Friday, September 6, 2019
Types of Channels in Marketing Essay Example for Free
Types of Channels in Marketing Essay Most businesses use third parties or intermediaries to bring their products to market. They try to forge a distribution channel which can be defined as all the organisations through which a product must pass between its point of production and consumption Why does a business give the job of selling its products to intermediaries? After all, using intermediaries means giving up some control over how products are sold and who they are sold to. The answer lies in efficiency of distribution costs. Intermediaries are specialists in selling. They have the contacts, experience and scale of operation which means that greater sales can be achieved than if the producing business tried run a sales operation itself. Channel levels consist of consumer marketing channels or the industrial marketing channels. A factor common among both channel levels is that both include the producer as well as the end customer. 1) Zero Level channel / Direct Marketing Channel ââ¬â Consists of a manufacturer directly selling to the end consumer. This might mean door to door sales, direct mails or telemarketing.à Dell online sales is a perfect example of a zero level channel marketing. 2) One Level channel ââ¬â As the name suggests, the one level channel has an intermediary in between the producer and the consumer. An example of this can be insurance in which there is an insurance agent between the insurance company and the customer. 3) Two level Channel ââ¬â A widely used marketing channel especially in the FMCG( fast moving consumer goods are products which are sold at a relatively low cost and are sold quickly) and the consumer durables industry which consists of a wholesaler and a retailer. ) Three level channel ââ¬â Again observed in both the FMCG and the consumer durables industry, the three level channel can combine the roles of a distributor on top of a dealer and a retailer. The distributor stocks the most and spreads it to dealers who in turn give it to retailers. Number of intermediaries There are three broad options intensive, selective and exclusive distribution: Intensive distribution aims to provide saturation coverage of the market by using all available outlets. For many products, total sales are directly linked to the number of outlets used (e. g. igarettes, beer). Intensive distribution is usually required where customers have a range of acceptable brands to chose from. In other words, if one brand is not available, a customer will simply choose another. Intensive distribution is appropriate for products such as chewing gum, candy bars, soft drinks, bread, film, and cigarettes where the primary factor influencing the purchase decision is convenience. Industrial products that may require intensive distribution include pencils, paperclips, transparent tape, file folders, typing paper, transparency masters, screws, and nails. Selective distribution involves a producer using a limited number of outlets in a geographical area to sell products. An advantage of this approach is that the producer can choose the most appropriate or best-performing outlets and focus effort (e. g. training) on them. Selective distribution works best when consumers are prepared to shop around in other words they have a preference for a particular brand or price and will search out the outlets that supply. Selective distribution may be used for product categories such as clothing, appliances, televisions, stereo equipment, home furnishings, and sports equipment. Exclusive distribution is an extreme form of selective distribution in which only one wholesaler, retailer or distributor is used in a specific geographical area. Products such as specially automobiles, some major appliances, certain brands of furniture, and lines of clothing that enjoy a high degree of brand loyally are likely to be distributed on an exclusive basis. This is particularly true if the consumer is willing to overcome the inconvenience of traveling some distance to obtain the product. Usually, exclusive distribution is undertaken when the manufacturer desires more aggressive selling on the part of the wholesaler or retailer, or when channel control is important, exclusive distribution may enhance the products image and enable the firm to charge higher retail prices. Terms and Responsibilities of Channel Members * Price policies: This out the price at which middlemen will get the product from the manufactures and the discount schedule. It also mentions the price at which middlemen may sell the product. Condition of sales: The manufacturing firm stipulates mode or payment terms. For example, some firms ask middlemen to put a deposit with them. Some other firms insist payment to reach them on the day the intermediary takes physical possession of the goods. Others may accept a letter of credit as a payment mode . Credit policy of the manufacturer stipulates the period in which it must get paid. * Territorial Rights: The manufacturer should spell out the territorial jurisdiction of each of the distributor to avoid any territory jumping. This will also help in the distributorââ¬â¢s evaluation.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Rocket Singh From The Point Of View Of Business Ethics
