Prejudice: A Worldwide Problem :: essays research papers

Prejudice: A Worldwide Problem There is a dangerous and often deadly problem in the world today. It reaches beyond political and religious boundaries and spans across all economic and social statuses. It affects the homeless, middleclass, and the richest people in society. The problem is prejudice. In America, when we think of prejudice we often think of it in terms of Black and White. However, prejudice is much more than that. It is a broad term that can encompass things like racism, sexism, and religious persecution. The Encarta World English Dictionary defines prejudice as "a preformed opinion, usually an unfavorable one, based on insufficient knowledge, irrational feelings, or inaccurate stereotypes" and "the holding of opinions that are formed beforehand on the basis of insufficient knowledge". When I read those definitions, I have to wonder why prejudice still exists today. If it really is based on "insufficient knowledge", then it seems to me that there is no logical reason why prejudice is still so prevalent. Throughout our entire lives we are exposed to issues dealing with prejudice. In school we study history, geography, government, and psychology, and at some point in each of those subjects, the issue of prejudice is more than likely discussed. In the corporate world we attend countless classes and seminars on discrimination, and sensitivity training on issues that could be deemed prejudicial. The issues are well known and a vast amount of information is ava ilable on the subject, so how can "insufficient knowledge" and "preformed opinions" still be a factor? I believe it is because when we discuss prejudice or any other similar issue, we tend to discuss it at a societal level as opposed to a personal level. We discuss the history of prejudice and talk about things like slavery in America and Hitler's persecution of the Jews, but we never discuss the prejudice that we, as individuals, experience everyday. Certainly, no one would stand up in a classroom, point a finger at a student, and ask accusatively, "What act of prejudice did you commit today?" That would not be "politically correct". How then, can we bring this issue down to a personal level? Someone once said to me, that if I didn't like jelly donuts, then I was prejudiced. The issue of whether or not I like jelly donuts is not an issue of prejudice, but rather a personal distaste for jelly donuts, based on the fact that I have tried several different types and determined that I do not like them.

‘Of Mice and Men’ †The Theme Of Lonelyness Essay

Many of the characters in ‘Of Mice and Men’ are lonely. They experience loneliness and seek comfort in many different ways. Loneliness is defined as the unhappiness that is felt by someone because they do not have any friends or do not have anyone to talk to. People deal with loneliness in many ways. Introverts form a barrier and keep people away. They want to be isolated from others and keep to themselves. They have neither roots nor friends. Introverts usually keep quiet and draw in on themselves. However, extroverts are the opposite. They seek attention and react to their environment by being aggressive or are overwhelmed with emotions. Loneliness is a major theme in ‘Of Mice and Men’; George and Lennie manage to avert it by their relationship; it embitters Candy and Crooks and it kills Curley’s wife. Steinbeck sees loneliness as a part of the human condition, something we are born with, and something we either fight or endure for the rest of our lives. Soledad, ‘Our Lady of Loneliness’ is not a nurturing environment. It is a place where everybody is isolated because there is a lack of trust and friendship. The Great Depression of 1929 led to this because in many states of America there was unemployment, a lack of money and no relief offered to jobless men and women. Without work, many people lost their self-respect; others continually struggled to find work, often travelling thousands of miles across America, leaving homes and families behind them. They were known as itinerant workers. In the country things were almost worse than they were in the cities; farmers were being driven off their land, there had been a series of droughts which had ruined the crops and dried up the soil and farmers could not afford to re-pay the bank loans which helped them to buy their farms in the first place. Men used to move from ranch to ranch trying to look for work to earn a living and because of this, it was hard for them to make friends. Some who realise that they are lonely seek comfort in many ways such as having a ream or reading books like Crooks does. Others who are lonely, like Curley do not seek comfort because they are not aware of it. During that time, many of the Americans sought comfort by having the American dream; which was to own a piece of land however big it was and to earn money from it. One of the characters who experiences loneliness and seeks comfort by having a dream is George. He does not experience it as much as the other characters on the ranch as he has a companion, someone who he can befriend. George looks after Lennie and acts like a parent figure. An example of this is when Lennie drinks â€Å"from the surface of the green pool.† George is always looking out for him to protect him from danger. â€Å"‘Lennie!’ he said sharply. ‘Lennie, for God’s sake don’t drink so much.† George has to take care of Lennie, even though he knows that Lennie has a disability, he continues to teach him about what is right and wrong. However, George does suffer loneliness as he is often seen playing solitaire in the bunkhouse alone. George may be lonely because he cannot have intellectual conversations in his relationship with Lennie. Therefore, he often goes to the whorehouse with the other men on the ranch. Although George is more likely to be lonely than Lennie, they share true companionship. They are able to trust each other and are together as one. They are two completely different characters yet they are so close. George is like a parent figure who is â€Å"small and quick† and Lennie the complete opposite; someone who is â€Å"large.† The men on the ranch see it as a surprise to see the two of them together; they cannot understand the relationship that these two share as the have never had it themselves and do not understand that they themselves are lonely. Slim admires George and Lennie’s relationship because he understands that people do need friends. â€Å"He ain’t mean,† said Slim. â€Å"I can tell a mean guy a mile off.† His wise nature helps him to understand Lennie and the situation George is in. Although at first Candy does not understand George and Lennie’s relationship, he begins to understand it when he loses his dog. However, Carlson nor Curley do not understand their relationship, as they are not aware that it exists themselves. Those who do realise seek comfort. George and Lennie both share a dream together. â€Å"Some day- we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs-â€Å" â€Å"An’ live off the fatta the lan.† The dream gives them something to live for; without each other, the dream is worthless. Later in the novel when Lennie is shot George does not want to continue with the dream because he knows that it cannot happen, as Lennie is not there anymore. George tries to seek his comfort by talking to Slim and telling him how he feels. He is able to do this, as Slim understands what he is going through. The dream he shares with Lennie also helps him to seek comfort; this makes him feel closer to Lennie as they are sharing it. George knows that the dream is unattainable yet he still keeps hold onto it. â€Å"I’m stayin’ right here. I don’t want to get mixed up in nothing. Lennie and me got to make a stake.† This suggests that George needs Lennie’s hospitality and without him, the dream is nothing whatsoever. Lennie seeks comfort by petting small animals. He has a need for physical contact, usually with small animals. This makes him unable to control this need to display warmth and he is unable to see the consequences even though he â€Å"were sick the previous night.† Being able to learn from the past is one of his dangerous failings and it seems to catch up with him wherever he goes. Lennie is not lonely because he has George. Without George, Lennie would not be able to survive because he constantly needs to be taken care of. Another reason why Lennie might not be lonely is that he does not know what loneliness is, therefore he does not realise that people on the ranch are lonely, he just knows that he does not like it on the ranch. â€Å"Le’s go, George. Le’s get outa here. It’s mean here.† This suggests that Lennie has some sense of danger; even though he does not know what it is, therefore he feels uncomfortable, scared, and insecure. Another character that is also insecure is Crooks; he is lonely because the other men on the ranch do not mix with him as he is black, a â€Å"Negro,† and has also injured his back. Even though he did have part of the dream when he was younger; he has now lost it and misses it. The fact that he did have the dream and has now lost it makes it even more distressing for him because usually if you have not had something you do not miss it. However, if you do have it and then you lose it, you become intense, insecure, and scared to communicate with others because you might be afraid that you may lose your individuality. There is racial prejudice in Soledad, which makes Crooks isolated therefore, he is aware that no one likes him and feels ostracised from the bunkhouse. Crooks is â€Å"proud† and â€Å"aloof† because he has learnt to be this way this due to the years of constant abuse therefore, he suffers alone in silence by reading â€Å"a mauled copy of the California Civil code for 1905†. This suggests that he is literate, independent, and knowledgeable as his purpose is to educate himself and is very aware of his rights. As Crooks is lonely, it has a negative effect on his behaviour as he becomes aggressive with anyone who comes into his bunkhouse and he does not like to communicate with others. He is more of a reserved character who gets angry and is emotional. He says â€Å"You got no right to come in my room† because he is not used to visitors as he is isolated from others and has no clue what George’s friendship means to Lennie when he tells Lennie that George is not going to come back. His anger and pride get the better of him on this occasion; he uses it as a defence against the harsh treatment he receives from the people on the ranch. Crooks tries to seek comfort from the loneliness he has; he does this by talking to Candy and Lennie about the past and his feelings even though he knew that Lennie is not listening to what he is trying to say. This made Crooks relieve the emotions he had drawn into himself. At first, he is â€Å"aloof† but gradually realises that Lennie is not a threat because his manner is open and not prejudice. He reveals about his childhood when he played with white kids and was unaware of prejudice. He happens to realise that the value of communicating is important and taunts Lennie with the idea that George might not return for him because he seems to get pleasure in Lennie feeling the loneliness he feels. Crooks happens to know â€Å"It’s just bein’ with another guy. That’s all † that counts. He causes torture and knows that Lennie is understanding about him being lonely because â€Å"Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure in his torture† and when â€Å"a guy gets too lonely, he gets sick.