Ethnic group of elderly people Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethnic group of elderly people - Research Paper Example The research aims to collect data from an ethnic group of elderly people highlighted the cultural patterns among which they were living their life. The methodology employed was participant observation and interview method by the researcher and the mode of research was ethnographic research method. The researcher had to take informed consent and establish rapport with the participants of the study to undertake the research process. The data collected from the researcher showed the type of life spent by the subject in the old home and their values, beliefs and life styles. It was found out that they were strongly attached with each other and had a good sense of belonging with spending their life according to their religious and cultural background. The research gives a valuable insight into the life of elderly people which can be used to study the cultural patterns of this ethnic group. It is expected that the study would prove to be useful for the future researchers as well who would like to study the same topic. The ethnic group chosen for the research is elderly people living in the old homes. The mode of research was participant observation as well as in-depth interviews were also being conducted to obtain additional information about the subjects of the study. The topic chosen for the ethnographic research is the nature of life spent at old homes by elderly people. Also the purpose of the research was to gain significant insights about their life styles as manifested by their appearance, interaction with peers and other things. The reason for the selection of this topic was to conduct research in a significant area that was related to a segment of a society that was generally neglected and needed attention. Therefore, the study was focused on elderly people to understand their issues and concerns that they had about the society and also to make their situation better by making themselves heard by others in the community. As the research tools used to collect data were participant observation method and interview method, it was necessary to establish rapport with the subjects of the study firstly before conducting the actual research. Another ethical consideration was taking consent of the participants to use them as subjects of the study which was enabled by asking them about their willingness to take part in the study. The informed consent was taken from the old home’s management staff to use the residents as the participants of the study. The permission was granted and 15 elderly people were used for the research by asking them individually about their willingness to participate in the research process. The ages of elderly people were from 75- 90 and both men and women were included in the research sample. In order to establish rapport with the participants, an effort was done on making them open up and take part in discussion with the researcher who had to meet them frequently and engage in friendly conversation with the aged people. The researcher asked about their general well-being and showed concern for them which made the elderly take the researcher as a friendly person with whom they could share their personal feelings and thoughts. In order to proceed with the research process, the researcher constantly met with the elderly people for a period of two weeks on regular basis. The researcher spent two to three hours with them daily and observed the type of life they spend in old home. The interviews were taken from the participants occasionally to synthesize with the information taken from the participants’ observation. Main Discussion The research was undertaken on elderly ethnic group by means of interview and participant observation method. The concepts of anthropology applied on this research are ethnicity, culture and race. Ethnicity implies a group of people living in the same

Argentinas Economic Crisis Essay Example for Free

Argentinas Economic Crisis Essay To divert attention from increasingly severe political and economic problems, in 1982 the junta ordered an invasion of the nearby Falkland Islands, a British territory that Argentina had long claimed. British forces counterattacked and took back the islands. A huge debt was accrued as a result of the war and at the end of the military government in 1983, the country’s industries unemployment were severely affected (Saxton, 2003). In 1983, the junta transferred power to an elected civilian president, Raul Alfonsin of the Radical Civic Union party. The new government’s plans included stabilizing the economy and introducing a new currency known as the austral. New loans were taken out and state eventually was unable to pay the interest on debt and eventually the confidence in austral collapsed. Inflation spiralled out of control, GDP shrank and wages fell by almost half. Following riots President Alfonsin stepped down six months before his term. In 1989, the Justicialist (Peronist) party’s Carlos Menem began governing and in 1991, he appointed Domingo Carvalho as the Minister of the Economy who introduced ‘Convertibility Law System’, which took effect on April 1, 1991. Saxton, 2004, p. 4). The Convertibility Law System ended the hyperinflation by establishing a pegged exchange rate with the U. S. dollar and backing the currency substantially with dollars. The aim was to ensure the acceptance of the currency after the 1989 and 1990 hyperinflation period, as people started rejecting the currency and dema nding US dollars (Hill, 2011). The exchange rate was initially 10,000 Argentine australes per dollar; on January 1, 1992 the peso replaced the austral at 1 peso = 10,000 australes = US$1. 4 (Saxton, 2003) Argentines were allowed to use dollars freely, price stability was assured and the value of the currency was preserved. The quality of life was raised for many and people could afford to travel abroad, buy imported goods and ask for loans from banks at a low interest rate. Argentina attracted extensive foreign investment, which helped modernize its utilities, ports, railroads, banks, and other sectors (Saxton, 2003). However, the fixed exchange rate made imports cheap which lead to loss of Argentina’s industrial infrastructure and increase in unemployment. In the meantime, government spending continued and public debts grew substantially as government needed to borrow to finance external debt. However, the government showed no intention of paying debt off and also delayed payment schedules, while IMF kept lending money. Eventually in 1998 Argentina entered in a four-year recession, during which its economy shrank 28 percent (Saxton, 2003). This happened as a result of the Argentina exports were harmed by devaluation of Brazilian Real and international revaluation of the dollar effectively revaluing the peso against its major trading partners Brazil and the euro area (Hornbeck, 2002). By 1999, elected President De la Rua was left with a country where unemployment had risen to a critical point and the undesirable effects of the fixed exchange rate were showing. The De la Rua government was mainly worried about the federal budget deficit, which was 2. 5 percent of GDP in 1999. That left only one option: raising tax rates. President De la Rua secured approval for three big tax increases, effective January 2000, April 2001, and August 2001. Hence, massive tax evasion and money laundering happened also led to funds evaporating to offshore banks. In 2001, the freeze on bank deposits began, in response to large withdrawals as people started losing confidence in economy. The economy turned from recession to depression as people and businesses could not make payments. Credit evaporated. Many people took to the streets in angry demonstrations which also led to supermarket looting and President De la Rua resigning (Horbeck, 2002). By late 2001, the government tax revenues plunged as the economy contracted and the Argentina government defaulted in its debt repayments, effectively ‘rendering ? 80 billion of government issued bonds worthless’ (Hill, 2011, p. 99). The debt default to IMF was the final nail in the coffin and in early 2002, the government finally allowed the peso to float freely. Hence, the peso immediately fell $1=3. 5 pesos (Hill, 2011). Q1. A fixed exchange rate is an  exchange rate  for a  currency  where the government has decided to link the  value  to another currency or to some valuable commodity like gold. For example in 1990, Argentina fixed the exchange rate of the Argentinean peso to the U. S. dollar at $1=1 peso. A government may fix its currency by holding  reserves  of the  peg  (or the  asset  to which it is fixed) in the  central bank. For example, if a country fixes its currency to the  British pound, it must hold enough pounds in reserve to account for all of its currency in  circulation. Importantly, fixed exchange rates do not change according to  market  conditions. It is also called a pegged exchange rate. For most of the period between 1975 and 1990, Argentina experienced hyperinflation (averaging 325% a year)+, poor or negative  GDP  growth, a severe lack of confidence in the  national government  and the  Central Bank, and low levels of  capital  investment. After eight currency crises since the early 1970s,  inflation  peaked in 1989, reaching 5,000% that year. GDP was 10% lower than in 1980 and per capita GDP had fallen by over 20%. Fixed investment  fell by over half and, by 1989, could not cover yearly  depreciation   particularly in the industrial sector. Social indicators deteriorated seriously: real wages collapsed to about half of their 1974 peak and income poverty rates increased from 27% in 1980 to 47% in 1989. After the 1990s when Argentina fixed its Argentinean Peso against the Dollar, the economy started to settle and actually demonstrated the benefits that fixing an exchange rate can have. By adopting a fixed exchange rate, the government reduced uncertainties for all economic agents in the country. As businesses had the perfect knowledge that prices are fixed and therefore not going to change, hence they could plan ahead in their productions. The fixed exchange rate system avoids the wild day to day fluctuations that are likely to occur under flexible rates and that discourage specialisation in production and the flow of international trade and investment. Argentina implemented its currency board in April 1991. Its main achievement was in controlling inflation, which was brought down from more than 3,000% in 1989 to 3. 4% in 1994. Another major accomplishment of the system was renewed economic growth. Enjoying the high world prices of  primary products  (Argentinas main exports), GDP grew at an annual rate of 8% between 1991 until the  Tequila Effect  of 1995. Even after the  Mexican crisis, until 1998 the annual growth rate was 6%. International trade  also increased dramatically, reflecting the growing degree of openness of the country. Imports increased from US$ 11. 6 billion in 1991 to US$ 32. billion in 2000. Likewise, exports also increased from US$ 12. 1 billion in 1991 to US$ 30. 7 billion in 2000. 2) Why was Argentina unable to maintain its fixed exchange rate regime? What does this tell you about the limitations of a fixed exchange rate regime? In the end, the fixed exchange rate regime did not last and Argentina had to abandon this policy to regain its position in the market. This was mainly because the pegged value was devalued by many countries and this caused global economic growth to decline considerably and the demand of exported Argentina commodities to decrease sharply too. This in turn made Argentinean goods more expensive in other international markets. On top of this, with Brazil devaluing their own currency against the US dollar made matters worse for Argentina as this had an influence on their Argentinean peso, pricing their goods out of the market. The decline in global prices for farm products and the global economic slowdown only added to Argentina’s problems. Even though the fixed exchange rate policy had succeeded previously in strengthening Argentina’s competitive positioning in the global market and stimulated economic growth, this would not have survived for long. The fixed exchange rate regime contains many drawbacks and would not have worked forever, as maintaining this fixed exchange rate conflicted with many other macroeconomic objectives of the country. There was also less flexibility present in a fixed exchange rate policy and caused difficulty for Argentina to respond rapidly to the shocks in the market, as pressure was added on to the currency. This affected the competitiveness of the market and also inflation rates, thus causing Argentina to alter their policy further. However, this is proven to be difficult as some countries may see this as an unfair trade advantage to them, causing some degree of disagreement between certain countries, affecting their competitiveness in the economy and making it harder for them to defend its own currency. Question 3: Do you think that the IMF was correct to insist that the Argentinian government adopt a fiscal austerity program? What other approach could the IMF have taken? The Argentine monetary crisis hit in 1999, but the IMF had been working closely with Argentine government since 1991 and had supported the Peso’s peg to the US Dollar. IEO, 2003), (Stiglitz, 2002) The IMF (2003) considers their policies in the run up to the crisis to have been lax and based on too much optimism. The organisation blames structural weaknesses in the economy; mainly high public sector debt, as well as other factors like lack of labour market flexibility and their own enforcement on these issues. While supporting Argentina through lending, the IMF called for fiscal austerity in order to boost confidence and attract much needed international investment. (MacEwan, 2002), (Stiglitz, 2002), (IMF, 2003) The fund argues that an expansionary fiscal policy was ruled out because there was no surplus from which to spend and deficit spending would have caused the debt to grow at a higher rate than the economy. Furthermore, a budget deficit could have led to higher interest rates for borrowing. (IMF, 2003) Given the fixed exchange rate, an expansionary monetary policy, i. e. increasing the money supply, was not possible. (MacEwan, 2002), (IMF, 2003) MacEwan (2002) argues that fiscal austerity had the opposite effect and reduced markets’ confidence in the country, which led to a worsening of the crisis. An alternative view is that it is normal for a country to run a moderate budget deficit in a recession and that an expansionary fiscal policy would have been more appropriate. (Stiglitz, 2002), (MacEwan, 2002) MacEwan (2002) goes further and explains that â€Å"curtailing social spending on education, health care, physical infrastructure projects cuts the legs out from under long-term economic progress. † In recent years, in spite of the financial crisis and the still-recent default, the Argentine economy has been doing well, growing by 9. 2% in 2010 and 8. 8% in 2011 and is expected to grow at least 5. % in 2012, with the growth being attributed to both fiscal and monetary stimulus. (MarketWatch, 2011), (Dow Jones Newswires, 2012), (MercoPress, 2012) The expansionary policy has led to inflation rates of 22. 75%, which seem to be causing labour disputes when wage increases fail to keep up. (MercoPress, 2012) For conclusion, something like: Even considering the high inflation rate (22. 75%) and resulting labour disputes, the situation is preferable to the massive debt and street riots of 2001. Q4 In the end the Argentinean government was forced to abandon its peg to the dollar.

