Defining Activities And Principles Of Ethnography Essay

Defining Activities And Principles Of Ethnography - Essay Example "In it's most characteristic form it involves the ethnographer participating, overtly or covertly, in people's daily lives for an extended period of time, watching what happens, listening to what is said, asking questions - in fact, collecting whatever data are available to throw light on the issues that are the focus of the research. Equally, though, as we shall suggest later, there is a sense in which all social researchers are participant observers; and, as a result, the boundaries around ethnography are necessarily unclear" (Hammersley and Atkinson, 1995, Pg 1-2) One difficulty with the notion of ethnography is that it may seem a residual category. It is associated with the study of people not ourselves, and with the use of methods other than those of experimental design and quantitative measurement. Clearly not everything that is not experimental design and quantitative measurement should be considered ethnography, but a positive definition is not easy to provide. A major reason for the difficulty is that good ethnography has been produced under a great variety of conditions, by a great variety of persons, some of it before there was a profession to train such people, and professional training has been very much a matter of the transmission of a craft and of learning by doing-by personal experience (Gubrium & Holstein, 1997, Pg 67).It has not helped that some people talk as if the key to ethnography were a psychological experience, rather than the discovery of knowledge. It is clear that ethnography involves participation and observation. The earliest work that we recognize as important ethnography has generally the quality of being systematic in the sense of being comprehensive. To be sure, any and all early accounts of travelers, missionaries, government officials and the like that may contribute information and insight about the culture of the peoples of the world have been welcomed and gleaned for what they could provide (Agar, 1986, Pg 6-7). The Ethnographic Method It commences with assortment of a civilization, analysis of the writings affecting the ethnicity, and recognition of variables of concern -- normally variables supposed as important by associates of the society. The ethnographer then goes about gaining entry, which in rolls sets the phase for cultural immersion of the ethnographer in the society. It is not strange for ethnographers to exist in the society for months or even years. The middle phases of the ethnographic technique engross increasing informers, using them to increase yet additional informants in a succession procedure, and collection of information in the shape of observational transcription and conference footage. Statistical examination and hypothesis progress come at the conclusion, although suppositions might come out from civilizing fascination and theory-expression by associates of the society. (Fetterman, 1989, Pg 22-23) However, the ethnographic researcher strives to avoid theoretical preconceptions and instead t o induce

Critical Analysis of Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical Analysis of Research - Essay Example This document explores in detail, the purpose of the research, the techniques used in data collection and data analysis, findings of the research, the limitations of the study and finally gives the conclusion of the research. The document starts by giving an introduction to the study. In the introduction, the study provides a definition of power and then explores the various dimensions of power as brought out by different studies in the past. The document then explains how the research was conducted. It includes the qualifications and originality of the original researcher involved in the study and the methods of data collection and analysis. The document then goes ahead to give a detailed account of the findings of the study in relation to the three dimensions of power. The paper finally gives the limitations of the study and finally gives a clear conclusion from the study. Like any other study conducted before, this study has its strengths, weaknesses and assumptions that character ize it. These strengths and weaknesses manifest in the various stages of the study as outlined. In the introduction, the document gives a clear definition of terms as used in the study to enable any reader to understand the material as intended. It also provides a historical background of the study of the various dimensions of power, outlines the three aspects of power and how they manifest in society in general. It then gives a description of the different modes of public participation to prepare the reader for the case studies that form the backbone of the study (Culley & Hughey 2008: 100). The study uses a variety of techniques to collect the data required for the study. It is a major strength of the study since it is easy to determine the consistency of the obtained data from the various sources before making a meaningful conclusion. Interview was one of the methods of data collection

Manufacturing Case Study Essay Example for Free

Manufacturing Case Study Essay Introduction Before a manufacturing process can be selected to manufacture a component many things need to be considered. The design of the product, the functionality, the service conditions and the properties of the material all play a big part when considering the manufacturing process. This study looks at Polypropylene Chairs used mainly for education purposes. It provides information that explains the purpose of a chair; the requirements of this particular product and the manufacturing process that produces the final component. To understand why this type of chair is made from polypropylene the reader first needs to understand the basis of any chair. A chair is a raised surface for a single person to be seated. The majority of chairs are produced with the standard four legs but it’s the design of the chair and its intended use that takes most consideration. The use of the chair will determine the design and the material used. For example; is the chair to be used at a desk or for sitting at a dining table to eat? The users’ weight needs to be evenly distributed over the chair to provide comfort whilst seated. If the chair is to be used for long periods of seating then it is beneficial for the chair to be slightly reclined, which will support the persons back more and remove the weight from other parts of the body. If a chair is too high then shorter people will have their feet dangling, causing pressure on the knees; whereas lower seats cause discomfort to the buttocks. Section One Looking at the requirements of this type of chair we can see it is not the most comfortable chair on the market but then these chairs are not used for long periods of sitting. They are mainly used within canteens, hospitals, libraries and schools for short sitting periods; meaning that they are mass produced. Due to the amount of chairs that are manufactured there is a requirement to keep the production cost low. They are tough chairs that can come in a variety of colours, can be used in or outside and have the advantage of being able to stack away; saving space. The chair is required to hold a variety of people with a range of body weight and height so they are required to be stable, strong durable and withstand movement whilst being lightweight. This style of plastic chair is made of a thermoplastic polymer called Polypropylene (PP). It is a thermoplastic that has a two dimensional structure. The plastic can be softened by heat and recycled. The material is produced by the polymerisation of polymer molecules into very long chains. The material is a â€Å"semi-crystalline solid with good physical, mechanical and thermal properties†. The properties of PP in its liquid state are