Monday, September 30, 2019

“Homeless” by Anna Quindlen Essay

In this story â€Å"Homeless† Anna writes about analyzing what homeless don’t have and to look at them differently, it all started by a women named Ann and there she had realized of the homeless. She, Quindlen, knows what Ann is talking about how home is very meaningful, I also understand. Hopelessly Quindlen terminates that our faculty of being home has adjusted. During the time, I originally discord with Anna that the homeless are the one to give tender feelings. She convinced us to focus on what they needed other than who we think they should be. Feeling that she had pulled my strings at the beginning by reason of she decided upon as her homeless person not a crazy lady but a woman she had met at the Port Authority terminal that claimed that she’s not really homeless. Ann pulls out a photo but not a weapon I sensed Quindlen had ambushed me. I admit that â€Å"Home is where the heart is at† after all I also eulogize my 2 bedroom apartment that is occupied by nine people. Yet it keeps us secured and stable. Home is where memories are made, kept and given. The homeless that I’ve seen are mostly men walking around asking for money most of them don’t have card-boards to live in. They seem to scare me. I’m afraid that one of these days they’ll abduct me and maybe I’ll end up spiritless. When mother and I go for a walk in the area of East Los Angeles I hold her close to me, we’re both constantly on guard because the homeless are everywhere. I feel like running home where I can hide and have protection. In one’s view, a person can’t be fulfilled without a permanent home for many cases. A person without a permanent home is similar to not living. If it’s a temporary home then the person would be frustrated for the reason that he or she won’t be able to live in a home for long and wants to have a life where she or he can keep inviting guests and have a home where that person will be able to do anything. On the other hand, if it is not a permanent home nor a temporary home this is an incomparable situation seeing that a person who is homeless isn’t achieving anything and not experiencing how it feels to have a home. Seeing others eating well, dressing well, having a healthy life is not making the homeless feel satisfied for what they have-not. Assuming that Quindlen’s essay was about how the homeless require a home alike any other human, this case which I acknowledge here and now, the purpose can do more than that an unimaginable home where a person can confidentially do anything just plenty that we need to produce the homeless. Quindlen mentions however she does not adjust on those who prevent shelters because of personal reasons they have been through the past. We should know their needs as well. And we need to consider providing a place free of fear for those who, instead of wanting to paint a room blue, would like to read a book or watch a movie on TV. I agree, that home is everything, Ann needs a home that she can call her own, but to be a compassionate people, we should take the time to understand and help even those who don’t have pictures of yellow houses in their soiled bags.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

“Lord of the flies” by William Golding Analysis

Choose a novel in which the novelist makes effective use of symbolism. Show how the writer made use of this technique to enhance your appreciation of the text as a whole. In your answer you must refer closely to the text, and to at least three of symbolism, theme, structure, or any other appropriate feature. â€Å"Lord of the Flies† by William Golding Have you ever imagined being stranded on a fictitious tropical island? , Or how about waking up one morning with a group of children on an island and finding out there is no sign of adult life? In the book â€Å"Lord of the flies† by William Golding these circumstances come true as a group of young boys are stranded on an island as they face their fight for survival following a plane crash. The boys face a tough task on the island as they face the expectance of the unknown. The first sign of symbolism in the book is when one of the little boys, also known as ‘the littluns', tells the group that he saw â€Å"A snake-thing. Ever so big†. This puts the group into an uproar about how some sort of beast is lurking on the island. Also you can read Analysis July at the Multiplex Being holder of the conch, Ralph tries to calm everybody down by saying â€Å"he must have had a nightmare†, but Jack just has to pop in stating that â€Å"if there was a snake we'd hunt it and kill it. During the night of the boy's search for the beast, Jack claims to have seen it. The following morning he calls a meeting and lets everyone know that there is really a beast. The beast a creation of the boys' minds, reflected as the most frightening object ever. The â€Å"beast† was slowly transformed from a bear to a flying, invisible, living thing, which eats everything in its way, especially human beings. It holds fear in the most terrifying way causing the end of the book to develop like it does. Although the beast they imagine doesn't exist, they flinch at the thought of the beast. This changes their behavior; they are so scared that they do not wander alone in the jungle. This fear, which the beast causes in the boys, allows Jack to keep his tribe under his command by creating an image for him. He is looked up upon as someone gutsy and strong, not scared of the beast unlike everyone else. The fire on the mountain is a symbol of escape and hope, and used as a signal for attracting the attention of passing boats/planes which might rescue them. Ralph introduced this idea in an attempt to establish a shift of kids for the maintenance of the fire. Towards the middle of the book, the shift wasn't followed, resulting in the fire being put out. It is easy to understand that when the fire burns high the boys have a high sense of hope of being rescued, but when the fire burns low because of neglect there is a low sense of hope and depression affects them all. Despite all of Ralph's attempts to keep the fire going throughout the book, Jack's authority is too strong and with the tribe Jack formed, Ralph is forced to let it burn out since he has no one to take care of the fire. The lord of the flies is a pig's head on a stake used as a sacrifice for the beast. It is given this name for the swarm of flies, which surround it. Jack believes that by giving the beast some food, the beast will not bother his tribe. At one point in the novel, it appears to be talking to Simon defining what is evil and what is good. This conversation inspires Simon to go to the mountain to find the beast. He realizes that the beast does not exist and this leads him to his death when he is brutally killed by the other kids because they thought he was the beast. The scar symbolizes a wound caused by mankind upon an untouched natural island. It is the place where the airplane crashed on the island. It plowed through the thick jungle, creating an area of chopped-down trees and shrubs. This is the place where Piggy and Ralph first met. Piggy introduced himself and became Ralph's companion. Read also Analysis of Characters in Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"The Life You Save May Be Your Own† Close to the scar is the pool that Ralph and Piggy find the conch in. The conch is an symbol of peace, organization, and honesty for it has an authority which Ralph created at the beginning of the book. The conch is used to establish order in the boy's meetings because whoever has the conch, has the right to speak. The conch gave order in a world without grown ups and, like the law, it was respected, but when the kids realize that there was no punishment for disobeying it, they took advantage of the freedom to rebel against it. In the end of the book, when the conch is destroyed, Ralph is forced to give up and, with him; all the desperate attempts to be civilized are pointless. Golding presented numerous themes and basic ideas that give the reader something to think about. One of the most basic and obvious themes is that society holds everyone together, and without these conditions, our ideals, values, and the basics of right and wrong are lost. Golding is also showing that morals come directly from our surroundings, and if there is no civilization around us, we will lose these values. There were many other possible secondary themes I noticed in the book such as people will abuse power when it's not earned, When given a chance, people often single out another to degrade or improve their own security, You can only cover up inner savagery so long before it breaks out, given the right situation, It's better to examine the consequences of a decision before you make it than to discover them afterwards and the fear of the unknown can be a powerful force, which can turn you to either insight or madness. One thing I found interesting about this novel was I recognized that we must study and compare the characters of Jack and Ralph to understand Golding's meaning of the novel. Once the author lets the reader find the characters of similarities and differences it lets them understand Jack's and Ralph's rivalry. Golding tries to tell us a lesson of staying in a civilized society and not entering the dark and gloomy society. Watch the people around you for the people closest may be the people about to destroy civilization and the chance of being saved in this case. The Lord of the Flies† has so far been the one of the most interesting books I have ever read. The book is extremely addictive and written very cleverly, it did not take long for me to get into and finish it. Golding is an author with deep thoughts and a good understanding of human nature, which was very noticeable throughout the novel. I felt the novel was certainly both entertaining and educational. Entertaining in a way that the book is packed full of death, torture and most importantly, realism. Reading this book made feel as though I had my own character role in my mysterious exploration of the unknown. The educational side of the book I think was being on the adventure. What you learned from your experience. It lets you see what kind of issues you would have to handle or face up to if you were on the island with the others. If I was to trapped on an island now I think actually reading Lord of the Flies who fill me with experience and ideas to take me through my fight for survival.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Key System Applications for the Digital Age and E-Commerce Case Study

Key System Applications for the Digital Age and E-Commerce - Case Study Example Now the BSE decided to customize the SAP slowly and systematically by applying the best practices for wholesale distribution. Moreover, the BSE replaced the self developed software modules with SAP software for the provision of integrated services. The BSE did not face as much problems because of minimum customization strategy and by doing this; the system was put into use within specified date as well as costs were 14 percent below budget. The BSE got the advantage of standardization by providing the readily available information to the management through SAP. When BSE acquired a large company that added 19 new branches, the new users were able to run BSE’s SAP software within a day after the acquisition had been completed. The case study is about the E-Commerce models including business-to-business (BtoB) and business-to-customer (BtoC). Both models have been implemented by the Amazon, as they retailers as well as they offered many dealers to sell their products by using the Amazon’s platform. Moreover, the case study explains the value chain model that helps to determine how systems can progress and improve their functional competence to get more loyal customers and supplier relationship. The model has been employed by the Wal-Mart as well as the Amazon in their businesses. In the North America, Wal-Mart is one of the success stories of e-business. The main factors of their success can be a connection of the e-business and e-procurement and customization and standardization of internal and business processes. The Wal-Mart employed the supply chain management where the suppliers are managed according to the demands of the customers. Initially, the Amazon was an online store that mainly dealt with books and music. They long-drawn-out themselves quickly and introduced many more products in every segment. Additionally, the Amazon developed a strategy to deal not only (customers) Business to Consumer but also Business

