Political Science Chinese Nationalism as topdownbottomup phenomenon Essay

Political Science Chinese Nationalism as topdownbottomup phenomenon - Essay Example There are waves of nationalism that move from the grass-roots to political leadership, and waves that move in the opposite direction. One of the major challenges for the twenty-first century will be finding ways to channel the energies of the world's most populous nation into positive directions. There are many perspectives on the potential motivations, and possible outcomes, of Chinese nationalism. There are some that see this movement as a "reckless movement driven by China's traditional Sino-centrism and contemporary aspirations for great-power status" (Zhao, p. 131). Bernstein and Munro conclude, for example, that China is "[d]riven by nationalist sentiment, a yearning to redeem the humiliations of the past, and the simple urge for international power" (Bernstein and Munro, p. 19). This has led the Chinese to demonstrate with particular urgency against the United States, whom it wishes to replace as the dominant power in Asia. One example of this would be the massive demonstrations in front of the U.S. diplomatic missions in China after the mistaken bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade by NATO forces under the command of the U.S. Western diplomats were shocked to find that the Chinese assumed that the bombing had been intentional (Zhao, p. 132). After a U.S. Navy s urveillance plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea in April 2001, similar demonstrations broke out, with the Chinese pilot, Wang Wei, honored as a "martyr of the revolution" (Pomfret, p. A1). James Lilley's 2004 article in Public Affairs and Maria Hsia Chang's book Return of the Dragon: China's Wounded Nationalism are two examples of anxious observations of the fervent nationalism that has arisen at the end of the twentieth century, which was seen by many Chinese as one of humiliation. However, it would be short-sighted to describe the new Chinese nationalism as nothing more than emotionalism running rampant in the streets and squares of China. After all, the Chinese government has shown considerable skill in managing the public outbursts of its citizens. The idea that Suisheng Zhao has termed "pragmatic nationalism" refers to the ways in which the Chinese government actually organizes the shows of patriotism. This nationalism, according to Zhao, is a force used to "hold the country together during its period of rapid and turbulent transformation into a post-Communist society" (Zhao, p. 132). However, the leaders of China want peace and development, and they realize that if Chinese nationalism is perceived as being out of control, the ideals of political stability and economic development would be threatened, as other countries would tend to distance themselves from what they saw as an unstable situation. Nationalism is a relatively new phenomenon in Chinese culture, particularly given the ancient times in which the Chinese Empire began. The Opium War with Great Britain (1840-1842), however, was a disaster. China was occupied and incorporated into Western empires, and it was only at this point in time that

The Struggles and the Victories of Modern France Essay Example for Free

The Struggles and the Victories of Modern France Essay Introduction Modern France has been a product of the historical struggles between the then prevailing Catholic Church and monarchy and the rising influence of intellectuals and revolutionaries. Pierre Birnbaums The Idea of France traces the roots of the modern French state and how the current status quo had been influenced by the ideological, political and social struggles that have shaken the country. Essentially, Birnbaum argued that France as we know it today was a product of one of the most important periods in the history of France- the Enlightenment and the French Revolution of 1789. Hence, much of what democracy in France today can be attributed to that period and the succeeding years of struggle to reach its current political stability. The Idea of France France according to Birnbaum has seen its soul as residing in a privileged relationship with reason (Birnbaum, xiii). This hallmarks the principles of enlightenment where reason was the primary tool in governing human activity particularly in the affairs of the state, the individuals and the society. Hence, it was a call to end the prevailing rule of the Church and the monarchy that was the remnants of the Middle Ages which is seen by the revolutionists as irrational and superstitious. Therefore, from the side of the revolution activists, the emergence of the power residing in the people emerged through the National Assembly or the Third Estate which received criticisms and oppositions from the traditionalists composed of the monarchy and the Church. From the oppositions and the struggle for supremacy in the government, Birnbaum argued that these antagonistic forces had served as the birthmark of the contemporary French democracy particularly its emphasis on plurality. While Modern France was built in over 200 years after the Enlightenment period, this era according to Birnbaum marked the time when the future of modern France was first hallmarked. In doing so, Birnbaum traced the origins and the development of the political antagonists and protagonists in order to support and defend the current status quo in an era when monarchy and the belief in the divine power was the norm. The division of France also stemmed from philosophers- those defending the reign of the Catholic Church and the monarchy and those who had been advocating a reform in the current system as advocated by the likes of Tocqueville. Hence, Birnbaum described the Third Republic as fraught with divisiveness reaching its peak in the Bloody Week of June 1871 and the conservatives gaining the upper hand. However, this victory was temporary and the ensuing Liberation and the Fourth Republic was established. At this time, France has already shifted to a parliamentary form of government existing in a coalition. At this time, the changes that were advocated during the French Revolution has been on process and the divisiveness still existed. It was only in the Fifth Republic that the political factions waned and the Republic and the Catholic Church evolved- they no longer exhibited the hatred that once fuelled their ideologies but rather have reformed their principles to change the anti-clericism. In doing so, the French government was able to provide for a pluralistic government as well as a cultural pluralism in the society of France. Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The primary strength of Birnbaums book is its ability to depict the contradictory forces in French history as both protagonists of democracy: it objectively portrayed the Catholic Church and the monarchy was essential elements in the reformation of a modern France. In doing so, Birnbaum avoids the overtly one-sided depiction of French history as nothing more than a struggle between proponents and opponents of democracy. Each had been ancillary to the other. Needless to say, the French Revolution occurred due to these two forces. Second, Birnbaum treated the 200 years and more as a history not only of politics but also of philosophies and of the people. For one, Birnbaum showed the historical context of the Modern France through a careful and thorough analysis of the cultural struggles in the country at the time. Moreover, it included an analysis of how France was able to overcome the multiculturalism at the time in order to give way to a more tolerant and a brand of French culturalism that is unique. Consequently, upon reading the book, one would appreciate the uniqueness of the French society and its struggles particularly in ushering the Enlightenment period. Hence, Birnbaum also showed readers and scholars from all over the world that the role France has played in modern democracies and current governmental structures are important. Third, while most history books would have delved into too much detail hence, focusing more on facts than on the importance of those facts, Birnbaum was able to capture the readers attention by focusing on the latter: the importance of events can only be appreciated if it can be related to what is relevant at the time and in modern times. Consequently, the only weakness of the book has been its inability to thoroughly relate the world events at the time and how it influenced the Frenchs history as well as how France had influenced other societies. While this is not central to the books theme, it would have given the readers the idea how revolutionary and how important the events in French history had been at a time when most governments are governed by the Church. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Guided by reason and a vision that looks at the society and the people as the primary guiding force for the changes in the society, The Idea of France rested on the argument that historical forces are all protagonists in shaping what French society and government is today. The actors primarily the Republicans and the Catholic Church and the monarchy including the opposing intellectuals and the people versus the nobility- all of these had been instrumental in creating the France that we know today. Modern democracies such as that of France springs from a multitude of events- in the case of The Idea of France it had been the increasing dismay of the people on the status quo governed by the Church and the monarchy. Essentially, The Idea of France by Birnbaum aptly captured the struggles and the victories of France in paving the way for a more democratic form of government particularly in establishing a government by the people and for the people. Concurrently, the struggle of France had endured years before it finally established the Modern France that we know today. Essentially, it is during the period of the Enlightenment and the succeeding years after it that the idea of modern France had been crafted and cemented. Work Cited Birnbaum, Pierre. The Idea of France. Hill and Wang. 352 pages. 2001.

Native American Medicine Essay -- Essays Papers

Native American Medicine "Native American medicine is based on widely held beliefs about healthy living, the repercussions of disease-producing behavior, and the spiritual principles that restore balance." -Ken "Bear Hawk" Cohen (Chrisman 1). The beliefs that Cohen is referring to are shared by all North and South Native American tribes, however, the methods of diagnosis as well as the treatments vary significantly. This is mainly due to the fact that Native American medicine is based upon a spiritual view of life. A healthy person is someone who has a sense of purpose and follows the guidance of the Great Spirit who represented the central religious figure for most tribes (Chrisman 2). It is believed that someone is unhealthy because they have done something morally wrong, or not within their culture's boundaries of what is deemed acceptable. If the tribe member did do something wrong, often they would not receive medical treatment because it was believed that they were learning a lesson as a direct result of their actions. However, many times when an illness could not be accounted for the patient would receive medical attention. Native American medicine was administered through two primary sources, rit ual procedures and rational therapy (Vogel ix). These two sources provided working combinations that were able to cure many illnesses for several reasons. The medical practice of rational therapy was generally practiced first. It is referred to as rational therapy because actual substances, such as parts of plants and herbs, were used and often resulted in medical success. Many people do not realize how many contributions the Native Americans made in the field of medicine. They experimente... ...y due to the advances in scientific medicine, the introduction of medical insurance, free services, and the general availability of the medical care today. Also, many tribes have had to relocate to land where their valuable resources of plants and herbs may not be present. When a tribe member is ill, often he will visit a clinic on the reservation rather than the shaman. While at the clinic variations of the Native American remedies are used. The white man adapted the native practices to administer them through the clinics and hospitals. The medicine that we practice today is a combination of Native healing practices and modern science. The vast contributions made by our Native Americans must not be overseen or forgotten. The indigenous peoples of the Americas set up the basic grounds of experimentation and administration of multiple pharmaceuticals used today.

