Contemporary isssues in Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Contemporary isssues in Marketing - Essay Example etitive business environment, it is evident that global marketing strategies and tactics have significantly evolved and are used intensively within the operations of the business. This is because of the increasing power of the consumers along with their ever-changing demands. This also signifies the evolution of the customers’ oriented business process. This particular approach is adopted with the intention to gain competitive advantages over rivals. In this regard, it is also evident that the technological developments such as the Internet have a major role in the evolution of the business process, thereby attaining competitive advantages (Hackley, 2013). In order to gain competitive advantages, it is notable that the corporate organisations execute several activities that are required for getting the desired level of performances. These activities are considered as ethically and morally valuable for the overall business operations in any sector. Eventually, it leads to social benefit, which indirectly benefits a corporate organisation (Tadajewski, 2004). In this context, the objective of this particular research essay is to consider all these aspects in a comprehensive or illustrative manner. The outcome of the research will subsequently aid the young marketers and others to attain professional developments and organisational growth at the same time. In the modern era of competitive business environment, marketing strategies and tactics of companies has changed significantly. This has considerably led to the evolution of marketing through the involvement of technologies. In this regard, one of the major technological developments in the modern era is evident from the onset of internet technology. Internet technology has led to the improvement of communication among people residing in different parts of the world. This has considerably supported and benefitted the corporate enterprises in gaining a better position for themselves within the marketplace. Through

Outline How Material Things Essay Example for Free

Outline How Material Things Essay This essay will outline how material things on City Road favour the activities of some groups of people over others by looking at Ethnicity, Class and Gender. City Road is a big road filled with lots of different cultures, gender, class, age and history. When walking down the road it can be seen that the belonging and not belonging in the society. It opens your eyes as to what exactly goes on in different societies and City Road is a big street with a lot of demands and structures in it. Over the years society changed and so did the street. It goes by what is in demand, how society changes and by the vast majority of different cultures coming into the area. You see a lot of people trying to conform to the society and many trying to hold onto their own identities. First of all I’m going to talk about the Ethnicity on the street. We are going to the Xquisite Africa shop. Janet, the lady that owns the shop originates from Africa and moved to the UK over ten years ago. When she came to the UK she thought that she had to change her identity and conform to the society. She sells a lot of things from Africa and by doing this she gets to hold onto her identity of the African culture and also appeals to customers from the same ethnic background. She felt after being in the UK for ten years that she had lost her identity and so she decided to take a trip back home to Africa to re-charge her batteries as she puts it. She wanted to re-gain her culture that she so desperately lost. This aspect could help her re-gain her culture and identity and allows her to share this with the right clientele from a multi-racial background. She can share a state of belonging to a social group that has in common a national or cultural background, whilst negotiating with people on the complex of different identities. She contributes to the African social life and society as well as on City Road. Therefore promoting her African background and understanding there is no need to conform to the society and changing her identity. We then move onto class in the Municipal Club. A social stratum, whose members share a certain economic, social or cultural characteristics. For this instance the working class. It is aimed at the local residents and has over 100 years of history. A group containing members regarded as having certain attributes of traits in common has slowly disappeared and they long for the society to change back to what they believed it was. Whilst in the (DVD, Making social lives on City Road, 2009, scene 5) Lloyd Robson talks to couple of residents in the club and gets their insight of what is going on. He asked them if they thought the club had a future. They said no. no-one wants to know it anymore and even the members have started to lose interest. But because the society has changed it meant that they described city road as being dangerous and rough. They long for the past. They want it to go back to what they say it used to be or imagined it. The inequalities and differences that has changed and also the traditions has been lost. They lack the sense of belonging they used to have when City Road used to be theirs. Then we come across the Sanna Silk shop. This is where the female is favoured over the male. It’s a family business orientated around females as they sell and make dresses of different materials. They get to choose their type of material and their patterns. It is mainly focused at Asian women. In the (DVD, Making social lives on City Road, 2009, scene 6 by Raghuran) she says â€Å"it is a very different way of portraying Asian women than I often seen in the media. † They also have a section for jewellery. Most of their jewellery is 22 carat gold and is mainly aimed at the women. They also have a selection for their wedding day. So it has an Asian culture that is even though yes men go in to buy but is very female orientated. Conclusion Therefore in City Road, my examples favour female gender activities over male, is a very multi-racial area and favours specific class over others. Therefore explaining that society changes all of the time and conforms to whatever is more in demand in that specific time of era.

