Cone Effect :: essays research papers

First of all, my definition of the â€Å"cone effect† is this: a theory in which all media content is exaggerated then sent through a publication or broadcast that carries advertisements to individuals with different perceptions leading to a "perceived media reality" which is incorporated into everyday life. I believe this means we are media, media is us, and we are one. If we would all take a look at our lives we are just a jumble of representations. In my opinion, from the moment we are born to the day that we die we are media. We are born a certain sex boy or girl. That represents something. Boys wear blue girls wear pink. This symbolizes to everyone what we are. We don’t know we are boys or girls until someone tells us. We have set and defined expectations for our lives, as well as ways that we must act. From that day forward we learn our media from our lives, our families, friends, and literally everything we come in contact with. Everything we do and everything we see leaves some trace of an impression on us and represents something to each of us. That’s why I feel that media is us. Media is everything. We are just representations. It makes me very frustrated to think seriously about this. It makes me question everything that I have had to believe as a member of society. It makes me question countless things in my life. It made me think about life in general. What is reality? Truthfully, I don’t know if there is a way to answer this question for everyone but I think we all need to examine our lives in general and the everyday lives that we live in and question them. Everything we do or say has a representation so again, that is media. It is all around us. It is everywhere. Most places we don’t even know that it is going on. In my inspection of my life and the media that surrounds me I have found media to be almost everywhere. It is everywhere. Almost everything I have and use has labels on it from clothes to food. Some things even have advertisements of other things on their labels. All of these products represent me. I wear these clothes because I like the way this brand looks or I want to belong to a certain group so I wear similar clothes. I eat certain foods because someone introduced it to me or it is the brand that I like.

Obesity: Who Is at Fault?

Obesity: Who is at Fault? Name University of International Business and Economics Obesity: Who is at Fault? It is no secret that an increasing amount of Americans are gaining weight and much of this blame is put on fast food establishments such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, and Krystal’s, to name a few. According to Warren Belasco and Philip Scranton (2002), â€Å"The increasing consumption of convenience foods is an international trend influenced by changing lifestyles† (p. 3) From a superficial perspective, this doesn’t seem like much of a problem.However, Robert Jeffery and Simone French (1998), authors of the article Epidemic Obesity in the United States: Are Fast Food and Television Viewing Contributing? assert that â€Å"Obesity is an important public health problem that, in recent years, has reached epidemic proportions† (p. 277). In fact, some are calling the problem the â€Å"obesity epidemic. † Several lawsuits against fast food establishments have been filed by those who are overweight. It’s a serious problem, one that cannot be ignored. Before anyone assumes that it’s just the United States, think again.With the increasing number of fast food establishments in countries other than the United States, such as China, Japan, and Brazil, so are obesity rates. The obesity epidemic can no longer be ignored and must be solved. While the problem is known, the source of it is not and must be traced. What exactly is the source of obesity? Many people believe it to be fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Krystals, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell. After all, are they not the ones distributing the food so unhealthy and high in calories? Are they not the ones advertising delicious, backstabbing food?Are they not the ones making the food so addictive that the consumers have no choice but to eat it and come back for more? It is not a secret that there have been countless lawsuits against fast food establishments. One of the most popular lawsuits, Pelman v. McDonald’s, has been nicknamed the â€Å"McLawsuit. † In this lawsuit, two overweight children (one of whom was nineteen years old) sued McDonald’s seeking compensation for their health related problems cause by obesity. There is no debate that most people understand that fast food is unhealthy, regardless of what the Pelman v.McDonald’s lawsuit claims. There have been documentaries recording, such as Morgan Spurlocks’ Supersize Me, in which he eats McDonald’s for three meals for a month. The result is irrevocable and much more severe than any of the three doctors he had hired imagined. It would be hard to find someone that denied that fast food was unhealthy. However, this does not mean that it is the reason for obesity. Fast food establishments should not be blamed for the obesity epidemic because when it all comes down to it, it†™s a simple matter of choice.Fast food establishments do not hold their consumers at gunpoint and force them to buy their food, nor do they additives in their products to make it chemically addictive, despite what the plaintiffs lawsuit claim. Todd G. Buchholz, an international economist, keynote speaker, and author of â€Å"Are Fast-Food Establishments Making Americans Fat† poses an interested scenario: The overweight baseball fan jumps to his feet in the bleachers of Wringley Field, screaming for the Chicago Cubs to hold onto their 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning.He