Rocket Singh From The Point Of View Of Business Ethics The movie begins with the introduction of Ranbeer Kapoor as Harpreet Singh Bedi. He has just graduated from college and is enthusiastic about being a salesman. He lands up a job as a computer salesman in a multinational company AYS Solutions. In no time he realizes that his principles of operating with honesty and integrity were considered obsolete. He is looked down when he complains about a person asking for bribe to install his company computers. Thereafter he is prohibited from contacting any prospective clients. It becomes clear that his boss wants him out. During this time he gets a slipup from a colleague to visit a prospective client. The client is a startup and cannot afford the company price for two computers. At this point Harpreet offers to try and cut down the prices. He finds that his company overcharges the customers. Harpreet then assembles the computers with the help of one of his colleagues. He uses a wholesaler as supplier. The final payment, he however, bills it o n the name of Rocket Sales Corporation. Thus, the story of a new Harpreet Singh Bedi and Rocket Sales Corporation starts. As the movie continues a few more people from AYS joins the gang. These people work in AYS and works for Rocket Sales Corporation. This corporation however does not use bribe to win contracts. It offers computers at lower prices, better services and 24 hour helpline. This helpline is one of the numbers from AYS which are unused. Harpreet Singh maintains a list of all the facilities Rocket Sales Corporation uses of AYS to pay back the value to AYS when the right time comes. With time the sales of Rocket Sales Corporation increases and begins to affect the business of AYS. At this time the CEO of AYS becomes restless and tries to find out more about Rocket Sales Corporation. However he is not able to find out much as the company has not given any address but only a phone number. AYS CEO tries to bribe Rocket Sales Corporation and also offers to buy them, but to no avail. He becomes desperate and in his desperation finds out the entire plot. He calls all those involved in the scheme and fires them. Rocket Sales Corporation is overtaken by AYS and Harpreet Singh goes to jail. He feels embarrassed for letting his family down. Harpreet then joins a shop like Reliance world as a service boy. On the other side, AYS uses the same corrupt means in Rocket Sales Corporation and starts to lose business again. The customers are more interested in ethical, honest and effective methods than bribes. AYS CEO realizes that Rocket Sales Corporation has no value in itself but in its people. In the end, the CEO tries again to get Harpreet back to manage Rocket Sales Corporation but he denies the offer. Finally, the CEO returns Rocket Sales Corporation back to Harpreet and he manages the organization with his original team in his new office. There are different ethical issues related to business taken up in the movie and we would try to study them with help of some theories based on ethics Ethical Theories Domain of Ethical Theories These are some of the theories of ethics that we have used in our analysis of the movie Rocket Singh Salesman of the year. These theories can mainly be distributed in two parts, Theories based on conduct and Theories based on character Deontological Vs. Teleological Ethical Systems Theories based on conduct are further sub-divided in theories of consequences (Teleological Theories) and theories of duty (Deontological Theories). Teleological Theories contains the theories of Ethical Egoism and Utilitarianism. These theories suggest that different consequences may suggest different ethical actions and a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome, or consequence. At the same time, Deontological theories suggest that rightness and wrongness of an action can be determined by the nature of the action itself rather than its outcomes. Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with right and wrong. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition is the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. To comprehend the Deontological and Teleological separations is a philosophical study; there are varying definitions that can be based simply on a persons individual point of view of these types. Deontological ethics is the study of moral duty; obviously, morals are based on many separate views, as a result, it is important to understand the varying perceptions. In the study of deontological ethics, it is the right or wrong of the action that defines it. This is versus the teleological ethical system, which focuses on the good or evil of the action and the person committing the action. Emmanuel Kant first defined these principles, Ãâà ²Kant held that nothing is good without qualification except a good will, which is one that wills to act in accord with the moral law and out of respect for that law, rather than out of natural inclinations. He saw the moral law as a categorical imperative-i.e., an unconditional command-and believed that its content could be established by human reason alone. Ethical formalism