Principles of Strategic Marketing Management

Principles of Strategic Marketing Management Organizations use Strategic Marketing to create a plan to better reach and satisfy customers while increasing profitability and productivity. Read on to learn more about what Strategic Marketing is and how businesses use it. Companies use Strategic Marketing to identify customer needs and to create a marketing plan to meet those needs and increase profit. Typically, an organization will create a written Strategic Marketing plan that dictates what type of marketing programs it will use during a given time frame and how those programs will be implemented. Marketing promotes your business and all that your business offers to your customers, brings customers to your business, and makes your business stand out in the crowd. A solid Marketing Strategy brings consistent traffic and a constant flow of customers to your business. TASK 1 Principles of Strategic Marketing Management The principles of Strategic marketing deals with the big picture marketing planning. It analyses how a company can best satisfy its customers and make a profit  at it. Strategic marketing planning is directed from the top of the company and is extremely important in any for-profit organization. Several key principles govern strategic marketing. History of TARIK FOODS: I am going to construct a strategy on a grocery store (TARIK FOOD) in east London market. We aim to make the selection process through and challenging for a number of reasons, firstly to make sure us employee those people that are right for the role and just as important who will fit in with TARIK food culture. TARIK food started life in 1995 when Mar. TARIK started selling surplus groceries from a stall in the east of London Mr TARIK made a profit of  £1 from sales of  £4 on his first day. The TARIK brand first appeared two years later in 1997 when he bought a shipment of Asian stuff food from Pakistan. The nature of this business is sole proprietorship. Though there are so many grocery stores like TARIK FOODS, Vijays Store, Khan Super Food, Johan Supermarket Store and Sainsburys. People demand some change in their taste with higher quality food at lower price. So, we need competitive edge in the grocery market. Thats why we are going to launch something new according to consume r requirement in better way! This differentiation supposes to be a big profit for me. Growth of TARIK Food in 1999 represents increase of 4% compared to 1998. Growth in 2005 and 2006 represent 7% compared to 1999. Growth is forecasted at the same rate in 2010. The role of strategic marketing in TARIK FOODS As companies strive to ensure future growth and profitability, they are turning to their marketing organizations to accelerate and guide their paths. Marketing is expected to provide a competitive advantage in shaping not just brand and corporate positioning but also in driving corporate strategy and setting the agenda for innovation and growth. Marketing plays an important role in the strategic planning process for many organizations. Although some marketing positions are represented at the corporate level, most are at the functional level within the business units of an organization. As shown in Exhibit 3-3, however, marketing is involved in strategic planning at all organizational levels in TARIK FOODS Strategic marketing is describing the the marketing activities that are affecting the functioning of the TARIK FOODS in the competitive market of food products. The role of strategic marketing can be described in the three basic types and functions. First : This helps everyone in TARIK FOODS towards the market and the customers. Thus they are responsible to excute the marketing philosophy throughout. Second :- This help gather and analyse the information required to examine the current situation , identify the trends in the marketing environment for TARIK FOODS and assess the potential impact of these trends. Third :- The role of marketing is varied in the TARIK FOODS . For it is a organisation which is driven by the marketing philosophy , so it plays a key role in the strategic decision making. The trend is pushing towards the strategic marketing and its planning responsibility further down the organisation, which is increasing the clout in the organisation`s strategic planning process. Processes involved in strategic marketing in TARIK FOODS Setting up of marketing goals.  Once they have decided to market their products, they set realistic and measurable goals to achieve over the next 18 to 24 months. This time span allows them to plan activities around community events that are in line with their marketing goals. For example, TARIK FOODS might help sponsor an annual walkathon for breast cancer or speak at a nearby communitys annual health fair. Because of the rapid changes occurring in the health food and care environment. TARIK FOODS dont recommend planning specific activities more than two years in advance. Conduct market research.  The purpose of market research is to draw a realistic picture of their practice, the community they serve in and their current position in that locality . With this research, TARIK FOODS can make fairly accurate projections about future growth in the community, locality and Region and as well as identifies the competitive factors and explore non-traditional opportunities   Determine a budget.  