Health Spa

Space aims to be the premier spa/salon in the Raleigh, NC area. Through a unique combination of offered services and products, they will quickly gain market share. SoulSpace will provide customers with a relaxing, rejuvenating atmosphere where all of their mind and body needs can be met. The business will be set up as a partnership with Steve Long, Debby Long, and Linda Hill-Chinn owning equal portions of the operation. Products and Services SoulSpace offers a wide variety of mind and body healing services and products.The salon aspect of the business will provide both males and females with any type of hair styling services. The spa business is devoted to providing holistic methods of massage, body work, and energy work. This is all done in a relaxing, serene setting. Location SoulSpace has chosen Raleigh, NC as their city for the business venture. Raleigh has consistently over the last few years been voted the best place to work and live in the USA, frequently making the top five a nd ten lists of Forbes, Money, and Inc. magazines.Raleigh has one of the most educated populations that loosely correlates to earning potential, or at least indicates a higher average household income. Additionally, the downtown  area has undergone a recent renovation that has attracted a lot of new businesses as well as become a hot urban area. Competitive Edge SoulSpace's competitive edge is their unique combination of services, location, and customer-centric focus. Both the extraordinary services and location has been detailed previously. SoulSpace has set out since its inception to provide quality, dependable services.SoulSpace has an innovative training program that is extensive in its depth, properly training employees to provide an unprecedented level of customer service. All customers will leave SoulSpace with a feeling that their needs were met well beyond any expectations that they previously had and far better than any competitor. This customer-centric business model is not just rhetoric, there are financial incentives in place for employees to offer unprecedented levels of service. This will ensure a high rate of return customers, allowing SoulSpace to meet their ambitious goal of 90%. FinancialsSoulSpace has forecasted substantial sales revenues by year two. Also by year two the business will reach profitability and have achieved  a healthy profit before taxes. When SoulSpace begins their fundraising efforts they will consider options such as LLC status to replace the partnership business formation that they have currently adopted. SoulSpace is an exciting business that provides a combination of sought after services that are not currently offered by a direct competitor. SoulSpace will provide a relaxing, serene setting for a variety of mind and body rejuvenation services for the booming Raleigh population. . 1 Objectives The objectives for SoulSpace are outlined below: 1. Substantial sales  revenue by end of second year. 2. Profit before ta x by end of second year. 3. Have clientele return rate of  90% by end of first year. 4. Become established community destination by end of  first year. 1. 2 Mission SoulSpace will provide a comforting, yet stimulating, atmosphere in which customers will be able to relax both their body and mind, reconnecting their daily lives to their true purpose through a wide range of holistic methods including massage, body works, energy works, and hair styling.SoulSpace will establish itself as a dependable destination to which they can always come to escape the stresses of life, and rejuvenate their energies, their souls, and their lives. 1. 3 Keys to Success 1. Quality and skilled employees familiar with energy work and oriented to a soothing spiritual disposition. 2. Establish trust within the community that each customer's needs will be taken care of during every visit. 3. Easily accessible location. 4. Effective advertising. Company Summary SoulSpace Holistic Spa and Salon is a new des tination offering customers the unique combination of hair styling, massage,  body and energy work, and raining, all in one beautifully serene setting. Soulspace will offer all ranges of hair styling, therapeutic massage, manicure, facial, sauna, Reiki, therapeutic touch, and specific complimentary product offerings. The goal and promise of SoulSpace can be summed up in our name and slogan:  SoulSpace Holistic Spa and Salon–Rejuvenate Your Life! 2. 1 Company Ownership SoulSpace, at this time, is a privately held partnership, owned by Steve and Debby Long and Linda Hill-Chinn. In the course of fund raising, we will explore the feasibility of both a partnership, and a limited liability partnership. . 2 Start-up Summary In the following  table, the start-up cash has been marked for the estimated amount needed to cover operational expenses for the first two months. Start-up Funding| | | Start-up Expenses to Fund| $94,000| Start-up Assets to Fund| $66,000| Total Funding Requ ired| $160,000| | | Assets| | Non-cash Assets from Start-up| $6,000| Cash Requirements from Start-up| $60,000| Additional Cash Raised| $0| Cash Balance on Starting Date| $60,000| Total Assets| $66,000| | | | | Liabilities and Capital| | | | Liabilities| | Current Borrowing| $0| Long-term Liabilities| $0|Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills)| $0| Other Current Liabilities (interest-free)| $0| Total Liabilities| $0| | | Capital| | | | Planned Investment| | Investor 1| $66,000| Investor 2| $47,000| Investor 3| $47,000| Additional Investment Requirement| $0| Total Planned Investment| $160,000| | | Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses)| ($94,000)| Total Capital| $66,000| | | | | Total Capital and Liabilities| $66,000| | | Total Funding| $160,000| Start-up| | | Requirements| | | | Start-up Expenses| | Legal| $4,000| Stationery etc. | $2,000| Brochures| $3,000| Construction/Design| $30,000|Insurance| $3,000| Rent| $20,000| Research and Development| $0| Expensed Equipment| $15,000| Other| $17 ,000| Total Start-up Expenses| $94,000| | | Start-up Assets| | Cash Required| $60,000| Start-up Inventory| $6,000| Other Current Assets| $0| Long-term Assets| $0| Total Assets| $66,000| | | Total Requirements| $160,000| 2. 3 Company Locations and Facilities Target sites for SoulSpace  include downtown Raleigh in the Warehouse District and Art Districts, West Raleigh near Entertainment Sports Arena, and a  rural area off route 40/440 between Raleigh and Cary.SoulSpace will need at least 4,000 square feet (sq. ft. )  of space. Initial estimates put leasing between $12/sq. ft. to $28/sq. ft. (inclusive of tax and accommodations). Contact has been made with Mary Hobbson of Grub & Ellis Real Estate for 4,200 sq. ft. at 510 Glenwood Avenue downtown Raleigh. This site is within the target priority area in part of the Warehouse District in what is now referred to as Glenwood South. The lease is $28/sq. ft. , making estimated payments at $9,800/month, the most expensive of all targ et sites.We also have met with Peter Pace of York Properties when shown the space available at 200 West Street in Raleigh's Warehouse district. This space is in priority target range, and will be two blocks from the Raleigh Commuter Rail Hub due to open in the next five to eight years. The location is spacious at 10,000 sq. ft. , with first floor (5,000 sq. ft. ) leasing at $12. 50/sq. ft. and the basement floor (5,000 sq. ft. ) leasing at $8/sq. ft. , which averages out to $10. 25/sq. ft. for the entire 10,000 sq. ft. location.This makes this space cheaper than the other locations, and has twice the space. We have also met with David Stowe of Anthony Allenton Real Estate when shown space at the Royal Bakery on Hillsborough Street across from Meredith College. This location is within priority target, and has 6,000 sq. ft. at $20. 60/sq. ft. This site is extremely attractive for it offers many accommodations such as plumbing, electrical, and hvac, that will save us tremendously on co nstruction costs, thusly counterbalancing the expense of rent, which is only $300, over our high-ended estimated budget.Also, this space is primely located on Hillsborough, 1/4 mile from the Beltine, and two miles from Highway 40. It is also the site of a future Commuter Rail Station. They have also built a large parking decking which will be free to all patrons. Products and Services SoulSpace will provide customers with personal beautifying and relaxational services and complimenting products, as well as training in specific forms of energy work, accessible materials on a wide range of health-related topics, and the option to purchase artwork displayed in SoulSpace.Explanations and/or consultations will be provided on all services and products if needed. 3. 1 Product and Service Description 1. Men and Women Hair Styling:  Men's  ($30 average)  and women's  ($40 average)  color ($75), perm ($80), and combos ($80-$120). Selected hair care products (shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, brushes, mirrors) will be sold as well. 2. Body Works:  Massage ($60), other massage/body works ($65 average), facials ($60 average), manicures ($45), pedicures ($50-$65), waxing ($20 average), aromatherapy ($40), and combos ($60-$200 depending).Specific complementing products will be sold as well. 3. Energy Works:  Reiki (1/2 hour $35, 1 hour $60), energy revitalization (1 hour $60), and therapeutic touch (1 hour $60). Customers will include  people wishing to strengthen their physical body, mind, and spirit through the cleaning and revitalizing of their energetic system (i. e. , aura, human energy field). The Reiki offered will be traditional Usui Shiki Ryoho, the predominant form of Reiki practiced worldwide, which originated in Japan from it's rediscoverer Dr. Mikao Usui. Reiki is a hands-on â€Å"stepping† method of balancing the energy field.Energy revitalization and therapeutic touch are energy field cleansing and revitalizing techniques working with t he outer levels of the energy field along with Reiki. 4. Artwork: Most of the artwork in SoulSpace will be  by local artists, for sale to the customers. SoulSpace will earn a 15% commission on each piece sold. This adds an extra element of community integration to SoulSpace with an added emphasis of the art being from beginning artists, and that the art be spiritual and/or modern in form. 3. 2 Competitive Comparison There are many salons in the greater Raleigh area but no direct competitors.There are many places offering massage, but there are only ten day spas, of which only four are a spa/salon. There is one place offering energy work, in Clayton (30 minutes southeast from downtown Raleigh). All energy work practitioners are private, of which there are only ten working full-time, with most of them concentrating on other alternative modalities, and an estimated ten (twenty at the very most) part-time energy practitioners. Not including Chapel Hill and Durham, the above service an estimated population of at least 800,000, with that figure growing by an estimated 6,000 persons daily. . 3 Sales Literature Services brochure, logo/slogan with advertising to be included, and a planned website. 3. 4 Fulfillment SoulSpace services sell themselves as a natural way to rejuvenate one's life. 3. 5 Technology SoulSpace will sell complementing products of the highest quality that have not been created through the testing of animals, and are of the latest scientific knowing for effecting the desired results for body beautification and energetic balancing maintenance. 3. 6 Future Products and Services SoulSpace will add healing touch when Steve Long earns his certification.SoulSpace will always  remain involved with the best spa relaxational techniques offered, and will implement them if deemed appropriate and feasible for SoulSpace clientele. Market Analysis Summary There are no exact competitors, and few related competitors in the greater Raleigh area. There are no rel ated competitors in the downtown Raleigh area. The space at 510 Glenwood was recommended to us by the managing realtors because they had targeted that space for a spa type tenant. By nature of the service SoulSpace will provide, success will be readily achieved. 4. 1 Market SegmentationOur target market will be divided by salon customers and spa customers. Salon customers will be from every age and gender; however, since the salon and spa will be in direct association with each other, we expect that the spa market segment will greatly affect the salon market segment. Thusly, our target market segment will be male and female professionals and retirees, from the age of 25, with individual and household incomes greater than $25,000. Market Analysis| | | Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Year 4| Year 5| | Potential Customers| Growth| | | | | | CAGR| +$25K 5 mi. Radius Raleigh| 2%| 50,500| 51,510| 52,540| 53,591| 54,663| 2. 0%| +$25K 5 mi. Radius West Raleigh| 2%| 53,000| 54,060| 55,141| 56,244| 5 7,369| 2. 00%| Total| 2. 00%| 103,500| 105,570| 107,681| 109,835| 112,032| 2. 00%| 4. 2 Target Market Segment Strategy The members of these market segments have luxury money on hand, and lead professional lives  filled with stress at a consistent level. All persons usually need hair styling regardless of income level, and make the effort to find the money available to style their â€Å"look. † 4. 