tends to dictate the logic of the approach, and does not necessarily contemplate what benefits the human versus the law, however is based purely on the action and whet her it is right or wrong. Another form of deontological ethics is egoism, in which the action must benefit the person committing the action, again however basing the form on the action versus the potential morality or reflection of god, as teleological arguments tend to be. Lastly, there is natural law, and the approach based on survival of the fittest, versus contributing to the whole. When utilizing this approach it is necessary to understand that according to natural law it is necessary that some humans, animals, etc, fail. A teleological argument, or argument from design, is an argument for the existence of God or a creator based on perceived evidence of order, purpose, design, or direction or some combination of these in nature. The word teleological is derived from the Greek word telos, meaning end or purpose. Teleology is the supposition that there is purpose or directive principle in the works and processes of nature. Immanuel Kant called this argument the Physico-theological proof. Ethical theories based on Self Interest vs Interest for Others Theories based on concern for self and concerns for others are mainly three theories, which are different from each other. If concern for self is high and concern for society is low than such a theory is considered as Ethical Egoism. In this theory, individual always comes ahead of the organization. In Utilitarian theory, both individual and society concerns have to be balanced. It is considered to be the idealist theory. While, in the theory of Altruism society always comes ahead of the individual and personal gains are not as important as gain of society as a whole. Theory of Egoism Egoism is a teleological theory of ethics that sets as its goal the benefit, pleasure, or greatest good of the oneself alone. It is contrasted with altruism, which is not strictly self-interested, but includes in its goal the interests of others as well. There are at least three different ways in which the theory of egoism can be presented: psychological Egoism This is the claim that humans by nature are motivated only by self-interest . Any act, no matter how altruistic it might seem, is actually motivated by some selfish desire of the agent (e.g., desire for reward, avoidance of guilt, personal happiness). This is a descriptive claim about human nature. Ethical Egoism This is the claim that individuals should always to act in their own best interest. It is a normative claim. If ethical egoism is true, that appears to imply that psychological egoism is false: there would be no point to saying that we ought to do what we must do by nature. But if altruism is possible, why should it be avoided? Some writers suggest we all should focus our resources on satisfying our own interests, rather than those of others. Society will then be more efficient and this will better serve the interests of all. By referring to the interests of all, however, this approach reveals itself to be a version of utilitarianism, and not genuine egoism. It is merely a theory about how best to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number. An alternative formulation of ethical egoism states that I ought to act in my own self-interesteven if this conflicts with the values and interests of otherssimply because that is what I value most. It is not clear how an altruist could argue with such an individualistic ethical egoist, but it is also not clear that such an egoist should choose to argue with the altruist. Since the individualistic egoist believes that whatever serves his own interests is (morally) right, he will want everyone else to be altruistic. Otherwise they would not serve the egoists interests! It seems that anyone who truly believed in individualistic ethical egoism could not promote the theory without inconsistency. Indeed, the self-interest of the egoist is best served by publicly claiming to be an altruist and thereby keeping everyones good favor. Minimalist Egoism When working with certain economic or sociological models, we may frequently assume that people will act in such a way as to promote their own interests. These are not a normative claim and usually not even a descriptive claim. Instead it is a minimalist assumption used for certain calculations. If we assume only self-interest on the part of all agents, we can determine certain extreme-case (e.g., maximin) outcomes for the model. Implicit in this assumption, although not always stated, is the idea that altruistic behavior on the part of the agents, although not presupposed, would yield outcomes at least as good and probably better. Utilitarian Theory Greatest benefit for the largest number This origin-of-ethics theory, proposed by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill, declared that all action should be directed toward achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Originating in the 1800s, this theory strongly represents the (duh) utilitarian ideas of the industrial revolution: Lets make things work! There are 2 main sub-categories of Utilitarian theory: Act-utilitarians believe that people