† He knows this because he has had the love and affection from his childhood and has experienced the American dream; the same dream George and Lennie want to achieve. â€Å"I remember when I was a little kid on my old man’s chicken ranch. Had two brothers. They was always near me, always there.† Crooks remembers a happy childhood with the companionship of his brothers. He becomes friendly with Lennie because he knows that Lennie wants the dream as much as he does and he also knows that â€Å"never a god-damn one of ’em ever gets it† because it is unattainable. Curley’s wife is another lonely character in â€Å"Of Mice and Men.† She presents herself as a tart because of the intense loneliness she experiences. She seems to always want to get attention from the other men however this does not happen the way she wants it to because everyone she approaches rejects her. She is treated like a possession by Curley and is not expected to have her own personality. Although the other people on the ranch do notice her, they do not communicate with her for fear of Curley’s anger. It is sad that she cannot communicate with the men and that there are no women on the ranch for her to befriend. She is vulnerable and a miserable, immature women who is desperate for love and companionship. The reason why she is so miserable is that she did not have enough confidence to trust her mother. She was brought up in the atmosphere of violence and this is what has made her personality, which is an extrovert, who seeks attention from others; but truly inside from the heart she is quite pleasant woman whose personality was not yet discovered by the men on the ranch until she was dead. Curley’s wife wears â€Å"her fingernails red† and â€Å"she has a little bouquet of ostrich feathers in the insteps of her mules.† Not only this but she also provokes attention by â€Å"thrusting her body forward† in the doorway when George and Lennie are introduced. Her â€Å"full rouged lips and wide spaced eyes, heavily made up† shows that she is always seeking attention, and is very flirtatious. The way she moved, â€Å"so that her body was thrown forward† shows she is provocative even with strangers, such as George and Lennie. At first she is portrayed as a tart because she is described as a girl â€Å"who had full, rouged lips† and â€Å"her fingernails were red†; this suggests that she is presented as a tart as red is symbolic for danger and passion; but a the novel develops we begin to understand why she behaves in a flirty way. We are able to see what she is really like inside and if she had more confidence and trust in her then maybe she could have been a different person. She â€Å"coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes. all of them nice clothes to wear† and she â€Å"coulda sat in them big hotels, an’ had pitchers’ taken† of herself. However, her dream could not have been achieved because the man who promised her all this never wrote back. She wants to overcome her loneliness by being in the movies and wants to have some friends to befriend. Curley’s wife is lonely because of her actions. They have led to her being lonely and desperate for affection and comradeship. She has a different image to how the men perceive her. She wants recognition by others to show them that she is not a tart and she can be a friendly person. She shows her vulnerability and humanity by considering Lennie by trying to tell him how she feels. Curley’s wife tells Lennie her secret because she knows that Lennie will not say anything and even though he does not understand what she is trying to say, he is able to just listen to what she says. Candy is totally opposite to Curley’s wife as she is an extrovert and he is an introvert. Candy is lonely not only because he has lost his dog but his dream has also been shattered. Candy was very proud of his dog and it is a shame that they were parted; as together, their companionship was strong. Candy said â€Å"you wouldn’t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen† because he loved his dog and it was the only thing that stopped him from being lonely; he was very compassionate about his dog. When Carlson assumes that Candy can soon get another pet, Candy is being pressurised by him and has to give the dog up. If you love someone so much then you will let them go because you would want to do the right thing for them rather than being selfish and choosing what is right for you. Candy’s dream is to be with George and Lennie and own a ranch. He announces to Curley’s wife that they are going to have a house of their own. Curley’s wife appreciates this and makes him angry but he controls his temper and orders her to leave, telling her that she is not wanted. Candy gains confidence and courage to tell her what people think of her. Candy’s eagerness shows that the dream is actually becoming a reality to him. â€Å"I ain’t much good but I could cook, tend the chickens and hoe the garden.† He is willing to help around the farm and to buy the ranch because he is desperate for his dream to become a reality and wants companionship. He knows that he is an old man almost useless because of his age and a broken hand yet he is willing to sacrifice everything he has just for his dream to come true. Candy is lucky to have a dog for companionship because he and his dog are the closest thing on a ranch to George and Lennie’s relationship. His dog was â€Å"a good sheep dog when he was younger. He stood his broom against the wall.† He is lucky because the other characters do not have anything to love or trust. He felt that he should have shot the dog himself. Candy is angry with Curley’s wife because he knows that she has destroyed their dream. But after he realises that she was in pain, was sad and looking for companionship. â€Å"Now Candy spoke in his greatest fear,† tells us that he was terrified that his dream had been shattered. Candy tries to overcome loneliness by shutting everyone out and is left to grieve in his own world. The silence indicates pain and loneliness. When his dog was shot, Candy â€Å"rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent† because there was tension built up in the atmosphere and Candy was upset because of the loss of his dog. Candy curls up into a foetal position. His spirits are lifted when he is part of the dream but then again it is shattered when Curley’s wife dies. He forms a barrier and shields himself from the outside world. He experiences anxiety and does not want to talk to anyone because he is too upset and he finds it difficult to talk to them about his problems. Curley is also lonely but does not realise it. His loneliness has affected his character. He is very aggressive and feels superior to the other men, especially those who are larger than him. This suggests that he wants to have power over everyone else. His aggression shows his character suggests that he is very short tempered â€Å"an’ Curley’s handy, god-damn handy† as he â€Å"got in the finals for the Golden Gloves.† Curley has no trust in anyone not even in his wife as â€Å"he spends half his time lookin’ for her.† He treats her like a possession and even though he has only married her for a week, he is always looking for her. He is an extrovert who is insecure. He seeks comfort by beating up people. When the men on the ranch gather to attack him, he feels threatened by it and has to prove that he is superior to everyone else. He does this by attacking Lennie and lashing out on him even though Lennie has not done anything to him. He says â€Å"come on, ya big bastard† because he wants Lennie to feel how he feels and wants to beat him up because he is larger than him. Curley does not know that he is lonely; he thinks that everyone has a lower status than him so he can boss them around. His dream is to have power over everyone else and wants to get respect from them. His dream has already been achieved. In â€Å"Of Mice and Men† Steinbeck shows us that those who have no understanding of relationship are totally unaware of George’s and Slim’s emotions because they have no friendships themselves. Carlson’s final observations are insensitive and show that he is ignorant of his own loneliness. Neither he nor Curley understands the pain George is experiencing. George and Lennie manage to avert loneliness by their relationship. Steinbeck sees loneliness as a part of the human condition, something we are born with, and something we either fight or endure for the rest of our lives. â€Å"I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing on their heads. Hundreds of them. They come, an’ they quit an’ go on; an’ every dam one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a god-damn one of ’em ever gets it.† Steinbeck suggests that everyone has a dream even though it is unattainable; it keeps their spirits up and makes them look forward to achieving, something that is inspiring and to keep their hopes up.