2. 1 Market Needs People love to pamper themselves, especially people who have achieved a modicum level of professional success.Raleigh has become  a bastion for the successful, having consistently been named as one of the best cities in America to live and to do business in since the mid 1990's. This has created a community of wealth, mobility, and growth. Raleigh has successfully implemented a refurbishing plan of â€Å"old† downtown, which now makes Glenwood South, the Warehouse District, and Hillsborough Street one of the most popular destinations in the whole city. 4. 2. 2 Market Trends With the refurbishment of Raleigh's Warehouse District, including Glenwood South, and it's continual development of downtown Raleigh, this area will nly become more popular. 4. 2. 3 Market Growth When  Forbes, Inc. ,  and  Money, Inc. listed Raleigh as the best place to live and do business, and subsequently listed Raleigh in the top five and top ten in the following years, a population boom ensued in the late 1990's. The North Carolina census released in October 2000 reports  that an average of 6,000 persons per day were relocating to the greater Raleigh area. According to this census, the Triangle has one of the highest concentrations of Ph. D. ‘s per square mile in the world. The average income per household is $40,000-$60,000  and climbing.According to the  Raleigh News & Observer  reports of Raleigh City Counsel meetings concerning growth, the continuing refurbishment of downtown Raleigh is a top priority, along with a complete overha ul of the mass transit system. New buses and taxis are funded and are to be implemented during the next two years. A Commuter Rail System run by the Triangle Transit Authority is supposed to be finalized May 1, 2001, and completed by 2007-2008, with rail stations throughout downtown, running up Hillsborough Street going to RDU Airport then connecting to Chapel Hill and Durham; later phases include branch rails to North Raleigh.The refurbishment plan continues, and downtown is now populated with more destinations than ever, with the plan growing even more businesses. The future looks very promising for a thriving downtown with a continual presence of customers. 4. 3 Service Business Analysis We are part of the retail health and beauty industry which has four major types: 1. Salons: Stores with only hair styling services and products. 2. Day Spas: Stores specializing in body health maintenance through a variety of services and products. 3.Day Spa & Salon: Stores combining the serv ices of the two aforementioned. 4. Health & Beauty Products: Stores selling only merchandise products covering the wide range of products available but not inclusive of those sold by salons and spas. 4. 3. 1 Main Competitors The main competitors are Salon 21 with a location in downtown Raleigh, Von Kekel with locations in East Cary and North Raleigh, Soigne' with a location in mid North Raleigh, Emerald City with a location in Northwest Raleigh, Image with a location in far North Raleigh, Millennium 2000 with a location n North Raleigh, Devine with a location in mid North Raleigh, and Warren Scott with a location in far North Raleigh. Also, by nature of their popularity we must also include these spas as main competition: Skin Sense with locations in downtown Cary and far North Raleigh, and Iatria in far North Raleigh. Strengths of the above are services offered: location proximity to major housing developments, and name recognition. The weaknesses of these competitors are gener al lack of promotion, concentration mainly in North Raleigh.With our target location being downtown Raleigh, we will be servicing East, South, West, and Old Raleigh, as well as downtown commuters. There are no salon-spas in West Raleigh, the closest being Von Kekel in East Cary, and the spa only Skin Sense also in Cary. The only downtown competitor, Salon 21, is very small, not very well known, and concentrates most of their business on the salon end. Our market advantage is wide open, and will give us the opportunity to service a large population base that is not currently being well served.When you include our service of energy works, we become the sole provider of all three services of hair works, body works, and energy works  not only in downtown Raleigh, but for the entire greater Raleigh area. 4. 3. 2 Business Participants Industry participants are those whose services include salon and spa offerings. Salon services concern hair styling, while spa services concern body relax ing and rejuvenating offerings such as massage, and nail  and face works. 4. 3. 3 Competition and Buying PatternsCustomers choose spa and salon services based on proximity to their daily travels from home and work, reputation for quality, and good pricing. With our combined services, we expect to compete mainly against other combination spa-salons. Strategy and Implementation Summary 1. Emphasize quality, originality, and dependability of service. We will differentiate ourselves from our competitors by offering a staff of practitioners who are not only certified in their professions, but will be trained in understanding the dynamics of individual energy systems so as to maximize the connection to their client and more easily meet the needs of he client. 2. We will provide a unique atmosphere. From the name to the ambience of our salon, SoulSpace will distinguish itself as a completely trustworthy and soothing setting where customers can enjoy being pampered and escape the stress o f their everyday lives. 3. Build a community relationship-oriented business. We will focus on strengthening the trust of our customer base, and providing not only services, but information that will aid everyone in the progression of obtaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle. We will also work with local artists to provide their work to inspire our customers. 5. Value Proposition Our value proposition is that we will bring a unique mode of relaxation and fulfillment to our community. When people are relaxed, comfortable, and happy, they have the ability to work harder, concentrate better, feel   physically, emotionally, and mentally balanced, and give that happiness back into their homes, workplaces, and community. Simply put, our value proposition is that we help our community become a better place to live and work. 5. 2 Competitive Edge Our competitive edge is  a combination of our unique services, outstanding location, and our interaction with customers.By providing our cust omers a holistic and integrative spa and salon, we build relationships of trust and satisfaction. Our customers will come to depend on our unique services and fulfilling environment. 5. 3 Marketing Strategy Our marketing strategy is the key to our success: 1. Emphasize  our name and unique services through advertising. 2. Focus on the convenience of our location. 3. Build community relationships through unique and quality service, friendly and caring atmosphere, and establishing absolute dependability of our services. 5. 3. 1 Promotion StrategyOur promotional strategy will be two-fold:  first phase promotion will deal with advertising before, during, and six months following our opening; the second phase advertising will deal with all  long-term advertising. 1. FIRST PHASE PROMOTIONS A. Advertising We will utilize local newspaper, local social and health magazines, local radio, local television, mail-outs to all households within the immediate five mile radius, and  mail-out s to all local business within a five-mile radius. B. Internet We will have a comprehensive website. C. AlliancesWe will place our brochures within the offices of our medical referral clients. 2. SECOND PHASE PROMOTIONS A. Advertising We will continue to place ads in the local social  and health magazines year around. Mail-outs will be done again within a five-mile radius one year later after opening, then again only every three to five years. Radio and television ads will be done only when we have sale promotions during the most stressful times of the year for the Christmas season, and graduation; television ads are not certain, we will evaluate their effectiveness before further implementation.B. Internet We will continue to have a comprehensive website. After the  first six months, and certainly after the first year, we will evaluate the viability of having target clients advertise on our site, and conversely, we will evaluate viability of advertising on our target clients we bsites (if applicable). C. Alliances This type of advertising will be implemented once we have grown beyond our break-even point. We will also form advertising alliances with any business with whom we share common business goals.We will also implement mutual perks with our business and restaurant neighbors which will aid in local visibility. Advertising promotions with certain restaurants will also be considered. 5. 3. 2 Marketing Programs Owner Steve Long will be responsible for marketing SoulSpace through the advertising channels. The general manager will be responsible for assisting with the implementation of alliance advertising partnerships. Our advertising budget is $10,000 for the first year. Advertising will begin one week prior to opening. 5. 3. 3 Positioning StatementWe will automatically position ourselves as one of the top spa-salons in the greater Raleigh area. Considering that none of the other competitors will offer the range of services we will, or that their staffs will be trained like ours, and that there are not any spa-salons of our type in our target locations, we will be able to provide services to a portion of Raleigh populace not currently being tapped. 5. 3. 4 Pricing Strategy Our pricing strategy will be similar to that of our competitors. We will not charge over, nor substantially under, standard prices for our services.We will be paying our employees a higher straight percentage of their total individual customer sales than our competitors. This will allow us to hire the best employees, and have a built-in motivational factor that will keep them working hard and happily. 5. 4 Sales Strategy 1. Our umbrella sales strategy is to sell SoulSpace to public consumers as a uniquely desirable destination that will enhance their lives. 2. We will sell SoulSpace through each employee's skill, courtesy, and warmth, creating a trusting impression on all customers, thusly establishing loyalty and return.We will ensure each visit to SoulSpace is a relaxing and memorable experience, so that  customers can always depend on our brand of service when they arrive. 5. 4. 1 Sales Forecast The important elements of the Sales Forecast are shown in the chart and table below. Initial sales forecasts indicate vigorous first year  sales,  almost doubling by the  end of second year, then leveling out somewhat by the  end of third year. These figures are based only on revenue from minimum average estimates from salon stylings and spa massages only, with sales cost reflective of the 60% commission earnings to each stylist/therapist.Sales Forecast| | Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Sales| | | | Salon Styles Only Revenue| $717,500| $1,400,000| $1,600,000| Spa Massage Only Revenue| $182,500| $350,000| $400,000| Total Sales| $900,000| $1,750,000| $2,000,000| | | | | Direct Cost of Sales| Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Salon Styles Only Revenue| $429,300| $840,000| $960,000| Spa Massage Only Revenue| $109,500| $210,000| $240,000| Subtotal Direct Cos t of Sales| $538,800| $1,050,000| $1,200,000| 5. 4. 2 Sales Programs 1. Our comprehensive brochure will explain  the holistic nature of our services, and how this benefits the customer. 2.Our website will be comprehensively informative of our services and their benefits. 5. 5 Strategic Alliances We will form alliances with our referral practitioners, local restaurants, offices, and businesses who will be strategically beneficial for generating new customers; we will also form alliances with  local certified massage schools and hair styling schools. 5. 6 Milestones The following table lists important store milestones, with dates, implementation duty, and budgets for each. The milestone schedule emphasizes the timeliness for implementation per the sales and marketing targets listed in detail in the previous topics.Milestones| | | | | | | Milestone| Start Date| End Date| Budget| Manager| Department| Business Plan| 1/15/2001| 2/1/2001| $0| Steve| Owner| Financial Backing| 2/1/2001| 2/5/2001| $200,000| Steve| Owner| Design Contractor Retainer| 2/5/2001| 5/1/2001| $5,000| Steve| Owner| Construction Contractor Retainer| 2/5/2001| 5/1/2001| $20,000| Steve| Owner| Lease Agreement| 1/17/2001| 2/12/2001| $20,000| Steve| Owner| Logo Design| 2/12/2001| 3/1/2001| $1,000| Steve| Owner| Business Cards (Initial)| 2/19/2001| 3/1/2001| $300| Steve| Owner| Brochures| 3/1/2001| 5/1/2001| $3,000| Steve| Owner|Grand Opening| 5/1/2001| 6/1/2001| $0| Steve| Owner| Seven Customers Per Stylist/Therapist| 8/1/2001| 9/1/2001| $0| Steve| Owner| Totals| | | $249,300| | | Management Summary The management philosophy of SoulSpace is based on respect for each of our fellow employees, respect for every customer, and individual responsibility. SoulSpace's success is dependent on the warmth and uniqueness of its atmosphere which is generated by a fun-loving and caring employee. The management team will consist of the owner, general manager, and assistant manager (if deemed necessary).We will hire only those whom demonstrate  the qualities necessary for working in a nurturing environment, and the willingness to move forward in study of energetic principals if not already so trained. We will be hiring the ultimate â€Å"people persons. † 6. 