Company Internal Environment Strengths And Weaknesses

Company Internal Environment – Strengths and Weaknesses The success of a brand must heavily reply on the competitive advantages of the company. SWOT analysis is a strategic tool to analyze enterprise’s own internal conditions, and sort out the advantages, disadvantages and core competitiveness (Power, 2008, p. 285). It also shows how these factors interact with each other and how they could be used to create effective success factors (Power, 2008). Below is the SWOT analysis of Easy Run. Strengths Weaknesses †¢ Growing market presence in the US with good reputation †¢ Tailor made fit and high quality product increased brand loyalty and repeat purchases †¢ High spend on RD, which has given Easy Run the experience to make predictions in trends and consumer tastes over the years †¢ Local employees are highly engaged, motivated and involved in decision-making †¢ Strong relationships with retail channel, suppliers and customers †¢ Low inventory because of lean production †¢ Unique product positioning with focused but diversified range †¢ Focused on a footwear market only, no product line of apparels and accessories †¢ Heavy reliance on relationships †¢ Limited manufacturing capacity as manufacturing factories overseas †¢ A market follower because of limited competence †¢ Limited funding available compared with major competitors †¢ Low brand awareness overseas †¢ Customers are price sensitive Opportunities Threats †¢ Expansion into new retail markets †¢ Creation of own concepts and styles †¢Show MoreRelatedMarketing Strategic Planning : Marketing Strategy1042 Words   |  5 Pagescapability and it’s changing marketing opportunities (Kotler, 2009). It involves defining a clear company mission, setting supporting goals, designing a sound business portfolio, and coordinating functional strategies. Mission statement: a statement of the organization’s purpose, what it wants to achieve in the large environment (Kotler, 2009). In the first step of strategic planning process, it will supports company to thinking the question like: What is our business? Who is the customer? What do consumerRead MoreCorporate Structure And Culture : A Great Advantage When Inducting New Employees Essay1683 Words   |  7 Pages Corporate structure and culture can be a strength or weakness to an organization depending on the situation at hand. For instance, culture that emphasizes on constant renewal is a reliable strength when it comes to organizational change. It would be easier to domesticate change with such a culture than when the organization professes a conservative culture. Organizational culture is a great advantage when inducting new employees because it gives them some insight of what is expected of them. HoweverRead MoreSwot Analysis : Applying Swot1519 Words   |  7 Pagestheir research, â€Å"In a permanent changing environment, the measurement and monitorisation of the performance of a company has become one of the key issues for its success† (p. 1072). Utilizing this planning tool of SWOT will establish a specific strategic plan through external environments and internal problems integrating this into a more comprehensive goal and strategy for the firm. Vital to the SWOT planning too l, is identifying our organization’s strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats thatRead MoreEnvironmental Scanning1136 Words   |  5 Pagesthe company, one must complete an environmental scan of their organization. Thus scanning for events, trends, issues and expectations that they may be faced with in the future. Furthermore, examining all internal and external environment challenges. Internal environmental challenges may be with employees, shareholders or board of directors or the overall culture of the organization. External environmental challenges may include economic, socio-culture, political, and technological environments, asRead MoreSwot Analysis : A Swot1371 Words   |  6 Pagesrevising the position of the company before decisions are made about company direction or the application of a new business idea. PEST is a tool to assess external factors. It is useful to complete a PEST analysis before a SWOT, although it may be more useful to complete a PEST anal ysis during, or after, a SWOT. SWOT and PEST are vital in determining the success of a business. SWOT analysis is a form of situational analysis in which internal strengths and weaknesses of an organization, and externalRead MoreExternal and Internal Environment Analysis1565 Words   |  7 PagesExternal and Internal Environmental Analysis This environmental analysis will provide a complete external environmental scan designed to provide RoyalBlu Invites with the tools needed to identify the organizations strength and weaknesses. Furthermore, including an assessment of the company resources. This analysis will assess the organization competitive position and possibilities of growth. An explanation of how the external environment affects RoyalBlu Invites structure and organizational performanceRead MoreSwot Analysis : A Swot777 Words   |  4 Pagesidentify your organization’s strengths and weaknesses (S-W), as well as broader opportunities and threats (O-T). Developing a fuller awareness of the situation helps with both strategic planning and decision-making. â€Å"It is an analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and ide ntifying the internal and external factorsRead MoreThe Generic Business Strategy Used By Kraft Foods1377 Words   |  6 Pagesevaluate the generic business strategy used by Kraft Foods. Additionally examine internal and external components of the business environment such as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Consider whether the business’s broader strategy aligns with smaller strategy choices made within the firm. Background: Kraft Foods is currently the largest food company in the United States and the second largest food company in the world. The organization leverages business strategies that rely on creatingRead MoreSwot Analysis : The Modern Enterprise Management And Planning1458 Words   |  6 Pages1. Introduction In the modern enterprise management and planning, SWOT analysis is a widely known diagnostic tool. Generally SWOT analysis is used to identify the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats of the enterprise itself, and then combine the company s strategy with the internal resources and external environment. In fact, it is a systematic framework which helps managers to build organization strategies and market planning. However, Some findings from Menon (1999) and Hill and WestbrookRead MoreInternal Analysis and Swot Analysis Essay1166 Words   |  5 Pages3 Case: Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis Dr. Kenneth McGee    Introduction Strategic planners analyze Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) to determine internal and external threats to a company. â€Å"The SWOT analysis is a business tool available in the tool box of any small business owner† (Zahorsky, 2009). An internal analysis specifically covers the Strengths and Weaknesses portion of the SWOT analysis. The intent of this paper is to perform an internal Resource

Andrew Grove Free Essays

Intel Corporation is one of the world leaders in terms of microchip and microprocessor production. They embark on a mission of staying in the top and even formulated a strategy on exploring other forms of markets like that of digital health and wireless applications. They have also been known to forge tie-ups with leaders of the prospective markets they are exploring. We will write a custom essay sample on Andrew Grove or any similar topic only for you Order Now They have tied up with search engine Google for the wireless application as an example. Basically, Intel operations are divided into two sections: the communications group, known as ICG or Intel Communications Group; and the other section consists of the Intel Architectural business. The architectural section is responsible for the production of â€Å"platform† boards that consists of chipsets and microchips, which are used in desktop processors; including the Intel Pentium 4 processor and the Celeron. On the other hand, the communications section deal mostly with the production and development of wireless technology. They are mostly concerned with flash memory and cellular base-band technology. Intel is also known for large-scale tie-ups with other firms. Example of such is their tie-up with search engine Google for development of wireless technologies. They are also know to be connected with other firms like Microsoft and Dell. However, competition has been seen to catch up on the leadership oh Intel. Recently, a lot of clamors have been heard in the recent decision of present CEO Paul Otellini unveiled his plan to ship the micro-chip corporation to another industry. While the rest had their problems with it, former CEO Andrew Grove is all praises for it. The present CEO’s vision is to generally change the image of Intel starting from what Andrew Grove practically built. Starting from the scrapping of the famous â€Å"e† trademark of the logo, the company motto and even the brand, the company has been envisioned to undergo a transformation. A lot of managers seem to be against the changing of such things that made Intel a household name. Even the logo has been widely known in all parts of the globe. Meanwhile, Andrew Grove has been vocal about his approval of the said changes. In his opinion, they are of the same line of thinking that the present CEO has, that the company really has to undergo these changes in order for the to tell the world that even Intel is adjusting to the fast-paced growth of the industry and that they, as a company, should be at equal footing with the rest of the companies in the same industry.   He further stresses that it is a imperative for the company to show that the company exhibits a show of risk-taking and result orientation, accompanied also by the value of discipline. Before, under Grove’s supervision and Craig Barrett (Grove’s successor), the company focused on the production of microprocessors and took the lead in that industry for years. They helped give birth to the Information Age by producing more microchips and therefore, producing faster computers and ending in the development of micro processing. However, what Otellini had in mind is far from the former image of Intel, considering that he even wanted to change the logo and company symbol. He wanted to venture into uncharted regions of digital health industry and that of â€Å"platform† inventions. Despite the negative views about Otellini’s decision, Analysts from outside the company have cited other views about the subject, stating the fact that sometimes, change is needed for a big company to maintain solid advantage. They also added that other companies that survived the changes maintained industry leadership, just like what happened to Texas Instruments. However, the other side notes that it is not really that advisable to change their target industry and find a niche in other markets, although they have leadership in the industry they would leave. Adding firepower to the firepower of the critics, Intel’s competitor, AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) Inc., have scored a major point against Intel as it topped the company in terms of consumption as AMD Inc rose to a higher percentage in 2003 and analysts view that it would continue to rise against Intel unless Intel releases a new competitive line of processors in the future.. In the wireless communications field, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm Inc are still standing their own ground against Intel’s advances. Also, the two companies are planning to release their own versions of the platform that they assured, would gain more shares of the market than the new Intel is trying to build a niche on. On the other hand, many people are applauding Otellini’s vision of the new Intel, stating that they have never seen so much innovation in technology with respect to their fields, especially that of medicine. Also, people have actually seen the growth of the company, showing promise for a whole variety of new plans that are underway. Not only did the plans boost company ties with other companies, but also made their partner companies believe in the new flexibility of Intel. They promoted closer ties with cellular phone conglomerates Nokia and Samsung; had present tie-ups with Google; ties with Sony and Philips; and with those ties, Intel was able to produce and release different types of innovative products. There different developments have different market reactions. Some producing great results, others not. However, analysts are right in pointing out that other companies that are industry leaders also experienced changes that looked like they are headed nowhere, although in the end, they have proven that their change would actually pay off. And now, Intel took their lead and eventually took some changes in themselves as well. The problem would be, if they can maintain the positive effects and eliminate the negative effects of the changes. As for their decision of making the company over, It is. The industry’s reaction to it seemed to treat the decision as a smart move as well. Rival AMD Inc made some deals with ATI, and this showed that Intel produced a bigger threat than before. Also, the result of other marketing strategies in the release of the new products proved that Intel can really hold its own against the rivals in the industries that they have entered. They also showed that they can maintain the leadership in their industry, and even remodeled themselves into a more serious threat than that of before. However, not all decisions solely produce good effects. The negative effects therefore should be dealt with accordingly. Otellini did not make a bad move and he assured that he would produce good results which he did, although in the process nearly humiliating the company as he suffered near losses and continue to be behind Texas Instrument in the other fields. Intel not only made a good decision externally but also made breakthrough decisions internally, taking care of their employees better and giving chances to other fields like medicine to be at the same level as that of the engineers, the firepower of Intel before. May be this was a factor in Otellini’s equation that he devised for company growth. All in all, Intel has made a remarkable shift from the way it was thirty seven years ago. It also departed from the household figure that we recognized. Although this a bold move in there part and a rather risky one considering the old model is one of the main reasons why Intel made it to the top. In Otellini’s, and now Intel’s belief, It is one risky move that was designed to maintain leadership and gain advantages in other fields that they would pursue in the future. The market and business world would have to look out as Intel’s new look is bound to stay, and so is their new outlook in the business battles. BIBLIOGRAPHIES Intel Corp. Company Profile. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved October 26, 2006. (http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/13/13787.html) Intel Corporation. Computer Business Review Online. Retrieved October 26, 2006. (http://www.cbronline.com/companyprofile.asp?guid=E82C088A-0488-4DB5-8953-9E316C2B44D1CType=Background) How to cite Andrew Grove, Essay examples