Before TARIK FOODS can decide what specific marketing strategies they want to implement to achieve their goals, they examine ther financial information and come up with a marketing budget. Marketing budgets vary by the type of market a practice is in, the age of a practice and whether the practice has marketed before. Develop an implementation schedule.  An implementation schedule is a time-line that shows which marketing actions will be done when and by whom. TARIK FOODS decides the schedule should also include the cost of each marketing action and how it fits into the budget estimates for the 24-month period. While the management of TARIK FOODS creates the schedule, they carefully consider how the activities will affect the current practice operations and whether there are sufficient resources (such as staff, time and money) to accomplish the necessary tasks.   Creating an evaluation process.  The management of TARIK FOODS belives in the the value of a marketing plan is its effectiveness, which requires deliberate and timely implementation  and  monitoring and evaluation of results. Thus they pay importance to measure their results against the standards they had set in establishing your goals.This helps them achieve the said process laid down by them. Link between strategic marketing and corporate strategy in TARIK FOODS In TARIK FOODS the Corporate structure is very well laid and thus each and every strategies are linked and are co-releated to each other . This helps them to achieve each and every goal and the laid down of various marketing and organistaional stratergies very effectively . Corporate strategy is the  overall  scope  and  direction  of a  corporation  and the way in which its various  business operations  work  together to  achieve  particular  goals. Where as Strategic marketing is promotes your business and all that your business offers to your customers, brings customers to your business. In TARIK FOODS we can see that that the management which is promoting its business with the techniques of the strategic marketing , is also simultanesouly incorporating the said similar type of guuodelines in some of its corporate environment , which is controlling the few other branches of the stores and distributon and control of its staff. So it is very obvious that the lin between the corporate and the strategic marketing is evident. TASK 2 Tools used to develop a strategic marketing strategy In TARIK FOODS the management follows the following chart which is best describing the strategic marketing that they are using in oreder to develop and promote and bring in the growth for the organization . They are at present using the 5 Step Planning Process . Below here is the chart which describes it the best. C:UsersdineshDesktopplanprocess.jpg 2.1) The Models used in strategic marketing planning in TARIK FOODS SWOT Model : The SWOT tool is one of the most important tools in strategic marketing.  Ã‚  It is also one of the most maligned and misunderstood.  Ã‚  90% of the SWOTs that we see are done badly and have little use in developing strategy. SWOT means Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.  Ã‚  Done correctly , it should provide a one-page summary of your entire market audit and point towards the key issues that need to be addressed in the marketing plan. This simple tool will help you undertake your own SWOT effectively and provide a professional situation summary in your marketing plan.   McDonald Marketing Plan :- 2.2) The Link between strategic positioning and marketing TACTICS IN TARIK FOODS Strategic positioning is Primarily, strategic positioning is a differentiation tactic by customer segment, with the goal to dominate one market niche as much as possible, thus matching production costs, locations, price and product to maximize the ROI on that combination. Where as Marketing tactics is the tactics that are used by the TARIK FOODS or say any organization for its promotion of a particular product. In TARIK FOODS the whole concepot is to focus on the dominance of the market in the area and the adjoining areas in the particular segment of food business that they do, thus they lay down their marketing tactics in sucha manner that they bring out the best outcome from the straatergies of marketing that they lay down that helps them position their own organization at a place that helps them to expand their profits and help them grow and be positioned at a dominating position in the market. 2.3) Analyse the merits of relationship Marketing in TARIK FOODS strategic marketing strategy Retaining customers for the long-term offers always benefits this is what TARIK FOODS has in mind when the stratergies are laid down by the management. The aim is for the company to obtain life time customer. Some of the merits of relationship marketing which TARIK FOODS belives is it includes :- Loyal customers will recommend your business to others, thus expanding your business for you. Loyal customers are willing to try some of your new products, because they trust you. Customers will be willing to pay more for your services/products if there are adjustments in pricing because they are loyal to you and trust your services/products. Loyal customers will tell you about problems with your products/services enabling to improve your products/services. The ultimate benefit will be an increase sales, market share and dominance. Task 3 Using of the strategic marketing techniques In TARIK FOODS the appropriate use of the strategic marketing techiniques is very essentioal for the success of the branch. As they belive in dominating the market , so they have this thing in mind that they have to use the strategic mareting techniques to the success as its implementation will only bring out a result. 