Essay --

Benefits of investing in small cap funds are in galore. Most vitals are: 1. Small-Cap Stocks traditionally outperform the Large-Cap Stocks 2. Lack of Coverage creates potential Small-Cap bargains 3. Small-Caps have higher growth prospects However, there are certain factors that work together in bringing about these benefits. As Peter Lynch puts it, "Know what you own, and know why you own it." So, first and foremost, you have to understand the financial standing of the companies whose stocks you are planning to buy. It is essential to know that companies having strong fundamentals can make sure that you get good returns on buying their small cap stocks. Secondly, it is also important for you to be able to average out the buying price of small cap stocks. Also, the small caps are not always included in the mutual funds and thus it is always advisable to all the investors to do a thorough market research before investing in potential small companies. Small Caps Stock Investing Tips Many people scamper to buy stocks, pushing the price upwards, in order to make quick money! W...

Mgt/311 Motivation Strategy Plan Essay

Abstract This paper will review the motivational strategies that best suits each of the three employees based on their characteristics. I would go on to describe the motivational strategies I have chosen and why they would suit theses three individuals. This paper will also point out the motivational theories that are best connected to the motivational strategies I have chose I have come up with motivational strategies that I felt was appropriate for all three individuals based on their portfolio from their self-assessments and their characteristics. In order to do this I had to evaluate each of the individual’s characteristics and see what best suited their interests. Mike is able to make reasonable decisions but could at times make rash decisions which could have a negative affect the way he makes decisions regarding his job. He lacks self-motivation when it comes to his employment. Mike is mildly emotional although it he may become overwhelmed under pressure. He has a relatively positive emotional outlook when it comes to his job. Mia tends be able to valuable decisions regarding her life and job which is a positive feature for her job. She also tends to be self-motivated but may become bored with her job from time to time. Mia emotions could interfere with job related issues because she seems to be highly emotional. She is able to work under li ttle to no supervision Positive emotional outlook about her job but this could fluctuate depending on stress level which means she would be open and receptive to helping others. Ray has a good since of direction when it comes to making decisions he too could work well under little to no supervision. He tends to be self-motivated but may need a boost here and there due to lack of interest. Like Mike Ray tend to have mild emotional reactions to job duties and job related stress but seems to be able to regulate his emotions. Great positive emotional outlook toward his job and tend to be very helpful to others. There are a few motivational strategies that I have chosen these strategies are in place to suit each of the three individuals. The strategies I have chosen is merit based pay plan, flexible benefits, employee recognition, employee involvement programs and bonuses. Each of the individual’s characteristics that benefits from one or all of these choices. The merit based pay plan would help the individual engage in their jobs better because great performance equals a great raise. Flexible benefits also helps them to choose benefit package that best suits their individual needs, this is seen as a perk of the job. Employee recognition would suit each of the individuals because this would help them feel good about the work they are doing and would make them want to keep doing a great job, it would also boost their confidence. Employee involvement is another strategy I would use because this would give the individuals to become more involved with not only their assigned job but with other things in the company as well. This would also help them to do things out side of their job and expand their knowledge. Lastly I chose bonuses I feel as if the company is doing well it would be because of the employees and the bonuses would also give the individuals something to look forward to and help them to want to keep up their performance because if their performance goes down the production of the company goes down and so will the bonuses (Robbins and Judge, 2011). The two motivational theories that are connected to my motivational strategies are two, factor theory and expectancy theory. According to Robbins and Judge (2011) expectancy theory is a theory that believes that employees would be motivated to a high level of effort when they feel as if it would lead to a better performance appraisal. The two motivational theories believe that a person is basic and their attitude towards their work could determine their success or failure (Robbins and Judge, 2011). With my strategy I not only want the individuals to have a good attitude towards their job but to also feel appreciated for doing their work. References Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2011). Organizational Behavior (14th Ed.). River, N.J. Pearson/Prentice Hall. University of Phoenix. Employee Portfolio: Motivation Action Plan. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, MGT/311 Organizational Development website.

The Buddhist Architecture

The Buddhist architecture has a lot of history that comes along with the culture, India is known for being the center of Buddhism as well as the highlight Buddha teachings. Different parts of Buddha life is instilled in the architecture. According to â€Å"The Buddhist Architecture† (2007), â€Å"Caves or grottoes are the oldest form of the Buddhist architecture. They are also known as the rock-cut monasteries, which were hewn from the cliffs and rock walls of the valleys. In India, the most significant cave is Junta caves, near modern Arranged, Maharajah's. † (Para. Two and Four).The caves had played a large part in the history of Buddhist architecture; it was more than Just a building or even a simple rock. According to â€Å"The Buddhist Architecture† (2007), â€Å"Pagodas are the principle form of Buddhist architecture, which are used as religious multistory Buddhist towers, erected as a memorial or shrine. The most important factor was Consciousness, which is the ultimate reality. † (Para. Two and Four). There are various buildings associated with religion, but the one that came out at the most in my search was, â€Å"Amphibian Temple,† this place is known or being a place where â€Å"Buddha† obtained inspiration and enlightenment.There were other temples in China called, â€Å"Ethane Temple†, â€Å"Lama Temple†, and † Gangue Temple† these temples hold a lot of education surrounding Buddhism and what it represents, it is an important place to be visited while in China. The Elder (2008) website â€Å"Numerous churches, monasteries, convents and shrines show sites connected with the earliest years of Christianity, and the life and ministry of Jesus and his disciples. The design of these constructions was affected as much by the religious traditions of the individual Christian community.Christianity was instilled in the buildings such as churches, even from the rooftop the column of a church . â€Å"Plans. ?Many Early Christians shadowed the basilicas model for their new churches (up. 198, 206) and may also have used old Roman halls, baths, dwelling- houses, and even pagan temples as places of worship. Walls. ?These were still constructed according to Roman methods of using rubble or concrete, faced with plaster, brick, or stone (p. 210 B). Mosaic design was added internally (p. 21 1), and sometimes also externally on west facades; though little regard was paid to external architectural effect (p. 09). † (â€Å"Early Christian Architecture – Comparative Analysis†, 1921). The walls expressed certain parts of the religion was alters, roofs and openings in a church. Some names of the buildings surrounding this architecture were, â€Å"The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem and The Church at Gal. Loused. † Islamic architecture and art pieces were in different areas that Islam either dominated or still remains dominant while still embodying M uslim precepts in its themes. The earliest architectural monument of Islam is the Dome of the Rock Jubbah al-Sahara) in Jerusalem, created in 691-92.Some Muslims believe it to be the area from which Muhammad rose to heaven. â€Å"It has mosaics depicting scrolling vines and flowers, Jewels, and crowns in greens, blues, and gold. Similar in some aspects is the later Great Mosque of Damascus (built c. 705-14) the culture of Islamic Spain reached its apogee in Moorish art and architecture. The Mud © Carlyle of Spain employed through the 18th cent. And, important until much later in time, is founded on this architecture. † (â€Å"Islamic Art And Architecture 2012).