Oligopoly free essay sample

In recent years, American consumers preferences for soft drinks was changing from carbonated to non-carbonated soft drinks such as fruit juices or teas. This shift in taste gave Pepsi an excellent chance to challenge Coke. Pepsi purchased food giant Quaker Oats for $13 billion. Quaker Oats produces, in addition to Quaker oatmeal, a very popular non-carbonated soft drink called Gatorade with an annual sales of $2 billion. Pepsi also purchased a popular tonic called SoBe for $370 million. With these additions to its popular Tropicana orange juice, Pepsi now can challenge Coke at least in the non-carbonated soft drink market. Coke belatedly rose to Pepsis challenge, experimenting with 100 different non-carbonated soft drinks. Thus, with rapidly changing consumer tastes at work in the modern economy, an economic hierarchy of firms is constantly challenged and often changed. To maintain the oligopoly position, a firm must continue to expand by merger or diversification. More importantly, the firm must constantly search for the changing pattern of consumer taste and immediately adapt to it. We will write a custom essay sample on Oligopoly or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Otherwise, a mammoth firm of yesterday simply becomes a dinosaur of today. Did they buy out Pepsi yet? If not then they are not a monopoly. Are there a lot of competitors about the same size as Coke and Pepsi? If not then they are not a monopolistic competition. If these two have ruled out the other options then they must be an oligopoly, unless they are not an -opoly of any kind, but that seems unlikely to me.

Origins of bipedalism free essay sample

There has been much debate concerning the origins of bipedalism. Bipedalism, or the ability to move on two legs (eLucy, 2007) was said to have emerged due to climate change in East Africa, for sexual display purpose, to reduce exposure to sunlight, the need to use weapons and tools and many more (NOVA, 2013). There are numerous arguments associated with bipedalism as no one can be entirely sure as to what constituted to the emergence of this trait, which was first present in hominins Australopithecus Afarensis. Anthropologists claim that there is a missing link in the evolutionary lineage that makes it hard to confirm the real cause of bipedalism emergence. However, there are some models which are widely accepted by scientific world, such as the climate change model, and model which was just recently being introduced, but is supported by convincing arguments. Next, climate change model and rugged terrain model will be discussed in the rest of this writing. We will write a custom essay sample on Origins of bipedalism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The African continent nowadays is not what it was millions of years ago. By the beginning of the Miocene, which was around 22 million years ago, lush tropical forests and woodlands covered much of the landmass in tropical and subtropical Africa (Scarre, 2005). At that time, Sahara Desert had not yet developed (Scarre, 2005). Apes had no difficulties in finding food resources as they rely mostly on tress, from which they can obtain fruits and leaves from. However, around 7 or 8 million years ago (late Miocene), there was a dramatic cooling event in the earth’s climate, resulting in dropping of Mediterranean Sea level and thus causing the moisture-dependent forests of this continent to be reduced as their water sources dried up (eLucy, 2007). As their sources of food had now been reduced, they were forced to look for other sources of food. Bipedalism might have emerged over time as a result of spending more and more time looking for food resources on the ground (Fagan, 1998). However, Dr. Isabelle Winder and her team might have different ideas. The proposed rugged terrain model states that hominins developed an upright gait because it helped them to scramble and climb around the rugged landscape of East and South Africa (thejournal.ie, 2013). The rugged landscape emerged between six and two million years ago, where much tectonic activity happened. The team pointed out that the hominins would have been attracted to difficult terrain of rocky outcrops because it offered shelter and opportunities to trap prey, which is essential in survival of the species (thejournal.ie,  2013). Not only that, Winder argues that the broke, disrupted terrain proved a motivation to improve their locomotor skills by climbing, balancing, scrambling and moving swiftly over broken ground – types of movement encouraging a more upright gait, which over time lead to bipedalism (2013). Even though there are different theories concerning the emergence of bipedalism, both models stress out that this trait is really important as a means of survival for the hominins. With the reduction in the width of the forest, they had no choices other than to come down to the savannah landmass to look for food. This trait enables them to move efficiently from one food source to others, which is important for equitable allocation of scarce food resources. Besides, they are able to detect enemies earlier as they can see over the tall savannah grass. Having the same purpose, bipedalism which was claimed arose from rugged terrain model affords access to terrestrial food resources and protection from predators that cannot climb or scramble (Winder et. al, 2013). Complex topography made these and cornering for prey possible due to its structure. It is also easier for the hominins to hide from their predators, ensuring the survival of the species. However, the two models differ in terms of how the hominins acquired their biped form – how the body finally became adapted to walking on two feet. As opposed to previous beliefs, the road to achieving bipedalism involved â€Å"an extended and complex opening of habitats, rather than a single, abrupt transition from dense forest to open savanna† (SpaceDaily, 2002). This transition caused an increase dependence on upper limbs for foraging from branches of small fruit trees, and left the lower limbs for support, which over time eventually led to the emergence of this trait. This is different from what is proposed in rugged terrain model, where bipedalism is achieved by improvement in locomotor skills. This improvement is prompted by climbing, balancing, scrambling and moving swiftly over broken ground – types of movement encouraging a more upright gait (Winder, 2013). We can see that bipedalism arose as a result of hominins trying to ensure their survival, stimulated by different form of needs – the needs to eat, to avoid from predators, etc. These two models provide insights into how bipedalism evolved from quadrupedal type of locomotion. Though the arguments are supported by numerous evidences, there are actually still a lot of things need to be explained, and they all seem to have something in common, which is to ensure the continuity of the species.

Definition of Compound Sentences and How to Use Them

Definition of Compound Sentences and How to Use Them In a writers toolkit, few things are more versatile than a compound sentence. By definition, these sentences are more complex than a simple sentence because they contain two or more  independent clauses. They are what gives an essay detail and depth, making your writing come alive in the readers mind. Definition In English grammar, a compound sentence can be thought of as two (or more) simple sentences joined by a conjunction or an appropriate mark of punctuation.  It is one of the four basic sentence structures. The others are the  simple sentence, the  complex sentence, and the  compound-complex sentence. Regardless of how you structure a compound sentence, it signals to the reader that you are discussing two equally important ideas. There are three primary ways of doing so. Coordinating Conjunctions A coordinating conjunction indicates a relationship between the two independent clauses, whether contrasting or complementary. It is by far the most common means of joining clauses to create a compound sentence. Example: Laverne served the main course, and Shirley poured the wine. Spotting a coordinating conjunction is fairly easy because there are only seven to remember: and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet. Semicolons A semicolon creates an abrupt transition between the clauses, usually for sharp emphasis or contrast. Example: Laverne served the main course; Shirley poured the wine. Because semicolons create such an abrupt transition, use them sparingly. But you can write a perfectly good essay and not need a single semicolon. Colons In more formal written instances, a colon may be employed to show a direct, hierarchical relationship between clauses.   Example: Laverne served the main course: It was time for Shirley to pour the wine. Using a colon in a compound sentence is rare in everyday English grammar; youre most likely to encounter its use in complex technical writing. Simple vs. Compound Sentences In some occasions you may be unsure of whether the sentence youre reading is simple or compound. An easy way to find out is to try dividing the sentence into two simple sentences. If the result makes sense, then youve got a compound sentence. Simple: I was late for the bus. The driver had already passed my stop. Compound: I was late for the bus, but the driver had already passed my stop. If the result does not make sense, however, you have a different kind of sentence.  These may be simple sentences, with no  subordinate clauses  or they may contain subordinate clauses: Simple: When I left the house, I was running late. Compound: I left the house; I was running late. Another way to determine whether a sentence is simple or compound is to look for  verb phrases  or  predicate  phrases: Simple: Running late, I decided to take the bus. Compound: I was running late but I decided to take the bus. Lastly, bear in mind that while compound sentences are great for varietys sake, you shouldnt rely on them alone in an essay. Complex sentences, which contain multiple dependent clauses, can express detailed processes, while simple sentences can be used for emphasis or brevity.

