Warfare in the High Skies

Abstract Etihad Airways and Emirates Airways are two rival airlines operating from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This proposal looks at several components of a research project designed to look at the elements of their marketing strategies, against the backdrop of their rivalry. The paper provides an analysis of the two companies and compares their marketing strategies.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Warfare in the High Skies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The paper also presents findings of previous research regarding international market entry and examines the different approaches that may be used by a company looking to establish itself into a foreign land. The paper closes by giving various recommendations to both Etihad and Emirates on how they can advance by learning from each other which may threaten the representativeness of the achieved sample. Introduction Etihad Airways and Emirates Airways a re two rival airlines operating from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This proposal looks at several components of a research project designed to look at the elements of their marketing strategies, against the backdrop of their rivalry. As can be seen from table 1, the income from the airline business keeps fluctuating. Chart 1 and 2 also depict the results in the table graphically. Table 1: Summary of Airline Profits and Margin Item / Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Operating Revenue 291 295 305 328 307 306 321 378 413 452 490 514 Operating Expense 274 279 293 317 319 311 323 375 409 440 474 498 Operating Profit 17 16 12 11 -12 -5 -2 3 4 12 16 16 Operating Margin (%) 5.8 5.4 3.9 3.3 -3.9 -1.6 -0.6 0.8 1 2.6 3.3 3.1 Net Profit 8.5 8.2 8.5 3.7 -13 -11.3 -7.6 -5.6 -4.1 -0.5 5.6 5 Net Margin (%) 2.9 2.8 2.8 1.1 -4.2 -3.7 -2.4 -1.5 -1 -0.1 1.1 1 Chart 1: Summary of Airline Profits and Margin Chart 2: Trend of Changes over the YearsAdver tising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Aims and Objectives The aim of the study is to determine the factors affecting the choice of market entry models in the international market. Emirates Airlines and the Etihad Airlines have managed to break into international markets despite bitter domestic rivalry. This makes them the best candidates for the study. The objectives of the study will be as follows. To investigate the market entry models of Etihad Airlines and the Emirates Airlines. To investigate the defining elements and the implications of the rivalry between the Etihad Airlines and the Emirates Airlines. To determine the long term prospects of the two airlines in relation to their existing marketing strategies in the context of their rivalry Justification for the Topic Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines are bitter rivals in the airline sector in the UAE. The two airlines have been competing for market share since the establishment of Etihad Airlines. The significant difference between these two airlines is that Etihad Airlines is much younger than Emirates Airlines. Despite this, Etihad Airlines is proving to be a strong competitor for leadership in the UAE airspace. The main question this leads to is â€Å"how can a young company take on an established company and become a fierce rival?† Secondly, â€Å"what marketing strategies do the two airlines use, and how do these strategies contribute towards their success?† Need for the Study The need to study the rivalry between Etihad Airlines and the Emirates Airlines comes from the following reasons. First, marketing determines the success or failure of any business. Therefore, the fact that Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are each successful in their own right makes them ideal candidates for a study in marketing strategy. Secondly, Etihad Airlines has not yet broken even since its inception, and it will take a few more years before it makes profits. Emirates Airlines has been making profits throughout its history. Does this situation stem from the marketing strategies of the two airlines? Thirdly, there is need to determine the long term prospects for the two airlines given their existing rivalry.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Warfare in the High Skies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Importance of the Study The importance of this study is that it will provide a platform for examining the effectiveness of marketing strategies under a situation of bitter rivalry. The two airlines position themselves as luxury airlines. They also provide services in very competitive routes across the global landscape. Their rivalry can end up with one of them collapsing and the other becoming a monopoly. On the other hand, each of the companies is a target of acquisition by its rival. These issues il lustrate the importance of studying the marketing strategies of the two airlines in order to determine which one is likely to survive in the long term. The proposal aims to provide a good background to understand how the two competing companies operate, and how they can actually take advantage of their strengths to position themselves strategically in the market. Furthermore, the relevant data that will result from this study will be a very useful resource to both companies as they seek to expand their operations. Based on the outcome of this study, the two companies will be able to analyze their marketing strategies and make the necessary improvements where necessary in order to perform better. As the two companies have already made a move to penetrate the international market, this results of this study will provide them with information that is critical for their survival in an international set up. Besides, this study will be a good reference for future market researches or even for existing and potential airline companies. Sources of Information There are three main sources of data for this project. First, the project will examine existing data regarding the operations of the two airlines from literature. The study will also examine research papers written on various aspects of the operations of the two airlines. It will be important to interview people who use the airlines to determine the customer satisfaction indices. Finally, it will be important to study publications by the two companies to decipher their marketing strategies.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Literature Review Among other things, this section will examine the literature that exists regarding these two rival companies. The information gathered will later provide a good foundation for understanding how these two companies carry out their marketing operations and what the future holds for two. Defining Marketing According to critics, the marketing concept is about producing things that people do not really need and then tricking the customers into buying them through deceitful advertising. However, Shaw (2011) describes marketing as a complete philosophy for running a business, based on the meeting of well researched, well understood, and genuine customer requirements. It is the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating, and satisfying customer requirements in a profitable manner (Shaw, 2011). Apparently, the use of the word anticipating in the definition emphasizes that marketing is a dynamic discipline, where customer requirements. According to Shaw (20 11), successful airlines are those that accept the principles of marketing should provide a framework for all they do, and set out to apply these principles as widely and as rigorously as possible. Background of Etihad Airlines and the Emirates Airlines Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, based in its capital Abu Dhabi, made its first commercial flight in November 2003 (Hausmann, Austin Mia, 2009). Since then, the airline has grown faster than any other in the commercial aviation history, currently serving more than 50 destinations in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Etihad offers the highest standards of service and comfort both on the ground and in the air with world class cuisine, award winning flat beds in its premium cabins and the widest seats in the economy, as well as more than 500 hours of on-demand in-flight entertainment. Etihad operates a young and environmentally efficient fleet of at least 42 aircraft, which is set to continue growing (Hausmann, Austin Mia, 2009). The Emirates group consists of Emirates Airline, Dnata, Mercator, Transguard, and Emquest. Emirates Airline’s divisions include Emirates SkyCargo, and Emirates Destination and Leisure Management, which manages Emirates holidays, Arabian Adventures, and Emirates Hotels and Resorts. According to Hausmann, Austin and Mia (2009), Emirates operates services to 97 cities in 61 countries in Europe, America, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian sub content, and Asia-Pacific. The airplane’s wide bodied fleet comprises over 110 aircraft and it has on order, a further 112 aircraft worth more than US$ 30 (Hausmann, Austin Mia, 2009). Apparently, international sports sponsorship plays a central role in Etihad’s global marketing strategy, as it seeks to develop its profile in markets across the world. Major international sponsorship deals include the Ferrari F1 Grand Prix team, Chelsea Football Club, the Etihad S tadium, Harlequins Rugby Football club, and All Irish Hurling Champions. Etihad is the title sponsor of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Hausmann, Austin Mia, 2009). According to Kleymann and Seristà ¶ (2004), Emirates Airlines is reluctant to join a global alliance as its existing relationships with OneWorld and the Star alliance, are providing good benefits and revenue streams. Emirates Airlines is concerned that a global alliance strategy may conflict with the development of Dubai International Airport as an Emirates hub. Apparently, the carrier is not sure that joining an alliance would make it a feeder airline for others. The Market for Air Transport Services Any airline which is to apply the principle of marketing successfully needs a thorough knowledge of current and potential markets for its services. This knowledge should encompass an understanding of the business in which they participate, and of the market research techniques they must apply in order to gain the knowledge they need about the market place. They must be able to identify customers and distinguish them from consumers. In addition, it is necessary for them to segment their markets. Once they have done so, they need to identify and prioritize the requirements of customers in each of the segments. Finally, and most importantly, they must examine their markets in a dynamic rather than a static sense and anticipate future changes in customer needs. To begin with, any airline first has to deal with the question as to which market or markets are to be studied. To do so, it must answer the fundamental question about the business or businesses in which it participates. In doing so, there are two possibilities. The first and obvious way is to define business participation in terms of what the firm does. Thus, it would be easy for an airline to say that it was a player in the aviation business. There is, however, a significant problem in doing so. It will result in a serious under estimation of both the extent and nature of the competition that the airline faces. As a consequence, defining business in this manner is often characterized as marketing myopia. A much better way is to look at the question from the point of view of the needs that the firm is aiming to satisfy and the competition that it faces. A large airline will be working in at least the transport, communication, and leisure areas. These are explained as follows. Transportation According to Shaw (2011), there is a clear economic and, often social need for transport. Those with this need will look for it to be satisfied in an optimum way. Whether use is made of air transport or a surface transport mode in order to do so is less important to them. There are now many short haul routes where surface transport can provide a level of service in terms of comfort and door to door journey times which is as good as or better than that available from airlines. In the future, this form of competition is likely to become even more marked, given the ambitious investment plans now in place in many countries for the improvement of surface, especially rail, transport. Communication Airlines have always assisted people to communicate, as travel allows opportunities for face to face meetings. It should not be assumed any longer, though, that travel is essential for such meetings to take place. The world is under going a revolution based on video conferencing, conference calling, and email. The future will see video conferencing becoming even cheaper, of better quality, and more widely available. More companies are now investing in video conferencing suits for their staff. Also, almost all personal computers are being sold with in built web cameras, allowing video conferencing to come to the desk top. These are all indicators of substantial amount of competition that airlines are already facing from the telecommunications industry. Seemingly, the degree of this competition will increase further in the future, especially during recessionary times when many firms are under acute pressure to save money. Leisure Airlines today are increasingly involved in the intensely competitive leisure industry. Customers have to decide how they will use both their disposal income and disposable time. Disposable income can be used to purchase holidays. It can, though, also be used to buy a wide range of other consumer items. Disposable leisure time can be used for taking of air based holidays. In the same way, it can be used for other leisure activities. It certainly will be if traveling by air becomes a tiresome experience through flight delays and more and more chaotic airport handling brought about by increasing congestion, more strikes and growing security requirements. For leisure travelers, the impact of surface transport competition is likely to be greater still. Besides competition on service quality, surface operators will be able to challenge airlines on price, with both train and bus services likely to become increasingly significant. The customer in such a situation might be the family member who has most influence in travel decisions. International Entry Strategies As companies face maturing markets and stiffening domestic competition, they show a growing interest in cross border initiatives. Many of today’s leading companies are making foreign market entry decisions on a fairly recurring basis whereas others are taking their first steps in this competitive arena. For example, Best Buy, the world’s largest electronics specialist, continues to internationalize, with market entries into emerging markets such as Mexico and Turkey, and mature markets such as the UK (Carpenter Shankar, 2012). The world’s largest company, Wal-Mart, also actively pursues new foreign operations. As of March 2011, Wal-Mart operated 4587 units in 14 countries outside the USA. The most recently entered market was India, where Wal-Mart runs a wholesale operation under joint venture with India based Bharti Enterprises. So as not to be undone by their Western rivals, rising companies from emerging markets such as Tata Motors and Lenovo are also diligently cultivating a global mindset. India based Tata, for example, recently acquired Jaguar/Land Rover, China’s Geely took over Volvo, and Lenovo bought IBM’s personal computer division. The success of these foreign entries obviously depends on the appropriateness of the firm’s post entry decisions, but may also depend on the strategic choice made at the time of entry, as they shape the platform from which competitive advantages can be gained. Here, we will reflect on both the antecedents and performance consequences of some of the most important decisions that have to be taken at the time of entry. These decisions include; country selection, timing, mode, scale of entry, and the level of adaptation and standardization. As observed by Carpenter Shankar (2012), marke t entry decisions are some of a firm’s most risky strategic choices, as international market entry requires a major commitment of financial and managerial resources. For most firms, it remains uncertain as to whether a large scale presence will ever materialize in the hoped for economies of scale. In a similar way, they wonder when it is best to enter a given market or how much a firm should adapt its concept such as brands, products, and store format, to local taste or whether similar entry strategies will prove to be optimal in mature and emerging markets. This uncertainty helps to explain the variability observed in entry strategies adopted by international players, even within the same industry. Considering that entry decisions remain difficult, managers often turn to prevailing practices in the industry to learn which decisions are good, or even best. Competitive