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Global Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Global Business Environment - Essay Example The environment in which Toyota operates is becoming extremely tough every day. All businesses are facing problems today due to increasing costs, cultural diversity, globalization and decrease in global demand. The world has seen a great financial crisis in recent years and economies are still to recover from it fully. In such environment companies are finding it hard to produce and sell its product to customers. The external environment is also affecting organizations in new ways because media and communication technology has developed so much and any ethical issue can seriously hurt the reputation of the company. Competition is also increasing in business environment as companies are trying to innovate and market their products in better ways. In this report we will conduct an external environmental analysis for Toyota. We will talk about markets, competition and regulations that can have an impact on the company. The ethical issues, corporate social responsibility and environmenta l policy and its affect on Toyota will also be discussed. This paper will deal with the external environment and not with the strategy of Toyota. Markets, Competition and Regulation Markets are evolving at a great pace in today’s fast moving world and it is important to keep in mind the changing demand of target market. Competition is also increasing as companies are trying to increase efficiency by decreasing costs and improving quality of their products. Regulations are also getting stern everyday and automobile companies have to keep in mind the safety standards set by the companies. This means increase in testing of cars which will lead to greater costs. In this section the impact of markets, competition and regulation on Toyota will be discussed. Markets and its Impact of Toyota The main target market of Toyota is the middle class income group of the world. These are the people who cannot afford luxurious cars but want vehicles that are cheap but durable vehicles. Toyota provides cars to middle income people of the world and prices are also lower in comparison to BMW and Mercedes. Over the years this target market has been consisted as they cannot switch to expensive cars and they also don’t switch to cheaper manufacturers. This is why this market of Toyota was considered relative safe and loyal to Toyota. But this is changing because now the target market of Toyota is also evolving. The target market is demanding innovation in designs and specifications. The medium income group target market has become more aware of the different brands in the market. They have also become more design oriented and are demanding newer and better designs. Car movies and games have informed the market about fast cars and sleek designs therefore they want these things in their cars. This problem is staring Toyota in the face because design was never a strong point of the company and its focus was on durability and prices. Evolving markets are in this way impact ing the business strategy of Toyota. The main strategy of Toyota is that of reducing service costs by giving customers quality and durability (Harrup & Janssens, 2008). This is causing problems because the markets of Toyota are evolving and they are demanding better designs from the company. The external environment is therefore impacting the strategy of Toyota. The increasing focus on design and specification of the market can decrease the demand of Toyota cars. Customers will look for new car manufacturers

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Final exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Final exam - Essay Example This is because when newcomers arrive, as aforementioned, many changes take place that negatively affect majority of the original residents of the area. However, for the newcomers, this is a new chance at getting cheaper and better services than they previously exposed. Gentrification was not all bad in New Orleans. This is because the newcomers brought with them a lot of knowledge and expertise that was useful in the reconstruction and recovery of New Orleans after the hurricane Katrina. Most of them helped in developing the area, thus boosting the economic situation of the area. The newcomers took up different roles in New Orleans ranging from education, entertainment and media as well as entrepreneurship. Public Housing as a hard struggle The public housing program in New Orleans was created in 1937 and sought to improve the lives of working class and the poor in the society. However, this program was impeded by institutional racism (Arena 100). To illustrate this is the racial se gregation of different projects in the public housing projects, neglect of the blacks’ project as well as the eventual demolition of such projects. The most controversial attacks that marred this housing project occurred when tenants were padlocked. Most of these tenants were poor and black. The housing projects favored the white citizens who were given first priority. In fact, it was not until 1996 that a single black man was allowed to represent others in the housing authority of New Orleans, HANO. HANO further decided that some part of the land be sold to HRI, which subsequently sold to Wal-Mart. The latter was a private development group in the land. This raised a lot of negative reaction and criticism, especially from the progressive urban planners, white activists, and conservationists. In the end, privatization emerged and most public projects ceased to exist. Hurricane Katrina and Corporate Development Hurricane Katrina has gained its infamous popularity in the world from its destructive and devastating nature in different states; New Orleans included (Arena 90). It caused a lot of havoc in the state, submerging about eighty percent of New Orleans, thus destroying homes and infrastructure. In general, hurricane Katrina tops the list of the most costly natural disasters in the United States of America. With these destructions, the economic stability of New Orleans was interrupted, a fact that saw dire need for reconstruction in order to bring back its previous stature. Many developers, entrepreneurs, and politicians came together for this purpose. Economic instability is attributed to the adverse effects of hurricane Katrina. The first reason why this is so is the poor response to a disaster as well as inadequate disaster management strategies in the city. This, coupled with the shortages of Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, led to the need for a localized approach to handling such calamities. New Orleans’ leaders, together with t he local government were forced to take up the task of mitigating the effects of hurricane Katrina, as well as other natural calamities (Arena 67). This occurred in all senses, from emotional to financial support. Before hurricane Katrina, high unemployment issues characterized the city of New Orleans, and those who were lucky enough to get jobs were paid low wages. This was

Unit 2 Discussion art and Humanities Research Paper

Unit 2 Discussion art and Humanities - Research Paper Example According to the stylistic features seen in the portrait, it can be assumed that Andy Warhol did not show some seriousness in his work. This was so because many artists perceived designing of a self portrait to be very difficult for it involved a lot of research. Though this particular portrait is considered to be one of the most famous portraits in the world, it still does not meet the viewers’ expectations (Frei and George, 202). The portrait in this case does not earn fame because of the stylistic features used but being the first self portrait to be designed. Actually, no one still understands the main purpose of the portrait as it does not display the real Warhol. The viewers of this portrait are still expecting more insight and depth as they claim that there is nothing displayed but a whitish brown sketch that is behind sunken eyes (Fieldman and Jorg, 193). This shows that the color background of the portrait was not also well set as it tend to resemble or match that of the main portrait hence making it very difficult to see the portrait clearly. Some hidden parts of the portrait such as the eyes appear to be dark hindering clear view. From the features seen in this portrait, it can be concluded that the portrait is one of the famous self portraits that from which many artists drew their experience from. This portrait only brought some idea in the artistic industry as it showed that there is a possibility in designing a self portrait. The designing of portrait though took decades; it is considered a sketch work that only a partial image of the artist. This is also considered to have been so because Warhol who was the designer of this portrait was only advised to do so by a friend after designing many portraits and art works in the art industry. Frei, Georg and Neil Printz, editors. The Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonnà ©, Volume 01, Paintings and Sculpture 1961-1963. 503 pp. New York and London: Phaidon Press, 2002. (and Volume 02, 1964-1969. 423

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Why apply to the University of Central Florida Essay

Why apply to the University of Central Florida - Essay Example I realized that only through strong progress and high academic standards would I have the opportunity to pursue my education at the collegiate level. This desire to attend college was instilled in me by my parents and society, as the prevailing wisdom was and continues to be that attending college is necessary if one is to find their place in the contemporary work place. Growing up in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico until the age of ten, the pressure to attain a higher education and excel was also instilled in me by the trends of social pressure, as my friends and immediate surroundings conditioned me to understand that without a college degree I would be considered a less accomplished individual. These reasons fueled my passion and drive. During my sophomore year of high school, my drive towards academic excellence became a matter of peer pressure. It was in this paradigm that I initially was drawn to the biological sciences. I considered how a career in medicine or a similarly related field could eventually result in a lucrative profession. I honed and excelled in these studies as I believed this would afford me access to a quality education that would further advance this goal. I adamantly pursued my investigation into the biologic sciences as well as my overall education with this in mind, achieving high grades and maintaining standards well above the average of many of my immediate peers. My father is in the military so I moved around every two years and explored different cultures and people. Moving after my sophomore year I continued my educational journey in a new community at a new school. I gained exposure to a variety of ideas and started to view life and education from a new perspective. I realized that education means more than just success and future career prospects -- that the nature of education and knowledge is oftentimes an end in itself. That is to say that I've gradually realized that there is much more to knowledge than achieving a lucrative profess ion. As my perspective on education changed, so did my interests. Searching out new writers and ideas, I developed a new love for education, particularly the sciences. While I previously viewed them as a means to a career, I have now developed an appreciation for the insight they provide to the human condition. I also gained a new appreciation for community involvement. As a high school student I became highly involved in my own community through engaging in a variety of volunteer activities. I am fluently bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English and have found this a valuable resource for volunteer service. Volunteering is now one of my most enjoyed pursuits, as I sincerely appreciate working with and helping others. I’d like to continue my intellectual journey through studying medicine at the University of Central Florida and harness my knowledge and interests in a meaningful way. During my time of study at the University I will bring the same dedication to area involve ment to the greater Orlando community. In visiting the University, I was struck by the diversity and culturally rich environment. I realize I would make an excellent candidate for the University of Central Florida and make a significant contribution to this community. While Orlando, Florida is well established as a tourist destination, I’m excited that the city also contains a breadth of opportunity and potential. Now I stand at the threshold of a new journey and instead of looking back I am looking forward. I have made a significant amount of intellectual progress and emotional development from my days as a boy in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and adolescence as a military brat traveling throughout the United States. Looking ahead on this journey I am intent on making my adult life as fruitful