should perform actions that serve other people. That is what makes one good. Rule-utilitarins believe that rules are made for the good of the majority of people. Therefore, a good person follows the rules. A standard criticism of Utilitarian theory is that it would be perfectly morally acceptable to execute innocent people to prevent social ill for the majority. However, most of us find this immoral. Utilitarianism is the ideas that the moral worth of an action is determined solely by its utility in providing happiness or pleasure as summed among all sentient beings. It is thus a form of consequentialism, meaning that the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome. Utilitarianism is often described by the phrase the greatest good for the greatest number of sentient beings, and is also known as the greatest happiness principle. Utility, the good to be maximized, has been defined by various thinkers as happiness or pleasure (versus suffering or pain), although preference utilitarians define it as the satisfaction of preferences. It may be described as a life stance, with happiness or pleasure being of ultimate importance. Utilitarianism can be characterised as a quantitative and reductionist approach to ethics. It can be contrasted with deontological ethics (which do not regard the consequences of an act as being a determinant of its moral worth) and virtue ethics (which focuses on character), as well as with other varieties of consequentialism. Theory of Distributive Justice Equality of burden and benefit Distributive justice concerns what some consider being socially just with respect to the allocation of goods in a society. Thus, a community in which incidental inequalities in outcome do not arise would be considered a society guided by the principles of distributive justice. Allocation of goods takes into thought the total amount of goods to be handed out, the process on how they in the civilization are going to dispense, and the pattern of division. Civilizations have a narrow amount of resources and capital; the problem arises on how the goods should be divided. The common answer to this question is that every individual receives a fair share. Often contrasted with just process, which is concerned with just processes such as in the administration of law, distributive justice concentrates on just outcomes and consequences. Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics is currently one of three major approaches in normative ethics. It may, initially, be identified as the one that emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, in contrast to the approach which emphasizes duties or rules (deontology) or that which emphasizes the consequences of actions (consequentialism). Suppose it is obvious that someone in need should be helped. A utilitarian will point to the fact that the consequences of doing so will maximise well-being, a deontologist to the fact that, in doing so the agent will be acting in accordance with a moral rule such as Do unto others as you would be done by and a virtue ethicist to the fact that helping the person would be charitable or benevolent. Virtue theory is an approach to ethics which emphasizes the character of the moral agent, rather than rules or consequences, as the key element of ethical thinking. This contrasts with consequentialism, which holds that the consequences of a particular act form the basis for any valid moral judgment about that action, and deontology, which derives rightness or wrongness from the character of the act itself rather than the outcomes. The difference between these three approaches to morality tends to lie more in the way moral dilemmas are approached than in the moral conclusions reached. For example, a consequentialist may argue that lying is wrong because of the negative consequences produced by lying though a consequentialist may allow that certain foreseeable consequences might make lying acceptable. A deontologist might argue that lying is always wrong, regardless of any potential good that might come from lying. A virtue ethicist, however, would focus less on lying in any particul ar instance and instead consider what a decision to tell a lie or not tell a lie said about ones character and moral behavior. Principles of Ethical Leadership According to the principals of ethical leadership, any leader should have these five qualities imbibed into him to serve ethically and justly. Firstly, a leader should always respect others and point of view of others whether he agrees with them or not. Secondly, he should not only serve self interest but also interest of others. A leader has to follow utilitarian theory of ethics. Thirdly, he must show justice while taking decisions and making choices, as the consequences of his choices in most cases will not be limited to himself. Fourthly, a leader should always show honesty and should be show integrity in whatever he does, if his followers will believe that he is unethical than the organisation will not sustain. Lastly, he should look to build community and for the welfare of community which is dependent on me. Analysis of Movie Rocket Singh Salesman of the year The analysis of the movie will be divided into four parts based on the