Arad. City of Old and New essays

Arad. City of Old and New essays Arad is an old city, being mentioned in documents for the first time in the eleventh century. It is believed that the city has got its name from Knight Orod, knight of King Saint Stephen around 1000 AD.. Turks conquered the region in sixteenth century and their occupation lasted for almost two centuries. Under this Turkish occupation a new fortress (a historical monument that is still in use today) was built. It was bigger than the previous ones and had three exterior walls and many small defense points in the immediate surroundings for increased protection. Later, the region entered under the occupation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and many important treaties were signed in the Arads fortress. At the beginning of the 20th century Arad was the biggest town in Transylvania, today being the second largest one after Timisoara. Arad is situated on the right bank of the river Mures, and consists of the inner town and five suburbs. Arad is a modern town and contains many handsome private and public buildings, including a cathedral. It is the seat of a Greek-Orthodox bishop, and possesses a Greek-Orthodox theological seminary and a conservatory for music. The nomad tribes invasions, more than 800 years ago determined the local people to build defense positions showed that defense positions were needed and in the second half of the thirteenth century there were built fortresses at Soimos, Siria and Dezna on the hills surrounding the city. Some of their walls are still standing today and offer a great tourist attraction. ...

Top 10 jobs for trade school graduates

Top 10 jobs for trade school graduates Your educational path post-high school should be one that works best for you. For some people, that’s a four-year degree (or beyond). But for many others, choosing a trade-specific education and building career skills that way is the most fulfilling and financially viable option. If you’re thinking about opting for a specialty trade school as you set your own professional goals, we have info on some of the top careers you can pursue without going the university route. 1. ElectricianElectricians install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring and equipment. The day-to-day work may involve installing, maintaining, and fixing wiring and electrical equipment, installing transformers and circuit breakers, using devices to diagnose electrical problems, reading blueprints, ensuring safety and compliance with national regulations, and ensuring that others are working safely with electrical devices, tools, and infrastructure.What you’ll need: Electricians typically serve a four-year apprenticeship in which they receive direct on-the-job training. This may be done in conjunction with an electrician training program at an accredited trade school, or right out of high school. Most states require electricians to be licensed, so be sure to check your own state’s requirements.How much they make: $52,570 per year, or $25.35 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 9% by 2024- about average for all jobs.2. PlumberPlumbing can be a dirty job, but someone has to do it, and that someone can build a lucrative career out of this specialty. Plumbers install and repair water pipes and septic systems. Their day-to-day work may include installing pipes and water fixtures, diagnosing and troubleshooting water-related issues, repairing or replacing water pipe systems, ensuring that plumbing systems are up to code, reading blueprints, and billing customers. This can be a very physically demanding job, as it also requires a lot of hands-on manual work and dexterity.Some plumbers are hired full-time by government agencies or private companies, but many are small business owners and contractors working on their own.What you’ll need: Plumbers typically serve an apprenticeship in which they receive direct on-the-job training. This may be done in conjunction with a plumber training program at an accredited trade school, or right out of high school. Most states require plumbers to be licensed, so be sure to check your own state’s requirements.How much they make: $51,450 per year, or $24.74 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 16% by 2024- much faster than average for all jobs.3. Dental HygienistAt a dental appointment, hygienists are the ones who handle prep for procedures, as well as clean teeth and treat minor dental health issues. (They’re also the ones who can tell immediately whether you’ re flossing as much as you say you do.) Their day-to-day responsibilities may include cleaning teeth, examining patients for signs of oral disease (like gingivitis), providing preventative dental care, assisting with dental surgeries and procedures, and educating patients on oral health and follow-up care. Most hygienists are employed by private dental offices, though they may be found in healthcare facilities that offer dental care.What you’ll need: An associate’s degree in dental hygiene from an accredited program (which generally takes two to three years to complete). And although every state requires dental hygienists to be licensed, the requirements to get and keep a license may vary, so check your state’s requirements.How much they make: $72,910 per year, or $35.05 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 20% by 2024- much faster than average for all jobs.4. Respiratory TherapistHealthcare field s are growing exponentially, and although many career paths in this field require an advanced degree, there are plenty of options that require trade-specific programs and certification to get started. One such field is respiratory therapy. These professionals work with patients of all ages who may have trouble breathing due to chronic respiratory conditions like asthma, heart conditions, or emphysema. Their day-to-day work may include examining patients, working with physicians and other medical staff to develop treatment plans, diagnosing conditions through tests, treating patients with therapy and medications, monitoring and recording patient process, and educating patients on at-home or follow-up care.Respiratory therapists typically work in hospitals, private medical offices, or other healthcare facilities. The job may require shifts on nights, weekends, or holidays, especially for therapists who work in hospitals or other facilities that are open all the time.What you’ll need: An associate’s degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited program. Respiratory therapists need to be licensed in all states except Alaska, so you should check your own state’s specific requirements for licensing.How much they make: $58,670 per year, or $28.21 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 23% by 2024- much faster than average for all jobs.5. Licensed Practical NurseLicensed practical nurses, or LPNs (also known as licensed vocational nurses) provide basic nursing care, under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. Their day-to-day work may include performing basic vital signs tests, changing bandages, inserting or removing catheters, helping patients with tasks like bathing or dressing, monitoring patients, and keeping detailed patient records.What you’ll need: A certificate from an LPN-specific program at an accredited school. All states require LPNs to be licensed and may have different regulations as to what an LPN can and cannot do on the job, so be sure to check your own state’s specific requirements.How much they make: $44,090 per year, or $21.20 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 12% by 2024- faster than average for all jobs.6. HVAC TechnicianWith cooling issues in summer and heating issues in winter, HVAC (Heating, Venting, and Air Conditioning) technicians are often in demand year-round. These professionals work on the systems that regulate air and temperature in buildings. Their day-to-day work may include installing heating or cooling equipment, diagnosing and fixing issues with air quality and temperature, installing electrical components and wiring, inspecting air systems, performing general maintenance on air systems, and ensuring compliance with air quality regulations.What you’ll need: A certificate from an HVAC-specific training program at an accr edited school, plus on-the-job training.How much they make: $45,910 per year, or $22.07 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 15% by 2024- much faster than average for all jobs.7. Diagnostic Medical SonographerDiagnostic medical sonographers use imaging equipment (like sonographs and ultrasound) to help diagnose or treat patients with internal injuries or conditions. Their day-to-day work may include preparing patients for testing, taking medical histories, educating patients about diagnostic imaging tests, preparing and maintaining diagnostic image equipment, operating diagnostic equipment, reviewing test results for accuracy, identifying normal and abnormal test results, analyzing the diagnostic results and providing them to physicians, and keeping detailed patient records.What you’ll need: An associate’s degree or a certificate from an accredited diagnostic medical sonography program. Although there ar e no state-specific licensing requirements, many employers prefer or require Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) professional certification.How much they make: $64,280 per year, or $30.90 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 17% by 2024- much faster than average for all jobs.8. Cardiovascular TechnologistSimilar to diagnostic medical sonographers, cardiovascular technologists use imaging equipment to diagnose and treat heart issues and conditions. Their day-to-day work may include performing tests like electrocardiograms, stress tests, and Holter monitoring to track cardiovascular health and activity, preparing and maintain the testing equipment, reviewing test results for accuracy, identifying normal and abnormal test results, analyzing the diagnostic results and providing them to physicians, and keeping detailed patient records.What you’ll need: An associate’s degree or a certificate from an accredited cardiovascular technologist program.How much they make: $64,280 per year, or $30.90 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 17% by 2024- much faster than average for all jobs.9. Truck DriverIf you really want a job that’s outside of the 9-to-5 world, truck driving is a field that literally leaves the office behind. Truck driving schools are becoming more popular, as logistics careers heat up in general. Truck drivers’ day-to-day work may include loading freight, inspecting and securing cargo, driving long distances to deliver goods or materials, performing vehicle maintenance, troubleshooting mechanical issues, and keeping detailed logs of their travels and deliveries.This is a job that requires long hours and the willingness to be away from home for extended periods of time. It also involves a lot of physical labor and stamina.What you’ll need: A commercial driver’s license (CDL ), with additional certifications if you’re interested in handling and transporting hazardous materials. Truck drivers may also need to complete a certificate from a professional truck-driving school.How much they make: $41,340 per year, or $19.87 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 6% by 2024- about average for all jobs.10. ParalegalParalegals are legal assistants who support attorneys, and it may surprise you to know that it’s not a job that requires law school, but rather a program in paralegal studies. Their day-to-day work may include maintaining and organizing files, doing legal research, gathering evidence and documents for attorneys, writing reports to help prepare attorneys for trials, drafting and reviewing legal correspondence, taking affidavits and other legal statements, filing briefs, and working with clients or witnesses to schedule appointments, interviews, or depositions.What youâ€℠¢ll need: An associate’s degree or a certificate from an accredited paralegal studies program.How much they make: $49,500 per year, or $23.80 per hourThe career outlook: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the field will grow about 15% by 2024- much faster than average for all jobs.If you’re thinking about taking the trade school route, there are â€Å"think outside the college box† options that can get you working in your field fairly quickly, without much of the debt and time investment of a more traditional four-year college education. Again, your career path should be what works for you and your goals, and there are lots of specific programs out there that can give you the exact education you need to get started.