squeezes a Cubs pennant on his left hand while shoving a mustard-smeared hot dog into his mouth with the right. The Dodgers have a runner on the first who is sneaking a big lead off the base. The Cubs’ pitcher has thrown three balls and two strikes to the batter, a notorious power hitter. The obese fan holds his breath, while the pitcher winds up and fires a blazing fastball. ‘Crack! â €™ The ball flies over the fan’s head into the bleachers for a game-winning home run. The fan slumps to his bleacher seat and has a heart attack. Who should the fan sue? a) The Cubs for breaking his heart? (b) The hot dog company for making a fatty food? (c) The hot dog vendor for selling him a fatty food? (d) All of the above? (p. 1) While this scenario seems completely absurd, there is quite a lot of truth in how today’s society works. The question that Buchholz proposes must be dealt with. Just who is to blame for obesity? The vendors? The fast food corporations? There have been lawsuits, many which are still prevalent today. The question has not been answered and people are still seeking answers.As stated earlier, many believe the fault lies with the fast food corporations, which is why countless lawsuits have been filed against them. However, perhaps there is more than one reason why fast food establishments have been under attack. Buchholz examines this very perspective. Lawyers are under pressure to take these cases for fear that if they do not, their reputation will be tarnished. Under any normal circumstances, it would be easy to turn the cases down. Unfortunately for them, it they are no considered normal circumstances.Despite the popularity of fast food, it has become quite popular for people to denounce the restaurants because of reasons such as: the food is making the people fat, the corporations brainwash kids, and they bribe the children with toys. Michelle M. Mello, Eric B. Rimm, and David M. Studdert analyze one lawsuit in particular. Pelman v. McDonald’s, or rather, the â€Å"McLawsuit,† as it was dubbed by the public, was filed against McDonald’s by two overweight children seeking compensation for their health problems caused by obesity. They had claimed that McDonald’s had deployed deceptive advertising, promotion, and sales.In addition, the corporation had produced food that was not only unsafe but had also failed to warn consumers of the dangers of its products. It is quite interesting to note that the plaintiff’s attorney had also filed a similar lawsuit against McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants on behalf of adults. Believing it would be unsuccessful, the attorney withdrew the case to pursue Pelman. With children as plaintiffs, it was believed that the success would be higher, as the children would be seen as representatives of the afflicted population (Mello, et al. 2003, p. 208).The judge, Judge Sweet, dismissed the case, stating, â€Å"Nobody is forced to eat at McDonald’s, except, perhaps, parents of small children who desire McDonald’s food, toy promotions or playgrounds and demand their parents’ accompaniment†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Stout 2003). In an interview with the plaintiff’s lawyer’s colleague, John Banzhaf, he admits: The biggest problem is what lawyers call causation†¦it’s hard to tell what cau sed a heart attack. What percentage is obesity, versus other factors? And was McDonald’s 4 percent, versus 2 perfect for Haagen-Dazs? Everybody knows that, if you want to lose weight, you eat less, less calorie input, and more exercise.You don’t have to learn that. (The Center for Consumer Freedom, 2003) The case drew national attention but many spectators realized it was more or less a farce in order to make a few extra dollars for the plaintiffs and their lawyer. The authors list key points of the case made by the plaintiffs’ lawyers, one of which the case is compared to those made against tobacco companies. However, there are significant differences. Unlike tobacco cases, there has been no evidence to prove that fast food contains chemicals that are addictive. Mello, Rimm, and Studdert are not the only ones to note this. Buchholz also acknowledges this key point.Additionally, no person has claimed that they have ever become sick from â€Å"second hand† eating. Another key point is that while cigarette research has been consistent over the years, diet research fails to do the same. In fact, their research is often contradictory. There are claims that the consumers are often too ignorant to understand the risks of the food they eat. However, this is a moot point of fast food restaurants. Consumers are becoming more aware of nutritional and caloric value of food and because of this, fast food restaurants, have reacted by making their nutritional value readily available to the public.Not only that, they have also changed their menu to feature more salads and foods with less calories. Buchholz brings up yet another important and crucial point: to understand the answer, you must understand the nature surrounding the problem. He states that even with the popularity of fast food establishments, people still eat two thirds of their daily calories at home. So while critics do a wonderful job of portraying fast food restaurants as manipulat ive, evil corporations, they fail to compare fast food to food made at home, school, or restaurants that do not fall into the fast food category.While plaintiffs’ lawyers condemn the nutritional value of fast food, they fail to acknowledge that alternatives are just as bad. For example, school meals are not much better than fast foods. While the schools provide few calories, in place is more saturated fat, more than fast food establishments provide. Saturated fat is â€Å"the more dangerous subset of fats† (Buccholz, p. 4). In fact, Buchholz