Do You Need to Take Both the ACT and SAT

Do You Need to Take Both the ACT and SAT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips As a high school student, I took both the SAT and the ACT. I’d been taking the SAT every couple of years since I was in middle school, so I planned to focus primarily on it. However, as a public school student in Colorado, I was required to take the ACT by my school. My scores on the two tests were relatively similar and I ended up submitting both. Taking both tests, whether because of school requirementsor personal preference, has become an increasingly common choice for students, especiallythose applying to top colleges. Though itisn’t necessary to take both the ACT and SAT, doing somight be the right plan for you. This guide will walk you through the pro and cons of taking both tests. Key Fact: Schools Only Require the ACT or the SAT,Not Both No school will require you to submit scores from both tests, so you definitely don’t need to take both the ACT and the SAT. Keep in mindthat, regardless of what you might have heard to the contrary, all schools accept both the ACT and the SAT. Though in the past selective colleges on the coasts generally preferred the SAT, this hasn't been the case for decades. I would say that for most students it’s not worth the time investment to prepare for both tests,but read on for all the information you need to make the best decisionfor yourself. 4 Reasons You Might Want to Take Both Tests There are four potential benefits to taking both the ACT and the SAT: you'll have an extra chance to excel, prepping for one can help you do better on the other, some schools might appreciate seeing both scores, and you'll get more test dates to choose from. #1: You'll Have More Opportunities to Do Well The most common reason students take both the ACT and the SATis in case they can score much better on one than the other. The majority of students will score similarly on both tests,but it can be tricky to determine whether you're one of the exceptions without trying both tests. Nonetheless, there are some general patterns to which students prefer which tests. Students who have a strong affinity for the ACT generally: Aren't stressed by time pressures Excel at skimming passages for information Enjoyscience, or at least aren't intimidated by it Are comfortable with geometryand trigonometry Students who prefer the SAT, on the other hand, usually: Aren't confused by complicated question phrasings Can do basic calculations by hand Can easilyexplain the logic behind their answers One benefit of this approach is that if you do score much higher on either the ACT or the SAT, you can always choose to send only the scores fromthetest you did better on- even if a school doesn't use SAT/ACT Score Choice. #2: The Tests Are Similar, so Preparing for One Will Help You on the Other The SAT redesign madethe two tests more similar than ever. Because there's a lot of overlap between content and strategies for the ACT and the SAT,prepping for one willhelp you on the other as well. For example, studying for the ACT Science section will help you hone graph-reading skills that will come in handy on the SAT's quantitative reasoning and data representation questions. On the other hand, reviewing the grammar rules you need for SAT Writing will be equally good preparation for ACT English. However, if you do plan to prepare for both, be sure to start studying well ahead of when you want to be done with testing.You'll need to spend some extra time learning about whichever test you decide to take second. #3: Taking Both Tests Can Provide Extra Information for Schools As I mentioned above, most students who take both tests are applying to more selective schools, which sometimes appreciate the extra information. Doing extremely well on both tests is slightly more impressive than doing equallywell on just one. Janet Rapelye, Princeton's dean of admissions, told the New York Times that submitting both tests isn't necessary but can be helpful: "For us, more information is always better. If students choose one or the other, that’s fine, because both tests have value. But if they submit both, that generally gives us a little more information." Though the tests are very similar, and treated the same by admissions committees, they do test slightly different ideas and concepts. Taking both gives schools the fullest sense of your capabilities; however, keep in mind that any advantage submitting both tests gives you will be relatively minor. #4: You'll Get More Test Dates to Choose From The SAT and ACT are each offered seven times a year but on different dates. Thus, by taking both tests,you'll essentially get double the number of test dates to choose from. This can be helpful if you're worried about finding time to take a test and have a pretty stringent schedule at certain times of year. For example, if you're super busy in the winter and would rather take a test in the spring or early summer, this gives you three SAT dates (March, May, and June) plustwo ACT dates (April and June) to choose from. 2 Reasons TakingBoth TestsMight Not Be Worth It While there are some potential upsides to taking both the SAT and the ACT, there are also some pretty significant drawbacks. #1: You'll Need More Prep Time If you want to prep for both the ACT and the SAT, you’ll have to spend a fair amount of extra time preparing. Even with the overlap between the tests, you’ll need to take a few practice tests for the second test you focus on, and take the time to make sure you fully understand the differences between the two tests. This will amount to roughly 10-20 hours of extra test prep. These hours might be better spent pursuing an activity you're excited about or working on your college essay. #2: Trying to Do Both Can Be Overwhelming and Confusing The tests are similar, but not the same. As such, trying to prepare for both can end up being very overwhelming if you're the type of person who has trouble juggling a lot of different ideas at once. Ultimately, for some students,trying to studyfor both the ACT and the SATcan lead to lower scores than focusing on just one test would. How to Choose Betweenthe SAT and the ACT: 4 Factors If you do settleon taking just one of the tests, there are four factors you'll want toconsider when deciding between them. #1: Do You Have a Particular Affinity for the SATor the ACT? As I mentioned above, most students score similarly on both tests, but some find one significantly easier than the other. In additionto the brief guidelines I've laid out in this post, you can use this guide to determine whether you’re likely to have strong preference for the ACT or the SAT. You might also try taking a practice test of each and comparing your scores- this approachis more accuratebut also more of a time commitment. #2: Are You Required to Take One of the Tests at School? Roughly half of the states in the US will require all public school juniors to take either the ACT or the SAT. If your school requires you to take one of them, you might benefit from focusing on the required test. What's more, your school might offer free or discounted test-prep resources, ultimately making you more familiar with just one of the two tests. #3: Does One Test Better Suit Your Strengths? Though the SAT and ACT have a lot in common these days, they still have a few big differences that you can use to determine which test might be a better fit for your particular strengths. Some of the biggest differences between the two tests are as follows: Science Section? % Geometry Qs on Math Section Avg Time per Question No-Calculator Section? Math Formulas Chart? Grid-in Math Qs? SAT No 10% 1 minute Yes Yes Yes ACT Yes 35-45% 1 minute No No No As you can see, if you're not too good at geometry and need more time per question, the SAT will likely be a better fit for your skills. On the other hand, if you hate doing math without a calculator but love science, the ACT might work better for you. Look atwhat's on each test and then decide whether one might be a better fit for you.And don't just think about your strengths- consider your weaknesses, too. For example, if you're not good at grid-in math questions, you might have a better shot at getting a high Math score on the ACT than you would on the SAT. #4: Which Test Offers More Convenient Test Dates? The last big factor to consider is which test offers more convenient test dates that work with your schedule. As I mentioned above, both the SAT and ACT are administered seven times a year (excluding school-day testing); however, these test dates are not the same. The chart below shows what months the SAT and ACT are administered each school year: Testing Month SAT ACT August X September X October X X November X December X X January February X March X April X May X June X X July X As the chart indicates, some months offer both the SAT and ACT while others only offer one or the other (note that January is the only month that offers neither test). Ultimately, it's important toconsider whichtest can give you more flexibility and fits better with your schedule. For example, if you have the whole summer to study, you might want to take the SAT since it offers an August test date. Or, if you have winter to study and want to get the test over with before spring activities start, the February ACT might be an ideal fit. Still Want to Take Both the ACT and SAT? 3 Tips If, after lots of consideration, you still want to take both the ACT and SAT, you'll need to know how to prepare accordingly so that you don't get overwhelmed or make any mistakes on test day. Here are our top three tips for keeping your brain in check as you prep for the SAT and ACT. #1: Focus on One Test at a Time The most important point is to focus on one test at a time in your prep. This means you shouldn't take both tests in the same month or even in back-to-back months, as doing this can confuse and overwhelm you. Ideally, you'll take one test and then the other at least three months later.We typically advise prepping for at least three to six months before the SAT/ACT, so giving yourself this amount of time in-between test dates should allow you to take one test and then completely transition your mindset to prepping for the other. Taking both the ACT and SAT around the same time might sound like a smart idea, but in the end all it's going to do is mix up information in your head and exhaust you. So take our advice and spread out your dates! #2: Use Resources Specific to Your Test While some resources can work for both the SAT and ACT, most target just one of the two tests. As a result, don't try to use SAT resources for your ACT prep, or ACT resources for your SAT prep. Doingthis will ultimately end up confusing you, and you'll learn the wrong strategies and content. Instead, separate your resources into two piles: one for the SAT, and one for the ACT. For tips on what prep books to use for the SAT and ACT, check out our individual guides. The only high-quality resource I recommend using for both tests isKhan Academy. This free website has partnered with the College Board to offer tons of video tutorials and official SAT practice questions. While it doesn't specifically cater to the ACT, it's got a lot of helpful strategies and explanations for math, reading, and writingthat you can apply to your ACT prep as well. #3: Come Up With Separate Study Plans Lastly, you'll need to spend some time coming up with two separate study plans for the SAT and ACT. Even if you plan to give yourself the same amount of time to study for both tests (say, four months for each test), how you spend that time will likely vary slightly depending on which test you're taking. The main reason for this is the content differences on the tests. Remember, the ACT has a whole section the SAT doesn't have- Science! That fact alone should be reason enough to come up with a different study schedule. Another reason is your own goals. What score are you aiming for on the SAT? The ACT? Where are you currently scoring on each test? Once you've answered these questions, you can begin to figure out how to structure and customize your study schedules. For tips on how to build the best SAT or ACT study plan for you, take a look at our guides. What's Next? When studying for the ACT or SAT, it's helpful to have a specific goal in mind.Learn how to determine what a great score for you will be on the SAT or the ACT. If you have more questions about the redesigned 2016 SAT,check out our full breakdown of the test. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT and ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160+ points or your ACT score by 4+ points. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Critical Literature Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critical Literature Review - Essay Example Therefore, they should be sheltered and protected under all circumstances. Moreover, the best way to protect them is to keep them away from the social life, locked inside the walls of the house for the rest of her lifetime (Brà ¼ckner, pp. 44-46, 2004). There are so many examples all over the world and throughout the history that indicate the gender disparity, gender inequality, sexism, or stratification of genders. Despite the fact that over the past decades, the situation has improved a bit but still there is a long way to travel. It is very difficult to talk about a world where there would be equal opportunities in relation to gender (Pasero, pp. 219-228, 2003). In fact, this is virtually impossible to implement all around the globe. There are several reasons for this strong but bitter assumption. We live in a world where, consciously or unconsciously, we have created some strong and irrevocable social perception and outlook of gender. In fact, gender is not just a symbol of any one’s reproductive role but it has become a symbol and determinant of one’s behavior, attitudes, and role expectations (Tomm, Hamilton, Mackie & Calgary Institute for the Humanities, pp. 159-167, 1998). For example, a female school teacher, if announces that she would be late for a class or would not be able to make an appearance the next day; this statement from her would not get so much of attention if the same statement is put forward by a male teacher. Actually, after hearing the same from the father we would start thinking about different things and would make various assumptions in out minds. That he would be a single father, or may be he is too nice or may be his wife is too busy with other stuff. This happens because as individuals grow up in human societies they quickly learn ab out their roles and expected behaviors (Chaneles, pp. 85-92, 1984). For example, both men

Gun Control Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gun Control Paper - Essay Example Gun ownership has remained a controversial issue in American politics. The controversy stems from the right to bear arms as outlined by the US constitution and the deliberate efforts and responsibility of the federal government to control gun related crimes (Valdez, 2003). Gun control laws exist almost at every government level since the federal government taxes the automatic weapons and the short barrel rifles which should be registered according to National Firearms Act of 1934. In addition, the Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits the transfer of guns to minors and also mail-order sales of guns in America. Although the 1968 Act required all guns to have serial numbers and prohibition of guns to individuals who have been convicted of felonies, the act has done minimal in controlling gun-related violence. The Gun Free School Zones Act of 1995 limited ability to carry guns near K-12 school, but different States have permitted full access of schools while armed (Valdez, 2003). On January 16, 2013, President Obama outlined several steps in gun control and access to mental health services. The proposals include background checks for all gun related transactions, stronger bans on assault rifles, and emergence response funds for shootings in schools. The proposals also include enhancing mental health services access among the young people and providing the law enforcement agencies more powers to investigate and prosecute citizens involved in gun related crimes (Valdez, 2003). The process policy model is the best model in legislating gun control laws. The focal point of the model is the political processes that involve all concerned stakeholders through changing the perception of the citizens and allowing public participation (Ginsberg & Miller-Cribbs, 2005). The process model starts with problem identification and the need of government action towards solving the problem (Fox, Bayat & Ferreira, 2006). The second step will include policy formulation and development of p roposals through the input of congressional committees and other interest groups. The third step should entail legitimization of the policy which will entail making the policy as law by the actions of the Congress and the President. The fourth step will entail implementation of the policy as law across the country through preparation of budgets and measures of the law enforcement agencies (Ginsberg & Miller-Cribbs, 2005). The final step will entail evaluation of the policy by the government agencies in order to ascertain whether the policy and laws have been able to deter gun related violence across the country (Fox, Bayat & Ferreira, 2006). Agenda setting/ identification of the gun violence problem The initial step in gun control policy will be outlining the need to legislate on gun control. The President will outline the societal need of protection from gun violence and escalating gun related deaths in the country (Fox, Bayat & Ferreira, 2006). The President must make the citizens also understand the Second Amendment of the constitution did not grant citizens the individual right to gun ownership. The President should create awareness that the United States is the leading country in gun ownership and has the highest rate of gun crime across the world. For instance,