3.1) Marketing techniques by TARIK FOODS There are a few small types of marketing techniques but very effectively used by the TARIK FOODS , this ascertain growth opportunities in the market for TARIK FOODS. The below mentioned techniques are used by TARIK FOODS :- Outdoor Advertising:  Hoardings and roadside boards are put up so that displays their exsistance and their current offers. This is quite effective for displaying a marketing message or introducing a new brand among public . The Management believes that the probability of message transmission is strong with outdoor advertising. Brochures and Leaflets:  Brochures and leaflets let them reach out to specific customer group through  the direct marketing, means  these can be distributed by hand to specific groups of people. This allows the management a guaranteed message delivery.May it be a particular offer that is running in the outlet or say a particular rate reduction in the offering. Internet Search Engine Marketing:  This specific type of marketing lets them reach out to targeted audiences with specific interest for their variety of eatable products and also lets the customers know about their customer service experiance. This often leads to product awareness and even sales in many cases. Search engine optimization and paid search marketing are two most effective methods utilized by TARIK FOODS for the stratergy of their marketing. 3.2) Plan how to use marketing strategy options in the market where tarik foods is operating MARKET DOMINANCE STRATEGIES Looking at the way the area has been dominated by TARIK FOODS the market dominance strategy is the one which will suit the management style of interest for them . As they have been dominating the market in the area, as well as in the surrounding also. Typically there are four types of market dominance strategies that they should consider: They are à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Market leader: It typically is the industry leader in developing innovative new business models and new products (although not always). Of the four dominance strategies, it has the most flexibility in crafting strategy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The main options available to TARIK FOODS are: Expand the total market by finding   Ã‚  New users of the product or more usage on each use occasion Protecting TARIK FOODS existing market share by: Developing new product ideas and improved customer service and improved distribution effectiveness as well as reduce costs Expand TARIK FOODS market share: By targeting one or more competitor and without being noticed by government regulators à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Market challenger:- A market challenger is a firm in a strong, but not dominant position that is following an aggressive strategy of trying to gain market share. It typically targets the industry leader (for example, Pepsi targets Coke), but it could also target smaller,more vulnerable competitors. TARIK FOODS should ssess the strength of the target competitor. Considering the amount of support that the target might muster from allies. Choose only one target at a time. Find a weakness in the target Position. Attack at this point. Consider how long it will take for the target to realign their resources so as to reinforce this weak spot. Launch the attack on as narrow a front as possible. Whereas a defender must defend all their borders,an attacker has the advantage of being able to concentrate their forces at one place. Launch the attack quickly, and then consolidate.Some of the options open to a market challenger are: price discounts or price cutting line extensions Introduce new products Reduce product quality Increase product quality Improve service Change distribution Cost reductions and Intensify promotional activity à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Market follower:- A market follower is a firm in a strong, but not dominant position that is content to stay at that position.The advantages TARIK FOODS will derive from these strategies are: No expensive RD failures   No risk of bad business model   Best practices? are already established   Able to capitalize on the promotional activities of the market leader   Minimal risk of competitive attacks Market nicher:- In this niche strategy TARIK FOODS should concentrates on a select few target markets. It is also called a focus strategy. TARIK FOODS tend to be in high value added market and are able to obtain high margins. TARIK FOODS tend to be highly focused on a specific market segment. TARIK FOODS tend to market high end products and are able to use a premium pricing strategy. TARIK FOODS tend to keep their operating expenses down by spending less on RD, advertising, and personal selling. 