notes, fast food actually has fewer calories today than they did four decades ago. In the 1970s, the fat content of fast food meals and home cooked meals were very similar.Even twenty-nine years ago, while home cooking may have won prizes for their extraordinary taste, very few would receive them from today’s nutritionists. Of course, that’s not the only thing to focus on. Modern jobs frequently require less physical work, meaning less time spent burning calories and more time being stationary. There are more desk jobs, which means workers are paid to sit in their seats rather than exert energy. Work at home jobs are also more prevalent. With the growing popularity of the Internet, money can be made without even taking a step outside of the house.A survey shows that while people are not eating larger meals, they are snacking a lot more, something that definitely contributes to the calorie count. According to Buchholz, people have actually doubled the calories consumed between meals. This is a crucial point to keep in mind when examining the cause for obesity. Portion size is something else that is also criticized harshly. While fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s have been super sizing meals, they seem to be the target of many consumers despite other places that have also been supersizing their food, with little or no criticism.Examples provided by Buchholz include movie theatre popc orn containers or all-you-can-eat buffets. Studies show that people can eat bigger portions of fast food-like meals such as hamburgers and fries not at the restaurants but in their own home kitchen. Home cooked hamburgers on average now weigh eight ounces rather than the five to seven ounces served in restaurants, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Despite the movie theatre down the block selling super sized popcorn or the all-you-can-eat buffet, which encourages people to loosen their belt buckle, they are not under attack as a cause for obesity. Common sense dictates that McDonald’s, even if they have a super size option, does not encourage the consumer to eat all they can. All-you-can-eat buffets, on the other hand, do. Buffets encourage the consumer to exceed the limitations of their stomach and eat as much as possible. However, ironically, buffets have evaded the line of attack and blame by consumers.Yes, fast food restaurants contain plenty of calories and no one denies that this is not healthy. However, in comparison with other food alternatives, fast food does not seem as bad as the media portrays them to be. â€Å"Unlike smoking, fast food appears to be safe when consumed in moderation†¦scientists at snack-food companies have reportedly investigated how certain foods trigger overeating, but not damning evidence has emerged that food manufacturers manipulate the content of their products to get consumers addicted† (Mello et al. p. 211) Moderation is the key. In a study done by Robert W.Jeffery and Simone A. French, the objective was to observe the correlation of TV, fast food, and body mass index (BMI). The results showed that the former two were positively correlated with BMI in women but not in men, and predicted weight gain in women with high income. This information is supports the claims made by Buchholz. Buchholz stated before that there are more people simply staying in one place rather tha n burning calories. Such is what happens with television viewing. To watch television means to do little to not moving, equaling to no calories burnt. Epidemic Obesity in the United States: Are Fast Foods and Television Contributing† concluded that increases in availability of fast food and television may contribute to growing obesity rates. Fast food is a lot more prominent and available than it was in the past. It is simply a lot more accessible than before. However, Buchholz has this point covered; while fast food is a lot more prominent, so are jobs that require less moving and increase in time to eat and snack. Fast food may contribute to obesity but it simply not the only cause, nor should it be the main focus if people are looking to fix the problem.In â€Å"Fast Food: Unfriendly and Unhealthy† by S Stender, J Dyerberg, and A Astrup, association between fast food intake and weight gain is shown. The authors note ways in which fast food can be â€Å"obesogenic. à ¢â‚¬  One must look at necessary things such as the portion size, energy density and fat content. The authors then conclude that reducing portions to normal sizes, eliminating trans fat, switching to lean meat, and other such actions would benefit the consumers in their quest for lowering obesity rates. However, by reducing portions to one size takes away the right of the consumer to make choices, argues Buchholz (p. 0). Beyond medical research, Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker, produced the documentary Super Size Me in 2004. In this film, Spurlock undergoes a mission to see what would happen to his body if he eats McDonald’s three times a day for one month. The rules were simple: if it wasn’t on the McDonald’s menu, he couldn’t have it; he must sample everything on the menu within thirty days; he must have McDonald’s three times a day; he can only and must super size the meal when asked; and will attempt to walk as much as the t ypical American.Throughout the film, Spurlock goes through a change, both physically and mentally. His three doctors, nutritionalist, and personal trainer that he had hired all agreed that he was physically above average before his experiment began. Though all three doctors had predicted that the â€Å"Mcdiet† would have a negative effect on his body, none expected anything to be as drastic as what really happened, included but not limited to heart palpitations, and liver deterioration. Some