entry decisions are monitored closely, providing a significant input in the decision process. However, the wi de variation in the year of entry, in the scale and mode of entry and in the extent of standardization indicates that this does not imply a mere copying of the most popular pattern. Rather, industry rules suggest different entry decisions contingent on external and internal conditions. Besides looking into the above antecedents of these decisions, here are some insights into the contribution of different strategic choices at entry on post entry performance, especially in the longer run. In spite of this growing extent of internationalization, several firms are still struggling to develop the competencies needed to compete in the global arena. Mixed success has been reported when expanding into the foreign markets. Clearly dominating the US retail market, Wal-Mart’s attempts to apply the company’s proven US formula in an unmodified manner to the German market turned out to be nothing short of a fiasco. Moreover, many international companies do not realize comparable mar gins or returns abroad as in their home market, an a few reach break even in their international. For example, the French retail giant Carrefour loses money in many of its European and cross continental markets. In 2010, Carrefour decided to sell off its 61 supermarkets in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and focus on markets where it is either the market leader or a strong contender. Overall, firms favor countries with a large prospective customer base as such markets offer better opportunities for good returns. As for scale, several potential indicators are used to assess the potential attractiveness of the market. The indicators a company selects are to a large degree driven by the strategic objectives spelt out in the company’s global mission. Some indicators are derived from macroeconomic trends, others from consumer behavior and culture. Colgate Palmolive, for example, views per capita purchasing power as a major driver behind market opportunities. Starbucks looks at economic indicators, the size of the population, and whether the company can locate good joint venture partners. When choosing markets for a particular product, the metrics to consider should depend on the nature of the product and the way local consumers use and perceive this product. Proctor Gamble chose Malaysia and Singapore as the first markets in Asia for roll out of Febreze, a fabric odor remover. Not only were both markets known for home proud consumers, people there tend to furnish their homes heavily with fabrics. A company might also decide to enter a particular country that is considered as a trendsetter in the industry. Kodak, for example, re-entered the digital camera market in Japan precisely for that reason. According to the president of Kodak Japan, what happens in Japan eventually happens in the rest of the world. The critical role of market size in country selection is supported by several empirical studies. Given that there are several measures to proxy market s ize, the selection of the proper variable is important. A study of the Finnish software enterprises found that the size of the software market in the target country was the most important country selection factor, not GDP or per capita GDP. Apart from the current size, also the future growth prospects are a key consideration. For example, the growth of the middle class is an important driver for many grocery retailers to enter emerging economies. Distance is another selection criterion. Like scale, distance is a multi attribute dimension. It encompasses geographical, cultural, economic and administrative distance (Carpenter Shankar, 2012). All of these criteria will determine how similar a prospective host and home market are. In general, the more similar both markets are, the more likely a firm will enter the prospective host market. One way to capture or quantify the firm’s knowledge of the economic and cultural environment is through the notion of near market knowledge. T he near market knowledge concept enables a firm’s understanding of potential new markets is based on the knowledge generated from operating in similar markets. Administrative distance and hurdles also play a role in a firm’s country selection process. Tariffs, trade quota, restrictions on foreign direct investment and preferences to protect domestic competition by prospective host countries’ governments will directly impede a firm from selecting a country as potential new market. On the other hand, when administrative borders erode, cross border diffusion will accelerate. Generally, the importance of distance tends to evolve as the firm gains more international experience. As the firm gathers more internal expertise, it can expand into countries that are geographically or culturally more distant. For example, Starbucks opened its first store in Canada in 1987, Wal-Mart chose Mexico as its first market outside the US for the launch of the Xbox 360 game console (C arpenter Shankar, 2012). When operating in similar countries, it is hoped that relevant knowledge can be transferred from one country to another. Tracking competitors’ moves also plays an important role in country selection. As firms meet their competitors more and more in several different international markets, the mere presence of those rivals can become an important selection criterion. Dynamics of Entry Strategies The impact of an entry decision can change over time. Some decisions will have along term impact, while in other cases their effect will be relatively short lived. Moreover, the importance of certain factors can change as firms grow more familiar with foreign operations. For example, as the firm builds more international experience, the cultural or economic distance to the home country may become less of an impediment. A study of the international expansion paths of US service firms found that as their international experience increases, these firms indeed see k out markets that are geographically and culturally more distant. An important factor in this evolution is the firm’s ability to transfer knowledge across countries. Conventional wisdom appears to be that firms should gradually enter into more remote countries, where each time, one’s knowledge base is updated in a rather incremental fashion and without major shocks. However, at some point, the firm may adopt an alternative strategy to immediately go to a variety of vastly different target markets, in order to quickly enrich its base through a wide variety of experiences. The former corresponds to a waterfall strategy, while the latter is associated with a sprinkler strategy of international expansion. Firms may also adapt their entry mode over time. The drivers that resulted in the initial entry mode selection tend to evolve over time. As a result, the firm may feel the urge to switch its presence mode. Conventional wisdom suggests that firms progressively move to gre ater control modes. For instance, Starbucks initially entered China through three joint ventures covering different regions. Over time, the firm raised its control in three ventures. In 2006, the coffee chain increased its ownership in the North China partnership to 90 percent so that it could achieve greater operational efficiencies and accelerate its market expansion. So far, scant attention has been paid to the dynamics of entry mode choices. The limited research that dies exist has primarily focused on the antecedents of an internationalization mode change and, not so much on the performance consequences. Finally, while previous research has often focused on the scale of the initial entry, interesting research opportunities are present when studying the subsequent evolution in the investments in different countries, especially for companies with an extended country portfolio. Indeed, trade offs have to be made then on where to grow first. This may require divestments in other co untries, even when the operations in the latter are profitable as well. More and more are no longer confined to their local market, but extend their operations across multiple countries. This involves considerable risks, as major decisions with long lasting performance implications need to be made under considerable uncertainty. Indeed, various decisions have to be made when entering foreign markets, including the selection of the target countries, the timing, the scale and mode of entry, and the extent of standardization versus local adaptation. Throughout this section, relevant literature has been reviewed on these decisions. More attention should be given to capture simultaneously the impact of certain variables on both the selection decision and the subsequent post entry performance of the foreign venture. One concern in addressing this challenge is that researchers usually restrict their samples to countries that the firm decided to enter. Typically, information on the firmâ₠¬â„¢s consideration set of countries at the time of the entry decision is ignored, thereby creating potential sample selection biases. Still, one could envision modeling the selection issue and incorporating it in the performance evaluation. By looking simultaneously at an outcome and selection equation, less biased results may be obtained with respect to the relative importance of the various selection criteria. Although the discussion in this section has concentrated on international entry strategies, exist in global marketing are not uncommon. In 2001, Colgate Palmolive sold its laundry detergent brands in Mexico to Henkel, its German competitor. In 2006, Wal-Mart retreated twice in a row. The company first sold its stores in South Korea and then, barely two months later, it also sold its German stores to Metro. Similarly, Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone maker, decided to stop making phones for the Japanese market in 2008. However, the literature on market exits is much more limited than on market entries. Initially, firm exits were mostly described as failures, with a focus on poor market shares, low profitability, or lack of financial resources. More recently, more strategic motives have also been identified, such as the need to exit because of a lack of a lack of strategic fit, restructuring, and other proactive moves. Within the more resource based view of the firm, divestments are then described as a move towards the core business by getting rid of non core assets, while portfolio theory has focused on how firms may want to realign their country portfolio to optimally exploit market opportunities. In line with the entry literature, the antecedents and performance consequences for the firms as a whole should be investigated in more detail, so that we can learn when exits may benefit the firm or when they made in vain. As such, one should consider both economic costs of exit, including the sunk costs made during entry that will not be reco vered, and the more strategic costs coming from the ties between the subsidiary that has to be divested and the rest of the firm’s network. Market Entry Modes of Etihad and Emirates Airlines One of the approaches that used by Etihad to penetrate new market us is by forming new alliances. One of the major reasons why alliances are created is to strengthen a company’s position in the market. By forming alliances, Etihad will be able to take advantage of the network created by collaborating partners. Eventually, this leads to reduced operation costs. Emirates and Virgin, however, refused to form an alliance based on the fact that they had distinct products and were, therefore, convinced that working separately offered the solution. The two companies felt that the incremental benefits of global alliance membership do not justify the costs involved in joining. When the Director of External Affairs and route planning of Virgin Atlanta was asked about the possibility of his c ompany entering an alliance, he answered that there had been no need to join any alliance so far (Iatrou Oretti, 2007). Apparently, the Director was convinced beyond doubt that the main advantage of not joining an alliance was flexibility, adding that although he could not point to any particular hard benefit, he also believed that by not having to pay alliance subscription fees or dedicate management time to alliance meetings, Virgin had lower costs. The benefits of joining an alliance are outweighed by staying independent. There is no need to consult anyone regarding timetables or fleet schedules. According to Emirates, the most negative aspects of alliances are slow decision making and compromises members of an alliance are required to make, causing them to settle for the lowest common denominator. Emirates further claims that alliances become bureaucracy laden and divert members’ attention from their core business which is considered an unhealthy situation for forward lo oking and progressive carriers. It is, however, assumed that the growing strength of close competitors such as Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways may at sometime influence its future decisions. Even though Emirates prefer to operate in isolation, the airline acknowledges that alliances are good and is, thus, still open to the idea of forming alliances. As explained earlier, Etihad’s performance has been spectacular despite having been in existence for only a short period of time in comparison to Emirates. Clearly, Etihad, is not afraid to venture into new grounds and this explains why its performance is the way it is. It may be necessary for Emirates to rethink their operational strategy. According to Iatrou Oretti (2007), alliance carriers retain a host of bilateral relations with non member airlines and there are several instances of code sharing between members of rival global alliances. Once the shape of global alliances becomes clearer and more stable, and they grow more exclusive in nature, member airlines may find it difficult to grandfather existing agreements at the time of joining or develop new ones with carriers belonging to a different grouping. Furthermore, should existing coalitions proceed towards deeper integration and start achieving meaningful revenue enhancements and cost reductions it would eventually tip the scale in favor of alliances, increasing their competitive advantages and desirability. Such developments could put extra pressure on the unaligned airlines such as Emirates to re-evaluate their approach towards multilateral partnerships. Etihad also markets itself by offering high quality standards of products and services. Etihad also takes advantage of international sports sponsorship to penetrate the global marketing, as it seeks to develop its profile in markets across the world. As noted elsewhere in this paper, major international sponsorship deals include the Ferrari F1 Grand Prix team, Chelsea Football Club, the Etihad S tadium, Harlequins Rugby Football club, and All Irish Hurling Champions. Etihad is the title sponsor of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Hausmann, Austin Mia, 2009). In spite of it being a negative approach to forward progression, avoiding alliance membership has bee supported by other airlines as well. This is an expression of the desire to prevent the alliance from taking too much influence over one’s airline. For example, in the aftermath of the failed integration between KLM and British Airways in mid 2000, the Chief Executive Officer of KLM resorted to stressing his airlines capabilities to go it alone, thereby implicitly down playing the absolute need for an alliance with a competitor. During the discussions with British Airways, KLM has successfully continued on the development and profitability of the airline company. Frequently, the reluctance to integrate too tightly was defined with the fact that alliance membership had really nothing to offer or that up to now, the alliance scene is still considered to be too unstable, or less frequently, because alliancing as such was seen as inherently detrimental to the airline. Generally, it is smaller carriers that have been quick to acknowledge integration. As to outright alliance avoidance, non aligned carriers tended openly to justify their choices of avoiding alliance group membership. As noted earlier, Emirates Airlines is still not ready to join a global alliance as its existing relationships with both the OneWorld and the Star alliance are providing good benefits and revenue streams. Emirates corporate treasurer is, however, concerned that a global alliance strategy may jeopardize its chances of becoming the Emirates hub at Dubai International. Methodology Basically, this study will be based on primary and secondary information sources. Firstly, the literature review will be carried out by consulting books, journals, the Internet, and other relevant sources. Secondly, primary data will be acquired by means of questionnaires. In addition, case studies from the United Arab Emirates will be used to complement the practical part of this research. Research Design and Data Collection Instruments The approach for the study