Monday, September 23, 2019

Learning Science, Mathematics and Technology with Children's Essay

Learning Science, Mathematics and Technology with Children's Engagement in Play - Essay Example It will be learned that Science, Math and Technology concepts and skills are acquired while children engage in play. Math and Science are all around. Children usually see numbers on television channels, telephones, their house numbers, on tag prices, etc. They may also witness their mothers in the kitchen as they cook following recipes that specify the measured ingredients. Science is likewise ever-present as they discover how things work, observe change in things, use their senses in learning about their world. Technology is likewise accessible to them. This is not limited to what most adults know about technology as electronic gadgets or computerized contraptions. Technology includes processes people use to solve a problem deliberately. Adults should respect how young children want to try their hand in working with technology (Mortlock, 2005). It is for the children to discover how technology will work for them and make tasks more convenient such as using cups or buckets in the san dbox to create more defined mounds of sand instead of just a hump they shape out of their hands. The following will discuss how science, math and technology interplay in the messy play of infants, sand play of toddlers and block play of pre-schoolers. These activities come naturally for children that they do not need any specific instructions from adults. Messy But Busy Babies† In the Stages of Cognitive Development of Piaget, children from 0 – 2 years of age belong to the Sensorimotor Stage. This period is characterized by interactions with the environment based on the child’s reception of sensory input and muscular reactions. The task of this period is to develop the concept of object permanence, the idea that objects exist even when they cannot be seen or heard. (Brewer, 2001). Infants are sensorial learners and they are awed by the possibilities of the objects around them. When they engage in messy play, they get to touch things and feel its textures, see the object up close so details may be inspected. They even get to smell or in most cases, taste objects because it is in their nature to learn about things by putting it in their mouths. Science is at work when they notice changes in things, such as when a drop of paint blots on the paper when an object passes on it. They also get to notice tracks or prints of objects such as car wheels or rollers when these make impressions with paint on paper. They learn math when they see the colors and shapes of the toys they play with and get to feel the dimensions of shapes when they touch these with their hands. They would know that circles have no angles and that squares have 4 sides. When they are handed things like sponges or small rubber stamps for printing, they realize that these may serve as technology to leave imprints when dipped in paint. Allowed to explore paints and things during messy play gives them several learning opportunities about how things work in the world and what they can do with these things to cause an effect such as rolling a plastic care over paint and seeing the tracks they can make from it. Curious Tykes in the Sandbox Toddlers continue to enjoy sensorial play and they love playing with open-ended materials such as sand and water. They learn many scientific concepts with sand. Pouring various amounts of water on sand creates different textures and this dictates how firm the sand will mold into the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Discovering Mathematics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discovering Mathematics - Essay Example This situation contributes to gender disparity in labor force. However, the government of Oman is currently implementing non discrimination policies in recruitment processes in the public sector. As a result, the number of women hired in government departments is steadily rising. Currently, women consist of about 30% of the government workforce. With this figure, public sector still provides more employment opportunities to women than men (Al-Azri, 2012). Hence, this research examines the gender question in the private sector employment. It compares the number of male and females employed in the private sector. Data Collection This research used a questionnaire which was self administered for data collection. The questionnaire contained closed format or multiple questions for easy quantitative data analysis. Closed ended responses are easy to code, perform data entry and analyze (McDaniel & Gates, 1998). The sample was drawn using random sampling technique. Questionnaire This survey is conducted to determine the number of females and males in employed in the private sector. Thanks you very much for participating in the survey. Please complete the questionnaire and return it to the issuer. It only takes 3 minutes to respond to the questions. Be assured that your responses shall be treated with utmost confidentiality. . Section A: (Demographic Information) (Please, tick one) 1. Are you: Male ? Female ? 2. Are you: Under 21 ? 21 - 25 ? 26 - 30 ? 31 - 35 ? 36 - 40 ? 41 - 45 ? 46 - 50 ? 51 - 55 ? 56 - 60 ? 60+ ? Section B: (Employment Information) (Please, tick one) 3. Are you: Employed ? Not Employed ? 4. If employed, are you: Full-time employed ? Part-time employed ? 5. In which sector are you employed? Private ? Public ? 6. In which industry are you employed? Agricultural and Mining ? Manufacturing and Construction ? Transport and Telecommunication ? Science and Technology ? Wholesale and Retail Trade ? Real estate and Rental ? Health Care and Social services ? T ourism, Arts, Recreation and Entertainment ? Finance and Insurance ? Other (specify).................................................................................... *END* Results Fig 1.0: A table showing the number of males and females working in private sector according to age groups Age Group Male Females Total Under 21 8,617 1,437 10,054 21-25 33,565 8,696 42,261 26-30 37,966 9,713 47,679 31-35 24,931 6,539 31,470 36-40 11,538 3,615 15,153 41-45 7,201 2,097 9,298 46-50 6,360 1,274 7,634 51-55 5,161 820 5,981 56-60 3,159 296 3,455 60+ 1,380 76 1,456 Total 139,878 34,563 174,441 (Adapted from statistical year book, 2012) Analysis Fig 1.1: Table showing analyzed data for male employees Age Group x f fx x-? (x-?)^2 f(x-?)^2 Under 21 9.5 8,617 81,861.5 -21.5 462.25 3,983,208.25 21-25 23 33,565 771,995 -8 64 2,148,160 26-30 28 37,966 1,063,048 -3 9 341,694 31-35 33 24,931 822,723 2 4 99,724 36-40 38 11,538 438,444 7 49 565,362 41-45 43 7,201 309,643 12 144 1,036,944 46-50 48 6,360 305,280 17 289 1,838,040 51-55 53 5,161 275,533 22 484 2,497,924 56-60 58 3,159 183,222 27 729 2,302,911 61-75 68 1,380 93,840 37 1,360 1,876,800 139,878 4,345,589.5 16, 690,767.25 Mean Age of Males Mean = ?fx ? ?f 4,345,589.5 ? 139,878 31 years Standard Deviation in Age of Males Standard Deviation v (?f(x-?) ^2/?f) v (16,690,767.25 ? 139,878) 11 years Median Age of Males Median = L + Where L is lower limit of median class N is total cumulative frequency Fi-1 is cumulative freque

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Almond Tree Essay Example for Free

The Almond Tree Essay In the poem The Almond Tree, the poet manages to effectively deal with the subject of death, or in this poem, the death of the poets hopes, by using different techniques such as imagery and symbolism. In The Almond Tree by Jon Stallworthy, the poet is drives to the hospital to see his new born son, and once arrives there, finds out his son has Downs Syndrome, and in the rest of the poem, the poet deals with the death of his hopes, and eventualy learns to accept his son. The poet manages to create an appropriate mood for the death of his hopes by having the first section of the poem be positive, and build up a positive and excited mood. The poet manages to create this postivite mood by imagery. When the poet is describing the traffic lights, he refers to them being green as peppermints, the reference to confectionery makes the reader associate the image with sweet and pleasant things. The poet is so excited that he feels he can change scenes to suit himself, shown when the poet says as if i were the lucky prince in an enchanted wood, this builds up the positive mood because it shows that the poet is very enthusiastic, and so the reader feels that enthusiasm too. The poet is very conscious of himself in the first section shown when he said he was aware of the blood running down the delta of my wrist, and so this shows how excited he is. The verse structure in the first section of the poem is also used as a technique to build up a feeling of excitement, the verses vary between 4-8 lines, and have a next to no structure, which give an impression of the poet being very excited so that hes not concentrating on the structure, and is just getting out all his thoughts as they come to him. The poet also states the hopes that he has for his child, such as let it be a son, a son, because he wants the family name to be carried on. All these techniques used help to develop a feeling of excitement and positivity in the first section, which is used to make the bad news to come an even bigger contrast. The second section of the poem is when the news is delivered that the poets son has Downs Syndrome, and is delievered effectively by first introducing the feeling of uneasiness by using onomatopoeia in the form of harsh words, such as scissored and slicing, and so makes the reader feel as if something bad is going to happen. The way the news is actually delivered is also meant to shock the reader, and it is said as quickly and to the point as possible, using only 4 one syllable words, and 1 two syllable word your son is a mongol. The way the news is delivered is made shocking not only by the way the news is delievered, but because it is such a big contrast to the first section of the poem. The third section describes how the poet feels once hearing this shocking news, and describes the death of his dreams,the poet uses techniques such as imagery to get these points across. He describes the news he recieved as going in clean as a bullet, and subsequently stopping the heart within it, which tells the reader that that to the poet, this news is fatal, and that the bullet left no mark on the skin so the poet showed no outward sign of despair. This reaction shows that the poet is in a state of shock. The poet then states that this was my first death, and by his first death he means the death of his hopes, which was for his son to carry on the family name and growing up to be just like the poet, he backs this point up again by stating never to come ashore into my kingdom speaking my language. The poet becomes displaced from reality, saying I held four walls in the lens of an eye, and this experience shows that the poet can see his dead self, and cannot feel anything any more, which proves that the poets hopes have died. The central idea of the poem is that love can overcome all obstacles, which in this case is the poet learning to love his son, no matter what. The only way that the poet would have been able to accept his son was by letting go of his hopes for his son growing up to be just like him and carrying on the family name, and this is what happens. The whole process is shown in the poem through symbolism, which in this case is the almond tree blooming, the poet describes this process as painful by using harsh words, such as split and blood-dark, and finds that the tree had to go through a painful process in order to become what it is, and he compares this to his own situation, and realises that he has to go through a painful process, which is the death of his dreams, in order to do what he was really meant to do, which was to accept his son.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Tata CSR Corporate Social Responsibility Tata Group