theories of ethics being used, i.e., the movie would be analyzed on the basis of theory of egoism, utilitarian theory, theory of distributive justice and theory of ethics. The movie has appealed to the viewers as being light and refreshing. The movie would be analyzed on the basis of the ethical theories stated above. Some of the analysis may seem to contradict but certain ethical theories do contradict under different circumstances. Analysis on the basis of Theory of Egoism Harpreet Singh did what he felt was just. Like all, his feelings of just and unjust were determined primarily on his life experiences. People are taught certain basic values. They use these values as base and build upon them as they learn from their life experiences. These secondary values may be entirely different from the basic values if the experiences are very stressful. On the basis of his values, Harpreet Singh acted in his interest. Similarly, other characters in the movie acted according to their interests. This theory accepts their actions as being right if others would have done so in the same position. Assuming everyone to be sane, everyone would have done the same thing under same circumstances. Hence, the judgment part is limited. Harpreet Singh and everyone else are thus acting ethical in their part. Analysis on the Basis of Utilitarian Theory Utilitarianism is the ideas that the moral worth of an action is determined solely by its utility in providing happiness or pleasure as summed among all sentient beings. According to this theory, even when Harpreet Singh had opened a company in his bosses company, nobody other than his small group knew of it. Thus summing up the feelings of all the people involved, who knew of the plot, the feeling turns out to be pleasant. It thus may seem ethical if no one else knows about the situation. This is so because this theory deals with the opinion of others or the interest of all. Also, from another point of view, the customers were happy with the services of Rocket Sales Corporation. The employees of Rocket Sales Corporation were happy with the progress of their company. Except for the interest of AYS services, the interests of everyone else were being served. Thus utility in providing pleasure or happiness sums up as positive. Hence, according to this theory, the act of the main protagonist may seem ethical in nature. Analysis on the Basis of Distributive Justice According to this theory, there is equality of burden and benefit in the society. Starting Rocket Sales Corporation under AYS solutions may seem beneficial to some. If everyone does the same, then it becomes more burdensome than beneficial. Such practices, thus may seem just, but are actually as unethical as the practices of bribing to win contracts followed by AYS solutions. Thus on the basis of distributive justice theory the act portrayed in the movie is unethical. Analysis on the Basis of Virtue Ethics The components of virtue theory are: 7 virtues faith, hope, charity, courage, justice, temperance, wisdom 7 contrary virtues humility, kindness, abstinence, chastity, patience, liberty, diligence 7 sins vanity, covetousness, lust, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth The character Harpreet Singh had all 7 virtues and he seemed free from greed or envy. He started the business with intentions of doing good to people in general. Only the act was performed in violation of law. On the basis of these virtues the protagonist seems virtuous and kind hearted. On the other hand, his boss, manager of AYS had the qualities of vanity, greed, wrath, envy in him. He himself had been operating business by means of bribes. He thus does not seem virtuous. Analysis on the Basis of Marketing Ethics Marketing ethics is the area of applied ethics which deals with the moral principles behind the operation and regulation of marketing. Some areas of marketing ethics (ethics of advertising and promotion) overlap with media ethics. marketing necessarily commits at least one of three wrongs: Damaging personal autonomy. The victim of marketing in this case is the intended buyer whose right to self-determination is infringed. Causing harm to competitors. Excessively fierce competition and unethical marketing tactics are especially associated with saturated markets. Manipulating social values. The victim in this case is society as a whole, or the environment as well. The argument is that marketing promotes consumerism and waste. See also: affluenza, ethical consumerism, anti-consumerism In the movie, AYS solutions have marketed its product as the best. It has made itself a reputation of a market leader, a company which sells the best quality products. In actual, its products are not above market standards. In one scene, the repair person intentionally burns the circuit board so that he can charge his client for a burnt circuit board. In this way they will earn more. Marketing for own personal interest, to influence peoples opinion and mislead them is unethical. But it is generally followed by almost all companies. The motive to do business is to earn profit. Many companies which are concerned brands, are selling products which harm the society in general. Be it carbonated drinks, cigarettes, alcohol