Gender Inequality in Vietnam - 2316 Words

ABSTRACT As one of the worlds leading countries in the proportion of women engaged in economic activity and 1st ranking in the Asia Pacific region on the proportion of women in the National Assembly, Vietnam is considered one of the leading advances in the field of gender equality. Vietnam has the appropriate policies to ensure equal rights for men and women and has made significant progress to reduce the gender gap in health and education as well as improve the situation of women women in general. However, these achievements have not purely synchronous and along with that progress there still exists several shortcomings. Moreover, with the transition process to more and more expanding market economy, the challenges of gender equality are†¦show more content†¦They arre only permitted to perform household chores such as cooking, cleaning, taking care of children. This problem is still occurring in many rural and remote areas, where women had little access to scientific knowledge. Gender discrimination in wages and recruitment Although the promulgated Law on gender equality has clearly stated: Men and women are equal in standard age when being hired, are treated equally at working place, wages, bonuses, social insurance, working conditions and other working conditions† (Article 13 Law on Gender Equality), but the discrimination against women is common in the recruitment process. Vietnam newspapers regularly publish job advertisements specify gender requirements of candidates for the vacancy, given the different standard requirements for males and females, or to do the same job, women must meet the higher standards than men. Age discrimination in the labor process The difference in age is affecting the career opportunities of women, especially in the public sector. However, controversy surrounds the issue of retired age is still undecided because this also relates to five-year additional pension expenditures - a profitably significant transfers of resources for women and this expense will no longer exist if we raise the retired age of women equally to mens retired age. While a longer life leads to the fact that there are more women than men among the people who retires at theShow MoreRelatedGender Inequality: To What Extent Does It Still Exist Today1257 Words   |  6 PagesGender Inequality: To What Extent Does it Still Exist Today? Throughout history, womens roles in society have been different than those of mens. Women’s jobs were generally connected to their traditional roles of caring for the home, raising children, making clothes, and cooking food, while men were the breadwinners in the families. Women had been brought up to become mothers (as well as nurturers) while men were brought up to become entrepreneurs and businessmen. It was not until the 1950s thatRead MoreThe Fight Against Gender Inequality1135 Words   |  5 Pagesadvances on gender inequality, but the sexism still prevalent in all aspects of life and in most countries around the world. I am a woman. I was born and raised in Vietnam, where gender biased ideology is extremely prevalent throughout society. It is an ideology in which men are considered more important than women. In the spiritual life of Vietnamese, people must have a son to keep their family lineages continuously growing. This pressure is on people from generation to gen erations. The gender disparityRead MoreThe Vietnam War ( 1955-1975 )1575 Words   |  7 PagesThis investigation focuses on the Vietnam War (1955-1975), and will explore the question: â€Å"To what extent did role of Vietnamese women in society change after the Vietnam War?† The investigation will focus on the years 1945-1987, to analyze their role prior to the war, as well as after. The first source to be evaluated is The Position of Women in Vietnam, written by Richard J. Coughlin in 1950. The origin of this source is valuable because it was written during the time period that this investigationRead MoreLife From Active Duty Is Notoriously Difficult For Soldiers Suffering From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder1655 Words   |  7 Pagesemphasise that PTSD and similar mental illnesses alone do not make people violent. PTSD, she adds, is an â€Å"enabling factor† rather than an explanation for violence. Mrs Willis argues that the primary cause of domestic violence is gender inequality. If gender inequality wasn’t the primary cause, she says we would expect to see domestic violence being committed at roughly similar rates by both men and women. However, family violence is overwhelmingly committed by men against women. â€Å"The risk factorsRead MoreEffects Of The Cold War On The American People1709 Words   |  7 Pagespolitical situations that caused a dilemma for the American people was the country s involvement in the Vietnam war. This war was an event that developed over a long span of time and differed from previous wars with the U.S. because there was no foreseen end. After around 20 years the United States came to the conclusion of having a stronger military presence in Vietnam. The troops landed in Vietnam ready for combat in 1965. At the start the Vietnamese were fighting a guerilla war and the U.S. had minimalRead MoreAnalysis Of Daughter From Danang 1272 Words   |  6 PagesThrough the process of social construction, various social statuses, such as race, class, and gender, are given a deeper meaning than simply a category. In turn, these statuses begin having an effect on the groups they encompass, causing some groups to become dominate over others and shaping the hierarchy of the ir society. Once established, these statuses begin to intertwine and influence one another, along with space and time, which is called intersections. These intersections work together to furtherRead MoreAmerica s Revolutionary Party Of Vietnam Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesIn the past years the discussion of Vietnam War, is one that still is every more common among scholars of American Society, common not without controversy. The controversy surrounding the Vietnam War often is centered in U.S. mentality of playing â€Å"savior â€Å" and appearing to be only great, while not owning up or recognizing their faults. There is a common belief among many people that the remembering the vietnam war is no longer important. Those who hold this belief, also believe that the there isRead MoreGender Roles in Vietnam and in the United States1178 Words   |  5 Pagespaper I interviewed my grandmother with gender role because I think she knows more about that. So she could help me understa nd more about gender roles between the two countries such as Vietnam and the United States as well as what is a difference compared to the past and present. My grandmother was born and raised in Vietnam has more than 45 years ago, before my grandmother emigrated and lived in the United States so far. I posed various questions about the gender role with her. She replied that whenRead MoreWe Didn t Start The Fire, By Billy Joel888 Words   |  4 Pagesalso the gender of musicians and genres of music to oppose powerful entities. Throughout music s long lived history, lyrics have been the most obvious example of musical oppositions to power. Music and songs have been created to protest wars, raise awareness to violence, express pride in one s race and culture, and challenge political forums, only to name a few examples. For example, â€Å"We Didn’t Start the Fire† by Billy Joel was created to oppose United States involvement in the Vietnam War, alongRead MoreReligious Conflict in Muslim Countries Essay1276 Words   |  6 Pagesmodernization, and by extension with modernization theory, a construct very much in vogue in devel opment and foreign aid circles between the 1950s and 1970s. Islamic law in many ways institutionalized prejudice, bias, inequality and intolerance are not accepted in the West. Equality of gender is not recognized as much control womens behavior is not guaranteed in a free world and stressful social pressures and even violent when they are violated. This result in a constant atmosphere of oppression, which

Nouns in Spanish and How They Are Used