1 Organizational Structure Our initial team consists of 14 employees, inclusive of a general manager and an assistant manager,  both of whom will be active stylists/therapists. Employees will be in from the two store divisions of spa and salon. On the salon side there will be 10 stylists and one or two receptionists.There will be room for expansion to 12-15 stylists and three receptionists. The spa side will consist of three massage therapists, one energy therapist, one nail specialist, and one receptionist. There will be room for expansion to five to seven massage therapists, and  two to three energy therapists. 6. 2 Management Team Steven J. Long, co-owner, president:  Founded SoulSpace in 2001. He has a degree in psyc hology from NC State, a  concentration in industrial/organizational with emphasis on communication.He has been a Reiki Master Usui Shiki Ryoho since 1996 and operates part-time healing practice from home. He has  eight years management experience, six in retail, two in electronic component rep field for distribution. Mr. Long spent  three years in the modeling industry, one as model and two as the manager of an agency in Raleigh in 1991. Deborah L. Long, co-owner:  Debby will not be directly involved in daily operations, but will assist Steve in general organizational planning and vision implementation. Debby currently is the number one co-location sales manager for SpectraSite, Inc. here she has worked for two years. She spent several years as an executive assistant at TDK of America's Distribution Sales Center in Chicago, and at Cotton Incorporated. She is a level two Usui Shiki Ryoho. Linda Hill-Chinn, co-owner, CFO:  Linda is retired after having spent 15 years as seni or national staffing specialist for the American Hospital Association in Chicago, as well as serving on their board of directors for several national projects. She also spent several years managing Planned Parenthood of Chicago.Linda holds a Masters of sociology  from Brown University. Jennifer McElravey, general manager: For the past nine years, Jennifer has been one of the top stylist for Mitchell's Hair Design of Raleigh and is currently a level five stylist, Salon Designer of the Year '94-97, and received  extra training at Vidal Sassoon of London, Highest Salon Retail Sales four different years. Jennifer is also a level two Usui Shiki Ryoho. 6. 3 Management Team Gaps We believe the experience of our team covers the needs to make the business plan for SoulSpace a very successful reality.The assistant manager is not named here because that position will be named from the pool of stylists/therapists that will be hired previous to our opening. 6. 4 Personnel Plan The Personnel Plan below reflects our projected need at opening, and carries through the second year expansions. Personnel Plan| | Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Steve Long, Owner, President| $65,040| $65,040| $65,040| General Manager| $60,000| $60,000| $60,000| %100 Commissioned Employees| $150| $156| $156| Receptionist| $15,360| $15,360| $15,360| Receptionist| $15,360| $30,620| $30,620| Total People| 17| 18| 18| | | | | Total Payroll| $155,910| $171,176| $171,176|Financial Plan The premier element in our financial plan is initiating, maintaining, and improving the factors that create, stabilize, and increase our cash flow: 1. We must create visibility so as to create customer flow. 2. We must maintain a dependable,  happy employee force so as to minimize turnover. 3. Create a brisk turnaround on our retail and art products, always maintaining viable stock levels. 7. 1 Important Assumptions The key underlying assumptions of our financial plan shown in the following general assumptions table are: 1. W e assume access to equity capital and financing to support our financial plan. 2.We assume our financial progress based on realistic sales to minimum sales against highest expenses. 3. We assume there will not be an economic crash that would greatly hinder our target market's access to their personal luxury funds. General Assumptions| | Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Plan Month| 1| 2| 3| Current Interest Rate| 10. 00%| 10. 00%| 10. 00%| Long-term Interest Rate| 10. 00%| 10. 00%| 10. 00%| Tax Rate| 2. 50%| 0. 00%| 2. 50%| Other| 0| 0| 0| 7. 2 Key Financial Indicators Our most important Key Financial Indicator is when each stylist averages seven customers per day and each therapist averages three customers per day. . 3 Break-even Analysis For our Break-even Analysis we assume estimated monthly operational costs which include payroll, rent, utilities, and other running costs (not including employee draw fund considerations). Payroll alone is only estimated to about 1/2 of those costs. The ana lysis shows what we need to generate in  revenues per month to break even. This total is 13% less than estimated monthly store gross. This estimation does not include revenue from any other store sources, and is based on a salon customer average of $36 and spa customer average of $60. Our average per customer revenue is estimated at $39.Considering our minimal assumptions show a monthly total customer average of 1,922, we therefore believe our break-even figures can be readily maintained. Break-even Analysis| | | | | Monthly Revenue Break-even| $73,567| | | Assumptions:| | Average Percent Variable Cost| 60%| Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost| $29,525| 7. 4 Projected Profit and Loss There are two important assumptions with our Projected Profit and Loss statement: 1. We  expect to have to pay out from the Draw Fund occasionally. 2. Our revenue is based on minimum estimated averages against highest expense expectations. Pro Forma Profit and Loss| Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Sales| $900,000| $1,750,000| $2,000,000| Direct Cost of Sales| $538,800| $1,050,000| $1,200,000| Other| $0| $0| $0| Total Cost of Sales| $538,800| $1,050,000| $1,200,000| | | | | Gross Margin| $361,200| $700,000| $800,000| Gross Margin %| 40. 13%| 40. 00%| 40. 00%| | | | | | | | | Expenses| | | | Payroll| $155,910| $171,176| $171,176| Sales and Marketing and Other Expenses| $34,000| $39,000| $41,000| Depreciation| $0| $0| $0| Rent| $120,000| $120,000| $120,000| Leased Equipment| $0| $0| $0| Utilities| $9,000| $9,000| $9,000| Insurance| $12,000| $12,000| $12,000|Payroll Taxes| $23,387| $25,676| $25,676| Other| $0| $0| $0| | | | | Total Operating Expenses| $354,297| $376,852| $378,852| | | | | Profit Before Interest and Taxes| $6,904| $323,148| $421,148| EBITDA| $6,904| $323,148| $421,148| Interest Expense| $0| $0| $0| Taxes Incurred| ($2,907)| $0| $10,529| | | | | Net Profit| $9,810| $323,148| $410,619| Net Profit/Sales| 1. 09%| 18. 47%| 20. 53%| 7. 5 Projected Cash Flow Considering our business is a luxury, retail-oriented business with customers who will pay primarily with credit cards, our cash flow is not dependant on the issuance of invoices and the vagaries of Accounts Payable.We will need a minimum of financing to cover the cash flows of the first year of operations. After that, the cash flow becomes continual. Pro Forma Cash Flow| | Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Cash Received| | | | | | | | Cash from Operations| | | | Cash Sales| $900,000| $1,750,000| $2,000,000| Subtotal Cash from Operations| $900,000| $1,750,000| $2,000,000| | | | | Additional Cash Received| | | | Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Received| $0| $0| $0| New Current Borrowing| $0| $0| $0| New Other Liabilities (interest-free)| $0| $0| $0| New Long-term Liabilities| $0| $0| $0| Sales of Other Current Assets| $0| $0| $0| Sales of Long-term Assets| $0| $0| $0|New Investment Received| $0| $0| $0| Subtotal Cash Received| $900,000| $1,750,000| $2,000,000| | | | | Expenditures| Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| | | | | Expenditures fr om Operations| | | | Cash Spending| $155,910| $171,176| $171,176| Bill Payments| $719,414| $1,263,200| $1,423,005| Subtotal Spent on Operations| $875,324| $1,434,376| $1,594,181| | | | | Additional Cash Spent| | | | Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Paid Out| $0| $0| $0| Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing| $0| $0| $0| Other Liabilities Principal Repayment| $0| $0| $0| Long-term Liabilities Principal Repayment| $0| $0| $0| Purchase Other Current Assets| $0| $0| $0|Purchase Long-term Assets| $0| $0| $0| Dividends| $0| $0| $0| Subtotal Cash Spent| $875,324| $1,434,376| $1,594,181| | | | | Net Cash Flow| $24,676| $315,624| $405,819| Cash Balance| $84,676| $400,299| $806,118| 7. 6 Projected Balance Sheet Our Projected Balance Sheet shows we will not have any difficulty meeting our debt obligations as long as our revenue projections are met. Pro Forma Balance Sheet| | Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Assets| | | | | | | | Current Assets| | | | Cash| $84,676| $400,299| $806,118| Inventory| $54,450| $10 6,111| $121,269| Other Current Assets| $0| $0| $0| Total Current Assets| $139,126| $506,410| $927,387| | | | |Long-term Assets| | | | Long-term Assets| $0| $0| $0| Accumulated Depreciation| $0| $0| $0| Total Long-term Assets| $0| $0| $0| Total Assets| $139,126| $506,410| $927,387| | | | | Liabilities and Capital| Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| | | | | Current Liabilities| | | | Accounts Payable| $63,316| $107,452| $117,811| Current Borrowing| $0| $0| $0| Other Current Liabilities| $0| $0| $0| Subtotal Current Liabilities| $63,316| $107,452| $117,811| | | | | Long-term Liabilities| $0| $0| $0| Total Liabilities| $63,316| $107,452| $117,811| | | | | Paid-in Capital| $160,000| $160,000| $160,000| Retained Earnings| ($94,000)| ($84,190)| $238,958|Earnings| $9,810| $323,148| $410,619| Total Capital| $75,810| $398,958| $809,577| Total Liabilities and Capital| $139,126| $506,410| $927,387| | | | | Net Worth| $75,810| $398,958| $809,577| 7. 7 Business Ratios The follow table contains important bus iness ratios for the  physical fitness facilities  industry, as determined by the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) code, 7991. Ratio Analysis| | Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Industry Profile| Sales Growth| 0. 00%| 94. 44%| 14. 29%| 15. 90%| | | | | | Percent of Total Assets| | | | | Inventory| 39. 14%| 20. 95%| 13. 08%| 3. 60%| Other Current Assets| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| 31. 10%|Total Current Assets| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| 39. 00%| Long-term Assets| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| 61. 00%| Total Assets| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| | | | | | Current Liabilities| 45. 51%| 21. 22%| 12. 70%| 34. 80%| Long-term Liabilities| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| 27. 60%| Total Liabilities| 45. 51%| 21. 22%| 12. 70%| 62. 40%| Net Worth| 54. 49%| 78. 78%| 87. 30%| 37. 60%| | | | | | Percent of Sales| | | | | Sales| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| Gross Margin| 40. 13%| 40. 00%| 40. 00%| 0. 00%| Selling, General ;amp; Administrative Expenses| 39. 37%| 21. 53%| 18. 94%| 73. 20%| A dvertising Expenses| 1. 11%| 0. 86%| 0. 5%| 2. 40%| Profit Before Interest and Taxes| 0. 77%| 18. 47%| 21. 06%| 2. 70%| | | | | | Main Ratios| | | | | Current| 2. 20| 4. 71| 7. 87| 1. 10| Quick| 1. 34| 3. 73| 6. 84| 0. 73| Total Debt to Total Assets| 45. 51%| 21. 22%| 12. 70%| 62. 40%| Pre-tax Return on Net Worth| 9. 11%| 81. 00%| 52. 02%| 3. 00%| Pre-tax Return on Assets| 4. 96%| 63. 81%| 45. 41%| 7. 90%| | | | | | Additional Ratios| Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| | Net Profit Margin| 1. 09%| 18. 47%| 20. 53%| n. a| Return on Equity| 12. 94%| 81. 00%| 50. 72%| n. a| | | | | | Activity Ratios| | | | | Inventory Turnover| 10. 91| 13. 08| 10. 56| n. a| Accounts Payable Turnover| 12. 6| 12. 17| 12. 17| n. a| Payment Days| 27| 24| 29| n. a| Total Asset Turnover| 6. 47| 3. 46| 2. 16| n. a| | | | | | Debt Ratios| | | | | Debt to Net Worth| 0. 84| 0. 27| 0. 15| n. a| Current Liab. to Liab. | 1. 00| 1. 00| 1. 00| n. a| | | | | | Liquidity Ratios| | | | | Net Working Capital| $75,810| $398,958| $80 9,577| n. a| Interest Coverage| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 00| n. a| | | | | | Additional Ratios| | | | | Assets to Sales| 0. 15| 0. 29| 0. 46| n. a| Current Debt/Total Assets| 46%| 21%| 13%| n. a| Acid Test| 1. 34| 3. 73| 6. 84| n. a| Sales/Net Worth| 11. 87| 4. 39| 2. 47| n. a| Dividend Payout| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 00| n. a|

