Bangladeshi Soft Drinks Market free essay sample

The purpose of this term paper was to focus on carbonated beverages (Pepsi and Mojo Cola). Theterm paper represents the different types of marketing activites undertaken by both products tohold customers of BangladeshThis report also gives an overview of beverage industry in Bangladesh and also an overview of  Pepsi and Mojo colas parent companies. Akij Food Beverage Ltd. has been established at a beautiful site Krishnapura, Dhamrai of  Dhaka. It has come with the best food beverage in Bangladesh. There are various types of drink. Mojo is the brand name of cola, Lemu is the brand name of Lemon and Speed is the brand name of  energy drink. Immediately after the introduction of the brand it became very popular among itsconsumer because of the high quality and intensive distribution in every nook and corner of thecountry. Checky Monkey is the brand name of banana chips produced from this factory. We will write a custom essay sample on Bangladeshi Soft Drinks Market or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It also is  becoming popular chips in Bangladesh. Most of our Raw materials come from various foreigncountries. The quality is very strictly controlled. At every stage, non standard products are rejected. On the other hand Pepsi Co. is a multinational company. Originated in The USA Carolina in 1898. Since then it has been able to stay in competition with its biggest rival Coca-Cola. Pepsi, now is aworldwide brand and consumed by millions of people. Pepsi was introduced in Bangladesh byTranscom Group. As a corporate citizen Pepsico believes it has a responsibility to contribute to thequality of life in our communities. Transcom Beverage Ltd has put into action this philosophythrough support of social agencies, projects and programs and the scope of this support is extensiveand it has not been difficult to blend with this philosophy since the TRANSCOM group alsofollowed such a corporate ideology Chapter:1 1. 1: INTRODUCTION (Beverage industry of Bangladesh) After independence of Bangladesh the food habit of people has been changed a lot. Besides our  traditional food consumer of Bangladesh like to take western food also after 1980s. As a result of  global marketing this was not too hard for the consumers. Different foreign food companies wereestablished in Bangladesh. Beverage industry is one of them. But more interestingly we don’tknow beverage is also our cultural food because beverage doesn’t mean only carbonated drinks. Yoghurt, soup and lacchi are also beverage of our own tradition which consumed for the last 100years in Bangladesh. But carbonated beverage is new in Bangladesh and today our research is oncarbonated beverage market in Bangladesh and consumer reaction to it. Carbonated beverage entered into our market in the later part of 1980. At that time there were onlyfew companies in Bangladesh. But by the change of time and western culture influences it’s  become very popular in Bangladesh. By year 2000 more than 12 Beverage Company operating  business in Bangladesh and most of them are foreign companies. Bangladesh Beverage: 2006)At present there are 19 beverage companies operating business in Bangladesh. They are: 1. Transcom Beverage Ltd. 2. Sun Crest Beverage Industries Ltd 3. Abdul Monem Limited 4. K. Rahman and Company 5. Eastern Beverage Industries Ltd. 6. Sanowara Drinks and Bev. md. Ltd. 7. Asia Business Ltd. 8. Desh Beverage Co. Ltd 9. Northern Beverage Ltd. 10. National Be verage Industries Ltd. 11. Bridge Corporation Limited 12. Tezarat Enterprise 13. Southern Beverage Ltd. 14. K. Rahman and Company 15. Bangladesh Beverage Ind. Ltd. 16. Dhaka Beverage Industries Ltd 17. Sunny Foods and Beverage Ltd. 18. Tabani Beverage Co. Ltd. 19. K. Rahman and Company 1. 2: Akij Food Beverage Ltd: Akij Food Beverage Ltd. has been established at a beautiful site Krishnapura, Dhamrai of  Dhaka. It has come with the best food beverage in Bangladesh. There are various types of drink. Mojo is the brand name of cola, Lemu is the brand name of Lemon and Speed is the brand name of  energy drink. Immediately after the introduction of the brand it became very popular among itsconsumer because of the high quality and intensive distribution in every nook and corner of thecountry. Checky Monkey is the brand name of banana chips produced from this factory. It also is becoming  popular chips in Bangladesh. Most of our Raw materials come from various foreign countries. The quality is very strictlycontrolled. At every stage, non standard products are rejected. 1. 3: Transcom Beverage limited: On the basis of an exclusive Franchise for Bangladesh from Pepsico USA, TBL acquired threemodern bottling plants at Dahaka, Chittagong and Bogra from BBIL Dhaka; Chittagong and NBIL,Bogra; in March 2000. TBL manufactures the famous range of beverages-Pepsi, 7up, Mirinda. As a corporate citizen Pepsico believes it has a responsibility to contribute to the quality of life in our  communities. TBL has put into action this philosophy through support of social agencies, projectsand programs and the scope of this support is extensive and it has not been difficult to blend withthis philosophy since the TRANSCOM group followed such a corporate ideology. Chapter:2 2. 1: OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY This term paper would focus on market segmentation, marketing mix, consumer attitudes towards  beverage drinks of Bangladesh (i. e. Mojo and Pepsi). It should be noticed that this report has beenmade in the context of Bangladeshi market and different segmentations and promotional activitesanalyzed in this report are solely based on the Bangladeshi consumers’ perspective . E. g. It willdiffer from country to country. If Mojo becomes multinational and goes to countries like K. S. A,Libya, The U. S. A, The U. K. Then the current activities undertaken by Mojo has to be changed inorder to stay in worldwide competition. Because, cultures vary from country to country. 2. 2: Source of information Due to limited time maximum data were collected from theinternet, shop to shop survey was done in order to estimate the sales of these beverages. 2. 3: Limitation The major drawback while preparing this report was inadequate time; as a resultthe report lacks some potential information. Moreover, due to class schedule clash in depthresearch on the topic was hampered. Some informations were not disclosed by Mojo dealers(Palashi, Azimpur) as they considered these informations to be confidential. Information on Pepsi was gathered from the internet and local shops as Pepsi is a multinational company. Adequateinformation about Pepsi is not available from the context of Bangladesh. Chapter:3 3. 1: Mojo (Information): Mojo, is a brand of Akij Food and Beverage Ltd. , a sister concern of  Ã‚  prominent group of companies of Bangladesh, Akij Group. In the year 2007 Mojo was themarket challenger in Bangladeshi cola market with a sales of about 52 crores BDT. The brandwas launched in 14th April, 2005 targeting the youth of Bangladesh who like the Bangladeshitrends. All there years, Mojo is doing quite good in the market and competing well with other  Ã‚  brands. Mojos pricing is its advantage but it has to improve its image product quality. Unfortunately, Mojo is lagging behind due to inadequate promotional activities. E. g. Slogan,names meaning etc. It has also failed to communicate its own positioning the target consumers. However, still now Mojo has the potential to recover its own position (according tosurvey). Consumer behaviour such as perception, attitude, self-orientation and life style, thisreport has found out some drawbacks and recommended some affective strategies to recover  those issues successfully. 3. 2: Market Situation Mojo is not far behind in order to anticipating the current market situation. After being inthe introduction stage for a short period of time Mojo is successfully now in the growthstage and doing well for its good eminence and unique marketing effort. With theintention of increasing sale and obtaining market share Mojo is targeting and creating awell company position into the market. To collect information regarding market, service  performance, competition and distribution Mojo is always developing promotionalstrategies, campaigns and carrying out market surveys. 4 April 2010, Mojo arranged afair and the duration was three days. It was held on field of Pranthapoth. They welcomedthe Bangla year 1417 very nicely. Because who had a bottle of Mojo, then that persongot the entry in the concert without any ticket. 3. 3: Target Market Most of the soft drink companies are now targeting the young generation and indeed this is the besttarget for any soft drink companies. Keeping this thing on mind Mojo has decided to targetespecially the young generation along with the people from various types of socio-economicclasses. Akij Group is now offering extensive distribution channel in order to capture and makesure the proper distribution of Mojo so that young generation can easily avail it where ever they arein the country. Last time we saw in Mojo advertise that an old couple were sharing a bottle of Mojo. So, they cleared that it is not only a product for the young people but also their target is alsosenior citizens. Though Mojo is hardly preferred by Old aged people. PROFILE OF THE TARGET MARKET Cola drinks usually follow an undifferentiated marketing strategy to target their consumer. Keeping this fact in mind, we conducted a sample survey by selecting random sample fromdifferent places. The following discussion will attempt to analyze the profile of the target market  based on the sample group. 3. 4: Demographic Factors Age Age is the major determinants in targeting the consumers. MOJO reflects the Bangladeshi cultureand it represents youth. From our survey, we have found that MOJO is most preferred in the agegroup between 20-25 years (85% of 100). Moreover, the least MOJO preference comes fromtwo age groups: 25-35 years and 35-45 years, about 1%. Sex Beverage is used for thirst-quenching purpose and this product is gender neutral, meaning there isno such kind of obligation to consume the product for male or female. However, from our surveyoutcome, we have found that 71% of the consumers are male and 29% are female from 100. Allthe respondents are from urban location. MARKETING MIX: 4P’S OF MOJO5. 1 Product The product MOJO cola has come with the following variations in the market- †¢ 250 ml bottle †¢ 500 ml bottle †¢ 1000 ml or 1 liter bottle †¢ 150 ml can The MOJO Cola has been made with a proper technology. So there is no chance to occur  fluctuation in taste. The cola drinks contain a very strong taste which can compete with the marketleader Coca- Cola and RC cola. Other Factors Meaning of MOJO Meaning of MOJO is the idea or feeling the respondent have instantly after hearing the name or  analyzing it. To 60% respondents, MOJO means fun or enjoyment. To 14% it means nothing. Inaddition, other 26% varies within music or art, sports, thirst passion etc. Competition Soft drink market always offer high level of competition among companies. Because,soft drink is a fast moving consumer good and its demand always fluctuate based onseveral reasons (E. . Taste, weather conditions, etc. ). It included the degree of competition andintensity of competition. So in that case both the degree and intensity of competition are very highfor Mojo. Because the market it was operating was already touched by big companies such asCoke, Pepsi, Royal Crown Cola. Surprisingly, these giant companies are considering Mojo, as aravenous competitor in the market. So i t’s a good news for Mojo that competitors like â€Å" Coca Cola, Pepsi are thinking about Mojo consciously. It is because Mojo has already grabbed good portionof Bangladeshi beverage market share. Mojo believes that they have the strong distribution power,creative marketers, financial power and quality to grab competitions market share as well asincrease their own selling. Before preparing the term paper we made a brief market survey and we saw that in every popular market of Dhaka city, wholesalers are very active and demand is veryhigh. Distribution The strongest point of MOJO is their intensive distribution channel. They make this thing  possible because Akij Group of industries especially their beverage sector has a profoundlogistic and supply chain management system. So they can easily go to door to door of  their target consumers. They believe that delivering products to consumer hands is notsufficient or convenient enough that is why for near future betterment they are trying todevelop their distribution channel in such manner that they can easily make their  Ã‚  potential customer in to actual customer. And we must say that the dealer of a particular  territory is really expert and the do their job on the time. Objecetives Issues The promotional campaign can undertake 3 types of objectives:1. To inform,2. To persuade3. To remind. In the case of Mojo, the campaign will basically focus on persuasion, since MOJOis in maturity stage of its life cycle and will try to spread out its current perception in urbanyouthful lives. The advertising objective for MOJO is to persuade the target audience to make a  purchase and to obtain 8% increase in sales. Now a day, Mojo is not a new product. And for thatreason, previously the company’s target was to make positioning about Mojo because it was a new  product and please try it. But now Mojo is in growth stage; so it is trying to maximize the marketshare and retaining the market share is also important here Advertising Strategy Advertising is a challenging factor for Akij Group’s Mojo. As the sales of Mojo highly relies onadvertising. It has to be done in such a way which is convincing, attractive to people, which willrun on people’s mind 24/7. Developing an effective advertising and promotional campaign mustselect the right spokesperson to deliver a convincing message and the appropriate channels or  media. As part of the development of the advertising strategy of Mojo, all the advertisingcampaigns will try to communicate the same message to meet the advertising objective as set anddiscussed previously. Their main logan is â€Å"Mojo Ontor e Ontor e† and for that reason they alwaystry to make every ad including this slogan. Stimulus Characteristics Logo The logo of MOJO is attractive and representing the youth although they did not forgot about theaged people. Therefore, this helps them to get a good result. Soul feeling All the multinational soft drink companies -showing advertisements are made abroad. In thiscase, MOJO cola differentiated themselves. They are making the ads in our country, as they wantto be the cult brand. As they are, doing this so people can feel that it is our cola and I am buyingmy soft drink that in terms help them to feel good. Therefore, people have a soft corner for them intheir mind. Packaging Packaging also helps in the perception process. Attractive package can grab people’s attention. MOJO cola know this and they are concentrating on it. The two most critical job of packaging are: Capture Attention The colorful packaging catches the attention instantly. People like colorful things and they go for  colorful things. That is why within a short time MOJO cola got the attention of the target aspect. Convey Meaning The colorful packaging conveys the meaning that MOJO is a youthful product. Mixing up the  brand with colors, which have a meaning, is sensible. That gives people meaning and they went for  it. CONSUMERS’ LEARNING MOJO Learning is any change in the content or organization of long- term memory and/or behavior. Learning about soft drinks is a low- involvement learning situation. Consumer behavior is largelylearned behavior. Learning about MOJO Cola is for the most part low involvement learningstate of affairs. Controls Just like all other companies Mojo is also very much concern about controlling their  monetary and operating cost. That is why every month Mojo conduct Quality assurancesurvey, Sales figure monitoring, Feedback from Retailers and Sales force not only bytheir employees but also by students from different universities by offering exclusiveincentives and gift items. They evaluate their inventory, quality, acceptance of Mojo fromdifferent perspectives. By keep checking these things Mojo can stay in the market by notonly minimizing their cost and expense by also maximizing their revenue and profits. Weknow its very much time consuming and expense become high, but to know the currentsituation the company must do it. Social responsibilities Akij group of industries not only concern about increasing their sales, capture market share andgaining profit but also concern to do something for the social betterment. Through out their  campaign Mojo has always been the pioneer in order to come across to help old, orphanage andhomeless street children. The Group has been running a considerable orphanage free of charge indistrict town. The Group has also acquired a modern mother children hospital previously owned  by Save the Children (UK). The hospital is being operated as a non-profitable concern by Ad-DinWelfare Trust. Pricing policy: The pricing policy of Mojo has been done very carefully. Mojo has manycompetitors (e. g. Coca Cola, Pepsi) in the market. Compared to them Mojo has set pricereasonably. The pricing of Mojo is discussed below: ? Litre - Tk 14/- ? Litre - Tk 25/-[pic] 1 Litre - Tk 45/- 2 Litre - Tk 75/- Chapter:4 4. 