Tata CSR Corporate Social Responsibility Tata Group Introduction Definition and History of CSR Corporate social responsibility (CSR) means considering the wellbeing of humanity by taking responsibility of the impact of organizations actions on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the surroundings. Organizations have realized that in addition to growing businesses it is also very important to build responsible and sustainable relationships with the large community. Hence, CSR has become increasingly famous in the Indian corporate scenario and is one of the key drivers of CSR. It was in the early 1970s when the term CSR came in to ordinary use after many international corporations were formed, but rarely abbreviated. The term stakeholder means those impacted by organizations activities. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) defined as the principled behavior of a company towards the general public, evident itself in the form of such noble programs initiated by for-profit organizations. Additional motive for this rapid acceptance of CSR is the state of the Indian society. Though India is one of the fastest growing economies, socio-economic issues like poverty, illiteracy, lack of healthcare etc. are still universally present and the government has limited resources to embark upon these challenges. This state of affairs has opened up several areas for businesses to contribute towards social development. CSR is not a latest notion in India. Corporates like the TATA, ITC, Aditya Birla, and Indian Oil Corporation, are few to name who are involved in helping the society ever since their foundation. Several other organizations through donations and charity events have been doing their part for the society. Today, CSR in India has gone ahead of only charity and donations. It is approached in a more organized and structured fashion. It is now considered as an essential part of the corporate strategy. Companies have CSR teams that develop specific policies, strategies and goals for their CSR programs and set aside budgets to sustain them. These programs are based on a clearly defined social philosophy or are closely aligned with the companys business expertise. Employees volunteer their time and contribute their skills, to implement them and are considered as the backbone of these initiatives. Overall development of a community to supporting specific causes like education, environment, healthcare etc. forms part of CSR programs. Organizations like Bharath Petroleum, Maruti Suzuki India, and Hindustan Unilever, adopt villages where they focus on holistic development. They provide better medical and sanitation facilities, build schools and houses, and help the villagers become self-reliant by teaching them vocational and business skills. This is one of the examples of CSR. On the other hand GlaxoSmithKlines CSR programs primarily focus on health and healthy living. They work in tribal villages where they provide medical check-up and treatment, health camps, health awareness programs, etc. They also provide money, medicines and equipment to non-profit organizations that work towards improving health and education in under-served communities. Many CSR initiatives are implemented by corporate in partnership with Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who are well versed in working with the local communities and are experts in tackling specific social problems. SAP India in partnership with Hope Foundation, an NGO that works for the enhancing the poor and the needy throughout India, has been working on short and long-term transformation initiatives for the tsunami victims. Together, they also started The SAP Labs Center of HOPE in Bangalore, which serves as a home for street children, where they provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education. Take the following illustration: Companies need to answer to two aspects of their operations: 1. The quality of their management both in terms of people and processes (the inner circle).   2.The nature of, and quantity of their impact on society in the various areas. Outside stakeholders are taking an increasing interest in the activity of the company. Most look to the outer circle what the company has actually done, good or bad, in terms of its products and services, in terms of its impact on the environment and on local communities, or in how it treats and develops its workforce. Out of the various stakeholders, it is financial analysts who are predominantly focused as well as past financial performance on quality of management as an indicator of likely future performance. Why is CSR important? Consumers investors: growing expectation for organisations to behave responsibly Consumer awareness: Green and Ethical consumerism Legislation: HS, EPA, Sustainability, Codes of Practice Globalisation: Adoption of Best Practice, Consumer Legal Acceptance. Business advantages of CSR: Human Resources Recruitment, retention and morale of Staff Risk Management Investment in ethical brand equity Greenwash effect? Brand Differentiation As USP Build brand loyalty Reputation and brand attractiveness Business Development New markets, products and services Resources Management Better management and conservation of strategic assets Stakeholder Management Better internal and external relationships Freedom of operation: reduce government, public, NGO intervention in organisation History of Tata Group In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business but is in fact the very purpose of its existence. Jamsetji N. Tata, Founder, Tata Group The Trusts Vision: Shri Ratan Tatas thoughts, in 1913, on the manner in which the Trusts fund could be used: .. for the advancement of Education, Learning and Industry in all its branches, including education in economy, sanitary science and art, or for the relief of human suffering or for other works of public utility To engage qualified and competent persons to study into matters that pertain to the social, economic or political welfare of the Indian community, the object being to design schemes of a practical nature calculated to promote the well-being of the said community, care being taken that such work is not undertaken from the stereotype point of view but from the point of view of fresh light that is thrown from day to day by the advance of science and philosophy on problems of human well-being Further he also directed that: No experiment and no venture should be aided or undertaken unless the scheme thereof is carefully prepared No institution or organization should be aided of which the accounts are not subject to periodical audits and are not regularly issued and which would not be open to inspection and examination. Industry Profile of the TATA Group The Tata Group comprises 114 operating companies in seven business sectors: Tata Auto Comp Systems Automotive Tata Steel Materials Tata Power Energy Rallis India Chemicals Tata Realty and Infrastructure Service Tata Tea Consumer Products Tata Technologies Information Systems and Communications Globally: The Tata Group has operations in more than 54 countries. The companies export products and services to 120 nations, across six continents. The Tata Group is one of Indias principal and most valued business multinationals, with revenues in 2005-06 of $21.9 billion (Rs 967,229 million), the equivalent of about 2.8 per cent of the countrys GDP, and a market capitalization of $55.1 billion. Tata companys total employee strength is around 2,46,000. Amongst the 28 public listed enterprises of Tata Group are Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors and Tata Tea have a combined market capitalization that is the maximum among Indian business houses in the private sector, and a shareholder base of over 2 million. The five core values of Tata family are integrity, understanding, excellence, unity and responsibility. Purpose of the TATA Group: To improve the quality of life of the societies they serve. The Group brings a unique set of competences through leadership in sectors of national economic significance. This requires them to grow assertively in focused areas of business. Their legacy of returning to society what they earn put forward trust among consumers, employees, shareholders and the community. The TATA represents leadership with trust in a exceptional way. Milestones: 1868 In the mid 19th century, TATA Group was started by Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata 1874 The Group entered into textiles by setting up the Central India Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing Company. 1902 Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Indias first luxury hotel, opened in 1903. 1907 Indias 1st Iron and Steel plant in Jamshedpur is The Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel) the plant began its production in 1912. 1968 Indias 1st software Services Company is established as a division of Tata Sons called Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). 1995 Tata QMS institutes the JRD QV Award, modeled on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Value Award of the United States, this laid basis of the Tata Business Excellence Model. 1998 Tata Indica, started by Tata Motors is Indias first indigenously designed and manufactured car. 2000 The first major acquirement of an international brand by an Indian business group was Tata Tea acquiring the Tetley Group, UK 2006 Launched Credit Card In Kolkata, the foundation stone for the Tata Medical Centre was shown. MCA-2, Indias largest e-governance initiative was launched by TCS. For the third time, Tata Steel ranked worlds best steel maker by World Steel Dynamics. US-based Eight O Clock Coffee was acquired by Tata Coffee. Tata Sky satellite television service was launched across the country. 2007 In a wider leap, the Anglo-Dutch steel major Corus has vaulted the former to the fifth position from 56th in global steel production capacity, in the Tata Steels acquisition TATA Singur project MB Kulkarni, General Manager (Construction) of Tata Motors, Our work plans are planned in such a way that whatever are the product target dates, in 2008 rolling of the vehicle will take place. Group Chairman Ratan Tatas dream peoples car will be rolled out by next year. For the factory 700 acres of land will be used and manpower has been planned and organized for the construction. TATAs Corporate Social Responsibility SILVER LININGS The company has streamlined its CSR activities into four major areas: HEALTH EMPLOYABILITY EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT Health: The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete mental, physical and social well-being and not merely the absence of infirmity or disease. The health status is usually measured in terms of life expectancy at birth, fertility rate, infant mortality rate, crude birth/death rate. According to the Country Health System Profile, World Health Organization, public health infrastructure in rural India consists of a 3 tier system: A sub centre for every 5,000 population with a male and female worker, A Primary Health Centre (PHC) for every 30,000 population with a medical doctor and other paramedical staff, and A Community Health Centre (CHC) for every 100,000 population with 30 beds and basic specialists. In urban areas, it is 2 tier systems with Urban Health Centre (UHC)/Urban Family Welfare Centre (UFWC) for every 100,000 population followed by general hospital. The existing public health infrastructure is not evenly distributed across the States. Many institutions are not functional due to staff shortage and non-availability of drugs and consumables and essential equipment. As a result of such inadequate public health facilities, it has been estimated that less than 20 percent of the population, which seek OPD services, and less than 45 percent of that which seek indoor patient treatment, avail of such services in public hospitals. A large portion of population seek medical care services from private sector despite the fact that most of these patients do not have the means to make out-of-pocket payments for private health services (National Health Policy 2002). Keeping these figures in mind, the Company has launched several initiatives for improving the health status of community members in the CSR project areas across locations. The initiatives include both preventive as well as curative health care services. In addition, infrastructural development for ensuring a perennial supply of clean drinking water and improved health through better sanitation facilities is also included in the CSR program of the Company. Figures for 2006 : Alignment to Millennium Development Goals Impact in 2007-08 Millennium Development Goals 5: Improve Maternal Health Institution of Village Health Workers established Community members identified and trained for providing basic health care to village communities Antenatal cate and anaemua detection and treatment for 590 women Millennium Development Goals 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases Curative Preventive health services were provided to over 92,390 people through the Companys community health programmes, including immunization drives for polio, measles. Special country-wide programmes were conducted for drivers during service camps. 