Transformative Leadership

Transformative Leadership in a Nonprofit Organization Yulanda Harris EDD8100 – Foundations of Educational Leadership and Management 1 April 21, 2013 Capella University Abstract A transformative leader is a leader who can bring about influential change in others. These leaders not only transform essential change, they change the way we think and act. Transformative leaders create practices and processes in organizations proactively. In addition, transformative leaders can be found at different levels in an organization.They can hold the title ranging from supervisor to executive director. This essay primarily focuses on the challenges faced by the Training & Development (T&D) Specialist, who is capable of helping to make essential changes and encourage transformational leadership at Presbyterian Villages of Michigan (PVM). Introduction The purpose of nonprofit organizations is to offer programs and services to assist the public. Presbyterian Villages of Michigan (PVM) is a fait h-based, nonprofit organization.PVM offers quality senior living housing and services, offering a wide range of residential service options including apartments, condominiums, assisted living, and skilled nursing care (Presbyterian Villages of Michigan, 2013). The ideal leadership style is that of a Servant Leader. According to Robert Greenleaf, servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world (Greenleaf, 1991).In contrast or a more similarity practice, transformative leadership can transform organizational culture and influence job satisfaction of the employees. However, the supervisors and managers appear to be disengaged or a gap presents itself within the organization. Therefore, it was necessary to begin the journey of conducting research within the organization. As in the case of action research according to Joe Donaldson, the T&D specialist must have a particular perspective about what is going on within the organization (Donaldson & Francis, 2013). Developing Transformative Managers and SupervisorsTransforming the managers and supervisors is an ongoing process primarily because he or she have not had any formal training on leadership. Typically as adult learners, we bring knowledge, skills, and abilities from previous experiences to the learning environment (Wainright, York & Woodward, 2012). However, concerning the managers and supervisors at PVM they have very little experience of leadership to bring into the learning environment. They are very familiar with process and procedures therefore; this is what was predicated on their promotional opportunities with the organization.In other words they were promoted into their role base on their performance. However, they lack knowledge in the area focusing on behavioral matters and how to coach or develop the line staff. To begin the process of developing transformative leaders, the T&D specialist uses the ADDIE methodology to complete a valuation of the training needs of the organization to determine if training is the best result to address the issues of the lack of leadership among the managers and supervisors.It is critical to begin the process by asking questions that will develop their ability to initiate and manage change in their department along with developing creative approaches to support strong team leadership and growth. This will allow the managers and supervisors build cohesion among each other and improve upon organizational efficiency. The following are questions that are asked during the analysis phase utilizing the ADDIE methodology. 1. What motivations you to lead a team? 2. What are some challenges you have faced as a manager or supervisor? 3. How would you describe your leadership style? . What leadership characteristics do you value about yourself? 5. What challenges do you face in your day-to-day operations with your employees? 6. How would you describe your decision-making process. For example, when your staff comes to you with a problem, how do you come to a solution? The above questions cited the importance of empowering others, inspiring others, delegation, collaboration, mentoring others. If managers and supervisors are to become transformative leaders they must answer those questions (Lansford, Clements, Falzon, Aish & Rogers, 2010).The goal is to have managers and supervisors feeling capable of reaching the right decisions independently with the goal of possessing their team to feel good about their contributions. Furthermore, the T&D specialist is ensuring the mission and values of the organization will affect the managers and supervisors thinking and management style. As a result they will transform organizational culture and inspire job satisfaction of the employees. The managers and supervisors will need to form a good example, self-confidence and understand needs of the staff.This means they can motiv ate the staff by their actions and words, in addition to ensuring their loyalty to PVM. As a result new training programs are created to develop strategies where new competencies are being taught. This will allow managers and supervisors gain valuable insights and find new opportunities to align their job or career satisfaction and performance with the organization’s outcomes and success (Wainright, York & Woodward, 2012). References: Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. (2013). Welcome to Presbyterian Villages of Michigan! Retrieved from www. pvm. org Greenleaf, R. K. (1991). The servant as leader.Indianapolis, IN: The Robert K. Greenleaf Center. [Originally published in 1970, by Robert K. Greenleaf]. Retrieved from http://www. greenleaf. org/ Donaldson, J. , & Francis, B. (2013). Converstion about research. Retrieved from www. capella. edu Wainright, C. , York, G. , & Woodward, B. (n. d. ). A transformative framework for. (2012). The Journal of Health Administration Education , 40-70. Lansford, M. , Clements, V. , Falzon, T. , Aish, D. , & Rogers, R. (n. d. ). Essential leadership traits of female executives in the non-profit sector. (2010). The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning, 6(1), 51-62.

