Saturday, December 21, 2019

A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen and The Great Gatsby by F....

Research Paper More and more men are holding power over women. When this happens women feel afraid to be themselves and being very insecure and feel they have no purpose. Sadly this is happening more and more in society. This is also shown in Literature books as well, so society has learned and followed what authors have wrote and not it is happening more and more. In the novels, A Dolls House and The Great Gatsby we see that women in the books have strong relationships, but men believe they hold higher power, which can lead womens self esteem to go down, causing them to feel like they have no purpose. While reading literature books in school I have seen examples of women being treated less of what they should be treated as by men. This is present in the book A Dolls House, by Henrik Ibsen. This book is about a couple who goes to extremes to help one another but would they actually stick to what they say they are going to do. In Act III Nora is having a discussion with her husband Torvald , the only one they have has since they have been married. Nora is explaining this to Torvald â€Å"‘When I look back on it now, I seem to have been living here like a beggar, from hand to mouth. I lived performing tricks for you, Torvald’† (Ibsen 197). This quote is showing how Nora has never defending for herself, she has had most everything handed to her and has not had much say in what she does. This has helped her but also weakened her. Nora now does not know what is right and what isShow MoreRelatedThe Desires Of Being Rich1118 Words   |  5 Pagesend. The characters i n A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald experience that becoming wealthy will not buy you happiness and relationships can be ruined in the end. People throughout the world are grown up in all sorts of different situations. Growing up very poor with hardly having food at the dinner table every night can force you to have extreme motivation to live a completely different live. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald readers experience how

Friday, December 13, 2019

Malaysian Airline System Free Essays

string(70) " look to reach one city on the eastern seaboard of the United States\." From a small air service that began with a 5-seater twin engined Airspeed Consul in 1947, Malaysia Airlines has grown into an award-winning airline with a fleet of more than 100 aircraft, servicing more than 110 destinations across six continents. Today, Malaysian Airlines System Berhad is a corporation with a vision of global expansion. The airline’s network will grow extensively in response to consumer demand for worldwide coverage. We will write a custom essay sample on Malaysian Airline System or any similar topic only for you Order Now The airline’s enhanced in-flight services, reliable ground support and excellent infrastructure will set new world standards. Company History: Malaysian Airlines System Berhad is the holding company for Malaysia’s national airline carrier, one of Asia’s fastest growing airlines. Through several other subsidiaries, the company manufactures aircraft parts, offers trucking and cargo transportation services, caters food, provides laundry and dry-cleaning services for airlines and other industrial institutions, and oversees a travel agency. Company Chairman Tajudin Ramli owns a significant share in Malaysian Airlines System (MAS), and the Malaysian government retains a strong voice in MAS affairs. 930s Origins The history of Malaysian Airlines dates back to 1937, when the Straits Steamship Co. of Singapore joined forces with two British companies–Ocean Steamship Co. and Imperial Airways–and won approval from Singapore’s government to operate an airline in the region. Malayan Airways Limited was registered on October 21, 1937. Getting clearance and getting planes in the air, however, proved to be two different things for Malayan Airways Ltd. Operations did not begin until 1947, well after the Japanese occupation had come to an end, when a twin-engined Airspeed Consul lifted off from Subang International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, linking that city with Singapore, Ipoh, and Penang in the north of the country. In 1947 the fledgling airline added a 21-seater DC-3 to its fleet of three Airspeed Consuls. By the end of the year the airline was flying to Jakarta (then called Batavia), Palembang, Bangkok, Medan, and Saigon (later called Ho Chi Minh City). Jointly controlled by the intercontinental carriers BOAC and Qantas, Malayan Airways as for a time run by Keith Hamilton, who would later become head of Qantas. 1960s Independence Following Malaysia’s political establishment in September 1963–the new country comprised the former states of Malaya and Singapore, and the one-time colonies of North Borneo, Sabah, and Sarawak–Malayan Airways became Malaysian Airways and was reorganized to focus on connecting the new country’s disparate regions. Expansion brought more aircraft into the fleet after Borneo Airways was purchased and folded into Malaysian Airways in 1965. This brought four Dakota jets and two Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer aircraft to the carrier’s stable of aircraft. More organizational changes for the airline occurred in 1966, a year after Singapore seceded from Malaysia to become a sovereign state on its own. That year, the governments of Singapore and Malaysia jointly bought a controlling stake in the airline and renamed it Malaysia-Singapore Airlines Ltd. (MSA). Powerful Boeing jets then entered the fleet and enabled flights to reach a number of far-flung Asian destinations. However, differences between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore over the future direction of MSA prompted a split in 1972. Lee Kuan Yew, prime minister of Singapore, desired a truly national carrier for his country, the aim being to fly a small fleet of Boeing 707s displaying the yellow and blue colors of Singapore Airlines. Malaysia likewise chose to go its own way. In October 1972, Malaysian Airline Systems (MAS) was established. (The acronym MAS means gold in the Malaysian language. ) Each of its aircraft would henceforth sport a winged tiger logo, a stylized form of the traditional Kelantan â€Å"wau† or Malaysian kite. The split was crucial to the future fortunes of MAS. From 1972, the airline continued to see itself as a regional carrier, connecting a myriad of remote destinations in Peninsular Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak. Singapore Airlines, on the other hand, was committed from its inception to becoming an international success. By 1975, Singapore Airlines was flying to Seoul, Hong Kong, and Taipei. A year later, that airline was carrying passengers to Paris, Dubai, and New Zealand. Unlike Singapore, Malaysia looked to focus on exploiting its vast reserves of natural resources–petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, timber products, and rubber. The country’s government would choose much later than Singapore had to attempt competing with Western companies in manufacturing and high-tech markets. Thus, maintaining a successful regional airline carrier was judged the best strategy for Malaysia during the 1970s. The company slowly built up its regional services to Jakarta and Medan in Indonesia. Later the destinations of Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, and Singapore were added. â€Å"Malaysia felt that MAS was not serving the needs of Malaysians,† explained Abdullah Mat Zaid, director of corporate planning at MAS. Expanding as a regional airline was not without incident for MAS. In 1978, the company’s low-wage policy met with a setback. Kuala Lumpur had set out rules limiting union activity at the national air carrier as a means of keeping wages and costs down, and a bitter and disruptive labor dispute occurred in 1978. Events surrounding a strike at the national airline prompted the government to intervene and cite MAS workers as being engaged in illegal activity. Several union officials were subsequently arrested. Growth in the 1980s–90s  An economic boom in Malaysia during the 1980s helped spur growth at Malaysian Airlines. By the end of the decade, MAS was flying to 47 overseas destinations. These included eight European cities: London, Zurich, Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Brussels. MAS also flew at this time to six Australian cities–Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydneymdash well as to Auckland, New Zealand. Besides flights to such Asian hubs as Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Peking, MAS also connected with Los Angeles and Honolulu. By 1992, MAS had added scheduled flights to Athens, Madrid, and Rome, and plans were in motion to reach at least one destination in Eastern Europe. Moreover, a new service to South Africa and Brazil was scheduled for 1993. The airline would also look to reach one city on the eastern seaboard of the United States. You read "Malaysian Airline System" in category "Essay examples" MAS also chose during the early 1990s to expand by teaming up with other airlines to make additional destinations available for its customers. For example, Iran Air connected Kuala Lumpur with Tehran, and Royal Jordanian connected MAS flights with Amman. In addition, joint services to Chile and Argentina were discussed in late 1991. The impetus for this expansion came from Malaysia’s burgeoning economy. Between 1986 and 1991, the country’s export-oriented economy posted an average real growth of nine percent. Changes to Malaysia’s foreign investment rules during the mid-1980s were designed to help speed a shift from an economy previously dependent on natural resources to a finely tuned industrialized economy. At the same time, a number of large Asian and Western corporations such as Sanyo, NEC, Toshiba, and Philips established branch plants in Malaysia. The extra traffic of company officials flying back and forth from their headquarters to Malaysia, and the transportation of their high-tech goods, spurred on ticket sales for the airline. The number of business passengers MAS accommodated was underscored by gross foreign investments in Malaysia that rose 30 percent in 1991 to M$10. 7 billion ($5 billion). The 1980s–90s Tourist Trade As the country’s export trade thundered ahead in the late 1980s, so did the domestic passenger traffic in and out of Malaysia, and naturally tourism also provided a springboard to expansion for MAS. By the late 1980s Malaysia began to go after the prized Western tourist, a market already well exploited by neighboring Thailand and the Philippines. Nearly 5. 5 million travelers visited Malaysia in 1991. Although the country, and its airline, were hit by the effects of the Gulf War and global recessionary conditions, tourism contributed M$5 billion–or $2. 4 billionmdasho the country’s trade balance in 1991. The bulk of these tourists came from neighboring Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Kuala Lumpur’s plans to build a number of luxury golf courses in the country were expected to help secure growing numbers of Japanese tourists. Getting into the package tour business also helped MAS encourage increased passenger traffic. Malaysia Airlines Golden Holiday packages and Malaysia Stopover packages were established in 1984. These encouraged European and Australian travelers in transit between the two continents to take a rest break in Malaysia before carrying on to their final destination. To further stimulate tourism, a joint campaign was run by the Malaysian government and MAS to declare 1990 Visit Malaysia Year. During the year, some 7. 4 million tourists flew into and out of the country, as compared with the 4. 8 million tourists who visited Malaysia in the previous year. Another source of new traffic for the airline was the growing number of foreign students attending educational institutions in Malaysia. In September 1989 the International School of Kuala Lumpur registered 700 students; a year later, the school had doubled its enrollment. By the same token, young Malaysians were studying in Europe and North America. In Canada, where many Malaysian students attended universities, it was felt in early 1992 that this new traffic source might warrant regular service between the two countries. Canada’s own national airline, Air Canada, which was suffering from economic recession and increasing global competition, was slow to grant Malaysian Airlines landing rights. The Canadian government felt that allowing MAS to land in Vancouver would encroach on territory commanded by Canadian Airlines International Ltd. , while Toronto International Airport was considered the preserve of Air Canada. Malaysia’s case at the time was not helped by Ottawa having a year earlier announced the cancellation of Singapore Airline’s landing rights in Toronto. Even so, Kuala Lumpur officials reasoned that Canada was out-of-step in trying to protect its national airline carriers. The global airline industry as a whole was going the opposite way, towards increased deregulation and competitiveness. Malaysia was prepared to wait for Canada to accept its growing economic might and grant reciprocal landing rights. Intercontinental traffic for the airline was encouraged by the purchase of Boeing 747 wide-body jets. By 1991, the airline had four of them, and three more were added a year later with an average of two more due for delivery each year until 1995. In 1992, a tightening labor supply in Malaysia, in part the result of its increasingly prosperous economy, was cited by international corporations as the prime obstacle standing in the way of future expansion plans. Manpower shortages were especially acute at the middle management and technical levels. All of these circumstances would impact on MAS’s passenger and cargo traffic figures as the country’s economy moved from the farm to the factory and beyond. Amid this backdrop, the Malaysian government in 1992 forecast that passenger traffic on the country’s combined airways–international and regional–would grow by ten percent annually in the five years before 1997. International freight volume in the same period was expected to rise by 13 percent annually. Officials in Kuala Lumpur announced in 1992 that they had plans to build a new international airport in Sapang, adding that all other airports in the country were expected to cope with the increased passenger demand of the 1990s without the need for expansion. Government forecasts in 1992 pointed to 9. 5 million passengers to be carried by MAS that year, a figure expected to jump to approximately 15 million by 1995. Cargo was also identified as an expanding source of revenue for the airline in the 1990s. In recognition of this potential, MAS in 1992 introduced MASkargo in order to begin providing a full cargo service to the United States and Europe. A DC-10-30 jet was fitted to carry up to 60 tons of cargo per flight. Further plans were announced to purchase an additional Boeing 747-400 freighter to carry 45 tons of extra cargo per flight. In 1992 MASkargo also opened a fully automated cargo handling center in Penang. The new facility complemented the expanded MAS Cargo Center at Subang Airport, which provided semi-automated and computerized facilities including elevating transfer vehicles and electronic scissor lifts fitted with computerized scales. Expansion at the cargo center brought MASkargo’s total warehouse storage space to 150,000 square meters. The ambitious expansion plans taxed the carrier’s profits, which were nearly halved, from M$206 to M$120, between 1991 and 1992. Turnover increased 23 percent in 1992, however, reaching M$3. billion. Correspondingly, employment at MAS rose from 17,575 workers in 1992 to 20,370 in 1993. Demand for flight crews was so great that the carrier contracted for 35 percent of these positions with overseas personnel, mostly Australian. Fifteen hundred of the employees worked in the airline’s unique flight kitchen, which served 22 airlines. All 17,000 meals a day were hallal, that is, observing Muslim dietary restrictions that prohibited pork. During this time, MAS hired Star Wars producer George Lucas’s special effects unit to create a stunning sci-fi television commercial. The spot, which aired around the world, was commissioned to present MAS as a modern, world-class airline and featured a huge kite-shaped space station. The cost was estimated at between $2 and $4 million dollars. In 1993, MAS bought a 24. 9 percent interest in U. S. charter operator World Airways. The company also leased five of its MD-11 aircraft. Operations personnel, in high demand at MAS, were also made available. 1994: Ramli Buys a Stake in the Airline In 1994 Malaysian entrepreneur Tajudin Ramli bought a 32 percent controlling interest for M$2 billion ($745 million) worth of stock. The government retained an 11 percent interest. Tajudin, who had earlier put together a mini-aviation empire in preparation of competing with MAS, was saddled with an overlarge fleet and diminishing profits. Although sales rose to $M4. 1 billion ($1. 6 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 3, 1994, profits fell from M$145. 4 million ($56. 4 million) to M$7. 7 million ($2. 9 million). The carrier was still receiving large shipments of new aircraft, including Boeing 747s, and sales of its used aircraft were slow. Some of MAS’s new A330 aircraft were delivered late, resulting in penalty payments from Airbus. ) Tajudin immediately set out to trim the fat. He introduced a more businesslike attitude and required better reporting from the company’s managers. Aircraft utilization was increased. The carrier signed code-share agreements on transpacific routes and promoted its Kuala-Lumpur-Los Angeles route to attract more business passengers. Virgin Atlantic Airways teamed with MAS in 1995 to operate joint London-Kuala Lumpur flights. The service proved convenient for Virgin’s Australia-bound passengers. Planes stayed just as full after the number of flights was increased from eight to 14 a week, although the two carriers faced very formidable competition from the British Airways/Qantas alliance, which operated the only single-plane service between London and Australia. MAS recorded its highest ever pretax profit in 1996–97 of M$349. 4 million ($120 million). The company continued to buy new planes and relocated to Kuala Lumpur’s new Sepang International Airport, a move expected to further enhance its reputation. However, the new airport’s opening was plagued with lost baggage, computer malfunctions, and other annoyances. Depreciating Malaysian currency brought MAS debt up to M$12 billion by 1998. Debt servicing helped MAS lose M$260 million ($62 million) in 1997–98. In response, the carrier deferred new aircraft purchases, sold old planes, and slashed underperforming routes. A new restructuring plan put forth by Tajudin, whose hands were tied by the government when it came to cutting jobs, was rejected on the grounds it would rescue Tajudin at the expense of minority shareholders. Foreign airlines with an eye towards global expansion (such as Thai Airways and British Airways) seemed interested in investing in the troubled carrier, however. How to cite Malaysian Airline System, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Evaluation of Strategies to Stabilize and Integrate