Timeline from 1870 to 1880

Timeline from 1870 to 1880 1870 1870: Thomas Nast, the star political cartoonist of Harpers Weekly, began a campaign of lampoon the corrupt ring that secretly ran New York City. Nasts biting depictions of the Tweed Ring  helped bring down Boss Tweed.February 3, 1870: The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave the right to vote to black males, became law when the required number of states ratified it.June 9, 1870: Charles Dickens, British novelist, died at the age of 58.July 15, 1870: Georgia became the last of the Confederate states to return to  the Union.July 19, 1870: The Franco-Prussian War began. The war was provoked by Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian leader, as part of his plan to unite Germany.October 12, 1870: Robert E. Lee, Confederate general in the Civil War, died at the age of 63 at Lexington, Virginia. 1871 January 1871: Italian troops led by Giuseppe Garibaldi briefly fought against Prussians in France during the Franco-Prussian War.March 26, 1871: The Paris Commune, a temporary government, formed after an uprising during the Franco-Prussian War, was proclaimed in Paris.May 28, 1871: The Paris Commune was suppressed as the French Army took over the city during what becomes known as The Bloody Week.Summer 1871: Photographer William Henry Jackson takes a number of photographs on the Yellowstone Expedition. The scenery he captured was so remarkable that it led to the creation of the National Parks.July 15, 1871: Thomas Tad Lincoln, the son of Abraham Lincoln, died in Chicago at the age of 18. He was buried beside his father in Springfield, Illinois.October 8, 1871: The Great Chicago Fire broke out. It destroyed much of the city of Chicago, and a persistent rumor was that it was caused by Mrs. OLearys cow.October 27, 1871: William M.  Boss Tweed, the leader of the legendary New York poli tical machine Tammany Hall, was arrested on multiple charges of corruption. November 10, 1871: The journalist and adventurer Henry Morton Stanley located David Livingstone in Africa, and said the famous greeting: Dr. Livingstone, I presume. 1872 January 6, 1872: Notorious Wall Street character Jim Fisk was fatally shot in a Manhattan hotel lobby. As he died, his partner Jay Gould and Boss Tweed stood vigil at his bedside. Legendary detective Thomas Byrnes apprehended Fisks assassin.March 1, 1872: Yellowstone National Park was established as the first National Park in the United States.April 2, 1872: Samuel F.B. Morse, American artist, and inventor of the telegraph and Morse Code, died at the age of 80 in New York City.Spring 1872: After supervising work on the Brooklyn Bridge in the caisson under the East River, Washington Roebling came to the surface too quickly and was stricken with the bends. He would be in poor health for years afterward.June 1, 1872: James Gordon Bennett, who in many ways invented the modern newspaper by founding the New York Herald, died in New York City.November 5, 1872: President Ulysses S. Grant wins a second term in the election of 1872, defeating legendary newspaper editor turned candidate Horace Greeley. November 29, 1872: Horace Greeley, who weeks earlier lost the presidential election, died in New York City. 1873 March 4, 1873: Ulysses S. Grant took the oath of office for the second time as he began his second term as President of the United States.April 1, 1873: The steamship Atlantic struck rocks on the coast of Canada, and at least 500 passengers and crew perished in one of the worst maritime disasters of the 19th century.May 4, 1873: David Livingstone, Scottish explorer of Africa, died in Africa of malaria at the age of 60.September 1873: A stock market crashed sets off the Panic of 1873, one of the great financial panics of the 19th century. 1874 January 17, 1874: Chang and Eng Bunker, conjoined twins who became famous as the Siamese Twins, died at the age of 62.March 11, 1874: Charles Sumner, Massachusetts senator who in 1856 had been beaten in the U.S. Capitol in an event leading up to the Civil War, died at the age of 63.March 8, 1874: Millard Fillmore, former president of the United States, died at the age of 74.November 1874: The Greenback Party was established in the United States. Its constituencies were the farmers and workers adversely affected by the Panic of 1873. 1875 April 21, 1875: Charles Stewart Parnell, Irish political leader, was elected to the British House of Commons.May 19, 1875: Mary Todd Lincoln, the widow of Abraham Lincoln, was judged to be insane in a trial instigated by her son, Robert Todd Lincoln.July 31, 1875: Andrew Johnson, who became president following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, died at the age of 66. 1876 March 10, 1876: Alexander Graham Bell made the first successful telephone call, saying, Watson, come here, I need you.April 10, 1876: Alexander Turney Stewart, renowned New York City merchant, died.June 25, 1876: General George Armstrong Custer, commander of the 7th Cavalry, is killed, along with more than 200 of his men, at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.July 4, 1876: The United States celebrated its centennial with celebrations in cities and towns across the country.August 2, 1876: Wild Bill Hickok, gunfighter and lawman, was shot and killed while playing cards in Deadwood, Dakota Territory.August 25, 1876: The first crossing of the unfinished Brooklyn Bridge was accomplished by its master mechanic, E.F. Farrington, riding on a wire strung between its towers.November 7, 1876: The United States presidential election of 1876 was disputed and became the most controversial American election until the election of 2000. 1877 January 4, 1877: Cornelius Vanderbilt, known as The Commodore, died in New York City. He was by far the wealthiest person in the United States.Early 1877: An electoral commission was formed to settle the disputed presidential election of 1876 results in the Compromise of 1877. Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the election, and Reconstruction was effectively brought to an end.March 4, 1877: Rutherford B. Hayes was  inaugurated as president, and comes into office under a cloud of suspicion, being called His Fraudulency.May 1877: Sitting Bull led followers into Canada to escape the U.S. Army, and Crazy Horse surrendered to U.S. troops.June 21, 1877: Leaders of the Molly Maguires, a secret society of coal miners in Pennsylvania, were executed.July 16, 1877: A strike in West Virginia set off the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, which spread nationwide and spurred violent clashes in American cities.September 5, 1877: Crazy Horse was killed at an army base in Kansas. 1878 February 19, 1878: Thomas A. Edison patented the phonograph, which would rank as one of his most important inventions.April 12, 1878: William M.  Boss Tweed, the legendary head of Tammany Hall, died in jail in New York City at the age of 55.Summer 1878: The head of the Statue of Liberty was displayed in a park in Paris during an international exhibition.November 1878: The Second Anglo-Afghan War began when British troops began invading Afghanistan. 1879 April 30, 1879: Sarah J. Hale, a magazine editor who urged President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving an official holiday, died at the age of 90.August 21, 1879: Villagers at Knock, in rural Ireland, saw visions of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist. The village became a place of Catholic pilgrimage afterward.October 1879: In Ireland, following mass meetings held earlier in the year, the Land League  was  formed to organize tenant farmers.

Describe how European colonists' relations with these populations Essay

Describe how European colonists' relations with these populations - Essay Example Since, the 15th and 16th centuries, the western powers were in a scrabble to show dominance either in Europe or in foreign countries by the way of acquiring more territories. As such, they were in a competition for power within European power politics.1 However, even as they did this, they encountered opposition to their plans inform of military resistance and political and diplomatic responses. Ideally, the western powers interacted with the colony populations in through actual colonialism, slave trade, and missionary relations that encompassed religious intrusions. Generally, colonialism involved unequal relationships between the European colonialists’ and the indigenous population. Such relations have been marred with violent acts. This results from the fact that the colonial rulers make fundamental decisions on behalf of the colonies with an aim of fulfilling their interests and denouncing the indigenous people’s interests. This leads to political conflicts and dish armony in the colonies. Additionally, the quest to bring to a centralized control of a vast number of territories jeopardizes the diverse cultures involved and thus the political conflicts. In matters relating to slavery, European colonialists captured and sold Africans to other European traders. This was probably the greatest source of conflict between the colonialists and the indigenous people. The manner in which this process was carried was inhumane and hence the disharmony in their relations. Indeed, the European colonialists looked down on Africa’s rich cultures by mistreating them and subjecting them to slavery. Moreover, they sought to have them denounce their culture and adopt the western culture that did not augur well with the indigenous people hence the continued political conflicts and disharmony. Additionally, even the missionaries contributed a lot to the rise of political conflict between the European

None Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

None - Essay Example This would be a step towards identifying any more risks of injury that may be associated with the product. In the report to be presented, I will identify the product and also make an accurate description of it as per the regulations of the commission. In the report, I will make sure that I include the name of the manufacturer as well as the distributors of the product that I have information on while stating the nature and extent of the defect that is in the product. I would also include my name and address in the report even though I will hope that the commission keep this confidential since I would not want to be victimized by the management of the company for reporting about the defect to the commission. The decision to report the defects to the commission would be a difficult one since I would have to surrender the reports without the approval of the directors and from previous experience, the board of directors does not tolerate the employees who present to them their findings on the defect and this might be the same action that is taken against me. Nevertheless, I will approach them with the information prior to making the report to the commission. Regardless of the outcome of the presentation of the information to the directors, I will ensure that they commission gets the report and although this is a difficult decision since am new to the job and there is a possibility that reporting about the defects will lead to my dismissal. I consider the USD 5000 that I am being asked to pay on behalf of Green Move to have the Zero Pedal on the shelves of a Sporting goods store illegal since in my opinion, it is tantamount to a bribe. The store should stock the goods depending on the demand by the customers since if the demand is available and the store is not willing to stock the Zero Pedal, then other stores that are willing bring the product closer to the

Sustainability issues in providing Healthcare Services at Nicaragua Research Paper - 1