1: Pepsi (Information): Pepsi was first introduced as Brads Drink in New Bern, North Carolinain 1898 by Caleb Bradham, who made it at his home where the drink was sold. It was later namedPepsi Cola, possibly due to the digestive enzyme pepsin and kola nuts used in the recipe. Bradhams ought to create a fountain drink that was delicious and would aid in digestion and boost energy. In 1903, Bradham moved the bottling of Pepsi-Cola from his drugstore to a rented warehouse. That year, Bradham sold 7,968 gallons of syrup. The next year, Pepsi was sold in six-ouncebottles, and sales increased to 19,848 gallons. In 1909, automobile race pioneer Barney Oldfieldwas the first celebrity to endorse Pepsi-Cola, describing it as A bully drink refreshing,invigorating, a fine bracer before a race. The advertising theme Delicious and Healthful wasthen used over the next two decades. In 1926, Pepsi received its first logo redesign since theoriginal design of 1905. In 1929, the logo was changed again. In 1931, at the depth of the Great Depression, the Pepsi-Cola Company entered bankruptcy inlarge part due to financial losses incurred by speculating on wildly fluctuating sugar prices as aresult of World War I. Assets were sold and Roy C. Megargel bought the Pepsi trademark. Eightyears later, the company went bankrupt again. Pepsis assets were then purchased by Charles Guth,the President of Loft Inc. Loft was a candy manufacturer with retail stores that contained sodafountains. He sought to replace Coca-Cola at his stores fountains after Coke refused to give him adiscount on syrup. Guth then had Lofts chemists reformulate the Pepsi-Cola syrup formula. On three separate occasions between 1922 and 1933, the Coca-Cola Company was offered theopportunity to purchase the Pepsi-Cola company and it declined on each occasion. Ingredients: In the United States, Pepsi is made with carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup,caramel color, sugar, Phosphoric acid, caffeine, citric acid and natural flavors. A can of Pepsi (12 flounces) has 41 grams of carbohydrates (all from sugar), 30 mg of odium, 0 grams of fat, 0 gramsof protein, 38 mg of caffeine and 150 calories. The caffeine-free Pepsi-Cola contains the sameingredients but without the caffeine. The original Pepsi-Cola recipe was available from documents filed with the court at the time thatthe Pepsi-Cola Company went bankrupt in 1929. The original formula contained neither cola nor  caffeine. 4. 2: Market Situatio n Pepsi Cola is a reknowned brand all over the world. Its demand is increasing each year. Pepsi is incompetition in Bangladesh for many years. Its major competitiors are Coca Cola, RC Cola andnow Mojo is progressing in competition. The main of Pepsi just like any other beverage companyis to make supernormal profit by increasing sales. Not only that, Pepsi carries out promotionalactivities throughout the year. â€Å"Transcom Beverages Ltd (TBL), the franchisee of PepsiCo International, has won the â€Å"Bottler of  the Year Award† for 2009 in PepsiCo International Annual Conference in recognition of itsoutstanding business results. Latifur Rahman, chairman and managing director of TBL, received the award from SanjeevChadha, regional CEO of PepsiCo, and Katrina Kaif, an Indian film actress, at a function inThailand recently, said a statement. Transcom Beverages, which won the award for the third time, bottles, distributes and markets allPepsiCo brands such as Pepsi, 7up, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Slice, Diet Pepsi and 7up Light inBangladesh. Present on the occasion from TBL were Arshad Waliur Rahman, director, Golam QuddusChowdhury, executive director and CEO, and Khurshid Irfan Chowdhury, general manager. Tejinder Khurana, country manager of PepsiCo International, and Goutam Bhattacharjee, territorydevelopment manager of TBL, were also awarded with â€Å"Ring of Honour† for their performances in2009. † [   Daily Star : Sunday, January 24, 2010] 4. : Target Market like any other beverage competitor in Bangladesh, Pepsis main target is young generation assoft drinks are mainly preferred by youths. Despite local competition Pepsi has maintained itsreputation by chargining relatively high price. Within last fifteen years Pepsi has reached the peak by offering extensive distribution channel in order to make sure t he proper distribution of Pepsi sothat people can easily avail it where ever they go. Pepsi customers are mostly young group  between the ages of 14 to 30 and also target at school, colleges, universities, home, restaurant,hotel and stores. . 4: Market Segmentation Positioning Beverages Soft Drinks: Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Royal CrownCola Juices: Pulpy, Nestle, Fruito Local Drinks: Mecca Cola, Mojo Cola Energy Drinks: Red Bull, Power 4. 5: Competition Pepsi has many rivals in the market. Pepsi considers Coca Cola and Royal Crown Cola as their  Ã‚  biggest competitiors. However in recent years local carbonated drinks like Mojo Cola and MeccaCola, etc are giving tough competitions to giant beverage companies like Pepsi and Coca Cola. 4. 6: Distribution Pepsi undergoes massive distribution all around the country. The distribution channel plays animportant role in the company’s success. Pepsi has distributors in all districts. Due to lack of datathe distribution process of Pepsi cannot be discussed. Objectives and issues Pepsi is in its maturity stage. Meaning, everyone knows about this beverage. All it has to do isremind people to consume this drink. The main objective of Pepsi is to make profit by theincrememnt in sales. By means of organizing concerts/trade fairs, Pepsi informs people about the  product. Advertising strategy Advertising is an important issue for Pepsi. Its competitors undertake massive advertising todominate in market. Equally, Pepsi does the same thing for survival. Most of Pepsis advertising isIndian. Meaning, Indian ads are translated in Bangla. By doing so, Pepsi is able to advertising cost. The main aim of Pepsi has always been to deliver a convincing message via media. Pepsi usestelevision, newspaper, billboards as its advertising medium Controls â€Å"Quality At every level of Pepsi-Cola Company, we take great care to ensure that the highest standards are met in everything we do. In our products, packaging, marketing and advertising, we strive for  excellence because our consumers expect and deserve nothing less. We promise to work towardcontinuous improvement in all areas of our organization. At every step of our manufacturing and bottling process, strict quality controls are followed toensure that Pepsi-Cola products meet the same high standards of quality that consumers have cometo expect and value from us. We also follow strict quality control procedures during themanufacturing and filling of our packages. Each bottle and can undergoes a thorough inspectionand testing process. Containers are then rinsed and quickly filled through a high-speed, state-of-the-art process that helps prevent any foreign material from entering the product. Additionalquality control measures help to ensure the integrity of Pepsi-Cola products throughout thedistribution process, from warehouse to store shelf. † [Extracted from http://www. pepsi. com/] Social responsibilities â€Å"Environmental SupportPepsi and the entire PepsiCo family embrace our responsibility to be good stewards of our planetsnatural resources. We begin by understanding our environmental footprint and then work to findways to reduce it. Were focused on Energy, Water and Waste areas where we know we can makethe greatest difference. †[Extracted fromhttp://www. pepsi. com/faqs. php? ection=environmental_support] Pricing policy Despite having many competitors, Pepsi is charging high price in comparison to local competitorslike Mojo. ? Litre - Tk 18/- ?Litre - Tk 30/ 1 Litre - Tk 55/ 2 Litre - Tk 90/- Product differentiation In Bangladesh Pepsi offers product differentiation in comparison to Mojo cola by offeringPepsi Diet in the market. From this side Mojo is a little weak because these days most people arehealth conscious, diabetes patients, etc. They prefer Pepsi Diet which does not contain sugar. Pepsi Diet is available in two sizes. Litre - Tk 30/- 1 Litre - Tk 55/- Though Pepsi’s offering differentiation by offering Pepsi Diet it is not charging premium price. The price of Pepsi Diet is same as Pepsi Cola Thus, Pepsi is having competitive advantage over Akij’s Mojo Cola. Swot Analysis: Mojo Cola: †¢Strengths: Brand image : Akij group is already a established brand name. So there already exists astrong brand image of the company. So if we launch any product under this brand name then itautomatically accept by the consumers. Quality : Most of their raw materials come from various foreign countries. The quality is verystrictly controlled. At every stage, non standard products are rejected. So we can say that howwell they are aware about their products quality. Strong distribution network   : Akij group has a strong distribution network and this isone of the most strongest competitive advantages for them. They make product available all over  the country through their strong distribution channel of retailers and whole sellers. †¢Weakness: The weakest point of akij group is that if any product sells fall due to poor quality then it willalso affect the other products of other brands. Opportunity: Increasing demand: As people are engaging more in taking beverage product, the demand isincreasing day by day for this kind of product category. †¢Threat: Akij group have a number of competitors especially under Akij Food Beverage Ltd such asPran juice, Shezan juice, Acme juice. This competition is very high and works as a threat for AkijFood Beverage Ltd. Pepsi: The streng ths, the weaknesses, the opportunities and the threats of Pepsi. 1. The advantages of Pepsi-Cola1) Firstly, Pepsi has stayed in this market for almost one century. So they are so experienced andstationed in peoples mind deeply. Now no one doesnt know the brand Pepsi-Cola Whenever thename Pepsi is heard, people will conjure up the image of fresh and cool drink .2) Secondly, Pepsi-Cola is not only in high quality, cool and fresh but also have a competitive  price. 3) Thirdly. Pepsi is such an experienced powerful global company, Which has a basic of a greatfund. So it has the ability to place an idle sum of money to the promotion. We can see that theadvertisement of Pepsi-Cola is so attractive. It also invited the top famous people to advertise for  it. ) Pepsi also compares with the competitors and find their disadvantages to update its own quality,flavor and also package promptly in order to satisfy the consumers need. This is the biggestadvantage of Pepsi company. It is the most popular one. Pepsi company also produce the Diet-Cola to meet the people whomore concern their health. And it just changes the design of the package of Pepsi-Cola. 2. The disadvantages of Pepsi-ColaBut we cannot consider things just on one side. Still there are some disadvantages existing inPepsi-Cola . A survey suggests that 32% people prefer the package of Pepsi-Cola. So the design of  Pepsi-Colas package is not as attractive as Coca-cola. It still needs to be improved. We suggestthat the package needs to be designed more colorful to attract peoples attention. 3. Although in the cola market there are many competitors, Pepsi still has the opportunity toenlarge its market share because the cola in the market is quite monotonic. Most of the end user isyoung people. There are still some people who do not like the taste of the cola. So we can try to provide some other taste of cola such as adding some lemon juice. We can change the flavor inorder to meet different taste of different people. . As to the threats, all of us know that Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola have had the competition for  about 80 years. Although Pepsi-Cola have won several times during this competition, the marketshare of Pepsi-cola is a little bit smaller than Coca-Cola. Besides, there are many other competitorslike Mojo. In Mojo’s advertisement we can see the reflection of ou r culture. It is well known thatBangladesh is a patriotic nation. So these words can really catch Bangladeshi peoples heart. Andthese local colas flavor is more suitable for Bangladeshis. So it cannot be ignored. Recommendation: Mojo: After getting informations from the internet and local shops. It seems that Mojo has certainlackings. Mojo is local brand so its going to be hard for Mojo to stay in competition with Pepsi. Mojo can provide offers like â€Å"buy one get one free†, â€Å"win a car†, coupons, etc. All these activitieswill rise interests in people to consume more Mojo in order to get something. By offering such  promotions, Mojo may be able to give tough competitions to Pepsi. Mojo can persuade people via advertising. E. g. It can convey messages that â€Å"Mojo is BangladeshiDrink, We Bangladeshis drink our drinks†. Not only that, motivating employees will help Akij Beverages to reach its peak. E. g. Employeescan be given fringe benefits, promotions, monthly free medical check-up, etc. 24 SUGGESTIVE PROMOTIONAL TOOLS Billboards MOJO cola must concentrate on billboard advertising, for this at first they have to increase thenumber of billboards around the country. They have to create billboards with catchy look so that itcan grab the attention of the target aspect. They must make colorful and relevant billboards so that  people can find out what they want to tell them. At last, they have to place the billboards in theright place so that target aspect can have their full concentrate in it. Paper Ads The number of paper ads should have to be increased. Otherwise, they cannot make mass peopleaware about their product. It should also contain high imagery, relevant with product MOJO cola. TVCs The frequencies of the TV ads have to be increased. People who watch TV regularly are seekingfor innovative things made by the marketers. They pretty much bored with the traditional ads. So if  MOJO cola bring new thing with their ads them it will be a turning point for their sale. People willget more interest in their product and as a result, they can be the loyal customer of this product. SoTV ads should be brought with a new format, with more new things so that it can catch the targetaspect with the new ones. Sponsorship Till now MOJO cola make sponsorship of few events like concerts, â€Å"nabanno utsav, banglanoboborsho, etc†. they should include cyber cafe, canteens of university, fast food shop and other  Ã‚  places where people goes frequently. By doing so they can be with the target audience and we illfind more aware people. Sales Promotion They should in for massive sales promotion to attract people from other drinks Pepsi: 1) Pepsi-Cola should improve the design of the package first. As it is advertised as the choice of  new generation, the design must be looked young and fresh. So the color should be more sharpand attractive. 2) As the flavor and ingredients of cola in the market are similar and the most active consumer isthe young people, we can diversify the Pepsi production to meet the different need of theconsumers. That is customer-orientated. 3) Besides the Diet cola for the health conscious people, we can have many other new choices. For  example, we can create a new kind of cola more suitable for children. Maybe we can add theVitamins or some nutritious element that are necessary to children. Or we can create a new flavor  like mint-cola. 4) However, pricing should not be reduced to an extent where initial investment cannot berecovered. So, pricing finance has to be done carefully. Conclusion Mojo People prefer MOJO’s pricing but it has to improve its image in status and quality issues. Unfortunately, MOJO is lagging behind due to inadequate communication of its brand elementslike slogan, name’s meaning etc. It has also failed to communicate its own positioning to the targetconsumers. However, still now MOJO has the chance to recover its own position because about70% of the target customers (according to the survey result) are potential and have not constructedtheir belief structure for MOJO. For some particular aspects of consumer behavior such as  perception, attitude, self-orientation and life style etc, those recommended strategies provided withthe report will be supportive to recover those issues successfully if MOJO can apply thosesuggestive marketing tools. 6 Pepsi Being in such a tense competition with other beverages, Pepsi-Cola should not take the direct andtough attack upon any of them. The best wad is to keep a peaceful relationship with it and alwayscompare with others, We should find their disadvantages and show our advantages on this aspect. Then by and by, the people would think ours is better Of course the most important rule is toimprove the product, lower the price i n comparison to other competitors to meet the consumers.