Death Among the Ibo Essay Example for Free

Death Among the Ibo Essay Although the book Things Fall Apart and The Joys of Motherhood cover about seventy years, the difference between life in 1880s Nigeria and Nigeria in the 1950s is extreme. The Ibo people change from a clan and tribal people to a much less closely knit people much like Europeans or North Americans. The change should not necessarily be construed as an improvement in the life of the Ibo people. When Things Fall Apart begins the Ibo people are much the same as they have been for presumably centuries. They are an agrarian people living close to the land without lives that have isolated and sanitized from death. Death is a natural part of life and is common. They have rules and traditions that have taught them how to deal with death. Although many of their beliefs may seem strange to people in the twenty-first century North America the seem to work well for the Ibo until their traditions are interrupted by European Christian missionaries. The Ibo beliefs have a certain innocence and simplified world view that is remarkably refreshing when compared to todays efforts to remove death away from society and to prolong death and aging as long as possible. There is a matter of fact character in the Ibo approach to death that makes death both real and normal. There are rules to be followed. When a man dies with a swollen abdomen and swollen limbs, he is not to be buried in the earth because his body would pollute the land (Achebe, 14-15). When an Umuofia girl is murdered, the leaders meet to decide what to do. After discussion they decide they should request compensation for the girls death. They elect Okonkwo a young leader who is a self-made man to visit the tribe of the man who has killed the girl and demand that a girl be sent to the Umuofia to replace the girl and another youth be given to the Umuofia as punishment for the murder. There is a balance here that lacks the vengeance of an eye for an eye of the Judeo-Christian culture. Instead it is more of a tit for tat response. Okonkwo visits the neighboring tribe and presents them with the demands of the Umuofia. Clearly there is the threat that war will result if their demand is not met, but it is not made in the do it or else manner common in the twentieth and twenty-first century western civilization. The tribe agrees to the demands of the Umuofia and gives a young girl who is given to the father of the murdered girl. A second youth, Ikemefuna sent to the Umuofia where he is given to the charge of Okonkwo with whom he lives for three years where he is treated like a son Three years later the leaders decide Ikemefuna should be killed to satisfy justice about the girls murder. Despite his having treated Ikemefuna as a son, Okonkwo participates in the slaying. He does this in spite of a warning of an elder not to participate because Ikemefuna calls Okonkwo Father. Okonkwo seems surprised about this warning. The decision has been made by the Umuofia leaders and therefore must be followed. There are several interesting attitudes about death and children. Certainly infant death is common among the Ibo. When a child survives infancy and it appears will live to become an adult, the child is said to be staying (Achebe, 42). Similar to this is a belief that some children are reluctant to be born into this world and retain a iyi-uwa that allows them to die so they can be reborn to their mother to torment them. To stop this cycle a medicine man will take the body of the deceased infant and mutilate it so that it will be unable to return, though some have been know to return with a missing finger or mark from the medicine mans action. Okonkwo who is a renown and admired member of the Umuofia accidentally kills a youth, he and his family are banished. When this happens Okonkwo appears to accept his sentence stoically because it is the established rule. During his banishment European, Christian missionaries move into the area and begin to civilize the Ibo. Laws are made and enforced by hanging and imprisonment. Ibo who suffer such punishment lose their dignity and are no longer the man he had worked to be. When Okonkwo knows that he is going to be killed by the Europeans, he hangs himself rather than submit to the white mans law. As one might expect from the title Emechetas book, The Joys of Motherhood ¸ is more concerned with childbirth and motherhood than with death. It is interesting that the perspective of this book is decidedly written from the female point of view and is concerned with life, instead of the masculine point of view expressed in Things Fall Apart where death is a more prominent concern. In this book death is treated much like it is today. The characters in this book no longer live in the tribal or clan community that Okonkwo lived in where death is considered a normal part of life. Instead they move to the city, Lagos, where they work for low wages doing the chores the more wealthy white people consider beneath them. Here death is not so common and not accepted so easily. When Nnu Egos son dies in infancy and she attempts to commit suicide, she is judged as insane until she is able to move on and continue her day to day life. Her dead sons body is taken away soon to be replaced by the birth of additional children. Death is less acceptable and hidden from the people because the British people dont want to think about it. Instead they sanitize it and move it away from day to day life. This happens to the Ibo as well as they move into the twentieth century British colonial lifestyle. Unlike the deaths occurring seventy years earlier where the clan is aware of each death and is able to accept it for the sake of the clan, Nnu Ego dies lying at the side of the road unrecognized. She is not missed by her clan or her people who are scattered throughout the country. The lack of concern about the rights of the individual regarding death in Achebes book is disturbing. Given todays sensibilities where the individual is more important than the society the idea of   replacing one murdered girl with another girl to take her place and the idea of offering a hostage as a response to having committed a crime is troubling. People today   want to move on and get on with their lives after death, almost as if they were to acknowledge death, they will be stricken with some horrible contagious disease. Acceptance of death is still a societal problem today. Americans today seem unable to accept it. However, after reading these books, one if forced to wonder which of the approached to death, the 1880s Ibo, the 1950s Ibo, or that of Americans in 2006 is best. In some ways the 1880s version with its innocent and almost nostalgic response to death seems to the best.

Society, Gender Roles and Gender-Conflict Essay -- Research Papers

Society, Gender Roles and Gender-Conflict Time and time again gender-conflict is brought to the attention of the public in various forms. In our time someone who wants to make a point about gender-conflict and the inequality that is present will be more likely to use television or song to reach their audience. This however is a fairly new technology. Books or some form of writing on the other hand have been around for thousands of years. Gender-conflict is nothing new. It is not as though one day it just came out of no where. It has been around since the dawn of time. What is a man’s place and what is a woman’s place in society or is there really a specific place at all; further more are we even really that different to begin with? Two classic novels To the Lighthouse and Lady Oracle are perfect examples of how gender-conflict is viewed and present in our society, but what is it that they are trying to teach us? One of the central motif’s in To the Lighthouse is the conflict between the feminine and masc uline principles at work in pretty much the entire universe. Mrs. Ramsay, with her emotional, poetical frame of mind, represents the female principle, while Mr. Ramsay, a self-centered philosopher, expresses the male principle in his rational point of view. Both of which are flawed by their restricted and somewhat ignorant perspectives. A painter and friend of the family, Lily Briscoe, is Woolf's vision of the ideal blending of male and female qualities. When looked at more deeply Lily does not only personifies the ideal male/female role in society but she is also representation of Woolf herself (Fokkema, 14). Growing up as a female little alone trying to fit into the stereotypical role a women is expected to fill in a mal... ...and ignorant. We all know what must be done to overcome the stereotypes placed in the society. It is just a matter of time. The two novels give us a better look into humanity and what it means to be human, not make or female, but human. Basically what these novels teach us is that it is fatal to be a man or a woman pure and simple; one must be woman-manly or man-womanly. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. Lady Oracle.Toronto: Seal Books, 1999. Cooke, Nathalie. Margaret Atwood: A biography. ECW Press, 1988. Dworkin, Andrea. Woman Hating. New York: Dutton, 1974. Fokkema, Douwe W. An Interpretation of To the Lighthouse: With Reference to the Code of Modernism. Tel Aviv, Israel, 1979. Ruddick, Lisa. The Seen and the Unseen: Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse. Cambridge: Harvard, 1977. Woolf, Virginia. To the Lighthouse. New York: Oxford, 1999.