3.3) Create appropriate strategic marketing objectives for the market where TARIK FOODS is operating TARIK FOODS should look into the following strategic marketing objectives :- Purpose of setting OBJECTIVES is to  Convert TARIK FOODS into market performance targets  creating yardsticks to track market/sales performance. Establish performance goals requiring stretch  . Also they should push firm to be inventive, intentional, focused   products/services setting CHALLENGING but ACHIEVABLE objectives  such as SALES MARKET   SHARE DISTRIBUTION PROFIT/SALES   RATIO TWO TYPES OF OBJECTIVES NEEDED Outcomes that relate to improving firms financial performance Outcomes that will result in greater competitiveness stronger long-term market position Financial Objectives Strategic Marketing   Objectives example :- STRATEGIC   MARKETING   OBJECTIVES improve   market   share position as the number one .  Build a strong brand name   in growing   market develop new   products that women need and want.  Explore the market   to develop   international   market.  Increase   the   distribution   coverage to   maximize   sales.Increase   the   gross   profit   margin   by   Ã‚  5 %. CRAFTING A MARKETING   STRATEGY Strategy-Making concerns HOW to  develop strategy   to   achieve   Ã‚  desired the brand   acceptance   Ã‚  objectives   Position all   products to   win a competitive advantage   devise   a   channel   strategy   to   meet   outsmart   Ã‚  competition and devise   a   incentive   strategy   to   Ã‚  stimulate   the   trade/distributors also devise   a   retail   strategy   Ã‚  to   Grow the company   business Task 4 Changes in the marketing environment   Ã‚  Marketing environment comprises of the combination of two words marketing and environment. Marketing means responding to the needs and demands of the consumers to provide optimum satisfaction. Similarly environment refers to external factors influences and organizational power which is related to the aim and effective working of a firm. Thus marketing environment refers to external or macro factors and forces which not only influence a company but also the components which affect the consumers analyzing its trend and impact on the operations and performance of the company. 4.1) Impact of changes in the external environment on the marketing strategy of TARIK FOODS The impact of EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT has a very big change on the marketing stratergies in TARIK FOODS Considering the taste : Looking at the type of the people that live close by in a specific area the management in TARIK FOODS , takes utmost care while laying down the selling stratergy, so that the likes and dislikes of the people who will be eating and buying are matched appropriately. Atmospheric Change : The Cliate change forces the TARIKK FOODS to sell those food stuff which are the thing that are more preferred by the people who eat and buy the products . As this enables the management to get a high amount of sales for achieving the stratergic targets of their strategic marketing . 4.2) Conduct an internal analysis to identify current strengths and weaknesses in TARIK FOODSs marketing strategy Looking into the swot analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of TARIK FOODS , it can be observed the following. SWOT analysis of TARIK FOODS Weaknesses On performing a SWOT analysis of TARIK FOODSs the weaknesses,that can be seen are like Its very small in the amount of business it does when compared with the big wigs in the same industry Its serving a few selected categories of people , where in a larger chunk of people are left out Its looking more towards the market dominance and less towards the customer service TARIK FOODS is bound to reveal several weaknesses. One example, of many, is the amount of fossil fuel used in its transport network. With increasing oil prices,   TARIK FOODS needs to keep a close eye on transport costs. Another weakness come from TARIK FOODSs dependence on the UK grocery market. Hence, it is increasing its foreign outlets and selling other goods. SWOT analysis of TARIK FOODS Strengths TARIK FOODSs strengths in grocery retail allow it to compete easily with local businesses . This has led to its brand name and financial power becoming strengths in themselves. This has led to many more stores being built at the nearby areas as well, leading to geographical strength. The following strengths can be seen : The ability to perform with terms of revenue generation The abilty to deliver to customer at times when the other stores cant deliver The model of successful implementation of the Strategic marketing techniques. 4.3) Propose strategic marketing responses to key emerging themes TARIK FOODS marketing strategy The responses to the strategic marketing of the key themes that are emerging from TARIK FOODS , marketing strategy are very special in terms looking at their market capture in the area. They are also having a very good and healty competition in the industry , which is giving a run for the money to even the best known , international brands of food outlets and the product selling industry with in the area.