defined by the length and breadth of the polymer chains that form during the process. When PP is in its solid state the properties are based on how much crystalline and amorphous region forms from those chains. [Karian, Ph.D., Harutun G, Handbook of Polypropylene and Polypropylene Composites, 1999, New York, NY, USA, Pg 15] FIG 1. Example of the chain of Isotactic polypropylene PP is semi-crystalline; meaning that it contains small crystals and material that is amorphous and Isotactic. The chains are closely packed together and the amount of van der Walls bonding is at a maximum, making the material strong as a solid object. The polymer chains determine the weight of the material and the crystals within the chains determine how thick the material can be and in turn this will impact on how much heating is required to mould the material. â€Å"The crystallisability of the chains is one factor that determines how thick the crystallites will be and the thickness of the crystallites determines how much heat energy is required to melt them†. [Karian, Ph.D., Harutun G, Handbook of Polypropylene and Polypropylene Composites, 1999, New York, NY, USA, Pg 17] PP is stiff, with a low density. It has good resistance to impact and fatigue, excellent chemical resistance, a high heat resistance and an excellent moisture barrier. Having good structural characteristic s makes PP a useful material for rigid objects. PP has a good balance between its physical and chemical properties. Due to the high mould shrinkage of PP it is difficult to achieve close tolerances but because the material is tough, resilient and has a high resistance to stress cracking it reduces the need for close tolerances. Having a very low density of 0.90g/cm^3; a low cost per volume; a wide flexibility when it comes to design and it also being recyclable makes PP an attractive construction material. PP has the advantage of being able to form high volume, complex shapes at a relatively low cost. When using CES software and comparing the price against the fracture toughness it provides the user with all known materials. Using the limit function and applying a Young’s modulus of 2GPa and a minimum tensile strength of 40MPa Fig 2 Materials based on Price against Tensile Strength The chairs are made of PP because the material is inexpensive, easy to clean, lightweight and durable. The material can be tough and flexible with a high tensile and compressive strength. The main reason that this material works well when manufacturing these chairs is down to the precise control of the impact strength, they do react when exposed to heat meaning that they hold their shape and provide good properties within the human environment, especially when in an outside environment. Section 2 Polypropylene is most commonly manufactured using extrusion, or injection moulding. Extrusion allows extremely large batches of uniform cross sectional shape items to be produced. Hot extrusion is when the polymer is heated first to make it more malleable, and then ‘pushed’ through a die. Pieces made using extrusion have an extremely high quality of surface finish, meaning they do not require finishing after manufacture. [pic] FIG 3. Extrusion Process Injection moulding is achieved by melting the polymer in a barrel, and then forcing or injecting it into a mould. Some injection moulding machines are screw fed. As the piece cools, it shrinks slightly in the mould. This can cause product defects especially if the mould is poorly designed. It allows for the production of very accurately shaped pieces. When the piece is removed from the mould, it will have a contour line called a ‘parting line’ where the mould closes on it, and often will be marked by the ejector pin with a small circle. If the manufacturer does not want these marks on their product, then it will require post-manufacture finishing, but otherwise the finish is of a relatively high standard. FIG 4. Injection Moulding Process Some chairs could be manufactured using extrusion, if they were a flat ‘L’ shape for example. However most chairs are shaped for ergonomic and structural reasons, and would require a more accurate manufacturing process. This would be injection moulding, as thick struts can be included in the design to aid the strength of the chair, and a comfortable dip can be shaped into the back of the seat to make it more appealing to the user. As chairs of this nature are designed for a very wide range of users, and with durability in mind, the material is required to be fairly thick to accommodate this need. This would slow the manufacturing process with injection moulding as it would take each piece longer to cool, and therefore a longer wait is required before the piece can be removed from the mould. The thickness of the piece would have little effect on an extruded product, as the die can be made whatever size is desired. The weight of the chair would have little bearing on manufacture in either of these methods, except for the amount of material needed. For a batch of 1000, extrusion would be an excellent process, as enough material for the whole batch can be melted and pushed through the die, and the pieces cut from the section after extrusion. Large batches can be produced very quickly in this way. Injection moulding would take longer, as each piece must be made individually, unless the mould is designed with several chairs in, each connected by a ‘strut’ of waste product. This increases the amount of waste material, and the initial set up costs due to the mould design, and a larger machine being required. Section 3 There are many factors to consider when forming a component from composite. Failure to consider these factors can drastically change the material properties and this in turn could lead to an unsatisfactory component. A polymer matrix for the composite is an excellent base; their material properties already provide many favorable attributes such as high corrosion resistance and low density. The introduction of a secondary reinforcing agent will provide a synergetic effect to the mechanical properties of the material allowing a better component. One of the factors that are critically important in the production of a composite is the format of the secondary phase; it is a key factor to the materials properties of the component. There are three mostly used forms for the reinforcing of secondary phases; these are long/short fibers, or particles. Long fibers, also known as continuous fibers, are fibers that are layered in strips or woven into a pattern along an axis. The fibers generally consist of a much stronger material than the polymer matrix; as such the fibers take a much greater load compared to the polymer matrix. This allows for a material with much better load bearing properties. The increased ability to take load is based upon the direction of the fibers. When bearing load, the best mechanical properties are obtained in the direction of the fibers. There are many different orientations used by fibers, orienting the fibers in one specific direction is often used when the direction of the force is constant. Planar reinforcement is used when the direction of force is only along one plane of action. Short fibers, also known as continuous fibers, are fibers that have been cut into relatively short strands. The shorter nature of these fibers means that they can be orientated in lots of patterns and directions. As well as being able to be orientated in one specific direction and along one plane like long fibers, they can also be orientated randomly. This random orientation allows for a uniform distribution of the reinforcing ability of the fibers; therfore increasing the load bearing ability in all directions instead of just one, or a single plane. If particles are introduced into a polymer matrix, their effects vary greatly compared to their size. Very small particles act as a barrier to dislocation