of the results were irreversible.At the end of the documentary, Spurlock shows that some people do indeed eat McDonald’s more frequently than they should, resulting in their weight gain and obesity health issues. Spurlocks’ main focus is on the negative impact of McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants. However, this is unfair to the corporations. While McDonald’s may cause health problems, it only does so when consumed frequently. Even though he has shown t hat there are people who eat McDonald’s frequently, he failed to mention that the consumers have a choice.Fast food corporations are not holding their consumers at gunpoint and forcing them to buy their food but Spurlock presents his information in such a way as to convince his audience that it is indeed the corporations who are at fault and thus, it would be counterintuitive to his position on the subject matter. Daniel J. DeNoon (2006), author of â€Å"Obesity More Complex Than We Think? ,† suggests that even though doctors are blaming obesity on overeating and inactivity, there are other factors that play critical roles. Even if the other causes have little effect, they may together make a big difference.Other reasons include, but are not limited to, lack of sleep, pollution, and prevalence of air conditioning, side effects of medicine, genetics, and age. So while fast food corporations may contribute to the obesity problem by providing food high in calories, the co rporations cannot control any of the other factors that may lead to obesity. While it seems to be quite the trend for consumers sue fast food corporations for their obesity problems, one must reconsider if the question of whether the problem lies within the food or the corporation and reevaluate their position.It’s easy to point the finger and there is no denying that fast food, when consumed frequently, is harmful. However, there has been no evidence stating that when consumed in moderation it is harmful. Unlike the lawsuits against tobacco companies, there is nothing chemically addictive about fast food, nor has anyone died of second hand eating, since swallowing food requires self consent. In fact, fast food restaurants have been proven to not be physically addictive (Buchholz 3).By blaming corporations for the food the public is choosing to eat, it suggests that the public is incapable of making wise decisions and thus degrades the individual. Everybody wants a scapegoat for their problems because nobody likes to admit that it may not be their personal fault. Fast food isn’t to blame. The consumers are. Fast food establishments aren’t making consumers fat. Consumers are making consumers fat. Works Cited Belasco, W. , & Scranton, P. (2001). Food nations. Routledge. Buchholz, T. (2003). Are fast-food establishments making americans fat?.Journal of Controversial Medical Claims, 10(4), 1-10. DeNoon, D. (2006, June 27). Obesity more complex than we think?. Retrieved from www. webmd. com/content/article/124/115592 Jeffery, R. , & French, S. (1998). Epidemic obesity in the united states: Are fast foods and television viewing contributing?. American Journal of Public Health, 88(2), 227 228. Mello, M. , Rimm, E. , & Studdert, D. (1998). The mclawsuit: The fast-food industry and legal accountability for obesity. American Journal of Public Health, 88(2), 207 216.Special report: Judge dismisses frivolous mclawsuit. (2003, January 22). Retrieved fr om http://www. consumerfreedom. com/2003/01/1753-special-report-judge-dismisses frivolous-mclawsuit/ Spurlock, M. (Director) (2004). Super size me [DVD]. Stender, S. , Dyerberg, J. , & Astrup, A. (2007). Fast food: Unfriendly and unhealthy. International Journal of Obesity, 31, 887-890. doi: 10. 1038 Stout, D. (2003, January 24). Obese teens lose mclawsuit. Retrieved from http://www. theage. com. au/articles/2003/01/23/1042911491525. html

Analysis Of I Walked With A Zombie - 1548 Words

Produced by Val Lewton, I Walked with a Zombie is a film directed by Jacques Tourneur in 1943. I Walked with a Zombie, is a tale told in a suspenseful style which incorporates the usage of light and shadow instead of many special effects to portray a scary, compelling, and engaging story. Val Lewton described the film â€Å"a West Indian version of Jan Eyre,† with its abnormal first wife, its noble suffering husband, and its selfless nurse who becomes wife number two. The film is similar to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, in which a young Canadian nurse named Betsy Connell heads to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Sebastian to look after the unconscious wife (Jessica Holland) of a major sugar plantation owner named Paul Holland. Betsy’s†¦show more content†¦At the same time, the outbreak of the Second World War threatened to devastate Hollywood’s vital overseas trade. The studios’ exports to the Axis nations (Germany, Italy, and Japa n) declined to almost nothing in 1937-38, but still Hollywood borrowed roughly one-third of its total revenues from overseas markets. The primary oversees client was Europe, which supplied about 75 percent if the studio s foreign income in 1939. However, the European markets were severely disrupted by the outbreak of war in September 1939 and continued to decline as fighting continued in Europe. The war in Europe resulted in the US government to initiate a massive military and defense buildup, which had tremendous effects on the movie industry. Hollywood played it safe by producing a few war-related features in 1940, however, focused mostly on newsreels and documentary shorts of the war. Hollywood, in order to increase demand on top featured films, turned to independent producers in the early 1940s. The most aggressive studio to adopt major independent productions was RKO. RKO had over a dozen