Motivational Strategy Guidelines Based On Self-Efficacy Essay -- Social

Purpose of this paper The purpose of this paper is three-fold: First, to examine briefly Social Cognitive Theory’s view on the contribution of self-efficacy to learning and motivation; Then, to offer some guidelines for motivational strategies reflecting self-efficacy concepts that have been supported by research; Finally, to provide some possible ways to implement these guidelines in a mathematics class. Introduction Within us all is a desire to achieve. The need exists to show, to ourselves and to others, that we are capable in some area; that we are able to perform difficult tasks, acquire knowledge that no one else knows, run faster, jump higher, and live up to some perceived potential unique to us as individuals. This goal to achieve is evident in young children, manifesting itself early and continuing at some level throughout the school years and on into adulthood. Of particular interest and importance to me as a teacher are contributing factors to students’ motivation to achieve, and motivational strategies that can increase the likelihood of student achievement. At this point, let me state the obvious: Studying motivation is somewhat difficult, because motivation is subjective. Motivation is not directly observable. It must be inferred from student behavior. Also, behavior patterns exhibited by students may have similar surface attributes, but could arise from entirely different motivations (Good, Brophy, 1995). Student motivation is affected by many variables including past experience, peers, home life, classroom and school expectations, and teacher behavior. This adds to the complexity of studying motivation, and adds to the difficulty teachers face when addressing issues relevant to promoting st... ...03). My Current Understanding of Understanding Mathematics, paper submitted for MAT 791. Snowman, J. & Biehler, R. (2000). Psychology Applied to Teaching. 9th Edition. Boston, MA. Houghton Mifflin Company. Urdan, T. Midgley, C., & Anderman, E. M. (1998), The role of classroom goal structure in students’ use of self-handicapping stragtegies, American Education Research Journal, 35(1), 101-122. Online sources and suggestions: www.analytictech.com/mbo21/motivation.htm. www.cartwright.k12.az.us/Math/Resources/cooperat.html (Cooperative Learning Suggestions). www.emory.edu/EDUCATION/mfp/BanEncy.html (Self-Efficacy by Albert Bandura). www.emory.edu/EDUCATION/mfp/effpage.html (An excellent resource for information and links on SCT and self-efficacy). www.fiu.edu/~cryan/selfefficacy/MotivationandOpportunity.htm. www.med.usf.edu/~kmbrown/Social_

Panasonic and Japan’s Changing Culture

Case #2; Panasonic and Japan’s Changing Culture 1. Some of the drivers of the cultural changes in the 1990’s with Panasonic were that Japan’s generation of workers, starting with the generation born in the 1960’s, did not wholly believe in being a â€Å"salaryman† and working for a company from when they start until when they retire. After many years, in the 1990’s Japan entered an economic slump that lasted the majority of the 1990’s.Only a few companies at first started to lay off employees and go back on their promises of employment until retirement because the older their workers, although they worked hard, also were less efficient than younger workers were. As the younger generations saw this happening they concluded that loyalty to both the company and workers would not be reciprocated anymore and became less harder working than previous. This undermined the traditional culture in Japan of the central bargains of housing and reti rement packages for an employees hard work and loyalty. 2.Japan’s businesses in the future have to operate with more than one plan when they hire workers to effectively. In 1999 Panasonic gave recruits three different choices when they were signed on in employment. They could continue with being given housing, go free to company social events, and buy cheaper services from banks, while also receiving a two year salary bonus when they retired. They could choose to forgo the retirement bonus, while keeping the company housing and be given a higher salary, or they could forgo the retirement bonus and any subsidized services but would be given an even higher salary.In addition to the changes in hiring, companies needed employees to be more risk taking and needed to encourage individuality which is something that was not very prevalent in Japan. Without employees taking risks, companies would suffer and that is what happened to Panasonic as they were forced to close thirty factori es, and cut 13,000 jobs while selling â€Å"huge amounts of assets†. 3. Japanese culture in the 1950’s-1980’s benefited Panasonic greatly because of how after the World War II defeat, Japan was humiliated and it seemed fair that they would be taken care of if they worked hard for their company.For Panasonic this was a great thing because employees worked extremely hard for the greater good of Panasonic and Panasonic responded by giving the employees â€Å"blessings† of company housing, and free social events. 