will be quantitative analysis. As has already been stated above, questionnaires will be used for gathering primary data. Other techniques that may be useful for this study are interviews and focused group discussions. These data collection instruments are explained in the subsequent sub sections. Questionnaires Questionnaires are the most frequently used methods for data collection. They provide a method of collecting data by asking people questions or asking them to agree or disagree with statements representing different points. Questions can be open ended, where respondents supply their own answers, or closed ended, where they select from a list of provided answers (Babbie, 2000). According to Gillham (2000), questionnaires are rarely ade quate as a research method on their own. Apparently, this is true of every research methods, especially when one is dealing with a complex real world situation. Generally, the format of a questionnaire can influence the quality of the data collected. A clear format for contingency questions is necessary to ensure that the respondents answer all questions intended for them. It is also possible that the order of items in the questionnaire can influence the response given. Before being administered to the study sample, it is imperative to pretest the questionnaires (Babbie, 2000). The items in a questionnaire are constructed to elicit information on attributes, attitudes, beliefs, reported behavior, health status, knowledge, or psychological traits or states. Respondents may be asked to respond to items on a past, present or predicted timescale. Each item might provide a response that is analyzed individually or be one of a number of items that collectively constitute a measurement sca le on some concept or variable. It should be noted that, in contrast to the measurement of physical quantities such as weight, or distance, the process of measurement involved with such composite scales is not direct. A good questionnaire takes time and skill to construct, and its content and structure should be consistent with the research questions or hypotheses of the study. In general, a questionnaire might comprise all close ended items or might incorporate a portion of open ended items. Questionnaires produce quantitative data for the most part though those that include open ended items will generate some qualitative data, but of less detail and much depth than that obtained by an unstructured interview. The principle alternative to questionnaire is the interview. Questionnaires tend to be classified according to their mode of delivery, whereas interviews are classified in terms of their degree of structure. Although questionnaires are self-completed, they can also be research er completed. Although typically administered by post, a self completed questionnaire might be handed to a group of respondents whom the researcher might hand deliver the questionnaires to the respondents’ homes. Questionnaires have the advantage of saving time. They are also less costly unlike interviews and focused groups. However, where questionnaires are used, the researcher does not get the opportunity to provide any clarifications. To deal with this challenge, it will be necessary to ensure that the questions are properly prepared. Any ambiguity will only serve to confuse the respondents. In addition to the general strengths and weaknesses of self completed questionnaires, there are some specific advantages and disadvantages of postal administration. On the positive side, the cost of this method of delivery is about half that of the telephone administration and a quarter that of face to face administration. The lack of interviewer costs which include recruiting, trainin g, and monitoring, is a particular advantage in this respect. A study using postal questionnaires takes about the same length of time to execute regardless of sample size or geographical spread. Furthermore, the geographical dispersion of respondents does not normally affect the cost, in contrast to methods that require telephone or especially face to face contact. A postal questionnaire can also be delivered to the whole sample at the same time. In addition, it can be completed at recipients’ own convenient time, and allows them to provide information that may not be readily available. A practical draw back of postal administration is that the researcher requires a list of postal addresses, or access to respondents through a third party such as a professional body or charitable organization, in which case, the researcher often has no direct control over follow up to non responders. A further problem is that postal questionnaires can be subject to higher non response rates th an other means of administering questionnaires. If open ended items are included, in a postal questionnaire, the answers obtained are usually shorter and less in depth than with face to face or telephone interviews. Whatever their intended mode of delivery, questionnaires should be piloted. Table 2 shows the advantages and disadvantages of self completed questionnaires. Table 2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Self – Completed Questionnaires Advantages Disadvantages Easy to complete, if well constructed and presented in a way suited to the target Developing a well constructed questionnaire that produces valid and reliable data is difficult Suitable for topics for which fixed response options can be determined Of limited use for topics where the nature or form of responses cannot be predicted, or for complex issues can not be broken down into a series of simple questions Suitable for gathering much the same information from respondents Less suited to situations where different categories of information are required from different types of respondents since this would entail undue structural complexity in the questionnaire The form in which information is gained from each respondent is usually the same, facilitating comparative analysis across respondents Participants answers are largely constrained to fixed response options which may not be wholly appropriate or comprehensive with limited scope to qualify their answers or introduce issues of their own Can gather somewhat superficial data economically form a large number of individuals The researcher can not explore issues in depth by seeking clarification or elaboration Questions can be worded to include a retrospective time frame for the response May be inappropriate when spontaneous responses are required since the respondents are first required to read and understand the questions asked The language as well the terminology are the same for all respondents Require a minimum common leve l of literacy and comprehension and there is a potential for bias if the questionnaire has to be translated for some participants Anonymity of the respondents is easy to guarantee, and this encourages to be fully cooperate There is little guarantee as to where, when, by whom, and in what order the questionnaire is completed The reactive effects of direct contact between the researcher and participants are avoided The wording and structure of individual items may lead to biased responses, and hence unreliable results Data, particularly those deriving from closed ended questions are relatively easy to analyze and a detailed analysis procedure can be determined in advance. It can be difficult to interpret missing data or inconsistent or ambiguous responses. There is no opportunity to query the actual meaning of individual responses Interviews An interview may be defined as a conversation between interviewers and interviewees with the purpose of eliciting certain information. T hey may be carried out face to face or by telephone (Sim Wright, 2000). The essential characteristic of interviews is that they be neutral. Interviewers must be carefully trained to be familiar with the questionnaire, to follow the question wording, and question order exactly, and to record responses exactly as they are given. The advantage of interviews is that the interviewer can provide some guidance in case a respondent is not sure of what is expected of him or her. Interviews can, however, yield compromised results, especially when the interviewer is biased. Focus Group Discussions Focus groups are groups made up of a small number of people, coming together, to address a specific issue. Although this approach guarantees credible results, it has the disadvantage of being very costly. According to Sim and Wright (2000), focus group discussions have been in the tool kit of social scientists for some time now. In more recent decades, the use of the focus group discussions has incr eased amongst some areas of research as a tool to inform policy and practice. For example, focus group discussions have been used in health and behavioral research, strategic planning, health promotion, policy development, and programme evaluation (Holloway 2008). The increased use of focus group discussions is partly due to a broader acceptability of qualitative methods in these disciplines, but also due to a greater emphasis on the inclusion of qualitative methods in mixed method research designs, to respond to research issues not accessible by quantitative approaches. This more recent emphasis on integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches has ben encouraged by research funding bodies and has led to a renewed focus of raining in missed method research design for post graduate students in academic institutions. The increased use of focus group discussions has led to a greater number and variety of researchers using the method. Focus group discussions are also being applied in a greater variety of settings than in the past. In particular focus group discussions are often used in international research, particularly in developing country contexts. Despite the broader application of the focus group discussion in a wide variety of contexts, much of the existing methodological literature is written with an implicit assumption that the method is being applied only in western developed country context. For this research, questionnaires will be used to collect primary data. The method has strategically been selected because it is quicker than the other data collection methods. In addition, questionnaire will cost much less than either the interviews or focused group discussions. They will also make it possible to reach a bigger number of respondents (Rivera 2007). The questionnaire designed for the research is included under appendix 1. Findings and Conclusion Most airlines have a competitive strategy embodying the type of value they intend delivering. Its c hoice of competitive strategy is reflected in each carrier’s operating strategy. However, the performance associated with an opening strategy depends largely on benefits earned from delivering expected benefits to targeted customers and on costs incurred delivering those benefits. According to airlines have annual revenues of approximately half a trillion dollars and employ over 2 million people. They directly support another 2.9 million jobs at the airport and civil aerospace manufacturers, and may indirectly support in excess of 15 million jobs in tourism. From the discussion presented in this paper, it is obvious that market penetration is not an easy task. It is, therefore, important for each of the airlines to ensure that a good marketing plan is followed by everyone. Although the two airlines focus on different standards of operation, they can each learn form each other, eventually leading improved services. Although Emirates airline does not care about forming alliance s, it will be necessary for the airline to consider forming alliances in order to take advantage of the structures that have been put in place. A key issue is the enhanced competition in the airline industry. There is an obvious polarization between luxury between luxury and low cost brands which will progress. This means that not only does LCC detract market share of established airlines but are also previous middle class airlines will entering the high class market segment. Clearly, both Etihad and Emirates are competing to offer better services to clients and increase their profits. However, the competition will only serve to make the airlines fail to operate smoothly. Rather than compete against each other, it would be beneficial for both airlines to learn good practices from each other in order to progress and go even further. References Babbie, E. R. (2010). The Basics of Social Research. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Carpenter, G. S., Shankar, V. (2012). Handbook of Marketi ng Strategy. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing. Gillham, B. (2000). Developing a Questionnaire. New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing Group. Hausmann, R., Austin, E. L., Mia, I. (2009).The Mexico Competitiveness Report 2009. Geneva, Switzerland: World Economic Forum. Holloway, S. (2008). Straight and Level: Practical Airline Economics. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, Limited. Iatrou, K., Oretti, M. (2007). Airline Choices for the Future: From Alliances to Mergers. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, Limited. Kleymann, B., Seristà ¶, H. (2004). Managing Strategic Airline Alliances. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, Limited. Rivera, M. M., Rivera, R. V. (2007). Thesis Dissertation Writing. Quezon City, Philippines: Goodwill Trading Co., Inc. Shaw, S. (2011). Airline Marketing and Management. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, Limited. Sim, J., Wright, C. (2000). Research in Health Care: Concepts, Designs and Methods. Cheltenham, UK: Nelson Thornes. Appe ndix: Questionnaire Part A: Demographics Kindly answer the following questions by ticking (√) against your preferred choice (s). Please Indicate your position in the organization Marketing Manager Sales Executive Flight Attendant Any other? Please specify How long have you worked for the airline? Less than 1 year 1 – 2 years 2 – 3 Years More than 3 Years How long have you worked at your current position? Less than 1 year 1 – 2 years 2 – 3 Years More than 3 Years Part B: Market Entry Models In your opinion, which of the following is the most effective mode of entry into a new foreign market? (Please circle the number closest to your choice) Most Effective Effective Least Effective (a) Joint ventures 5 4 3 2 1 (b) Alliances 5 4 3 2 1 (c) Direct Investment 5 4 3 2 1 Part C: Multinational Experience In your opinion, does the company generate a huge income from foreign investments? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Strongly Agree Agree Do not Agree Disagree Strongly How capable do you think your firm is in terms of technological, managerial, and financial capabilities to handle international expansion? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Not Fully Prepared Prepared Somehow Fully Prepared Part D: Ability to Develop Differential Products How do you rate your firm’s training program in terms of preparing personnel to conduct international business? (Circle the number closest to your view) Most Effective Effective Least Effective (a) The firm has well designed training programs 5 4 3 2 1 (b) The firm has a poorly structured training programs that can not full prepare personnel to conduct international business 5 4 3 2 1 How do you rate your firms potential to create new and creatively structured products? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Poor Excellent Not Sure Part E: Ability to Stay ahead of Competitors How would rate y our firms ability to handle the fierce competition in the airline industry? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Most Effective Effective Least Effective Part F: Government Policies and Political Environment What do you think is the attitude of government toward foreign investment in general? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Supportive Not Supportive Not Sure Do you think that the political, social, and economic conditions in the potential foreign investment markets are stable? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Strongly Agree Agree Do not Agree Disagree Strongly Part G: Contractual Risk How would you rate the costs associated with making and enforcing foreign contracts? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Very Costly Costly Not Costly Do you think that your firm’s standards of quality will be maintained if the firm operated jointly with local companies in the foreign market? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Strongly Agree Agree Do not Agree Disagree Strongly In your opinion, do you think there are any risks associated with the dissipation or misuse of your firm’s proprietary knowledge if you operated jointly with local companies in the foreign market? (Please tick (√) one of the following) Strongly Agree Agree Do not Agree Disagree Strongly This term paper on Warfare in the High Skies was written and submitted by user Hayden Villarreal to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Average GRE Scores for Top Public Universities