Ranking the Countries of Asia by Area

Ranking the Countries of Asia by Area Asia is the largest continent in the world with a total area of 17,212,000 square miles (44,579,000 sq km) and a 2017 population estimate of 4,504,000,000 people, which is 60 percent of the worlds population, according to the UNs  World Population Prospects, 2017 Revision. Most of Asia is in the northern and eastern hemispheres  and shares its landmass with Europe; together they  make up Eurasia.  The continent covers about 8.6 percent of the Earths surface and represents about one-third of its land mass. Asia has a varied topography that consists of the worlds highest mountains, the Himalayas, as well as some of the lowest elevations on Earth.Asia is made up of 48 different countries, and as such, it is a diverse mix of people, cultures, and governments. The following is a list of the countries of Asia arranged by land area. All land area figures were obtained from the CIA World Factbook.   Asias Countries, From Largest to Smallest Russia: 6,601,668 square miles (17,098,242 sq km)China:  3,705,407 square miles (9,596,960 sq km)India: 1,269,219 square miles (3,287,263 sq km)Kazakhstan:  1,052,090 square miles (2,724,900  sq km)Saudi Arabia:  830,000 square miles (2,149,690  sq km)Indonesia: 735,358 square miles (1,904,569 sq km)Iran: 636,371 square miles (1,648,195 sq km)Mongolia: 603,908 square miles (1,564,116 sq km)Pakistan:  307,374 square miles (796,095 sq km)Turkey: 302,535 square miles (783,562 sq km)Myanmar (Burma):  262,000 square miles (678,578 sq km)Afghanistan: 251,827 square miles (652,230 sq km)Yemen: 203,849 square miles (527,968 sq km)Thailand:  198,117 square miles (513,120  sq km)Turkmenistan: 188,456 square miles (488,100 sq km)Uzbekistan: 172,742 square miles (447,400 sq km)Iraq:  169,235 square miles (438,317  sq km)Japan:  145,914 square miles (377,915  sq km)Vietnam:  127,881 square miles (331,210 sq km)Malaysia:  127,354 square miles (329,847 sq km)Oman:  1 19,499 square miles (309,500  sq km)Philippines: 115,830 square miles (300,000 sq km) Laos: 91,429 square miles (236,800 sq km)  Kyrgyzstan:  77,202 square miles (199,951 sq km)Syria: 71,498 square miles (185,180 sq km)Cambodia:  69,898 square miles (181,035 sq km)Bangladesh:  57,321 square miles (148,460  sq km)Nepal:  56,827 square miles (147,181 sq km)Tajikistan:  55,637 square miles (144,100  sq km)  North Korea: 46,540 square miles (120,538 sq km)South Korea: 38,502 square miles (99,720 sq km)Jordan:  34,495 square miles (89,342  sq km)Azerbaijan: 33,436 square miles (86,600 sq km)United Arab Emirates:  32,278 square miles (83,600  sq km)Georgia: 26,911 square miles (69,700 sq km)Sri Lanka: 25,332 square miles (65,610 sq km)Bhutan:  14,824 square miles (38,394 sq km)Taiwan: 13,891 square miles (35,980 sq km)Armenia:  11,484 square miles (29,743 sq km)Israel: 8,019 square miles (20,770 sq km)Kuwait:  6,880 square miles (17,818  sq km)Qatar:  4,473 square miles (11,586  sq km)Lebanon: 4,015 square miles (10,400 sq km)Brunei:  2,226 square miles (5,765 sq km)Hong Kong: 428 square miles (1,108 sq km) Bahrain: 293 square miles (760 sq km)Singapore: 277.7 square miles (719.2 sq km)Maldi ves: 115 square miles (298 sq km) Note: The total sum of the areas listed above is lower than the figure mentioned in the introductory paragraph because that figure also includes areas that are territories and not countries.

Learn the History of Bas-Relief Sculpture

Learn the History of Bas-Relief Sculpture A French term from the Italian basso-relievo (low relief), bas-relief (pronounced bah ree ·leef)  is a sculpture technique in which figures and/or other design elements are just barely more prominent than the (overall flat) background. Bas-relief is only one form of relief sculpture; figures created in high relief appear to be more than halfway raised from their background. Intaglio is another form of relief sculpture in which the sculpture is actually carved into material such as clay or stone. History of Bas-Relief Bas-relief is a technique as old as humankinds artistic explorations and is closely related to high relief. Some of the earliest known bas-reliefs are on the walls of caves. Petroglyphs  were treated with color, as well, which helped to accentuate  the  reliefs. Later, bas-reliefs were added to the surfaces of stone buildings constructed by ancient Egyptians and Assyrians. Relief sculptures can also be found in ancient Greek and Roman sculpture; a famous example is the Parthenon frieze featuring relief sculptures of Poseidon, Apollo, and Artemis. Major works of bas-relief were created around the world; important examples include the temple at Angkor Wat in Thailand, the Elgin Marbles, and images of the elephant, horse, bull, and lion at the Lion Capital of Asoka in India. During the Middle Ages, relief sculpture was popular in churches, with some of the most remarkable examples decorating Romanesque churches in Europe. By the time of the Renaissance, artists were experimenting with combining high and low relief. By sculpting foreground figures in high relief and backgrounds in bas-relief, artists like Donatello were able to suggest perspective. Desiderio da Settignano and Mino da Fiesole executed bas-reliefs in materials such as terracotta and marble, while Michaelangelo created higher-relief works in stone. During the 19th century, bas-relief sculpture was used to create dramatic works such as the sculpture on the Parisian Arc de Triomphe. Later, in the 20th century, reliefs were created by abstract artists. American relief sculptors drew inspiration from Italian works. During the first half of the 19th century, Americans began creating relief works on federal government buildings. Perhaps the best known American bas-relief sculptor was Erastus Dow Palmer, from Albany, New York.   Palmer had been trained as a cameo-cutter, and later created a great many relief sculptures of people and landscapes.   How Bas-Relief Is Created Bas-relief is created either by carving away material (wood, stone, ivory, jade, etc.) or adding material to the top of an otherwise smooth surface (say, strips of clay to stone).   As an example, in the photo, you can see one of Lorenzo Ghibertis (Italian, 1378-1455) panels from the East Doors (commonly known as the Gates of Paradise, thanks to a quote attributed to Michelangelo) of the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Florence, Italy. To create the bas-relief Creation of Adam and Eve, ca. 1435, Ghiberti first carved his design on a thick sheet of wax. He then fitted this with a covering of wet plaster that, once it had dried and the original wax had been melted out, made a fireproof mold into which liquid alloy was poured to recreate his bas-relief sculpture in bronze.