Raphael Hythloday Essays

Raphael Hythloday Essays Raphael Hythloday Paper Raphael Hythloday Paper Mores Utopia is concerned with the theory of the creation of a supreme new country in which there is an ideal solution to all the problems existing in Mores lifetime. While the text is concerned with describing the ideal new world that has been seen by Raphael Hythloday it is attempting to avoid is the descriptions of how the island was created violently, and colonised for Utopos ideological position to be developed and put into practice. Although the narrative in the text fails to directly name colonisation as the process of how Utopia was formed (referring to it only as Utopos conquering Sansculottia), what it does do is attempt to provide justifications as to why it was created and why it should have been developed. The main justification that can be extensively seen throughout the text is of how the Utopian society is more advanced and superior to the colonised society, and therefore it is natural that this society should remain while others are purged. The advancement and superiority of the Utopian society appears in a variety of different forms, ranging from the scientific to the ideological. One of the first justifications that More makes for Utopos colonising Utopia is that he conquered Sansculottia and was alone responsible for transforming a pack of ignorant savages into what is now, perhaps, the most civilised nation in the world. This is a justification as it is saying that without Utopos and the colonising of it there would be no advanced and civilised society in place to develop and create all the ideological and technological advances it has. This justification is an example of how More considers it alright to colonise a society as long as they are supreme and going to advance and progress that society more so than what would naturally have occurred if the indigenous population had been allowed to remain as they were. Another aspect of the Utopian superiority is in relation to their religious beliefs and the acceptance of many different philosophical positions in regards to these different religions. The Utopians do not have any set religion to follow and adhere to, as Utopos did not believe in stating which was the correct religion to believe in and pursue. Utopos was instead open to having multiple religions on the island for his people to choose from and follow, as he believed that this approach was in the best interests of religion itself. Utopos came up with this approach to religion as a result of hearing how the indigenous people used to have constant quarrels about religion, and recognising that one of the reasons he was able to conquer the land was due to their disharmony and quarrelling over religious matters. Although Utopos willing made this concession about religion what he did do was Strictly and solemnly forbade his people to believe anything so incompatible with human dignity as the doctrine that the soul dies with the body This means that while Utopos was willing to concede on the issue of forcing his religion on his people what he was unwilling to do was completely let them have there own religious beliefs, he was still enforcing his beliefs upon them. The religious superiority of Utopians was not only in the fact that they allowed many different religions, unlike many other countries which have been colonised, but that they were also willing to accept that other had different religions and they were tolerant and respective of those differences as opposed to fighting over them. In describing this society were religious tolerance is the precedent More is, through his writing, giving a justification for colonisation as he is describing a society religiously and morally supreme to his own where there was persecution for following alternative religions to the king. As well as giving religious justifications for the colonisation of Utopia, the text also gives intellectual justifications as to why the Utopians should be in power and control. The Utopian society is an advanced culture in regards to its medicine and the intelligence of its people and way of life. Utopian people have access to a medical profession whereby the people of Utopia would rather be ill in hospital than at home. The hospitals of Utopia are described as being so well run, and so well supplied with all types of medical equipment which gives the impression that they are more advanced than other countries hospitals and therefore their culture more scientifically advanced to the extent that they should be in place even if it is through colonisation.

Opinion Paper - Business Law Class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Opinion Paper - Business Law Class - Essay Example In the U.S. Supreme Court Ninth Circuit case, heard in 2007, the Court ruled that a group of contract workers from the company, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), did not have to disclose certain information in the background checks NASA wanted to do. NASA would normally complete all these checks before employing someone on a full-time basis. This information related to the workers’ previous drug use and counseling, and questions about the workers’ honesty posed to the employee’s references. NASA could also force the employees to sign a release so that personal information could be researched from the employees’ schools, previous employers, and other sources (The HR website 2011). The Supreme Court (Ninth Circuit) ruled that the contracted workers’ rights would be violated by such background checks, since previous drug use or counseling for drug use would not be relevant to their present contract with NASA, and that the opinions of previous employers could not be used to decide whether JPL could use these workers for the NASA contract. In both cases, the judgment felt that the workers’ constitutional rights would be violated by such checks. On Appeal, the Supreme Court reversed this previous decision (NASA v. Nelson 2011), making it possible for NASA to do the same background checks on contracted workers as it does on full time employees.

Managing and evaluating informal education Assignment

Managing and evaluating informal education - Assignment Example Nearly every conflict circulates around communication issues, as both an origin, as well as an effect (McCarthy, 2001). Misunderstandings or errors, arising from poor communication, can simply cause a clash or make it even worse. In additional, once a conflict has begun communication matters often develop since people, in disagreements, do not communicate with each other as regularly, as openly, and as truthfully as they do when associations are not edgy. Therefore, communication is essential to most conflict cases (McCarthy, 2001). I work in an organisation whose staff ranges from 14 to 16 years. These individuals have not gone through the mainstream school curriculum. They, therefore, do not know how to communicate well with others, and this has had a significant effect in how the company runs. Communication is extremely essential in an organisation. This paper will discuss communication, with regards to the workplace, and how issues relating to communication could be addressed. Communication refers to the process of sharing thoughts, messages and information with individuals in a particular place and time (McCarthy, 2001). Communication comprises of talking and writing, as well as nonverbal cues such as gestures, facial expressions, or body language. Communication also involves visual communication like the use of pictures or images, such as photography, painting, film or video (McCarthy, 2001). Communication also incorporates electronic techniques such as telephone calls, satellite broadcasts, electronic mail, or cable television. Communication is a critical part of personal life and is also imperative in business or any other situations where individuals encounter each other. Nobody, at my workplace, seems to consider this. However, I cannot blame them since they missed out on the vital element of life, and that is education. The management also considers them as