Quran and Science Essay

Islam and science describes the relationship between Muslim communities and science in general. From an Islamic standpoint, science, the study of nature, is considered to be linked to the concept of Tawhid (the Oneness of God), as are all other branches of knowledge.[1] In Islam, nature is not seen as a separate entity, but rather as an integral part of Islam’s holistic outlook on God, humanity, and the world. This link implies a sacred aspect to the pursuit of scientific knowledge by Muslims, as nature itself is viewed in the Qur’an as a compilation of signs pointing to the Divine.[2] It was with this understanding that the pursuit of science was tolerated in Islamic civilizations, specifically during the eighth to sixteenth centuries, prior to the colonization of the Muslim world.[3] According to theoretical physicist Jim Al-Khalili, the modern scientific method was pioneered by Islamic scientist Ibn Al-Haytham (known to the west as â€Å"Alhazen†) whose contributions are likened to those of Isaac Newton.[4] Alhazen helped shift the emphasis on abstract theorizing onto systematic and repeatable experimentation, followed by careful criticism of premises and inferences.[5] Robert Briffault, in The Making of Humanity, asserts that the very existence of science, as it is understood in the modern sense, is rooted in the scientific thought and knowledge that emerged in Islamic civilizations during this time.[6] Muslim scientists and scholars have subsequently developed a spectrum of viewpoints on the place of scientific learning within the context of Islam, none of which are universally accepted.[7] However, most maintain the view that the acquisition of knowledge and scientific pursuit in general is not in disaccord with Islamic thought and religious belief.[1][7] Physicist Taner Edis argues this is because some Muslims are reading into the metaphorical language of the Holy books what is not there, including recent scientific discoveries.[8] Overview The religion Islam has its own worldview system including beliefs about â€Å"ultimate reality, epistemology, ontology, ethics, purpose, etc.†[9] Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the final revelation of God for the guidance of humankind. Science is the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence.[10] It is a system of acquiring knowledge based on empiricism, experimentation, and methodological naturalism, as well as to the organized body of knowledge humans have gained by such research. Scientists maintain that scientific investigation must adhere to the scientific method, a process for evaluating empirical knowledge that explains observable events in nature as results of natural causes, rejecting supernatural notions. Islam, like all religions, believes in the supernatural that is accessible or interacts with Man in this life. One of the most important features of Science is the precise quantitative prediction. In this aspect it differs from many religious texts where physical phenomena are depicted in a very qualitative way, often by the use of words carrying several meanings. History Classical Islamic science Science in medieval Islam, Islamic cosmology, Astronomy in medieval Islam, Mathematics in medieval Islam, Physics in medieval Islam, and Medicine in medieval Islam  In the history of science, Islamic science refers to the science developed under Islamic civilization between the 8th and 16th centuries,[11] during what is known as the Islamic Golden Age.[ It is also known as Arabic science since the majority of texts during this period were written in Arabic, the lingua franca of Islamic civilization. Despite these terms, not all scientists during this period were Muslim or Arab, as there were a number of notable non-Arab scientists (most notably Persians), as well as some non-Muslim scientists, who contributed to scientific studies in the Islamic world. A number of modern scholars such as Fielding H. Garrison,[13] Abdus Salam and Hossein Nasr consider modern science and the scientific method to have been greatly inspired by Muslim scientists who introduced a modern  empirical, experimental and quantitative approach to scientific inquiry. Some scholars, notably Donald Routledge Hill, Ahmad Y Hassan,[14] Abdus Salam,[15] and George Saliba,[16] have referred to their achievements as a Muslim scientific revolution,[17] though this does not contradict the traditional view of the Scientific Revolution which is still supported by most scholars.[18][19][20] It is believed that it was the empirical attitude of the Qur’an and Sunnah which inspired medieval Muslim scientists, in particular Alhazen (965-1037),[21][22] to develop the scientific method.[23][24][25] It is also known that certain advances made by medieval Muslim astronomers, geographers and mathematicians was motivated by problems presented in Islamic scripture, such as Al-Khwarizmi’s (c. 780-850) development of algebra in order to solve the Islamic inheritance laws,[26] and developments in astronomy, geography, spherical geometry and spherical trigonometry in order to determine the direction of the Qibla, the times of Salah prayers, and the dates of the Islamic calendar.[27] The increased use of dissection in Islamic medicine during the 12th and 13th centuries was influenced by the writings of the Islamic theologian, Al-Ghazali, who encouraged the study of anatomy and use of dissections as a method of gaining knowledge of God’s creation.[28] In al-Bukhari’s and Muslim’s collection of sahih hadith it is said: â€Å"There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment.† (Bukhari 7-71:582). This culminated in the work of Ibn al-Nafis (1213–1288), who discovered the pulmonary circulation in 1242 and used his discovery as evidence for the orthodox Islamic doctrine of bodily resurrection.[29] Ibn al-Nafis also used Islamic scripture as justification for his rejection of wine as self-medication.[30] Criticisms against alchemy and astrology were also motivated by religion, as orthodox Islamic theologians viewed the beliefs of alchemists and astrologers as being superstitious.[31] Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (1149–1209), in dealing with his conception of physics and the physical world in his Matalib, discusses Islamic cosmology, criticizes the Aristotelian notion of the Earth’s centrality within the  universe, and â€Å"explores the notion of the existence of a multiverse in the context of his commentary,† based on the Qur’anic verse, â€Å"All praise belongs to God, Lord of the Worlds.† He raises the question of whether the term â€Å"worlds† in this verse refers to â€Å"multiple worlds within this single universe or cosmos, or to many other universes or a multiverse beyond this known universe.† On the basis of this verse, he argues that God has created more than â€Å"a thousand thousand worlds (alfa alfi ‘awalim) beyond this world such that each one of those worlds be bigger and more massive than this world as well as having the like of what this world has.†[32] Ali KuÅŸÃ §u’s (1403–1474) support for the Earth’s rotation and his rejection of Aristotelian cosmology (which advocates a stationary Earth) was motivated by religious opposition to Aristotle by orthodox Islamic theologians, such as Al-Ghazali.[33][34] According to many historians, science in Islamic civilization flourished during the Middle Ages, but began declining at some time around the 14th[35] to 16th[11] centuries. At least some scholars blame this on the â€Å"rise of a clerical faction which froze this same science and withered its progress.†[36] Examples of conflicts with prevailing interpretations of Islam and science – or at least the fruits of science – thereafter include the demolition of Taqi al-Din’s great Istanbul observatory of Taqi al-Din in Galata, â€Å"comparable in its technical equipment and its specialist personnel with that of his celebrated contemporary, the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe.† But while Brahe’s observatory â€Å"opened the way to a vast new development of astronomical science,† Taqi al-Din’s was demolished by a squad of Janissaries, â€Å"by order of the sultan, on the recommendation of the Chief Mufti,† sometime after 1577 AD.[36][37] Arrival of modern science in Islamic world At the beginning of the nineteenth century, modern science arrived in the Muslim world but it wasn’t the science itself that affected Muslim scholars. Rather, it â€Å"was the transfer of various philosophical currents entangled with science that had a profound effect on the minds of Muslim scientists and intellectuals. Schools like Positivism and Darwinism penetrated the Muslim world and dominated its academic circles and had a noticeable impact on some Islamic theological doctrines.† There were different responses to this among the Muslim scholars:[38] These reactions, in words of Professor Mehdi Golshani, were the following: â€Å" 1. Some rejected modern science as corrupt foreign thought, considering it incompatible with Islamic teachings, and in their view, the only remedy for the stagnancy of Islamic societies would be the strict following of Islamic teachings.[38] 2. Other thinkers in the Muslim world saw science as the only source of real enlightenment and advocated the complete adoption of modern science. In their view, the only remedy for the stagnation of Muslim societies would be the mastery of modern science and the replacement of the religious worldview by the scientific worldview. 3. The majority of faithful Muslim scientists tried to adapt Islam to the findings of modern science; they can be categorized in the following subgroups: (a) Some Muslim thinkers attempted to justify modern science on religious grounds. Their motivation was to encourage Muslim societies to acquire modern knowledge and to safeguard their societies from the criticism of Orientalists and Muslim intellectuals. (b) Others tried to show that all important scientific discoveries had been predicted in the Qur’an and Islamic tradition and appealed to modern science to explain various aspects of faith. (c) Yet other scholars advocated a re-interpretation of Islam. In their view, one must try to construct a new theology that can establish a viable relation between Islam and modern science. The Indian scholar, Sayyid Ahmad Khan, sought a theology of nature through which one could re-interpret the basic principles of Islam in the light of modern science. (d) Then there were some Muslim scholars who believed that empirical science had reached the same conclusions that prophets had been advocating several thousand years ago. The revelation had only the privilege of prophecy. 4. Finally, some Muslim philosophers separated the findings of modern science from its philosophical attachments. Thus, while they praised the attempts of Western scientists for the discovery of the secrets of nature, they warned against various empiricist and materialistic interpretations of scientific findings. Scientific knowledge can reveal certain aspects of the physical world, but it should not be identified with the alpha and omega of knowledge. Rather, it has to be integrated into a metaphysical framework—consistent with the Muslim worldview—in which higher levels of knowledge are recognized and the role of science in bringing us closer to God is fulfilled.[9] † Compatibility of Islam and the development of science Whether Islamic culture has promoted or hindered scientific advancement is disputed. Islamists such as Sayyid Qutb argue that since â€Å"Islam appointed† Muslims â€Å"as representatives of God and made them responsible for learning all the sciences,†[39] science cannot but prosper in a society of true Muslims. Many â€Å"classical and modern [sources] agree that the Qur’an condones, even encourages the acquisition of science and scientific knowledge, and urges humans to reflect on the natural phenomena as signs of God’s creation.† Some scientific instruments produced in classical times in the Islamic world were inscribed with Qur’anic citations. Many Muslims agree that doing science is an act of religious merit, even a collective duty of the Muslim community.[40] Others claim traditional interpretations of Islam are not compatible with the development of science. Author Rodney Stark, argues that Islam’s lag behind the West in scientific advancement after (roughly) 1500 AD was due to opposition by traditional ulema to efforts to formulate systematic explanation of natural phenomenon with â€Å"natural laws.† He claims that they believed such laws were blasphemous because they limit â€Å"Allah’s freedom to act† as He wishes, a principle enshired in aya 14:4: â€Å"Allah sendeth whom He will astray, and guideth whom He will,† which (they believed) applied to all of creation not just humanity.[41] Decline In the early twentieth century ulema forbade the learning of foreign languages and dissection of human bodies in the medical school in Iran.[42] In recent years, the lagging of the Muslim world in science is manifest in the disproportionately small amount of scientific output as measured by citations of articles published in internationally circulating science journals, annual expenditures on research and development, and numbers of research scientists and engineers.  Skepticism of science among some Muslims is reflected in issues such as resistance in Muslim northern Nigeria to polio inoculation, which some believe is â€Å"an imaginary thing created in the West or it is a ploy to get us to submit to this evil agenda.†[44] Scientific issues in the Qur’an and Hadith The belief that the Qur’an had prophesied scientific theories and discoveries has become a strong and widespread belief in the contemporary Islamic world; these prophecies are often offered as evidence of the divine origin of the Qur’an [45]; see scientific foreknowledge in sacred texts for further discussion of this issue. Taner Edis wrote An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam.[46] Edis worries that secularism in Turkey, one of the most westernized Muslim nations, is on its way out; he points out that Turkey rejects evolution by a large majority. To Edis, many Muslims appreciate technology and respect the role that science plays in its creation. As a result, he says there is a great deal of Islamic pseudoscience attempting to reconcile this respect with other respected religious beliefs. Edis maintains that the motivation to read modern scientific truths into holy books is also stronger for Muslims than Christians.[8] This is because, according to Edis, true criticism of the Qur’an is almost non-existent in the Muslim world. While Christianity is less prone to see its Holy Book as the direct word of God, fewer Muslims will compromise on this idea – causing them to believe that scientific truths simply must appear in the Qur’an. However, Edis opines that there are endless examples of scientific discoveries that could be read into the Bible or Qur’an if one would like to.[8] Edis qualifies that ‘Muslim thought’ certainly cannot be understood by looking at the Qur’an alone – cultural and political factors play large roles.[8] Russel Glasser (Skeptic on â€Å"The Atheist Experience† TV show with Matt Dillahunty and Jeff Dee) argues that interpreting the Qur’an like this is cherry picking and risks simply confirming the biases of the investigator.[47] Conception and inherited characteristics The most prominent of the ancient Greek thinkers who wrote on medicine were Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Galen. Hippocrates and Galen, in contrast with Aristotle, wrote that the contribution of females to children is equal to that of males, and the vehicle for it is a substance similar to the semen of males.[48] Basim Musallam writes that the ideas of these men were widespread  through the pre-modern Middle East: â€Å"Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Galen were as much a part of Middle Eastern Arabic culture as anything else in it.†[48] The sayings in the Qur’an and those attributed to Muhammad in the Hadith influenced generations of Muslim scientists by siding with Galen and Hippocrates. Basim Musallam writes: â€Å"†¦ the statements about parental contribution to generation in the hadith paralleled the Hippocratic writings, and the view of fetal development in the Qur’an agreed in detail with Galen’s scientific writings.†[48] He reports that the highly influential medieval Hanbali scholar Ibn Qayyim, in his book Kitab al-tibyan fi aqsam al-qur’an, cites the following statement of the prophet, when asked the question â€Å"from what is man created,†: â€Å" He is created of both, the semen of the man and the semen of the woman. The man’s semen is thick and forms the bones and the tendons. The woman’s semen is fine and forms the flesh and blood.[49] † Creation and evolution The Quran contains many verses describing creation of the universe; God created heavens and earth in six heavenly days[7:54] the earth was created in two days[41:9], and in two other days (into a total of four) God furnished the creation of the earth with mountains, rivers and fruit-gardens [41:10]. Then heavens and earth formed from one mass which had to be split [21:30], the seven heavens were created from smoke [41:11], forming layers, one above the other [67:3]. The angels inhabit the seventh heavens. The lowest heaven is adorned with lights [41:12], the sun and the moon (which follow a regular path) [71:16][14:33], the stars [37:6] and the constellations of the Zodiac.