How To Do The Best Content Marketing On A Limited Budget

How To Do The Best Content Marketing On A Limited Budget â€Å"It’s dangerous to go alone.† If you’ve ever played The Legend Of Zelda on the classic 8-bit Nintendo, then you’re probably familiar with this phrase (and if not, please bear with us, because we promise we’re going somewhere with this). For the uninitiated, these are the words Link (the main protagonist) hears from a shopkeeper who grants him his first sword before embarking on a treacherous quest to rescue Princess Zelda. Shortly after, the player is faced with overwhelming challenges, scarce resources, and no single path to victory. Sounds like many of our first journeys into content marketing. In fact, if you’re new to  the content marketing game and working with limited resources, you can probably relate to Link more than you might realize. Squaring off against better-financed competitors across a complex content marketing landscape can often feel like warding off monsters while wandering the desert with little more than your wits. Executing a comprehensive content strategy while under pressure to deliver results without an ideal toolset or a roadmap to victory can be stressful (and less fun than any video game). Fortunately, it s possible to succeed at content marketing on a limited budget. The key is to think like Link by making the most creative and efficient use of what you do have until you’ve got the strength to go toe-to-toe with bigger adversaries. To get there, you’ll need to generate maximum mileage with minimal effort while working smarter instead of harder. The only difference is you’ll be solving business problems instead of puzzles and slaying your competition instead of vicious monsters along the way. Take this guide and let’s begin. How To Do Outstanding #Marketing On A Limited Budget via @Ben_Download Your Free Small-Budget Content Marketing Bundle (See Below) Make the most of your limited time with these free downloadable resources. Your Small-Budget Content Marketing Bundle includes: A Marketing Budget Template to help make the most of your available funding. A Content Audit Spreadsheet to understand your existing blog and website content. A Social Media Content Strategy Template to help you build a time-saving social media plan. A Social Media Campaign Content Template to create and organize social posts fast. A Social Media Editorial Campaign Template to schedule your social posts. A Blog Writing Process Checklist to help you make the most of every blog post. A 101 Marketing Time Management Strategies guide to ensure you use your time effectively. An Email List Building tip sheet to build email subscribers quick with limited effort. Find Your Bearings With A Simple Content Audit If you’re working with an existing website or blog, especially one that has been around for awhile, then your first step is to figure out exactly what content you already have (and how much of it is still useful). Think of it like giving your wardrobe a solid spring cleaning, with boxes for things you'd like to keep, patch up or update, and things to get rid of. An easy way to keep track of your progress is to create a simple spreadsheet. There are a number of ways it can be laid out, but at a basic level, it should list all your URLs, page titles, and the following columns: Keep Consolidate Update Remove Get your very own content audit spreadsheet here via Google Sheets. If you’re working with a large website that has a lot of URLs, a free downloadable tool called Screaming Frog may help speed up this process. This desktop website crawler can be used to quickly generate a list of all the URLs that exist on your domain, which can be helpful for discovering broken links or old pages you might have forgotten about. If you’re short on time, keep in mind that your emphasis here should be on balancing speed with relevancy. Focus on posts or URLs that have the highest relevance to your readers to keep, and those that are objectively outdated or no longer relevant to get rid of. It’s also important not to burn yourself out while sorting through the URLs on your domain. This is especially true if your site features tens of thousands of pages (which is common with e-commerce websites, in particular). If you’re ready for a more in-depth guide on how to perform a content audit, take a look at this thorough guide from Moz. Recommended Reading: How To Improve Your  Blog With A Content Audit Play To Your Strengths And Focus On The Right Channels Once you’ve got a clear idea of what (if anything) is already on your blog or website, your next step is to determine which channels you’re going to create fresh content for. Beyond your site and your blog, you’ll also want to consider which social media are best for your needs. You may also want to consider whether other content channels make sense within your overall strategy. Recommended Reading from Neil Patel: The 6 Types Of Social Media Content That Will Give You The Greatest Value With so many different platforms available, it’s easy to start feeling some option paralysis. If time is at a premium, try to focus only on the channels that will both deliver the most impact for your business and that you have time to comfortably invest in. Concentrated efforts in a few areas may yield stronger returns than splitting your attention between more platforms than you can manage. Social Media Tips Choose the right platforms: In most cases, a Facebook page will be essential. Twitter is also a must-have for brands and  bloggers. From there, think carefully about Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Google+. If you’re unsure whether you might have a potential audience on a particular platform, see what your competitors or other blogs in your niche are doing. Stay within what you can manage: Overextending yourself by committing to every new social media platform that becomes available can be exhausting. Worse than that, letting any of your channels stagnate can hurt your brand. Don’t give into pressure to chase every new flashy object if you don’t have time to spare. Email Marketing Tips Don’t be boring: How many times have you signed up for a company’s email newsletter, only to be let down with horrendous formatting or a lack of any visual styling? This bland approach is boring and provides a poor user experience. Low-cost email marketing doesn’t have to mean low quality. Services like MailChimp offer free entry-level accounts and easy-to-use templates that can make putting together professional-looking e-newsletters simple (and if you’re curious how hard hand-coding emails can be, ask any developer). Reuse blog and social content: Cut time off your email content creation process by linking to your social campaigns and teasing your blog posts. Save time building e-newsletters by  repurposing blog content. #email #marketingEstablish A Consistent Posting Schedule While there aren’t many hard and fast rules for how often you should post on any particular channel, it’s important that you keep them all updated on a regular, predictable basis. If your audience knows when to visit your blog for updates, or knows that you post on a particular social media network regularly, they’re going to be more likely to keep coming back for more of your content. Knowing when you’ll post in advance also helps get more done in less time. Best practices for post frequency vary by market and niche. But  here are a few general guidelines to follow: Be consistent:  Make sure users can reliably expect new content. Be social:  Follow up on user comments and reply. Be persistent:  Don’t allow social accounts to stagnate. Investing in a tool to manage your post schedule can help you get organized and save a ton of time.  That’s exactly what was built for. However, a simple spreadsheet or Google calendar can get you started with scheduling  posts if spending money is out of the question. Work Smarter, Not Harder To Generate Content Ideas Faster Generating ideas for unique and interesting things to write about isn’t easy. However, there are ways to speed up the process while avoiding the time and soul-sucking dread of writer’s block. Monitor Social Media Within Your Topic/Industry What topics are buzzing on Twitter within your industry or niche? What are Facebook fans discussing on your page? Listening in to social media chatter can give you a good idea of what your audience might be interested in reading about, as well as what questions or concerns they may have that you can create content to address. Google AdWords Keyword Planner You know your website and blog content needs to rank in search engines to bring in traffic. Use the Google Adwords Keyword Planner to get an idea of which keywords for your chosen blog or web page topic are generating the most attention. It’s worth keeping in mind that this tool reports how many times a keyword has triggered a pay-per-click ad on Google, rather than the total number of searches it has received in general. Even still, it’s useful for getting a ballpark idea for which keywords you should target for organic traffic as well. Recommended Reading:  How To Make An SEO Content Strategy That Will Improve Your #1–3 Results By 248% Google Trends Creating content that provides an original take on a trending topic is an excellent way to drive traffic to your blog. If you think you’ve got a good idea for a post, or need some assistance coming up with timely posts, try Google Trends. It’s a useful tool for monitoring how many news headlines have appeared around your chosen keyword, as well as seeing which searches are most popular on Google at the moment. Ubersuggest Before you can deliver content people want to read, it helps to know what they’re looking for. Ubersuggest is a free tool that generates lists of actual search terms users have typed into Google’s search bar based on a selected keyword. Do Some Competitive Analysis If you notice a high number of blogs or websites writing about a particular topic, it’s probably because there’s a lot of reader interest around that subject. Check out what other sources are writing about, identify what’s popular, and see how you can make your own post unique or more useful. You can do this by digging deeper into the research, including something that’s missing from other posts, or simply adding your own voice to the conversation. This can help you tap into what your audience wants to read, and drive more traffic by providing a more authoritative resource than your competition. How To Scale Content Creation On A Budget At this point, you know what kinds of content you’re going to create, when it’s going to be created, and where it’s going to be posted. However, without much (if any) assistance, you might quickly find that keeping up with content creation over the long-term can be difficult. But, it doesn’t have to be. By establishing efficient processes, finding ways to reuse content across channels, and maybe enlisting some outside assistance, you can generate more content than you might think. Content Curation If you don’t have much time to create content of your own (and even if you do), then leverage someone else’s. Now, this doesn’t mean you should go out and steal other people’s work. Rather, content curation  simply describes the process of gathering and sharing content around a topic from other sources, and adding your own commentary or insight. Here are a few content curation tips: Share content from authoritative sources. Include your own thoughts and insights. Stick to sharing what’s relevant to your audience. On a weekly or monthly basis, round up the most interesting posts on your subject or industry and put them into a blog post or email newsletter. You can also reshare content on social media. Make sure you always give credit to the original source. Over time, this approach can position you as a valuable resource to your readers by helping them find the best content on your subject. Recommended Reading:  5 Different Content Types That Will Help You Save Time Blogging Find Guest Bloggers To Write For You You might not always have time to write on your own blog as often as you’d like. Fortunately, someone out there probably does, and there’s a chance they might even want to work with you. By cultivating relationships with industry influencers and soliciting guest writers, you can leverage other’s expertise, build connections in your industry, and generate authoritative content while easing your own workload. Here are two  ways to find guest bloggers: Is there a blogger you’ve built a strong rapport with over social media? Or, is there a particular writer or subject matter expert out there you particularly respect? Try sending them a message to see if they’re interested in writing on your blog.You’ll want to be mindful and not overstep your bounds here, though. For example, if your site doesn’t generate much traffic yet, then it’s unlikely that a high-powered influencer will want to work with you (or at least not yet). Add a â€Å"write for us† section to your blog or website. There are a lot of writers out there looking for places to get published. Let them know you’re interested in seeing their pitches for post ideas. Repurpose Your Content Across Channels Have a great idea for a Facebook post? Try adapting it for Twitter (and maybe Google+). Just posted something awesome on your blog? Put that in your email newsletter. By finding opportunities to stretch your content across platforms, you can keep your various channels updated efficiently while giving your content maximum exposure. Don’t Skip Out On Visual Content Creating strong graphics for blog and social media posts  can be tough if design isn’t your forte. If that sounds like you (and you don’t have access to a skilled designer), consider these options: Canva Canva is a free web-based service, which allows you to create images using a wide variety of fonts, backgrounds, and templates. It has its limitations, but its capable of producing some surprisingly strong results in relatively little time. Info.gram People love data. Info.gram is great for data pertaining to Instagram. People loves pictures. Bring the two together with Info.gram. This free infographic tool makes it easy to plug in stats and numbers to create quick infographics and data visualizations easily. Piktochart Piktochart is another freemium graphic design tool. It's perfect for creating posters and infographics. Plus, it's used by some high-profile companies and media outlets, like TechCrunch, Forbes, and Survey Monkey. Shoot Better Mobile Video Video content dominates the Web. In fact, recent Facebook algorithm updates have started to give more weight to video on that platform. However, pro video equipment is expensive, and not much use without the expertise of a skilled shooter and videographer. There is a solution to this problem, however, and it’s probably in your pocket right now. Your phone. While shooting video on your smartphone won’t match the quality of what’s possible with a real camera, it is possible to shoot compelling footage with one in a pinch. Depending on your business, the more raw, unpolished look might even be perceived as more authentic too. If you don’t consider yourself much of a camera person, try following these tips: Fill the whole frame with each shot. Position your subjects slightly to the left or right (rather than right in the middle) of each frame. Consider using a tripod for balance. If you can afford one, try attaching an external microphone for better audio quality. Measure Your Success (And Act On Your Data) Once you’ve got your content machine rolling, you’ll want to measure your results and use that data to help drive better decisions moving forward. If you’re getting a ton of traffic from search engines, then continuing to work on content strategy and search engine optimization is probably smart. Or, if you notice that certain social media channels are driving tons of traffic while others are stagnating, that might be a sign that you should focus on the ones that are succeeding, or alter your strategy on the ones that aren’t. Google Analytics The best content marketing plan in the world doesn’t mean much if you can’t measure the results. Fortunately, one of the best digital marketing analytics platforms happens to be free and fairly easy to set up (at least at a very basic level). While Google Analytics is both free and relatively easy to get started with, it’s also a powerful tool with a lot of advanced functionality. Avoid wasting time drowning in data and analytics by focusing on the following three top KPIs (key performance indicators): Natural/Organic Traffic Bounce Rate Conversion Rate When time is of the essence, these are the most essential metrics to monitor. Cyfe Cyfe  is a freemium custom data dashboard. It connects data from other apps, services, and analytics tools, allowing you to monitor everything in one place. A free account allows for up to five custom widgets, while a paid plan ($19 a month) allows for unlimited data. Between these two tools, you should be more than capable of getting a clear view of how your efforts are performing. Pay Attention To SEO Let’s get one thing out of the way here: search engine optimization  isn’t dead. You will, however, ignore SEO at your own risk. If You're Looking To Save Time: Use An SEO Platform There’s a lot of competition out there for premium SEO software platforms (such as Moz, Raven Tools, and more). If you have enough budget, plans generally start around $99 a month and go up from there for more keywords. These options provide powerful capabilities and will make it easier to get more done faster. Common  functionality typically includes: Keyword rank tracking Content analysis Inbound link monitoring Browse around to find an option that fits your needs and budget. If You're Looking To Save Money: Use Free SEO Tools You’re not totally out of luck if that cost is too high. We’re talking about doing content marketing on a budget here, after all. Premium SEO toolset provider SERPS.com has put together a handy resource of free SEO tools, including a handy rank checking tool and more. Consider this option if budget simply isn’t available. Now You’re Ready To Do More With Less And Win This might seem like a lot of work. Frankly, that’s because it is a lot of work (at least until you get your plans and processes in place). Once you get your content marketing flywheel moving, however, you should find you’re able to get more done in less time on a limited budget with some simple planning, prioritizing, and persistence. Best of all, it won’t cost you much (or possibly anything at all), and you won’t have to cut (too many) corners to get it all done.

Contemporary Issues in Marketing and Management Essay - 3

Contemporary Issues in Marketing and Management - Essay Example Social media marketing involves attracting attention of products or company through social media. The huge competition among companies in the toys and games industry has resulted in the need for advertising in online sites, making sales and gaining feedback from potential customers (Foo, 2013). The emerging theme allows a company to create innovative web content that is catchy to the people visiting their sites such as facebook, linkedn and twitter. The most attractive sites gain website traffic as a result of consumers visiting the page and recommending it to their friends. Some consumers might share the content on their social network sites in the form of links. Thus, the message about a product, brand, event or company is transferred from one consumer to another. The company with the highest website traffic in the toy and game industry will conduct its marketing activities with minimal expenses since users share the content through the internet and attract other consumers (Report, 2014). In the toys and games industry electronic gadgets play a significant role in enhancing the accessibility and installation of the games application. The users may gain information through the internet and try out the games by downloading the application, which results in online sales. Play time is an essential component of a child's development and growth. Thus, toys and games become part of their upbringing. The kids will request their parents for items that they have heard off either through their friends or advertising.