Critically evaluate theories of nationalism and its relationship with Essay

Critically evaluate theories of nationalism and its relationship with racism - Essay Example . . Where the sentiment of nationality exists in any force, there is prima facie case for uniting all the members of the nationality under the same government, and a government to themselves apart.† Nationalism cannot be termed as either good or bad, just like the phenomena of socialism, capitalism, or imperialism. Nonetheless, in a good nationality, citizens strive to ensure that their nation is maintained. On the other hand, in bad nationalism, a nation only considers its superiority, and acts against other nationalities in order to remain superior (Smith 2010). Examples of past leaders who perpetuated bad nationality include Slobodan Milosevic and Adolf Hitler. Therefore, nationality is a factor that can cause unification or lead to disintegration. Today, there are various theories of nationalism, which attempt to explain the phenomenon of nationality in different contexts. According to Conversi (1995), these theories can be divided into different categories, namely the ethn o-symbolic, transactional, and homeostatic. However, this categorization was made basing on those theories, which put an emphasis on the boundary mechanisms of nations. Here, Conversi dismisses the traditional categorizations of instrumentalism and primordialism, since these might not apply to modern nationalism (Conversi 1995). Primordialist and sociobiological theories of nationalism are some of the universal theories applied to nationalism. In the primordialist perspective, it is believed that nationalism confers some form of group identity to the members of a nation. A nation is compared to a society, and therefore, just like the society, a nation is characterized by irrational attachments of people, which are based on race, blood, language, among others. Today, most countries, especially those in the third world, have embraced their group identities, which are evident in their communities and ethnic groups. Geertz was a contributor to the theory of primordialism. According to G eertz, the factor of identity in the primordialist approach is natural. These identities are coercive, therefore, cannot be understood basing on people’s social interactions. Finally, he asserted that these identities base on affection and might make the involved people sentimental (Conversi 1995). Another contributor to the primordialist approach was Harold Isaacs. According to Harold, people are normally born into a specific group of people or society at a particular time in history. Therefore, upon being born, each person acquires an identity, similar to that of the group in which they are born. Harold also identified various elements of the identity, which an individual gains. First, he identified the physical factors of skin color, hair type, body size, and type of face, among others. Secondly, he identified the name that is given to an individual. Mostly, people are given family names, and other names common in their group. In addition, a person’s first language identifies them with a specific group of people. Harold also identified the elements of religion, culture, nationality, or ethnic affiliation, the geography of a person’s area of birth, and the history of the group a person is born into, as factors, which grant a person a form of identity (Harris 2009). On the other hand, the sociobiological approach bases on human behavior, in its explanation of nationalism. This bases on three factors, namely, kin selection, reciprocity, and coercion to investigate human