movements; this hardens the matrix material due to the fact that dislocations cannot propagate as easily through the structure. Smaller particles cannot take loads due to their size, so the load bearing ability of the composite is based upon the matrix material. If larger particles are introduced they can take some of the load, this allows the composite of the two to take a larger load. Due to the nature of particles the matrix is naturally able to take isotropic loads. [Mikell, P. Groover, Principles of Modern Manufacturing Fourth Edition, 2011, New Jersey, NJ, USA, Pg 181-183] Fig 5. A Chart Showing Long/Short fibers as well as Particles. Orientation of reinforcement is another major factor in the production of a composite component. Not taking into account the direction of reinforcement can have unfavorable material properties. Materials are either isotropic or anisotropic in one or more directions. Isotropic orientation is achieved when the fibers are randomly oriented, or particles are introduced into the matrix composite. The effects of this type of orientation are that the load can be taken uniformly in all directions. This is advantageous because it allows for a material that is not constrained by loads in one direction. The downside is that the material properties can never be as strong as if they where aligned to one direction. Anisotropic orientation is when fibers are aligned to a specific direction or plane. When the load is applied in this direction is extremely strong, this means that an anisotropic composite material has extremely beneficial properties in the direction of the fibers. The further the load gets from the direction of the fibers the less beneficial the material properties are until the load is perpendicular to the fiber direction. When the fiber direction is perpendicular to the fibers the maximum strength is the strength of the primary matrix. If the concentration of fibers is high enough the strength in the perpendicular direction can be significantly less than the primary polymer. [Mikell, P. Groover, Principles of Modern Manufacturing Fourth Edition, 2011, New Jersey, NJ, USA, Pg 181-183] Fig 6. A Chart showing Anisotropic and Isotropic Orientations The chair, due to its function, has various limits that need to be applied when taking into account the construction of the composite. The forces inherent in the use of a chair are not in one direction, or even one plane of action. This means that an isotropic composite is best suited for the chair, as a planar or singular direction of fibers wouldnt be beneficial to the mechanical properties of the component. Due to the composite that is being used it must have an isotropic orientation so only discontinuous fibers or particles can be used; continuous fibers cannot be used feasibly in an isotropic orientation. A short fiber based second phase would increase the toughness of the component as well as increasing the stiffness and strength in all directions. These properties seem more favorable than those of particulates which increase fatigue strength. Short fibers in a random orientation would be beneficial for a seat; this would allow it to take impacts during its service as well as remaining in shape and resisting bending. [Mikell, P. Groover, Principles of Modern Manufacturing Fourth Edition, 2011, New Jersey, NJ, USA, Pg 181-183] The length of the short fibers would be above the critical length value; this is based on the diameter of the fiber, the ultimate tensile strength of the fiber and the shear strength of the matrix-fiber interface. The diameter of the fibers should be as small as possible to allow for a higher tensile strength. [Mikell, P. Groover, Principles of Modern Manufacturing Fourth Edition, 2011, New Jersey, NJ, USA, Pg 181 Figure 8.15] The Volume fraction of a composite is the product of: (Volume of Fibers/Volume of Composite). It is a way of expressing the amount of fiber in a composite, it is also very useful in refining the properties of your composite. The volume fraction for our composite should be greater than the critical volume fraction. A volume fraction lower than this means that the matrix would break before the fibers could support the load applied. This can be given by: Vcritical = (ÏÆ'm* ÏÆ'm / ÏÆ'f* ÏÆ'm) ÏÆ'm* = Matrix Ultimate Tensile Strength ÏÆ'm = Matrix Yield Strength ÏÆ'f* = Fiber Ultimate Tensile Strength Once a value for Vcritical is determined, this can be used as a basis for determining the volume fraction you want. Any volume fraction must be above Vcritical so that the matrix is actually strengthened by the addition of the fibers. You can continue adding a higher concentration of fibers until you begin to imbrittle the polymer matrix composite due to the excess fiber content. Without knowing the exact fiber and matrix choices it would be hard to predict the volume fraction this would occur at, as a guideline the value would be any value greater than 0.7. Therefore the volume fraction should lie above Vcritical. To ascertain the best value for the volume fraction you would have to do testing on the composite at various volume fraction values and use the results to determine which would be the best for the chair component. Using a randomly oriented short fiber composite would enhance the material properties. The random orientation would make it able to handle forces from all directions and the short fibers would increase various mechanical properties such as toughness, tensile strength and fatigue strength. This material composite would produce a very light and strong structure which should be able to withstand alot more than the polymer alone. The synergetic effect of this composite allows it to attain a much higher specific strength than the polymeric design. It also attains a much higher stiffness than the original design; allowing it to maintain its shape more consistently during its service time, and it also means it is less likely to fail due to a sudden shock. The increased fatigue strength would mean that the material can maintain its service for a longer period of time due to its ability to withstand crack propagation and its resistance to mechanical defects building up over time. SECTION 4 In section 2, it was decided that the best process chosen for producing the chairs was extrusion molding over injection molding as it was a faster process and allowed for less waste material. This process is not suitable for the addition of short fibers too the polypropylene, instead reinforced reaction injection molding would make a better choice. Reaction injection molding is a low pressure process used to cure thermosets that require a chemical reaction rather than heat. This process requires two reactive ingredients which are mixed and injected into the mold cavity where the curing and solidification processes occur rapidly. This process can be used for large parts as well as complex shapes. When reinforcing fibers are used in the mixture the process is called reinforced injection molding. [pic] FIG 7. IMAGE OF REINFORCED REACTION INJECTION MOLDING PROCESS The capital start up cost for this process is high but due to the low pressures that are used in the process it balances out cost. The initial batch size chosen for the production of the chairs was 1000 units. This figure works with reinforced reaction injection molding as it allows for economic bath sizes between 100 and 10000 units, so even if batch sized was reduced by a tenth of its original size or increased by 10 times the size this process can still be economical to the manufacturer. REFERENCES [27 Mar 2012] [27 Mar 2012] Stephen Pheasant, 2nd Ed; Bodyspace: Anthropometry, Ergonomics and the Design of Work; Taylor Francis Ltd [2011] [20 Feb 2012] FIG 7. (http://composites.owenscorning.com/processes/Reaction_Injection_Molding.aspx) http://staff.bath.ac.uk/msscrb/dent.pdf equation 5, page 1657 FIG 1 [Polypropylene Molecule, Chempolymerproject, [Online] Available: [https://Polypropylene-B-CABA] [28 Mar 2012]] FIG 3 [Extrusion of a Round Blank through a Die [Online] Available: http://en.wikipedia.org (2011)] FIG 4 [Injection Moulding Machine [Online] Available: http://www.engineerstudent.co.uk (2011)]