Average GRE Scores for Top Public Universities Many graduate schools have taken the average GRE scores for incoming graduate students off of their websites. Theyre not publishing the rankings in many cases. However, some graduate schools are willing to post average ranges  of scores for incoming grad students, although most of those scores are arranged by intended major rather than by the schools statistics. If youre interested in seeing the most up-to-date GRE scores by intended major, then take a peek at the link provided. Otherwise, read on for the average GRE scores as listed for top public universities for a select few of their majors - Engineering and Education - as published in US News and World Report.   GRE Scores Information If you are confused perusing these scores because you expected to see numbers in the 700s, then Im betting youre probably still thinking about the old GRE score system which ended in 2011. Currently, average GRE scores can run anywhere between 130 - 170 in 1-point increments. The old system assessed students with a scale from 200 - 800 in 10-point increments. If you took the GRE using the old system and want to see what your approximate GRE score would be on the new scale, then check out these two concordance tables. Please note, however, that GRE scores are only valid for five years, so July 2016 was the last time students with GRE scores in the prior format were able to use them.   GRE Verbal Concordance TableGRE Quantitative Concordance Table University of California -  Berkeley: Engineering:   Quantitative: 165 Education Verbal: 149Quantitative: 155 University of California - LA: Engineering:   Quantitative: 162 Education Verbal: 155Quantitative: 146 University of Virginia: Engineering:   Quantitative: 160 Education Verbal: 160Quantitative: 164 University of Michigan – Ann Arbor: Engineering:   Quantitative:   161 Education Verbal: NAQuantitative: NA   University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill: Engineering:   Quantitative: 160 Education Verbal: 158Quantitative: 148 College of William and Mary: Education Verbal: 156Quantitative: 149 University of California – San Diego: Engineering:   Quantitative: NA Education Verbal: NAQuantitative: NA   University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign: Engineering:   Quantitative: 170 Education Verbal: 156Quantitative: 160 University of Wisconsin – Madison: Engineering:   Quantitative: 168 Education Verbal: 158Quantitative: 149 University of Washington: Engineering:   Quantitative: 170 Education Verbal: 156Quantitative: 147 Pennsylvania State: Engineering:   Quantitative: 170 Education Verbal: 154Quantitative: 145 University of Florida: Engineering:   Quantitative: 169 Education Verbal: 155Quantitative: 155 University of Texas – Austin: Engineering:   Quantitative: 170 Education Verbal: 158Quantitative: 152 Georgia Institute of Technology: Engineering:   Quantitative: 164 Ohio State University: Engineering:   Quantitative: 169 Education Verbal: 156Quantitative: 151 Texas AM: Engineering:   Quantitative: 163 Education Verbal: NAQuantitative: NA So Are My Scores Going to Get Me In? There are a number of factors that go into your admittance into one of these top public universities. And although your GRE scores  are  important, they are not the only things considered by admissions counselors, as I am sure you already know. Make sure your application essay is top-notch and that you have secured stellar recommendations from those professors who know you best in undergrad. And if you havent worked on that GPA already, then now is the time to ensure youre getting the best grades you possibly can in case your GRE score isnt exactly what you wanted it to be.