46,548 drivers availed of the free general health and eye check-up camps and AIDS awareness programmes Employability Employability facts Annually Indias labour force is growing at a rate of 2.5% and employment only by 2.3% Indias workforce is self-employed by 60%. Around 30% are casual workers i.e. they work only when they are able to get jobs and remain unpaid for the rest of the days In the Unorganized sector Approximately, approximately 90% of the labour force is employed, i.e. sectors which do not provide other benefits of employment combined with the social security Organized sector. In addition to the Apprenticeship programmes that are run within the premises of the manufacturing units, as per the Apprenticeship Act 1961, the Company has also initiated several efforts to enhance employability of youth. To upgrade the quality of Industrial Training Institute (ITIs), the company has built public-private partnership with government authorities. In the year 2007-08, the upgradation process has been initiated in four it is, who are equipped with latest machines and tools. To understand the manufacturing processes, the students have been taken on exposure visits and for their faculty, Train the Trainer programmes have been organized. Technical and vocational programmes are run for rural youth from the project areas, like Motor Mechanic Vehicle Trade Course, electrical, welding, a/c refrigeration, computer skills, bee-keeping, etc. Special programmes are also run for women including sewing training, beautician courses, manufacturing food products and utility items and cable harnessing and assembly work. More than 9,000 youth and women have benefited from these programmes across Companys locations. Alignment to Millennium Development Goals Impact in 2007-08 Millennium Development Goals 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger The Company has identified 10 ITIs across the country to upgrade their facilities and enhance the relevance of their programmes to industry needs, as a part of its skill development programme, In 2007-08, four ITIs have been covered. Training in various technical and vocational trades was given to around 1,085 youth from areas adjecent to the Companys plants. Over 350 local youth have been trained in partnership with the government and the social sector, making them employable at the new plant location of Singur. All 18 students of the Company-supported Mechanic Motor Vehicle Trade Course, 2007-08, in association with the Ramakrishna Mission at Sakwar, Thane district, Maharashtra, have been successfully placed at the Companys dealerships. Two students from the previous batch have been facilitated to become entrepreneurs and have opened their own workshop on the Mumbai-Ahemedabad Highway Millennium Development Goals 3: Promote gender equality and empower women To make the women economically independent, around 1,058 women have been trained in utility items, manufacturing food products and, beautician courses, sewing Education The root of poverty often lies in illiteracy. Social infrastructure like education is as important as physical infrastructure, not only for sustaining high growth but also for enhancing welfare. Education Facts About India Less than half of Indias children between the age 6 and 14 go to school A little over one-third of all children who enroll in grade one reach grade eight Children aged 6 14 years do not attend school, the count of which is atleast 35 million 52% of girls in the age group of 5 to 9 years are illiterate 53% of habitation has a primary school 20% of habitation has a secondary school In nearly 60% of schools, not more than one or two teachers are there to teach Classes I to V The reasons for leaving given by 3 in every four drop-outs are need to work to support their families, little interest in studies and high cost of private education Contribution of Tata Motors towards improving education through infrastructural development for promoting schooling among the villagers and through upgradation of educational facilities like building computer laboratories, sports ground, etc. and organising training to teachers programmes to better the quality of education. Alignment to Millennium Development Goals Impact in 2007-08 Millennium Development Goals 1: Achieve universal primary education: From over 25 villages, infrastructure was improved in 13 schools, promoting higher education for 2,000 children. From across 33 schools, Shiksha Prasar Kendra, a Tata Motors society at Jamshedpur, supported 18,000 students of which 7,500 are girls Quality of education improved: In 4 schools Teachers training programme was conducted With participation from over 4,300 students, extra-curricular activities was organised in 31 schools In West Bengal at Beraberi High School, Singur, computer labratory was built 375 students were awarded with scholarships for higher studies Environment Climate Change is the environmental issue facing the world today, which is any long-term significant change in the average weather experienced by a given region. Facts on Environment Reports concluded by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are: Since the mid-20th century most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. From new estimates of the combined anthropogenic forcing due to greenhouse gases, land surface changes and aerosols, it is likely that human activities have exerted a substantial net warming influence on climate since 1750. Anthropogenic aerosols produce a net negative radiative forcing (cooling influence) with a greater magnitude in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere The IPCC, which represents consensus in the scientific community, defines extremely likely, virtually certain, very likely, and as indicating probabilities greater than 90%, 95%, and 99%, respectively. Tata Group places a special emphasis on environmental and ecological issues in view of the threat to environment. The Groups efforts to preserve and regenerate environment find expression in the slew of projects and programmes it has undertaken in and around its facilities and operations. In this context a focus area for the group is the climate change crisis. Tata Motors beliefs on sustainability have led to a corporate policy that emphasises environment preservation, the Company works on projects that include reducing effluents and emissions, maintaining local ecologies, repairing green cover and improving long term corporate sustainability. Alignment to Millennium Development Goals and Bharat Nirman Target Impact in 2007-08 Millennium Development Goals 7: Ensure environment sustainablity With an 80% survival rate, over 175,242 saplings have been planted. To promote use of environment-friendly practices smokeless chullahs has been constructed. Agricultural training was given to minimize the use of environmentally hazardous methods and materials. Provide awareness camps on environment related issues. Bharat Nirman Target: 10 million hectares of additional irrigarion capacity to be created by 2009 Check dams and community irrigation wells have been constructed at villages near Pune, improved irrigation to augmenting incomes of families. In Jamshedpur, in over 152 acres tree plantation has extensively been carried out and 85 acres of land has been brought under irrigation Other CSR Objectives Sumant Moolgaokar Development Foundation Sumant Moolgaokar Development Foundation (SMDF) has been founded in memory of our ex-chairman Late Shri Sumant Moolgaokar with a view to perpetuate his exemplary work in rural development. Tata Steel has evolved, over the years, an encompassing culture of social responsibility that not only sustains but also enriches the lives of the communities it supports. The companys corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy was inspired by Jamsetji Tatas conviction that, In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder, but is, in fact, the very purpose of its existence. Tata Steels approach to its business has evolved from this concept and the wealth it has created is continuously returned to the people through its community initiatives. And they are following the saying of their ancestors as: Tata Steel CSR team was to work for the welfare of the socially and economically disadvantaged communities living in and around its areas of operation, including the mines and collieries serving the plant. The basic concept of Tata Steel Parivar originates from the century old Corporate Social Responsibility of the Company, which is aptly defined as: Tata steel believes that the primary purposes of the business is to improve the quality of the life. New Life with a New Hope The Commitment of Tata Steel for improving the quality of life of the displaced families has led to the creation of the Tata Steel Parivar concept and each displaced family will be a member of the Tata Steel Parivar. Over the years, its initiatives have encompassed provision of: Healthcare services, Drinking water, Rain water harvesting, Tribal development, Relief and rehabilitation endeavors, Income and employment generation, Womens health and education, Awareness programmers on the ill-effects of drugs, Alcohol and HIV/AIDS, and Patronage to sports and cultural activities. Achievements of TATA Groups CSR Tata Steels Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives have earned the steel giant the UK trade Investment (UKTI) India Business Award 2009. Besides acquiring businesses around the world, the Tata group now plans to introduce the world to the Tata way of doing business. The group plans to take overseas the Tata trusts and all the community work that it does as part of its international corporate social responsibility. Tatas Endeavour to strengthen the fabric of India has manifested itself in multiple ways. A crucial component of the Tata idea of nation building was, and remains, the creation and sustaining of exceptional institutions of learning, research, knowledge and intellectual capital. It had created a land mark in educational sector and environmental sector, this can be seen as: TATA GROUP is boomining in every sector whether it is business or corporate social responsibility because: TATAS Commitment to the Environment: The Tata ethos places a special emphasis on environmental and ecological issues. Its efforts to preserve and regenerate the environment find expression in the slew of projects and programmers it has undertaken in and around its facilities and operations. A focus area, in this context, is the climate change crisis. Tata companies work on projects that include repairing green cover, reducing effluents and emissions, maintaining local ecologies and improving long term corporate The Tata group has a set of explicit guidelines on environmental and ecological issues, and a broad range of policies aimed at helping Tata companies protect, conserve and restore our natural resources. The Three Pillars of Sustainability 2020 Adapting to New Markets: Internal Sustainability Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group, predicated economic success on putting the community first and investing patiently in social initiatives 140 years ago. Till date, this strategy has enabled Tata to excel in India. A big reason for this is the brand recognition that Tata enjoys in India. However, brand recognition is less of a competitive advantage as Tata expands globally. Many argue that given the current heightened pace of globalization and change in technology, Tatas tenet of investing in long-term social initiatives threatens its short-term competitiveness. The first challenge that Tata must address is to align its existing Corporate Social Responsibility policies, both internal (in regards to the treatment of its workers and green initiative) as well as external (support for surrounding communities) with the customs and challenges of the new markets in which it operates. While Tata created a synergy between Corporate Social Responsibility and profits in India, it must recognize that, going forward, no one-size-fits-all Corporate Social Responsibility strategy exists. In order to facilitate a more effective alignment of local concerns with Tatas global Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, we propose setting up a New Markets Corporate Social Responsibility Committee under the TCCI that will be tasked with collaborating with local executives, as well as civic and governmental leaders to identify and drive social initiatives that will best benefit the communities in the new markets that Tata operates in. As the Tata Groups operations grow physically segregated, it becomes more difficult to align activities with their values and purpose. To ensure this, we propose that the voluntary Tata Index be made mandatory and moved under the TQMS group. To ensure fairness across companies that have different levels of operations within and outside India, the New Markets Corporate Social Responsibility Committee will be responsible for formulating the New Markets Multiplier Factor, which will normalize the Tata Index to a common denominator for all group comp anies. The next 10 years will be vital in the evolution of Tata as a global brand, and these steps will ensure that domestic operations support the continued growth of Tatas global brand and its reflection of leadership in the field of corporate social responsibility. Stepping it up a Notch: Evaluating Product Lifecycle Impact on Society Throughout its history, the Tata group has been considered a poster child of ideal corporate citizenship throughout India. As Tata continues to expand globally, its responsibilities towards its stakeholders investors, employees, and communities are changing. If anything, they are on the rise. Tata must increasingly look beyond its own operations, and consider the impact of its products, both good and bad, on not just the groups direct shareholders, but on the society as a whole. This focus on stakeholders will lead to a sustainable competitive advantage and increased profits both. To this we propose a Product Lifecycle Impact Metric (Exhibit 3). This metric will quantify the projected impact of the Tata Groups products and services over their expected lifetimes. While taking the positive impact of the products and services (such as increased customer productivity, above average fuel mileage, more affordable products etc.) into consideration, this metric will also account for the negative impacts on society (such as increased traffic clogging, environmental effects etc.). While an exact measurement would be impossible to obtain, by working within a structured framework, and with the input of social and civic leaders, Tata could effectively estimate these impacts across their various industries. We are aware that certain businesses or products, though highly profitable, are more prone to have higher negative impacts on society. For instance, while some concerns regarding the Nano have already been mentioned, one would be hard pressed to find many negative lifecycle impacts of the watches manufactured by Titan Industries (besides the manufacturing, shipping, and eventual dispos