Criticisms Of Symbolic Interactionism Sociology Essay

Criticisms Of Symbolic Interactionism Sociology Essay This chapter will outline the research methods which are used to explain procedures for collecting data. In addition, it discusses literature which underlies the methods and reasons for the chosen data collection procedures. The chapter presents an outline of research methodology (qualitative approach) and the tools for data collection which are commonly used with each particular method. The chapter focuses on the research setting, instruments for data collection, data analysis, issues of validity and reliability, and ethical issues. This chapter will clearly define the research methods used to perform the study. The researcher will provide an explanation as to the collection methods of the data and information which was necessary to address the research objectives. As such, all data sources, instruments for research, data collection and analytical techniques, and research design, will be given. Research design There are many methodologies for collecting data, and it can be collected from many different sources. By research methodology, it is meant a set of techniques which are used in certain areas of research activity (Nachmias and Nachmias, 1996.) Methodologies do not fall into categories of right and wrong; it is the duty of the researcher to seek the most appropriate method, according to the questions being researched. Huberman and Miles, in 2002, in addition to Blaxter et al, in 2001, said that data collected is qualitative when it is in word and describes situations, circumstances of phenomenon, or individuals. Data are quantitative if they are represented in the form of numbers, counts, or measurements which attempt to provide precision to the observation set. Hence, the classification between quantitative and qualitative is most commonly used (Smeyers, 2002.) According to Denzin and Lincoln (1994) both quantitative and qualitative approaches can be applied within any philosophy of research. The approach that all genuine knowledge is ultimately grounded in sensory experience is called the positivist approach. This approach also says that knowledge can only be advanced through experimentation and observation. The interpretivist approach, in contrast, holds that only through the standpoint of individuals who are part of the action being investigated, can the social world be understood (Cohen et al. 2008.) Therefore, the nature of the problem being researched will have a direct effect on the choice of research methods being employed. Also, practical consideration, such as funding and time, may influence a researchers choices. Also, when applying the scientific method, the researcher must keep certain considerations in mind, such as the investigators own involvement in the usage of the results, the precision of measuring devices, time constrai nts for obtaining results, difficulty in designing experiments which adequately test hypotheses, and the relative complexity of the subject being investigated. In 1994, Gable reported that literature marked a distinction between the two approaches, but that the approaches are not mutually exclusive. Rather, sometimes researchers apply both. Qualitative and quantitative approaches and techniques may be conceptualized as opposite poles on a continuum (Gable, 1994.) The differences between the approaches are detailed on Table 4-1. Remenyi (1998) argued that the two approaches can be used together due to the complexity of answering how, why, and what questions. Selection Criteria Denzin and Lincoln (1994) defined qualitative research as follows: The word qualitative implies an emphasis on processes and meanings that are not rigorously examined or measured (if measured at all), in terms of quantitative, amount, intensity or frequency à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Qualitative researchers stress the socially constructed nature of reality, the intimate relationship between the researcher and what is studied and the situational constraints that shape inquiry. Such researchers emphasize the value-laden nature of inquiry. They seek answers to questions given meaning (p. 124). Qualitative research sits within the phenomenological viewpoint, and involves at least some interaction between the researcher and the situation or individual which is being researched (Hussey and Hussey, 2003.) According to Morgan and Smircich (1980) the qualitative approach to research is not a set of techniques but an approach. As such, the appropriateness of using it is based on the phenomena being studied, and the questions being asked. Additionally, Kirk and Miller (1986) set forth the following steps to describe the qualitative approach to research: invention, discovery, interpretation, and finally, explanation. Other views of the qualitative research approach note its possible design constraints. For example, an individuals own account of attitudes, motivations, and behaviours, may be an influencing factor (Hakim, 2000.) Qualitative research has the problem of subjectivity. This is because the researcher is involved personally in the operation of the measurement tools (Walter and Gall, 1989.) There are several features which distinguish the nature and design of studies which use the qualitative approach, such as a holistic investigation of a particular phenomenon and the understanding of the study itself in its natural setting (Walter and Gall, 1989.) The very nature of the qualitative approach allows for some flexibility and responsiveness to multiple realities and complexity. Purposely selecting the sample, rather than selecting it randomly, can help the researcher avoid missing sample data which could otherwise be considered as outliers, and hence unimportant. Purposive sampling can allow the researcher to enrich the outcome of their research by designing a study which will include both non-typical and typical subjects (Tashakkori and Teddlie, 1998.) Hakim (2000) indicates that the validity of the data being collected has a direct effect on the strength of the qualitative research itself. Data are usually collected in adequate detail so as to allow the results to be considered correct, complete, true, and believable accounts of the views and experiences of the participants. However, sample size continues to be a concern. A qualitative project will normally have a lower number of participants, which cannot be taken as representative (Hakim 2000.) This fact remains even when a fair cross-section of subjects has be carefully assembled. Qualitative design methods usually include: 1) a case study providing data which describes the subject of the study; b) a meta-analysis designed to analyse statistical outcomes of previous research from diverse sources; c) research analysis on relevant administrative records; d) a record of focus group discussions which serve to bring together a group of informants, serving the investigated issue; and d) unstructured, semi-structured, or structured in-depth interviews (Silverman,2000; Kruger, 2001). Qualitative research can be considered an independent field of inquiry, as it is focused on studying objects in their natural settings. It also attempts to make sense of various phenomena in terms of their meanings as related to a set field (Denzin and Lincoln, 1994.) This form of research examines activity which is situated, in which an opportunity is presents to both participate in, and then reflect on, the knowledge production process (Flick, 2002.) Denzin and Lincoln (2003) state that the potential for the interpretation of phenmoena is presented by qualitative research which takes place in a natural setting. The use of multi-methods may be used to provide interpretation and focus on individuals (Denzin and Lincoln,1998.) Additionally, qualitative research usually includes interviews, the practical components of a case study, a life story, observations, and personal experience. It can also involve descriptions of routines or moments which were problematic, and even the meaning in the lives of individuals (Denzin and Lincoln, 2003). Qualitative studies, then, are ultimately concerned with both how its participants fit into their environments, and how they make sense of their individual experiences. Symbolic interactionism The fundamentals of symbolic interactionism as a perspective have been shaped by the work of Mead (1932; 1934) who is acknowledged for his alternate views toward understanding human society (Blumer, 1969; Charon, 2004). Blumer (1969) expanded on Meads work to develop symbolic interactionism into a perspective with a methodology to investigate and interpret the interactions of individuals in a social context. Because we live in a complex, industrialized society, and come from different ethnic, racial, and social class backgrounds, it is unrealistic to think that we all share the same sets of norms, beliefs, and values. People will often have competing and conflicting beliefs rather than shared goals and interests. Instead of being the product of consensus, organized behavior may be the result of self-interested negotiations between two or more parties or the product of coercion on the part of more powerful individuals. Herman-Kinneys observation reflects the appropriateness of symbolic interaction as a suitable framework for this study: acknowledgement that social contexts are complex entities that involve complex interactions between individuals and groups of individuals. The context of a university in Japan that employs individuals with a range of cultural and social attributes reflects Herman-Kinneys intention that people within a specific context carry conflicting beliefs and values, yet can function effectively as a group. Symbolic interactionism provides greater scope to explore such complexity. While other perspectives have made significant contributions to our understanding of the concept of identity, a noticeable absence from analysis of identity formation is the notion of the self as a separate concept to identity (Herman-Kinney, 2003: p.708; Beijaard et al., 2004). One of the fundamentals of symbolic interactionism is its emphasis on the notion of self and its relationship to the concept of identity. The notion of self tends to be overlooked in the literature on teacher identity largely because self and identity can tend to be used interchangeably. Other perspectives imply that an individual is a composite of multiple identities, a view shared by symbolic interactionism. Symbolic interactionism further contends that behind the multiple identities is the notion of self: a core entity that in many ways gives life to those multiple identities. This study is limited to exploring the nature of professional identities and not the nature of self. However, the distinction needs to be made that symbolic interactionism views self and identity as two separate but related concepts. THE EMERGENCE OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Symbolic interactionism is a down-to-earth approach to the scientific study of human group life and human conduct. (Blumer, 1969: p.47) Symbolic interactionism is a perspective that emerged chiefly from the work of American tradition of pragmatism, philosophy and social psychology (Fidishun, 2002; Charon, 2004: p.28). It challenged the mechanistic world view and dualistic assumption of classic rationalism (Shalin, 1991: p.223). One of the most recognised challengers was Mead (1932; 1934) who viewed human group life as the essential condition for the emergence of core attributes that characterise an individual. Blumer (1969) identified the core attributes as consciousness, the mind, a world of objects, human beings as organisms possessing selves, and human conduct in the form of constructed acts. From these core attributes, Blumer (1969: p.6) proposed a number of basic ideas or root images to frame human societies: human groups or societies, social interaction, objects, the human being as an actor, human action, and the interconnection of the lines of action. Together, these root images represent the way in which symb olic interactionism views human society and conduct. Symbolic interactionism is used in this study to focus on the interactions of teachers with objects in a specific context. Core to symbolic interactionist principles is a focus on social interaction and meanings that result from the process of interpreting these interactions. The significance of symbolic interactionism, according to Rosenberg and Turner (1981), is that it places emphasis on researching real-life events, such as the practice of teaching. Within an educational context, Hargreaves (1995: p.11) argues that symbolic interactionism helps clarify why teachers (and others) do what they do and that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it addresses the practical realities rather than holding people to perspectives ideals or moral exhortation concerning human change and development. Exploring the identity of teachers who teach English in the context of this study lends itself well to the principles of symbolic interactionism, due to the highly interactive nature of the context that is rich in symbo ls: language, objects and social interactions. CORE IDEAS OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM As mentioned previously, symbolic interactionism emerged from the work of Mead who viewed human society differently from the traditionally held views of his time. Through his interpretation of Meads work of interpreting human society, Blumer developed three premises that characterise the fundamentals of symbolic interactionism. In his first of three premises, Blumer begins with the nature of meaning that human beings hold towards things that are socially defined. Human beings act toward things on the basis of the meanings that the things have for them (Blumer, 1969: p.2). According to Blumer, meaning is not implicit in humans at birth, instead emerges through social interactions and interpretations of those interactions. Meaning is established in communication (Mead, 1932). Blumers explanation illustrates a divergence from traditional approaches to explain meaning. By traditional, Blumer referred mainly to the fields of psychology and sociology, which were predominant at the time of his writing. From a psychological perspective, factors such as attitudes and conscious or unconscious motives were featured in attempts to understand human conduct, while sociological perspectives relied on factors such as social position, social pressures and cultural prescriptions in its attempt to explain human conduct (Blumer, 1969: p.3). According to Blumer (1969: p.3), the meanings that things have for human beings are central in their own right. That is, instead of focusing on factors that are alleged to produce behaviour, meaning is the focus of analysis itself. Th e process of meaning refers to the act of interpretation, which has implications on our understanding of human beings, human action and human association (Blumer, 1969: p.79). Blumer argues that other research traditions6 bypass a focus on meaning. It is either taken for granted and pushed aside as unimportant or it is regarded as a more neutral link between the factors responsible for human behaviour and the product of such factors (Blumer, 1969: p.3). According to Blumer, these perspectives are more concerned with the behaviour of individuals and with the factors regarded as producing the behaviour. However, while differences remain between symbolic interactionism and other research traditions, similarities are becoming more common, such as both stress the importance of language, the dynamic character of social and cultural life, and the unstable relations of difference (Dunn, 1997: p.689). The source of meaning emerges from social interactions between individuals and things within social contexts and situations. Blumers (ibid: p.3) explanation