Question: Discuss about the Evaluation of Strategies to Stabilize and Integrate. Answer: Introduction: I chose to prepare a reflection diary on the research I conducted. On something that is hardly talked about, a topic that is considered ugly, yes I decided to carry out research on human trafficking, I would state that my perspectives on the subject have changed. I wanted to find out why human trafficking cases are falling through the cracks. In the wake of taking a gander at heaps of terrible stories about children and women are being mishandled, trafficked and utilized as property, it's a touch of dispiriting to acknowledge how sinful and immoral people are. It is not necessarily the case that all people are malevolent yet it's difficult to peruse one good thing (like ladies getting away from their captors) when there are such a variety of more stories about how these individuals' trusts are exploited and they're sold like nothing but cattle. I found out no country is safe and this evil side is a global problem. I accept and others will too, that stopping human trafficking is not an easy task and hard to diminish from society. Challenges During conducting research, I faced lack of cooperation from the victims, considering the fact their statements, experiences means a lot and indeed the most essential element of investigation. I tried to speak to one of the victims, but he was so terrified to share what he went through, he was irresponsive as he thought I might belong to some law enforcement agency trying to interview him. This made me ponder great responsibility lies with our agencies to minimize to stop human trafficking. But I am not sure if law implementation authorities have adequate assets to prepare, staff, and research human trafficking cases, particularly watch officers and other specialists on call destined to experience human trafficking circumstances. The report likewise found that lack of trauma informed interviewing techniques limit backed off distinguishing proof of cases. I also had hard time as Gender issues significantly affected my capacity to obtain information. Trafficked women often suffer sexual abuse and violence and were reluctant to seek assistance because of the shame and hesitant to look for help and support my research. It was challenging task for me to compile the facts and figures related to particular chosen topic, with many hurdles and obstacles, somehow I managed to come up with facts and figures that I have presented in the report. Why it happens? The extensive research enabled me to summarize to reason behind. The ugliest thing in the world, why does it happens? I am embarrassed to say! Our current worldwide monetary framework keeps on compensating riches and endeavor poor people. Constrained work, acquired from either sex or labor trafficking, earns about $150 billion in in unlawful benefits each year in the private economy, as indicated by the International Labor Organization. In the wake of coordinating gatherings with a couple people I found that sex trafficking particularly, is connected with the women falling of poverty. 70% of the world's poor are women and young women, a substantial bit of who live in making countries with obliged decisions open to them. Social standards that incite unevenness and fierceness against these ladies and young ladies frequently make them vulnerable against sex and work trafficking. According to International Labor Organization, girls and women make up fifty-five percent of human traffickin g victims. How Social Workers can deal with Human Trafficking When I examined the role and contribution a social worker can make related to Human Trafficking, this is a great responsibility and chance one can have to make an impact or probably to leave a mark. Most common ways by which they can play their part are: By raising awareness campaigns. The social worker should intend to educate and capacitate other professionals to play role with trafficking information in order to render quality services to trafficked children. This means that, in addition to social workers, police officers, medical personnel and teachers should be equipped with information on human trafficking and importantly its prevention. Social workers should emerge as initiators of economic projects with regard to empowering of affected individuals. Social workers can play role to bridge communication and raise voice for affectees by urging government to implement and formulate anti-trafficking laws. Ways to fight Human Trafficking Research enabled me to think of some ways to fight against this horrible thing. Talking to many personnels also helped in framing my thoughts. I think individuals need to wake up and understand that there are HORRIBLE individuals out there and on the off chance that you kick back and let every other person take the necessary steps, we won't ever dispose of human trafficking. Until everybody takes care of this, it won't work and the best way to get everybody to accomplish something but my research states few ways to fight this curse. Support and volunteer anti-trafficking efforts. Examine theindicators of human traffickingso you can help yourself and others to identify a potential trafficking victim. Media nowadays is one of a gigantic part in forming perceptions, shaping opinions and managing people in general discussion about human trafficking. Plan and organize a fundraiser, charitable event and donate the proceeds to anti-trafficking organization and well-being of victims. I ought to state paying little personality to the various inconveniences of institution and nonappearance of preventive measure, we should keep making endeavors to complete and pass on issues to light about these laws. We should move toward the end of present day enslavement, paying little notice to how troublesome and long the battle might be. It was a great learning experience for me throughout the period of research. It greatly improved my confidence. Initially I was reluctant to go to victims and authorities and talk to them but slowly and gradually I found out the ways to deal with them. It helped to improve my communication skills at large, my speaking power was improved and was able to put up right question in front of a right person which I think is a key skill nowadays helping in many ways to come up with desired solutions. References Gozdziak, E. M., Lowell, B. L. (2016). After Rescue: Evaluation of Strategies To Stabilize and Integrate Adult Survivors of Human Trafficking to the United States. Kempadoo, K., Sanghera, J., Pattanaik, B. (2015).Trafficking and prostitution reconsidered: New perspectives on migration, sex work, and human rights. Routledge.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