or even unhealthy foods. They survive on the pretext that consumers want it. But they drive demands with their advertisements and branding. Govt. cannot take a stand because they are not considered as unethical as drugs etc by society. They thus survive in the good faith of people in general, giving them incomplete information. Similar to this, AYS solutions duped people by making them believe that their products were best in industry. But in another context it is considered ethical, since to promote ourselves is not wrong. People can decide on what they know, and to tell them about us is also our responsibility. Hence, it can be said that AYS solutions was only promoting what it believed, that it was the best company in the industry and sold the best products available. Thus one argument would put AYS solutions as unethical, but another would call it as ethical; if the company argues that what it communicated was what it believed to be true. Analysis of the Ethical Nature of All the Characters Puri As the owner of AYS solutions, he believes in getting the work done by hook or by crook. With no regards to values like honesty and truthfulness he pursues his greed energetically. He does not flinches in offering bribes from watchmen to managers. It does not seem that he respects many people and treats them as a means to earn profits. He does not understands the values and ethics in business and treats them as sham. He therefore, treats Harpreet as a dumb fool who will never rise. The views that Puri has formed may have reasons to them, but from a neutral point of view they dont seem ethical. Its only in the end, when he returns Rocket sales Corp. back to Harpreet, it seems he has a side which he had suppressed for long. He shows due respect to Harpreet for what he is and maybe realizes his mistakes. Except for theory of egoism, Puri seems unethical being judged on other three theories. Nitin Rathore As being junior to Puri, Nitin seems a person who learns quickly in ways of deceit. Like Puri, he is into deceit and bribes to achieve his targets. He therefore, seems as unethical as Puri. But as time passes, he seems to learn virtues from Harpreet. With the right company, he relearns what he felt was stupidity honesty, integrity and truthfulness. He finds the honest way of life as maybe not very profitable economically (he had an offer to be vice-president if he finds about Rocket Sales Corp.) but very satisfying emotionally(he does not betray even under such an incentive). He develops integrity, self respect and qualities of a virtuous man. So even though he was not ethical initially but he is a changed man by the end, because of the right company. Giri This character watches porn in his office and trusts no one. He deceits for profit and is concerned with money, from Rocket sales or AYS. But he is a man of his word, can be trusted and does not betray any of his people. His ethicality is a grey area as he neither seems very bad nor very good. Koena She is the receptionist who wants to be known as more than a thing of attraction. She is concerned about Harpreet when he is out casted by his team because of his values. She shows compassion for people in general. But is also cunning and understands the hidden motives of the people involved and acts accordingly. Overall, she seems ethical. At some places where the ethicality of her actions may be questioned, it can be explained by a general urge to protect onself(i.e. an act of self-defence). Chhotelal Misra He is the waiter who is not confident about his abilities. His sense of worth is low. But as a person he is decent, modest, honest, polite and faithful. He is neither an ambitious man nor is greedy. He is ethical and a decent person. Harpreets patient grandpa, P.S. Bedi His grandpa is caring and decent. He values Harpreet and is supportive. He is angry at his grandson for his illegal act. But still he understands the innocence in the act and helps Harpreet overcome his guilt. He motivates Harpreet to live a life of honesty. Of what is projected in the movie he is ethical. Sherena She is Harpreets lover. She does not leave him after she gets to know about Rocket Sales Corp.. She somehow understands and supports him. She even lends her apartment as the office. But even though she understands what was done was illegal, she supports the act. With the kind of portrayal given to the character, it is tough to decide whether the act is ethical or unethical. Had she blown the whistle she may have seemed too virtuous. Yet she would have betrayed the faith. And what she did seems as something almost anyone else would have done. Hence, calling her unethical may seem a strong word. Harpreet Singh Bedi Being the hero he does what people would love. He is portrayed as a simple lad out of college, full of hope and energy. He stands for honesty, but being insulted for the same he starts his own company under AYS. He intends to pay back his boss for the resources he has used, i.e. electricity, mobile bills and rent. But apart from this he has also used the company information which is very valuable. He uses the company contacts and wins clients from them. He also takes his salary from AYS. He may be innocent and polite by nature but this act is not. Had he started Rocket Sales Corp. After leaving the company, he may not have got such an advantage over his competitors. Apart from this dishonesty he seems ethical and likable in a general sense. References and Useful Links http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/944995/deontological_vs_teleological_ethical.html?cat=17 http://webs.wofford.edu/kaycd/ethics/egoism.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarianism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributive_justice http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_ethics http://www.yashrajfilms.com/microsites/rocketsingh/fullpage.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleological_argument http://everything2.com/title/Utilitarian+Theory