Sustainability issues in providing Healthcare Services at Nicaragua Canal Project - Research Paper Example However, the healthcare project in Nicaraguan canal and its rated issues has provoked Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility expertise to design health management program that proactively identifies its associated issues. Therefore, marketing, environmental management and human resources issues are identified within the organization Capacity Building, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in order to initiate and implement mitigation measures. Analysis presented in this paper is helpful in understanding sustainability and health care services in relation to Nicaraguan canal development. Further analysis in this paper uncovers the entire organization dilemma, issues and concepts or approaches used to tackle in tackling all the related issues in relation to HCSS developers, locals and Federal Government agencies. In details, the paper explores and explains the Nicaraguan environmental issues exposing out the significance of the government structure and the corporate social responsibilities and the theories generated to support the arguments. Based on international context for sustainability, capacity building and Corporate Social Responsibility the paper critically evaluates the impacts of environmental implications in relation to the Nicaraguan environmental issues as well as business growth. As Nicaraguan healthcare program experiences foundational dilemmas from different components of marketing, environmental management to human resources dilemmas, environmental or operational management dilemmas are most critical dilemma that faces the Health care services program. The organizational dilemmas are identified as the core corporate responsibilities that function against the sustainability role in a government structure or non-profitable business providing a reliable tension between environment benefits and the societal deliveries. Conversely, as the

Draw out Your Future Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Draw out Your Future - Essay Example Robbin and Judge states that "companies that make themselves lean can be more agile, efficient, and productive-but only if they make cuts carefully and help employees through the process" (479). It means that an organization should consider internal reinforcements rather than external reinforcements because it is correlated with Clawson's argument on why people behave. Similarly, Clawson believes that the genetic endowment, the unfulfilled emotional holes and the human memes form one's personalities. As a result, Clawson comes up with the rational-emotive model, the reward and punishment model and the self-concept model as reinforcement mechanism designed for organizational structure.Clawson finds one of internal reinforcements accordant with the rational-emotive model. This model claims that we could use events, perceptions and observations, set of values, assumptions, belief and expectation (VABEs) to influence oneself's own conclusion, lead to their emotions and end up with their projected behaviors. For example, an observed behavior results from an absorption of opinion leader's reaction to certain situation and the object act like "a leader's point of view" (Clawson). Moreover, affective events theory suggests "work events trigger positive or negative emotional reactions, to which employees' personalities and moods predispose them to respond with greater or lesser intensity (Robbins and Judge, 135). It drives to analysis that we could correct organizational behavior that a leader should show to complete task to employees.

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Marketing - Assignment Example The advertising team understands that self-image is an important concept that individuals possess. In the modern society, the concept of body image is highly romanticized in society. People are extremely aware of their body image and will do anything to look appealing for the interest sex. In order to promote their product, the commercials use all sorts of fancy computer imaging techniques and animations to create an illusion that fat loss is actually occurring. The advertisement completely crosses the limits as it shows obese models strapping the belts and then actually feeling it â€Å"working.† The commercial never states the fact that the product is proven to eliminate or even reduce fat. The question remains—is it legal? Yes, but it is absolutely unethical as it hurts consumers in various ways. First and foremost, the commercial is detrimental towards consumers because it promotes wrong advertisement as it never states that it supports fat loss, but rather an illus ion of a temporary water loss. Secondly, the advertisement claims that â€Å"results are not typical.† However, it is certain that the companies prey on their consumers that these so-called transformations will leave their audience in awe and will attract them to buy the product. Clearly, that is unethical. Lastly, consumers are given wrong information and data about these products.

Satellite Technology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Satellite Technology - Research Paper Example Historically, the first artificial satellite was launched by Russia (at that time known as the Soviet Union) in the late 50s. Though, there was not a specific purpose behind that satellite, however, it was used to transmit a repeated simple Morse code signal. On the other hand, today’s new technology-based satellites are able to receive and re-transmit thousands of signals at the same time. These signals can be a simple digital data or they can include a complex TV program (Rouse; The Govt of PEI; Radio-Electronics). This paper presents an overview of the satellite technology. This research will cover a number of aspects such as the functioning of satellite technology, its uses, currently operational protocols, working distances, bandwidth etc. Uses of the Satellite Technology This section discusses some of the fundamental uses of the satellite technology. In the past, when the satellite technology was developing, satellites were interesting, hidden and top secret technology b ased systems. In fact, they were utilized mainly in a military power, for carrying out tasks such as espionage and navigation. On the other hand, they are currently a vital component of our daily lives. Now we can observe the use of satellites all around us: for example their utilization in weather reporting, TV transmission through DISH and DIRECTV Network, and daily telephone calls. Additionally, in numerous other examples, satellites perform a significant role in a number of areas. For instance, magazines and newspapers are more appropriate for the reason that they broadcast their images and text to a wide variety of printing websites using satellite to increase the speed of the local data and information distribution (Brown; Rouse). In addition, before transmitting data signals down the wire into our homes, cable TV is renitent upon the satellites technology to distribute its data. Moreover, the most dependable limousine and taxi drivers also make use of satellite technology bas ed Global Positioning Systems to determine the appropriate destination (Brown; Rouse). Satellite Functionality New technology-based communications satellites currently have a silent, however deep, influence on our daily lives. These technology based systems are used to connect remote regions of the Earth via television and telephone. Additionally, the modern business organizations conduct their business operations at high speed because of satellite technology. In fact, various newspapers, such as USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, are first designed and typeset and then for the sake of printing newspaper are all transmitted across the nation via satellite (Gulf of Maine Research Institute; Maral and Bousquet). Figure 1 Radio signals Source: http://www.gma.org/surfing/sats.html Figure1 shows that the radio communication signals near the microwave frequency transmission range are most excellent and extremely effective in transferring the huge volumes of data and information traffi c, for the reason that they are not redirected through the Earth's environment as minor data transmission frequencies are. In this scenario, they move around in a straight line, and this process is recognized as "line of sight data transfer and communication." If somebody in San Francisco attempts to beam a microwave data signal straightly to Hawaii, this will not be possible to send signals at such distance, in fact that the signal will disappear into space or dispel into the sea. Over

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Marketing - Assignment Example The advertising team understands that self-image is an important concept that individuals possess. In the modern society, the concept of body image is highly romanticized in society. People are extremely aware of their body image and will do anything to look appealing for the interest sex. In order to promote their product, the commercials use all sorts of fancy computer imaging techniques and animations to create an illusion that fat loss is actually occurring. The advertisement completely crosses the limits as it shows obese models strapping the belts and then actually feeling it â€Å"working.† The commercial never states the fact that the product is proven to eliminate or even reduce fat. The question remains—is it legal? Yes, but it is absolutely unethical as it hurts consumers in various ways. First and foremost, the commercial is detrimental towards consumers because it promotes wrong advertisement as it never states that it supports fat loss, but rather an illus ion of a temporary water loss. Secondly, the advertisement claims that â€Å"results are not typical.† However, it is certain that the companies prey on their consumers that these so-called transformations will leave their audience in awe and will attract them to buy the product. Clearly, that is unethical. Lastly, consumers are given wrong information and data about these products.

Employee Reward And Resourcing Module_HRM Essay

Employee Reward And Resourcing Module_HRM - Essay Example There are two fundamental reward strategies; pay-related reward policy for the private sector and fixed pay structure for the public sector. These two forms have been critically evaluated. Employee resourcing measures the recruitment, retention and transfer of employees. Its strategic and operational components are Human Resource Planning, Resourcing Plans, Retention Strategy, Flexibility Strategy and Talent Management Strategy. A relation is found between employee reward and resourcing; the higher the reward, the higher the ease of recruitment, retention and transfer of employees. However, the report by CBI cites pay as one of the least related determinants of resourcing. Instead, it identifies the ability of the management staff and communications pertaining to the value of rewards achieved as the main factors influencing resourcing of human capital. As conclusion, some key recommendations are given that would lead to a more efficient working of the public sector and reduce government deficit. Introduction The world believes in the principle of ‘punishment for failures and rewards for achievements’. With the biggest companies going global, a need has been felt to recruit, retain and transfer human resources of the companies, i.e. employees, to various other sites of business in order to expand the scope of business and achieve the maximum corporate dividends. However, research has found that companies are not able to handle this effectively. As a way out of this problem, companies, now, offer higher monetary rewards to their employees as compensation, benefits, bonuses or incentives. But in order to decide standard policies on granting rewards, reward strategies have to be decided. A detailed description on these lines has been provided in the following paragraphs and this subject has been studied, analyzed and criticized in view of the report â€Å"For What it’s Worth?† composed by the CBI. Understanding Organizational Reward Strategy and its Components Mean ing of Reward Strategy â€Å"Reward Strategy is a declaration of intent which defines what the organization wants to do in the longer term to develop and implement reward policies, practices and processes which will further the achievements of its business goals and meet the needs of its stake-holders† (Armstrong, 2009, p.746). It forms a rough framework for reward policies by setting direction and purposes for them. A reward strategy takes into account the needs of the employees and the organization. It develops the values of an organization and sets the basis on which people are to be valued and thus, rewarded. Components of a Reward Strategy There are various components of Reward Strategy and which are interrelated. The important ones have been stated as follows. Non-Financial Rewards: Rewards are not always monetary. Sometimes, they may satisfy a person’s need for influence and reputation. Non-financial rewards may be in the form of recognition, responsibility, ach ievement or growth. For example, an employee may be receiving promotion or awards for attaining a high standard in his field of work. Job-Evaluation: It is a process which involves the identification of particular jobs and the corresponding employees in those jobs and a standard scheme of evaluation is developed and finally, a pay structure is decided upon. (Armstrong and Baron, 2002, p.30) Base Pay: It is the fixed income of the