What Is Art Analysis Essay Example For Students

What Is Art Analysis Essay Art is something that has great value to many people. Art is everywhere. It lives in the soul, mind and even the heart. Art is an outlet for people to express themselves. Art is a way for the human mind to express itself. It is a form of expression. There are many different ways to explain how art is created. First of all, art is classified as paintings, drawings, architecture, ext Art can also be dancing, singing, And acting. It can be anything that expresses an idea. Art surrounds us. It is encountered so often that often we dont realize art when we see it. We will write a custom essay on What Is Art Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Anyone can look at art and say Wow! Thats so beautiful to me. Art is around to teach us . We can learn so much about ourselves and the world by viewing art. Many times we create art without a reason. We believe that we are just making a pretty picture. Often We us art to express our feelings . Every has some feeling or thought that they wish to express but they Are afraid to do so. Art is seen as a opportunitiy for people to express themselves about their life. Some people learn better visually than audibly. For these people, creating art will help ideas become Clearer because they can visually see something. Art is a important part of modern society. Without art We would not know as much about our history as we do today and the beauty of life. In todays society people are worried about reputation. Art allows a person to express themselves Without being punished socially. Art relieves a lot of tension in the world. It is a way for people to express their anger and their emotions. Art is a way of life for people to express themselves . Therefore, art is a form of idea, expression, beauty, and how it surrounds our life today. What is art Analysis Essay Example For Students What is art? Analysis Essay Outline1 The meaning of the art.2 The role of art in human life.3 How does art appear? The meaning of the art. Traction to the beautiful accompanied a person at all times. It found its expression in paintings, frescoes, sculptures, literature and other objects of art that have come down to us through the centuries. Each generation contributed to the development of a new direction in creativity. What role does good art play in shaping the horizons of an individual now? Does it have value for everyone or only for people of creative professions and beau monde? Read the answer for those questions in the essay on what is art you see below. There are many opinions and definitions on this subject called â€Å"What is art?† Some people believe that any creativity should be conveyed to the masses in doses and with preliminary explanations. Another people, who prefer to stand guard over art, treat contemptible amateurs and strictly follow the observance of classical foundations. Fortunately, there are still those people, who do not welcome artificial restrictions. Sometimes a side view of a work of art can explain more than the artist or director himself.   Researchers and even college students in their art essay still try to unravel the paintings of Da Vinci or Van Gogh, to understand what the artist wanted to say by that or another work of art. We will write a custom essay on What is art? Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Art is a creative reflection of reality in artistic images. Real art excites the soul, gives a feeling of happiness. It is able to distract a person from everyday life, transfer to the world of dreams and fantasies, instil faith in miracles. I will prove the validity of my words with concrete examples. Let us take a look at the text by T.N. Tolstoy, whose heroine preferred cinema over the two types of art theater and cinema. The theater can’t give the narrator a total transformation, a final deception. The heroine believes that the movie is intended for those who love dreams and wonders. So, it is the cinema that helps the narrator to feel the fullness of life. Art is something that we can’t live without. But art is not limited just to static species. We listen to pleasant music; we watch theatrical performances, we attend pop and circus performances. On walks, through the city, we admire the architecture of ancient buildings and the monumental grandeur of modern. Landscape design in park areas is another area of modern art. After working days, we are happy to watch movies on TV. The availability of modern technologies has led to the mass lay-up of their own videos on YouTube. The most interesting, found a response in the soul of others, receive high marks and become popular on the world wide web. The role of art in human life. Culture has changed over the years. But unlike the people who lived their lives and died, it still remained in our society. There are works by leading composers: Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven or famous writers like Rabindranath Tagore and Lev Tolstoy. Through the years they continue to delight many people. We may not know the authors of famous works, but we hear and see the creation itself. A person may not know that Mona Lisa was written by Leonardo da Vinci, and To Elise by Beethoven, but these works are priceless because they make us feel. Feelings are laid in any kind of art painting, literature, music, theater. The author adds his feelings, thoughts while drawing a portrait but art is dependent on your point of view as well. .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 , .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .postImageUrl , .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 , .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28:hover , .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28:visited , .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28:active { border:0!important; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28:active , .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28 .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9b7312865416a89bee5c427b1a55ac28:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Lady of Shallot Lady of Shalotts EssayThere is an inner word with the possible analysis in any work of art. For example, there could be a film, series, show performance in a book, but in all the situations it will be different because everyone has his/her own ideas. Only some parts can remain the same. Usually, it’s introduction and conclusion. Art helps people to open more, to realize themselves, to go into their inner world, to be free of your ideas and dreams. It helps to go away from the reality and get into a completely different, opposite world. That is why the role of art is invaluable in human life. How does art appear? Art originated in ancient times. With the help of drawings and frescoes, ancient artists displayed different aspects of life: hunting, war, life. Musicians expressed feelings and experiences through their works, and writers wrote ballads, describing events and singing the feats of contemporaries. Art always accompanies humanity, changing over time and accepting the characteristic features of different parts of the world. Regardless of geographical, historical, natural, and cultural qualities, works of art convey the character of life, human appearance, and everyday life through music, painting, or other means. Each art form has its own characteristics, but they are all called one thing to educate people, to participate in the development of their personality, character, and creative abilities. After creating the works, the authors acquaint us with their vision of the world. They explain and evaluate the events that will be captured on canvas, music or in book volumes forever. But art would not be like this if it showed only the facts and the vicissitudes of life. Rich imagination is the quality that is always necessary for the master to create his masterpieces, giving aesthetic pleasure to humanity. The task of the human is to save art. We need to appreciate and preserve the art and all its components, including Artscolumbia. If this does not happen, if people stop appreciating art, the world will be doomed to ruin. In conclusion, we would like to say that art is an integral part of life for any person. Sometimes we don’t simply notice this, involuntarily admiring all the beautiful things that surround us. Thus, real art can make a person happy. The main thing is to find exactly what kind of art, which will meet your interests and desires. And what does art mean to you?

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Principles of diversity equality Essays