Research, Writing, and Rhetoric Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

, Writing, and Rhetoric - Research Paper Example The issue of influences of human behaviour is a fundamental area of study in the contemporary society where issues of morality and ethics almost always touch families and professions. A paradigm shift in the societal mindset is required to alter its potential to cause negative behaviours in the population. The power of a situation shapes the character traits of society members. Dawn K.Coutant, author of â€Å"The effect of A Power-Imbalanced Situation on The Cognitive Processing Of Low-Power Group Members† claims that when a child is born, the brain is blank (78). Knowledge is written into the brain from the experiences as one interacts with the environment. A range of factors such as culture, emotions and authority influences the traits of a person and impacts behavior. The socio-economic environment and situations surrounding the environment affects the traits of people more than they know. A person’s friends, family members, enemies, systems and even the media impact on his behavior in very fundamental ways. Many may argue about personality differences, which are inborn and not affected by the environment, but these traits are developed by situations surrounding the environment. There are certain standards and expectations that the society puts on every one of its mem bers. Adam D. Galinsky, author of â€Å"Power Reduces The Press Of The Situation: Implications For Creativity, Conformity, And Dissonance† states that the behavior of the members of the society is a product of these expectations (14). The society tells human beings what to do and how to do it. It prescribes the mode of behavior and conduct. In his book, â€Å"Replicating Milgram: Would People still Obey Today?,† Jerry M Burger explains the findings of an experiment that replicated Stanley Milgram’s obedience studies. His studies allowed for useful comparisons with the

What characteristics of the opposite gender do heterosexual males and Research Paper

What characteristics of the opposite gender do heterosexual males and females consider most important for sexual and marriage partners - Research Paper Example Many theories have been conceptualized based on the findings of the researches. Cross-cultural evidence proves that men tend to place more value on physical attractiveness while women seek earning potential and possession of resources as valuable traits of potential romantic partners. (Buss et al, 1990). Matlin (2008) explains this gender difference in trait preferences for a partner as based on an evolutionary psychology approach. According to this approach, people’s preferences have roots in evolution where men prefer young, attractive, healthy-looking women who are likely to pass on men’s genes to the next generation. On the other hand, women are drawn to men who are economically stable to ensure that their future children are well provided for (Matlin, 2008). This is consistent with the findings of Sakalli-Ugurlu (2003) where women were found to be more concerned about the future security of their future families than men are. Some have very high standards in their choices that nobody comes to par and they end up alone. Men and women hold different views on mate selection. This study aims to explore those differences, specifically on the traits they hold dear in prospective partners. ... These preference for so-called luxuries are held more by more affluent women in western cultures than women in poorer and more traditional cultures (Geary, Virgil and Byrd-Craven, 2004). Men consistently have admitted their primary preference for a partner’s youth and physical attractiveness as well as a mate’s chastity and sexual fidelity (Buss et al, 2001). This may be explained by the social structural theories. In most cultures, women view marriage as a ticket to material comfort so they search for potential husbands based on their economic potentials and resources. However, as cultures evolve, women have become more empowered in creating their own material abundance through their careers and as they gain economic equality with men, they now focus less on a potential mate’s resources and status and more on aforementioned relationship â€Å"luxuries† such as kindness, honesty and a sense of humor. This theory is backed up by Eagly & Wood (1999) who foun d that the structural features of societies may dictate mate preferences. For example, gender differences in preferences for a mate’s earning potential (men) and homemaking skills (women) may be strongly influenced by the economic status held by men and women in various societies. Following the tradition of large-scale studies of Buss (1990) and Eagly and Wood (1999), Lippa (2007) was likewise engaged in a more modern study involving an internet survey sponsored by BBC, wherein over 200,000 participants ranked their preferred traits in potential mates. The 23 trait choices were age, ambition, communication skills, dependability, domestic skills, face attractiveness, fitness, fondness for children, hands, health, honesty, humor, industriousness, intelligence,

Consumer Behaviour Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Consumer Behaviour - Coursework Example Each society their is some type of social class that is significant to the marketers since the buying behaviour of persons in a given social class is alike. In this way, marketing actions could be designed according to diverse social classes. Now we should note that the social class is not determined by income alone but there are several other reasons as well such as: assets, education, profession etc (BABIN & HARRIS 2011). Social factors also affect the consumer behaviour of customers. The significant social factors are situation groups, family, the role and the status. The members of a family adversely influence buyer behaviour. Consequently, marketers are working hard to find the roles and power of the husband, the wife and the children. If wife influences the buying decision of a particular product then the marketers will attempt to target women in their advertisement. Now we should note that purchasing roles change with vary in the consumer lifestyles (BEST HAWKINS & MOTHERSBAUG H 2007). Every person possesses unique roles and status in a society relying upon groups, family, clubs, and organization to which the person belongs. For instance, a woman is working in a certain organization as the finance manager. Here she is playing double roles, one as the finance manager and other role as a mother. Consequently, her purchasing decisions will be influenced by the role and the status (DEBRUICKER QUELCH & WARD 1986). (2) Personal Factors Personal factors also shape the consumer behaviour. The important personal aspects that influence the purchasing behaviour are the lifestyle of a person, economic condition, profession, age, character and self-concept. Age and the life cycle have noticeable impact on... The paper shows that when you are aware of how consumers behave in relation to the goods, you are selling, and then you have a good understanding of how to give good service to them, raising the probability that you will have repeat consumers. For instance, if you know that consumers tend to come to your hotel since they can get good food devoid of waiting for a very long time, you should carry on training your wait employees to be as resourceful as possible. Gather some customer behaviour data by just analyzing the sales data you already have. For instance, you can see whether the majority of your goods are brought with cash or credit card. If you happen to have a clock on the register, you know then when individuals tend to buy in your store. Nevertheless, you should not restrict yourself to that information. The most important information is from the depth answers from your customers about their expenditure. Focus groups, the surveys and the one-on-one interviews are better ways to get the information about customer behaviour. Encourage the consumers to contribute in these projects by offering rewards, like a contest entry or a discount, for the survey completion or the focus group contribution. This paper approves that consumer behaviour assists organizations decide what goods and services to produce or offer. Once they evaluate on what customers purchase and how they come up with they different ways of identifying what products to purchase and what to be left out, companies can more simply spot a necessitate that lacks in they product and supplement it with something either of the same quality or of a supplementary function.

Argos success in Oligopolistic market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Argos success in Oligopolistic market - Essay Example Argos is the market leader in the home retail group and it is considered as the largest and the most popular market leader in the market and home merchandise market. Argos is regarded as the leader in the digital retail and it is offering more than 33000 products and it is one of the most famous and largest online retailers in the UK. Argos mainly considers the function of cost for considering the different forms in the economies of scale. In order to match in the market to gain competitive advantage and survive in the market the company faces or encounters competition in the services that are being provided by Argos which is generally of superior value. The oligopoly market comprises of the following factors such as interdependency, losses that are sustained, abnormal profit and reserves and the market power. In case of Argos, it reflects and focuses on the innovation, performance, and investment in the products and services that are mainly provided by Argos. Taking into considerati on the competitive prices of offering various products and services of Argos it can be observed that the regulatory agency is mainly responsible for maintaining and also controlling the price of the products and services that are offered by Argos. The regulation of price is considered as a very complex and critical issue and therefore it is required to supervise the operation and the services of Argos. Argos which is considered as the largest and the most well-known home retail group in the world mainly measures its performance.

Consumer Behaviour Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Consumer Behaviour - Coursework Example Each society their is some type of social class that is significant to the marketers since the buying behaviour of persons in a given social class is alike. In this way, marketing actions could be designed according to diverse social classes. Now we should note that the social class is not determined by income alone but there are several other reasons as well such as: assets, education, profession etc (BABIN & HARRIS 2011). Social factors also affect the consumer behaviour of customers. The significant social factors are situation groups, family, the role and the status. The members of a family adversely influence buyer behaviour. Consequently, marketers are working hard to find the roles and power of the husband, the wife and the children. If wife influences the buying decision of a particular product then the marketers will attempt to target women in their advertisement. Now we should note that purchasing roles change with vary in the consumer lifestyles (BEST HAWKINS & MOTHERSBAUG H 2007). Every person possesses unique roles and status in a society relying upon groups, family, clubs, and organization to which the person belongs. For instance, a woman is working in a certain organization as the finance manager. Here she is playing double roles, one as the finance manager and other role as a mother. Consequently, her purchasing decisions will be influenced by the role and the status (DEBRUICKER QUELCH & WARD 1986). (2) Personal Factors Personal factors also shape the consumer behaviour. The important personal aspects that influence the purchasing behaviour are the lifestyle of a person, economic condition, profession, age, character and self-concept. Age and the life cycle have noticeable impact on... The paper shows that when you are aware of how consumers behave in relation to the goods, you are selling, and then you have a good understanding of how to give good service to them, raising the probability that you will have repeat consumers. For instance, if you know that consumers tend to come to your hotel since they can get good food devoid of waiting for a very long time, you should carry on training your wait employees to be as resourceful as possible. Gather some customer behaviour data by just analyzing the sales data you already have. For instance, you can see whether the majority of your goods are brought with cash or credit card. If you happen to have a clock on the register, you know then when individuals tend to buy in your store. Nevertheless, you should not restrict yourself to that information. The most important information is from the depth answers from your customers about their expenditure. Focus groups, the surveys and the one-on-one interviews are better ways to get the information about customer behaviour. Encourage the consumers to contribute in these projects by offering rewards, like a contest entry or a discount, for the survey completion or the focus group contribution. This paper approves that consumer behaviour assists organizations decide what goods and services to produce or offer. Once they evaluate on what customers purchase and how they come up with they different ways of identifying what products to purchase and what to be left out, companies can more simply spot a necessitate that lacks in they product and supplement it with something either of the same quality or of a supplementary function.