Saturday, August 31, 2019

Competitor Analysis Essay

Tata Nano’s competitors can be classified on three scales – Economy, Performance and Convenience. Based on Economy Though Tata Nano was launched as the 1 Lakh car, it’s exact price range varies between Rs.1.59 lakhs to Rs.2.23 lakhs in the market at present. With this price range, in the four wheelers category there is Maruti 800, Maruti Suzuki OMNI, Maruti Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon which has a price lesser than Rs. 3 Lakh. Being the cheapest car available in India, they also have competitors in the two and three wheeler segments. Tata Nano would be the next best option for this segment of customers if the budget limit is in this range. Tata Nano positions itself to be a family car available to those who can afford a bit more than they would spend for a two wheeler. Based on Performance Tata Nano has a 624 cc engine and has a maximum power of 37.4 bhp. Compared to its counterparts in the same price range, Tata Nano has a disadvantage on its engine capacity and maximum power. Mileage is also a crucial factor for consumers in India who look for â€Å"Value for Money† products. Tata Nano claims a mileage of 22.2 Kmpl for its base model and this compromises on its engine capacity and other performance characteristics. Most of the other features of the probable competitors of Tata Nano are almost at parity with it. Based on Convenience During the planning stages of Tata Nano, the team of engineers who designed the vehicle faced the toughest challenge of releasing a car that was both attractive as well as cheap. Tata Nano is 8% shorter and has 21% more interior space than Maruti 800. Tata Motors Limited have given due importance for the design of this low budget car to not lose out in the market just because of it being unattractive. It has the best in class maneuverability – lowest turning circle diameter. The weight of the vehicle is just 600 kg which is also comparatively lesser than Maruti and Hyundai Cars. This could be taken as both an advantage as well as a disadvantage. But in this case, the light weight of the vehicle contributes to some of the crucial distinguishing features of the car mentioned above. Some of the major launches by competitors that are specially focused to give competition to the Tata Nano are Bajaj’s RE60 and Renault has also announced that it would be releasing a new car in this category. None of the launches against Nano could disrupt Tata Nano’s market share significantly. Tata Nano is also planning to bring in variations to its initial model to get in line with its re-launching scheme of focusing on a the youth segment than the family segment. Comparison of Specifications of Tata Nano and it’s closest competitors Top 10 best-selling cars in India

Economic Theory and Application Essay

1. The following graph: (not able to recreate, but in the text), shows a firm with a kinked demand curve a. What assumption lies behind the shape of this demand curve? The kinked demand curve assumes that other firms will follow price decreases and will not follow price increases. For instance, in an oligopoly model, based on two demand curves that assumes that other firms will not match a firm’s price increases, but will match its price increases. The kinked demand curve model of oligopoly implies that oligopoly prices tend to be â€Å"sticky† and do not change as much as they would in other market structures given the assumptions that a firm is making about the behavior of its rival firms. Kinked demand was an initial attempt to explain sticky prices. It is an economic theory regarding oligopoly and monopolistic competition. b. Identify the firm’s profit-maximizing output and price. In Figure 9.1 in the textbook, the firm’s profit-maximizing output and price is when there is an increase in price over the average marginal cost (the difference between p1 and the point vertically down from there that cuts the MC curve) Profit maximization is the process by which a firm determines the price and output level that returns the greatest profit. There are several approaches to this definition. The total revenue total cost method relies on the fact that profit equals revenue minus cost, and the marginal revenue – marginal cost method is based on the fact that total profit in a perfectly competitive market reaches its maximum point where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. c. Use the graph to explain why the firm’s price is likely to remain the same, even if marginal costs change. If marginal costs increase or decrease within the discontinuous range of the marginal revenue curve, the point at which marginal revenue equals marginal cost will remain the same. Thus, price and output do not change, even though costs (and profits) are different. Marginal cost is the additional cost of producing an additional unit of output. Marginal cost shows the changes in costs as output changes. Total variable costs change as the level of output varies but total fixed costs are constant regardless the level of output. Therefore, total fixed costs do not influence the marginal costs of production and actually average fixed costs decreases continuously as more output is produced. Because total fixed cost is constant, average fixed cost must decline as output increases ad spreads the total fixed cost is constant over a larger number of units of output. Both average variable cost and average cost first decrease and then increase. 2. Some games of strategy are cooperative. One example is deciding which side of the road to drive on. It doesn’t matter which side it is, as long as everyone chooses the same side. Otherwise, everyone may get hurt.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Dota Thesis Essay