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Evolution Vs. Creationism Essay -- Environmental Compare Contrast Essa

Evolution vs. Creationism Abstract In the history of science vs. religion there have been no issues more intensely debated than evolution vs. creationism. The issue is passionately debated since the majority of evidence is in favor of evolution, but the creation point of view can never be proved wrong because of religious belief. Human creation breaks down into three simple beliefs; creation theory, naturalistic evolution theory, and theistic evolution theory. The complexities of all three sides create a dilemma for what theory to support among all people, religious and non-religious. Evolution vs. Creationism The theories of human evolution may always cause a heated dispute. Each theory presents its own evidence proving its acceptance, but lacks enough evidence to prove the other theories incorrect. All the theories that attempt to explain human existence fall under the categories of creation theory, naturalistic evolution theory, and the theistic evolution theory. The creation theory explains that a certain God created the humans, and evolution does not exist. The naturalistic evolution theory states that evolution is driven by purely natural forces, and is not controlled by any input from a god, goddess, or multiple deities. The theistic evolution is a mixture of both creation and naturalistic theories. The theistic evolution theory states that god created the world and guides the evolution process (Religious Tolerance, 2004). The information presented in evolution studies must be viewed with an open mind since there is no definite proof or law of evolution. The dilemma boils down to science vs. religion. God has been our creator since beginning of time, but the discoveries of recent science are sudde... ...ive as long as religion. Evolution vs. creationism is in fact science vs. religion, and no theory will ever be unanimously accepted until religion or science is eliminated. Evolution vs. creationism is a controversy that may never be solved. References Steen, Francis. (2001, March 25). Evolutionary Theory. Retrieved November 30, 2004, from <a href="http://cogweb.ucla.edu/ep/Evolution.html">http://cogweb.ucla.edu/ep/Evolution.html</a> Religious Tolerance. (2004). Evolution. Retrieved November 30, 2004, from <a href="http://www.religioustolerance.org/evolutio.htm">http://www.religioustolerance.org/evolutio.htm</a> Stewart, Ian. (2003). How the Species Became. New Science, Vol. 180, Iss. 2416, 32. Monastersky, Richard. (2004). Society Disowns Paper Attacking Darwinism. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Vol. 51, Iss. 5, A.16.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Telecommunications :: Telephone Radio Television Microwave Satellite

The transmission of words, sounds, images, or data in the form of electronic or electromagnetic signals or impulses. Transmission media include the telephone (using wire or optical cable), radio, television, microwave, and satellite. Data communication, the fastest growing field of telecommunication, is the process of transmitting data in digital form by wire or radio. Digital data can be generated directly in a 1/0 binary code by a computer or can be produced from a voice or visual signal by a process called encoding. A data communications network is created by interconnecting a large number of information sources so that data can flow freely among them. The data may consist of a specific item of information, a group of such items, or computer instructions. Examples include a news item, a bank transaction, a mailing address, a letter, a book, a mailing list, a bank statement, or a computer program. The devices used can be computers, terminals (devices that transmit and receive information), and peripheral equipment such as printers (see Computer; Office Systems). The transmission line used can be a normal or a specially purchased telephone line called a leased, or private, line (see Telephone). It can also take the form of a microwave or a communications-satellite linkage, or some combination of any of these various systems. Hardware and Software Each telecommunications device uses hardware, which connects a device to the transmission line; and software, which makes it possible for a device to transmit information through the line. Hardware Hardware usually consists of a transmitter and a cable interface, or, if the telephone is used as a transmission line, a modulator/demodulator, or modem. A transmitter prepares information for transmission by converting it from a form that the device uses (such as a clustered or parallel arrangement of electronic bits of information) to a form that the transmission line uses (such as, usually, a serial arrangement of electronic bits). Most transmitters are an integral element of the sending device. A cable interface, as the name indicates, connects a device to a cable. It converts the transmitted signals from the form required by the device to the form required by the cable. Most cable interfaces are also an integral element of the sending device. A modem converts digital signals to and from the modulated form required by the telephone line to the demodulated form that the device itself requires. Modems transmit data through a telephone line at various speeds, which are measured in bits per second (bps) or as signals per second (baud). Modems can be either integral or external units. An external unit must be connected by cable to the sending device.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Lysistrata Summary Essays -- essays research papers

Lysistrata has planned a meeting between all of the women of Greece to discuss the plan to end the Peloponnesian War. As Lysistrata waits for the women of Sparta, Thebes, and other areas to meet her she curses the weakness of women. Lysistrata plans to ask the women to refuse sex with their husbands until a treaty for peace has been signed. Lysistrata has also made plans with the older women of Athens (the Chorus of Old Women ) to seize the Akropolis later that day. The women from the various regions finally assemble and Lysistrata convinces them to swear an oath that they will withhold sex from their husbands until both sides sign a treaty of peace. As the women sacrifice a bottle of wine to the Gods in celebration of their oath, they hear the sounds of the older women taking the Akropolis, the fortress that houses the treasury of Athens. In Lysistrata there are two choruses?the Chorus of Old Men and the Chorus of Old Women. A Koryphaios leads both choruses. The Chorus of Men is first to appear on stage carrying wood and fire to the gates of the Akropolis. The Chorus of Men is an old and bedraggled bunch of men who have great difficulty with the wood and the great earthen pots of fire they carry. The men plan to smoke the women out of the Akropolis. The Chorus of Old Women also approaches the Akropolis, carrying jugs of water to put out the men's fires. The Chorus of Old Women is victorious in the contest between the choruses and triumphantly pours the jugs of water over th...