Callaway Golf Company: Analysis

Callaway Golf Company: Analysis The driver of the Callaway Golf Company is a world-class institution designed to provide a clear advantage, and to please different golf products, including breakthrough technology the backup these products significantly superior customer service, and generate a return to shareholders the cost in excess of capital. CGC was led by Ely Callaway, a powerful motivator who defined the companys culture. Its a world famous golf brand of club and product. CGCs sales had increased from 1988 to 1998. However, CGCs sales have decreased after 1999. What are the problems to stop that eagle? In fall 1999, Callaway faced these questions; the answers would guide him in refocusing CGCs retail channels, new-product development, and marketing strategies. In my case study, I will focus on new-product development and described my plan. Logistic include products transport, warehouse, and information processing center. Callaway Golf Club is in expensive price, but popular amateurs and professionals alike. Through its website and golf sporting goods stores, sporting goods retailers, large shopping malls selling its products in over 100 countries and regions,.(Hoovers, Dec) External Environment CGC is in the Cash cow. It means high relative market share and low market growth rate. Thats because CGC is well known in the world and their products in a lots of retailer stores and the clubs are famous. When Callaway buy the company, his first initiative is to develop original products. Product of golf innovation and superior performance is very important, because the equipment is considered to have a significant impact the performance of the players. In addition, innovation is very important too, because the CGC technology leader in sales of its premium products continue to exceed our customers expectations. However, his competitors more focus on specific target market. The technical quality of the product, to enhance the CGC of high quality brands and keep customers to replace the brand. The impact of the external environment, customers are more likely to have special clubs and low cast. To pay the annual high. The CGC is located in Carlsbad, CA(CGC official website) which full of sunshine. It is usually a good place to travel and enjoy golf. People in there might feel more relax than other states. Also, in CA, the employees are enough to do the work. Analysis For the external analysis, the company has a lot of opportunities. Many sports good manufacturers are expanding in the golf market. The aging of the worlds population, many old people play golf, they have flexible income to buy golf equipment. Also, in New England state, Mid- Atlantic state and parts of south west, there are many golf players and the number is increasing. (New York Times. Feb) In Figure 3, CGC strengths are new-products development and well known in the world. The weaknesses are high prices and company relied more heavily on off-course shops. The opportunities are new-products on existing markets and marketing strategies. The threat is new-products sales decrease, low prices, cannot have good value. I will talk about products transport and warehouse in my first step, information processing center will be a follow page. The catastrophic storm affects not only the golf round in the storm, but a significant period of time. The external analysis will change, because face different economic and compare the situation in the global market. There are several reasons that will treats the external analysis. The high rate of unemployment rate and the increase in the level of consumer debt. Rejected consumer confidence and spending is increasing year by year. The most important reason is that the increase in the euro against the U.S. dollar, sales in euros had a negative impact. For internal analysis, small golf club manufacturers, new technologies and new production methods to become the worlds largest manufacturer of premium golf clubs and a dominant force in the industry. (ELY: NEW YORK) The CGC sell more units, the highest price of more equipment than any other company in the business of golf. This is a successful marketing decisions and strategies. , And provide high quality at a high price sales. People will be willing to buy products and interest rates high. Callaway consumers can trade allowances. From their club to the new Callaway clubs. This option is for consumers to upgrade their equipment. However, the internal analysis is also have weaknesses. Callaway marketing is focused on promotion, by professional players. The company tracks imitate, resulting in higher administrative costs and loss of income, this is very difficult. Global Manufactory and Warehouse CGC need to set up manufactory in different countries for new-products transporting and saving. In figure 1, I can clearly find that CGC is in the Product development square, the top right side. It means new-products for the existing markets. To achieve that, CGC had to consistently be on the leading edge of technology and to continually exceed customers expectations (CGCs case page 505). CGC need to make new-products to continually exceed customers expectations. But that CGCs biggest challenge, therefore, was to have products differentiated not only from competitors products but also from its own. If a product stayed in the pipeline too long, even if it was the best product, its sales would begin declining. This decline occurred because the people who really wanted the product would buy it within the first two years of its introduction (CGC. 4). The key word is pipeline. What is that? Its a conduit of pipe, especially one used for the conveyance of water, gas, or petroleum products( http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pipeline). Yes, products transport. CGCs wasted time in new-products transp ortation. For instant, main manufactory transports new-products to global market need a month. If CGC has global manufactory, they just need a week or least in the transportation. That is the reason why manufactory set in foreign countries is very important stratagem. For instant, Apple Co. set his manufactory in China, cheap labor and costing, and than area manager saved those products in their warehouse in location and reported main logistic manager how many products they reserved. Marketing research, area manager build profitable relationships and create customer delight and reported main company about their areas demand. And they made every months demand figure for data copy. Manufactories know how much product they need to make and warehouse will has enough room for new-product and old one. Aside from that, global warehouse good at fix that demand exceeds supply and supply exceeds demand problems. In CGCs case, manufactory made new-product and transport to off-cause retailers h ave at least two problems. One is transport slowly, wasting time and declining value of new. Another problem is retailer hasnt enough room for new-products. The second question CGC tried to use other way to fix. Closeouts generally occurred when existing equipment was discontinued to make room for new products or when CGC had too much inventory itself and wanted to get rid of it. At the time of a new-product introduction, for example, if a retailer had eight of the previous clubs left in inventory, CGC would supply the store with one more new club for free, which brought down the average cost of the remaining inventory. Once a new product was introduced, the retailer had the discretion to mark down the remaining inventory to a price at which it would sell (CGCs case page 514). Its helpful to make room for new-products and low price to sell closeout. In 1999, CGC held its own closeout and sold $40 million of excess inventory of Great Big Bertha, Biggest Big Bertha, and Great Big Bert ha irons to the market at a lower price (CGCs case page 514). If they have global warehouse, that would be saving resource and decreasing supply exceed demand risk rate. Information Processing Center Information processing center is the place that customers require report department. Their have information collect and transmit system to support manufactory, warehouse, and logistic manager or decision center. In case, CGCs customers are from True friends shift to Butterflies. Customers are no longer loyalty and they just need the products to play golf thats it. New-products are the way to continually exceed customers expectations, thats a reason why CGC need to know what customers needs and wants. Golf was a difficult game whose participants emotions ranged from frustration to addiction, with passion and fun mixed in. Even when played in teams, golfers were very competitive with themselves. Golfers often blamed their equipment for their poor play and thus often wanted to update their clubs (page 506). Those are all different levels golfers wants and needs, high-level golfers doesnt matter what type of club they used. Average golfers want to play golf and win the game in golf clubs, so they will keep the clubs. Although ones mental state and skill level had much to do with on-course achievement, in golf, unlike almost any other sport, the equipment also had a significant effect on a users performance. Even though highly skilled golfers would play well no m atter what type of club they used, average golfers were able to see noticeable improvements in their game when they used premium equipment. Beginning golfers also benefited because the more forgiving clubs allowed them to make ball contact sooner, frustrating them less so they would not quit the sport prematurely(case page 506). Beginning golfers would more advice of salespeople. For a beginning golfer, buying new clubs was a daunting task. Retail shops offered a wealth of options that forced beginners to rely on the advice of salespeople(page 507). CGC need to have those require from information processing center and make marketing strategies, refocusing on retailer. For example, focus on salespeople training for new-products promotion. For a beginner, salespeople can promote new-products or some old-model with 30%-50% discount. Old-model with discount would easier for people needs. It would not cast a lot of money and good for closeout from warehouse. And CGC gives those salespeop le who are selling master 10% of $500 units sold encourage and 20% maximum. Those encourages also be used to information processing center to collect information from customers demand. And transmit this information to decision center. Summarize CGC has a premium pricing strategy. It provides a high-quality product premium average players who want the performance benefits of the product. Callaways strategy is successful, mainly because of its innovative edge. In addition, the average golfer that their products provide performance advantages. The country has contributed to the success of the industry. During this time the public interest in golf increased a lot. In addition, the market is not over saturated, the Internet is not in selling products an important factor. Establish a global manufacturer and warehouse sales will add new products and maintain profitability. And information processing center is useful to study the market and customer feedback and requirements. This will help from the external environment and threat reduction rate. Cities Callaway Golf Company. New York Times, 8 Feb 2013. Web http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/business/companies/callaway-golf-company/index.html Callaway Golf Company Company Information. Hoovers, 31 Dec 2012. Web http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Callaway_Golf_Company.fd42e2e0f3140749.html Callaway Golf Company (ELY: NEW YORK). Bloomberg BusinessWeek, 2 Feb 2013. Web http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/financials/financials.asp?ticker=ELY What is involved in an ethical business? What is involved in an ethical business? Nowadays in our global world, national and international competition forces businesses to act in certain ways to achieve particular goals. Every company environment is made up of different cultures, values and believes which makes ethical issues to a complex topic. What is involved in being an ethical business and what are the benefits and disadvantages of being socially responsible? The following assignment explains the need for and some aspects of ethics in companies. It also gives a definition and a brief description on problems arising throughout global businesses and reviews a number of ethical frameworks and their application in company policies and practices. The assessment summarizes different theories, styles, and advantages. It also compares disadvantages and addresses the importance of company profits. It will sketch ethical concerns supported by case studies. To complete the assignment adequate grounds for a conclusion will be assessed and own judgment will be added. Introduction In the early 1980s Britains estimated energy bill amounted to over twenty billion pounds per annum. Throughout the 1970s continually rising fuel prizes had a direct and damaging impact on business costs and profits. Energy use, graphs and tables (1995-2002) Available from: www.dti.gov.uk/graphs/521chart.gif [Accessed 1/12/2005] People and organizations are increasingly concerned that supplies of energy and materials are likely to become scarcer and more expensive. Fossil fuels have finite geological limits and are subject to political, environmental and social questions. Whatever alternative sources may be developed in the future, days of plentiful and cheap energy are not going to return. Debates on business ethics are concentrating on social and ecological responsibility of companies within society which is regarded to be crucial in the external self-presentation and public perception of (economic) organizations. In satisfying our needs, business must be aware of those diverse topics and should aim on achieving a sustainable development. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Companies positive responses to such issues are rarely altruistic. It is often for their own public relations or enforced by legislation. Findings-main facts about business ethics What does the word ethics mean? The word ethics originates from the Greek word ethos, meaning custom or character. Definitions have included phrases like the science of the ideal human character or science of moral duty. What defines business ethics? Ethical business issues are identifiable problems, situations or opportunities requiring a choice between several actions. It is a set of values, beliefs, goals, norms and responsibilities that members of an organization recognize and share. Business ethics and morality refer to well based standards of right and wrong and prescribe what humans ought to do- usually in terms of rights, benefits to society, or specific virtues. It also relates to how a company conducts its business to make profit. What is an ethical business? An ethical business focuses on giving positive contributions (i.e. providing goods, services) to the community without causing damage to the environment, exploiting its workforce ( paying low wages), using child labor, or producing products which are dangerous content. A company will seek to balance financial and human needs of their stakeholders (employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders) and ensure that it is ecologically sustainable. Corporate businesses are undertaken to create an