Here in the Philippines, we believe in the saying of our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal that â€Å"Youth is the hope of our Mother land†. In their hand lies the future generation to follow. But as we see from the situation nowadays, what we are expecting from the youth is the contrary if the saying. Teenagers are prone to pregnancy. Almost every year there is a rapid increase on the number of pregnant youths. One of the major causes of this problem is that most of the youths nowadays grew up in broken homes. Parents either the father or mother of the youths chose to leave their children behind because of the fact that they cannot handle anymore their obligation as parents. In relation to this problem, our government is now working on the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Law) as one of the most effective solution not only to teenage pregnancy but also to the increasing population of our country. The literature review was conducted to identify risk factors associated with teenage pregnancy and parenthood, including patterns of teenage sexual behaviour, as well as current knowledge about effective strategies in teenage pregnancy prevention. The impact of teenage parenthood on parents and children and ways of supporting pregnant and parenting young women was also explored. The review relied predominantly on Australian literature in order to reflect local issues and perspectives. However, the need to consider more recent or extensive research in some areas required the use of overseas literature, mainly from the US and the UK.Teenage pregnancies in the Philippines surged by 70 percent over one decade, a ranking official of the United Nation Population Fund Agency (UNFPA). Ugochi Daniels, UNFPA country representative, said the rising number of teenage pregnancies in the country is an area of concern that the agency is giving serious attention to, exposing as it does adolescent girls (10 to 19 years old) to high risk. Government statistics on female adolescent pregnancies indicate that the total number of annual births changed little over the preceding 10 years, but the number of teenage pregnancies rose 70 percent, from 114,205 in 1999 to 195,662 in 2009. Based on data compiled from birth certificates, of the 1.75 million live births in 2009, the latest review year, over 11 percent involved teenage mothers. Teenage pregnancy is widespread in the Philippines, especially amongst the poor. It is astory that may not be too pleasant, but one that is repeated all too often.Teen pregnancy is anobvious rising issue in our society. During the 21 st century, the statistics about this issue continues to rise even though there are a lot of disadvantages that young mothers and fathers can obviously get in the said issue. Fox (2008) defined teenage pregnancy as: Teenage pregnancy is one of the most important and alarming issues in today’s world. A teenage pregnancy, also referred to as teen pregnancy, comes to be when a girl attains motherhood before she becomes a major or adult, as laid down by the law of the land Some 16.5 million Filipinos belong to the 15-24 year old age group. We are forced with a glaring truth that at a very young age, a lot of young people today have children of their own. 30% of all births belong to this age group; and by the age of 20, 25% of the youth are already mot hers. This shocking truth about teenage pregnancy in the Philippines should wake the government and parents themselves to take action (Flores, 2008). According to the 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (Uppi) and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, twenty six(26%) of our Filipino youth nationwide from ages 15 to 25 admitted to having a premarital sex experience. What ¶s worse is that 38 percent of our youth are already in alive-in arrangement. Another is the 1998 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS)reveals that 3.6 million of our teenagers (that’s a whopping 5.2 percent of our population!) got pregnant. In 92 percent of these teens, the pregnancy was unplanned, and the majority, 78 percent, did not even use contraceptives the first time they had sex(Singsong, 2008).Most teenagers don’t plan to get pregnant, but many do. Teen pregnancies carry extra health risks to the mother and the baby. Risks for the baby include premature birth and a low birth weight. To control this, we must help each other by following the suggested solutions. I. Cause Causes of teenage pregnancy are occurring due to following reasons according to Fox (2008): Consequence of raging hormones. Most teenagers experience sudden and hitherto unknown emotions and feelings during their early puberty. All this, coupled with a sudden sense of new-found freedom and sexuality, results in many of them giving vent to their feelings through sexual expressions and experiences. Of course, most countries stress on sex education in schools, but yet, some teenagers involve themselves in unsafe sex, which could lead to unwanted pregnancies. Peer pressure. A lot of teenagers indulge in early sexual behaviour due to peer pressure. This is due to the fact that they feel the great need to be ‘hip’ and ‘accepted’ by their circle of friends. The only way they could probably achieve that would be by having a boyfriend or girlfriend or at least by dating and indulging in sexual acts often. Contraceptive Failure. Though there are many types and brands of contraceptives and emergency birth control pills easily available in the market, these are never a guarantee for complete safety. Only Mother Nature knows when she might want to get into action, so no form of birth control is going to be completely foolproof! (Fox, July 18, 2008).Other causes of teenage pregnancy are: 1. Lack of Parental Guidance. Most people evade their children from talking about sex. In some cases, they provide false information regarding sex and discourage their children to participate in any informative discussion about sex. In some cases, teenage mothers are not well educated about sex before getting pregnant and thus this leads to lack of communication between the parents and the children. 2. Inadequate Knowledge about Safe Sex. Most adolescents are unaware of safe sex. They probably have no access to the traditional methods of preventing pregnancy. And the main reason behind is that they are either too embarrassed or fear to seek information about it. It was found that more than 80% of teenage pregnancies are unintended. 3. Exploitation by Older Men. This is another major factor that contributes to pregnancyamong the teenagers. Those girls who date older men are more likely to become pregnant before they attain womanhood. Rape, sexual exploitations etc. also takes place th at leadsto unwanted pregnancy among teenage girls. 4. Socio Economic Factors. Teenage girls who belong to the poor families are more likelyto become pregnant. Researchers have found that even in the developed countries teenage pregnancy occurs most commonly among the deprived sections. 5. Glamorization of Pregnancy. The movie industry and the media contribute to teenage pregnancy by glamorizing teen pregnancy in news stories and movies. Movies that depict teen pregnancy as something to be desired encourage teens to engage in reckless sexual activity, according to ABC’s â€Å"Good Morning America.† During adolescence, teens become more focused on their appearance and how their peers perceive them. They want to be seen as part of the group, so if teen pregnancy is viewed as acceptable in their school or amongst their friends, they may seek to become pregnant as a way to gain social acceptance. 6. Teenage Drinking. Teen drinking can cause an unexpected pregnancy, according to the website Love to Know. Many teens experiment with drugs and alcohol. Drinking lowers a teen’s ability to control her impulses, contributing to 75 percent of pregnancies that occur between the ages 14 and 21. Approximately 91 percent of pregnant teens reported that although they were drinking at the time, they did not originally plan to have sex when they conceived. 7. Sexual Abuse or Rape. Teens can become pregnant as a result of sexual abuse or rape. The Guttmacher Institute states that between 43 and 62 percent of teens acknowledge that they were impregnated by an adult male, and two-thirds report that their babies’ fathers are as old as 27. Approximately 5 percent of all teen births are the result of a rape. 8. Inconsistent use of birth control Even though the use of contraceptives has increased among teenagers, its use remains spotty. Teens may use birth control to help prevent teen pregnancy, but most do not use contraceptives consistently. Erratic contraceptive use, however, is better than none. A sexually active teen that does not use any birth control has a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year. Some of the reasons that birth control is not used include the following: uneducated about birth control, uncomfortable using birth control methods and unable to access reliable birth control. 9. Abstinence-only sex education. Despite recent government efforts to fund abstinence-only sex education, the vast majority of teenage boys and girls (62 percent and 70 percent) have initiated vaginal sex by the age of 18. Because of their nature, abstinence-only programs leave out educational information on birth control. These programs have never been shown to actually reduce the incidence of teen pregnancy. However, they are the programs that receive the most funding from the government. There are state governments that forbid any sort of teen sex education in schools at all. This means that teens that experiment may not have information on birth control and are more likely to engage in activity that results in teen pregnancy. 