of things, or objects, reflects the down-to-earth nature of symbolic interactionism to include: physical objects (such as classrooms, office space, textbooks), other human beings (such as a wife, an officemate), categories of human beings (such as friends, management, students, native English-speaking teachers of English, native Japanese-speaking teachers of English), institutions (such as university, government), guiding ideals (such as individual independence, approach to teaching, university policy), activities of others (such as demands from management or requests from colleagues), THE APPROPRIATENESS OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Symbolic interactionism is concerned with people, the meaning that people have towards things, and that these meanings are subjected to a process of interpretation within social contexts. Woods provides a convincing argument, claiming that: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the emphasis is upon the construction of meanings and perspective, the adaptation to circumstances, the management of interests in the ebb and flow of countless interactions containing many ambiguities and conflicts, the strategies devised to promote those interests, and the negotiation with others interests that is a common feature of all teaching situations. (Woods, 1996: p.7) Woods account of symbolic interaction reflects the complexity of social situations, viewing symbolic interaction as a perspective that offers flexibility to explore the mysteries of social interaction in educational contexts. Woods was attracted to symbolic interactionism because it offered the kind of intellectual equipment needed to explore some of the mysteries of social interaction in the school (Woods, 1996: p.7). This study recognises that other research perspectives are equally suitable to explore the concept of professional identity. Symbolic interaction, however, allows meanings to be explored in the richness of the context: individuals hailing from broad cultural, educational and personal backgrounds. If identity is formed through relationships and interactions in a social context, a symbolic interactionist perspective is appropriate for exploring the negotiating of identities of EFL teachers in a Japanese higher education context. The nature of teaching English in higher e ducation in Japan is highly interactive between students and colleagues within a context rich in symbols open to complex processes of interaction and interpretation. CRITICISMS OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Symbolic interactionism has changed considerably since its emergence as a perspective, becoming fragmented at times as a result of conflict from different schools of thought and interpretation (Fine, 1993). It, however, is not without its imperfections or its critics, of which many emerged from within the perspective itself as well as from other research traditions. The criticisms toward symbolic interactionism were more intense earlier in its history than of late due to its perceived departure from scientific methodology that was dominant at the time of its emergence. Criticisms emerged at a time when qualitative research was seen to be unscientific, with positivist research dominating approaches to research (Meltzer et al., 1975). Rogers (1973) accused interactionists of examining human interaction in a vacuum, focusing on small-scale face-to-face interaction, with little concern for its historical or social setting. Skidmore (1975) found that interactionists failed to explain why people consistently chose to act in given ways in certain situations. While the criticisms are valid, they were made at a time when symbolic interactionism had barely established itself as a theoretical perspective. There is an argument developing that the differences between symbolic interactionism and other perspectives are narrowing (Dunn, 1997). The criticism from within symbolic interactionism is characterised by the four main schools of thought that have been identified under the umbrella of symbolic interactionism: the Chicago school, the Iowa/Indiana school, ethnomethodology, and dramaturgy. The differences are largely methodological, between preferences for more humanistic, qualitative approaches to researching social interactions and those that were more scientific and quantitative (Meltzer et al., 1975). Blumer (1969) argues the case for a distinctive methodology in the study of human behavior that made modern society more intelligible (Meltzer et al., 1975). Regardless of methodology or school of thought, however, symbolic interactionism encompasses both a qualitative and quantitative tradition, reflecting an approach that strives to understand human behavior, not to predict and control it, nor to have more statistical knowledge of it (Musolf, 2003: p.91). Kuhn (1964) argued symbolic interactionism should reflect quantitative methodology, stressing the importance of unity of method in all scientific disciplines. Reflecting on its short history at the time, Kuhn (ibid) identified a number of problems that stunted the growth of symbolic interactionism and its acceptance by other research traditions as a credible research perspective. One of the main issues was lack of scientific credibility, which characterised the schism between the two schools. Kuhn attempted to elaborate Meads view on social behaviorism in an effort to establish a theory of self that was both testable and usable. Kuhns 20-point test to measure the self reflected the leaning toward scientific quantitative methodology of exploring self. According to Dunn (1997) there are critics who claim that symbolic interactionism provides little indication of sources of meanings. While these criticisms are valid, they were made not long after symbolic interactionism emerged as its own perspective and had yet to fully utilise the way in which other perspectives have developed over the past few decades. Dunn (1997) documents recent comparisons between symbolic interactionism and other research traditions to illustrate narrowing differences and shared fundamentals, such as importance of language. Likewise, Callero (2003) argues that recent sociological approaches to self within a symbolic interactionist paradigm reflect emphases on power, reflexivity, and social constructionism. Recent literature on teachers professional identities provides evidence that symbolic interactionism has survived the criticisms to prosper and prove it to be a suitable framework for this area of research (Swann, 1987; Beijaard et al., 2000). Methods of data collection Primary data There are several types of collection methods involved in qualitative research. The Interview Method The definition of an interview is the interchange, between two or more persons, of views on a topic of mutual interest. This enables both the discussion of individual points of view, and the expression of points of view (Cohen et al., 2008.) Cohen et al. note that the interview serves three distinct purposes: 1) as the primary means for gathering information that directly affect research objectives; 2) for the purpose of either testing a hypothesis, or suggesting a new one, also, as an explanatory method for the identification of variables and their relationships; 3) for use in conjunction with other methods. The three types of interviews are: unstructured, semi-structured, and structured. The unstructured interview contains questions which are open-ended, allowing the question to be adapted, according to the intelligence, beliefs, and understanding of the respondent. These interviews are more flexible and may be used for probing issues in greater depth than the other interview types, though it can take more time and involve greater difficulty to analyse (Kidder et al., 1986.) In the semi-structured interview, both open-ended and close-ended questions are employed. This means that not all questions are designed in advance. The semi-structured interview technique has some of the advantages of the other two techniques (Kidder et al., 1986.) This technique has the flexibility of allowing the interviewer to formulate new questions during the interview, as a result of the respondents answers to previous questions. This allows the interviewer to seek additional illumination and information. The interviewer usually has a framework of themes to be explored in a semi-structured interview (Blackman, 2002.) The structured interview, also known as the standardized interview, employs closed ended questions, and a standard sequence which is used in every interview. This approach has the aim of presenting the very same questions, in the very same order, in every interviewing session, and for every interviewee. Though this approach is not very flexible, its data is more easily analysed, and is considered to be more objective (Nachmias and Nachmias, 1996.) Blackman (2002) cites three essential characteristics which can be used to distinguish between the unstructured and the structured interview. 1) A highly structured interview requires that all interviewers present the same set of questions to all interviewees, with use of follow-up questions being prohibited. 2) Structured interviews form the foundation for tighter analysis. 3) Interviewers are trained to use both a priori rules and a standardized rating form in order to strictly rate and score question responses. Researchers choose between several strategies when planning an interview, including (Thomas, 2003, p. 63): An approach of loose questioning, which is meant to elicit the respondents interpretation of a general situation or circumstance. An approach of tight-questions, using a limited number of options (e.g. Yes/no, like/dislike) to discover a respondents preferences. An approach of converging-questions. This is designed to blend the advantages of the loose method and the tight method. At first broad questions are asked, in an open-ended manner. These are followed up with additional questions to more thoroughly explore the interviewees opinions. An approach of response-guided questions. This approach includes the interviewer beginning with prepared questions, which are spontaneously follow-up by questions created as logical extensions of the given answer. This strategy allows the researcher to delve more deeply into the respondents opinions relating to the issues presented in the original question. Focus group interviews A focus group is a special type of group which has more involved as its purpose than simply getting people to have a conversation. It is special in terms of its purpose, composition, size, and procedures, which guides, through interaction, to outcomes and data (Cohen et al., 2008.) Listening to information, and gathering information, is the purpose of this interview, as well as to understand peoples thoughts and feelings about particular issues (Krueger and Casey, 2000.) Focus groups can encourage an environment which allows participants to share their points of view and perceptions without pressure. Researchers may be able to identify patterns and trends from the group discussion. This may lead to a systematic and careful analysis (Krueger and Casey, 2000.) According to Cohen et al. (2008,) focus groups are good for: Orienting to a specific field of focus. The development of topics, schedules, and themes which can be used in subsequent questionnaires or interviews. Use insights and data, collected from the group, to generate hypotheses. Producing and evaluating data relating to differing subgroups of a given population. Assembling feedback related to previous studies. Kruger and Casey (2000) specified some of the characteristics of a focus group. A focus group involves a limited quantity of participants, so that every person has a chance to share; participants should have similar characteristics, so that the researchers my accomplish the purpose of the study; collection of qualitative data, of interest to the researcher, is the primary purpose of the focus group usually to discover the range of opinions between several groups; the group must have a focused discussion; the group should ultimately help to understand the topic of interest. Researchers (Krueger and Casey, 2000; and Cohen et al., 2008) indicate that the data which is collected from a focus group may be negatively influenced by two kinds of participant: a) close friends who may inhibit free expression on a given topic; b) participants who may be difficult to join with others. For this reason, it is considered more useful when the data is triangulated by using traditional interviewing forms, observation, documentation, and questionnaires (Cohen et al., 2008.) Observation methods Observation is routinely used in everyday life (Frank, 1999,) but it is multi- faceted as a scientific method (Wajnryb, 1992.) Bohem and Weinberg (1987) stated that techniques for observation are key to the developments in the sciences, and this is because data which is collected is more likely to lead to decisions, conclusions, and new ideas. Obaidat et al (2002) made the claim that many phenomena and ideas, which are the subjects of study interviews and questionnaires, are selected because of the need to test them and understand them by field researchers. So, observation is considered a prime tool for the gaining of both information and experience. According to Cohen et al (2008,) observation enables researchers to gain understanding of the context which is being investigated, to be more inductive and open-ended, and to see certain aspects which otherwise may have been missed. It also allows for the discovery of issues that participants may not have wanted to discuss in their interviews. While observation in a social context can easily be accomplished, scientific observation may require more detailed planning, and defined recording protocols (Summerhill and Taylor, 1992.) Cohen et al (2008) refer to observations in many settings: physical, human, group or individual, gender, class, and even interaction in settings which may be formal or informal, planned or unplanned, verbal or non-verbal. Additional settings would include programme settings, such as school resources, curricula, and style. Secondary data The analysis of secondary data, involving the analysis of data collected by other institutions and researchers, will be part of the basis for this research. Additionally, by treating this undertaking with diligence and care, an efficient method or learning about research questions, which are both time saving and cost effective, will be gained. The major sources of secondary data, which are used in this research, are: Official stats. This comprises of statistics collected by various bureaus, departments, agencies, and the government. Because this information is easy to obtain and easy to comprehend, it is considered an important secondary data source. Scholarly Journals (Peer Reviewed) As they contain reports of both original research and reports of experimentation, scholarly journals are important to this study. Experts review scholarly journals in order to check their accuracy, originality, and hence relevance. Literature Review Articles these articles review and arrange original research about a particular subject of interest. For this research the researchers consulted online databases and the library, in order to find the requisite relevant pieces of data to be used in this research. Data analysis Qualitative research findings, methods, disciplinary orientation, and types of findings represent great diversity (Yardley 2000). Qualitative research has many traditions. These include, as a partial listing, cultural ethnography (Agar 1996; Quinn 2005), institutional ethnography (Campbell and Gregor 2004), analyses for historical comparison (Skocpol 2003), case studies (Yin 1994), focus groups (Krueger and Casey 2000), interviews (in-depth) (Glaser and Strauss 1967; McCracken 1988; Patton 2002;