Principles of diversity equality Essays Principles of diversity equality Essay Principles of diversity equality Essay Outcome 1: Understand the importance of diverseness. equality and inclusion. 1. 1 Define what is meant by: Diverseness: Is that right of each person to be different and to hold differences from others. Equality: the province of being equal. particularly in position. rights or chances. Inclusion: the action or province of including or being included within a group or construction. Discrimination: the unfair or damaging intervention of different classs of people. particularly on the evidences of race. age or sex. 1. 2 Describe how direct or indirect favoritism may happen in the work scene. Direct favoritism: Institutional/Company: different wage degrees offered for the same occupation. publicity offers to merely a choice group of employees ; occupation offers and preparation chances being offered to persons of a certain race or age ; strong-arming. excepting others. aggravations of co-workers or clients on the footing of their gender. age. spiritual beliefs. ethnicity. linguistic communication. societal category. sexual orientation. Indirect favoritism: Inadequate installations put in topographic point for those with disablements. doing demands on work force which they deem as being disadvantageous to employees of a certain group ; utilizing excessively complex nomenclature when supplying information either members of staff or the clients 1. 3 Explain how patterns that support diverseness. equality and inclusion cut down the likeliness of favoritism. Blending groups of persons in state of affairss like ; developing Sessionss encourages coherence and fosters the chances for persons to work good with each other in partnership. Introducing installations that aid mobility as this encourages the engagement of persons who are less nomadic and makes them experience included as their demands are being taken into history. Puting in topographic point constabularies that empower employees and demo the individual’s value to the company such as ; employee of the month awards and fillips given for consistent good work. This will increase the employees’ assurance in transporting out their occupation and want to go on their employment contract with the company. Outcome 2: Know how to work in an inclusive manner. 2. 1 List cardinal statute laws and codifications of pattern associating to diverseness. equality. inclusion and favoritism in grownup societal attention scenes. Equalities Act ( 2001 ) . The Employment Act ( 2008 ) . Health and Social Care Act ( 2012 ) . Human Rights Act ( 1998 ) . Mental Capacity Act ( 2005 ) . Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act ( 2006 ) . 2. 2 Describe how to interact with persons in an inclusive manner. Being empathic towards the clients’ state of affairs and demoing a echt involvement in their concerns and demands. Allowing and promoting a bipartisan duologue to happen between the attention worker and the client utilizing techniques such as ; active hearing to help communicating. Respecting individual’s cultural and/or spiritual differences and working with them in a manner that doesn’t travel against their beliefs or ethical motives. 2. 3 Describe ways in which favoritism may be challenged in grownup societal attention scenes. Puting in topographic point a company policy of zero-tolerance sing favoritism. Informing all members of staff and clients about how and when to do ailments sing any issues of concern including favoritism. Promoting others to dispute favoritism. Keeping a record of prejudiced behavior and fall backing to disciplinary actions to cover with such behavior. Routinely updating policies and processs of administration in relation to favoritism. Using old prejudiced instances to help the uninterrupted professional development of the members of staff as they can move as an illustration of how they can react and manage similar state of affairss if and when they occur in their hereafter working life with the company. Outcome 3: Know how to entree information. advice and support about diverseness. equality. inclusion and favoritism. 3. 1 Identify beginnings of information. advice and support about diverseness. equality. inclusion and favoritism. Company attention worker enchiridion. Skills for attention web site. Heath A ; Social Care Information Centre web site. NHS web site. Healthcare Diversity Council web site. 3. 2 Describe how and when to entree information. advice and support about diverseness. equality. inclusion and favoritism. An person should entree information. advice and support about diverseness. equality. inclusion and favoritism in cases where they believe that either them or the client who they are helping being treated below the belt due to factors like an individual’s race or ethnicity ; holding entree to the relevant legislative regulations and ordinances such as ; the Equalities Act ( 2001 ) or The Employment Act ( 2008 ) and the company’s policies and processs sing diverseness. equality. inclusion and favoritism so that they know precisely what their employer is lawfully required to set into topographic point in order to further diverseness. equality. inclusion and prevent favoritism. This information particularly the company’s policies and processs will besides inform the attention worker of the proper process that needs to happen when the attention w orker experiences issues sing diverseness. equality. inclusion and favoritism.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Critical Success Factor Report (Alley Cafe) Essay

Critical Success Factor Report (Alley Cafe) - Essay Example Apart from that, it has created a personal niche by conducting events with budding local talents. The Cafe offers a platform where talented enthusiasts perform live as well as display their arts and paintings on gallery walls of the Cafe. The gallery wall is a place where paintings and artworks of numerous new talents are displayed. Some of the well-known and preferred menus are baked organic beans, toast and scrambled eggs (Alley Cafà ©, 2014b). The objective of the report is to evaluate and analyse critical success factors for Alley Cafe. The current report is a retail audit of a medium sized retail organisation, Alley Cafe, with major focus on its critical success factors. The retail audit will help in identifying the current market demand and make future forecasts accordingly. This information will be subsequently used for recognizing success factors specific for the industry in which Alley Cafe operates. The research methodology includes both primary and secondary research. Primary research has been done by conducting a customer survey in order to analyse present market demand for Alley cafe and competitor’s positioning in the market. Secondary research includes extensive review of the company and competitors through literature study, articles, journals and authentic websites. Out of 177 respondents surveyed for retail audit, 83 never visited the Cafe (Figure 6). Taking the higher margin in each category for money spent, average monthly income for Alley Cafe is estimated to be around 1011 Euros. Also, majority of customers spend less than 15 Euros while visiting Alley Cafe. The demand for coffee is more during the winter season. Apart from that, United Kingdom is a majorly coffee consuming nation. Many new small and local coffee shops and snacks bar are being launched, increasing overall competitive environment of the local market (Figure 8). Also, survey results showed that customer demand for full English

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Acquisition of Merril Lynch by Bank of America Essay

Acquisition of Merril Lynch by Bank of America - Essay Example The self-serve bias, one of the strongest biases faced in organizational decision-making, is a tendency to favor oneself. Generally people taking decisions with this kind of bias, credit themselves for success of their decisions while blaming others for their wrong decisions (Tosi, Mero & Rizzo, 2000, p.79). The aim of this essay to analyze if the decision taken by Bank of America’s executives was a result of self-serving bias. Background of the Problem Bank of America acquired the almost collapsed Merrill Lynch in January 2009 with the approval of shareholders of both the companies. The deal was worth $50 billion. The acquisition made the bank world’s largest financial service provider. However, the earnings released in the same month revealed losses of $21.5 billion in the fourth quarter of Merrill Lynch. The executives of BOA in the announcement before the voting by shareholders provided an unjustified and randomly projected losses rather than the actual analysis of Merrill Lynch. This called for two times infusion of money by the government. However, the executives of BOA in November testified in a Congressional Hearing that they relied on faulty data in order to gain shareholder vote on the acquisition. The forecasts of losses were faulty and some of the losses from collateralized debt obligations for the month of November and December, and various other illiquid assets were omitted. This omission of losses from the financial model used by Merrill Lynch, led to around $9 billion losses where the actual pre-tax losses should have been $18 billion (Cohan, 2009). The carelessness and absence of due diligence on part of BOA executives has had cost its shareholders and resignation of the chairman of BOA Kenneth D. Lewis who also happened to be the chief executive of the bank. However, there is another aspect of the situation faced by BOA i.e. the executives in their testimony also provided the reason for ignoring the significant losses to be press ure from the government to acquire Merrill Lynch before it declares bankruptcy. Analysis of Executives’ Behavior The BOA executives’ testimony in case of Merrill Lynch’s acquisition shows that they deliberately ignored to make a careful analysis of the accounting books of Merrill Lynch. The possible reason for this could be that they had already made up their minds about the acquisition and so ignored the basic principle of investment decision-making i.e. due diligence (Stowell, 2010, p.71). The motivation could be from the fact that the acquisition made BOA world’s largest financial services company and this could have been linked with the compensation and bonuses of the executives. BOA was also interested in buying the bankrupt Lehman Brothers, which was eventually taken over by Barclays. Moreover, BOA executives’ over confidence stems from another recent successful acquisition of Countrywide Financial Corporation that made BOA America’s b iggest home lender (Mildenberg & Keoun, 2008). At the time of acquisition announcement it was believed by many analysts that if BOA was able to restrict the bad assets, then Merrill Lynch’s retail distribution with sales force of 16,690 brokers managing $1.6 trillion of assets, could be the most profitable deal the bank had got during the financial crisis (Mildenberg & Keoun, 2008). Unlike Barclays’ acquisition of Lehman without its bad assets for a much smaller amount, the Merrill Lynch deal was a hasty decision by BOA’s chief executive Kenneth D. Lewis. Lewis had been the driving force of BOA’s success around the nation (The New York Times, 2009). In a study of self-serving bias in managerial decision-making, it

Monday, November 18, 2019

Socio-cultural Influences on Sexuality Research Paper

Socio-cultural Influences on Sexuality - Research Paper Example or, gender identity and roles and gender stereotyping and bais are majorly influenced by social and cultural issues as demonstrated by divergent perceptions and approaches across different socio-cultural settings. Different societies have cultures that have been nurtured over a long time that influence the perception of the members with regard to sexuality issues. The paper looks at the various perspectives in which socio-cultural issues influence perception with regard to sexuality. Debates surrounding sexual orientation and accomodation of same sex partners in most societies are usually influenced by the socio-cultural provisions with regard to such unions. The catholic church, most African and Arab countries have strongly expressed their opposition towards such unions. The common attribute of the catholic church, most African and Arab countries is that sexuality is not usually a subject that I spoken openly and even with the existence of gays and lesbians, these societies go at great lengths to condemn such unions. According to Worrel (2003), these socities are characterized by the existence of socio-cultural norms nurtured over long periods of time and no opposition to these norms is usually welcome. Worrel continues to outline that in more democratic societies in the western world and other developed countries, gays and lesbians are being given a chance to fight for recognition in the society. Gender roles and identity are aspects that are nurtured at a avery young that by the time children grow to become adults they already have solid perceptions towards these issues. The traditional set up where the man was supposed to provide for the family while the woman stayed at home to take care of children is still a major concern for gender equality activists. Even with the changing society where socio-economic developments have made it necessary for the woman to work to supplement the earnings of the man, the society still finds it difficult to embrace the change.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Analysis of Brand Management Strategy for Shoe Company