10. Psychological factors. The immature and irresponsible behaviour arising duet complex teenage psychology is another important cause of teenage pregnancies. Teenagers often go through a number of emotions because of their own transition from childhood and peer pressure. The causes above are also similar to the causes here in the Philippines. II. Solution a) Existing Solutions – since abortion is immoral and legally wrong here in the Philippines, they consider adoption for the baby or acceptance for the parents. If not yet born, then they suggest that the baby not be killed. Currently, the government proposes sex education but it is still debated whether it would be taught or not. One way to prevent pregnancy is by practicing safe sex. In addition to it, birth control tools such as condoms, pills, intra-uterine devices or supremacies can regulate the fertility of a woman’s eggs. Even though it decreases the chances of not being pregnant, still it is not 100%sure and effective to avoid pregnancy. Some are even desperate that they will come to a point that they have to abort their babies without knowing the effects it may cause to the mother and it will kill the conscience of who will ever do this abortion thing. With the help of Science, Medicine has developed a new pill contraceptive namedRU486, the morning after solution to a sex encounter. Teenagers nowadays are sexually active without their parents knowing their sexual activities. Often times, media promotes sexuality to the young which may cause them to be mislead with wrong information about sex and they might be misguided, that’s why parents play an important role to the lives of their children. For all we know, sex is for those couples who already undergo to the Sacrament of Marriage, because doing sex needs a lot of sense of maturity not only physical but mental and spiritual basis. Once a pregnancy occurs from premarital sex, the couple is bound to live together for the rest of their lives with or without marriage because they have now the obligation to raise the child. The best way to avoid teen pregnancy is by avoiding or abstaining from sex before marriage. One thing is for sure, abstain from sex will keep you 100% safe from diseases, undesired relationship, and of course teenage PREGNANCY (Life Challenges -AllAboutLifeChallenges.org, 2011). Other possible Solutions are: 1. Abstinence from sex until you are old enough to do so. 2. Usage of contraceptives and other forms of birth controls. 3. Sex Education. 4. Affection and Guidance of parents. 5. Counselling. 6. Discouraging early dating What Ever the solutions may be, we must all keep in mind that we must be pro-life. b) How it is done in other countries. Existing solutions do not only exist on the Philippines but also on other parts of the world. For Example, abortion in the United States has been legal in every state since the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe V. Wade, on January 22, 1973. Prior to â€Å"Roe†, there were exceptions to the abortion ban in at least 10 states; â€Å"Roe† established that a woman has a right to self-determination (often referred to as a â€Å"right to privacy†) covering the decision whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term, but that this right must be balanced against a state’s interest in preserving fetal life (Wikipedia, 2011). In Egypt, they teach knowledge about male and female reproductive systems, sexual organs, contraception and STDs in public schools at the second and third years of the middle-preparatory phrase (when students are aged 12-14)(Wikipedia, 2011). In France, They promote sex education and it has been part of school curricular since 1973. Schools are expected to provide 30 to 40 hours of sex education, and pass out condoms, to students in grades eight and nine (Wikipedia, 2011). In Britain, which has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe ,sex education is a heated issue in government and media reports In Sweden, sex education has been a mandatory part of school education since 1956. The subject is usually started between ages 7 and 10, and continues up through the grades, incorporated into different subjects such as biology and history In some countries, such as America, Falcon punch is done by the teens. The Falcon Punch is most often used to end the untimely pregnancy of a loved one in a humane manner, especially if the loved one happens to be under the age of sixteen. (EncyclopediaDramatica,2011). Active euthanasia, commonly referred simply as euthanasia, is only legal in the Netherlands and Belgium. (Wiki Answers, 2011) Euthanasia is the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit, and over the years it has been one of the favourite tools of those who think society is better off when we take active steps to kill the poor, the disabled, the elderly, or the  ³unwanted ´. Today the debate over euthanasia most commonly revolves around the issue of physician-assisted suicide. There are many forms of euthanasia but the assisted suicide is its most common from. This method has also been done to prevent teenage pregnancy. (Wikipedia,2011) There are many possible solutions that can be done, some countries perform different methods that are immoral for Filipinos. One example is abortion. But amidst all this, we must learn to give importance to life because it is God’s wonderful gift to all of us STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: This study answers the following questions: 1. What is your reaction on teen pregnancy? 2. Do you know anything about RH Law? 3. Did you ever think of aborting a baby? 4. Do you still continue to pursue your education? 5. Do you know of anywhere in your local area where free condoms are available to younger couples? 6. What is the best solution or prevention on Early Pregnancy? 7. How the other country preventing early pregnancy. Locale of the Study The Study was done in STI College Laguna, The IT students give an survey about their reaction about Early Pregnancy and what they say about passing the RH Law. Importance: The fact is that the RH Bill is now a law of the Republic, and the President, barring judicial intervention, has the obligation of seeing to its effective, just and balanced implementation. Indeed, it would be tragic if, after all the acrimony, we end up with a law that is not implemented like many good legislation in this country. According to Dean Tony La Vina, in her view, the protracted debate, even if it was too long (lasting 13 years), actually improved the bill and, thanks in part to the opponents of the bill, we have a much more balanced and a better law than originally proposed. Among others, it is clear that abortifacient methods are prohibited (although the definition of abortion as preventing implantation of a fertilized ovum is controversial), freedom of conscience is respected, and there is neither a mandate to reduce our population nor a preference for smaller families. Below is a summary of what I believe are the most important provisions under the RH Law: * It affirms in a balanced way various state policies related to the right of health, including reproductive health, the rights of women, couples and families, and the protection of the life of the mother and the unborn. The law provides for spousal and parental consent in specific instances although safeguards to protect the individual rights of mothers or those availing of a service or procedure are also included. * In my view, the RH Law’s most important provision is the guarantee by the State to provide â€Å"universal access to medically-safe, non-abortifacient, effective, legal, affordable, and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies which do not prevent the implantation of a fertilized ovum as determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and relevant information and education thereon according to the priority needs of women, children and other underprivileged sectors.† * In implementing the above policy, the State shall promote and provide information and access, without bias, to all methods of family planning, including effective natural and modern methods which have been proven medically safe, legal, non-abortifacient, and effective in acco rdance with scientific and evidence-based medical research standards. If this â€Å"no bias† principle is actually implemented, it will go a long way in reducing acrimony in the law’s implementation. * The RH law also provides that the State shall also provide funding support to promote modern natural methods of family planning, especially the Billings Ovulation Method, consistent with the needs of acceptors and their religious convictions. * The RH Law does not set demographic or population targets, and in fact, states that the mitigation, promotion and/or stabilization of the population growth rate is incidental to the advancement of reproductive health. Further, each family has the right to determine its ideal family size: although the State is mandated to equip each parent with the necessary information on all aspects of family life, including reproductive health and responsible parenthood, in order to make that determination. * Religious freedom is actually respected in the RH Law. Hospitals owned and operated by a religious group do not have to provide services contrary to its beliefs although these hospitals shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health facility, which is conveniently accessible. The conscientious objection of a health care service provider based on his/her ethical or religious beliefs are also respected, accompanied by an obligation for referral. These exceptions do not, however, apply in emergency cases. * The RH Law provides that no person shall be denied information and access to family planning services, whether natural or artificial. Minors however will not be allowed access to modern methods of family planning without written consent from their parents or guardian/s except when the minor is already a parent or has had a miscarriage. * Finally, age- and development-appropriate reproductive health education to adolescents (10-19 years) is mandated for public schools, which program shall be based on consultations with parents-teachers-community associations, school officials and other interest groups. Private schools may adopt the program at their own option, but consistent with religious freedom, are not obliged to do so. Scope and Limitations: This investigation is conducted to determine the rate of STI students that is reacted on Early or Teen Pregnancy. This way, we could determine the status and profile of the teenager Reaction in teenage pregnancy. The aspects looked into were the quantitative information of number of STI IT students Reaction in teenage pregnancy and the data behind this. This investigation focuses on number of IT students Reacted in teenage pregnancy in STI College Laguna portrayed by our group as respondents during February 2013. Definitions of Terms Teenage pregnancy – refers to any pregnancy on women that took place between the ages 13 – 19 years old. Teen aged Students – refers to students that ages a number that end in â€Å"teen† as the last syllable such as13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Rate – refers to a quantity from a recent quantity STIS – refers to Sexually Transmitted Infections STDS – refers to Transmitted Diseases Sex – the sum of the structural, functional, and behavioural characteristics of organisms that are involved in reproduction marked by the union of gametes and that distinguish males and females RH – Reproductive Health Contraceptives – A device or drug serving to prevent pregnancy. Reference: http://www.dcsi.sa.gov.au/pub/ http://www.scribd.com/doc/51595306/Teenage-Pregnancies-in-the-Philippines-2, http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/18972-reconciliation-post-rh-law