Provoking play Essay

To our surprise, when Eddie talks to Louis and Mike, they mention Rodolfo and about how funny they think he is. They aren’t really talking about it as a compliment, in fact, it is an indirect insult. We think this because the stage directions tell us how hysterical Louis and Mike find the conversation. ‘He’s always making little remarks, like y’know? ‘ This may surprise the audience because we automatically think that Eddie is just jealous and making excuses for his jealousy. But when we hear it from some one else, as indirect as it may be, our opinions may altar slightly as there may be slight truth behind what he is saying. When Catherine returns from her date with Rodolfo, Eddie talks to her. He indicates that she will have to choose, and makes her feel guilty-‘don’t break my heart Katie. ‘ Eddie then tells Catherine how he thinks Rodolfo is using her just for citizenship-‘He marries you, he has the right to be an American citizen. ‘ Catherine is obviously very hurt by this, ‘I don’t believe it and I wish to hell you’d stop it! ‘ Our expectations as the audience have grown, there is conflict between Catherine and Eddie now, the two that were so close. Disaster becomes a clear idea. Eddie has lost the control he once had over Catherine, she doesn’t listen to him anymore and has her own opinions. After Catherine and Eddies fight, Beatrice talks to Catherine. She tells her that Eddie is not her father and that he shouldn’t tell her what to do. ‘He’s not your father, Catherine. I don’t understand what’s going on here. ‘ Beatrice brings up Catherine’s immaturity towards Eddie. Catherine-‘He thinks I’m a baby. ‘ Beatrice-‘Because you think you’re a baby. ‘ She discreetly tells Catherine she is jealous of her-‘You think I’m jealous of you honey? ‘ ‘Well you should have thought of it before†¦ but I’m not. ‘ Expectations in the audience are created because Beatrice is suffering in her relationship with Eddie, looking at Catherine and Rodolfo make her happy and Beatrice will favour Catherine in disputes between Eddie and Catherine. Eddie goes to see Alfieri. After he has explained the problem, he asks about law advice-he is taking this situation very seriously. Eddie tells Alfieri that he thinks Rodolfo is gay-‘The guy aint right. ‘ ‘†¦ he makes a new dress. I mean he looked so sweet there-like an angel-you could kiss him he was so sweet. ‘ Alfieri bluntly tells Eddie that the only illegal thing happening here is, ‘the way in which they entered the country. ‘ Eddie refuses to touch upon that boundary, ‘Oh, Jesus, no, I wouldn’t do nothin’ about that. ‘ Alfieri then says ‘She wants to get married, Eddie. She cant marry you can she? ‘ Stage directions describe Eddie as furious at this remark. Alfieri concludes this scene by telling the audience he can see the outcome unfolding-‘I knew where he was heading for, I knew he was going to end. ‘- a very accurate prediction. By this point expectations of disaster and tragedy in the audience are high. Alfieri has just told the audience he knew Eddie was going to end. That is a vital point in his speech, it tells us he is going to literally end. So far, in the play we have seen how important Catherine and Eddie’s relationship is. We have realised that Eddie has feelings for Catherine, more than what he likes to believe himself. We have established that Eddie is very against the idea of Catherine and Rodolfo, because of his jealousy and fear of loosing Catherine. All the characters are at the house for a family meal. After they all discuss some of the places Rodolfo and Marco have been. In conversation Eddie gently warns Rodolfo about Catherine-‘It aint so free here either Rodolfo. ‘ ‘But in your town you wouldn’t just drag off some girl without permission, I mean. You know what I mean Marco, it aint that much different here. ‘ They have a small argument. Catherine then asks Rodolfo to dance, in spite of Eddie. Rodolfo says no at first, in deference to Eddie. Eddie mentions Rodolfo’s many talents, hinting he thinks he is gay-‘But if I could cook, if I could sing, if I could make dresses, I wouldn’t be on the waterfront. (He has been unconsciously been twisting the newspaper into a tight roll. They are all regarding him now; he senses he is exposing an issue and is driven on. ) I would be someplace else. I would be like in a dress store. (He has bent the piece of paper and it suddenly tears in two). ‘ This long piece of text has significant stage directions. They show how Eddie’s anger doesn’t shine through verbally, but physically. He is sometimes unable to express his feelings. Eddie then offers to teach Rodolfo boxing, possibly putting on a brave act for Catherine, trying to bond with Rodolfo. His real motive is clear to us, the audience†¦ he wants to take out his anger, he wants to hit Rodolfo. He also wants to show he is much stronger than Rodolfo, he wants to prove something to himself and to almost scare Rodolfo. Rodolfo shows how he does have respect for Eddie-‘I don’t want to hit you Eddie. ‘ Eddies ends up hitting Rodolfo-what he wanted. Marco has become aware of what is happening between Rodolfo and Eddie now and is not too pleased. He steps in to show Eddie who is really the strongest. Marco challenges Eddie to a chair-lifting contest. Marco wins and conflict between Marco and Eddie has now begun. Stage directions tell us, ‘Marco is face to face with Eddie, a strained tension gripping his eyes and jaw, his neck stiff, the chair raised like a weapon above Eddies head-and he transforms what might appear like a flare of warning into a smile of triumph, and Eddies grin vanishes a he absorbs his look. ‘ To the audience Marco’s look is warning Eddie. Marco is wary of Eddie now and will protect Rodolfo as best he can. This last scene has added to the expectations of this audience because Eddie has had conflict with every main character, tragedy is even more inevitable. Act two begins now, opening with Catherine and Rodolfo. Catherine discreetly asks Rodolfo if he is just marrying her for citizenship. She asks him if they could live in Italy to see how he reacts. He reacts badly, he doesn’t want to know and thinks Catherine is mad. She then tells Rodolfo how she is scared of Eddie, then asks him straight. ‘Would you still want do it if it turned out we had to live in Italy? ‘ Rodolfo is absolutely furious by this thought-‘My heart dies to look at you, why are you so afraid of him? ‘ Rodolfo tells Catherine that Eddie is in the wrong and that she needs to let go of him as well-‘If I take in my hands a little bird. And she grows and wishes to fly. But I will not let her out of my hands because I love her so much, is that right for me to do? ‘ Rodolfo and Catherine sleep together. This is not openly shown but the audience can predict that it happens – further tragedy for Eddie. Eddie returns home shortly after, he is drunk-stage directions state ‘ he is unsteady-drunk. ‘ As he enters he soon realises what has happened and orders Rodolfo to, ‘Pack it up. Go ahead. Get your stuff out of here. ‘ But Catherine then says she is going as well. Eddie, losing all meaning finds the one way he feel she can express his feelings for Catherine, he kisses her. But in a pathetic attempt to show Rodolfo as gay, Eddie kisses him. Stage directions-‘†¦ she strives to free herself, he kisses her on the mouth. ‘ ‘Eddie pins his arms laughing and suddenly kisses him. ‘ Again Eddie warns Rodolfo to leave and refuses to let Catherine go. By this point in the play the audience will have probably realised tragedy is not far off. Eddie did the most surprising and astonishing thing he could have done, he kisses Catherine because it is the only way he feels he can express his feelings. But instead it destroys Eddie and Catherine’s relationship completely. Eddie pays Alfieri a final visit. Again Alfieri tells him that he has no rights and there is no law. He tells Eddie he has to let go-‘Let her go and bless her (A phone booth begins to glow on the opposite side of the stage; a faint, lonely blue. )’ This in my opinion is the most important piece of stage direction. It creates an expectation in the audience unlike any other quote. It tells the audience immediately this telephone plays a role. Eddie has become desperate. The expectations are obvious, he is going to report Rodolfo and Marco to immigration. The audience think back to the story of Vinny and hoe tragic his story was, he was rejected by his family. The audience predict this is what will happen to Eddie. As the audience could predict Eddie reports Marco and Rodolfo to immigration. From that point onwards we know it really is ‘the end’ for Eddie. There is no chance that he can rectify and of the damage he has done. Eddie returns home, trying to act casual. Catherine, Rodolfo and Marco have moved upstairs. Beatrice has an argument with Eddie about his previous actions and the issues of their physical relationship come into context briefly. Beatrice tells Eddie that it is his fault, ‘ what you did to her, in front of him†¦ ‘ Amazingly Catherine finally stands up for her self in front of Eddie-‘I’m gonna get married Eddie. ‘ Which adds to the expectations off disaster because Catherine has finally learnt to stand up to Eddie, she isn’t trying to please him, she is her own mind which is something Eddie wont have experienced before. At a last grasp at hope, Eddie says to Catherine, ‘If you wanna go out, like†¦ I mean I realize maybe I kept you home to much. ‘ And still continues to push with another excuse that Rodolfo isn’t right for her. The audience see this as a desperate last attempt from Eddie to keep Catherine. Immigration arrive for Marco and Rodolfo. Eddie pretends he knows nothing about the immigrants-‘who? We got nobody here. ‘ It doesn’t take long for Beatrice to realise that Eddie is behind it-‘My God, what did you do? ‘ As immigration take away Marco and Rodolfo Marco spits in Eddies face. This is the biggest insult for Eddie, he is very hurt-‘That’s the thanks I get? I take the blankets off my bed for yiz. You gonna apologize. ‘ Now this has happened the expectations in the audience are fairly certain-Marco is the stronger man, he is furious with Eddie, understandably-‘That one, he killed my children! That one stole food from my children. ‘ What is Marco going to do? The question that plays the mind until the very end. That is a wonderful way to create expectation. Not only did Marco spit in his face, but he humiliated him in front of the entire neighbourhood, and the entire neighbourhood turned their back on Eddie. Eddie feels as low as possible he has lost everything that meant any value to him. Alfieri now has to make Marco promise not to hurt Eddie until the hearing, this takes a lot of persuading, creating more expectations because it makes us wonder what Marco is feeling and about how hard it is for him to promise. Catherine makes a point about Eddie, how she feels about him-‘Nobody is going to talk to him again. ‘ When Marco does make the promise, he is expecting Eddie to apologize to him. It is Catherine and Rodolfo’s wedding day. Eddie is on his last straw. He tells B that if she goes to the wedding he will leave her-‘You walk out that door, you aint comin’ back. ‘ This leaves the audience wondering, what could happen to their marriage who is she going to choose? Whoever she does choose will be the others disaster. Catherine finally does stands up to Eddie, harshly, like a woman. She calls him a ‘rat’ and says ‘He bites people in their sleep! He comes when no body’s lookin’ and poisons decent people. In the garbage he belongs. ‘ A surprise in the audience and some tension because we wonder what will happen to Eddie now? Rodolfo comes and warns Eddie, he warns him that Marco is coming and suggests ways of solving the argument-Eddie ignores him bluntly. Marco calls Eddie out. At this point expectations peak, the audience are on the edge of their seats, desperate to know†¦ what will Marco do? Well after a few insults, their question is answered. As Eddie takes out a knife, our predictions are confirmed. Marco turns the knife. In the street in front of the neighbourhood, ‘He dies in her arms’ Neither Eddie nor Marco could give into their beliefs and priorities. But Marco, the stronger man, won the battle. At the end of ‘A view from the bridge’ Alfieri concludes, a very well though out ending, as he is the chorus in the play. This play is a classic tragedy, and in this essay I have written an account of the main events, and the expectations of disaster and tragedy the audience receive. In this play I think the best indication of disaster is when the telephone booth lights up. It answers most of the plays out standing questions up to that point. For example, How will Eddie cope? What will Eddie do? And so on. Overall I think this is a good play, it has been written with excellent use of ‘brooklynese’ language and Arthur Miller has used stage directions very well. It is a good storyline and gives the mind a lot to think about. A very thought provoking play.