Analysis of Brand Management Strategy for Shoe Company Chapter 1: Introduction 1. Introduction This dissertation is comprised of brand evolution and sum various steps involved to construct it. The creation and importance of Brand Awareness, Brand Image, and Brand Loyalty is discussed followed by the evaluation of Servis Sales Corporation as how successful Brand they are in Shoe industry of Pakistan. Servis Sales Corporation claims to be the largest retail shoe sellers of Pakistan therefore research is held on the company as what are the various marketing strategies SSC adopted to gain such a large market share. Steps to create brand loyalty amongst their target market and implementing effective brand management are part of this research. Branding is the main ingredient in the process of creating stable reputation, identity and strong image of a company and is always a first requirement to have competitive edge, this create awareness and work as a positive gesture towards customers to be product or brand loyal. As the Chairman of Quaker Oats Ltd, John Stuart said, if this business were to be split up, I would be glad to take the brands, trademark and goodwill and you could have it all the bricks and mortar and I would fare better than you . Leslie De Chernatony(2001 p1) In this era of globalization every company wishes to grow and expand their businesses in order to attain a healthy position in throat cutting world of business . In this effort companies faces many challenges and went through many challenges by their rivals and most of all providing customer’s satisfaction. 1.1 Background Study: The term brand arrived form the ancient Norse word meaning â€Å"to burn† Rita Clifton, John Simmons, Sameena Ahmad (2004 ;13). The original term was developed to signify the source or maker or owner of a product or item. Now a days brand is used to identify service or product’s manufacturer or seller, when we go through we see that many of the many modern concepts of brands and branding were formalised in the United States at a Procter Gamble company in the late 1800s. We get a good example of importance of brand when we talk about â€Å"Virgin† which is currently at the face of hundred business strategies. A brand will be a strong brand if people’s values match the values of brand. Branding’s means adding value to the product Marieke K de Mooij (2005: 96) Brand stands for a reputation, you are always reputed when you are always reputed when you make a promise and fulfil it. Brand is more like a human nature not just a visual, public identity or a picture. Every single who is part of the organization represents the brand of the company and pay its part to construct it. The brand is a performance measured and recorded in interaction of every area involves customers investors, employees business partners and media (www.thebrandconsultancy.com) Its quite clear that every company is conscious about its brand loyalty amongst its customers because they know this if they are successful in managing the brand loyalty of their existing customers which is company’s strategic asset it will automatically add huge value to firm. As Douglas B states that Brand Loyalty is the customer’s willingness to stay with brand when competitor come knocking with offering that would be considered equally attractive had not to the customer and brand shared a history. The degree of customer stickiness is the key to the brand’s market power. Douglas B. Holt (2004 ; p 149) Merlo (2003) mentions that the brand loyalty is rewarded by an increase in profit through repeat business, referral sales, decreased customer maintenance costs and reduced exposure to price competition. When we talk about creating and enhancing brand loyalty we see that there are not-too complex ways of increasing brand loyalty. Companies can learn to recover from mistakes. A good recovery can turn angry, frustrated customers into a loyal ones. â€Å"Companies must handle problems and complaints with Care- Communicate, Acknowledgement, respect and regard and empathy†(Merlo, 2003) 1.2 Statement of Problem: Global challenges today have forced companies not to have their business image within their home land but to spread their identity across the borders by managing brand, securing the product or a service of companies and building loyalty among customers to achieve maximum and lasting competitive edge. The aim of the research is to evaluate the brand management of Servis Sales Corporation by analyzing their marketing strategies. Research covers the analysis that how successful SSC today is in gaining brand loyalty as it is considered to be the biggest footwear seller in Pakistan. 1.3 Aim and Objectives: The main Objective of the research is the finding that to what level SSC is successful in imperialising Brand Management to embrace positive effect on their customer’s perception and has given SSC a competitive edge, as they are Pakistan’s largest shoe company. Core Objectives of Research: To analyze marketing strategies of Servis Shoes Company leading to effective brand management giving SSC a positive brand image amongst their target market. To observe various strategies adapted by SSC to enhance brand loyalty amongst their customers? To find out what steps Servis Shoes Company took to create its Brand awareness amongst it’s target market and what are the areas they still need to focus upon. To identify the involvement of consumers to the brand as in why they prefer a particular brand (Servis) on every other different brands available in the market. 1.4 Report Structure: This report will be organized as follows: Literature Review: The literature review of this report covers understanding and benefit of effective brand management that how people connect to them. Chapter includes importance of creating and enhancing awareness among consumers followed by the concepts and historical perspective of brand loyalty giving a wider view of the perception about brand loyalty and its strategic values. Company Introduction: This chapter consist of the brief introduction to Servis Sales Corporation, giving a wider view of their leading position in shoe line in Pakistan amongst their rivals. This chapter shows company background and demographics with the facts and figures about their expanded business nationwide. Research Methodology: In this chapter different method of research is discussed. It also focuses on research philosophy principle, quantitative and qualitative analysis and secondary and primary data. After studying the methods and techniques different methods are identified which is most suitable to get the reliable and most accurate data? Which is used in research? Finding and Analysis After completing the research, the data gathered through different sources from the company are analysed in this chapter, which is explained with chart and then it is moderated with the findings. Conclusion: This chapter involves conclusion and the result in the light of findings with literature. Analysis of research finding and result are discussed, Recommendation to company and further research is also the part of this chapter. Literature Review Scott Galloway stated a very good definition showing importance of brands in today’s world of marketing that â€Å"Brand is the face of a business strategy† ( Scott Galloway in Alker, 2000 :33) another well appreciated definition of brand given by American Marketing Association cited in (Kotler 2003: 418) â€Å" A brand is name, term, sign, symbol, or services of one seller or a group of seller to differentiate them from those of competitors†. A brand is essentially a marketer’s promise to deliver a specific set of features, benefits and services consistently to buyers. The marketer must think that he is offering a contract to the customer about how the brand will perform ( kotler 2003) Le Pla et ala, (2003: 3) give a more profound and in depth definition of brand: Brand is the interaction between core company ( product or service ) strengths and what is customer value . Company strengths are what company does well. The things that the customers value include the benefits of a products features, as well as what the customer see as the ongoing worth of a relationship with the company. According to Kapferer (1997 : 56), â€Å"Products are mute: the brand is what gives them a meaning and purpose, telling us how a product should be read. A brand is both a prism and a magnifying glass through which products can be decoded†. Renault invites us to perceive its models as cars for living’.. brands guide our perception of products†. Hence it can clearly be seen from the above paragraph that branding goes a long way in giving a distinct identity to a product. Rowley (1997) explains that brand communicates with consumers, according too him when consumers are familiar with a brand, they expect the same qualities, benefits and advantages from products or services which are provided under that specific brand, this easily makes their decision in favour of the brand instead of searching or gathering information regarding products fulfilling their requirements. Therefore, it can be suggested that brand accelerates consumers’ process of decision making as it provides two different ways of communication between suppliers and their consumers (Rowley, 1997) Effective Brand Management The concept of â€Å"brand management† was developed at Procter Gamble in the US in the year 1930 and is also knows as product management .Ambler (2003:82). The main reason behind Brand management is to secure the product’s future and services any company or organization, and this is only possible with the formulation loyalty amongst customers creating emotional as well as rational values. This results sales in market place and stimulating affect on the perception of a company’s products .If brand power is tied together in a proper way organization can easily maximize market share and corporate profitability. Brands if handled and managed sensibly can provide their owners a considerable benefits and rewards. Davis (2002 :6) says that the following benefits accure to the company that manages is brands effectively: Loyalty derives repeat business- A recent study by Bob Pasikoff, president of brand keys, shows that an increase in customer loyalty of only 5% can lift lifetime profit per customer by as much as 100%. Premiums price of brand allow higher margins – Starbucks represents the ultimate example of a strong brand driving a premium price resulting in greater profit. Strong Brands lend immediate credibility to new one in product introductions. A well established brands can provide instant credibility for a new product. Gillette’s Marc 3 became number one personal shaver within a month of its launch. Strong brand allow for greater shareholder and stakeholder returns. One can see a good example is Yahoo and GE are big brands with even bigger shareholder returns. Strong Brand embody a clear, valued, and sustainable point of differentiation relative to competition – No one can FedEx’s claim of overnight delivery. Loyal customer base and strong brand make customer forgiving for the the mistakes made by the company, if a company makes a mistake for instance, the strike at the Saturn car plant had little impact on Saturn’s loyalty or sales. The lever for attracting best employees along with keeping satisfied customers is Brand Strength – Companies like coca-cola, Microsoft, Intel, Disney etc. are almost always in the top bracket of survey which measures employee satisfaction. It is obvious that it’s a difficult thing to build and maintain a brand reputation like Coke, Microsoft, Nike, General Electric, etc and as David D’ Alessandro, President of John Hancock Mutual Life insurance, in Klein (2000: 145), â€Å"it can take 100 years too build up a good brand and 30 days to knock it down†. Effect of Brand on People ( How People connect to them) Scott Davis( 2002) says that, Brands are at least in part a set of promises made to consumer. The leading brand travel a particular PATH in the human mind. This PATH is an acronym for promise, acceptance, trust and hope. Certainly this PATH is intangible and cannot be co modified†. But he then mentions that these very intangibles make a customer choose Sony over JVC and Nike over Reebok. The following are the customers perceptions vis-à  -vis a strong brand (Davis, 2002) 72% of customer sat that they will pay a 20% premium for their brand of choice, relative to the closest competitive brand. 25% of customer state that price matter if they are buying a brand that owns their loyalty. Over 50% of purchases are brand driven. Peer recommendation influences almost 30% of all purchases made today. More than 50% of consumers believe a strong brand allows for more successful new product introductions and they are more willing to try a new product from a preferred brand because of the implied endorsement. The view of Le Pla et al, (2002 ; 3) is that a strong brand is much more than an image or a logo. People emotionally identify with a strong brand and relationship with such a brand makes them feel more secure and comfortable. This is completely in sync with Kotler’s ( 2003) example of a consumer buying a Mercedes because the car ( which is also a strong brand) makes him feel more important and admired’. Aaker (1991) suggests that anything which a consumer realises about a brand can be defined as brand association it according to him it create positive consumer attitudes towards brands, thus influence consumer buying decision process. Kapferer (1997) says that brand is like a living memory. The memory factor explains why individuals preferences endure and why within a given generation people continue to prefer the brands they liked between the ages of seven and eighteen ( Guest 1964, Fry et al., 1973, Jacoby et al., 1978 in Kapferer 1997). This is proof, if it was ever needed, that strong brands do have a long-term effect on people. It is imperative now to take a more focussed look on the three constructs that constitute the basis of this study. The first to be analysed will be brand awareness followed by brand loyalty and brand image. Brand Awareness a number of the definition if the term â€Å" Brand Awareness† abound, a fundamental definition of the term is given by Aaker(1991: 61) â€Å" Brand Awareness is the ability of a potential buyer to recognize or recall that a brand is a member of certain product category†. David Aaker’s (1991) ground braking work â€Å"managing brand equity† details with the concept of brand awareness comprehensively. Hence, it has been use here as a main reference, although it has been complimented with other readings. Aaker says that brand awareness involves a link between the product class and the brand. For example, the use of the large balloon with the word Levi’s on it may make the name more salient, but it will not may necessarily help improve brand awareness. However if the balloon is shaped to resemble a pair of Levi’s 301 jeans , the link to the product is provided, the balloon’s effectiveness at creating awareness is enhanced. Aaker (1991). By using the brand, perceiving it and being confronted with it through advertising, consumers learn about its meanings. All this information is connected associatively to the brand name. the richer this associative network is, and the stronger the associations the greater the chance of consumers thinking. Levels of Brand Awareness â€Å"Brand Awareness involves the continuum ranging from an uncertain feeling that the brand is recognised, to a belief that it is the only one in the product class. This continuum is presented in the ‘ Awareness Pyramids’’’ ( Aaker 19991 : 62) Levels of Brand Awareness ( Aaker, 