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Globalization - Essay Example The increase of emission of green house-gases to the atmosphere has been the current global environmental challenge since it is a reality that global temperatures are increasing and it is a fact that human activity has been a major cause of this environmental problem since the atmosphere is getting concentrated with green house gases (Kemp, 1994). Climate change is a fundamental issue that will continue to affect the health of the future generations. Most of the natural resources on earth are non-renewable while their demand is overwhelmingly high and as a result of increased human activity to balance this phenomenon; technology has been implemented to overcome the challenges presented by this threat but not without some consequences of green house gas emissions which have eventually resulted to global warming (Kemp, 1994). Recent research has proven that the world temperatures are rising due to the human-induced green house emissions especially carbon dioxide, which is emitted as a result of combustion of fossil fuels, agriculture, and land clearing (Hams, 2004). Even though this effect was discovered in 1824, it has with time increased to intricate levels thus raising an international environmental concern. The sensitivity of climate is commonly rated according to the response of the equilibrium level of the green house gases and it is usually measured according to the response of temperature with reference to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A minute increase in temperature can result to several global consequences like an increase in sea level as well as a dramatic change in precipitation patterns hence resulting to extreme weather conditions such as heat waves, draught, floods, tornados among others (Hams, 2004). As a result of environmental degradation, global warming is expected to continue even beyond 2100 and the rise of sea levels is also expected to continue past that time (Houghton, 1997). The effects of global warming negatively affe ct both the environment and human life through the rising sea levels, agricultural setbacks, ozone layer depletion, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions, as well as the spread of diseases. It has been observed that the intensity, frequency, and power of hurricanes have increased annually from the 1970s and there has been a strong direct correlation between the tropical sea-surface temperature and the strength of the hurricanes. However, the relationship between global warming and hurricanes is still under controversy. A report released by the IPCC Working Group II confirmed that the consequences of global warming as a result of globalization has caused several deaths through extreme weather events like heat waves and flooding (Houghton, 1997). Primary and secondary consequences of global warming have been observed to influence human activities as well as ecological systems since some species have been forced out of their natural habitats as a result of unf avorable conditions presented by climate change (Hams, 2004). The life timing patterns have also changed thus affecting migration dates which create a predator-prey balance. As a result of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the ocean PH is reducing and this eventually leads to severe negative effects on coral reefs. The thawing of the tundra is another global environmental problem which has been on the

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Academic differences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Academic differences - Essay Example In regard to various factors that promote learning, it is evident that the standard in Umass Lowell is relatively better than my former school. It is also worth to note that age factor is important in explaining the differences observed. A comparative personal assessment in terms of effort put towards private study shows a big difference between my current learning and previous school. Back in Emirates National School I put very little effort towards studying since I simply attended classes and after that went back home to have fun with age mates. Even in the evening I could not spare some time to go through my notes and refresh my mastery of the class work unless there was a test. This could be explained by my childish mentality which had little knowledge of the importance of learning. Besides, workload was very small that I had little stress over homework and possible underperformance at the end of the term. In Umass Lowell, it is a different case since I am virtually occupied throughout the week. I am committed to attaining and maintain better results, and this means I revise my class work every day and preview notes for the next class. I am now aware of the significance of my education and am focused to achieve the highest available grade. In Umass Lowell, I lack time to relax as I used to do in my former school since my studying schedule is tight till into the night. It is worth noting that in my former school, competition was low as most of us took learning for granted and had not learnt of the significance of private study. In my current school, the opposite is true since competition is very stiff, and one has to go the extra mile of private study and extensive revision to keep up with the pace. Any attempt to relax may compromise ones grades and even attract academic warning and in extreme cases discontinuation. The curricular structure of Umass Lowell is more comprehensive and organized to initiate hard work amongst the teaching

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Psychological Impact of Retail Space on purchasing behavior Essay

Psychological Impact of Retail Space on purchasing behavior - Essay Example Moreover, the fixtures used for displaying the products can be arranged in such fashion to present a neat and powerful look to the outsiders visiting the store. The floor and the ceiling of the store space can be given the same or different color and thematic effects to produce different types of customer emotions. Retailers through the use of definite store imagery can manipulate the decisions of the customers by altering their moods in making buying decisions (Smith & Sherman). The focus on creating differential designs for the retail stores has gathered a great impetus from the previous days. Owing to the rise in cut-throat competition the retail firms operating in the same category have started producing products which act as substitutes to each other in terms of design and quality. Thus the potential of retail differentiation has shifted from product designs to store designs to reflect a differential pattern to the customer’s eyes. ... The retail designers must also endeavor to forecast the effects on consumer purchases and retail sales which would add commercial value to their designing ventures. Thus, the subject concerned with designing the interior of a retail firm encompasses a whole lot of factors pertaining to sociology, psychology, ergonomics, demand and sales forecasting techniques and an eye for supreme aesthetics. Henceforth, the function of retail design is in itself a multidisciplinary subject which needs people from different backgrounds to render true effectiveness to the activity conducted. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to understand the effects of each of the several factors or the disciplines listed above on the mode of altering the behavior of the consumers. (Katelijn, Jan & Cleempoel, 3487-3788). Aims and Objectives Aims The paper in presenting a discussion on the psychological impact of retail space on consumer behavior deals mainly with two topics. Firstly, the paper foc uses on the consumer buying patterns in the region of United Kingdom pertaining to three main segments viz. Fashion, Kids and Home and Leisure Segment. In the second part the paper focuses on the main theme relating to the effect of retail space or interior designs on the buying motives of the consumer. Objectives To understand the current purchasing behavior of the consumers based in the region of United Kingdom on fashion, kids and home and leisure items. To focus on the effect of interior designs of the retail outlets on the buying psychology of the different consumers. Literature Review Consumer Purchasing Behavior in United Kingdom Fashion In the economy of United Kingdom the consumer buying patterns

Monday, August 26, 2019

THE ORIGINS OF ART Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

THE ORIGINS OF ART - Case Study Example Nowadays, the situation is not different. This is evident in televisions, billboards and magazines where men and women with ‘perfect’ bodies are used to advertise goods and services. Through this concept, we can conclude that ancient man and modern man are not different. However, using modern culture to explain a past culture may not be entirely reliable. First of all, there are special cultures that were totally different from us. Take for instance the Egyptians. They were not affected by peak shift and did not see the need to design unrealistic human forms. Secondly, all artists are different. Though they are connected by the desire to create art, artisans differ in many ways; for example they have different sources of inspiration, what works for one might not work for the other. The sources of inspiration for ancient artists are not the same as modern artists. It is therefore not plausible to use modern art to try to decipher ancient art. Prehistoric paintings are not depictions of shamanic trance visions. The paintings were based on creatures that were present the time like horses and reindeer that were in existence in Europe. These were creatures that were either eaten, used or seen by the ancient man. It is worth noting that different archeological sites had different set of animal paintings. The paintings in Europe comprised animals that were there at the time, Africa had its own set of animals and paintings, as was the rest of the world. If they were trance visions, then we could expect paintings of alien creatures in various archeological sites. For instance, we could expect to find paintings of American animals in African sites. No, it does not. It is difficult o deduce this issue due to the amount of time that separates modern times and the prehistoric times. No amount of thinking will enable us to know what made them start