The Transformation of George in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men :: Steinbeck Of Mice and Men Essays

The Transformation of George in Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is a dramatic novel that depicts how different groups of people were treated and how hard life was during the Great Depression. Lennie and George were the main characters along with Curley and his wife, Candy, Slim, and Crooks. Lennie, a big guy and mentally slow, is George's friend and doesn't really change throughout the novel. George, on the other hand, is a small man and changes from a daydreamer to a more down-to-earth, logical person. In the beginning of the novel George daydreams of the future and tells Lennie stories about how they are going to have a farm someday with rabbits. George never really has any set plans on how he will get the farm with Lennie. At about the same time George is telling tales of the future, Lennie is petting mice and killing them. George knows that killing the mice is an accident and doesn't think Lennie would hurt any people. George and Lennie keep drifting and land a job in Soledad, California. Upon arriving in Soledad, George and Lennie meet Candy, an old man with a gimp hand who shows an interest in the farm. Candy offers to throw in $350 if he can be a part of their "dream farm". Suddenly, Georges dreams of the future start to seem more like a reality when they hear of a small plot of land for sale. When everything seems to be going right, a freak accident occurs. Lennie is invited by Curley's wife to pet her hair. He starts to pet her hair when she quickly wants him to let go and screams. Lennie panics and accidentally kills her because he hasn't learned from his mistakes. When Curley, the boss' son, hears of what happened he starts to look for Lennie who is hiding. Curley says that when he finds Lennie he will shoot him in the gut. George knows that him and Lennie couldn't run from this mistake, and Lennie will be hunted and killed painfully. To spare him the pain George kills Lennie quickly. Even though going on with the dream farm would be possible, George knows it wouldn't be the same without Lennie.