environment of strong held values, tradition and culture. What relevance do ethics have in business? Companies do not operate in a vacuum, they are part of society. People expect certain standards of behavior from businesses (i.e. addressing its environmental impacts; provide fair salary to employees that can increase motivation). According to MORI research in July 2002, 80 % of the UK public believes that: Large companies have a moral responsibility to society. The 2002 major national survey of public perceptions of energy use (2006) Available from: http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/index.shtml [Accessed 10/05/2006] Corporate ethics- A growing trend In a world of finite resources, wasteful use of energy/materials is increasingly regarded as anti-social behavior and subject to diverse geological and political constraints. Environmental groups and political parties campaign to stop the destruction of ecology and resources. Efficient use of energy provides benefits individual enterprises and a wider society. A socially responsible business will respond to public demand for improved efficiency and includes consumer wants for now and the future. Firms are increasingly aware that ethics are a unique selling preposition in todays business life. Companies are incorporating social responsibility programs into marketing decisions. Increasing evidence indicates that being ethical results in valuable benefits: It can enhance public reputation and therefore increase profits. A recent study discovered that 84 percent of U.S. respondents have incorporated business ethics. A study found that 71 percent of UK companies used codes of ethics in 1991. The 2002 major national survey of public perceptions of energy use (2006) Available from: http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/index.shtml [Accessed 11/05/2006] Introducing strict ethical/environmental considerations in financial markets (FTSE Good Index) shows outperforming conventional stock exchange indices. Figures for the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (ethical index) in the US show that it outperformed the Dow Jones Global Index by 46 %. Griffiths, A.; Wall, S. ;( 2005); Economics for business and management; 1st ed.; UK, Prentice Hall; pp. 149 The ethical code-Code of conduct Ethical codes formalize rules and standards and reflect values and missions of a company. Leaders and members must have an obligation to operate in a consistent way meeting core objectives and society needs. Contributing to local, national and international communities by adopting a code of conduct can ensure honesty, fairness and respect in the organization and its environment it operates in. Developing a code of conduct Developing ethical behavior in an organization can be achieved by enforcing rules and standards that describe what the company expects of its employees and managers. To ensure ethical conduct, open communication and coaching staff are essential. Other important development factors include: Training/ including employees in developing a code of ethics. Clear channels of communication, trust and good employee-manager relationships Improved motivation to achieve objectives and goals Adhering to the guidelines of an ethics code A code of conduct requires shared commitment to achieve and develop high standards of production for its success. Open communication and coaching staff are essential but can introduce high costs and conflicts between share-and other stakeholders. Does being an ethical policy bring advantages? Being socially responsible enhances/protects corporate reputation and motivates/encourages loyalty and trust in organizations relationships. For example an ethical policy can reassure investors and stakeholders about the companys approach to its non-financial risks by providing a license to operate. Where do Ethical issues arise from? Ethical issues generally arise when marketers fail to understand risks of function, value or use of a product. Pressures can arise from substituting inferior materials to minimize costs or failing to inform customers about existing conditions or changes in product quality. Many car, gas and tobacco companies have experienced negative publicity associated with design or safety issues (as well as global warming, water pollution, noise and congestion issues) that resulted in control of their behavior by laws, regulations and higher taxations. Developing and selling a product which does not harm the environment refers to green marketing and must focus on long-term as well as short-term results. Most organizations participating ethics are beginning to realize that they have traded short-term profit margins for long-term morale and productivity. No matter what laws or regulations are passed onto the business, ethics cannot be externally imposed. Buying a healthy product, without considering its prize or shopping for bargains-neither side is immoral or unethical. Ethical companies will focus on all types of consumer wants and try to ensure working within their social mission. Taking social responsibilities towards stakeholders and evaluating the effects of a companys activity in its microenvironment (social auditing) involves/includes: Social auditing Benefits for company No difference between employees(equal rights) Increased motivation, established social performance Identification of ethical values and social objectives Easier identification of criticisms and meeting company objectives Understanding and applying customers views+ providing information for pressure groups Easier to measure performance/ results to make informed decisions about impact of activities, gaining new customers Improving brand and image attracts employees and perhaps leads to higher sales Management setting example to incorporate ethics Employees convinced being ethical improves organization (including profits) Being unethical can lead to: less resources for future generations and environmental damage due to wasteful use of energy high level of unit cost in economy which leads to being uncompetitive in world markets and trading performance increased poverty due to unfair distribution of money (i.e. wasting money on luxuries) price increase of non-renewable fossil fuels, leading to high expenditure on overseas supplies increase of private costs (i.e. wages, rent) and social costs (i.e. noise, pollution) violation of laws or company policies unfair balance to parties concerned both in the short-term as well as the long-term increase of private benefits (i.e. profits) and social benefits (benefits to the rest of the society) Becoming a socially responsible company has many advantages. However, managers of companys hold different views of moral positions. And sometimes, organizations have to choose between being an ethical company or striving for increased or kept profit. Often, companies and customers find themselves in an ethical dilemma by choosing between local or global spending. When money is spent globally, cheaper products are bought, creating a short-term advantage. This can have a negative impact on undeveloped countries if the buyers exploit their monopoly power and pay unfair prices to poor countries. Businesses therefore have to weigh up long-and short term decisions. Suppliers can increase profits by raising prices or reducing the quality of a product (bargaining power of suppliers). Therefore, underdeveloped countries with no other substitute products available have to accept the competitors demands or choose inefficient but cheaper companies to do the job. An example is the case study from Stuart Wall and Bronwen Rees book. Both describe Bribery and corruption by the World Bank as the single greatest obstacle to economic and social development. Poor infrastructure and higher pay from poor countries are often the result of bribes. Rees; B.; Wall, B.; (2004); International Business; 2nd