Family and Delinquency Essay Example for Free

Family and Delinquency Essay How is it developed and how is it Solved? Introduction â€Å"Abuse† and â€Å"violence† are considered to be terms that are believed to be the understatement of the actual situation that is happening in the society right now. It could be observed that through the years, the number of individuals being victimized by the said dilemma are undeniably increasing making the word â€Å"abuse† not just a word but one among the many things that people within the human society fear most. Abuse is the way by which people try to maltreat their fellowmen. This is regardless of the fact that the people being maltreated are either their friends or their family members as well. It could not be denied that this dreadful situation have affected the sections of human socialization already. The school institutions, the workplace, the churches and now even within homes, the existence of abuse cannot be much controlled anymore. This is primarily the reason why it is very important to take several things regarding this particular issue into consideration for studying. This would naturally allow a more focused procedure that shall be developed to assist abused victims both young and old, men and women to recover from the situation that they have been involved with when they were abused in the past. It is pretty much appalling to know how a highly established society could be afflicted by the different effects of the abusive acts that are brought about as one of the major disadvantages of the advancements of the society. What are the sources of these major abuses? Most likely, as psychologists and sociologists point out, people are moved to create possible ways of releasing their tension regarding several experiences through afflicting the security of others. Most of those who are noted as the ones victimizing others have been once victims themselves. On their own way then, they are trying to release the depression and the pain that they are afflicted with through passing on the dreadful situation to others as revenge to those who have once victimized them. The abusive acts and their effects on the victim do not end on the actual act of abusing alone. The results of the said incidents account for further impact on the personality of the victim primarily pertaining on his or her social interaction with the community that he lives with. Most likely, isolation and the feeling of lesser self-worth eventually develop. It could not be denied that these results are hardly expected by the victims before they were involved with the abuse that they were faced with. Certainly, it is through the memories of the abuse that the pain tends to remain in complete control of the victim’s major dealings with the society. At some point, the said victims tend to become socially avoiding as they actually fear that the same thing might happen to them again in the hands of other people that they may or may not know. The trust that they used to have on other people before they were victimized eventually fades making it harder for them to recover on the past that they have experienced. The World Reports and What They Pertain to According to worldwide reports, there are several abusive acts that are taken against the â€Å"weak ones† in a daily basis. Depressingly, the numbers of the victims never cease to stop. Even though there is a strong push on the making of the different laws and ordinances that are designed to protect people from being abused on the places that they are living or working in, it is undeniable that there is still a considerable annual rise to the rate of the population becoming victims of the said dreadful situation. As mentioned above, there are numerous types of abuses that plagues the society today. With the influences of media and other publications that provoke both sexual desires and violence, the desires of people to do something awful to others to simply comply to the thirst that they feel for themselves and the satisfaction that they ought to reach become much vivid and harder to avoid. Hence, pushing the abusers to come up with destructive acts that bring others into a devastating situation. It could be noted too through psychological studies that one cause of the ways by which people are moved to follow a certain path that leads them to abusing others actually involve depression and in depth disregard of one’s self. Most of the time, when depression and stress takes over the mental system of a particular person, the deciding power of the person begins to weaken hence making it possible for him to take massive steps of destructive acts that usually lead to them abusing other people. Yes, frustrations and unfulfilled missions or aims bring much depression on human individuals. When this depression is treated in the wrong manner, the situation becomes harder to control. Psychologists particularly note this as one of the failures of the nervous system to assist one in righteously deciding for what is supposed to be acceptably right to do when hard-to-deal with circumstances arise. The said failure gradually affects to one loosing his control over his actions. Add to the fact that there are those who take addictive substances that are directly affecting their decision-making capabilities thus making it harder for them to judge of whether what they are doing are right or not. The Personal Effects of Abuse and Violence As mentioned earlier, violence and abuse are two related terms that describe the destructive situation that most people who are less able to protect themselves experience on the hands of the oppressive sector of the human population. Hence, through the study that has been presented above, it could be noted that the results of the said incidents may either be positive or negative on the part of the individual that has been victimized by the said situation. The result becomes positive when the victims primarily learns how to defend himself the next time that the same situation occurs or in some way he or she has already learned to protect themselves from actually being involved in destructive situations based on the experience that they once had. On the contrary, the results may become negative if the victim begins to view the situation as an incident that could bring her or him to a fearful state against the systems of the human society. The state of isolation becomes and self-rejection is then added to the negative results of the said incidents. Involving the Family Amidst all the successes that the society achieves through the existence of technology and communication, it is quite disturbing how the situation of the most important sector of the society suffers so much. Family, as the basic unit of the social relationships, is the one receiving the most negative effects of technological and industrial advancements. Intimacy and attachment has been much a hard case to deal with when dealing especially with the modern married couples. The thoughts of long ago regarding the long-run relationship that marriage is supposed to be had been gradually changed by the fact that system of the society today have already changed as well. The priorities and the goals of individuals have already been exchanged with the need of being economically successful in the field of their own chosen careers. Sadly, although both men and women are aware that they were meant to share a special relationship based on love, only few are able to realize to understand the reality of the vows that they give at the brink of their wedding ceremonies. Marriage, as a human contract is a special bond that should be considered as a serious link between two people who are bounded by love. However, at some point, the view of marriage has been changed during the present era. Because of the social changes, marriage has been subjected to different challenges. Today, conflicts are directly bombarded towards the relationship of married couples that in turn makes the situation much harder to deal with. As a result, many among those couples simply end up in divorce. For many years, it has been a standard definition of a family to be referred to as a group of people who are related to each other and are thus bonded together by blood. The attachment within the said group goes beyond just the existence of a common blood, but it is further linked stronger through the existence of love. With the said advancements though of the society, the family is further subjected to facing several issues that concerns the strength of its ties. . Since time is lacking, the members of the family are having a hard time creating time for themselves to at least deal with each other through communication, in turn, intimacy is lost. This is specifically true with parents, or married couples. Because of the time that they devote to their jobs, they usually find it hard to balance their time to give each other attention for the sake of the development of their relationship. As a result, the love that they once have lost the love that they once had for each other because of lack of time, communication and intimacy, their relationship’s solidity begins to drift away. On the contrary though, Donna and Roger are among the couples who are able to meet the challenges of marriage amidst all the challenges both personal and familial that are presented to the society nowadays. Although there had been some rough portions of their marriage, it could be noted through the interview that they have managed to set through their differences and were able to make adjustments so as to give themselves some room to improve as individuals and as couples. It is undeniable that being married at a young age is something that is much harder to deal with that dealing with simply the challenges of marriage itself. Aside from all the financial problems, personal adjustments certainly needed to be given attention especially on the part of the interviewees. The highlights of their relationship could be noted to have nothing to do with gaining surmountable amounts of wealth but with that of being together with their family. Seeing things in a simpler manner makes it easier for young couples to see life in a much less-complicated matter of life. It is through this that they are able to give importance to the more caring to better things that wealth itself. True, they recognize that material gains add up to the happiness of the family since it gives the members a chance to enjoy the things they want without limits at least. However, this does not mean that the happiness of family members does not only rely on the influence of money at all. Instead, real family happiness relies on the fact that family members are still able to connect with each other through communication and simply by just being together amidst the busy schedules that each member of the family deals with regarding their work or school activities as well as house chores. Making sure that each member is given the attention that they need from the family is an important key to family success. A Therapeutic Approach The Family Assessment Device has been designed to measure improvements concerning the Family Therapy. In a busy and complicated world that families have to deal with these days, it is very vital every family be able to face the challenges of today’s world. Although at times, the hardships that families has to face makes it difficult for its members to keep close and intact relationship with each other. Aside from this, the results of such a complicated life leads to different emotional and physical depressions which makes it harder for every family member to comprehend to each other’s needs and be able to cope with life’s changes at the same time. This is why many families chose to undergo several family therapies to be able to solve the growing gap between their members and thus lead a better family life. The Family Assessment Device includes six major dimensions that are connected to family functioning. The said six major scopes of the said assessment device are the problem solving, communication, roles, effective responsiveness, effective involvement and behavioral control. The dimension on Problem Solving intends to measure the capability of a family to be able to face and solve certain problems that arise within the family. With the use of questionnaires having four possible responses on agreeing to the solutions suggested and disagreeing, each family is scaled depending on their answers. The other dimensions as well follow the same pattern of questionnaires. After answering the questions, each result shall be averaged, evaluated and concluded regarding the improvements of the family in the therapies they undergo. The standard results for the Family Assessment Device which concludes that the family has already improved through the family therapy is based on how well they have comprehended with the activities they undergo during the therapy. There are major ways on how to evaluate the changes in a family. One is through the statistical significance of changes observed, another is through the percentage of dropping below clinical cut-offs and finally through the magnitude of change between intake and termination. These three major evaluation processes helps the psychologists to scale the improvements that the family being observed has already incurred. Many experts have proved the reliability of tests and family assessments such as the Family Assessment Device effective. True, at times, the application of this assessment may not be that easy but the cooperation of the family under therapy programs would really help in making assessments such as this a successful program. At times, there might be some family members who would rather depend on their own understanding of the problems they are facing than referring their problems to experts. Usually, this makes the FAD application harder to apply, but as said earlier, constant assistance and assurance to the families that they are being helped and not exploited or whatsoever, the Family Assessment could be concluded to be successful. Conclusion As it could be noted through the studies and discussion presented above, the result of violence and abuse upon the victim simply depends on his or her perception of the situation that occurred. Someone who is strong and wise enough in facing life’s challenges may look at this particular experience as a lesson that would teach him to take full responsibility of the situation the next time that the same thing happens. However, a person who is actually frail in facing the surprises that life has to offer would break down upon experiencing certain devastating incidents. Yes, it is one’s development as a person and perception towards life and the challenges that it brings that would actually determine the ways by which an individual would be affected by violence or abuse. It is only through a person’s discretion that the effects of the said situations could be identified within the growth progress that that particular person would undergo. It is also upon the person’s discretion as to how he or she would actually allow the said incident to impact her personality as well as her social dealings. In the end, yes, it will all depend on the person afflicted by the situation. References: Sexual Victimization,† Child Abuse and Neglect, 18 (1994):303–318. Browne, A. , and Finkelhor, D. , â€Å"Impact of Sexual Abuse: A Review of the Research,† Psychological Bulletin, 99 (1986):66–77. Beitchman, J. H. , et al. , â€Å"A Review of the Long- Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse,† Child Abuse and Neglect, 16 (1992):101–118. Cathy Spatz, â€Å"Child Abuse, Neglect, and Adult Behavior: Research Design and Findings on Criminality, Violence, and Child Abuse,† American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 59 (1989):355–67. Pfendler, B. A. (1997, April). Validation of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) in an intensive family therapy program. Psychological Association, Washington D. C. Ridenour, T. A. , Daley, J. G. , Reich, W. (1999). Factor Analyses of the Family Assessment Device. Family Process, 37,38. Sluttery, J. M. (1997). Predictors of Family Therapy Outcome. Unpublished data, Handout. Kabacoff, R. I. et al. (1990). A psychometric study of the McMaster Family Assessment Device in psychiatric, medical and nonclinical samples. Journal of Family Psychology.