Benefits to Getting a College Degree

Benefits to Getting a College Degree Being in college is hard in many ways: financially, academically, personally, socially, intellectually, physically. And most students question why they are trying to get a college degree at some point during their college experience. Simple reminders of the reasons why you want to get a college degree can help keep you on track when you feel like getting off. Tangible Reasons to Get a College Degree Youll make more money: figures range from several hundred thousand to a million dollars or more over your lifetime. Regardless of the details, however, youll have more income.Youll have a lifetime of increased opportunities. More job openings, more chances at promotions, and more flexibility with which jobs you take (and keep) are just a few of the doors that will be opened when you have your degree in hand.Youll be more empowered as an agent in your own life. Youll be better educated about the things that have an impact on your day-to-day existence: knowing how to read a lease, having an understanding of how the markets will influence your retirement accounts, and handling the finances of your family. A college education can empower you in all kinds of ways to be more in control of your lifes logistics.Youll be better able to weather adversity. From having more money available (see #1 in this list!) in a savings account to having marketable skills and an education during an economic downturn, having a degree can come in handy when life throws you a curve. Youll always be marketable. Having a college degree is becoming increasingly important in the job market. Consequently, having a degree now will open doors for the future, which will in turn open more doors and make you more marketable later ... and the cycle continues. Intangible Reasons to Get a College Degree Youll lead a more examined life. The critical thinking and reasoning skills you learn in college will stay with you for a lifetime.You can be an agent of change for others. Many social service positions, from doctor and lawyer to teacher and scientist, require a college degree (if not a graduate degree). Being able to help others means you have to educate yourself to do so through your time in school.Youll have more access to resources. In addition to the financial resources, youll have access to through your higher income, youll also have resources in all kinds of unexpected and intangible ways. Your roommate from freshman year who is now an attorney, your friend from chemistry class who is now a doctor, and the person you met at the alumni mixer who may offer you a job next week are the kinds of benefits and resources that are hard to plan for but that can make all the difference in the world.Youll have future opportunities in ways you may not be considering now. When you graduate from college, you may have never even given a second thought to graduate school. But as you get older, you may unexpectedly develop a strong interest in medicine, law, or education. Having that undergraduate degree already under your belt will allow you to pursue your dreams once you realize where they are going. Youll have a strong sense of pride and self. You may be the first person in your family to graduate from college or you may come from a long line of graduates. Either way, knowing you earned your degree will undoubtedly give a lifetime of pride to yourself, your family, and your friends.

Compare movie to articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compare movie to articles - Essay Example However, his art became a treat of his legacy when he was called as a friend witness in the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC). He released a list of eight members who were in the communist party to the anti-communist. He went against his own principle by testifying in about the influence of communist in the film industry. The backlist of communist had invaded the film industry for about ten years. It had created a big division in the film industry. The division increased as time moved and thus the blacklist destroyed many lives during its operation. According to Kazan, the blacklist communists aimed at manipulating the culture of US institutions by maneuvering to advance a belligerent foreign policy. Kazan wanted to counter the situation which led him to testify in the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC). His actions made him to be awarded in the Oscar awards. Half of the audience who attended the Oscar awards ceremony got angry about the award given to Ka zan and thus decided to protest against the decision of giving Kazan the award (Barzman 32). They argued that Kazan was morally compromised since he was also a communist. His artistic form of film directing gave him the chance to expose illegal activities in the government through films and also helped in the depiction of the civil society. A lot of people could not understand why he decided to expose the eight communist. However he clearly stated in his defense that the communist named in the blacklist were in the verge of manipulating the US culture thus he acted in order to conserve it. Distorting the US culture would greatly affect the production of film in the United States. Kazan used the film ‘On the Waterfront’ to justify his testimony before HUAC as he focuses on a temporary hero who turns out to be a focal summit of collective action. This directly pointed to his case where he tried to save the cultural value of the state and ended up being the victim of his o wn contribution as people turned to criticize his actions. This is the same way many readers disagree with the readings and ideas in the film ‘On the Waterfront’. Kazan does not focus fully on politics as he also introduces the art of love story in his film (Horne 25). This was to show that he was not only advocating for communism but also considered the moral culture of the society. The story of job in the bible can be compared to the moral approach in the case of Kazan. God gave the devil permission to test the faith of Job. Job always thought that his sons had in a way sinned against God. This made his offer burnt sacrifices on several occasions to pardon their sins. This notion shows that Job was greatly concerned about the conservation of morals that were pleasing to God. Therefore, he made sure that his sons kept good morals and were not swayed away by the devil. This can be related to Kazan’s case as he advocated for the conservation of the American cultur e and would go to the extent of unlashing the names of his colleagues whom he felt were going against his beliefs. The release of the blacklist portrays this aspect as it contains Kazan’s fellow directors. Job was tested by the devil in several occasions but he stood farm to his belief in God. His family abandoned him since they say that his beliefs would not heal him. Job faced rebellion from his own people in the same way Kazan experienced a period of