Sunday, August 25, 2019

CURRENT FINANCIAL CONDITIONS & THE INDUSTRIES Essay

CURRENT FINANCIAL CONDITIONS & THE INDUSTRIES - Essay Example The world leader, who dominated the world at that time, was USA (Still Dominating) had a very strong economy and currency. The global financial crisis crunch came on screen in September 2008, when a number of American giant financial institutions failed to sustain or merge with some other institutions mainly due to not meeting the regulatory requirements or inability to comply with them pertinently. Due to the dominating power and instinct of USA, the country must leave a positive or negative impact on the world economy whenever the country's economy plunges or hike, because the country provides a platform to most of the countries to indulge in exports and imports with each other. American economy mainly emphasizes on credit as even, about every household borrow money for homes and loans frequently. Government of USA didn't apply any limit on the credit cards of the banks which is the main reason the current credit crunch hit them badly. The failure of the major financial institutions like Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley and the mortgaging companies like Fannie Mae and Fredric Mac played a vital role to push the United States of America towards the brink of default. The severe crisis in USA left a very bad impact on the economy of the world as a whole and after the plunging of the USA's economy, the economy of every country envisaged a deeper recession. Impact of Financial Crisis on United Kingdom and Current Financial Health: United Kingdom (U.K) is one of the countries which are badly hurt by the current financial turmoil which is the 2nd worst after the 1930's great depression. The estimated gross domestic product of Britain is 1.275 trillion which is 0.63% higher as compared to the last year but the main concern for the country is its deteriorating currency value because the sterling has collapsed against major global currencies by 30%. The economy of UK is in great recession, the said argument can be observed from the current forecast by International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the economy of United Kingdom. The IMF has revised its GDP growth for UK FY 2009 -1.5% to -2.8%. The largest industry in Britain is the financial industries which are the main victims of the financial crisis. The financial sector of the United Kingdom slashed hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country which crosses the amount of 6 million people. A year ago finance officials thought that the British economy had become particularly resilient to shocks, but after the shrinking currency value and persistently condensing deposits in the banks, the perceptions seem to be not working for the Britain. The financial constraints mounting pressure and fear of bankruptcy still intervenes between the banks and borrowers, as the banks of UK are still reluctant to lend the money to the borrowers. The current interest rates of UK's banks are 1% but it is unable to attract the foreign investors as well as the domestic investment influences them to cut down the interest rates further to stress the investors to put their money in the banks. Recently the US did the same and cut the interest rates to 0.25% merely to attract investments. United Kingdom is one of those countries who are heavily relying

Saturday, August 24, 2019

The Treatment of the Working Classes, the Poor and the Uneducated Research Paper

The Treatment of the Working Classes, the Poor and the Uneducated - Research Paper Example The novel explores various themes such as ambition, social isolation, science, psychological balance, and moral responsibility among others (Shelley 23). However, one of the key themes explored in Shelly's book is the treatment of the working classes, the poor and the uneducated in the society. Thus, this paper will analyze how the treatment of working class, the poor and the uneducated theme is brought out in Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. According to Shelley (25), the monster represents the oppressed, the poor people in the society, and how the working class is brutalized in the modern industry. There is a clear evidence of class struggle in Shelley's novel, and that is why she uses this theme to criticize the society and expose some of the economic, social, and corruption problems people experienced during that time and their effects on society. One of the key causes of the English revolution in 1640 and the French Revolution in 1789 was the rise of wealth and strengt h of the bourgeoisie, which resulted in capitalism. King Charles sided with the upper class and the noble people in the society during the English revolution, but not the common ones. ... This is also applies to the upper and working classes. The upper class people are highly educated and have a lot of wealth while the working class people are poor and uneducated. For this reason, the bourgeoisie use their wealth and power to exploit the working class in order to get profit. According to Shelley (45), the monster argues that he is gentle and docile to his king and lord; thus, demands that Victor should perform his part, as well. This means that the bourgeoisie should give back to the working class since what they are giving back is not enough. It also reveals a separation of class in the society since it contributes to the idea of social inequality. For instance, during the French revolution only the noble people became bishops and army officers and were able to hold real power while the working class who consisted of 95% of the France population could only become peasants. In Shelley’s novel, the De Lacey’s family represented the common people who were poor and powerless, but virtuous. Additionally, in the novel, Frankenstein did not create an evil creature, but rather the cruel treatment the monster received from the world made him evil. Nearly every creature in Mary’s novel assumes that the monster is destructive and dangerous due to its appearance, yet it is open and warm-hearted. Despite his attempts to show his noble intentions, the monster is rejected and assaulted by the entire society and families. Thus, this rejection and violence that he experiences convinces him that man is a barbaric being; hence, becoming a cruel creature and vows to take revenge on society and his creator. Moreover, after the monster observed De Lacey’s family through a hole in the wall, he

Friday, August 23, 2019

The Legalization Of Marijuana for Medical Use Research Paper

The Legalization Of Marijuana for Medical Use - Research Paper Example As a matter of fact, marijuana is proven to enhance appetite and relieve nausea in cancer and AIDS patients. Many people use marijuana because they are suffering from certain diseases that have plagued their lives. Clearly, marijuana provides relief from pain, nauseua, and other symptoms that cannot be treated with conventional methods of medicine. Several Americans insist that marijuana for inhibition purposes also. Furthermore, this drug has very low dependence of addiction and side-effects. Most marijuana users also insist that they tend to develop tolerance to many of the effect that this substance offers. Users also refute the fact that this drug is more dangerous than alcohol and tobacco. The second critical reason why marijuana should be legalized is the fact that maintaining marijuana out of society is expensive due to its illegal nature. Keeping marijuana illegal is expensive because it induces authorities to be in constant search of funding. In the United States, the government has gone on this myriad against â€Å"War on Drugs.† Currently, the US government spends a hefty amount of money to choose individuals who are regular marijuana users regardless of their need and want. These individuals get thrown in the prisons on a daily basis. Undoubtedly, these same funds can be allocated to pursue education, Medicare, social security and national defense. In an ideal world in which marijuana would be legal, the federal government would be able to impose taxes on it. Furthermore, it would have extra revenue that it could allocate for essential drug education program. It is evident that there is no solid evidence that prohibition of the drug will force society to diminish its use. Additionally, marijuana is widely available in schools as dealers understand that no set age limit is enacted. Seen as the â€Å"forbidden fruit† by many teenagers, the drug continues to attract students to relieve their stress. The

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The Concept of National Security in Understanding Contemporary Term Paper

The Concept of National Security in Understanding Contemporary Conflicts - Term Paper Example The first step would be to discard the notion related to the nature of the future wars and international conflicts which are in real sense unrealistic. This kind of future has been believed to have gained some significant acceptance in the past. The quick and easy victory of the US Marine over Iraq in the 1990's gulf war, for instance, is seen to have to lead to military affairs revolution as a result of the competitive advantage to the US if these advancements are something to go by. There has been a general belief that there is no likely hood of having a major rival competitor of the United States military warfare in the near future. This has resulted in several other countries having the promise of cheap and fast victory as far as military concepts are concerned. This notion subsequently has led to a reduction of the dependency of the military might that has led further to the transformation of the department of defense. These transformations of the defense department need consideration of the military's experience in past conflicts. In the case of the States, its military experience has been characterized by protracted by the counterinsurgency which is coupled with the countries building. The efforts would call for further reforms in the sector of security of the countries citizens, economic development as well as reconstruction and creation of government capacity building which goes hand in hand with the rule of law creation. Regarding the experiences gained, one needs to have enough experience as well as awareness for the need of abandoning the transformation of the department of defense orthodoxy and subsequently go for the most essential changes which are required in the development and restructuring of the defense to enable sufficient defense for the entire country (McMaster, 2009).     Ã‚   The military's development and advancement would be achieved through the approach employed by the authorities in employing the forces to protect the nation's interests. Prior to any major attack, the defense has been put under much scrutiny regarding their abilities to handle the conflict or the contemporary issue.