Marketing Plan for Launching a Chocolate Brand India

Marketing Plan for Launching a Chocolate Brand India India is on the move and so are the markets in India. Apart from economic changes. India is also facing social changes like changes in life style, hobbies etc. New fashions, Advertisements holidays, etc. are in today. Further, food habits of Indians are changing rapidly. Chocolates, which were believed to be kids preference, are now being consumed by kids, teenagers, and adults. Chocolate market in India (Currently 20,000 tones is growing at the rate of 22% annually). To take advantage of the growing market, international confectionery companies are getting ready to woo the proverbial Indian Sweet tooth. An influx of worlds leading Chocolate players is expected. Further, since Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is a representative body of the Indian Industry, it receives its inquiries for pertinent marketing information from various domestic and international players, who want to invest in India. In the above context, the prime objective of this report is to prepare a marketing plan for any brand that is planning to enter the India Chocolate Market. Therefore, this report is generic (broad based) to the extent that it does not focus on any single brand. However, this may prove to be a relevant marketing guide for any brand launch in India. METHODOLOGY As mentioned earlier, the objective of the study is to formulate a Marketing Strategy for any new entrant in the Indian Chocolate Industry. While recommending the said strategy detailed information from both primary and secondary sources was collected and analyzed. This included: Primary Sources Four level primary information collections were undertaken. These were: In order to get relevant information regarding competition, executives of the following chocolate players in the market were interviewed: Mr. Sanjay Verkey, Branch Manager, Cadburys India Ltd., ANZ Grindlays Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Information: Cadburys profile, products, distribution, etc. Mr. Verma, Sarura Business (I) Ltd., Panchsheel Vihar, New Delhi, the company that has launched Mars Inc. brands (imported) in India. Information: Complete marketing strategy-since, imported chocolates marketing is a new concept Mr. N Bohidar, Manager Corporate Communication, Nestle India Ltd., Connaught Place, New Delhi To analyze buying behavior and in order to gain an insight into the buyer need-satisfaction level, a questionnaire was formulated and administered among 80 people. The profile of the respondents was as follows: Consumers of chocolates 12 years + in Delhi. This was since; chocolate consumption was witnessed amongst all age groups. A distributor was also interviewed so as to get pertinent information regarding the most important P of FMCG marketing Place, information provided by Mr. Rajesh Mittal, Ex-distributor of Nestle India (Rohini district), was extremely helpful in recommending the distribution strategy. Extensive interviews were conducted with retailers in the Naraina Vihar area. These included pan shops, bakeries, departmental stores, etc. they provided information on various facts of chocolate distribution such as point of purchase material (dispensers etc.), infrastructure problems, critical informational regarding the policies of the present players in the market, etc. Secondary Sources A number of secondary sources of information were used. These were: Mr. M.N. Rao, Secretary, Indian Confectionary Manufacturers Association, Sugar House, Nehru Place, New Delhi. Information: Industry statistics, problems facing the industry, future outlook, etc. Also measures being adopted for cocoa production development. Confederation of Indian Industries reports. PHDCCI FICCI library. Internet websites of Cadburys, Nestle and indiainfoline.com, askjeeves.com Extensive use of secondary information in the form of magazines/journals/newspapers clippings, such as Business World, Business Today, Business India, AM, Brand Equity, Economic Times, etc. The methodology adopted was as follows: Industry scenario Sketch (utilizing secondary information) Extensive interviews held with Primary/Secondary Sources (Companies/Chocolate manufacturers Association) Interview with ex-distributor of Nestle India Ltd. Extensive retailer interviews in Naraina Area Formulation and administration of a questionnaire Formulation of the Recommended Strategy on the basis of the above mentioned Primary and Secondary Information Limitations of the study Since, the administration of the questionnaire was restricted to Delhi, results may provide an urban view of the buying behavior and the like. Also, secondary sources were used for information regarding Amul. Industry scenario was also drawn up, utilizing secondary information. THE INDUSTRY SCENARIO With the entry of multinationals, and home companies sprucing up their act, the confectionary market is booming. Mckinsey has estimated the confectionary industry to touch a whopping Rs.8500 cr. by the year 2009. Till the eighties, the chocolate market was small and the product category itself was fuzzy. In the eighties, Cadburys the virtual monopolist had decided to focus its efforts on making chocolates a distinct category with an identity of its own. And the marketer had sharply positioned its product at children to do that. Hence, chocolates bore an only for kids tag, and kept adults at bay. By the end of the eighties, Cadburys still ruled the roost with over 80 % market share. And though several brands like Amul and Campco tried to break into the market, none of them had succeeded in shaking the leaders grip. In fact, Cadburys had become a brand virtually generic to chocolates. Then chocolates were used to reward and reinforce positive behavior and hence were categorized as a luxury reserved for special occasions. This was, a stark contrast to the west where chocolates were snacked on, eaten as mini meals or just to suppress pangs of hunger. But constant working by players like Cadburys (re-launch of Cadburys Dairy Milk targeting adults and as a casual any-time buy) and Nestle towards exploding the myth that chocolates are meant for children only has resulted in the segment booming. Trends in the Industry With socio-economic changes rapidly taking place, the young and not so young population will lead a new life style and chocolate eating is definitely going to be widespread and acceptable. In the industry, both population and family incomes as well as urbanization are on the increase. There has been a significant growth in the middle class, with 5.8 million people having upgraded to the quoted middle class. There is quantified data on FMCG usage having increased (NRS -VI IRS 98 figures) Thanks to the above reasons the growth in the chocolate market is estimated to be at 28% in 2009. But marketers in the industry are looking forward to a much higher growth rate, as Indias per capita consumption of chocolates is only 15 Gms. Versus 6 kg in the west. The Industry Chronology Year Demand Rupee Growth Rate 1990 12000 tones 350 cr. 2 % 1994 Excise duty increased to 15 % 13 % Excise duty further increases to 28.75 % Cocoa Prices Zoom Drops to 6 % 1995 Excise duty reduced to 25%, further to 20% and finally to 18%. Import Nestle launches Kit-Kat sets up a new unit. Production arrangement with CAMPCO continues. Mars selects production site. 1996 Market zooms up due to greater marketing thrust by players (especially Cadburys) Chocolates Selected import item 22 % 1998 Chocolates Open general license 20000 tones 22 % 2003 Quantitative restriction lifted 32000 tones 22 % The Indian Chocolate market can be sliced into four parts. Moulded Chocolate Segment comprising slab chocolates like Dairy Milk chocolates, etc. These are made by pouring the ingredients into moulds. Countline Segment comprising bars like 5 star, Bar One, Perk, Kit Kat, etc. These have ingredients other then chocolate and are usually bar shaped, making for chunky bites. Choco-Panned Segment comprising chocolate forms like Butterscotch, Nutties, Tiffins, etc. Panned varieties have different cores/centers, which are covered with a layer of chocolate. Sugar-Panned Segment comprising chocolate forms such as Gems, Chocolate à ©clairs, etc. These generally have a sugar coating on the outside. The Chocolate industry has grown from 12000 tonnes in 1990 to around 32000 tonnes in 2001. The rejuvenation exercise of Cadburys, was one of the key reasons behind the churning up of the countrys Rs. 350 crore chocolate market to a growth rate of 22% in 1996, from a mere 2% two years earlier. Chocolate Market Shares Interestingly, kaira district cooperative Milk Producers Ltd. (KDCMPL) the manufacturer of Amul chocolate is selling whatever it produces. Limited capacity is also a reason for the share it has. However, Amuls memorable advertising campaign positioning it as a A Gift for someone you love, saw the sales graph rising. Amuls sales grew by 39% then. Ever since, Amul has maintained a low profile. It can further be seen that Amul (see findings). Other Domestic Players The only other organized player in the market is Campco, which has an insignificant share of the market. It is supplying its production to Nestle. Apart from this Campco did come up with its new brands like Treat. But crunch of resources grossly effected the pace of the company and is hardly to be heard of today. CHOCOLATE LAUNCHES OVER THE YEARS 1956 Cadburys Milk Chocolate launched 1967 Cadburys 5 Star launched 1970 Cadburys Éclairs launched 1974 Amul chocolates launched 1986 Cadburys milk chocolate re-launched as Cadburys dairy milk (CDM) 1991 Nestle chocolates launched. Cadbury counters Nestlà ©s entry with all silk, and unfurls huge consumer promotion campaign. CDM revamped. Nestle launches Milky Bar; Cadbury counters with Creamy Bar. 1994 Cadburys Real Taste of Life and 5 Stars Reach for the Stars campaign rolled out. Éclairs revamped and renamed Dairy Milk Eclairs. 1995 Cadbury launches Perk, pre-empting Nestles Kit Kat. Overtures is withdrawn. 