Nouns are an essential part of speech in Spanish and English and can be found in most sentences. Definition of ‘Noun’ In English and Spanish, a noun is a word that refers to and names a person, place, thing, concept, entity, or action. By itself, a noun does not indicate any action or indicate how it relates to other words. Grammatically, a noun can serve as the subject of a sentence or the object of a verb or preposition. Nouns can also be described by adjectives or replaced by  pronouns. Similarities and Differences Between Nouns in Spanish and English Nouns function in much the same way in Spanish and English. They typically but not necessarily come before a verb and relate to other parts of speech in similar ways. They can be singular or plural. But there are at least three major differences: Spanish nouns have gender. Nouns listed as such in dictionaries are either masculine or feminine. The designation is often arbitrary — some words associated with males are feminine, and a word such as persona (person) is feminine whether it refers to males or females. Some words can be masculine or feminine depending on the meaning. The significance of gender is that masculine nouns are accompanied by masculine adjectives, and feminine nouns use feminine adjectives.Complete sentences in Spanish do not need nouns (or even pronouns)  if the meaning remains clear without them, in part because verb conjugation and gendered adjectives give more information about the subject in Spanish than they do in English. For example, rather than saying Mi coche es rojo for My car is red (coche is the word for car) you could say merely Es rojo if its clear what youre talking about.In English it is very common for nouns to function as adjectives; such nouns are called attributive nouns. For ex ample, in dog leash, dog is an attributive noun. But with rare exceptions, Spanish connects the descriptive noun to the main noun using a preposition, often de. Thus a dog leash is either correa de perro (literally, leash of dog) or correa para perros (leash for dogs). Types of Spanish Nouns Spanish nouns can be classified in numerous ways; six types are listed below. The categories listed here are not exclusive — most nouns in fact fit into more than one category. And since Spanish and English both come from Indo-European, these categories apply to English as well. Common nouns are the most common type of noun. A common noun refers to things, being or concepts without referring to a specific one of them. For example, humano (human) is a common noun, but Catrina is not, because it refers to a specific human. Other examples of common nouns include ordenador (computer), valle (valley), felicidad (happiness), and grupo (group).Proper nouns refer to a specific thing or being. As in English, Spanish proper nouns are typically capitalized. Examples of proper nouns include Casa Blanca (White House), Enrique (Henry), Panamà ¡ (Panama), and Torre Eiffel (Eiffel Tower). Some nouns can be either common or proper, depending on the context. For example, Luna is a proper noun when referring to the moon that circles the Earth (note the capitalization), while luna is a common noun when it refers to a planetary satellite in general.Countable nouns refer to entities that can be counted. Examples include casa (house), loma (hill), mà ³vil (cellphone), and nariz (nose).Uncountable nouns, sometimes called partitive nouns, refer to things that cant be counted, such as concepts. Examples include tristeza (sadness), indignacià ³n (anger), and opulencia (opulence). Many nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on how they are used. For example, leche (milk) is countable when it refers to types of milk but uncountable when referring to quantities.Collective nouns are used to represent a group of individual nouns. Examples of collective nouns include rebaà ±o  (flock),  multitud (multitude), and equipo (team).Abstract nouns refer to qualities or concepts rather than things or beings. Examples include inteligencia (intelligence), miedo (fright), and virtud (virtue). Key Takeaways Nouns in English in Spanish function in sentences in very similar ways and can be classified in the same ways.A key difference between the nouns of the two languages is that Spanish nouns have gender.Pronouns sometimes substitute for nouns, and in Spanish subject nouns are frequently omitted from complete sentences.

Patagonia case study - 1808 Words

Patagonia – A company true to its value KEY PROBLEM Patagonia known as the â€Å"dirtbag† business initially when it was established in 1972 by Yvon Chouinard is now a multimillion dollar enterprise. A retailer of high-end outdoor clothing is known for its green business model. Environmentalism is at the core of Patagonia and that can be seen in their mission statement where it is committed to achieve three main objectives: Build best products for its customers, cause no unnecessary harm to the environment and use business to give solutions and inspire others to minimize environmental crisis. Patagonia had a philosophy of originating its goal mainly on doing things right for the environment and away from profit. The company does not focus on†¦show more content†¦Another advantage of this option is that target customers are people with an average income of $160,000 with an median age of 38 yrs who will not have any objection paying a little higher for their favourite product. Patagonia might face an external threat from other competitors in this situation as their goods will be much cheaper than that of Patagonia. This might encourage a few customers to switch to other brands like Nike or the North face. Such a situation can threaten the growth of Patagonia. The second alternative for Patagonia is to not implement the idea of â€Å"Product Life Cycle Initiative† and â€Å"buy less† any further. This alternative is much safer for Patagonia because the above mentioned initiative is completely consumer driven. The success of this idea completely depends on whether it would have any practical impact on the consumer behavior. As Patagonia’s target consumers are rich enthusiasts, it is likely that they would not prefer wearing repaired clothes or used clothes. Therefore putting so many efforts in an initiative that is based on hypothesis and is risky doesn’t make sense. The advantage of this alternative is that Patagonia will not have to bear any additional cost burden. The s ales will not drop and there will be no threats from the competitors. As we know Patagonia has a green business model dropping the idea of buyShow MoreRelatedPatagonia Case Study2390 Words   |  10 Pages| 2012 | | PATAGONIA CASE STUDY | Table of Contents PART 1 Discuss the management control system in the Patagonia Company. Explain and discuss the nature, context, evolution, elements, processes, strengths, weaknesses/problems of the management control system at Patagonia (including a critical evaluation of the Workbook Process). Page 3 PART 2 Would you recommend to Patagonia’s management that they continueRead MoreCase Study : Patagonia, Inc.1633 Words   |  7 PagesPatagonia, Inc. is an American clothing company based in Ventura, California. It was founded by Yvon Chouinard, originally as a small company called Chouinard Equipment that made climbing tools and gear. 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Significant Time Budget Is Required Enhance-Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Significant Time Budget Is Required Enhance? Answer: Introduction Associations of various kinds are trying to enhance their adequacy as well as proficiency by utilizing IT data frameworks. Significant time and budget is required for implementing information system effectively. With respect to other organizations, IT has also made positively impact on the healthcare organizations. As we know that, hospitals are known to be complex type in order to manage their data systems. Hospital management information system (HIS) is known as a monstrous, incorporated framework, outlined to store, control, and recover data of the authoritative and clinical viewpoints that help the exhaustive data necessities of the healthcare segment, which includes persistent, clinical, auxiliary and financial administration. Hence, we can say that HIS are more dependable more assisting diagnosis and managing healthcare information. In this paper, I would like to discuss about the Profmax Healthcare ERP implementation in Mount Hospital of Australia. (Ajami, S., Bertiani, M., Z. , 2012). Hospital management information systems help us to get the expected data for each and every level of the hospital (whether it is management group or lower staff) at the correct time and place for making adequately and productively decisions. It plays indispensable part in the field of planning, starting, to organize as well as control the operations of all the systems and subsystems in a hospital. HIS enhances healthcare of patient by evaluating information and also helps to make suggestions for providing care to patients and also helps the hospital for moving from the retrospective to simultaneous quality and also suitability of patients. (Ismail, A., Jamil, A., T., 2010). If the outline of hospital management frameworks is implemented properly, the adequacy and profitability of healthcare inhabitant and patients` satisfaction is enhanced and that leads to decrease in overall cost of healthcare system. The rebelliousness of HMS framework functions with existing procedures can influence the cost and also the quality of healthcare. Hence, we can say that it helps to reduce the redundancy of patient data and helps to improve quality and decrease costs, it is important to perform constant appraisal of HMS software. In this paper, we will discuss about the EMR that needs to be implemented in hospital. (Mehraeen, E., Ahmadi, M., 2014). Organizational Problems Hospitals face various challenges before as well as during implementation of HMS as they still use the manual work and also the challenge of understanding computerized processes. It is very difficult to keep the patient data, day to day activities, medical equipment maintenance data as well as the patient billing information manually. This brought about misuse of cash, time and the staff. HMS is a data administration framework which is intended to help deal with the different parts of a doctor's facility (managerial, medicinal and financial). HMS helps to observe and also maintains the hospital's data and enhance its performance. The nonappearance of frameworks, or ineffectively outlined frameworks, and the subsequent absence