The Importance of Setting in a Rose for Emily

Setting often provides more then just a mere backdrop for the action in the story. It is probably the most important part of the putting together a story. In this story the setting is a reflection of the character as much as the town. The physical setting, time setting and cultural settings are all important parts of this short story, Physical setting is to give the readers a sense of what the environment is for the story. The physical setting for A rose for Emily is important because it reflect the life of Emily, the main character. In this story the setting takes place in the southern town of Jefferson. Miss Emily Grierson lived in a house that had a â€Å"big squarish frame that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies. † A house so beautiful it was meant for some body of high stature. The house was so old that is â€Å"smelled of dust and disuse. † The scenes in this story most take place in the town and in Miss Emily’s house. A great example of a physical setting is when Faulkner describes the town’s men sprinkling lime around her property to get rid of a bad smell. â€Å"As they re crossed the lawn, a window that had been darkness was lighted and Miss Emily sat in it, the light behind her, and her upright torso motionless as that of an idol. † It was almost like you were there with the men feeling the same creepy feeling, when seeing her in the window. Another great physical description of setting is when Faulkner describes Miss Emily’s death. She dies in one of the downstairs rooms, in a heavy walnut bed with a curtain, her grey head propped on a pillow yellow and moldy with age and lack of sunlight. † Faulkner does a great job at leaving us with a powerful image of the physical. Time period is an essential part to any story. It helps the reader to understand the language that is used and the way it was acceptable to live and dress. The time setting for this story takes place in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s. In an era when black people were slaves and people of high stature were respected by all. The town in this story grows with the time but the main character Miss Emily will not. â€Å"The town had just let in the contracts for paving the side walks. † When the newer generation becomes the back bone and spirit of the town Miss Emily didn’t move ahead with the times. â€Å"When the town got free postal delivery, Miss Emily alone refused to let them fasten the metal numbers above her door and attach a mailbox to them. It was like Miss Emily was stuck in a particular time in the life and wanted to live like that. Culture is also important to the setting in the story being told. Miss Emily was a Grierson. The high and might Grierson’s as they were known in Jefferson. Faulkner talks about how â€Å"Miss Emily had gone to join the representatives of the august names where they lay in a cedar-bemused cemetery among the ranked and anonymous graves of the union and confederate soldiers who fell at the battle of Jefferson. By describing this culture setting Faulkner is setting the tone for what kind of character Emily is, and what kind of family she had. The Grierson’s were a powerful family in Jefferson, royalty if you will, and Emily was the last of this great family. He then goes on to describe how â€Å"Colonel Sartoris invented an involved tale to the effect that Miss Emily’s father had loaned money to the town, which the town, as a matter of business preferred this way of repayment. † Remitting Miss Emily’s taxes was a way of showing respect for her name. Making up this tale was something only a man of his ranking at the time could do and a tale that only a woman would believe. When the town started to smell the bad smell and the men had sprinkled lime on her property to rid the bad smell. The town did not want to call her out on it because as Judge Stevens said â€Å"will you accuse a lady to her face of smelling bad? † The towns’ people all had their suspicions of what the bad smell really was. â€Å"She carried her head high enough- -even when we believed that she was fallen. â€Å"It was as if she demanded more then ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson, as if it had wanted to touch of earthiness to reaffirm her imperviousness. By understanding A Rose for Emily one can see how much of an impact setting can have on the life of a person. The way it can shape one’s thoughts is incredible and sometimes unbearable to believe. Whether the setting is physical, time, or culture it is as you can se e a very important part of any story, and enables the reader to understand the character on a deeper level.

Aquatic Ecology essays

Aquatic Ecology essays Plants are the most important part of our ecology, both in water and land. Therefore, for our experimental variable, we chose to increase the amount of plant life in an aquztic environment. Plant life is really important in natural world mainly because it is a provider of oxygen for other organisms. So, by increasing the number of plants, we planned to observe the effect it had on the other organisms. Our hypothesis states: the more the plant life in the tank, the less bio-diversity within the tank. The main reason behind this thought were, plants will block sunlight from being passed through into the tank and more plant means more competition for nutrients which eventually will make weaker organisms die out. Some chemical parameters that we tested were (1)dissolved oxygen, and (2) water clarity and the color of water. Some biological parameters that we tested for were (3) the length of the plants, (4) the weight of the plants, and (5) the number of protists. We believe that there would be a higher oxygen content initially because of increased number of plants, who survive through the process of photosynthesis. However, this will step down because of the lack in the circulation of water due to the overpopulation of plants. We also predicted that the water clarity would decrease with an increase in plant life and the color of water would have a greenish tint to it. The hyacint, our experimental variable, would grow nicely in the control tank, but it wouldnt grow as much in the experimental because of the presence of three other plants. We also believed that the number of organisms or protists would decrease in the experimental because of the sudden change in their environment. The main reason we chose to do this experiment was because of their fact that this type of occurrence can happen anywhere. The reason we chose to test those particular parameters was that an increase in plant life would most certainly...

African American Literature Essay Example for Free (#2)

African American Literature Essay African American (597) , African (466) , Short story (403) , American literature (133) , African american literature (7) company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints ? African American literature has a strong deeply rooted background in the history of America, thus giving the writers categorized in this genre a strong message to convey in any story they chose to tell. From tragic life moments to happy life moments, the writers have the ability to tell their story in a variety of methods. This canon of literature serves as a diary for the African American community. All of the literary works that compile this genre reflect the many twists and turns a collective group of persons must endure while struggling to achieve a place in history. The following discussion of three historically significant African American stories reflects the struggles one race of persons had to endure on their journey throughout various time periods in America. The Short Stories In the short story, My White Folks Treated us Good by Mariah Hines the author describes in first person account of a situation when African American slaves were treated well in comparison to the stories of abuse, rape, and neglect most persons are accustom to reading from this era. The slaves never went hungry, always had clothes to wear, were able to work under their own accord, always treated with respect, and were told to take Sundays off while also being encouraged to attend church on Sundays. The slaves were in fact treated so well that when they were free to leave, they choose to remain at their former master’s farm and continued working for him. Hines concluded the Master continued to support his former slaves. Hines stated â€Å"Master helped us much as he could. Some of us he gave a cow or mule or anything he could spare to help us (p. 34). † Moving forward in time, the short story Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston describes a situation of domestic abuse in a long term relationship between a wife, Delia Jones, and her husband, Sykes Jones. Sykes enjoyed torturing Delia, he would find ways to make her job as a washwoman more difficult by kicking the clothes across the room or by scaring her with ways related to her fear of snakes. Sykes enjoyed fighting; he in fact enjoyed it so much so that he intentionally picked fights with Delia. This type of torture strained their marriage to the point of near silence on a daily basis. Sykes thought it to be a good idea to bring a rattlesnake into their home. The rattlesnake got lose in the home, Delia was able to get outside the home but Sykes remained in the home and was attacked in their bedroom. Sykes yelled to Delia for help and comfort, but she was unable to come to him related to fear. Delia finally walked to the door, but due to the nature of his injuries and the distance to the doctor she understood he would not make it through this attack, therefore she allowed him to pass in their backyard. â€Å"She could scarcely reach the chinaberry tree, where she waited in the growing heat while inside she knew the cold river was creeping up and up to extinguish that eye which much known by now that she knew (p. 108). † This story shows how those who choose to abuse others always pay for those actions in the end. Alice Walker wrote the story Nineteen Fifty-Five, about a young white singer, Traynor, who purchased a song from a young African American woman, Gracie Mae, and went on to become famous after recording and releasing his own version. His version of Gracie Mae’s song continued to eat away at Gracie Mae for the rest of her life. It did not have the same meaning, nor was it loved by his fans for the same reasons she hoped it would be. The fans loved Traynor, not the song. Traynor continued to keep in contact with Gracie Mae throughout his time in the army, touring, marriages, and divorces. Then towards after many years, contact stopped and Traynor was found dead after 15 wives and a troubled road in the end. Gracie Mae lived vicariously through Traynor and his portrayal of her song. Gracie Mae herself lived quite happily through the birth of many children, the divorce and/or death of three husbands, the showering of gifts from Traynor, and his ultimate death. Gracie Mae did have a connection to Traynor that flowed deeper than her song. â€Å"One night I dreamed Traynor has split up with his fifteenth wife p. 297). † Due to the stereotypes and prejudices of this time period Gracie Mae and Traynor were never able to express the emotional connection they felt between each other. Common Literary Conventions Literary conventions and themes were similar in the stories; connotations, culture, undertones, and main characters were alike. The three stories were written in first person and portrayed a personal struggle endured by each main character. The main character was always female, strong, and independent in different way. The stories span three different periods of time, yet still reflecting similar struggles in very different settings. These conventions are important when connecting the messages of these stories. Each has a story of struggle, some are internal while others are outward, and each woman must find inner strength to change or cope with their situations. Beginning with My White Folks Treated us Good, this story was historically important in relation to conveying the happiness that could be found in such a dire situation as slavery. Hines showed not all slavery conditions were adverse or abusive; there was still the possibility of enjoying life, and gaining independence by getting the break needed, such as the freeing of all slaves, to make one’s own life better. In Sweat, Hurstson was able write a story about a woman able to persevere in a dreadful situation of both mental and physical abuse. During this time in history, women were not able to be independent and outspoken due to a fear of judgment or increased abuse. Delia was given the chance to be free from the abuses of Sykes and took that chance by allowing him to die from his injuries, thus resulting in her freedom. Following in the same suit, Nineteen Fifty-Five expressed the internal struggle of a woman’s desire to be understood and independent. Gracie Mae wanted to sing her own song and live her own life, without connection to a version of her song that did not represent the original intent. Gracie Mae was happy with her life, but was never free from what the release of her song brought to her life. Conclusion Culturally, these stories are important to all American’s. The historical significance of these stories and the emphasis on equality places a connotation of acceptance and availability of equal opportunity to all persons regardless of color, social class, age, race, gender, or personal situation. African Americans are able to tell their personal stories of struggles and triumphs through literature. This literature is a valuable tool for all persons wanting to educate themselves about significant times in American history. References Young, A. (1996). African American Literature: A brief Introduction and Anthology. New York, New York: HarperCollins College Publishers. African American Literature. (2016, Dec 18).

Community assigment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Community assigment - Assignment Example Such drugs generally cause the victim to experience illusions and destabilize their mental capacities making them vulnerable to carry out acts that can be seen as immoral or even illegal. In most cases, the community and the family members of the drug addict are the ones most hit. Drug addict parents have been known to subject their children to verbal or even physical abuse. Furthermore, the children might not be able to have that parental connection to their parents that they so much need as they grow up (Cheperon, 2010). There is even a greater potential problem that is bound to happen; kids who grow up in families where parents or guardians abuse drugs are likely to take up substance abuse since they learn to see it as a normal thing to do. The community where such people with substance abuse issues live in will not develop. The development of the communities we live in depends on a number of aspects ranging from moral stands, education, and innovative skills (Cheperon, 2010). All these aspects need one to be able to be in the right mindset, which can be hard if they abuse drugs. Among the problems we face today globally, many of them can be traced back to substance abuse as their root causes. Unwanted teenage pregnancies, new HIV infections, domestic violence and abuse against children are just but a few of these problems. It all goes down to mental incapacitation that is brought about by psychoactive substances. When a teenager smokes marijuana, for instance, their perception of what is around them becomes disoriented; eventually they will lack a physical coordination and make unthoughtful judgments. All this makes them become easy targets for rape, or they might even engage in unprotected sexual interactions, which can lead to either unwanted pregnancies or infection of HIV, and in most cases both (Ann, 2012). Domestic violence and child abuse falls in a more parental level since it

What is the Relationship between Women's Cinema and National Identity Research Paper

What is the Relationship between Women's Cinema and National Identity - Research Paper Example Although films were made by women very early on, the incorporation of feminism and its study was introduced much later. The study of women in cinema is often segregated into two categories. These are the study of films made by women, generally and films with feminist objectives that focus mainly on the problems if women, portrayed in cinematic form. Since the 1960s feminist films have maintained a certain commercial, yet art house production style of movie making. While the aforementioned films reflect many female ideologies, they still try to be seen as mainstream cinema. Talking about general films made by women, they are often distinguished from each other according to the presentation of the film as a whole. This varies according to the outlook of the director of the film. Another distinguishing factor is the culture portrayed in the film and the aspect of life introduced in the storyline. A national identity is a form of cultural identification given to the people of a country\. In the world, ethnic and religious segregation occurs after the national identity of a person. While ethnicity and religious diversity form the bulk of national trademarks, the question of minority still gives people the benefit of the doubt. National identity is a judicial matter with complex authoritative aspects, but sociologically it is the distinctiveness from foreigners and its effect on a national and international society. Language is a crucial and integral part of national identity, as most countries have their own local dialects understood by the natives.  

Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 20

Homework - Essay Example The employees of a business should be handled with the utmost esteem and terms of their contracts should be met without compromise. These values are absolute, and one must take them seriously enough to dominate human rationale, weakness, ego, or individual faults. Incase of failure one looks back at core values for guidance as there is always disagreement about what values should reign supreme (Dunfee & Nagayasu, 1993). In business, the ones values are the values of the employer, the freedom to choose own ethical values is somewhat limited, but due to corporate scandals, the thought of following the corporation’s values is a problem (Shaw, 2011). The real test of values and communication in business comes from resulting action. Good ethics and communication principles should be noticed at the top levels of management. In addition to that, a corporate values and ethics initiative should be sold throughout the company and customers. A company should practice its ethics and communication values. Training must be provided to everyone So that its principles are known to everyone in the business (Jennings, 2012). The ethics and communication principles should extend to the next generation employees. This is because, the longer it lasts, the more established the principles will be. Conclusively, this article illustrates the importance of business ethics in a business. It gives an insight of how business ethics aids the development of a business and gives the social, political and environmental impact of communication or business ethics in a business

International marketing research

International marketing research Introduction One of the most striking developments of recent decades has been the globalization of business. The growth of world trade requires more information about foreign markets and companies which expand into new and unknown markets must possess the information about the demand and conditions of these markets. Companies invade not only into such developed markets as Europe, US and Japan, but also into the unstable but growing markets of Latin America, the politically uncertain markets of the Middle East and Russia, and the rapidly changing markets of South East Asia and the emerging African markets[1]. The development of new communication and information technologies change the lifestyle, consumption behavior and purchasing patterns of different nations. All this indicates that the marketing research in global environment has become essential. The purpose of this paper is to give definition of the international marketing research and describe the factors which influence the marketing research in different countries. The paper also deals with the steps of international marketing research process and its main categories. The advantages and disadvantages of collecting secondary and primary data and survey methods of international marketing research are presented in the paper. Finally, the problems which may occur in the international marketing research are summed up. 1. Marketing Research in a Global Environment Marketing research practices and techniques have become truly global. For example, the worlds largest research firm, Nielsen, is headquartered in the U.S. but derives almost two-thirds of its revenue from outside the U.S. It is standardizing much of the data it routinely collects in 27 different countries. International marketing managers make the same basic types of decisions as do those who operate in only one country. Of course, they make these decisions in a more complicated environment. As with marketing decisions, the basic function of marketing research and the research process does not differ between domestic and multinational research. However, the process is complicated almost exponentially as more and more countries are involved in the same decision. The main factors which influence the marketing research in different countries are 1. Cultural differences. Culture refers to widely shared norms or patterns of behavior of a large group of people[2]. It is the values, attitudes, beliefs, artifacts and other meaningful symbols represented in the pattern of life adopted by people that help them interpret, evaluate and communicate as members of society[3]. A company which works on the international market is in need of cross cultural awareness. Cross cultural differences (language, non-verbal communication, different norms and values) may cause cross cultural blunders. There are examples of cultural blunders in the marketing mix. Product. When a soft drink was launched in Arab countries, it has a label with six-pointed stars. The sales were very low as the stars were associated with Israel. Price. An American firm was willing to set a reasonable price for the product they intended to sell to the Japanese. A detailed presentation was made to the Japanese businessmen, but it was followed by a deep silence. The Americans thought that the Japanese were going to reject the price and offered a lower price. The Japanese kept silence again. After that the Americans lowered the price again saying that it was the lowest they could sell at. After a brief silence the offer was accepted. Later the Japanese confessed that the first offered price was quite acceptable, but they had a tradition to think over the offer silently. An American company suffered great losses in this case. Place. A company wanted to enter the Spanish market with two-liter drinks bottles and failed. Soon they found out that Spaniards prefer small door fridges and they could not put large bottles into them. Promotion. Pepsico came to Taiwan with the ad Come Alive with Pepsi. They could not imagine that is it translated Pepsi will bring your relatives back from the dead into Chinese. 2. Racial Differences. This refers to the differences in physical features of people in different countries[4]. For example, types of hair cut and cosmetic products differ greatly in various countries. 3. Climatic Differences. These are the meteorological conditions such as temperature range or degree of rain. For example, Bosch-Siemens adapted their washing machines to the markets they sell. In Scandinavia, where there are very few sunny days, they sell washing machines with a minimum spin cycle of 1,000 rpm and a maximum of 1,600 rpm, whereas in Italy and Spain a spin cycle of 500 rpm is enough. 4. Economic Differences. Economic development of various countries is different and when a company introduces a new product it adapts it to that new market. There are factors which show the level of economic development Buying power and revenue of the market. In developed countries with higher income of revenue people prefer complicated product with advanced functions, while in poor countries simple product are preferable. The infrastructure of the market. Such elements of the infrastructure of the country as transport, communication system and others influence the product. When Suzuki entering the Indian market the suspension was reinforced as the state of roads in India is very poor. 5. Religious Differences. Religion affects the product greatly and makes companies adapt their product to religious norms. If a company exports grocery products to Islamic countries it must have a special certificate indicating that the animal was slaughtered according to Halal methods. 6. Historical Differences. Historical differences affect the consumer behavior. For instance, Scotch whiskey is considered fashionable in Italy and not very trendy in Scotland. 7. Language Differences. The correct translation and language adaptation is very important. For example, when Proctor Gamble entered the Polish markets it translated properly its labels but failed. Later they found out that imperfect language must have been used in order to show that the company fits in. Besides the differences mentioned above, there may be differences in the way that products or services are used, differences in the criteria for assessing products or services across various markets and differences in market research facilities and capabilities[5]. 2. International Marketing Research Process a. International Marketing Research Categories International marketing research is the systematic design, collection, recording, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of information pertinent to a particular marketing decision facing a company operating internationally. International marketing managers need to constantly monitor the different forces affecting their international operations[6]. There are three general categories of research based on the type of information required. Exploratory research deals with discovering the general nature of the problem and the variables that relate to it. Exploratory research is characterized by a high degree of flexibility, and it tends to rely on secondary data, convenience or judgment samples, small-scale surveys or simple experiments, case analyses, and subjective evaluation of the results. Descriptive research is focused on the accurate description of the variables in the problem model. Consumer profile studies, market-potential studies, product-usage studies, attitude surveys, sales analyses, media research, and price surveys are examples of descriptive research. Any source of information can be used in a descriptive study, although most studies of this nature rely heavily on secondary data sources and survey research. Causal research attempts to specify the nature of the functional relationship between two or more variables in the problem model. For example, studies on the effectiveness of advertising generally attempt to discover the extent to which advertising causes sales or attitude change. There are three types of evidence to make inferences about causation: (1) concomitant variation, (2) sequence of occurrence, and (3) absence of other potential casual factors. Concomitant variation, or invariant association, is a common basis for ascrib ­ing cause. For example, the advertising expenditures vary across a number of geographic areas and measure sales in each area. To the extent that high sales occur in areas with large advertising expenditures and low sales occur in areas with limited advertising expenditures, it is inferred that advertising is a cause of sales. It must be stressed that this have been only inferred, it is not proved that increased advertising causes increased sales. Sequence of occurrence can also provide evidence of causation. For one event to cause another, it must always precede it. An event that occurs after another event cannot be said to cause the first event. The importance of sequence can be demonstrated in the last example of advertising causing sales. It is supposed that further investigation showed that the advertising allocation to the geo ­graphic regions had been based on the last periods sales such that the level of advertising was directly related to past sales. Suddenly, the nature of our causal relationship is reversed. Now, because of the sequence of events, it can be inferred that changes in sales levels cause changes in advertising levels. A final type of evidence that is used to infer causality is the absence of other potential causal factors. That is, if one could logically or through our research design eliminate all possible causative factors except the one he/she is interested in, he/she would have established that the variable he/she is concerned with was the causative factor. Unfortunately, it is never possible to control completely or to eliminate all possible causes for any particular event. Always there is a possibility that some factor of which one is not aware has influenced the results. However, if all reasonable alternatives are eliminated except one, one can have a high degree of confidence in the remaining variable. b. Steps of International Marketing Research Process The international marketing research process as well as domestic one is a serious of separate steps. However, the international marketing research process has some peculiarities such as the national differences between countries arising out of political, legal, economic, social and cultural differences and, the comparability of research results due to these differences[7]. Step 1. Research Problem Definition. Problem definition is the most critical part of the research process. Research problem definition involves specifying the information needed by manage ­ment. Unless the problem is properly defined, the information produced by the research process is unlikely to have any value. Step 2. Information Value Estimation. Information has value only to the extent that it improves decisions. The value of information increases as (1) the cost of a wrong de ­cision increases, (2) our level of knowledge as to the correct decision de ­creases, and (3) the accuracy of the information the research will provide increases. The principle involved in deciding whether to do more research is that research should be conducted only when the value of the information to be obtained is expected to be greater than the cost of obtaining it. Step 3. Selection of the Data Collection Approach. There are three basic data collection approaches in international marketing research: (1) secondary data, (2) survey data, and (3) experimental data. Secondary data were collected for other purpose than helping to solve the current problem. Primary data are collected expressly to help solve the problem at hand. Survey and experimental data are therefore secondary data if they were collected earlier for another study; they are primary data if they were collected for the present one. Secondary data are virtually always collected first because of their time and cost advantages. Step 4. Measurement Technique Selection. Four basic measurement techniques are used in marketing research: (1) questionnaires, (2) attitude scales, (3) observation, and (4) depth interviews and projec ­ts techniques. As with selecting the data collection method, selection of a measurement technique is influenced primarily by the nature of the information required and secondarily by the value of the information. Step 5. Sample Selection. Most marketing studies involve a sample or subgroup of the total population relevant to the problem, rather than a census of the entire group. The popu ­lation is generally specified as a part of the problem definition process. Step 6. Selection of Methods of Analyses. Data are useful only after analysis. Data analysis involves converting a series of recorded observations into descriptive statements and/or inferences about relationships. The types of analyses, which can be conducted, depend on the nature of the sampling process, measurement instrument, and the data collection method. Step 7. Evaluation of the Ethics of the Research. It is essential that marketing researchers restrict their research activities to practices that are ethically sound. Ethically sound research considers the interests of the general public, the respondents, the client, and the research profession as well as those of the researcher. Step 8. Estimation of Time and Financial Requirements. Time refers to the time needed to complete the project. The financial requirement is the monetary representation of personnel time, computer time, and mate ­rials requirements. The time and finance requirements are not independent. Step 9. Preparation of Research Proposal. The research design process provides the researcher with a blueprint, or guide, for conducting and controlling the research project. This blueprint is written in the form of a research proposal. A written research proposal should precede any research project. The re ­search proposal helps ensure that the decision maker and the researcher are still in agreement on the basic management problem, the information re ­quired, and the research approach. 