Theories Of Ethical And Pshchological Egoism Essay Example for Free

Theories Of Ethical And Pshchological Egoism Essay Many feel that human nature drives people to deny all forms of altruism and the desire to help others; while an equal amount feels that it is the duty of every human to help others at all costs.   Because there is no way to really decide such a subjective argument, it seems personal preference is the best way to dictate such action.   The alternatives to such altruistic action are egoism, as described through ethical and psychological egoism. These options counter the utilitarian approach, which many find the preferable way for humans to act, and the greatest good for the greatest number of people should be in mind for every action a person makes.    However, the utilitarian approach often leaves open-ended questions on just how much help the fortunate should give to those who are not.   That is why the best approach is through ethical egoism, as if everyone looked out for his or her best interests, ideally, everyone would be able to support themselves and those for whom they care.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While utilitarianism seems to be an ideal way to exist, it leaves too many questions about morality and the limits of altruism.   Egoism is much more natural, as it fosters the will to survive with a distinct rationalism.   The distinction between psychological egoism and ethical egoism reflects the contrast of is verses ought, fact verses value, or descriptive verses prescriptive (Philosophy Lander, 2006). In layman’s terms, this means that ethical egoism is based on the idea that individuals should do only what is in his or her self-interest to achieve morality, while psychological egoism accepts the fact that all people act in their self-interests anyway, despite any appearance to the contrary.   This expresses the difference between the descriptive nature of psychological egoism and the prescriptive nature of ethical egoism, with the former stating humans do things in their own best interests, while the latter states that humans merely should do things in their best interest (Lycan, 2001). To a psychological egoist, human nature is being wholly self-centered and self-motivated, which basically renders all morality useless (Moseley, 2006).   To an ethical egoist, morality is still pertinent and there are strong and weak types of the theory, with the strong version holding it is always moral to promote one’s own good, and it is never moral not to promote it, while the weak version states although it is always moral to promote one’s own good, it is not necessarily never moral to not (Moseley, 2006).   The weak version allows that there may be situations where pursuit of self-interest is not the most important thing and may actually be contrary to the best interests of an individual when concerning morality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The difference between psychological and ethical egoism cannot be fully understood without knowing the fallacy that exists with psychological egoism.   The fallacy is that people are always motivated by self-interest, when there may be a great variety of motivating factors affecting their decisions, especially emotions.   The concept of motivation has a great deal to do with each theory, as psychological egoism is motivated by individual selfishness, while ethical egoism is motivated by the idea that one must do what is right, even if against self-interests. Because of this, one can commit an altruistic act with ethical egoism, however, with psychological egoism altruism is impossible unless simultaneously serving the interest of the individual as well.   Selfishness and self-interest, while containing some similar attributes, are very different, in that selfishness focuses solely on the needs of the individual, while self-interest merely seeks advantageous circumstances to ensure success. Ethical egoism is a philosophical practice that encourages individuals to pursue their own self-interests.   While it is idealistic to think of helping unknown masses with one’s own hard earned money, it is also naà ¯ve to think that people should feel obligated to do so.   A person who works hard to make money to buy fine things is entitled to those things.   Just because a person is successful and can afford luxury items does not mean that they are obligated to help strangers because it serves some sort of utilitarian purpose. If anything, much of this altruism merely perpetuates a cycle in which those who are poor become accustomed to the aid of those who are not.   If they pursued their own self-interests, they would be better able to rise above their own struggles and create a successful world for themselves. Ethical egoism is not entirely without the concept of helping others, however it focuses not on people that an individual will never meet, but the people in his or her life and those that the person loves and touches personally.   Psychological egoism lacks the fundamental questions of morality to begin with, and helping others is only necessary if it benefits the helper.   While it is difficult to claim that either type of egoism is correct, or even preferable to a utilitarian approach, it allows individuals to remain independent and free of all illusions. REFERENCES Lycan, W. (2001). Morality. University of North Carolina. Retrieved April 26, 2008, from http://www.unc.edu/~ujanel/Morality.htm Moseley, A. (2006). Egoism. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/e/egoism.htm#SH2b Philosophy Lander. (2006). Psychological Egoism. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/egoism.html

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

An Analysis Of The Ub Group United Breweries Marketing Essay

An Analysis Of The Ub Group United Breweries Marketing Essay The inception of UB Group dates back in the late 19th Century in the year 1857. When beer was being distributed using bullock carts in casks and the largest number of customers were the defense personnel. Positive evolution has been undertaken in the company as United Breweries is manufacturing and delivering beer around the whole world fulfilling the customers wants across generations and continents. Today, UB Group records remarkable success over the last 94 years of operation. UB Group is a large Holding Company that majorly owns five companies; United Spirits Limited (USL), United Breweries Limited (UBL), Kingfisher Airlines, Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (MCF), UB Engineering that have seen the company lead in market share worldwide. The companies, United Spirits and United Breweries have attained landmarks with revenue shooting beyond one hundred million. In the same line United Spirits has developed into close proximity to the planets major distiller. United Breweries also has recorded increase sales for the first moment in time that surpass half of market share control in the exceedingly cutthroat brewing space. Other companies too have performed outstandingly well. Propelled by the countrys endeavored growth trajectory growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as by quantification of poverty reduction, the company is geared towards attaining higher goals and objectives. The company is led through corporate Governance in light of transparency of high principles through substantial promoter holding constituents of the Board which include four directors. The company enjoys endowment of knowledgeable and distinguished individuals who supplement external and internal perspectives that offer great support to the Board. UB Group reserves a wealth of employee with specialized skills and an undeterred commitment to their jobs allocated. The Group is led by the chairman Mr. Vijay Malaya, who succeeded his father position. He has a wide experience and skill in management having trained in several courses. He is remarkably the foremost Indian to be holder of formula one team. He is the Groups Chairman in India and USA. Consumer diversity is increasingly evolving and businesses have looked for different ways to identify their needs and subsequently satisfy them. Market analysis techniques have intensively and extensively looked into consumer behavior and trend in the market to identify the marketing opportunities and explore them by meeting the desires of customer in a more profitable manner. UB Group has achieved to amass the biggest share of the market in India and the world as well. A deep analysis of the market analysis techniques used by the company will be undertaken to realize the opportunities that the company had realized in its various investments and enhanced service delivery (Kress Snyder, 1994). Market segmentation involves three basic steps in developing a market entry strategy. Although in essence it just groups the market by common features of certain groups with a focus to demography, these steps help in citing the differences correctly. First the customers are grouped according to their needs and reactions to as to categorically know what type of products the market want, how much by what group of customers. This will forge the way forward in the design of the product (Nelson, 2010). UBLs market is projected to expand significantly owing to the fact that Heineken Internal is signing a shareholder agreement, but most contributing factor is the leverage Heinekens distribution strength that will spearhead the marketing of Kingfisher Beer in the chosen International Markets. Second, after determining the wants you determine the segment which you are to deliver your products. Thirdly, you have to lie down and come up with a product portfolio so as to be able to gauge the trend, cost and extent of the product in terms of distribution. Demand has to be looked into in the first steps. Market segmentation gives a more precise data and analysis which to the business is significant in making projections while identifying the real opportunity in the market. There are different means however of how to achieve through a market segmentation, it is fundamentally through the company capability that this can be effectively be achieved. The Group is committed in its involvement in corporate social responsibility. Over the years the company has been keen to endeavor in dealings in the area of Life Sciences that have led to the development of Mallya Hospital at Bangalore that has a touch to the underprivileged in the community by offering them subsidized service. The hospital has owned the reputation of using exceptional medical equipments that translated into quality medical care and the most excellent medical consultants. The hospital has registered significant improvement and development, today, the initially 150-bed hospital has been turned into a 450-bed hospital of which an estimated of 50 beds are set aside to specifically care for seriously ill patients. The company boasts of this community extension service owing to the fact that it was the first Indian Hospital to be awarded ISO 9002 certification. Group Company has taken aggressive exportation as a market strategy for marketing its products rather than partial exportation bearing in mind that it produces different brands, it does not wait for orders but goes to look for them. It has extensively built branches in many parts of the world, other than India, so that it stores its products as it seeks or attends to the demand already identified in the market. The SWOT analysis is a useful tool for understanding markets and subsequent decision making for all sorts of available opportunities in the market. Determination of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats are critical in getting a good review of strategy and direction of a company proposition of investment in a market. However, in order to increase on the reliability of the SWOT analysis it is critical that one completes a PEST analysis first. PEST analysis is a fundamental tool in understanding the market opportunities and growths attached to it after ones investments. The acronym stand which implies a critical brainstorming review of the market Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors has proved to be fundamental in assessing organizations markets. It gives the indicators of the challenges and advantages both in political, social and economical aspects of the market. Group Company proved to have ventured in their market through critical review of this using this method as reflected in the success factors and the choice of the countries it has invested in. Its investments in USA for example, was due to their political and economic stability, and an extended hand in the purchasing power of the customers which was intriguing, as reflected in the high success of USL and UBL in America. SWOT on the other hand restrained the company from setting up its manufacturing companies because of the fluctuating economic status of the county. Group Company were able to assess their markets using Porters five forces model that enabled them gauge the markets competitive strength and position. Bearing in mind of the stiff competition, the company innovatively increased its number of brand and ventured into aggressive exportation of its products. It got into partnership with its promoters so as to increase the sales turnover and turned threats of technology obsoleteness by engaging its UB Engineering Company in time to time plant installation and upgrading of plants. The company recognized the existing competitive challenge with its competitors, fully evaluated the threats of the new market identified and the purchasing power of the consumers and threats in terms of the immense range of products in the market, and associated changes in prices that might plunge the company into a loss or closure. The company has the biggest market share because of its accrued single window ventures to invest in the global market. Holding Company of the Group manages stakes in UB group leading companies which are United Spirits Limited (USL), United Breweries Limited (UBL), and Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). Each major investment is prevailing leader in their own market because of their fast increasing segment response to current emerging customer trends. Other than the three above major successful investments, other group ventures in setting up of industrial plants through its engineering company, and in the manufacture pharmaceutical and fertilizers are improving at a gradual rate. This was reflected in the analysis of the size of structure and success of each investment which confirmed a relative relationship to their respective market share. The analysis of the market share of the above investee companies was as follows: The UB Group, being one of the forefronts in terms of branded customer group as indicated above, has dominated the industry in three of its consumer driven investments: alcohol and beverages which is its leading in market share with 30%, dominated in spirits associated with the different brands quality that today it controls 40% of the market shares, and the aviation which is also leading with 45% of the market share. However, UBE, MCF and AVENTIS might indicate less market shares as compared to the former three of 28%, 22% and 15%, but it is also proud to realize such market shares by the company put it among the top service and products providers in their respective markets. United Spirits Limited (USL) has been the leading and the worlds second largest spirit company with consistent domination and a market share of 40%. Offers a wide variety of brands, over 140 and has specialized in a twenty percent of the brands going for multimillionaire ranging from whisky, Brandy, Rum to Vodka and Gin. In the year 2009, the company recorded a turnover of over 90 million in sales revenue. The company has been able to the global market and wins most customers that led to it being voted as the best company and attracted awards across all fields and categories. For instance, instance in June the company was able to win over 108 awards, in all the international wine and spirit contests. The company is thus associated with innovation, the best market entry strategy and market analysis and enjoys being the first single diet whisky manufacture in the whole world. Kingfisher Airline Limited is among the biggest international airline operators serving over 400 flights a day in India and over 2500 flights internationally. KAF constantly dominates 45% of the market with a wide destination networks. Its services range from regional to long-haul internal destination suiting majority of airline customers. Apart from the stylish red interiors in the aircraft that customers enjoy, they are also satisfied with the in-flight entertainment, not to mention the reliable smartly dressed crew and ground staff that meet ones needs on request. For instance, in May 2009, KAL recorded a total of one million international passengers that saw the company realize the highest market share. UB Engineering is has been renown in the market for turning construction investments and building dreams into a reality. The company has strongly focused on, but not limited to, projects in industrial installation, power, fabrication, fire fighting, and agrochemicals. However a deep concentration on erecting plants with speed and efficiency saw its competition on flexibility realize an increased market share. The companys undeterred commitment to compete on quality made it achieve the award on ISO 9001:2000 certification. It has widely built its reputation for effective operation covering fitting, gauging and maintenance of mechanical projects (Janssen, 2004). Today UB engineering records substantial turnovers of Rs. 150 Crore with a rapidly increasing trend, the last realized was Rs.275 Crore. One of the leading International engineering companies in the field of installation of industrial plants that is deeply focused on Trunkey Division for developments in Power generation, Fertilizer quality improvement and manufacture, Fire Fighting, sewage Treatment, Agrochemical production among others. Obstacles The Group Company therefore has been able to win most markets and realize aggressive growth. Its ability to change its products in line with the customers preferences was because it had mastered the market so well. In the 1950s, it expanded from single production of beer to production of spirits and even went ahead to acquire more acquire companies for production. This notwithstanding, the company in 2003, increased its brands and acquires more business for the production of liquor. It was at this time that the company released its most selling brand the Kingfisher. The company has the biggest market share because of its accrued single window ventures to invest in the global market. Holding Company of the Group manages stakes in UB group leading companies which are United Spirits Limited (USL), United Breweries Limited (UBL), and Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). Each major investment is prevailing leader in their own market because of their fast increasing segment response to current emerging customer trends. Other than the three above major successful investments, other group ventures in setting up of industrial plants through its engineering company, and in the manufacture pharmaceutical and fertilizers are improving at a gradual rate. This was reflected in the analysis of the size of structure and success of each investment which confirmed a relative relationship to their respective market share (Janssen, 2004).