1991) Aaker stated that â€Å"the minimal level of brand is recognition which is based upon aided recall test where respondents are given a set of brand in a product category and asked to identify those that they had heard of before. Thus, although there needs to be link between the brand and the product class, it needs not to be strong. Brand Recognition is particularly important when a buyer chooses a brand at the point of purchases† (Aaker 1991 ;62). Franzen et al, ( 2001) stated that the situations in which none of the choice alternatives is well represented in or memory, brand familiarity ( recognition) will be the determinant in the choice process. The purchases in which consumers regularly choose and re-choose because of the awareness stored in his memory, aided brand awareness i.e. brand recognition has hardly any significance. If we see further we see that brand recall is the further level dependent on asking a person to name brand in a product class. This is â€Å"Unaided recall† because , unlike in the recognition task, the responded is not aided by having names provide. Unaided recall is a substantially more difficult task then recognition, and is associated with a stronger brand position. The first named brand in an unaided recall task has achieved top-of-mind awareness. (Aaker 1991) Strategic Value of Brand Awareness Brand Awareness provides a sustainable competitive advantage and can be a key strategic asset for the company ( Aaker 1998) The following are the banifits of creating a higher brand awareness ( Aaker 1991: 63) ( Figure 3); Anchor to which other association can be attached : Brand Recognition is the first basic step in the communication task. It usually is wasteful to attempt to communicate brand attributes until a name is established with which to associate the attributes. Familiarity/Liking: Awareness provides the brand with fimilarity and people like the familiar. They are prepared to ascribe all sorts of good attitudes to items that are familiar to them ( Aaker et al., 2000). Especially for low involvement products like soap, chewing gum, sugar , facial tissues etc., familiarity can some times drive the buying decision. Substance/ Commitment: Name awareness can be a signal of presence, commitment and substance, an attribute very important to consumer buyers of durables. The logic is that if a name is recognised, there must be a reason like: The firm is widely distributed. The firm has advertised extensively. The brand is successful-others use it. Even if the person has not been exposed to advertising and knows little about, brand awareness could lead to the assumptions that the firm is substantial and backs the brand with advertising. Brands to consider: The role of brand recall (discussed earlier) is crucial for frequently purchased products like coffee, detergent, serials et. Several studies have demonstrated the relationship between top of mind recall and attitude/purchase behaviour. One such study, of six brands in the three product classes (Fast food, Soda and banking), showed large differences in preferences and purchase likely hood, depending on weather the brand was first, second or third mentioned in an unaided recall task (Woodside and Wilson, 1985 in Aaker, 1991). Sometimes it is possible that people recall brands that they dislike strongly. Benefits of Brand Awareness (Aaker 1991) A number of researchers besides Aaker have also demonstrated that brand awareness is a particularly important concept relative to brand evaluation in predicting and explaining consumer choice behaviour. For instance, Arch G (1996 :38) refered to Axelrod (1968 , 1986) demonstrated that top-of-mind awareness (TOMA) of a brand is a sensitive and stable measure than can serve as an intermediate criterion for predicting brand-choice behaviour and brand-switching behaviour. Axelrod (1968) in Aech G(1996 ; 38) emphasized the needs for developing valid and reliable intermediate survey indicators of whether marketing and advertising influence product and brand choice behaviour because of the greater expense and time necessary for experiments to measure the impact of marketing and advertising actions on such behaviour. Haley et al, (1979 in Holden et al., 1992) postulated that brand awareness is more important than attitude. This nation was supported by Hauser (1978 in Holden et al ., 1992) who, using an information theoretic approach, reported that the probability of inclusion of the brand in the evoke ( recalled ) set accounts for more variation in brand choice thus brand attitude (Holden et al., 1992) Similar to Aaker ( 1991), Holden et al, (1992) also say that in the case of low involvement purchase, Brand recall may be reason enough to buy the brand ( that has been recalled Also a high degree of brand awareness is linked to higher sales due to the factor of â€Å" Social desirability† . Most people tend to behave according to the expectations of their social environment, even when it goes against their own opinion. If they are aware of the brand, they will have a tendency to buy it because it is the socially desirably thing to do ( Franzen et al., 2001). Copeland (1923: 287) talked about the benefits of brand awareness as follows â€Å" if the consumer’s previous acquaintance with the brand has been favourable, or if the manufacturer’s and dealer’s advertising has made favourable impression, other things being equal, the recognised brand will be selected from among other unrecognised brands†. Creating and Enhancing Brand Awareness Because consumers are bombarded everyday by more and more marketing messages, the challenge of creating awareness is considerable ( Aaker, 1996). The best approach for every brand to create and maintain brand awareness depends upon the context but the following do server as good points ( Aaker, 1991: 72) ; Be Different, Memorable: An Awareness message should provide a reason to be noticed and it should be memorable. There are many tacks that work but one key is to simply be different and unusual. Involve a slogan or jingle: A Slogan or a Jingle can make a big difference. Slogans like â€Å" it floats† or â€Å"Just do it† can help recall. For a product class like soap, it might be easier to come up with â€Å" it floats† and then Ivory, rather than to name Ivory directly. The link to the slogan might be stronger because it involves a product characterstic that can be visualised. Similarly, a jingle also is vey powerful awareness device. Symbol exposure: A symbol can play a major role in creating and maintaining awareness because it involves a visual image which is much easier to learn and to recall than a word or a phrase. Event Sponsorship: The primary role of most event sponsorship is to crate or maintain awareness. For example, the Benson and Hedges Cricket world cup, the Mercedes super 9- tennis tournament etc. It must be noted that the strongest brand are managed not for strategic awareness. It is one thing to be remembered ; it is quite another to be remembered for the right reason ( Aaker, 1996). Brand Loyalty Every company’s endeavour is to increase its brand loyalty in order to retain as many consumers as possible and it can be well assumed when we see that in 2000, the NDP Group, an international market research company in New York, conducted a survey that half of 20,000 respondents who described themselves as loyal to a company one year were no longer loyal the next. According to Frederic Rechheld, founder of Boston-based consulting firm Bain and Company, the average American company loses half of its customers every five years The next economy  By Elliott Ettenberg, NetLibrary, Inc (2001 ;34) The Brand Loyalty concept from Historical Perspective Contrary to what some people believe brand loyalty has existed for a long time in the realm of marketing. Copeland (1923) first introduced this concept around 80 years ago. He talks about three ascending stages of brand loyalty-consumer reorganisation ( when the product is recognised and bought from among a host of unrecognised products), consumer preference ( when pervious use or advertising has created a favourable preference in the consumer’s mind) and consumer insistence. The third stage is the pinnacle of brand loyalty where the consumer approaches the purchase of an article with the attitude that he will accept no substitute ( Copeland, 1923). Different Perceptions of Brand Loyalty â€Å" Brand Loyalty is the biased behavioural response expressed over time by some decision making unit with respect to one or more alternative brands out of a set of such brands†. More recently, the concept of loyalty have evolved further, encompassing a rich diversity of dimensions underlying the relationship that a customer may entertain with a brand. Martin et al.,(2004:217) referred Oliver’s statement in his book â€Å"Loyalty involves a favourable attitude towards the brand or organisation and positive re-purchase intentions. This can be further understood by investigating the element of loyalty. Cognitive Loyalty, in which the brand is cognitively compared with alternatives ( generally on functional grounds); Affective loyalty, in which the customer likes the brand or organisation as a result of previous satisfying experiences; Conative Loyalty, which reflects an intention to re-purchase; action loyalty, which relates to a deeply held commitment to rebuy or repatronise a preferred product/services consistently in future†¦ despite situational influences and marketing effort having the potential to cause switching behaviour’ ( Oliver 1999 cited in Martin et al.,(2004:217) In (2001) Chaudhuri and Holbroo stated couple of characteristic of brand loyalty â€Å"purchase loyalty and attitudinal loyalty mentioned by mentioned by Marion Maguire(2007), â€Å"Behavioural, or purchase loyalty consist of repeated purchase of the brand, whereas attitudinal brand loyalty includes a degree to the authors, purchase loyalty leads to greater market share because of higher levels of repeat purchase among their users†. It is found in the research that consumer’s perception about price of brands is not linked to brand loyalty. Another suggestion given by Dick and Basu (1994) says that â€Å"loyalty related marketing advantages, such as favourable word of mouth, which, in turn might increase market share†. But the findings of Dall’Olmo Riley et al. (1997) discerned that the attitudinal loyalty of many individual consumers appears to be fickle, According to them, various studies (by Achenbaum, 1982 repeat responses ranging about 50% in individual attitudinal answers (e.g. Taste Nice†) at two subsequent times, independent of the attitude scales used and from the length of the interval between interviews. Overall their interpretation was that specific attitudinal beliefs do not seem to be very strongly held but vary stochastically ( in random manner) (Dall’Olmo Riley et al., 1997) Rothschild (1987) at the university of Wisconsin, evaluated brand loyalty as encompassing only the behavioural aspect. He suggests that a psychological process that may explain brand loyalty is the one of behaviourism. The central concept of behavioural learning theory is that behaviour that is positively reinforced is likely to reoccur while that which is not reinforced, or punished, will be extinguished. Consumers become loyal to brands that are reinforcing to them: good decision are reinforces while poor decisions are not ( Rothschild, 1987). Dekimpe et al, (1997) also share Rothschild’s (1987) view and say that the approach is justified as behaviour is observable and hence easier to measure. Richard Elliott and Larry Precy quoted Franzen (1999) saying that loyalty brand users have a high degree of bonding with the brand and do not show much of an urge to switch. Its basically the bonding here meant was part of brand equity but it necessarily doesn’t need to be a function of brand equity. also if its contribution is there. Loyalty of a brand may be not habitual or it can be the high cost of switching to another brand. But when there is a genuine preferences involved it really contribute to brad equity. Quester et al, (2003) say that the behavioural approach to Brand Loyalty (taken by Rothschild, 1987 ; Dekimpe et al., 1997) many present an over simplistic view of the construct. Behavioural definitions are insufficient to explain how and why brand loyalty is developed and modified in consumers ( Dick and Basu, 1994 in Quester et al., 2003). Repeatedly buying a brand (behavioural approach) may reflect only the convenience inherent in the repetitive and habitual behaviour rather than any real commitment to the brand purchased (Quester et al., 2003). Habituals’ as termed by (Knox 1997) in Quester and Lim., 2003) display only behavipural loyalty and are very likely to switch brands if there routine purchases cycle is disturbed. â€Å"For ‘habituals’ and /or spurious loyals’. The brand is not closely tied to the consumers belief system, so they can be easily attracted by a competing brand that offers a better deal, a coupon etc. Behavioural definitions, therefore, essentially fail to distinguish between habitual or spurious loyalty and true ( or international) loyalty and it may be misleading to infer brand loyalty from merely overt purchase behaviour† (Quester et al.,2003 : 27). Fournier et al, (1997) have analysed the concept of brand loyalty in new light and have come up with some very interesting insight regarding the same. According to them, (1997) a major assumption while reaching the concept of Brand Loyalty is that loyalty process is a Black and white quality. This tendency towards dichotomy not only precludes attention to loyalty levels and type, but also blinds the researcher to the value that may exist in relationship classified as Disloyal ( Fournier et al. 1997) The research of eight brand loyal coffee drinkers by Fournier et al, (1997) revealed three intriguing loyal consumer-brand relationships namely martial commitment, falling in love consumers brand relationships namely martial commitment, falling in love and best friendship. Each of the above relationships share a strong and meaningful life theme connection that adds significant value in the consumer’s mind. On the other side, Fournier et al ., (1997) also found some rather piquant Non-Loyal Relationships. One of the interviewees shared meaningful relationships with not one, rather three coffee brands. Financial limitations prevented him from bonding exclusively to one brand. â€Å"By connecting at the level of kinship, a portfolio of brand candidates that at first glance appears as a set of interchangeable substitutes is revealed as a family of meaningful partners in the consumer-brand environment† (Fournier et al., 1997 :463). Fournier at al, (1997) say that the existing brand loyalty measurement process emphasizes share-of-use over the strength and character of brand relationship form. This approach is flawed in their opinion because â€Å"As with people expressions of loyalty need not be associated with exclusivity, but with emotional tenor and sincerity of intentions over time. Also, like normal human relationship, brand loyalty may sour overtime and subsequently change. In accepting the power of both Brand and Consumer to affect the relationship, loyalty is better appreciated as a dynamic phenomenon† (Fournier et al., 1997 :467). A consumer-based conception of loyalty that recognizes multi-brand relationlity and the delicacy of even a strongest of consumer-brand bonds seems more aligned with the realities of today’s variety-filled marketplace. (Firat and Venkatesh, 1995 in Fournier et al., 1997) The biggest criticism of the work of Fournier et al, (1997) is actually acknowledged by their own selves when