independent unit productions under way in 1940. Val Lewton’s Influence on Horror Films during the 1940s During the 1940s it was Val Lewton’s unit at RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures which carried the horrorShow MoreRelatedI Am A Hopeless Romantic1360 Words   |  6 Pages I am a hopeless romantic stalker, I wake up listening to the wonderful voice of Justin Timberlake now and then. I am the mole that is constantly looking for a hole. For me, that hole was the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes upon. Now mind you, I’m hopeless, the first thing that comes to my mind think of when I see a girl is usually the word, â€Å"kawaii†, that’s if she actually is; the word â€Å"kawaii† means cute in Japanese, so everywhere I go I’m bound to cross paths with someone that’s â€Å"kawaii†Read MoreCounseling For Alcohol And Drug Abuse2108 Words   |  9 PagesAs I embarked on my first private practice for addictions counseling, I began with very few clients. 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Drugs Are A Very Controversial Topic Containing Many Grey

Drugs are a very controversial topic containing many grey areas. Some may argue that all drugs should be illegal, but does this also include prescription drugs given to one by their doctor. Others may say that drugs like anti-depressants are an acceptable addiction, however, drugs such as heroine are not. There are others that advocate for all drugs to be legal so that it can become a safe and regulated process, but questions arise on whether that would help or hurt the drug users and the community surrounding them. A drug addiction can happen to anyone, whether it be needing to take a medication daily for psychological reasons or happening to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and folding under pressure. Society begins to dictate†¦show more content†¦We should focus more on offering help to those currently dealing with a drug addiction, and try to present more knowledge about the effects of drugs. Knowledge can be a powerful thing, by having school inform students abou t the negative effects from smoking, it has â€Å"been shown to improve adolescents’ smoking knowledge and attitude, and reduce smoking intention and behaviors† (Tahlil 2013 p.2). If this is the case for smoking, it is most likely also the case for more serious drugs as well, however, many schools tend to not talk about the effects of harder drugs due to either lack of education themselves or just not talking about it assuming they will never try it. Education for future generations, and care for those who are currently suffering from addiction can help the world achieve less drug use and lower the problems that come with that use. Drug legality is a conversation still being argued, and we may never reach an agreement because this is peoples lives we are altering either way. Individuals on both sides of the argument probably think their ideas are what are best for people, however, when a majority of drug users themselves do not want drugs such as heroine or methampheta mine, that should tell non-users something of grave importance (Trevino 2002 p.101). If the individuals using these drugs are not wanting their legalization, they must have a reason. It would be aShow MoreRelatedBackground Inditex, One of the Worlds Largest Fashion Distributors, Has Eight Major Sales Formats - Zara, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home Y Kiddys Class- with 3.147 Stores in 70100262 Words   |  402 Pagesyou have taught me during these years. Thank you also to Hà ¥kan Rodhe, my second supervisor, who has not only provided valuable input related to my research and writing, but who has also been a rich source of advice and inspiration when it comes to many other aspects in life ranging from teaching to parenting. 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But there is little agreement over when the twentieth century c.e. arrived, and there were several points both beforeRead MoreOcd - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment131367 Words   |  526 PagesCarr (1974), McFall and Wollersheim (1979), Rachman and Hodgson (1980), and Salkovskis (1985). Behavior therapy in the form of exposure and response prevention (ERP), which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, proved to be a highly effective treatment for many forms of OCD. Behavioral research on obsessions and compulsions offered new insights into the pathogenesis of the disorder. Yet, by the early 1980s, behavioral research into OCD had stagnated. The â€Å"cognitive revolution† that led to advances in the

Risk Assessment Analysis of the Royal Bank of Scotland Essay

Essays on Risk Assessment Analysis of the Royal Bank of Scotland Essay The paper "Risk Assessment Analysis of the Royal Bank of Scotland" is an excellent example of an essay on finance and accounting. The liquid and credit assessment of the Royal Bank of Scotland indicates that it has a diverse profile of revenue. In addition, it has a large market share that has in its business empire. Despite all these, its performance has greatly been wreaked by the bailouts by the government (Sydney, 2012, p.56). This has had severe consequences on its liquidity besides the credit operations of the bank. As a way out of this mess, the bank drafted a strategic plan to ensure that the performance is enhanced.The royal bank of Scotland is faced with many challenges especially from the retail and the commercial banking sector (Young, 2011, p.35). The royal bank is a competitor to other banks in the UK and globally. Internationally; it has explored other opportunities in America and Ireland. The major issue that makes the liquidity of the bank to be sensitive remains the sensitive nature of the market shares.From the year 2011, the