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Democracy in Africa: Botswana, Morocco and Ghana

Democracy in Africa: Botswana, Morocco and Ghana Contents (Jump to) INTRODUCTION Categories of democracy Direct democracy Indirect/ representative democracy Characteristics of democracy Elected representative; Free and fair elections Civil liberties/ Fundamental human rights Rule of law Separation of powers Democracy in Africa Botswana Uninterrupted Free Elections Accountability and Transparency Anticorruption Powers Fundamental human rights Morocco Authoritarian Monarchy Reforming Monarchs Reconciliation and Justice Freedom of Expression Ghana Conclusion Bibliography INTRODUCTION Democracy is a term conversant to most people, but it is misunderstood and misused at a time when authoritarians and coup leaders assert popular support by claiming the mantle of democracy especially in Africa. Democracy has prevailed through a long and turbulent history, and democratic governments in Europe and America, notwithstanding continuing challenges, continues to progress and flourish throughout the world. Democracy derives from a Greek word demos, or people, it is defined as government in which the supreme power is vested in the people. A democracy is a system of government in which leaders are elected in competitive elections, where many parties and candidates take part and where opposition parties can attain power if they gain widespread support (deth Van Deth, 2005). Democracy has different forms, in some cases it can be exercised directly by the people, in large societies or by the people through their elected representatives. According to the memorable phrase of Abraham Lincoln, â€Å"democracy is government of the people, by the people, and for the people.† Categories of democracy Democracy has two categories, direct and representative. Direct democracy Citizens partake in making public decisions without the intermediary of elected representatives. This system is practical with rather a small number of people in a community, tribe council, for example in the UK, New England Town Meeting residents of the town attend debates and vote directly on town policies. Some U.S. states, practice direct democracy by placing propositions and referenda to change laws. In Switzerland, vital political decisions on matters, including health, employment, are put to vote by the citizens. Indirect/ representative democracy Indirect democracy is a system of government in which the public controls the government through elected representatives. The voted agents represent the people as opposed to the direct democracy whereby citizens make public policy decisions directly through polls or initiatives. An example of this type of democracy is in Kenya. The public votes in people to represent them in government institutions. The elected officials make laws, political enactments and administer public programs. Characteristics of democracy Democracies are different in every part of the world; people’s democratic ideals are influenced by their culture and society. It is more than a set of precise government institutions (Gupta, 2013). Most democracies rest upon a well unstated set of values, attitudes, and practices which may have diverse forms and expressions among cultures and societies around the world. However, the fundamental characteristics and principles of a democracy remain consistent (Cincotta, 2004). A true form of democracy should include: Elected representative; Free and fair elections All democracies should hold regular elections and allow adults or people of a certain age to take part in voting. The elections should be free and fair so as to encourage political competition for the good of the public. A democracy must have officials elected by the people to make laws and frame policies of the government. Civil liberties/ Fundamental human rights A vital characteristic of democracy is that it gives or ensures its citizens have top civil rights or fundamental rights. Democracies allow their citizens freedom of speech and press, freedom of religion and conscience, freedom of assembly and association, right to equal protection by the law, right to due process of law and fair trial, and property rights to land goods and money. Rule of law Rule of law is another characteristic of democracy. Democratic governments should ensure that there is rule of law whereby no individual is above the law and there is due process of law. This ensures emphasizes that the Law is supreme and citizens are all equal in the eyes of law. Separation of powers A democracy should ensure that all institutions of the government have equal power. This ensures accountability by encouraging checks and balances between the government institutions. Democracies with separated powers ensure provisions for effective checks and balances between the executive, judiciary and the parliament are made. This makes sure that all levels of government must be as accessible and responsive to the people as possible. Democracy in Africa Democracy started sweeping across Africa in the early 1990s after the end of cold war. A wave of democratization was propagated all over Africa by the West. Claude Ake argues that the reforms in Eastern Europe contributed to the west advocating for democracy in Africa. Ake claims that Eastern Europe provided the West with a dramatic vindication of its own values and a sense of the historical inevitability of the triumph of democracy (Ake, 1991), a mission widely believed, would consolidate the domination of Western ideals all over the world. Authoritarians and single party states were forced by western powers to democratize their states. Undemocratic states were expected to launch democratic reforms so that they could get international support and donors themselves started to provide democracy assistance. Activists during the time of democratization of Africa wished for more political freedoms and strong institutions hoping that democracy would lead to more government accountability and more effective development. Africans themselves have also struggled for democracy, an example of this is the Saba Saba movement whereby Kenyan political activities fighting for multiparty democracy had a violent confrontation with authorities. Ake gives examples of the popular rejection of military rule in Nigeria and also the struggle for multiparty in Cameroon (Ake, 1991). Thomas C. Mountain argues that Western style â€Å"democracy† is destroying Africa. Thomas insists Africans should have been allowed to practice their traditional form of democracy which was more of most arriving at a consensus where everyone got something after persuasion by council of elders (Mountain, 2012). Democracy in Africa continues to face many challenges such as poverty, coup d’à ©tats, corruption and many other problems. However there are countries that have overcome these problems and challenges. Some of these states have enjoyed long periods of political stability but their level of democracy can be argued according to ones definition of democracy. A case study of three African states would be used to analyse democracy in Africa. Botswana In November 2008, Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the former president of Botswana received an award from (Sarkin Cook, 2008)Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. The reason why Botswana’s president won was because [Botswana‘s] democracy was strong, stable and rooted in the rule of law. Botswana was widely regarded as one of the more effective countries in the world in combating corruption. President Mogae‘s outstanding leadership has ensured Botswana‘s continued stability and prosperity in the face of an HIV/AIDS pandemic which threatened the future of his country and people. The Prize Committee believed that good governance requires an environment conducive to peace, security and development, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. Botswana has had to address the challenge of advancing each in a balanced way. This has been helped by the independence and integrity of its institutions which bodes well for further progress towards sprea ding wealth and opportunity across all sectors of Botswana society. Botswana’s democracy has been characterized by: Uninterrupted Free Elections Botswana is one of a few African countries that have enjoyed free and uninterrupted elections in Africa since it gained independence from Britain. Having held free elections since it gained independence, Botswana portrays an ideal democracy in Africa. Civilian rule has been uninterrupted by the military or any autocratic governments. Accountability and Transparency Botswana has had a reputation for accountability and transparency. Accountability and transparency have been formalized through mechanisms such as the constitution and legislation requiring open government, accountability, and transparency. Presidents of Botswana have insisted on governments accountability mechanism and limiting corruption Anticorruption Powers Botswana’s government enacted a bill in 1994 that set up an anticorruption body. The anti-corruption body was vested with the powers to conduct investigations and make arrests. (Sarkin Cook, 2008) In Botswana, there are laws that establish civilian supervision over the police and a process, through a supervisory body, for civilians to lodge complaints against police abuses and other human rights violations. Fundamental human rights The constitution of Botswana guarantees the freedoms of speech and the press, association, religion and right to equal protection by the law. The right of the citizens is protected by the constitution which is the supreme law of Botswana. There are many reasons for Botswana‘s democratic success. Some reasons are due to Botswana‘s unique history and context, a few are coincidental, but several are as a result of efforts put in by the country‘s leaders (Sarkin Cook, 2008). (Hazan, 2006)Scholars have debated these achievements, resulting in many assessments applauding Botswana and a handful that note Botswana‘s success story is not without significant flaws. Some of these flaws include oppression of the minority San tribe, expulsion of foreign reports and scholars, and limitations on access to information. Morocco Authoritarian Monarchy The kingdom of Morocco is an example of an authoritarian state. After its independence, Mohammed V assumed the title of king after imposing a constitutional monarchy and establishing a one-party state. Morocco has been characterized by oppression of opposition, forced disappearance, extrajudicial killings, and imprisonment of political opponents. (Hazan, 2006) Reforming Monarchs Remarkably for an authoritarian leader, King Hassan IIs last, initiated a reform and reconciliation process, in which he freed political prisoners, enacted constitutional amendments in 1996, which established a bicameral parliament with extended powers, and launched an independent commission of inquiry to start investigative human rights abuses. Hassan invited exiled political opposition to return and after the 1997 legislative elections, which despite irregularities brought many previously banned parties and opposition members to the Chamber of Representatives. Unusually for an authoritarian leader, Hassan 2 initiated a reform and reconciliation process. When Mohammed VI, the son of Hassan 2 assumed the throne in 1999, he continued with his fathers political reforms. The King gave out two amnesties, resulting in the release of thousands of political prisoners. By the election in 2002, the elections were deemed free and fair by international observers. In 2004, a new law was passed and it placed restrictions on polygamy, divorce and improved women’s right. Reconciliation and Justice Mohammed VIs established the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) in 2004 with a mandate to examine human rights abuses that occurred from 1956 to 1999. Driss Benzekri, a former political prisoner was appointed as its head. The nature of the commission assessment of compensation brought about changes in government’s support for international human rights agreements previously unsupported. (Hazan, 2006) Although Hassan II and Mohammed VI introduced reforms, they were outwardly impressive. They made sure that no real changes to the constitutional monarchy were made to date. . Freedom of Expression Morocco is extensively condemned for its lack of freedom of expression. The government exercises control over the media and punishes a few independent newspapers that exist. Most broadcast media in Morocco are entirely or partially owned by the state. Self-censorship is common due to punishment for coverage that is deemed inappropriate by the government. Newspapers such as Le Journal have been shut down or penalized, and editors arrested. Le Journal came under government condemnation for its political coverage, and also coverage of corruption of government officials. The Moroccan government has failed to respect human rights since independence, and its constitutional monarchy does not tolerate any serious checks and balances on the kings powers or actions. No democracy movement has been able to press for the resignation of the king or to fight for reforms. (Hazan, 2006) The recent resolutions have failed to create a genuine accountability or justice for the victims or their families. Due process and rights expression and association remain curtailed. Ghana Ghana is rated highly on most of basic measures of democracies. This includes protection of fundamental civil liberties and human rights. Ghana has been successful in holding free and fair elections over the past two decades, and reducing poverty. Ghanaian democracy has not been as much successful in participation of most political actors in the country’s governance processes and institutions beyond elections. (Anebo, 2001) Actual participation drafting and implementation of public policy has been restricted to a number of political elite who have succeeded in capturing the presidency although through fairly competitive elections. The president has more powers than the other branches of government. He enjoys vast political and economic resources that he can use to get political support. Elections are the only real check and balance on the executive. Although major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have accepted the legitimacy of the guidelines that govern politics in Ghana, these guidelines have serious flaws. (Bratton, Michael, Lewis, Boadi., 2001)The elite accord among partisan parties is an agreement to uphold the status quo, regardless of its negative impact on good governance and democratic practice. Ghanaians expect economic and social benefits (Anebo, 2001) of democracy than the government appears to produce through existing institutional arrangements. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees the Human Rights of all individuals found within the territorial boundaries of the Republic of Ghana. Chapter 5 of 1992 Constitution, Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms ensures rights such as right to life, economic rights and womens right are adhered to. The entire chapter 5 can only be amended by the people of Ghana through voting at a referendum. Ghanaians enjoy freedom of press and information thus making it one of the countries in Africa that does not oppress the media. (Arthur, 2010) Conclusion Africa has a long way to go to attain full democratic status with them being welfare states. There a lot of limitations those hinder the full initiation of democracy in many African countries. Ethnicity, poor leadership, poverty, corruption have been significant in preventing democratization in Africa. I strongly agree with Akes arguments that the trail of democracy would not feed or shelter the needy. (Ake, 1991) If Africa is to achieve democracy, people must first be enlightened and kick out the anti-democracy forces. Some African countries are still under authoritative and corrupt rulers. These leaders pretend to be practicing democracy; they hold elections full of deceit and thus cling on to power. Democracy must be considered African context most pressing needs and people must first be educated to accept and appreciate democracy as Ake argues. (Ake, 1991) Bibliography Ake, C. (1991). Rethinking African Democracy. Journal of Democracy, 33-44. Anebo, F. (2001). The Ghana 2000 Elections. Journal of African Political Science, 69-88. Arthur, P. (2010). Democratic Consolidation in Ghana:The Role and Contribution of the Media, Civil Society and State Institutions . Comparative and Commonwealth Studies, 203-226. Arthur, Peter. 