually if not intellectually. 2.7 Redefining of the Concept of Luxury Most of the aware and astute businessmen do know that as far as the markets for young people are concerned, they are witnessing a new egalitarian trend in the demand for luxury goods (Eun-Jung, 2008). Just three decades ago, the young people affiliated to different socio-economic strata desired different goods and products. However, today it is not the same. With the rise of the urban middle class, most of the young people hailing from middle class families demand and desire the same commodities as enjoyed by their young counterparts (Eun-Jung, 2008). The premium brands have already taken a hint from this upcoming trends and have started coming out with product ranges that are affordable to their low-income or middle-class young customers (Eun-Jung, 2008). The young consumers of today across all economic segments seek products that extend to them, comfort and indulgence. No more the notion of luxury or comfort is regarded as an attribute that is affordable only to the rich. The democ ratization of education and professional training has created a new breed of young professionals, who may not afford a personal Jet or a Limousine, but when it comes to their culinary preferences, entertainment avenues and the gadgets they possess, they are not very different from their rich friends. Any businessmen simply cannot ignore these socio-economic developments. If one does so, then one will soon lose to the competitors who are shrewder at deciphering socio-economic trends. The young consumers are more than ever ready to look for new experiences and qualities in the products and services they avail. Besides, courtesy the onset of globalization, the young consumers are also immensely willing to try exotic products and services from faraway locations and countries around the world (Lukose, 2005). It would certainly not be too exaggerated to claim that it is the young people who are the primary trend setters in the contemporary markets, and any businessman oblivious of the immense power of young customers in the modern economies, simply could not hope to do well or eventually survive. Look at any new innovation or any new product, be it the Apples iPhone or iPad, first of all it was introduced and tested on the young buyers, before it was targeted to the more mature users (Kahle, 2008). Besides, considering the logical conclusion that the young buyers are likely to stay in the markets for a longer time, it makes sound business sense to convert them while they are young and hence relatively more impressionable. Also, the well connected young people do have a tendency to spread the news about the products and services they like. Hence, understanding and targeting a young clientele assures ample word of mouth publicity and free promotion. 2.8 The Advent of E-Commerce E-commerce is a natural outcome of the information revolution and the ubiquity of the internet usage. Businessmen opting for e-commerce oriented retail or owning online companies would commit a great blunder if they ignore the buying behaviour of their young clients. However, luckily, most of the e-commerce entrepreneurs do have a fair notion of the obvious advantages that a young customer base offers to an online company. Todays young people are to e-commerce what their parents were to cable television. Yet, unlike their parents, they constitute a market that still remains largely unexplored, going by the dearth of astute e-commerce entrepreneurs (Siegel, 1999). First and foremost, 16-30 years old constitute the largest chunk of the people who regularly use internet and go online (Rosen, 2001). Not to say, these young customers do have money to spend and also the discretionary power to freely decide about the products and services they need to avail (Rosen, 2001). A businessman if m anages to attract a tiny fraction of the purchase power at the disposal of the young surfers, it would amount to millions of green backs. However, if the e-commerce entrepreneurs lack an insight into the buying behaviour of the young customers, their websites are as good as an ugly picture on the wall. For example, very few businessmen know that young buyers who purchase online do not like to be overwhelmed with options (Youn, 2008). They desire to choose from a small collection of well selected product variations. May sound surprising, but the wired generation is also well aware of the leverage that online product selection and purchase endows them with and hence the uninformed businesses may often commit the mistake of testing their patience. The good thing is that the young online buyers are mostly willing to extend personal information in exchange of freebies (Youn, 2008). Yet, on the other side they greatly detest it if their vendor is not transparent and straightforward. Also, these consumers are very intolerant of poorly executed websites. Yet, they can easily be attracted by offering small incentives. So, in the realm of e-commerce, the crux of the game is to have a grip over the buying behaviour of young people. 3.0 Conclusion The generation X of today differs from its predecessors in the sense that it has the money to spend and the autonomy to make business decisions. Any worthy businessman aspiring to survive and grow simply cannot afford to overlook the purchasing power and buying behaviour of young consumers. Not to say, understanding the behaviour of young buyers is not as simple as it sounds. The buying behaviour of young people of today is an outcome of a wide range of mega trends that are influencing and shaping their consumption decisions. Therefore, the best approach for a successful businessman or a company is to keep a keen eye on the changes in the buying behaviour of young people and the trends that lie behind these changes. Young people constitute a very flexible and malleable market, and require a lot of patience and understanding on the part of potential sellers.