capital, as well as the liquidity of the royal bank of Scotland, has been adequate. The bank’s capital position has consistently been underpinned by the support it receives from the government. (Young, 2011, p.98).The support is majorly in two forms; equity injections, as well as laws that ensure credits of banks, are well regulated. In the United Kingdom, the scheme is called Asset protection. The assets of the banks as of September 2010 was about 258 billion euros. In the year 2012 December, this figure reduced by 10%. This suggests that the bank is experiencing higher risks. In the year 2011, it had gross nonscoring loans which were categorized as those that are not performing. These assets thus rated to be about 48% which according to financial analysts were very helpful in reducing the charges of the bad debts. The risk assessment took into consideration that the slow pace of the non-score assets went down be cause of the weak conditions of the markets as well as the economy. These subsequently led to a funding condition of the bank being described as average with and adequate liquidity position (Solving the RBS Problems, 2011, p.3). With such conditions, the Royal bank has been able to attain a funding position that is manageable. Besides; the refinancing burden has also been lowered significantly. All theses have led to the lathe Royal bank of Scotland relying less on the wholesale markets which are usually a short term remedy in times of crisis (Business and the Banking Sector of the United Kingdom, 2009, 2).Such risks have prompted the management of the bank to come up with some measures and remedies to help in further growth of the bank. The strategies for the year 2013 have been geared towards the realization of 100% target (Dey, 2009, p.35). Through the major business it undertakes, it will accomplish the goals. To this effect, the credit rating of the royal bank of Scotland has b een lifted by about two notches. This is an indicator that the Royal bank is significant to the United Kingdom and the government as far as banking is concerned.It is envisaged that the bank will continuously strive to ensure that its capital position is improved, with the current trend of the Royal Bank of Scotland (Sydney, 2012, p.22). Besides, assets that do not score will be managed down. Finally, the rebuilding of its franchise hence its performance will be very useful in ensuring that the risks the bank has are counteracted.

Architectural Engineering Design Management â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Architectural Engineering Design Management? Answer: Introducation Behavior and personality of a person heavily depends on the cultural and societal background that person is from. A business organization operates on human resource and when two or more people come together there are certain ways of mannerisms and globally accepted principles that have to be followed to maintain respect, honesty and a sense of professionalism. The study that deals with the human behavior in an institutional or organizational setting is called organizational behavior. It is the process of analyzing the interaction, communication. It is important to understand the trends of organizational behavior to motivate the employees and help them to increase high efficiency. There are two divisions to organizational behavior firstly it deals with the nature of human beings and secondly the nature of an institution. The concept that are studied under organizational behavior have significant impact on improving the productivity and ensuring high performance of the employees of the organization, it also helps in increasing the level of job satisfaction, encouraging leadership and promoting innovation and creativity. Several ideas and planning of policies and decision making takes place in an organization so that positive outcomes are achieved from the work force of the company in order to generate high performance. It is not only important for the general aim and objective of the company it also plays a significant role in achieving smooth day to day operations (Christina et al. 2014). Common policies and decisions taken by the management owing to the concept of organizational behavior are: reorganization a group so that people get more opportunity to work with each other rather than adjusting to a group which he or she may be unhappy with, improving and execution of employee friendly method of performance assessment, improving the remuneration and compensation policies etc. In order to understand the importance of organizational behavior here is an example, differences in the cultural background of the people working together is good for the organization but a kiss on the check as a way of appreciation is a western culture where as it is regarded as offensive in some eastern cultures. Organizational behavior study offers the management insights about the diverse cultural background of the resources employed in organization. It provides the management with an opportunity to identify the challenges and issues faced by the resources and help the management find a solution to the problems and issues (Christina et al. 2014). Together with the human resource department, the management and the executives of an organization are able to formulate policies and take decisions to make the work culture of the organization more efficient for the employees. One of the significant aspects of organizational behavior is motivation. Motivation is very important to make the employees feel that the work they are doing for the company is valuable and that the company is happy to have them. It is seen that motivation increases the work efficiency and appreciation gives an individual a boost of confidence. Maslows needs theory works in an organization as it give