of integration inside healthcare associations. Such frameworks that can harm patients or neglect to deliver what patients require. (Olamide., O., Adedayo., W., E., 2015). Hospital Challenges for the Implementation of HMS Healthcare associations have needed to adjust the many changes as per the environment requirement, from propels in symptomatic and medical methods to the development of authoritative advancements, like innovation of new data advances. Associations need to assess the potential and ramifications of new technologies and to adjust these innovations according to local environment and also helps to reduce the dangers related with implementation of HMS and its administration in the hospital as well as plan to exhibit the estimation of their endeavors. Absence of organizational awareness, responsiveness, and competency, and a hesitance to changeattributes of authoritative dormancyall hinder endeavors to execute essential change. I recommend the customer HMS software so that it can be customized according to the requirement. (National Academy of Sciences, 2000). Advantages of Implementing HMS in Hospital The HMS emphasize on better care that needs to be provided to patients. It helps to understand the confidential information, its productivity and also helps to reduce the additional cost. Any type of data can be retrieved at any time that helps the management to take better decisions which are good for the organization. HMS helps to manage all the departments function very effectively which reduces the manual and paper work effectively. Its scope includes dealing with subtle components of each department. This subtle element provides doctors, staff and patients details that includes their salaries, billing system, presence of doctor etc. (Kaur, R., 2015) System Flow Chart of HMS Processing The new patient who comes to hospital proceeds with the card and online registration system where the patient gets a unique hospital registration number. The number will remain same whenever he visits the hospital. Initially patient will undergoes pre- examination and this process is done by nurse. The patient at that point continues to see a doctor. There he undergoes diagnosis. The consequence of the specialists diagnosis decides the medical flow whether the patient is for out-patient or inpatient according to his problems. At last, different frameworks discover connection from the specialist workbench. This incorporates Finding, Drug remedy, Pharmacy, Treatment, research center test, Referral, Billing as well as Death report. (Agnes, O., N., 2011). The HMS framework empowers the nurses to ask for a particular lab test. This framework has capacity to send lab result again to the nurses or doctor. (Alameer, A., E., M., T., 2013). The front office module which is accessed by receptionist contains firmly interconnected modules. A brisk enquiry screen can search for any type of data like phone number, registration number, name, date, and so on. The financial data will be presented automatically on accounting framework in a module. The HMS system helps to generate reports - Balance Sheet, its Trail Balance and Profit/ Loss articulation. The Accounting Screens depict regarding Account Payable, Account Receivable and General Ledger. This framework helps to portray the functions like IP, OP, Financial activities and Supplier Invoice and monitor the Account Receivable as well as Revenue based exercises. HMS will helps to manage Admissions as well as managing Wards Availability of beds, Collection of propel, Admission, Emergency admissions etc. The Inpatient module in HMS manages Ward Management like Shifting of patients in different wards, Beds available in wards, Surgery, Administration of medications, nursing notes. Pharmacy module in HMS framework incorporate for taking care of administering of medicine, dealing with the information concerning the treatment of patient, control of stock, charging of cases, consistence with law on the basis of various regulations. The billing module of HMS helps to track all the patient records which are required at particular time including therapeutic records, inpatient and outpatient records. It handles a wide range of charging for various treatments. The HMS module accommodates credit party in charging and could be consistently coordinated with some Financial and Accounting Modules. The framework is tuned to pick room and bed accuses along of subordinate charges in view of the sponsorship (Insurance) condition. The framework bolster different payment modes and multicurrency and consequently makes the framework more adaptable. Because of tight combination with EMR module, the administrations to be rendered can be drawn with the click. (https://www.realtfsolutions.com, 2017). Control Problems in the System Various risks and threats in the Hospital management system exists. To overcome this, security assets have been developed in extent to the developing number and various users like staff, as well as accomplices, patients and other users who have access to assets. The risks in HMS is more complicated than an unapproved external user, it means that authorized as well as legal user can have access to particular resources to which they are authorized. (Boadu, E., O., Armah, G., K., 2014). Improper payments done by protection associations or outsider payers happen because of the error or any type of fraud. Abusing incorporates any training that is not steady with the objectives of giving patient services that are medicinally essential, meet professionally perceived models, and are easily evaluated. (Joudaki, H., Rashidian, A., 2015). Unauthorized individuals prevail with regards to separating protected data from healthcare suppliers. Intrusion of security influences non-celebrities, when anybody looks for wellbeing data the patient has not shared. The hackers look for patients' financial data for financial benefit. The patient's protection identifier is then utilized by a uninsured individual to get medicinal administrations or by a deceitful healthcare supplier to charge for therapeutic administrations that were never rendered. Information security breaks and restorative identity fraud are developing concerns. (Taitsman, J., K., Grimm, C., M., Agrawal, S., 2013). Implementing federally Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has affected every parts of delivering medicinal services. The essential plan of HIPAA defends the protection of patient records. To distinguish a part of the authoritative techniques for accomplishing HIPAA consistence, respondents were inquired as to whether their office has a full time individual going about as security officer and in what division the person responsible for security started. (Having, K., Davis, D., C., 2005) Adoption of Accounting Software Package Each organization embrace the accounting framework strategy of saving the accounts related transactions, since it is for the most part required that organizations need to uncover certain financial as well as administration data to the government and public clients. Also, implementing Profmax ERP in Mount hospital will help in the effective decision making by the management. (Ernest, O., O., 2015). The automated accounting framework has been powerful in giving data with respect to the financial position of an element in an opportune and productive way. The accounting system empowers auspicious and speedier era of financial reports. This causes administrators to effectively recognize and take care of issues in a few second so that management can take faster decision. Automated accounting framework empowers information that is accessible in a flash and to various clients in different areas at similar time implies that reports could be printed at any given ime. (Murungi, S., Kayigamba, C ., 2015). Competitive Advantage The other competitors of Profmax ERP in the market are Xero Accounting, MYOB, Electronic Medical Record system (EMR) etc. But Profmax had some competitive advantages as compared to others. Without excellent patient care, financial accuracy can't deliver the outcomes that we are expecting. The present healthcare framework offers a chance to quicken the association's capacity to measure operational as well as financial risks. Choosing the accurate accounting information systems assets to deal with our medicinal services association and can be an overwhelming undertaking. Profmax works with customers to create as well as deliver imaginative solutions that can change an association's finance abilities. Our suite of incorporated Enterprise Financial Management Solutions built for the Mount hospital over an expansive scope of ventures can enable us to pick up perceivability into business data, fortify financial resources and administration best practices, and acknowledge efficiencies via robotizing and institutionalizing key accounting processes. These applications incorporate with different arrangements crosswise over departmental lines to enable us to actualize departmental and industry best practices for the greater part of your business forms. The Finance Management ERP additionally empowers organizations to flourish in a business situation described by escalated competition, questionable economic situations, and expanded administrative oversight. (https://www.profmax.com, 2017). The automation of medicinal billing is not exclusively a matter