2010. Democratic Consolidation in Ghana: The Role and Contribution of the Media, Civil Society and State Institutions.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- Comparative and Commonwealth Studies 48(2): . (n.d.). 203-226. Bratton, Michael, Lewis, P., Boadi., E. G. (2001). Constituencies for Reform in Ghana. Journal of Modern African Studies, 231-259. Cincotta, H. (2004). Democracy in brief. Washington DC: division of US studies. Deth, k. n., Van Deth, J. W. (2005). The Democratic State. In Foundations of Comparative politics (p. 22). New York: Cambridge University. Gupta, T. (2013, 12 4). preserve articles. Retrieved from preservearticles.com: http://www.preservearticles.com/2012051632235/what-are-the-five-features-of-democracy.html Hazan, P. (2006). Morocco: Betting on a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. United States Institute of Peace Special Report 165 . Mountain, T. C. (2012). Destroying Africa With Western â€Å"Democracy†. Foreign policy journal, 72-96. Sarkin, j., Cook, A. (2008). Is Botswana the Miracle of Africa? Democracy, the Rule. TRANSNATIONAL LAW CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS, 453-457. Individual Differences: Trait Theory and Personal Constructs Individual Differences: Trait Theory and Personal Constructs Miss Emma Elizabeth Dorothy Meredith How well does trait theory help us understand individual differences? Discuss this question with reference to personal construct theory. This essay will explore trait theory and how it helps us to understand individual differences in comparison with personal construct theory. The basis of each approach is; trait theory describes a reasonably solid characteristic which differentiates one individual from another, whereas personal construct theory argues that individuals create their own way of making sense of the world through creating their own private structures. The essay will begin by outlining the main notions of the theories, to gain an insight of how individual differences are perceived by each approach. This essay will aim to identify strengths and limitations in each approach and will conclude by evaluating the extent to which each theory can account for and explain individual differences. Trait theory is based in the social cognitive perspective and developed from the experimental tradition to individual differences and which are seen as fixed ways in which individuals can vary from each other (Butt, 2012). The aim of trait theory is to find commonplace dimensions from a broad variety of individuals, which would then help theorists to predict the behaviour of an individual in certain situations. Individual differences are defined by using questionnaires as a measurement of personality. This fits in well with the social cognitive approach which sees individuals as information processing beings in the social world (Hollway, 2012). Eysenck and Rachman (1965, cited Butt 2012) argued genetic and biological factors were responsible for personality traits. By using psychometric tests, designed to assess traits of individuals, they sought to explore personality causality. Eysenck’s theory suggests personality can be characterised by three specific traits (extraversion/ introversion, neuroticism and psychoticism) suggesting each of these traits are characterised by particular behavioural attributes. From the data gained from Eysenck’s personality inventories (Eysenck and Eysenck, 1963, cited Butt 2012) they argued these traits are behavioural expressions of biologically based differences, similar to the â€Å"four temperaments† of Hippocrates and Galen from Ancient Greece. Eysenck and Rachman’s (1965, cited Butt 2012) research claims there are two main dimensions of personality which are unrelated. These are extraversion and neuroticism and are behavioural definitions of differences in temperament. They argue these dimensions are grounded in autonomic and cortisol arousal and suggest the relationship between behavioural patterns and inherent brain structure is similar to phenotype and genotype in biology (Butt 2012). It was argued by Eysenck there could be a clinical application if main dimensions were found and linked to disti nctive types of neurotic behaviour and may explain the some of the psychological disorders some individuals acquire, which would allow for future treatment and interventions. Trait theories of personality describe personality in terms of characteristics such as, reliable – unreliable, or group traits, which have been recognised through factor analysis to form clusters into personality dimensions, for example, extraversion includes traits such as ‘risk taking’ and ‘sociability’(Stevens 2007). Personal construct theory was developed by George Kelly (1955, cited Butt 2012; Stevens 2007), he focussed his work on individual differences and viewed personality as an individual experience (Stevens, 2007). It promotes constructs which Kelly used to describe the bipolar dimensions (e.g. Friendly/cold, interesting/boring) which underlie the ways in which a person makes sense of their world (Stevens 2007). Based in the phenomenological perspective, which focuses is on how things (especially other people) appear different to each individual, personal construct theory aims to understand how an individual uses their subjective experiences to create a set of personal constructs which in turn help them to make sense of the world and to take account of the distinctiveness of each individuals personality (Butt 2012). Personal construct theory considers individual differences as taking account of and recognising each individual’s view of the world and how this helps to create their p ersonality and who they become as an individual (Butt 2012; Stevens 2007). Kelly (1955, cited Butt 2012; Stevens 2007) argued it is peoples own experiences which build their set of constructs and these are used to evaluate situations. Two people assessing the same scenario will therefore see things differently, and this is where individual differences occur. Constructs are seen as being fluid and looking at oneself through another’s eyes, individuals can make conscious choices in order to change their view of the world and their personality (Butt 2012). However, as individuals put a lot of effort into building these constructions, Kelly (1955, cited Butt 2012) argued the individual may not wish to change them. Personal construct theory is grounded in subjective methodology. Kelly (1955, cited Butt 2012) developed the Repertory Grid to investigate the sets of personal constructs used by individuals. This works through the process of individuals designating constructs to all persons considered to be a part of their life. This enables the bipolar dimensions to be determined. When analysed it reveals the differences found in each individual’s experiences and how they will assess the same person or situation in completely differing ways. If a person is rigid in their constructs they may believe an individual who is aloof would also be a cold person. Having this rigidity in a personality could lead to relationship problems as opposed to someone with a more fluid personality. Constructs are created subconsciously, so by using the grid, individuals are able to gain insight and relate their own particular meaning to their surrounding environment which would not usually be available (Butt, 20 12). A strength of personal construct theory is it adds a holistic understanding of individual differences. It also transcends both the individual-society dualism and agency-structure dualism, the individual is considered from their own experiences and also by being part of the social world (Hollway, 2012). Personal construct theory accepts people change and society can help in promoting this change. Personal construct theory does have limitations. The findings cannot be compared across a wider population. It is also a relatively new theory and as a result has not been researched or tested to the same extent as trait theory. Trait theory is an older theory and has been thoroughly researched and tested extensively. The methodology is objective and the ontology views humans as information processing entities and by using personality measurements such as Eysenck’s personality inventory, larger groups of individuals can be compared. The aim is the objective measurement of individual differences. A biological reductionist attitude to individual differences was adopted by Eysenck suggesting traits are biologically determined, making them consistent and giving predictive value. This reductionist approach means problems with dualism are avoided as the behaviour is reduced to physiological levels. This enables behaviour to be better understood. The objectivity and consistency allows trait theory a broader range for application and its findings can be used to pinpoint trends within organisations. Being grounded in the experimental tradition the knowledge production is limited to the data with no reference t o the influence of social environments and individual experiences (Hollway 2012). Trait theory does have other limitations, it only describes personality and identifies trends it does not explain it; neither does it explain behaviour (Skinner 1974, cited Butt 2012). It is designed to measure reactions and consistency in the reactions of individuals in certain situations. Mischel (1968, cited Butt 2012) argued that trait theory methods reduced the complexity of human behaviour to become more general. He also argued that there is very little evidence supporting the consistency in behaviour that is claimed by trait theorists assuming that behaviour is fixed over time, compared to the considerable amount of substantial evidence to support behaviours changing in time and in different situations. Compared with personal construct theory, trait theory is seen to be an apt way of considering personality resembling lay theories used by individuals when gauging others. Individuals are able to predict future behaviour assuming that these traits are consistent (Butt 2012). Personality traits are seen as biological and rigid within trait theory and unlikely to change. As a result has it has a less practical use, compared with personal construct theory, in assisting changes in personality. Unlike personal constructs, how the individual’s social life influences the individuals personality is not taken in to account within trait theory. As personal construct theory is subjective, in comparison to the objectivity of trait theory, it is situated in time and place whereas the situated knowledge displayed in the trait theory data from the questionnaires are specific to the current situation and are not necessarily generalised therefore could be ecologically invalid when taken out of context. Individual personalities are considered to be rich with differences and largely taken in to account within personal constructs, which is not seen in trait theory (Butt 2012). As personal construct theory uses a qualitative interview method, any power that the therapist has would be in drafting the questions needed to gain details of the personal experiences of the client. The client can then interpret these and place onto the repertory grid. The power relations found in personal construct theory are by no means to the same degree as those found within trait theory. The repertory grid method stops the researcher having much influence over the research findings and is a large strength of personal construct theory (Salmon 2003 cited Butt 2012). Trait theorists have more power over the individual, coming from the experimental tradition, it is argued that rather than totally showing an individual’s personality traits accurately, the outcomes are heavily influenced by the personality and experience of the researcher as they have influence over the design of the questions and can manipulate this design. Therefore, trait theory findings have the potential to be inaccurate as individuals are judged against what is treated as normal by people who they believe are the authority on the subject (Mischel 1968, cited Butt 2012). Psychometric measures are used in education in such a way the result is pupils are only taught how to pass tests by their teachers. It was argued by Salmon (2003, cited Butt 2012) by teaching and testing students in this way, the ability level becomes rigid and the learning becomes generalised. Students are then grouped according to how they have performed in the test and their individual personalities are ignored. Personal construct theory in contrast to trait theory, do not see students abilities as fixed but are somewhat fluid. Salmon (2003, cited Butt 2012) applied essential parts of personal construct theory to education and argued the way that trait theorists suggests children learn is false and children do not leave their own personal worlds at the door when they enter the classroom. Instead meanings are derived from a personal system of understandings. In the way each student’s individuality brings with it their own world and their own personality within world. This me ans they will have different views on learning styles to others, a type one pupil loves another may hate and Salmon argued to promote personal development and growth, schools need to take account of the current personal constructs held by each student. The Salmon Line was later developed as a qualitative tool, where personal meanings are plotted on a line. These represent the student’s current abilities and their desired goals. This allows students to see how they are progressing and what they need to do to change and grow using their own meanings and sense of progression, and giving them an active part in their learning (Salmon 2003, cited Butt 2012). Trait theorists see traits as fixed, determined by biological factors and unchanging through the environment which would suggest individuals have no part in changing their personality traits and social structures to not have any bearing on personality traits at all. However, the methodology used in trait theory means that it has a wide scope to be used across larger populations. In contrast, personal construct theory accepts people change and society facilitates that change, allowing for a better understanding as to why change happens in different situations, when this happens and how this happens. Variations of personal construct theory allows insight to change in the future, for example the ‘Salmon Line’ helps to promote learning by allowing students to set their own objectives to their learning and be aware of what they need to change in their personality to achieve it. This doesn’t make either of the theories right when it comes to explaining individuals diffe rence, as demonstrated they both contribute to our understanding of individual differences in very contrasting ways, and both have their fair share of strengths and weaknesses. Word Count: 2053 References: Butt. T, (2012) ‘Individual Differences’ in D. Langdridge, K. Mahnedran, S. Taylor (2nd ed) Critical Readings in Social Psychology, Maidenhead, Open University Press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Hollway, W. (2012), ‘Social psychology: past and present’ in W. Hollway, H. Lucey, and A. Phoenix, (eds) Social Psychology Matters, Maidenhead, Open University Press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Hollway, W. (2012), ‘Methods and knowledge in social psychology’ in W. Hollway, H. Lucey, and A. Phoenix, (eds) Social Psychology Matters, Maidenhead, Open University Press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Stevens, R. (2007), ‘Person Psychology: psychoanalytic and humanistic perspectives’. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, K. Thomas (Eds), Mapping Psychology (2nd ed). Maidenhead, Open University Press/Milton Keynes, The Open University.