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The American Dream in Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun and Arth

Centuries ago, Americans were fighting for their freedom from Britain. Then, the American dream was to have freedom. To American then, being free and having their own individual country was enough. Up until a few decades ago, African Americans were fighting to have equal rights. They thought this was all they needed and they would be truly happy. Somewhere over the course of time; happiness had a new meaning for all Americans. Now material possessions are what it takes to be happy. The American dream is to be rich. A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, and Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, both address the American Dream. Both plays discuss the desire for wealth and how the desire may lead to one’s downfall. However, each play is very different in addressing issues such as race and feminism. A Raisin in the Sun and Death of a Salesman have the same major theme of the American Dream, but address other issues differently along the way. A Raisin in the Sun is about an African American family in Chicago. Living in the same old broken down house is Lena Younger, who is the mother to both Beneatha and Walter, who also live in the house. Walter is married to Ruth and is the father of Travis. As the play begins, the family is about to inherit an insurance check for 10,000 dollars. This money comes from the death of Lena’s husband. Each member of the family wants to do something different with that money. Lena wants to buy a bigger house in a nicer area, and Ruth agrees with her. Beneatha wants the money to go to tuition for medical school. Walter wants to invest the money in a liquor store, so he can own the store, and become successful and rich. He is tired of just being a cab driver. However, Lena inten... ...e almost called Mr. Linder and made that deal with him when he found out that he lost the money, but his family was there to help him figure out that that would not be the right thing to do. On the other hand, Willy’s relationship with his family is what led him to suicide. The role of woman is also handled differently in the two plays, along with the role of age and race. The two plays had similar points, but were also quite different. Works Cited Cleage, Pearl. â€Å" Black Issues Book Review†. Playright’s Choice 3 (1995): 20- 23. Evans, Everett. â€Å"What’s Hot on Stage†. Houston Chronicle. 28 Oct 1994: Pgs 10- 12. Laban, Linda. â€Å"Raisin in the Sun Raisin’s in the Rounder†. Boston Globe. 5 Apr 2001: pgs 8-11. Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Penguin Books, 1992. Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin Books, 1949.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

College Is a Waste of Time and Money Essay

1. Affluence- Abundance of money, property and other material goods Permissive- Habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior or linguistic usage, which others might disapprove or forbid Elitist- A person having, thought to have, or professing superior intellect or talent, power, wealth, or membership in the upper echelons of society 2. The time and money put into college are not balanced with the return rate. * Society has developed an unspoken standard that college is the best fit for upcoming adults and for them to achieve the highest education possible. But in fact, most students do not want to be there because they do not want to learn. * â€Å"no more than 25 percent of their students are turned on by classwork†¦up to 30% are in college reluctantly† * College has failed at its expectations and promises to give opportunities to students that most bargained for. * There is already a surplus of adult workers in the economy with more experience than the out-of-college student. Even with a degree in hand, graduated students do not have the upper hand over the experienced adults. * College education fails to ready students for the real because liberal arts is a religion rather than a preparation. * â€Å"A liberal-arts education is supposed to provide you with a value system, a standard, a set of ideas, not a job.† 3. College is an over-rated system that does not give out what a student gives in. 4. Based on the author’s logic, I do agree with the author’s argument. Although she uses a small amount of specific evidence, she reasons well and thoroughly. As society has developed, it has pushed for everyone to obtain the highest education possible, which most students aren’t prepared for nor will they continue with their degree. The world simply cannot go round with a population full of highly educated people.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Hillary Clinton Bio - Political Career Highlights