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
The Third And Final Continent Essay
The Third And Final Continent Essay The character I have chosen for analysis from Jhumpa Lahiri short story, The Third and Final Continent, is the narrator, a very dynamic character who adapts to the traditions and lifestyles of the continents he travels to especially America. The narrator exhibits the most characteristics than any other character in the story because he is talking about his life and the actions that he takes when encountering a certain obstacle. The narrator also shows the most change than any other character. Living from one continent to another continent and then to another continent again can dramatically change how a person lives, thinks, and even eat. Despite all the changes that he experiences he still retains some traditions from his culture of origin with the help of a stranger that he meets. This is a positive characteristic that distinguishes the narrator from any other character in the story. The narrators life contrasts somewhat to other immigrants because they must all undergo a certain t ype of change and must worry about the passing of traditions to their American born children. The life of the narrator is a clear example of what most immigrants must go through when living in a new continent. The tone of the narrator sounds somewhat non enthusiastic or plain due to the fact that both of his parents have passed away. He shows strong love and respect for his parents. Before we cremated her I had cleaned each of her fingernails with a hairpin. I had assumed the role of eldest son, and had touched the flame to her temple; to release her tormented soul to heaven (Jhumpa Lahiri 654). The narrator is also a very well educated man, a graduate from LSE (London School of Economics), and he also has a knack for learning new things. I attended lectures at LSE. I read every article and advertisement, so I would grow familiar with things, and when my eyes grew tired I slept (Lahiri 650-651). The narrator faces an internal conflict: how can he be a modern American Indian and retain some of the old traditional Indian ways at the same time? His quest continues with the birth of his son, afraid that his son will forget his Indian traditions. So we drive to Cambridge to visit him, or bring him home for a weekend, so that he can eat rice with us with his hands, and speak in Bengali, things we sometimes worry he will no longer do after we die (Lahiri 662). The narrator tells to his son the journey of himself surviving in three totally different continents as a way for his son to gain the morale that he needs to overcome any obstacle. There is evidence in the story which suggest that the narrator is trying to find solutions for his problem because he tries to retain some of his old traditional ways by eating egg curry and walking barefoot in the house and being modern by telling his wife that she does not have to wear her sari all the time. And took turns cooking pots of egg cur ry, which we ate with our hands on a table covered with newspapers (Lahiri 650). There is no need to cover you head, I said. I dont mind. It doesnt matter here (Lahiri 660). Cooking egg curry is his main way of keeping Indian tradition alive. He cooks egg curry in India, in the crowded room in London, and even in his new home in America. He can never abandon his roots and obeys every aspect of his Indian culture. I regarded the proposition with neither objection nor enthusiasm. It was a duty expected of me, as it was expected of every man (Lahiri 654). The neutral remarks that he makes towards his arrange marriage shows that he is a very religious man, keeping alive some aspect of his tradition to allow him to survive the toughest of times. The narrator is astounded when he finds out from Mrs. Crofts daughter Helen that his land lady is over a century years old. I was mortified. I had assumed Mrs. Croft was in her eighties, perhaps as old as ninety (Lahiri 657). He could not bare the fact of a widow living all alone by herself because he once had close encounters with a widow before which drove her insane, his mother. Widowhood had driven my own mother insane. What pained me the most was to see her so unguarded And so it was my job to sit by mothers feet (Lahiri 657). When he realizes that Mrs. Croft is very old and also a widow for so long he starts to take care of her as if she was his own mother. At times I came downstairs before