ed.; England; Prentice Hall, pp. 212 Disadvantages of becoming a socially responsible business can include: At first the costly, costly, takes time and effort to introduce changes change of business culture, expensive and time-consuming to promote new culture loosing established customers conflicts of aims between share-and stakeholders (paying increased wages can loose business profit) new recruitment and redundancies of employees (difficult to be ethical since there is the need to get rid of staff in order to keep profit up) time-consuming to adopt to new image turning down low costs of production (i.e. labor) costly to change working conditions for labor being ethical introduces motivation which is not desired in every company adapting to new policies may not be profitable management and employees need training ( costs extra money) organization may not be able to cope with extra pressure increased quality of product will lead to raising productioncosts In every company, profit is an important objective for success and decision making. Being ethical can benefit businesses, society and economy. But should trustees make bad investments for social responsibility? Being an ethical company includes pressure of balancing profits and ethics at the same time (I.e. profits vs. exploiting stakeholders). Organizations have to invest in training, research, and product development. Only a few companies are immune to economic fluctuations and can stay committed to investment in societal behavior. For a new firm entering business, being ethical can mean less profitable short-run incomes that are desired to stay in competition. Larger organizations often have profit to enhance its reputation, creating greater long-term benefits even though is difficult to guarantee a big companys ethical status due to its involvement in many business activities. Customers expect quality products for a fair prize. Often, share-and other stakeholder get in conflicts due to increased prizes on the production of products. Many regard the government as being slow on promoting ethical behavior. Old motorways and power stations are contributing factors to the collapse of many economies. Reconstructions are costly and businesses as well as customers are often the ones suffering higher prizes. For example there is a chance for the UK of loosing out on the new industry for wind farms. Green peace is backing up NPower, defusing local protests for wind power. Creating a new type of electricity shows economic responsibility but is the company socially responsible by defusing customers views about the massive turbines? It can be argued that companies can use a of cost- benefit analysis to determine forecasts, outcomes and consequences. Known to philosophers as utilitarianism, this principle is best known by the maxim: Do whatever produces the greatest good for the greatest number- Do what best is for the best for the greatest number of people. Rushworth, M., (1995), Good people make tough choices, NY, 1st ed., firesides books, pp.24 Some businesses, like Nestlà © and Esso are acting accordingly to fixed rules, never mind the outcomes (Rule-based thinking). Often associated the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, this principle is firmly based on duty- On the way we ought to do, rather than we think what might work- Follow only the principle that everyone else will follow. Rushworth, M., K., Good people make tough choices, firesides books, NY, 1995, 1st ed., pp.24 Some organizations believe that shifting the business to an undeveloped country will reduce prices for production and wages for employees, therefore increasing profits for the company. This behavior seems unethical even if it can lift people out of poverty and assists to international development and the finance for decommissioning for a cleaner environment. The website maketradefair.com shows that 68 % of people in the UK supporting Fair-Trade but green products still command less than 1 % of the market. Make trade fair (2006) Available from: http://www.maketradefair.com [Accessed 16/04/2006] Some companies have had very bad publicity on this and are now trying to rebalance their practice. It can be argued that supermarkets not promoting their (by putting products on bottom shelves) products enough. Another reason is the increased price on Fair-Trade products. To underline the pressure of being a socially responsible business, the example of organic farming is given from the book International Business, by Stuart Wall and Bronwen Rees. Going organic includes changes in transforming middle-class specialties to a mass market phenomena for retailers. Farmers have to switch to natural herbicides and fertilizers which are benefits to society but can include extra costs (for the farmer and the consumer) and are easier to achieve with funding from the government. Those who buy organic food have to except higher prices because they are paying for sustainable, agricultural techniques and healthier food- People have to realize you dont get something for nothing. Simon Brenman, of The Soil Association. Rees; B.; Wall, B.; (2004); International Business; 2nd ed.; England; Prentice Hall ,pp 223-224 To succeed with environmentally friendly products, the image of benefits must be clearly defined and a market segment consisting of consumer who are willing to pay for better quality must be found. Countries have different cultures, values, beliefs and expectations. Companies operating internationally cannot transfer all business standards unchanged, expecting the business partner to understand their core values. For example, ethical codes tend to be seen as legal documents in the US whereas it is viewed as a social compact between company and its workers in Europe. Financial institutions are more experienced in the channels of communication and are sensitive to indices of firm performance. Often, those institutions have profit maximizing objectives but also enough income to spend on promotion and technological innovations to reach their customers to be socially and economically responsible. Promotion can create false or misleading advertising and manipulative/deceptive sales tactics and publicity. A major issue pertains the marketing of video games that promotes violence and weapons to children. Not every company has the choice of being ethical or not. For example the tobacco industry is regarded as being irresponsible towards society but is reasonably safe during market collapses, as they tend to have a safe and predictable profit flow. Defense companies benefited from higher arms spending following September 11 attacks on the US. Nowadays, even ethical businesses agree to. An example is the retailer Body Shop, agreeing to the takeover by French cosmetics giant LOreal in a deal worth  £652m. Anita Roddick, consultant, said the companys values (like community trade) would not change. But the organization has yet to show its commitment to ethical issues. LOreal takes over Body shop 2006) Available from: http:// www.clarionledordger.com [Accessed 12/05/2006] Evaluation Ethics refers to what is acceptable in a certain society. Organizational ethics is an important element and a unique selling preposition in business as it can determine beliefs and responsibility of the company in the eyes of society. However, it should not be assumed that doing good is desirable or acceptable. People expect certain ethical behavior from companies but they do not operate in a vacuum. Every country has different business values and views. Being social and ecological responsible in one country doesnt mean its ethical in the other. It implies that there is no morality of being right or wrong in ethical businesses. Companies focusing on future-orientated thinking are working within their social mission which can enhance public reputation and increase profits to remain competitive in todays business world.