Hillary Clinton Bio - Political Career Highlights Hillary Clinton is a Democrat and the partys nominee for president of the United States in the 2016 election. Clinton is also one of the most polarizing figures in modern American politics. She is a former first lady who launched her own political career after leaving the White House. Her primary opponent for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 was U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a self-described Democratic socialist who drew large crowds after building a solid following among young voters.   If elected, Clinton  would be the first woman president in history.   Many progressive Democrats, however, were lukewarm toward her candidacy because they believed her to be too tied to Wall Street. And Republican Party leaders cheered her candidacy because they believed their nominee would easily beat a scandal-plagued candidate in a general election in which trust would become a major issue.   Related Story: Could Bill Clinton Serve As Hillarys Vice President? Here are some key facts about Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clintons Campaigns for President Clinton has run for the Democratic presidential nomination twice, once in 2008 and again in 2016. She lost the primary race in 2008 to Democratic U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who went on to win the presidency that year by defeating the Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain. Clinton won 1,897 delegates in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, short of the 2,118 needed to win the nomination. Obama won 2,230 delegates. Related Story: Why the 2016 Democratic National Convention is Being Held in Philadelphia She was widely seen as the presumptive nominee even before the 2016 campaign began, and she lived up to those expectations in many of the early primaries, including her substantial victories on Super Tuesday of that year. Key Issues When she announcer her candidacy in April of 2015, Clinton made it clear that the biggest issue of her campaign would be the economy and helping the vanishing middle class. In a short video posted on the Internet by her campaign that month, Clinton said: Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times, but the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion so you can do more than just get by. You can get ahead, and stay ahead. Because when families are strong, America is strong. Related Story: Hillary Clinton on the Issues At Clintons first campaign rally, held in June of 2015, she continued to focus heavily on the economy and the struggles of the middle class hit hard by the Great Recession of the late 2000s. We’re still working our way back from a crisis that happened because time-tested values were replaced by false promises. Instead of an economy built by every American, for every American, we were told that if we let those at the top pay lower taxes and bend the rules, their success would trickle down to everyone else.What happened? Well, instead of a balanced budget with surpluses that could have eventually paid off our national debt, the Republicans twice cut taxes for the wealthiest, borrowed money from other countries to pay for two wars, and family incomes dropped. You know where we ended up. Professional Career Clinton is an attorney by trade.  She served as counsel to the  House Judiciary Committee 1974. She worked as a staffer investigating the impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon amid the Watergate scandal.   Political Career Clintons political career began before she was elected to any public office.   She served as: First Lady of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1993: She served in this capacity when her husband served as the 40th and 42nd governor of the state.First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001: She served in this capacity after her husband was elected president and served two terms.U.S. Senator from New York from  Jan. 3, 2001, to Jan. 21, 2009U.S. Secretary of State under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013 Major Controversies Clinton became a polarizing figure in American politics before even being elected. As first lady, she helped draft and propose sweeping changes to the nations health care system, earning the ire of congressional Republicans who believed she was unqualified to oversee the changes and a public that was skeptical of her involvement. The health-reform debacle was critical in framing Hillarys public image, and despite her years of accomplishment in her own right, she still carries the burdens of that failure, wrote The American Prospect. But the most serious scandals surrounding Clinton was her use  of a personal email address and server instead of a more secure government account as secretary of State, and her handling of the attacks in Benghazi.   Related Story: Could Bill Clinton Serve In Hillarys Cabinet? The email controversy, which first surfaced in 2015 after she had left the position, and lingering questions over her preparedness as secretary of State during the Benghazi attacks both plagued her 2016 presidential campaign. Critics alleged Clintons behavior in both cases raised questions about whether she could be trusted if elected to the most powerful position in the free world. In the email scandal, her political foes suggested her use of a private email served opened up classified information to hackers and foreign enemies. There was no evidence it had, however. In the Benghazi attacks, Clinton was accused of doing too little, too late to prevent the deaths of Americans at a U.S. diplomatic compound there, then covering up the administrations bungling of the attacks. Education Clinton attended  public schools in Park Ridge, Illinois. In 1969 she earned a bachelor of arts degree from Wellesley College, where she wrote her  senior thesis on Saul Alinskys activism and writings. She earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 1973. Personal Life Clinton is married to former President Bill Clinton, who served two terms in the White House. He is one of  only two presidents who have been impeached in U.S. history. Clinton was accused of  misleading a grand jury about his extramarital affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and then persuading others to lie about it. Their permanent address is  Chappaqua, a wealthy suburb of New York.   The couple has one child, Chelsea Victoria. She appeared with Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail in 2016. Hillary Clinton was born Oct. 26, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. She has two brothers,  Hugh Jr. and Anthony. She has written two books about her life:  Living History  in 2003, and  Hard Choices  in 2014. Net Worth The Clintons are worth  between $11 million and $53 million, according to financial disclosures.   The last time  Clinton filed financial disclosures as a member of the U.S. Senate, in 2007, she reported a net worth of between $10.4 and $51.2 million, making her the  12th wealthiest member of the U.S. Senate at the time, according to the Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group Center for Responsive Politics. She and her husband have earned at least $100 million since leaving the White House in 2001, according to published reports. Much of that money comes from speaking fees.  Hillary Clinton is said to have been paid $200,000 for each speech shes given since leaving the Obama administration. ___ Sources for this bio include: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Living History, [New York: Simon Schuster, 2003],  Center for Responsive Politics.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

What to Do the Week Before the SAT if You Havent Prepared At All

What to Do the Week Before the SAT if You Havent Prepared At All This is it. You have exactly one week before you head to the testing center and take the SAT. You have not prepared at all before now, and you only have one week - just seven short nights - before you take the test that can help or hurt your chances of getting into the college or university you are  dying  to get into. So, what do you do the week before the SAT that can make any sort of difference in your score? Cram like a maniac? Completely forget about looking at test prep material at all because, after all, what good would it do? Reschedule your SAT? Have a panicky meltdown in the cereal aisle of Target?   Before you get any crazy ideas, take a peek at the things you  should  be doing to get yourself ready this week so you have a shot at getting a good score on test day.   Go Immediately to a Bookstore and Buy an SAT Test Prep Book Go to the store and pick up a test prep book for the SAT. Choose one from either The Princeton Review, Kaplan Test Prep or The College Board. The Princeton Review is the most readable, so Id start there. Make sure the book you buy is for the Redesigned SAT, the test that took over for the old SAT in March of 2016. There will be nothing worse than prepping for a test that no longer exists.   Go To KhanAcademy.org  and Take an SAT Practice Test The Khan Academy has partnered with The College Board, the makers of the SAT test, to provide students with free SAT practice tests to help you get ready for the exam. Ideally, you should have been using this site for the last four weeks to really hone your skills. However, there are still some things you can do on the site to get you better prepared for the test on Saturday. Before we do them, we need to know the areas in which you need the most help. So first, take a full-length practice SAT test. You will need to sign up with your Facebook or email account.   Pinpoint Your Weaknesses At this point, you must focus on the areas of the test in which youre the least proficient. That means, after you take the practice test and the Khan Academy scores it for you, write down or print out the area scores that were the lowest. Was it Math? Great. Youll be zeroing in on that. Youll need to focus on your weaknesses- and exclusively on them- most of this week.   Strengthen Your Weaknesses Since youve narrowed down the areas of primary concern, you need to start pumping them up! Again, go to the Khan Academy website, and complete the practice problems for the areas that you were the weakest, Likewise, go to your test prep book and read through the sections and complete the practice problems in those weak areas. Youre going to spend 4-5 days working on these sections to really boost them up as much as possible. Check out your Strengths   After youve really nailed down your weakest section, spend one day learning about the sections of the test where you scored the highest. Was it  reading? Or writing? Read through the test directions, the content youll need to know, and complete as many practice questions as you possible can. Write a Practice Essay If you havent already, write a timed SAT essay using one of the prompts from the test prep book. Although the essay isnt figured into your overall score and is no longer a required feature of the SAT exam, many colleges and universities still require it and may use it to assess your overall readiness for the program in which youre interested. At the very least, youll get a refresher on writing an essay in a short amount of time.   Take One More Practice Test This time, try to simulate the test-taking experience as much as possible, and take the paper practice test in the back of the book. Sit at a desk in a quiet room. Set a time-limit just like youd have on test day, and work through the problems with efficient test-taking strategies. Dont you dare cheat by getting up in the middle of the test or guzzling a soda in the middle of it, either. Its good to practice disciplining yourself to sit and focus.   Get All Your Stuff Ready The Night Before There are several things you need to do the night before the SAT. First, be sure you have your admission ticket and photo ID ready to go. Then, check for test center closings and plan out your route to the testing center. Set your clock. Get your clothes ready so youre not scrambling in the morning. Want the complete list? See it here.   Relax the Night Before At this point, youve done everything you can do to get ready for the SAT in the limited time youve provided yourself. So...relax. Go out to dinner with your family. Watch an EARLY movie and hit the sack EARLY so you can be bright and refreshed for that early morning wake-up call. You can sabotage all of the hard work youve put in by doing something silly like going out or partying the night before the SAT.