Oberservance 234 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Oberservance 234 - Essay Example This was an effective strategy because many children did come up to the teacher and sit on her lap. Some children even brought books or toys. Another technique that I saw was giving specific feedback to students who practicing new skills. One older toddler was practicing using a Styrofoam cup in the place of a Sippy cup. The teacher congratulated him on picking his cup up with two hands, but reminded him to drink slower next time. The goal of this method was not only to encourage the child, but to let him know what he was doing right and what he was doing wrong. I believe this was an effective strategy, since the child slowed down and smiled at the teacher. A teacher also showed admiration for a young toddler that had just started jumping. The child was taking great joy in jumping and the teacher commented "That looks like fun, you sure are getting good at jumping." I believe the goal of this method was to encourage the child to continue to develop his new skill. This was an effective strategy because the child jumped at other movement activities throughout the day. I also noticed teachers regularly visit children who were playing individually and invite them to join in on activities or to join other children in centers. The teachers especially did this when they noticed children who looked bored or upset in quiet areas. The goal of this method was to encourage children to play with each other, without forcing them to. I believe this was effective because some of the children decided on their own to join other children at different centers. I saw scaffolding used in the classroom as well. One teacher had been working with a young toddler on his climbing skills. She told me she had worked with him for several weeks on climbing the stairs to the hand washing sink and diapering table. I observed her guide the child to the climbing equipment on the playground when they went outside.

Report of Media Deception on children’s Education Essay Example for Free

Report of Media Deception on children’s Education Essay With a new technology develops and advances, the debate about their negative impact on society also increases simultaneously. Media has been changed rapidly in last few decades. Today, everyone can see the impact of media in everyone’s life be it home or outside. The role of the media has been changed and because of progress of media the world has become global village. However, the negative side of media, especially its negative influence on children’s education through Television, Internet, and Video games can not be ignored. Discussion According to a study â€Å"American Kids now spend 40% less time with their parents than kids did in the mid-sixties. † They spend more time in watching TV, surfing internet and playing video games. The reason is not just TV and internet. The complexities of life, family size and traditional values, priorities and lifestyle have changed. â€Å"Our kids are living in an entirely different, much more complex media environment than we ever could have imagined at their age. The rule and the risks have changed radically, and many of us have been slow to grasp the difference. † Points out Steyer (2002), the Founder and Chairman of the media production firm JP Kids. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly suggest that kids under two years old should not watch any TV and that those older than two should not watch more than an hour or two and that too quality programs The Initial days of childhood are very crucial for brain development of a child. In that period, a child wants to interact with his parents and play with his toys. A child can learn many things through his interaction with parents and physical activities. Physical activities are very necessary to make a child healthy. Interaction with family members and physical activities are always very important for everyone’s lives at any stage of our life. We can be mentally and physically fit by doing both of the above written activities. Gradually a child gets older, watching TV and using other electronic media will get part of his routine. Too much involvement with any mode of media can be disturbed his normal life and growth. Child would not be able to do his normal routine activities like playing outdoor games with his friends, reading, doing homework etc. even a child will not be interested in spending time with his family members. Research says that those children, who spend more time with TV, get violent and get suspicious about the world and people around. Their confidence level decreased and they imagine that something bad will happen to them. The consequence of involvement of children with media are coming gradually, children of today are more violent as compare to past. Shows and games related to crime are becoming very popular among children. Media violence is very harmful for the growing mind and has negative psychological implications. There is an on going debate on the mass-marketing of such games. Media is selling women as an object, it creates enormous impact on teenagers’ mind and they become sexually violent. Video games with violence and sexually explicit presentations are harmful for the mental growth of the child. According to an article of Kids Health, â€Å"The average American child will witness 200, 000 violent acts on television by age 18. † By seeing violent acts on TV, they get emotionless and gradually they become violent. TV makes children curious about women, sex etc. and internet provides them depth information on the same topic. The provided information makes the situation worst. TV violence, most of the times done by the HEROES, so children take violence as the act of heroism. At the various occasion young kids believed that the TV violence is real and frightened by scary and brutal images. They can not distinguish between real and reel images, as consequence, they can have behaviour problems, nightmare, sleeping disorders, be wetting and other. Older kids can also be affected by horrible programs; parents should not allow for watching those programs. Parental guidance is needed for any violent or mature subject programs. TV is a full of programs and commercials that show risking human behaviour as fun that can include petty crimes to heinous crimes like rape and murder. TV commercial shows children to their ideals (Heroes) are smoking, drinking alcohol on the screen and they try to follow their role models. They can lead to drinking, smoking, drugs or substance abuse after the motivation from screen. Studies have shown that TV programs also motivate children to participate in sexual activities too early. The other drawback of spending time with media is on children is, who watch TV more than four hours more likely to be overweight. Overweight Child becomes public shy and loses their confidence as compare to normal child. Obese child will trap in inferiority complex after that he can not able to do good in academics and the other activities. May be that child will get addicted to take alcohol because of his inferiority complex. The health complexity and risk for obese children are higher. Many psychologists agree on the bad effect of over exposure of media on children, but still there has been an on-going debate whether or not television influences a child’s behavior. Parents have no doubt about the impact of media on their child but they never imagined that how much it can be influence a child until they will not faced the crime done by their child. There is important evidence on link between repeated exposure to media violence and behavioral effect said Dr. Susan Villani (1999). â€Å"A total of 25 Pershing Elementary School students in the before and after school program, participated in this study. They were observed prior, during, and post a Tom Jerry video clip. After observing their behaviors post the video clip, each child was asked two questions based on their everyday television watching habits. It was found that television does influence a child’s behavior. Although, the results indicate that there wasn’t a significant difference between the pre-video and during-video behaviors. Further implications and limitations of these results are to be found in the paper† Mowers (2003) find out. Media can be very helpful for getting new information, instead of blaming media if parents will make some rules and stick on that, media would be helpful for their children’s growth. Steyer (2002) makes a list of top10 tips for parents. According to Steyer (2002) this is responsibility of parents to limit the exposure of kids to the media and particularly to the negative exposure. Negative exposure should be completely controlled. One can help our the process and understanding of media message among their children Steyer’s (2002) top 10 tips for parents are as follow: Establish good media habits early: Parents should choose, which program child will watch and parents should give accompany to the child while he is watching TV. 2. Location, Location, Location: Location of the TV and Computer is very important. Parents should not install TV or computer in child room. In the past time a computer covered huge area and was visible to everyone but with advancement of technology, size of computer has reduced. Parents can not see what their child is surfing on internet. So location of TV and Computer does matter, if parents want to keep eye on their kids. Set a media diet and stick to it: As a parent, you should make a routine for your kids that how much time they would devote for TV, Internet and video games. And parent should be stick on that. Sometime we give liberty to our child but it is not good for long term. 4. Teach your child to ask permission to use media: Parents should teach to their child to ask before they use internet or watch TV programs. This rule will make a difference. 5. Watch and listen with your kids then tell them what you like, dont like, and why: First of all listening to the child is the most important thing for a parent. Listen to the child first; what he wants to say after that parent can instruct him what he wants from his child. Parent should explain to his child that why he has given this instruction. 6. Set clear rules regarding your childs media use in other homes: Parents should make the clear rule on use of media out of home. Try to not to give permission to use the media out of home, if your child is using for some important reasons like combined study, then supervise your child or make a surprise visit at the place. Have pediatricians review your kids media use as part of their annual checkup: Get pediatricians review on your kids’ media use; lets take the action, if pediatricians suggest something serious like vision problem. 8. Teach media literacy in school and at home: Parents should teach their kids about what is happening in around in the world. Parents should not feel shy to educate their children about sex education, because your child will know from the other sources and may be in the negative sense. You can teach your child in a very positive manner. So lets start to talk to your child on every topic, it would boost up your child’s confidence as well as your relationship with him. 9. Read to your child and share positive media experiences. Share the positive media experiences with your child like what you have learnt from internet or TV when you were child. It will divert your child’s mind to learn something positive and creative from the modes of media. 10. Switch the dial to OFF. : When you have spare time, talk to your child instead of watching TV or surfing internet. Conclusion TV and internet are the good things to new thing but over exposure is bad. We can control our TV â€Å"You can easily control habit of TV watching of your child† according to the national PTA, medical experts and child development experts, I to help your family to become â€Å"Media Literate† and also positive media a new â€Å"Children’s digital media culture† is gradually improving on internet. Through some web site children can get important information which would be helpful for their education. Many NGOs are making effort to make media helpful for children ‘Montgomery (2000) concluded in his article. Media has provided us an excellent platform that can support the child development like anything. Children can learn and have fun over the same. This requires proper parental guidance, support and control over the media usage among the children. Reference: â€Å"CIC And PTA partnership†, Control Your TV Its Easy! Retrieved on 14 May 2010 from http://www. controlyourtv. org/#Education. aspx Kids Health, How TV Affects Your Child retrieved on 14 May 2010 from http://kidshealth. org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child. html# â€Å"Montgomery K. C†, 2000. , Childrens Media Culture in the New Millennium: Mapping the Digital Landscape. retrieved on 14 May 2010 from http://www. jstor. org/pss/1602693 â€Å"Mowers M. M. †, 2003. , Does Media Influence A Child’s Behavior? Retrieved on 14 May 2010 from http://clearinghouse. missouriwestern. edu/manuscripts/402. php â€Å"Stayer P. J. †, 2002. , The Other Parent: The Inside Story of the Media’s Effects on Our Children. Retrieved on 14 May 2010 from http://www. amazon. com/Other-Parent-Inside-Medias-Children/dp/0743405838#reader_0743405838