4. With Panasonic cutting 15,000 employees and closing another additional 27 plants, Panasonic is trying to achieve a lower overhead cost in operation and also is trying to find out who their best workers are so that they are not kept down when they should be promoted.By quickly responding to the recession, it showed a change in Panasonic’s company policies and shows that they might be moving even further away from company subsidized housing a nd to make employees become harder workers not because they know that they cannot be fired, but that they can be fired, at any time. If Panasonic implements these changes quickly, they will receive a lot of backlash from all those displaced employees and if they did it like this it would truly symbolize how Panasonic has changed into a company that is becoming westernized and is only concerned with how the company does and not their employees.If the changes take years to implement, although it would greatly affect the profitability of the company, it would give employees chances to adapt to changes of no longer being employed and give them chances to be hired in another company. By making changes slowly, Panasonic would be able to claim that it still wished to use the old way of never cutting jobs but it could not do it in this economy and had to do so to survive. 5.The Panasonic case teaches me that there is a fine line between societal culture and business success and sometimes yo u have to be able to choose between the two to realize which is more important to you. To some companies, such as Panasonic, trying hard to keep with the societal culture becomes too much of a strain for a company to bear so they are forced to adapt and realize that business success is more important that having all your workers love you. It may not be the type of business practice that gives you the best reputation but it will give you the greatest profit margins.

Alcohol Research Paper Essay

Alcohol plays too significant a role in society today and should be an after thought as opposed to the most essential addition to any social event. Alcohol creates numerous social, economic, and health problems that could very easily be stopped if it played a less influential role in every day events. The use of alcohol is prominent in, but not limited to three social circles that include students, family groups, and religious gatherings. Experts have much to say about alcohol use and abuse in these three categories, including all of the negative aspects of drinking. Social drinking is a common occurrence around America. Whether it is after work or after a football game, white collar or blue, two-thirds of the American population sit down at least once a week to enjoy an alcoholic beverage (Med. unc. edu). Many of these people do not realize that drinking is what leads to uncontrolled behavior, drunk driving, and in the long run, addiction. They are thinking only of the short-term effects, not the negative long-term consequences. People who regularly turn to alcohol eventually begin to neglect their families and other responsibilities, consequently wrecking the lives of loved ones and their own as well. While the lasting negative effects of alcohol use are spewed daily through the media, the problems will not stop until society completely understands how alcohol can indeed pose a serious threat to the nations social welfare. Alcohol has an adverse effect on the economy. The consequences of alcohol abuse and dependence cost the nation an estimated $99 billion each year (Gordis, 209). It is tax money that pays for alcoholics who both live on the street and are barely getting by or who are in government-funded hospitals and institutions. The United States should either find an alternative way to take care of these people or perhaps raise liquor taxes. Either one of these options would conceivably minimize the economical problems caused by alcoholic beverages. It is not the responsibility of the people as a whole to take care of the homeless people who have fallen prey to the lure of alcohol related problems. As of 1991, about 14 million Americans met medical diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism. There are numerous health problems that are linked to drinking. For instance, if alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, birth defects may result, worse, the baby could be born addicted to alcohol (Kellam, 30). High doses of alcohol have also been found to delay puberty in females and slow bone growth and result in weaker bones (Windle, 179). One of the main risks of drinking alcoholic beverages is having a stroke. A review of epidemiological evidence concludes that moderate alcohol consumption increases