of expanding efficiencies. It's main part of enhancing income and the general patient experience. To utilize an organic similitude, the general record is viably the central part of nervous system of accounting management information systems. The general record solidifies information from sub-records to give the authoritative, top-level accounting record. (Bluemner, A., 1996). Conclusions The Hospital Management Information System possess its qualities and the weakness. The HMS framework doesn't require a high cost to grow yet requests skill and more number of actually trained staff to work. The advancement of the framework according to the con-current request and accessibility of different assets is essential to guarantee the framework works successfully and productively. The interest in human asset, better support network, ease of use and satisfactory training provided to the end client would likewise decide if execution of the system will go easily or not. The objective behind actualizing these frameworks is not to rival each other yet serves to encourage and enhance the quality of patient care. Not any system is better than the other however they have their own uniqueness. There is a need to synchronize these frameworks with the goal that the framework can exchange data with other external frameworks to guarantee the support and progression of care. It is recommendable that the implementation of HMS will be done with effective integration and better networking support. References Agnes, O., N. (2011). Automated hospital management system. [Online] https://www.unn.edu.ng/publications/files/images/OGBOBE%20NKECHI%20A.pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Ajami, S., Bertiani, M., Z. (2012). Training and its Impact on Hospital Information System (HIS) Success. [Online] Journal Inform Tech Softw Eng 2012, 2:5. Available at: https://www.omicsgroup.org/journals/training-and-its-impact-on-hospital-information-system-his-success-2165-7866.1000112.pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017]. Alameer, A., E., M., T. (2013). Electronic Patient Record Management System (EPRMS). [Online] Journal of Kerbala University , Vol. 11 No.3 Scientific . 2013. https://www.iasj.net/iasj?func=fulltextaId=79162[Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Bluemner, A. (1996). Health Care Software: Improving Profitability and Patient Care. [Online] https://findaccountingsoftware.com/industry-focus/how-to-choose-the-accounting-software-for-your-health-care-organization/ [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Boadu, E., O., Armah, G., K. (2014). Role-Based Access Control (Rbac) Based In Hospital Management. [Online] International Refereed Journal of Engineering and Science (IRJES) ISSN (Online) 2319-183X, (Print) 2319-1821 Volume 3, Issue 9 (September 2014), PP.53-67. https://www.irjes.com/Papers/vol3-issue9/H395367.pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Ernest, O., O. (2015). The relevance of auditing in a computerized accounting system. [Online] International Journal of Management and Applied Science, ISSN: 2394-7926 Volume-1, Issue-11, Dec.-2015. https://www.iraj.in/journal/journal_file/journal_pdf/14-213-145172620179-83.pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Financial management ERP. Profmax business solutions Pvt. Ltd. [Online] https://www.profmax.com/pbs/solution. [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Having, K., Davis, D., C. (2005). HIPAA Compliance in U.S. Hospitals: A Self-Report of Progress Toward the Security Rule. [Online] Journal Perspect Health Inf Manag. 2005; 2: 9. Published online 2005 Nov 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2047309/ [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Ismail, A., A., Jamil, A., T. (2010). The implementation of hospital information system (HIS) in tertiary hospitals in Malaysia: A qualitative study. [Online] Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine 2010, Vol. 10(2):16-24. https://www.mjphm.org.my/mjphm/journals/Volume10.2/3.%20Implementartion%20hospital%20(Last)(16-24).pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Joudaki, H., Rashidian, A. (2015). Using Data Mining to Detect Health Care Fraud and Abuse: A Review of Literature. [Online] Glob Journal Health Sci. 2015 Jan; 7(1): 194202. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4796421/ [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Kaur, R. (2015). INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM FOR HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT. [Online] International Journal of Multidisciplinary Consortium, Available at - https://ijmc.rtmonline.in/vol2iss4/0430117.pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Mehraeen, E., Ahmadi, M. (2014). Evaluation of hospital information systems in selected hospitals of Iran. [Online] International Journal of Advanced Information Technology (IJAIT) Vol. 4, No. 5, October 2014 . https://airccse.org/journal/IJAIT/papers/4514ijait01.pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Murungi, S., Kayigamba, C. (2015). The Impact of Computerized Accounting System on Financial Reporting in the Ministry of Local Government of Rwanda. [Online] Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences (JETEMS) 6(4):261-265. https://jetems.scholarlinkresearch.com/articles/The%20Impact%20of%20Computerized%20Accounting%20new.pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Olamide., O., Adedayo., W., E. (2015). Design and Implementation of Hospital Management System Using Java. [Online] IOSR Journal of Mobile Computing Application (IOSR-JMCA) e-ISSN: 2394-0050, P-ISSN: 2394-0042.Volume 2, Issue 1. (Mar. - Apr. 2015), PP 32-36. https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jmca/papers/Vol2-issue1/F0213236.pdf [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Organizational Challenges to the Adoption of the Internet. [Online] National Academy of Sciences (2000). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44715/ [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Real Hospital Management System. [Online] https://www.realtfsolutions.com/feature/hms/ [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017] Taitsman, J., K., Grimm, C., M., Agrawal, S. (2013). [Online] The New England Journal of medicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1215258?af=Rrss=currentIssue#t=article [Accessed 17th Aug. 2017]

Theories of consumer behaviour

Introduction Solomon (2011) defines consumer behavior as â€Å"the processes involved when individuals or groups select, purchase, use, or dispose off products, services, ideas, or experiences to satisfy needs and desires’† (p. 41).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Theories of consumer behaviour specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Studying the behavior of consumers is very important because it helps develop marketing strategies and public policies. It also promotes social marketing which is provides the marketers with adequate knowledge about the needs of consumers. Consumer behavior enhances maximum satisfaction of the needs of consumers and the development of better products (Perner, 2011). To maximize profitability is important for marketing and this can only be achieved by developing good strategies of identifying the behavior of consumers towards the products in the market. The main objective in marketing is to retain existing customers and get new ones. All business activities are supported by the good relationship with the consumers. Learning consumer behavior in both business-to-businesses marketing as well as business-to-consumer marketing is very important in improving the performance of a business (Deaton Muellbauer, 1980). Effect of culture on consumer behavior Culture affects the consumer behavior in different ways depending on the cultural background of an individual. The subjective cultures which affect a consumer are the regional, ethnic, religious, linguistic, national, professional, organizational and group cultures. Culture is composed of beliefs, values, practices and attitudes that a person or a group of people have. Culture affects the personality traits and the social norms that people have. Behavioral intentions are developed from the social norms, cultures and sub-cultures and the cognitive beliefs that people have. These will in return influence and shape the consumer behavior. It is important to mention that culture is learned from the environment in which we live in and by sharing ideas with different people (Schiffman Kanuk , 2010). Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Source: Schiffman Kanuk (2010). Consumer decision making model Consumers make decisions by applying a particular process to solve the problems that affect them. There are different levels of solving problems by the consumers depending on the extent of the problem. For instance, extensive problem solving requires a lot of information to solve problems. Consumers must have criteria to evaluate the problem and identify possible ways of tackling the problems affecting them (Jobber Lancaster, 2009). By the application of limited problem solving, a criterion for evaluation is selected and it is fine-tuned by collecting additional information. Routinized response behavior is experienced especially when reviewing what the consumers already know. Consumer decision making can be categorized into four views. An economic view, passive view, cognitive view and emotional view (Solomon, 2011). The external influences to the consumer decision making behavior are firm’s marketing efforts and the socio-cultural environment. The firm’s marketing efforts consist of the product, promotion, price and the channels of distribution that a particular company uses. The son the other hand, the socio-cultural environment consists of the family members, information sources, other noncommercial sources, social classes and subculture as well as culture (Solomon, 2011). The process of consumer decision making then starts when the consumer recognizes his/her needs and repurchase search is done to identify all possible alternatives. The consumer then evaluates all possible alternatives to solve the problem. The evaluation process will be determi ned by the experience that the consumer or other people have concerning the products.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Theories of consumer behaviour specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The evaluation process will be affected by the psychological field which is composed of motivation, perception, learning, personality and attitudes towards the products in the market (Solomon, 2011). The consumer makes a decision to purchase a specific product in the market after careful evaluation. The post-decision behavior will determine whether the consumer will re-purchase the same product. The first purchase is a trial to test whether the product can satisfy the needs that the consumer has. The post-purchase evaluation is done when the product has satisfied the consumer in the first place. The experience that the consumer generates from using the product determines the loyalty that will be developed by the consumer towards the product. This process is summarized in the figure below (Solomon, 2011). Source: Solomon (2011). Consumer research process This process starts when a marketer identifies a particular product to sell to a specific group of people. The initial stage starts with segmenting the market, followed by targeting the specific segments to deal with and positioning the products in the segments selected to ensure the consumers are captured (Mullen Johnson, 1990). Segmentation Market segmentation is the process of identifying different market groups with similar characteristics and delivering products to these groups depending on these characteristics. Marketers study the consumer behavior of people in a given field and they group consumers with particular needs together and develop marketing strategies for each group.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Market segmentation helps marketers to deliver products according to specific needs for all consumer groups. Marketers are able to tune their marketing strategies to capture the demand for their products from those particular individuals who may have an interest in such products (Solomon, 2011). For example, it would be unwise to develop marketing strategies for selling hairspray to bald-headed individuals as explained in the diagram below: Source: Solomon (2011). Consumers have different needs depending on their income levels, culture, political systems, religion, geographic location and other features that can be used to distinguish them. Delivering products by use of the same approach may fail because consumer groups have different needs and they require these needs satisfied in a unique manner. A company that segments its market offers the same product to different consumer groups using different strategies to ensure that the needs of all the consumers are satisfied (Sandhusen, 2000). An example of market segmentation is a case of Toyota Company. The company has segmented its market depending on the income groups and regional location of all consumer groups. The company manufactures automobile products and markets these products are marketed to customers depending on their income capacity (Perner, 2011). Targeting Market targeting is the process of identifying specific markets to sell products. It involves identifying the characteristics of the various markets and all consumer groups. Marketers then manufacture products which are focused on the specific needs of the consumer groups (Sandhusen, 2000). Marketers have the obligation to satisfy the needs of their target customers by providing the best products and services. This will compel any competitor from dominating the market. On the other hand, marketers should improve the wellbeing of the people consuming their products and the society in which they are operating. This should be achieved while achievi ng the objectives and goals of the organization (Ferrell Hartline, 2008). There are several factors that marketers should consider when targeting a specific market segment. For instance, how well a particular segment served by other companies in the market, the size of the market segment and the potential for growth in the particular market segment (McDonald Dunbar, 2004). An example of market targeting is evident in the activities of Apple Inc. The company manufactures computer hardware and software products. In the recent past the company has started to manufacture electronics to venture into market segments with different needs. The company has realized that the young generation requires unique products and this can only be achieved by delivering products which target this group of customers. Apple Inc has introduced the iPod, iMovie among other products targeting the young generation (Perner, 2011). Positioning Positioning is the process of delivering products to the right con sumer groups at the right time in the right manner. Companies position their products in the market to ensure that the consumers can get access to the products more easily. To improve the performance of a company in the market, the products should be positioned in a peculiar way to ensure that customers are not attracted by products from competitors. In a competitive market all companies aim at getting a strategic market position to ensure their products attract as many customers as possible (Sandhusen, 2000). An example of market positioning is experienced by the holiday and leisure products. Such products are located near leisure zones and they are mostly marketed during holiday seasons. Another example is the automobile industry; companies in the industry have made a lot of effort to ensure that they position their products in a unique manner (Horner Swarbrooke, 2005). Another example is found in the case of Apple Inc. The company has positioned itself in the market by developin g the concept of user-friendly products for all its products. The company promotes its products by developing the concept of consumer-friendly products for the software, hardware and electronic products that the company manufactures (Perner, 2011). Marketing strategies Marketing strategies are the various policies that companies use to deliver their products to the consumers to ensure they fulfill the demand for their products. Companies have strategies that are established to promote the marketing process and to improve the performance and competitiveness of a company in the market. Strategies provide a guideline for the marketers to use when implementing their objectives and provide a good foundation for improving the competitiveness of a company in the market (Sandhusen, 2000). An example of a marketing strategy is a policy that is created by Apple Inc to apply online marketing. This strategy was applied to increase the sales of the company by targeting more consumer groups and i mproving the procedures of marketing the products of the company. Ethical issues Ethical issues have been of great concern in the marketing processes because there are many stakeholders affected by marketing activities. Artificial needs are created when marketing activities are done and this causes a lot of questions about the ethical standards. For instance, advertising products causes materialism to prevail in the market and this affects the ethical standards of the consumers. Some of the ethical questions that marketers encounter are: whether the products’ design can meet the existing needs of the consumers, whether the advertising process helps communicate the availability of the products in the market and many other questions. In addition, there have been many ethical questions about the importance of advertising and marketing processes (Schlegelmilch, 1998). Examples of ethical issues being experienced in marketing processes today are marketing products to children. Thi s has been criticized as a method of exploitative targeting and ethical standards have been of great concern to many stakeholders. Food marketing to children has been found to cause obesity. Children are influenced to consume certain products which are not healthy to their lifestyle and this has caused the prevalence of childhood diseases such as obesity. Various stakeholders have been concerned about the introduction of legislation to regulate consumption behavior of young people in the society. Another example relates to sale of pharmaceutical products direct to consumers. This has raised a lot of concern about the ethical standards because consumers have misused drugs due to aggressive advertising by these companies (Schiffman, Kanuk, 2010). Forced exposure