Philosophy of Education as a Means to Educate Humanity in a Diverse Sou

Philosophy of Education as a Means to Educate Humanity in a Diverse South Africa ABSTRACT: In pre-democratic South Africa, people never learned to listen to the stories of their fellow human beings because that was seen as a threat rather than a challenge. With the long-awaited political and constitutional changes taking place, a different societal structure is being established and a new democratic value system formally and officially being embraced. It would, however, be naive to imagine that policy changes would transform deeply-rooted attitudes, practices and existing structures overnight. The change into a democratic society does not mean, unfortunately, that a political, social and educational utopia is being created instantly. All learners will have to develop the skills, knowledge competence and attitudes to function effectively in a culturally diverse society. It will require a major paradigm shift from most educators, philosophers of education, and teacher trainers, as well as parents. I will argue for a pluralistic, problem-centered approach to teacher education and training that would be helpful in educating students to respect others and diversity. 1 INTRODUCTION In 1948 the National Party won the election in South Africa and introduced its policy of apartheid. Education became a political battle field, without considering educating human beings for a human society. A narrative of power was followed. The school was used as an instrument to support and legitimise the position of the dominant group and its political interests. The culturally divided population was kept divided to ensure the dominant group's position in all spheres of society. Conformity to and continuity of the ideologies and culture of ... ...nnecticut: Bergin and Garvey. SQUELCH, J. (1993) Towards a Multicultural Approach to Education in South Africa. In: The Black Child in Crisis - a Socio-educational Perspective edited by J. le Roux. Pretoria: JL van Schaik. TAYLOR, C. (1985) Philosophy and the Human Sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. VAN DER VYVER, J. (1998) The Democratisation of Assessment in a Pluralistic, Problem-centred Module in Philosophy of Education at Post-graduate Level. South African Journal for Higher Education, 12(2):183-197. VENTER,E. FRANZSEN, K. AND VAN HEERDEN, E. (in press) An Analysis of the Effect of Recent National Policy Changes on Values and Education in South Africa. In: Education, Culture and Values - Volume 1. Systems of Education, Theories, Policies and Implicit Values edited by Mal Leicester, Celia Modgil and Sohan Modgil. London: Falmer Press.

Duquesne Education Essay

I have always held the belief that apart from scholastic excellence, a man’s education is incomplete if certain values and ideals are not inculcated into him. Having a degree is worthless if the degree you have does not have a positive effect on you. One question I ask myself is why must I be educated? Should we be educated because we want to back a good degree that will enable us get a good job or what? I offer my view of true education below. True education is not all about grades and certificates. True education must change who we are, affecting how we think. We should understand that as educated people, we should give back to the society. We are educated so that we can make a positive change in our society and be better persons than we were before we were educated. This should be the goal of true education In my quest to get a university education, I have had to put these considerations before me. For one thing, I just do not want to go to a school for the mere purpose of backing a degree. I want to be educated in an environment where I will be useful not only for myself but the society. I want a university where I can get the same degree and still have the platform of forming values that will make me a better person. I checked programs offered by different universities and how this helps in making me a better person in the future. Of all the universities I checked, I found the programs and the environment of Duquesne most suitable for me and having a degree from the university will make me more successful person in future. How am I certain of this? To begin with, the environment and programs offered by the university makes the student understand his/her role in the society. The various humanitarian programs instill some values into the student and help to shape his view about life and one’s relationship with his fellow man. In addition this, you can not graduate from Duquesne without learning responsibility. Your ideals will be transformed and this prepares you for the life ahead of you. I will also be able to develop relationships that will influence my life, people who believe in the same cause.

Minny from the Help Essay

In the book â€Å"The Help† by Katheryn Stockett the author portrays Minny is one of the primary women representing â€Å"The Help†, the black women that make their employers life so nice and comfy. In Jackson the help or the maid as they are also called are expected to be obedient and respectful. Minny is the opposite of that. Minny is a bossy, hot headed maid who is unable to keep a job because of her mouth. She always states her mind and does not hesitate to sass-mouth anyone that crosses her. Her home life is difficult because of the fact that she has five children and a husband. Her marriage with Leroy is complicated since he often gets drunk and beats on her, and it is hard for Minny to look past this awful characteristic of Leroy because she is in love with him. Because Minny is courageous, fearless and loyal nothing can knock her down. Minny is a loyal person that worked for Miss Hilly’s mother, Miss Walter, throughout the beginning of the novel. They wanted Minny for a maid because she was â€Å"bout the best cook in Hinds County maybe, even all a Mississippi. But when Miss Hilly sends Miss Walters, her mother, to the old folks home and tells Minny that she needs to work for her. Minny does not accept so Miss Hilly goes out and tells her friends how Minny is a thief so she would have no choice but to work for her. Minny gets so outraged that she gives Miss Hilly that horrible pie. As fearless as Minny is she does not hesitate on taking action when someone crosses her. In the book â€Å"The Help† Miss Hilly crosses Minny by making everyone believe that Minny stole from her. Minny decides that she has had enough of Miss Hilly and that she needs to teach her a lesson so she puts it on herself to get payback. Minny as a way to get back at Hilly baked a cake with poop in it and fed it to Miss Hilly. Hilly didn’t even notice until Minny said â€Å"eat my shit†. As tension rises between Hilly and Minny. Minny decides to participate in the book, talking about the daily life of the help, since she has nothing to lose. As an act of courageousness Minny puts herself in danger by cooperating on the book as she puts her daily life on paper. But in Jackson that is a punishable crime because it is considered a rights movement and it is frowned upon. Since the maids are tired of being mistreated by the whites and having unfair laws they are ready for change. They are hoping to open everyone’s eyes so they can see how horrible African-Americans are being treated and Minny doesn’t hesitate on trying to accomplish that. So after she thought about it â€Å"every time we meet, I complain. I moan. I get mad and throw a ot potato fit. But here’s the thing: I like telling my stories. † Minny’s courageousness and actions influence major changes in Jackson, Mississippi. As an act of fearlessness Minny tamed Hilly without knowing it. By Minny being loyal she got respect from almost everyone. She has been through so much which has made her a better person.

Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement Almost all of us even if we dont do it consciously look early in an essay for a one- or two-sentence condensation of the argument or analysis that is to follow. We refer to that condensation as a thesis statement. What Is a Thesis Statement A  thesis  is a specific statement that is usually placed in the introductory part of an essay,  research paper, dissertation etc., and which is explained in subsequent body paragraphs. A thesis of an article, report or other scientific work is a set of certain statements that are logically connected to each other. Therefore, the main task of the thesis statement is to discover and summarize the content of a larger work. There are several different types of papers students are required to write in higher education. Some essays and papers are meant to provide an overview of a topic (like a research paper), while others make an argument – a  persuasive essay – to demonstrate to their professors or academic instructors, they have a solid comprehension of a subject, textbook, etc., and that they can thoroughly analyze its content and are developing both their writing and critical-thinking skills. All persuasive essays of this sort – that is, those that argue a point – must contain a thesis statement. They are first declared in a persuasive essay’s introduction paragraph when the students directly state their point of view on a subject. In just one sentence, the thesis statement is the student’s pithy summary of the argument they are going to make in the rest of the paper; in many ways, it’s the main thought, theme, or angle of the essay. HOW TO WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT As a side note, whenever a student is to write a persuasive essay, which should include a thesis statement, they should be cognizant that they must defend their argument – therefore, their paper’s thesis statement – with evidence in the subsequent paragraphs. Also, even though thesis statements are declared early in the essay, in the introductory paragraph, one does not result from a student’s initial response to a subject or reading assignment; instead they a result of taking an attitude toward a specific, narrowed subject, then finding evidence – articles, both journalistic and academic, previously published essays, encyclopedias and online sources – to support this argument. In essence, the thesis statement identifies the topic of a text along, or an issue, subject, along with the claim the student is making about it. Thesis Statement Examples To better convey the power and purpose of the thesis statement, it may serve the student best to apply the following scenario to an academic setting.  If students wanted to convince their parents it would be best if their parents bought them a new computer or cell phone to use at college, that students would want to put up a pretty solid argument for doing so, correct? The student with this motivation would first make their claim (in essence a thesis statement, which they would articulate early on in their argument), and then provide reasons why this argument is valid and should be accepted and followed – because they really want that cell phone or computer. If the student were writing an essay to persuade their parents of this claim, their thesis statement may be: It is important for me to have a computer/cell phone to use at college. Essentially, this is a thesis statement; however, it is NOT an academic argument (unless a professor allows the student to demonstrate their knowledge of how to write a basic persuasive essay by choosing a general, non-academic topic). For example, an appropriate academic thesis statement might be: â€Å"Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ is told by an unreliable narrator, which then forces the reader to make their own conclusion about the story’s narrative rather than believing the character telling the story – which is usually the case in fiction†. Once again, the thesis statement asserts the main point of the paper and clarifies the scope of the topic that it will address. A thesis statement is most effective when expressed or declared in the introductory paragraph in a confident, assertive tone and stance; one should leave out qualifiers like â€Å"I think† or â€Å"might† which will certainly dilute its effectiveness, thereby weakening the entire paper, offering a weaker argument – all while probably earning the student a lower score or grade on the assignment. The student will most likely be assigned a persuasive essay – not usually having the option of writing a different kind of essay – and will be forced to follow the standard format accepted in higher education. And, more often than not, the student will be assigned a certain text, series of texts, or type of text to analyze and write about. It could be a novel, play, chapter in a text, in a literature class, a speech by a famous politician in a history or government class, or a piece of art in an anthropology class. If you need assistance with thesis statement writing, feel free to contact our friendly support team or place an order and we will gladly help you.

Assessing the Essence of Teh Eclectic Paradigm

Aspects frequently highlighted include global media and telecommunications, global brands, worldwide production and integrated financial markets. At the forefront of these phenomena are Multi National Enterprises (MNEs), benefiting from the opening of markets across the globe, and from advances in computing and internet technology, which make it possible to link far-flung activities in global networks. Considering these elements, globalization can further be defined as the process of increasing and deepening interactions between individuals and organizations across the globe, facilitated by advancing communications technology and the opening of markets to trade and investment. Theories of International production have attempted to explain the convergence towards a globalised world, while addressing the different types of international expansions. These theories have focused on MNEs and Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs). FDI can be defined as investment by an organization in a business in another country, with a view to establishing production in the host country. While Raymon Vernon is known for his theory of Product life cycle, Stephen Hymer laid emphasis on the location and ownership advantages of countries, which helped in attracting FDI from MNEs. John Dunning incorporated Internalisation to the analysis of Hymer, which became known as the Eclectic Paradigm (or OLI Paradigm), one of the most comprehensive theoretical explanations with specific focus on FDI. Still the Eclectic Paradigm is being challenged in the modern globalised world, as it fails to take into account the implications of existing modes of entry of MNEs, as well as the advantages of Alliance Capitalism. It is being discussed further in this report. Theories of International production have greatly facilitated the understanding of the globalization phenomenon. Different theorists at different time intervals attempted to justify the expansion of MNEs across the globe. Hymer (1970) was the first one to propose that MNEs are institutions of international production rather than international capital movement. Still he ignored the natural imperfections attributed to transaction costs in an imperfect market. In today’s world, with the proliferation on Internet use, imperfections like bureaucratic hurdles and control of distribution systems (Bain, 1956) are absent. Even the imperfections like price determinism and information transfer are shrinking. Thus it can be argued that Hymer’s major contribution relating to the importance of structural market imperfection in determining FDI activity does not hold good for corporations, which are expanding globally through e-channels (for instance). Vernon (1966) came up with the International Product Life Cycle (IPLC) theory, which explained the locational dimension of FDI. According to him, production first starts in the home country fro local markets, and exporting is used to attain foreign markets. As the product matures and production is standardized, production moves to less developed countries to reduce labour costs. The basic assumption of the IPLC is that knowledge is not equally and universally distributed (Vernon, 1966). This assumption, however, is not applicable in today’s world, as Vernon (1979) himself admits that there is a more perfect distribution of knowledge across the globe. He argues that firms who are global scanners follow a different trend than that of the IPL approach, because such firms have the ability to effectively scan global markets for the best factor endowments. Though, a lot has been discussed and said on the theories of International production, yet none of the approaches (Hymer, Vernon, Barney) simultaneously explains the importance of resources heterogeneity, entrepreneurial competence, network governance and the rise of alliance capitalism. Thus, an overarching analytical framework is needed, that can synthesize these disparate views and account for the importance of location- based advantages and ownership advantages. Such a framework was developed by Dunning (1973; 1988; 1993) known as The Eclectic Paradigm. It is a framework that explains the growth of MNEs by bringing together disparate theories. According to Dunning, the Eclectic Paradigm is less of an alternative theory of International production and more of a framework that synthesizes the essential and common characteristics of each main theoretical explanation on the growth of MNEs. For more than two decades the Eclectic Paradigm (EP) remains a widely used general framework for studying the growth of MNCs and Dunning has also continuously revised and extended the EP to explain changing facets of MNCs. Dunning (1988) has re-stated that the EP is robust and general enough to incorporate future developments like renewed the focus on entrepreneurship and the emergence of global networks (Dunning, 1995). The Eclectic Paradigm explains that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and growth of multinational corporations (MNCs) is linked to the extent and nature of ownership-specific advantages of the firm, the extent and nature of location bound endowments, and the extent to which markets for these advantages are best internalized by the from itself. In short, it is the configuration of these Ownership (O), Location (L) and Internalization (I) advantages that determines a firm’s international production and growth. In a somewhat updated version, Dunning (1988) describes the three essential factors for international expansion: * Ownership Advantages are unique competitive or monopolistic advantages, typically developed in the home market, that permit the firm to compete successfully in overseas markets. These factors are of two types: Asset Advantages arise from proprietary ownership of unique assets protected by structural market distortions, and Transactional advantages provide a unique capacity to capture value from the transaction benefits of owning a network of assets located in different countries. * Location factors, tied to the local foreign market, which make production in the host country preferable. These are immobile factors, such as cheaper labour, high shipping costs, local image or trade barriers, that can be combined with transferable intermediate ownership assets to generate superior products. Internalisation factors, typically related to the industry, produce transactional market failure in transferring ownership advantages to foreign markets. This also explains the naming of the EP as the OLI configuration as well. The eclectic model, then, pulled together the key elements of neo-classical theory – location, industrial organisation theory – monopolis tic advantage and internalization theory – transactional efficiency. It used this eclectic mix to produce an internally consistent, compelling and testable model of the multinational firm and its strategic processes.

Define and discuss two different theories of poverty Essay

Define and discuss two different theories of poverty - Essay Example The main rationale for our constrained definition is that our focus would be on understanding the theories of poverty in this explorative paper. To develop an understanding of the theories of poverty, we look at the origins: individual and cultural. Therefore, in this paper, we focus on the individual and cultural origins of poverty. We explore each agenda from different research perspectives. This will help us develop a multi-dimensional lens through which we view the subject. We first explore the various factors in understanding poverty from the viewpoint of the Individual theory. Here we identify the interactions of the individual with others in society, the political and regulatory set-up. We also try and understand the psychographic and demographics of the individual and how these factors could affect poverty. The second part of our essay concentrates on identifying the cultural nuances that impact poverty. Again we study the theory from the viewpoint of the various forces that act on the cultural characteristics. We explore the interaction of culture with religion, politics and the structural issues that have influenced poverty. Towards the end, we summarize our perspectives and work on providing a balanced viewpoint. For an individual, poverty can be defined not only in monetary terms but also in terms of stunted capabilities which hamper the achievement of full human potential (Green 2006). Here, poverty amounts to a state of being in a zone of powerlessness and excluded from the decision making prerogatives that accompany people who are in better employment positions. If an individual belongs to this state, then that could possibly translate to living in unhygienic conditions, with poor access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities. We now trace the factors that could cause this existential state. The individual theory states that