the management an idea about what can motivate an individual. It is easy to think that monetary increment behaves as an incentive, but it is always not the case (Wood et al. 2016). The next theory is the ABC model of attitude describes that there are three basic elements that affect the attitude of an individual: affective, behavioral and cognitive. A certain situa tion, circumstance, thought, idea or any other individual might impact the attitude of an individual this is called the affective attitude. For example, two associates in an organization have an argument over a certain topic therefore refusing to work as a team with each other. When an individual interacts or counter acts with an attitude its called behavior. Example: An employee offers a resignation because he or she had an argument or a disagreement with the senior or a fellow employee. Cognitive element is the thought that is associated with an attitude. Example: A person bows down to represent hour and respect and the other person appreciates the effort and reciprocates (Christina et al. 2014). For a business organization it is very common to face a crisis situation on a daily basis. For example: health and safety of the employees are a common issue when it comes to oil and gas industry. There are several incidents of falls, explosions and exposure to hazardous gas and chemicals. The industry has received a lot of criticism and complaints regarding the ethical stand point of the industry in these cases. In order to combat the situation and reducing the incidents of occupational dangers that are associated with the industry several technological and innovations are in the pipeline for the management of these companies to implement. Guideline and rules that are set by third party authorities are strictly followed in order to reduce accidents and health hazards. Another ethical issue that is commonly faced by organization is the gender discrimination. Women and men being treated in a different way is one of the most common issues of the society since ages. It is seen that some companies offer night shifts only to men workers to safeguard the women employees from various problems that can occur due t night shifts. But it is debatable how fair it is for the male employees. Rotational shifts can be introduced and a choice can be offered to both the male and the female employees to opt for night shifts. Special compensation for people working in the night shifts can be introduced in order to motivate the workers (Wood et al. 2016). According to Zhou, Meier and Spector (2014) discusses about counterproductive work behavior. The impact of this is negative in the work culture and organizational behavior along with the daily operation of the business. The employees who are highly agreeable that is they understand the reasons for a policy or a decision taken by the management tend to be more supportive than the others who are not easy to convince. Furthermore, the people who are highly conscientious are careful and take their job seriously in a responsible manner. Apart from this the resources that have a high emotional stability offer a positive impact on the work culture as a whole motivating and inspiring people around to increase efficiency and encourage high performance. However, job satisfaction is directly responsible to the amount o stress a person is in the work environment. Attitude is a significant and useful aspect in an individual. It drives a person towards positivity or negativity, for example an indi vidual with a positive attitude and is motivated in nature, this aspect will drive the person to work in a better and improved manner and guarantee high performance without any external motivation form the management. It is also seen that positive attitude is contagious and it influences people around to work better as well. Positive attitude helps a person have a positive outlook to any crisis situation as well, which in turns helps that person to deal with the situation better (Baldonado 2015). Organizational behavior study also helps the human resource department of a business organization in the hiring process as it clearly designated the qualities and the attributes that will be required for the vacant place in the organization. Understanding of Organizational behavior provides the management aid with rules, regulations and guidelines for the smooth operation on a daily basis (Demirtas and Akdogan 2015). Job satisfaction is the level at which a person feels committed towards an organization in respect to the type of work, work environment work culture etc. Factors that determine job satisfaction are firstly remuneration or the salary that the employee is being offered in exchange for the service and the job that he or she has to perform for the organization is the primary reason of job satisfaction for many people. An employee gets a boost of confidence and morale when they are being appreciated by their seniors or co-workers; this is an important abstract factor affecting job satisfaction. Sometimes organizations become too strict on the rules and regulations to the extent where the employee starts feeling chocked within the organization (Pinder 2014). Hence it is important for the management to involve in a mixture of formal and informal approach in interaction and communication. It is important to have an interactive relation in between an employee and the management of the compan y in order to create a situation of ease and comfort. Lastly, if the work that the employee is engaged in is not pleasing him or her; or doesnt cater to his or her forte then it may be difficult for him to continue with the job reducing the satisfaction level even if the remuneration and other factors are positive (Demirtas and Akdogan 2015). Management should care about