the potential risk of strokes caused by bleeding (Camargo, 1620). Another medical problem that involves alcohol is the use of prescription medications. Alcohol may interact harmfully with more that 100 medications, including some sold over the counter. The effects of alcohol are especially augmented by medications that depress the function of the central nervous system, such as sleeping pills, sedatives, and antidepressants, and certain painkillers (Thomas, 336). Upon understanding the risks of drinking, some people would surely stop. Better health is a good reason to do so. One of the main groups of alcohol users is high school and college students. Despite a legal drinking age of 21, many young people in the United States consume alcohol. There are several factors that put youth at risk for drinking and for alcohol-related problems and also several consequences of their drinking. Thirteen- to fourteen- year-olds are at high risk to begin drinking. This is a confusing stage in their life and they are easily pressured into doing things they would not normally do. Also at high risk are twins and adopted children. Studies of these two groups demonstrate that genetic factors influence an individual’s vulnerability to alcoholism. Children of alcoholics are more likely than children of nonalcoholics to imitate drinking during adolescence and develop alcoholism, but the relative influence of environment and genetics have not been determined and vary among people (Chassin, 453). Advertising has also been found to play an influencing role in adolescents’ decision to drink. Research has assessed the effects of alcohol advertising awareness on intentions to drink. In a study of fifth- and sixth-graders’ awareness measured by the ability to identify products in commercials with the product name blocked out awareness had a small but statistically significant relationship to positive expectancies about alcohol and intention to drink as adults (Grube, 257). Although there are many risk factors inviting youths to drink, one of the most prevalent is peer drinking and acceptance of drinking. If one minor sees another drinking he would most likely find it acceptable and join his friend. If all of these risk factors were reduced, say, less advertising of alcohol where children will likely be influenced, children would not find it as acceptable to drink and would probably not start off so young or abstain wholly. Though the prevalence of binge drinking varies among campuses, the overall statistics are alarming. A 1993 survey by 18,000 students at 140 colleges in 40 states found that 44% of the students drank heavily (med.unc. edu). In an effort to curb students thirst for alcoholic beverages, many schools are trying to come up with alternatives to promoting social events that involve alcohol. Colby University has come up with a new program that offers students an alternative to getting ? sloshed. ‘ Faculty and students there have formed a committee that will recommend a reorganization of social functions. One of their recommendations was that the student association spend at least 50% of their funds exclusively alcohol free events. The other 50% of the funds may be used for entertainment, decorations, or refreshments, but may not be used for the purchase of alcohol (colby. edu). More schools should take part in this kind of rehabilitation, not only does it give the school a positive reputation, but it gives the student s more time to concentrate on the reason that they are there which is to learn. Serving food, non-alcoholic drinks, offering activities and entertainment such as games and music, and ceasing to give alcohol two hours before the end of the party are all ideas that will promote safe social scenes and responsible parties. One way to deter younger drinkers from becoming addicts is to step up the punishment for law-breakers who have a blood alcohol concentration indicating public intoxication. Whether it is as minor as carrying a fake identification card or as major as a drunk driving accident, offenders who break the law while legally intoxicated should be punished to the full extent of the law. Alcohol abusers, these risk takers and law-breakers, may realize after being punished once or twice that this is not the path they should take. Sobriety is a great thing, and the choice to be sober is one that should have positive connotations as opposed to the negative ones that go with drinking and being drunk. Learning at a young age that alcohol is not the great thing that everyone makes it out to be is a step in the right direction. We really should start now on a program that gives every child from kindergarten to college factual, unbiased training about alcohol. Then in a couple of generations we’d see fewer problems. Most people would have learned to drink responsibly. (Weiner, 93) The earlier people learn, the best it will be for them and society in general.