Debut Albums and High Social Status Essay

Different people have different ambitions. I have many ambitions in my life. Some want to be rich. Some wish to become leaders of the country to gain honor. Some desire to be great scientists. There are others who are mainly led by a spirit of adventure. The latest craze among young boys and girls is to go to foreign countries. Their aim in life is to earn a lot of money within a short period. I am a human being. I too have my own ambition. My ambition in life is not wealth, power or high social status. I am too modest a young man to aim at any of these things. My ambitions are simple enough. My first ambition is the service of the poor and the down-trodden. My heart weeps at the sight of people in trouble. I do my best to help those who need my help. And what a joy it is to me to find that I have been of service to someone. To work for others gives me a sort of peace of mind. My second ambition in life is to become a good, hardworking and an honest engineer. Different people have different ambitions. I have many ambitions in my life. Some want to be rich. Some wish to become leaders of the country to gain honor. My ambition in life is not wealth, power or high social status. I am too modest a young man to aim at any of these things. My ambitions are simple enough. My first ambition is the service of the poor and the down-trodden. My heart weeps at the sight of people in trouble. I do my best to help those who need my help. And what a joy it is to me to find that I have been of service to someone. To work for others gives me a sort of peace of mind. My second ambition in life is to become a good, hardworking and an honest engineer.

Mel Gibson essays

Mel Gibson essays Mel Gibson: Crazed Maniac or Justice Revolutionary Mel Gibson has played the American's greater good type characters. It started with Braveheart, the movie in which the dashing leading man plays Sir William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish nobleman who fights to free his people from British rule. Next came Conspiracy Theory, in which Gibson plays a bumbling but likeable conspiracy nut. Finally, there was The Patriot, with Gibson drawn into the American Revolution when the British murder his son. Gibson has also play Hamlet that would make some believe that he has played a wide range of films. Don't be deceived look closely at the roles he has played. He is riding the line between crazed maniac and justice revolutionary. He is always fighting the system. In the films Payback and Hamlet he swerves toward the crazed maniac, but in films like Braveheart and The Patriot he leans toward the justice revolutionary. It was enough that he was white, strikingly handsome, and playing noble characters who risk all to fight the system whether that be tyrannical British officers, government bureaucrats, freedom-hating monarchists, or the mobsters from Payback. Nevertheless, the libraries of those on the greater good are overflowing with copies of these Mel Gibson films. Mel Gibson plays Benjamin Martin, a retired soldier turned farmer, in The Patriot. He is a father of seven, which plays a very important role in the film. His wife has passed away and he is left alone to raise the children himself. The character of Benjamin Martin was originally meant to be Francis Marion, but for the sake of telling the most exciting story and maybe escape some controversy, the filmmakers fictionalized the character and the story. They then added historical factors and the historic figures like Elijah Clarke, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, Andrew Pickens and Thomas Sumter to the character of Benjamin Martin. Which in turn made the film inaccurate a...

Developing Coaching Skills for the Workplace

Developing Coaching Skills for the Workplace Creative Writing on Developing Coaching Skills for the Workplace: A coaching culture is an organizational progress model. It provides the structure that defines how the organization’s members can smoothly interact with their work atmosphere. It also encompasses how to achieve the best results from the coaching experience and apply it in the organization. Culture within an organization serves as the backbone for coaching to take place amicably and acceptably by all members. Several methods exist for developing a coaching culture in an organization. This study will take an in-depth analysis of two ways of developing a coaching culture in an organization. The first one is to bring in managers and leaders who can role model the coaching process. This is because, in trying to change an already entrenched culture in an organization, at some point the issue of scale comes up. In coaching, scale presents a challenge in the senses that, a large number of people need to initiate, grow and sustain cultural change. This calls for selecting the right people, invest in their development and site them as role models for the new coaching tradition. This creates a cycle whereby those who have already been coached take the mantle and pass it to those behind them. Studies have proven this method to be highly efficient in creating a coaching culture within an organization. It also has the advantage of cost effectiveness since it involves training select groups of people, as opposed to all the employees in the organization (Anderson, 13). Another way of establishing a coaching culture in an organization is to link coaching outcomes to the business. This calls for closing the gap between the effectiveness of coaching outcomes and overall business objectives. For this to be done effectively, strategic goals and tactics need to be developed around coaching, and specific` performance metrics be developed for coaching behaviors. By doing this, the coaching process is given impetus as individuals feel the link between what the organization expects from the coaching process and what they are involved in. The best way to achieve coaching success through this method is probably by aligning management behavior with organizational objectives. It is usually axiomatic that senior management’s individual behavior and the overall team behavior models and shapes the organizational culture (Anderson, 14). In most cases, the behavior exhibited by the senior management is what other members of staff tend to consequently follow. In this case, for the coaching culture to take root, the top management both individually and collectively need to recreate their image. They need to remodel themselves along a culture geared towards coaching and learning (Anderson, 14). In conclusion, it is clear that, coaching is one of the ways of increasing knowledge and competence within an organization. For coaching to be conducted effectively, it should be done in a systematic manner. Several ways exist for conducting coaching at an overall organizational level. From the two methods discussed above, it is clear that, for a cultural change to occur, the top management needs to be proactive. For one, they need to act as role models in the coaching process so that other employees’ can follow. They also need to come up with policies that link coaching programs to the overall organizational objectives. This way, an organization can be transformed towards one in which a coaching is accepted as the norm.

Law of Obligations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Law of Obligations - Essay Example In this regard, an offer is terminated if it is not accepted within a reasonable time.4 An offer can be withdrawn at any time prior to its acceptance, although withdrawal must be communicated to the offeree.5 However, if the subject matter of the offer is sold prior to its acceptance, the acceptance is not valid because an offer cannot be accepted for the purchase of property that has already passed from the offerer to another.6However, Contemporary Caravan did not sell the motor home, although it claimed to have sold the property prior to receiving the acceptance from Ideal Homes. Nevertheless, an offer and acceptance will not form a legally binding contract unless there is consideration.7 Since there was no consideration, there is no binding contract and Ideal Homes cannot force Contemporary Caravan to sell the motor home to them. Nathan Nobel The communication between Nathan Nobel and Contemporary Caravans indicates a request for information and a response to that request. There w as no definitive offer and acceptance communicated between the parties. Nobel simply asked for the lowest cash price applicable to the luxury motor home and Contemporary Caravans responded. Nothing more was said, and thus Contemporary Caravans had no reason to assume that the stated lowest cash price was accepted by Nathan Nobel. There must be some indication that there was an intention to form legal relations. A mere inquiry as to price will not be sufficient to substantiate that there was an intention to create legal relations on the part of Nobel.8 Moreover, assuming that Contemporary Caravans made an offer in its response to Nobel’s inquiry, Nobel failed to indicate one way or another that he accepted or rejected the... This essay discusses that In light of the fact that the new arrangements were ongoing for 8 months, Right On had a legitimate expectation that these arrangements would continue for the full 12 months. Since Right On had a legitimate expectation that the new arrangements would continue for a year and acted accordingly, it would be unfair for Contemporary Caravans to withdraw their promise. Since the arrangements were ongoing for 8 months, Right On had a reasonable expectation that the new arrangements were genuine or honest and nature and would continue as promised by Contemporary Caravans.Since there was a consideration in the sense that the new arrangements provide for a new method of discharging the loans, Right On can bring an action against Contemporary Caravans for breach of contract or anticipatory breach. In the latter case, Right On may if it likes, apply to the courts for injunctive relief prohibiting Contemporary Caravans reneging on the new arrangements.Whether or not ther e was a consideration, is immaterial because the doctrine of promissory estoppel can be invoked to prevent Contemporary Caravans altering the terms of the new arrangements unilaterally. It is therefore suggested that Contemporary Caravans continue to keep its promise and to allow Right On to continue to make the reduced payments until the 12 month period expires. Since no reasons are given for the desire to back out of the promise and the new arrangements it is likely that a court would find that Contemporary Caravans were not acting in good faith.

Dressy Clothes Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dressy Clothes - Personal Statement Example You too, also feel pleased with yourself because of all the positive reinforcement gained by the approval of others. Often, what we wear is a reflection of what we feel. At the very least, people think that our clothes reflect what we feel. For example, many folks who are mourning a death wear black for a period of time. When we see a person in mourning wear we are automatically sympathetic and treat them with more sensitivity. When we see someone who is nattily dressed in public, we tend to avoid any acquaintance. Sometimes our reactions are subconscious but nevertheless, the reactions do happen. For this assignment, I went out shopping and treated myself to some new items. I confidently wore my new outfits for four days in a row and must admit that I frankly, was rather pleased with myself. I found that people were more outgoing towards me and I found myself with more confidence. I found that I was more apt to initiate conversations rather than respond to them. I had a desire to expose myself more and be more social then before. I found that I smiled readily and there was a certain new confidence in my walk. It was almost a stride. Most notably, my friends and family were highly appreciative my new fashions and encouraged me to keep exploring my new look. All of this really made me good about myself. In some places I went, people commented on my outfit in a positive way and that made me feel even better and my ego increased. It made a difference not with me, but my husband joined me in this assignment. He too went out and bought a few new items for himself and wore them the same time that I was wearing mine. He too was also complimented by friends and family. Perhaps the most rewarding part was that my husband and myself also found ourselves looking at each other differently. We have always respected one another and admired each other but I found myself looking at him the way I did when we first met. I also found that I was so proud to be standing next to this impeccably dressed may and he felt the same way. Needless to say we have resolved to maintain our new looks! Since then I perceive him differently and I feel the same from him. I feel closer to him and my friends are complimenting me often. From now on I intend to be more