the job satisfaction level and organizational commitment as it offers high rate of employee retention which in turn increases the goodwill of the company in the industry and also among the employees. Motivated and satisfied employee ensures high performance and high productivity for the organization which is very important and also ensures that the work environment in the organization is happy and content. Reference list: Baldonado, A.M., 2015. Workplace fun: Learning from google, southwest airlines, and facebook.International Journal,15. Christina, S., Dainty, A., Daniels, K. and Waterson, P., 2014. How organisational behaviour and attitudes can impact building energy use in the UK retail environment: a theoretical framework.Architectural Engineering and Design Management,10(1-2), pp.164-179 Demirtas, O. and Akdogan, A.A., 2015. The effect of ethical leadership behavior on ethical climate, turnover intention, and affective commitment.Journal of Business Ethics,130(1), pp.59-67. Pinder, C.C., 2014.Work motivation in organizational behavior. Psychology Press. Wood, J.M., Zeffane, R.M., Fromholtz, M., Wiesner, R., Morrison, R., Factor, A., McKeown, T., Schermerhorn, J.R., Hunt, J.G. and Osborn, R.N., 2016.Organisational behaviour: Core concepts and applications. John Wiley Sons Australia, Ltd. Zhou, Z.E., Meier, L.L. and Spector, P.E., 2014. The role of personality and job stressors in predicting counterproductive work behavior: A three?way interaction.International Journal of Selection and Assessment,22(3), pp.286-296.

New Balance Competitive Advantages in the Sneaker Industry Essay Example

New Balance: Competitive Advantages in the Sneaker Industry Paper For the past years of operations of New Balance, the combination of a sound market strategy as well as remarkable leadership have brought the company closer towards the attainment of success in the sneakers industry through impressive growth. New Balance puts great effort in creating their own identity in the market as compared their competitors like Nike and Adidas. New Balance is using a differentiation strategy in order to gain market competitiveness and increase the success of their market penetration. Moreover, New Balance has been using this kind of strategy because their management believes that by differentiating their company from their top competitors such as Nike and Adidas, New Balance could easily establish brand loyalty to their target customers. Furthermore, considering that footwear industry in the United States works under the oligopolistic type of market system, product differentiation would provide an identity to New Balance. In this regard, New Balance finds it easier to achieve their goals and increase their market influence which provides an avenue towards competing with established footwear producers like Nike and Adidas. Another competitive advantage that New Balance has is their concentration in certain market segments which give them room for establishing good customer relationship in various retail outlets. New Balance concentrates more on catering to the needs of small retailers in order to tap small service type of customers. New Balance divides their retailers into two groups namely: key accounts and specialty dealers, in order to concentrate their efforts or to give ore focus to retailers that bring them more profit and sales. We will write a custom essay sample on New Balance: Competitive Advantages in the Sneaker Industry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on New Balance: Competitive Advantages in the Sneaker Industry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on New Balance: Competitive Advantages in the Sneaker Industry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The market segment concentration strategy of New Balance, compared to their top competitors like Nike and Adidas, allow them to easily tap and establish good customer relationship as well as improve the quality of their service to retailers by delivering their products in a timely manner. Given that their target customers want new and innovative product line, their strategy of intensifying their research and development team could also provide an advantage for the company against Nike and Adidas. Moreover, extensive efforts of the company to develop their product line are impressive which support their claim of providing high quality products to their consumers. Research and development serves to be one of the important ingredients for New Balance to generate more sales through attracting more customers by providing them with a new and innovative product line. Due to this, it is vital for any company in the industry of footwear to provide at least enough focus for research and development in order to dominate the footwear industry. Therefore, the more innovative the products of New Balance would be, the more they could have market competitiveness and the more customers they will be able to attract to purchase their products. The only aspect that weakens New Balance would be their concentration on only manufacturing their products and not focusing much on marketing their products. This idealism of New Balance serves as a barrier for further improvement in the footwear industry since successful marketing for their products to their target consumers would mean higher profits and sales. This is because consumers nowadays are easily attracted to products that are well endorsed by a given company or a product that successfully penetrated a given market segment through various marketing strategies. If only New Balance could give their marketing strategies more attention there is a great possibility, together with their corporate strengths, that the company would attain better market status and influence as compared to maintaining the status quo.