Monday, September 16, 2019

A critical review of literature on the importance of social media in branding

1.0 Introduction The aim of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of both literature in social media and the intended research. It offers a platform that would enable the reader understand the need for this research and also provides a gist about recent developments both in the industry and in research circles with respect to social media branding. The rapid development of technology and the reach of such technologies at affordable costs have revolutionized the way businesses operate. The World Wide Web and the Internet are being used by millions of people today. These technologies have led to a paradigm shift in the way communication happens and most business reputation and presence in a market is more driven by ‘social media’. (Tuten, 2008) It can also be noted that the shift and focus on social media has been drastic and many businesses were caught off-guard. However, the use of social media has created opportunities for online marketers to be able to engage with customers that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to using traditional methods. This reach though has posed many challenges to businesses that started looking at social media like other traditional media like magazine or television thus causing more gaps rather than bringing them closer to the customers (Qualman, 2012). On the contrary it can be said that more and more retailers and business are becoming increasingly aware of the social media and are waiting to exploit the potential that social marketing offers (Olivas-lujan, 2013) 1.1 Background Spend on social media by the businesses are on the rise. Recent study by the IAB (Internet Advertising Bureau) shows that in the first half of 2014 in the UK alone, there has been a rise of 53% in the spend on social media by businesses with a total contribution of ?242.5 million (Somerville, 2014). Another study by IAB on FMGC sector consisting of more than 4500 survey responses and 800 interviews showed that 90% of the customers would use social media to refer the brands to peers, 4 in 5 customers would buy products that have good social media coverage and 83% would be willing to try products that are popular in social media (Anon, 2013). Similarly, a research conducted by Mass Relevance that provides social media curation platform to clients found that 59% of the consumers will more likely trust a brand that has presence in the social media and 64% of the consumers interviewed have already made purchases based on social media presence and reviews (Chaney, 2012). Appendix 1 shows t he social media advertising effects on consumers (Source: Neilsen Survey: Anon, 2012) 1.2 Motivation From the above, it can be understood that social media has a profound impact on the consumers’ choice of brands and that it is key to engage effectively with customers. There is a lot of literature that discusses about the social media impact on consumers, why businesses should engage with customers, exploiting social media to provide value add etc. The main aim of this research is to look into various key researches in this area and to provide a critical review on the literature. The critical review aims to see if: The problems are identified clearly The literature provides a balanced view There are gaps in the literature 1.3 Research Process The success of the research is admittedly determined by measuring the extent to which each of the research objectives is met. The following steps are followed during this research to ensure its success. These steps are as follows: Firstly, a background into the research and its motivations is given. Following this, the key literature in this area is thoroughly investigated. This is intended to ensure that all aspects of the research are identified and that the challenges or gaps in the current literature are clearly understood. Next, the literature is critically analysed to see if the problems are identified and if it provides a balanced view of the topic. It also looks into the research methodology to see if the methods used are consistent with the qualitative and quantitative methods and also checks for what has not been provided. Finally, this research concludes by providing a conclusion that is supported by evidence presented in the literature. It also makes recommendations where appropriate. In summary, this chapter has provided a brief overview of the research, addressed the key challenges or gaps in the literature and justified the need to conduct this research. This chapter has also set the background and motivations for the research in order to enable the reader to better understand the subsequent chapters. The central question for the research has addressed here, and the reader now also understands the problem statements that have led to this research. 2.0 Literature Review This research discusses about social media and its effect on branding and consumers. But what is social mediaThe term social media can be defined as â€Å" Many online tools that allow people with similar interests to share information, learn from others, or network in an open process. The information found on these sites is commonly referred to as ‘user-generated content’, which means anyone is able to post with minimal restrictions or oversight.†(Wilson, 2010) Drury (2007) discusses how marketers of various businesses can effectively engage in social media marketing. The paper gives a fairly comprehensive view on what social media is and the role of marketing in social media. It discusses about how social media can be monetised by the marketers. The paper lists out opportunities that can be tapped for commercial benefits and also emphasises on the mobile marketing strategy and describes the success criteria for measuring success. The paper however has the follow ing drawbacks: It is very much general and has no qualitative or quantitative measures to define the success criteria. It gives a good overall picture but it would have been better if the context of the paper was more towards assessing the impact or the Return on Investment (ROI) of a specific sector or business. It lacks specific examples and also does not mention any strategy for implementation or even list challenges that organisations face while implementing good strategies for social media marketing. Michaelidou et al (2011) in their research discuss about social media marketing’s impact on small and medium B2B brands. They discuss in detail the adaption of social media networking as a marketing platform to be able to achieve the brand objectives and also the perceptions around the barriers of using social marketing networks. The research paper makes use of email surveys to understand the usage of social media by small and medium scale businesses that operate in the UK a nd the main drivers that motivate SMEs to adapt to the new channel of marketing. It clearly states the motivation of the research, giving appropriate background to the research and the method used for the research is depicted concisely. The research analyses the findings from the email survey and discusses the methods used for analysis. It provides a broad range of information and also clearly identifies the shortcomings in the business implementation of social media networking practices. It discusses how these pitfalls can be overcome and provides details for further improvement areas and scope for additional research in the future. The drawbacks of the paper are: Sample size: The sample size of the survey could have been more and also various other methods for obtaining the review could have been used. This would have ensured that the B2B base was thoroughly covered. Focus: The focus is on B2B businesses alone. It would have been interesting to see the results if the research was extended to B2C as well for small and medium scale enterprises. Some researches focus specifically on skills gap in digital marketing within specific industries. One such research concentrates on the communications industry (Royle and Laing, 2014). The research discusses the need for having the necessary skills in digital marketing arena and stresses on the growth and popularity of digital/social media marketing. The research explores the various gaps in the industry for digital marketing with a specific emphasis to communications sector and provides a best practice guide for the industry. It details the challenges that organisations face while implementing social media marketing and discusses the need to have evaluation criteria and metrics to critically analyse the success of social marketing strategies and campaigns within organisations. The paper talks about the key challenges that businesses face while trying to merge traditional marketing practices with that of social marketin g. The rationale for the research is clearly mentioned and the literature review is comprehensive. The conceptual framework is clearly detailed and the methodology used for developing the framework is precise. The research makes use of focus groups and interviews to be able to gauge the skill gap in the industry. The drawbacks of this research are: Limited sample size: The research could have used more samples to be able to analyse effectively the findings. Given that the research has already narrowed down by industry, it would have been good to get a more detailed view of the industry and a larger sample would have facilitated this. A study by Harvard Business Review (Edelman, 2010) discusses how the internet and the social marketing has changed not only the way businesses operate but also how consumers choose their products. It takes the reader through the funnel metaphor which was earlier being used by marketers to understand how consumers choose their products and how this has m oved to a more open-ended approach whereby consumers no longer follow a methodical approach of selecting products. It stresses how important it is for brands to be able to connect with the consumers and studied the consumers’ decisions across five different industries namely automobiles, skincare, insurance, mobile telecommunications and electronics in three different continents. Based on the results of the study, it proposed a four-stage model that focuses on today’s consumers using social media for advocating products and also purchasing based on the reviews and advocacy received. The research takes the reader through the entire customer journey and tells the businesses what it should not focus its energy and resources on. Providing statistical information about various surveys enables the businesses to identify the key areas that it should concentrate on to be able to build a good brand image online. Though the research is comprehensive it lacks in the following: Fr amework: It does not suggest what needs to be done and a framework for implementing those. The key focus is on what not to be done and it leaves it to the businesses to work on the best strategy. Sample size and analysis: The research does not disclose the sample size or indicate clearly the analysis method used to come to the conclusion. This section worked on identifying key research in the literature and also provided a critical review of each of the researches identified. 3.0 Conclusion Though there is a lot of literature on various aspects including but not limited to effects of social media on small and medium scale enterprises, identification of skill gaps in social media with specific emphasis to certain industries, general study on implementation challenges, perception of social media on businesses, barriers to adaptation of social media by businesses etc. it can be found that there is not much literature that specifically talks about a common framework for adapting to social media marketing along with the challenges that businesses might face and the evaluation criteria. Similarly while most of these researches make use of one or more methods for data collection, it is not very comprehensive. There is a gap in the current literature in terms of data collected from a wide range of sources using a bigger sample set. Given that technology has enabled a higher reach to customers, it would be good to get a larger sample to be able to effectively analyse the results . In many cases, the limitations of the research scope could be worked on to be able to get more information on the above mentioned areas. In short, it can be said that the social media marketing and the research around it are yet to attain the maturity level and there is a lot of scope for research that would aid businesses to effectively handle and manage social media marketing concerns and overcome challenges in a seamless and stress-free manner. 4.0 References Tuten, 2008: Advertising 2.0: Social Media Marketing in a Web 2.0 world, Greenwood publishing group. Qualman, 2012: Socialnomics: How social media transforms the way we live and do business, John Wiley & Sons Livas-Lujan, 2013: Social Media in Strategic Marketing, Emerald Group publishing limited Somerville, 2014: 18 Digital Marketing Trends you may not have heard about, The Fresh Egg blog accessed at: http://www.freshegg.co.uk/blog/18-digital-marketing-trends-for-2014 Anon, 2013: IAB Social Media Effectiveness Research, IAB UK accessed at: http://www.iabuk.net/research/library/iab-social-media-effectiveness-research Chaney, 2012: Brands should use social media to engage consumers, amplify messages and promote trust, Digital intelligence today accessed at: http://digitalintelligencetoday.com/brands-should-use-social-media-to-engage-consumers-amplify-messages-and-promote-trust-survey-says/ Anon, 2012: State of the Media, The social media report, Neilsen Wilson, 2010: Social Media and Small Business Marketing, University Business Printing and press, USA Drury, 2007: Opinion Piece: Social Media: Should marketers engage and how can it be done effectively?, Journal of Direct, Data and Digital Marketing Practice Michaelidou et al, 2011: Usage, Barriers and measurement of social media marketing: An exploratory investigation of small and medium B2B brands, Elsevier Royle and Liang, 2014: The digital marketing skills gap: Developing a digital marketer model for communication industries, Elsevier Edelman, 2010: Branding in the digital age: You’re spending your money in all the wrong places, Harvard Business Review