1998 Market growth rate tops 40 percent per annum. IMPORTED BRANDS Considering the high growth potential, various multinationals wanted to set up facilities in India (Mars being one of them). However, shortage of cocoa, seasonality in demand, and the absence of a proper cold chain deterred them from investing in India. The government also moved the import of chocolates from special item list to open general license category. The duty structure was also reduced. This resulted in making import of foreign brands easier and price competitive. Due the above, mars inc.- the US giant, who had decided to set up facilities in 1995 (the site for which was also selected), decided to postpone its investment plans. An alternate strategy was formulated to import Mars chocolate brands into India through Sarura Business (I) Ltd. Sarura, which came into existence about and year ago, imports Mars brands and sells through its own distribution network. Highlights of the strategy being followed are mentioned below: Imports Mars brands every 40 days, after careful demand analysis. Takes 20 to 22 days to reach India. Duty structure Customs Duty 40% Counter vailing Duty (a form of excise) 2% Special Duty (Surcharge) 3% The import duty on finished product is expected to come down to 20-25 % in a phased manner. Distribution Logistics The company has its operations being controlled from Delhi. A typical FMCG distribution chain is being utilized. This includes- Carrying Forwarding Agents Distributors Retailers and Wholesalers (about 5000 as of now) Consumers In Delhi, the company reaches the retailers and the wholesalers on its own. It operates about 3 vans, and each other retailer is serviced twice a month. MARKETING OBJECTIVES Short Term Objectives Taking into consideration the growth rate of the market competition with major brands, the marketing objectives can be as under: To introduce chocolates in various new flavors. To make a place in consumers mind. To provide quality chocolates at affordable price. To achieve a market share of around 15% by the end of two years of operation by the means of 7.5% by creating the new market. 7.5% by taking competitors share. Long Term Objectives Investing in strengthening the grass root level operations like cocoa farming, milk collection and storage. A broad product portfolio, a large and efficient RD department, decentralized management, etc. Nestle has about 2000 distributors in 1700 towns and more than 500,000 retail outlets to match this MARKET RESEARCH In order to recommend and execute an effective strategy for marketing of goods services, a systematic market research needs to be undertaken. The buyer preference research would play a vital role in the assessment of consumers taste/purchase habits and a better understanding of the consumers mind. In fact the strategy formulation/recommendations in this report of the marketing mix relies heavily on these research findings. A questionnaire was administered (as mentioned in the Methodology) amongst people of different age groups and professions. Results from this research provided interesting cues, which were extremely beneficial in the formulation of the recommended marketing mix. The main object of this research/questionnaire were as follows: To find out the current taste/chocolate eating habits. To find out the extent of brand loyalty. To get feedback of consumers perception about flavors and conventional outlets. To find out extent of price sensitivity. Retail outlet preference. Brand preference etc. OBSERVATIONS Based on the basis of the questionnaire research, some of the facts that came to the fore have been listed below. These research findings played a key role in the development of the recommended marketing strategy. AWARENESS PURCHASE PREFERENCE Top of Mind Awareness Purchase Preference What influenced you to buy the selected brand PURCHASE BEHAVIOUR Reasons for Purchase Chocolates A gift to a love one As a gift it is for IMPULSE DRIVEN Most of my chocolate purchases are preplanned I often pick up chocolates while I make other purchases REINFORCING IMPULSE PURCHASE IMPORTANCE OF ATTRIBUTES PERCEPTUAL MAPS Importance of various Attributes in Chocolates Rank of Chocolates on various attributes Attributes 1 2 3 4 5 Taste CDM KitKat 5 Star Perk Amul Quality KitKat CDM Perk 5 Star Amul Packaging KitKat CDM 5 Star Perk Amul Price Perk 5 Star KitKat Amul CDM Flavor KitKat CDM Amul Perk 5 Star Add-ons KitKat Perk CDM 5 Star Amul Brand image CDM KitKat Perk 5 Star Amul PRODUCT RELATED Taste Preference Size Usage. What size of a chocolate go you normally buy- PRICE RELATED Suitable price for a 40 gms Chocolate Price Perception. The price of most preferred brand is Price sensitivity (Elasticity). If price of your favorite brand is reduced. You will buy more of it Price sensitivity. If the favorite brand is few Rs. Expensive would you to go for it ADVERTISING/PROMOTION RELATED Advertisement Recall Test Unaided Most like Ads Unaided Whether, sales promotion would affect your purchase decision Band loyalty. If a particular brand is not available, you will: If you want to buy a wafer chocolate, say Kitkat and if it is not available, you would settle for a Bar/Moulded chocolate say 5 Star or CDM CHOCOLATE BRANDS IN INDIA Are you happy with the kind of chocolate brand available in India PLACE RELATED Outlet Preference DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF THE RESPONDENTS Age Sex Marital Status Occupation Monthly income Michael Porters Model for Competitive Advantage There should be continuous efforts towards competence by drawing down costs and improving product quality. According to Michael Porters 5 point model for competitive edge, any corporate entity needs to counter threats posed by the following five market forces. The Corporate Entity Potential Entrants Competitors Activities Suppliers Buyers Substitutes Potential Entrants With the increase in growth rate of the market and wide spread acceptance of chocolates in Indian market, companies like Mars, Sara Lee etc. are eyeing the chocolate market. American Hershey foods etc., also plans to enter in it. Though these companies would facilitate further growth of the market, they would also want a share of the pie. Further, a favourable duty structure would facilitate import of international products than new manufacturing units being set up. MARKETING MIX The objective of the marketing mix developed is: To develop a product that is available, affordable, based on local raw material, and adapted to the taste the nutritional habits of the population. The elements of the mix Product, Price, Place Promotion have been entailed below: Product As mentioned earlier, the two most important segments of the market are moulded and countline segment (segments have a high share of the market). Also, it can be seen in the findings, the Indian consumer does not recognize the difference between moulded and countline segment. Further, a key decision that needs to be taken is to decide whether to have a core brand focus of have a plethora of brands. Here, it would be advisable to launch a complete basket of products covering both the countline and the moulded chocolate segment (at least if not Panned). A range of brands can help cushion out risks over the entire offering. Also, it has been that to sustain in the long term, a complete portfolio of chocolates for every taste is essential. However, a concentration strategy may be adopted in the first phase, focusing on one core flagship brand. The various product attributes have been mentioned below: Stipulations regarding the use of Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil HVO (since it contains nickel) may be adhered to. Nickel in chocolates can cause cancer. However, research is still on to prove this. Product formulation should keep this aspect in mind. Packaging: The packages or the cover packs, of the brands can be in Blue, Green and Red color which represents a fun element. The packaging should MARKET TESTING PLAN It would reduce the risk of failure in the market where it goes national, by validating the marketing mix. Facilitate validation of positioning. Allow corrective action through incorporation of consumer feedback. For test marketing the chocolates, the plan may be as follows: Test Objectives: To validate the brand names, new outlets, etc. and to measure the sales volume, pricing and promotion policy. Competitor reaction can also be analyzed. The product may be launched in Bombay (as a soft test launch). This selection was based on: Bombay is uniformly represented by the target segment. Competitor activity is high. Also, Nestle was able to wrest a significant market share from Cadburys when it was launched. Bombay is representative of the target segment. IMPLEMENTATION A Well-designed marketing plan counts for nothing, if not implemented properly. Success in the market place depends upon the way the plan is implemented. The launch is recommended to be before winters-say September or October, since- That period would facilitate high Diwali sales, and FUTURE OUTLOOK The growth and expansion of the Indian chocolate market in the past has been hampered, due to stiff excise duties on chocolates (at 18 percent while other agro based products are being charged as low as 8% and a few, even 0% excise) and non-availability of quality cocoa in the country. Also, import of chocolates has been put in the OGL category, with duties being reduced (in a phased manner). The industry has made recommendations to the Indian government to go back to the special item list category, in order to safeguard the domestic industry. However, continuous marketing focus by the players in the market has resulted in the industry looking up like never before. These companies/brands have become much more market savvy. The Indian chocolate market is transforming and new players (Sara Lee is planning to set up base in India) are entering the market. Hence, considering the low per capita consumption of chocolates, the future of the industry seems to upbeat.