3. International Secondary Data Sources 1. The Nature of International Secondary Data Secondary data for international marketing decisions are subject to some disadvantages. Unfortunately, many of the disadvantages are multiplied when the data involve more countries. An additional problem is that most secondary data are available only in the host countrys language. Thus, multi-country searches require utilizing specializing firms or maintaining a multilingual staff. Data availability, recency, accessibility, and accuracy vary widely from country to country. Until recently, there were few commercial databases in Japan because of the difficulty of using Japanese characters on computers. Now the problem is resolved. The Japanese government prepares many potentially useful reports, but even Japanese firms seldom use them because they are poorly organized and indexed. Secondary data in many non-democracies often reflect political interests more closely than reality. In general, the amount of secondary data available in a country varies directly with its level of economic development. Even when the accurate data are accessible, it may not be possible to make multinational comparisons. Data from several countries may not be comparable because the data were collected at different times, use different units of measurement, cover slightly different topics, or define the classes (such as age groups) differently. This has become a major problem in the European Community as firms begin to analyze the market as a whole rather than as a collection of individual countries. To resolve part of the problem, ESOMAR has proposed a standardized set of questions to gather demographic data in both government and private surveys. Similar work is underway in Brazil, India, and the Middle East. 2. Internal Sources of International Secondary Data The internal sources of data for international decisions can be classified into four broad categories accounting records, sales force reports, miscellaneous records and internal experts. However, utilizing international internal data can be difficult. Different accounting systems, decentralized (often on a country basis) management and information systems, sales forces organized by country or region, and so forth, all this increases the difficulty of acquiring and using internal data in a timely manner. To deal with these problems global firms implement international information systems and require some standardization across countries in terms of internal recordkeeping and reporting. 3. External Sources of International Secondary Data For a example, when a company starts an external search for international secondary data it consults general guides to this type of data, such as International Marketing Handbook of the US Department of Commerces International Trade Administration, The World of Information (Africa Guide), or it contacts Euromonitor, the leading provider of world business information and market analysis. An alternative to conducting such a search in house is to use a specialist firm such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and McKinsey. a) Databases Both ABI (Abstract Business Information)/Inform, which contains 150-word abstracts of articles published in about 1,300 business publications worldwide, and Predicasts, which provides 11 on-line databases, have significant international content in their bibliographic databases. Predicasts coverage is particularly good and it is growing rapidly. In fact, half its information is on companies and industries from outside the U.S. Its major bibliographic database, PROMPT, contains material from all over the world. Both Infomat International Business and Worldcasts are focused on compa ­nies, products, industries, economies, and so forth outside the U.S. Predi ­casts also has separate FS Indexes for Europe and for the rest of the world excluding Europe and the U.S. A major advantage of these abstracts is that they are all in English. Copies of the entire articles are gen ­erally available in the original language. ( Table 1, Appendix) b) Foreign Government Sources All developed countries provide census-type data on their populations. However, the frequency of data collection and the type and amount of data collected vary widely from country to country. Germany went 17 years be ­tween its last two censuses, and Holland has not conducted a census in 20 years. The U.S. collects income data in its census and marketers make extensive use of it. Most other nations, including Japan, Britain, France, Spain, and Italy, do not. (Australia, Mexico, Sweden, and Finland do.) While the Scan ­dinavian countries, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand publish English-language versions of their main census reports, most countries report them only in their home language. c) International Political Organizations Three major international political organizations provide significant amounts of data relevant to international marketing activities. The United Nations and its related organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, provide hundreds of publications dealing with the population, economic, and social conditions of over 200 countries. The World Bank lends funds, provides advice, and serves as a catalyst to stimulate investments in developing nations. To carry out its missions, it collects substantial amounts of useful data which can be purchased inexpen ­sively. The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) con ­sists of 24 economically developed countries with the mission of promoting the members economic and social welfare by coordinating national policies. As part of this mission, it publishes reports on a broad range of socioeconomic topics involving its members and the developing nations. 4. Issues in International Primary Data Collection Primary data are the data collected to help solve a problem or take advantage of an opportunity on which a decision is pending[8]. The main advantage of primary data lies in the fact that it is collected for solving the exact problem and that is why it is characterized by high usefulness and novelty. The disadvantage is that the costs of collecting primary data are much higher in foreign developing markets as there is the lack of an appropriate marketing research infrastructure[9]. The international primary data is collected with the help of qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Qualitative research is particularly used as a first step in studying international marketing phenomena (focus groups, observation). However, the main constraint is that responses can be affected by culture as individuals may act differently if they know they are being observed[10]. Quantitative researches are more structured. They involve both descriptive research approaches, such as survey research, and causal research approaches, such as experiments. More respondents take part in quantitative research, although it highlights fewer problems than qualitative research. International marketing research in cross-cultural environment requires the measurement of behaviors and attitudes. A major issue in primary data collection is the existence of the so-called EMIC vs. ETIC dilemma. The EMIC school states that attitudinal and behavioral phenomena are unique to a culture. The ETIC school is primarily concerned with identifying and assessing universal attitudinal and behavioral concepts, and developing pan-cultural or culture-free measures. 5. Survey Methods of International Marketing Research The techniques of data collection used in international marketing research have both advantages and disadvantages. 1. Personal interviews are considered to be the most popular method of data collection in international marketing research. However, there are several constraints for the usage of this technique. In the Middle East countries personal interviews are treated with great suspicion. Moreover, the personnel for the survey should be male and they may conduct interviews with housewives only when their husbands are at home. In Latin American countries, where tax protest movement is being developed, the interviews are thought to be tax inspectors. 2. Mall intercept surveys may be used in the United States, Canada and the European countries. As far as the developing countries are concerned they are not common. 3. Telephone interviews have several advantages over other survey methods of international marketing research. The time and costs of international telephone calls are reducing, the surveys may be conducted from one place, the results of telephone interviews are considered reliable and it is easier to perform the client and interviewer control. But telephone surveys also have some limitations because of poor telecommunication systems in several countries. For example, in India telephone penetration is only 1 per cent and telephone surveys reduce the survey coverage greatly. But even in such developed countries as Great Britain telephone penetration comprises only 80 per cent. That is why a lot of marketers are very skeptical about telephone surveys and nowadays there is a great reduction in their application. 4. Mailing surveys are widely used in industrialized countries, where there is a high level of literacy, good mailing services and availability of mailing lists. However, the use of this method in developing countries has some constraints. In some countries people consider the mailing surveys to be the invasion into their private life and the effectiveness of these surveys is reduced. In such countries as Brazil, where only 30 per cent of mail is delivered, mailing surveys can not be used as well. 5. Electronic surveys become more popular in the United States and Europe and they are used for the products which require technological literacy such as computers and computer software. E-mail surveys begin to replace mail and telephone surveys. The limiting factors for electronic surveys are as follow: there are still many countries with low internet access, the internet versions available in various countries may not be compatible and there may be a big number of non-responses because of technical issues. At the same time the speed of getting responses and low costs of surveys makes this method suitable for international marketing research. Conclusion International marketing research is the systematic design, collection, recording, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of information relating to a particular marketing decision facing a company operating internationally. The international marketing research process has some peculiarities such as the national differences between countries arising out of political, legal, economic, social and cultural differences and, the comparability of research results due to these differences. A company performing the international marketing research may experience several problems. Firstly, there is a complexity of research design due to operation in a multi country, multicultural, and multi linguistic environment. Secondly, the availability of secondary data varies widely from country to country. On some markets, especially emerging and unstable, the data is neither available nor reliable. Thirdly, the costs of collecting primary data are much higher in foreign developing markets as there is the lack of an appropriate marketing research infrastructure. Fourthly, problems associating with coordinating research and data collection in different countries may arise. And finally, there are the difficulties of establishing the comparability and equivalence of data and research conducted in different context. Bibliography 1. Aaker D., Kumar V. , Day G., (2007), Marketing Research, 9th edition, John Wiley Sons. 2. Altstiel T. Grow J.M. (2005), Advertising Strategy: Creative Tactics From the Outside/In, Sage Publications, Inc. 3. Arnold D. (2004), The Mirage of Global Markets: How Globalizing Companies Can Succeed as Markets Localize, Pearson Education, Inc. 4. Barnard, P. (2007), Global developments and future directions in marketing research, Globalization and the Millennium: Opportunities and Imperatives, Marketing Science Institute, June 16-17, Brussels, Belgium. 5. Cateora, P. and Graham, J.L. (2009),International Marketing, 14 th edition, McGraw-Hill Company. 6. Craig, C. S. and Douglas, S. P. (2009), International Marketing Research, 2nd Edition. Chichester, UK: John Wiley Sons. 7. Douglas, S. P. and Craig, C. S. (2005), Evolution of global marketing strategy: scale, scope and synergy, Columbia Journal of World Business, Vol. 24, No. 3. 8. Kumar, V. (2000), International Marketing Research, Prentice-Hall, Inc. 9. Mahajan V. and Banga K. (2006), The 86 Percent Solution: How to Succeed in the Biggest Market Opportunity of the 21st Century, Pearson Education, Inc. 10. Kumar V. David A. Aaker George S. Day (2009), Essentials of Marketing Research, 2nd Edition with SPSS 17.0, John Wiley Sons. 11. Payne, N. (2009), Public Relations Across Cultures Building international communication bridges, URL: http://www.aboutpublicrelations.net/ucpayne.htm Appendix Examples of Specialized Bibliographic Databases. The Information Bank Advertising Marketing Intelligence Service Advertising and marketing articles from over 60 trade and professional journals are summarized on topics such as new products, consumer trends, and sales promotions. Bank Marketing Association: Financial Industry Information Service Contains about 50,000 citations on the marketing of financial services by banks, credit companies, insurance firms, investment and real estate firms, thrift operations, and government agencies. Topics include on advertising, pricing, sales, marketing, and new technologies. FINDEX Reports and Studies Indexes and describes industry and market research reports, studies, and surveys (more than 11,000 citations) from more than 500 research firms worldwide. Frost Sullivan Research Reports Abstracts Contains citations and abstracts from approximately 1,500 market research reports providing analyses and forecasts of market size and share by product and company. Industries represented include chemicals, communications, consumer products, data processing, electronics, food, health, instrumentation, machinery, and transportation. Source: Kumar, V. (2000), International Marketing Research, Prentice-Hall, Inc. [1] Kumar V. David A. Aaker George S. Day (2009), p. 345. [2] Craig, C. S. and Douglas, S. P. (2009), p. 276. [3] Kumar V. David A. Aaker George S. Day (2009), p. 374. [4] Mahajan V. and Banga K. (2006), p. 213. [5] Craig, C. S. and Douglas, S. P. (2009), p. 215. [6] Kumar, V. (2000), p. 24. [7] Craig, C. S. and Douglas, S. P. (2009), p. 107. [8] Kumar, V. (2000), p. 67. [9] Ibid, p. 69. [10] Ibid, p. 73.