Sex Education in American Schools Essay example -- America Public Scho

Every year in America, one million teen girls become pregnant and at least three million teens become infected with an STD (Donovan, 1). Though these numbers slightly fluctuate, problems facing American adolescents today, like HIV/AIDS, other STD’s, and teen pregnancy. This means that some needs to change. These problems will decline when sex education is revamped everywhere in America, by making the curriculum completely comprehensive in addressing problems facing adolescents today such as teen pregnancy, STD’s, rape, pressures and emotions dealing with sex, and give teens good communication skills. Right now teachers approach these subjects on their tip toes, dance around the issue, and not fully give out all the information. Meditation. To find out what needs to be change we should look at what is being taught. In Levine’s book, Harmful to Minors, she discusses the curriculums being taught in public schools today, by breaking them down into two categories. Abstinence-only and abstinence-based. Both of these programs do teach about health, physical education, home economics, and biology, but both can really differ when dealing with the different â€Å"sensitive† issues. Abstinence-only education, promotes postponing sex, but when it comes to issues like contraception, it is taught how affective it is, but not where to get it. Abstinence-only curriculum promotes more education through the family, instead of through school. Some abstinence-only curriculums do deal with comprehensive issues, but mainly try to avoid the subject. Some teachers even make up lies to try and scare kids away from sex. Abstinence-based is more comprehensive. The curriculum does promote that abstinence is the only 100% full proof method, but ... ...’s. Numerous sexual partners later, she found out she had Chlamydia. These are great examples when comprehensive sex education is needed. Kids will be kids, and kids have sex. Educating the youth will only have them making wiser decisions and protect themselves. There is no doubt that change is needed. Comprehensive sex education is the answer. Informing the youth will have positive repercussions for not only the youth, but for society in general. Evidence does not lie. Abstinence-only education does not work, and there is no evidence that supports it. Comprehensive sex education does not give adolescents the wrong ides. They already have the wrong idea, but still America doesn’t get it. Educating is the only way we have a fighting chance. When the youth has all the information and resources available, they will make informed responsible decisions.

Identities And How They Are Formed Essay -- Sociology

Identities and How they are Formed   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From this section of the course I have learned about different philosophies and ideas about how identities are formed. The philosophies that make the most sense to me are the ideas of John Locke, Jean- Jacues Rousseau, Charles Harton Cooley and George Herburt Mead. Also the ideas focused on in my exercise have as well helped me to form an idea where identities come from and what they mean socially.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Locke had the idea that people in a society truly want to live together in harmony and that people are not aggressive by nature. That people are born with a "blank slate" and that anything can be learned. I completely agree with this statement. How people are brought up and what they are exposed to defines their identity and intentions in society. I was brought up by loving parents that among others things taught me to be true to my feelings and to express them truthfully. Jean-Jacues Rousseau's theory about corruption relates to the "clean slate" idea. He stated that corruption come from society. So if one is not influenced positively they may end up corrupt and be a hindrance on society. If a child grows up in a "dysfunctional family" they may be at a disadvantage to a child like my brother who is getting the same social education from my parents and the society we live in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charles Harton Cooley also touched on the idea of identities. He believed that identities are formed from interactions with people...

Divorce

Marriage can be defined as a union between a man and a woman. This was initiated by God after the creation. Marriage enables individuals to procreate by having children. People who are married usually live together and this makes it possible to share responsibilities in the house. People are expected to live happily in marriage considering that marriage occurs between individuals who love each other. During marriage, individuals take vows that they will live together as a long as they are alive. However, this has changed and what has been observed is that some marriages break after some time.Court cases facilitating divorce have been on increase. In the previous years, divorce was something that was unacceptable. However, the society seems to be accepting divorce due to the circumstances surrounding a marriage. The highest proportion of the society members argue that divorce should not be allowed due to its consequences. In United States, people believe that people have the freedom t o do whatever they wish with their lives. In this regard people should be allowed to divorce when they feel that there is a need. This research paper will argue against divorce in the society.It will also look at both sides of the argument so that it can prove there is a need to protect marriages (Clarke-Stewart). Divorce has many negative consequences for the couples involved and the children in the family and this is why it should be avoided at all costs. Financial management is a challenge to divorced couples. Individuals should consider the costs associated with divorce. In the first place, the divorce process requires expenditure. This may be so expensive for the couples involved. Second, the parties involved need to seek a new residential area which involves a cost.One of the parties incurs greater costs in meeting the costs of paying school fees for the children. If there is no divorce, it means that individuals share these costs such that there is no burden in meeting these expenses (Peterson). Two individuals are also able to better plan for their finances for the future benefit as compared to when all the decisions are made by one individual. The money that could have been wasted in the divorce process could be invested so that the couple can receive future revenues from their investment activities.There are various reasons why people divorce. In the first place, couples argue that there is lack of commitment in their relationships. This means that one of the partners is less concerned about the social needs of the family such as socializing, meeting financial needs, meeting educational needs of the children and planning for the future. This makes one person to seek a happier marriage elsewhere after divorce (Wallerstein). When both persons are not committed infidelity is a constant problem, a partner may be unfaithful such that he/she engages in extramarital sex.In this case, the other partner feels that this is not acceptable considering that the c urrent world is full of sexually transmitted diseases some of which are very dangerous. The offended party in the marriage finds that the best way to deal with the situation is through divorce. Another reason is financial problems. Unfortunately, money is a problem for almost everyone, and it is even more so with married couples who more than likely split the bill in most situations, financial obligations can cause conflict between couples.When they get married, they have to be certain that they are financially prepared for an increase of expenses, especially if the birth of a child is involved. Also unemployment can cause conflicts between the marriage, due to arguments about expenses, not being able to find a new job, or one individual feeling superior to the other. When this happen couples opt for a divorce since after the separation the stress will be less and money can be manage better by just one person. Communication is essential to a successful marriage.We have all heard thi s at some point in our lives but at the present time there are many married couples that lack of communication for several different reasons such as work schedules, demanding families or even technological distractions. This soon creates anger and frustration builds up, which ends in larger issues. Larger issues are not as easy to solve as smaller ones. Even if the couple manages to work out these issues and stay together, it’s not a real marriage. Without communication, there is no relationship and therefore the marriage is ready for divorce.Generally, there are many challenges that make people to divorce. These reasons are reasonable and people seek to be in marriages that are more satisfactory. Some of the problems that lead to divorce are intentional and some spouses find it difficult to continue with marriage. Some Christians also argue that individuals are allowed to divorce if the reason for divorce is infidelity. Infidelity is unacceptable even to the Christians and p eople are allowed to divorce if this happens in their marriage.