to advertising has been of great concern and this has caused a lot of concern about the ethical position of the advertising companies. Marketers have also influenced consumers to change their perception about products in the market as a strategy to increase consumption. False and misleading advertising has been experienced in the markets today and this has been of great concern about the ethical backgrounds of the advertising companies. There are other socially undesirable representations done by marketers and this causes a lot of concern about the ethical standards of the companies marketing their products (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010). To enhance ethical standards among the marketers, companies have introduced some measures to improve the welfare of the consumers and other stakeholders. Some of these measures are social responsibilities which have been done to improve the image of companies (Peter Olson, 2009). This has been done by advocating socially beneficial causes to promote the welfare of the communities which support companies in their business endeavors. Green marketing has also been adopted to promote the use of healthy, reusable and eco-friendly products. Companies have also promoted consumer e thics by encouraging people to recycle used products, returning used products and encouraging software privacy (Schiffman Kanuk , 2010). Motivation process model Consumer motivation is an important process because it enhances buying process. Motivation starts with unfulfilled needs, wants and desires that consumers have. This causes tension and a drive to achieve the needs is developed. This process is affected by the personality, perception, learning process and attitudes of the consumers towards the products and the organization marketing such products. A specific behavior is developed by consumers once they start realizing their needs and this behavior is directed towards fulfilling the needs. Once the consumers identify the specific products that can fulfill their needs they get satisfaction and the tension is reduced. This is a cyclic process because new needs and wants arise on the daily lives of people (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010). Source: Schiffman Kanuk (2010). The observati on made from the above diagram is that consumers follow a specific model from the time they realize that they have a particular need to the time they start consuming the products. Consumer needs may be categorized as innate or acquired. Innate needs are biogenic and they become the basic needs in human life for example, the need to eat, cloth and shelter. Acquired needs are developed from the cultural and environmental systems and these are usually secondary in nature for example, the need to own a dream car (Mowen Minor, 2001). On the other hand, goals are grouped into generic and product specific goals. Generic goals are developed by consumers to fulfill their needs whereas product specific goals are acquired from the brands of products and services in the market (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010). An example of a motivation model is a case where an individual has the need to purchase a dream car. The drive to own a car is developed from the people that person socialize with and the financ ial class. This drive emanates from the need and desire to own the car and the individual will behave in a particular manner to ensure the desire is fulfilled. Consumer values Consumer values are enhanced by the cultural background, family influences, media, peer pressure and religious beliefs. Identifying the specific values that consumers uphold is very important in developing the consumer behavior of specific people. Values that a person has will determine the kind of product s/he consumes and marketers should be very accurate especially when segmenting, targeting and positioning their products in the market (Mooij Mooij, 2010). It is important to note that consumers never fully satisfy their needs because new needs arise after the satisfaction of old needs. When goals are achieved people set new goals which are higher than the previous ones. The need to achieve goals is aroused by the emotions, physiological, cognitive and environmental factors (Mooij Mooij, 2010). Psychologic al needs Theories on consumer decision-making vary according to assumptions regarding the nature of human behavior. A comparison of the economic, passive, cognitive and emotional models of consumer decision-making shows that all consumers behave in a particular manner when making their purchase decision. Consumers develop psychological needs when they identify certain products in the market. They are motivated to purchase such products when they get people to provide adequate information about such products. Motivation also emanates from observation about usage of the products by other people in the market. When consumers are satisfied by particular products they develop the need to re-purchase the products and this causes consumer loyalty to develop (Perner, 2011). The perception of consumers towards certain products affects their ability to purchase. Perception refers to the image developed by customers for certain products and this is causes the consumers to purchase and continue using products from a certain company. Perception is developed from past experiences that consumers have concerning certain products in the market. Marketers have a duty to change the perception of the consumers by actively promoting the products to consumers to create awareness about the importance of the products and to remove the negative attitude they have developed (Perner, 2011). Attitude is developed by consumers depending on the cultural background, exposure of the customers to similar products, and the approach applied by the company. When customers develop a bad attitude about the products in the market it becomes challenging to reverse the trend. Active campaigns are required to remove the negative attitudes that consumers have towards the products in the market (Perner, 2011). The model of passive view requires that marketers should train the consumers to overcome the fears and tension about using products. This can be done by pestering a positive attitude towards the p roducts in the market and changing negative perception about products offered in the market. Behavior change is made by introducing new cultures for the consumers. Cultural change can only be done by liaising with all the stakeholders of the company and the community to ensure that the consumers are ready to develop positive attitudes towards the products in the market (Perner, 2011). A contrast of the economic, passive, cognitive and emotional models of consumer decision making provides that shows that people have different emotional characteristics and this will determine their purchase behaviors. The economic class of a person also will determine the decision making process and the theories developed may be not true. People behave differently and their decision making process will be determined by the environment and the experiences they have had in the past about the products (Perner, 2011). Home ownership is an example of psychological need that many people have and this has mo tivated many people to seek information about mortgage plans and other schemes which can enable them own a home before they retire from employment. The desire is shaped by the economic, passive, cognitive and emotional models of consumer decision making. Culture has also played a key role in the development of the need to own a home before a person retires. It is a culture that every person earning some income should be able to provide shelter for the family. This culture has shaped the decision making of people and as such people have developed a savings habit to purchase such products. Conclusion Consumer behavior is an integral part of marketing processes adopted by any company. Marketers must identify the culture, behavior and all aspects of their consumers so that they can maintain a competitive position in the market. Additionally, the proper channels of introducing products in the market should be followed to enhance quick acceptance and adoption of products. Therefore, marke ters should apply the process of segmentation, targeting and positioning to ensure the customers become loyal to their products. This process should coincide with the decision making process by the consumers to ensure potential consumers are attracted while the existing ones are retained. List of references Deaton, A. Muellbauer, J. (1980). Economics and consumer behavior. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Ferrell, O. C. Hartline, M. D. (2008). Marketing Strategy. Cengage Learning. Horner, S. Swarbrooke, J. (2005). Leisure marketing: a global perspective. 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Consumer Behavior: International Edition. 10th Edition, London: Pearson Higher Education Solomon, M., (2011). Consumer Behavior: Buying, Having and Being, Global Edition, 9th Edition, Pearson Higher Education. Taylor, C.R. and Lee, D., (2007). Cross-cultural Buyer Behavior. (Series: Advances in International Marketing v.18) Emerald Group Publishing. This assessment on Theories of consumer behaviour was written and submitted by user Dalton Brooks to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.