going to sleep, to make sure she was sitting upright on the bench, or was safe I her bedroom (Lahiri 658). This shows the narrators strong bond between stranger and stranger which later strengthens his relationship with Mala. His encounters with his land lady, Mrs. Croft guided him with his new life in America. He shows admiration for Mrs. Croft because she has survived for so long while keeping all of her old traditions intact and passing them on to her children. She added that it was also improper for a lady of Helens station to reveal her age and to wear a dress so high above the ankle (Lahiri 657). This paves the way for how the narrator should live his life and teach his son about Indian traditions. Mrs. Croft also symbolizes the narrators mother saying that Maya is a perfect lady! (Lahiri 662), as though she is approving of Maya to be the narrators wife. For immigrants, the challenges of exile, the loneliness, the constant sense of alienation, the knowledge of and longing for a lost world, are more explicit and distressing than for their children. On the other hand, the problem for the children of immigrants, those with strong ties to their country of origin, is that they feel neither one thing nor the other (Lahiri 663-664). This quote from Lahiri herself is basically what the theme of The Third and Final Continent is all about. It strongly interprets the narrators character in the story as an immigrant and the emotions that he feels when he enters a new country. It also explains the inner conflict in which he is trying to overcome of being a modern Indian and a traditional Indian at the same time, while explaining to his son how important it is to keep a little bit of tradition alive within you. Although not every immigrants life in America can relate to the narrators, it is true however that they all must undergo some type of chan ge when living in a new country for the very first time. Works Citied Lahiri, Jhumpa. Chapter 20/Fiction For Further Reading. Literature Reading, Reacting, Writing. 7th ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. 650-64. Print.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Realm of Labor Essay -- Labor History, Technological Revolution
Separation can develop from anywhere or anyone over periods of time since peopleââ¬â¢s needs, desires, and goals are very diverse. The variety of people with dissimilar interest can cause tensions among groups, especially in the modern age. There are three categories that contributed to the physical and abstract separation all within the realm of labor: workers versus machines, skilled versus unskilled labors or workers, and immigrant versus non-immigrant workers. These three all intertwine and connect to one another under the world of labor. Along with lectures, historians and writers Herbert G. Gutman, J.M. Roberts, Ann L. Stoler, and Rudyard Kipling addressed the causes and consequences brought about from the three categories, which led to separation. The effects divided workers among themselves, thus created the idea of separation. Before the modern age, workers generally created their own products by hand, but this type of labor process has changed drastically with the rise of new technology and resources. Due to this change, workers were unconnected to their products; since they were no longer involved in the production, they were essentially separated from the creation. During the Industrial Revolution and the Second Industrial Revolution, otherwise known as the Technological Revolution, the rise of technology brought in new machinery that replaced workers. Machines controlled workers; as mentioned in lecture, workers lost all control when they were part of the assembly line. Also in Charlie Chaplin's film, Modern Times, workers had little or no control over the pace of the work, and the smallest distractions can slow down production. This was how workers and labor were described in the mechanized world. Herbert G. Gutman exp... ...inctively divided people; immigrants came in to work and better their lives and lives of their family, but instead were discriminated against and driven out. What make people different in society can result in the process of separation; it can be positive in terms of originality for an individual, but disastrous in the workplace. Separation in labor was proven to cause tensions among workers who were skilled, unskilled, immigrants, and non-immigrants. The division among them was both physical and abstract; the machines separated them as well as race and their own views. People were forced to unite and work together, but their differences created isolation and an inefficient work environment. It is inevitable to group diverse people in one place without conflicts. Separation was analyzed as an outcome of how people work, behave, and interact with others in society.
Lasers :: essays research papers
When most people see a laser beam they are amazed by its unique physical properties. Laser light is so unique from other light because it is coherent; unlike ordinary light, which travels in all directions, laser light travels in a straight beam. The word laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The history of the laser is very interesting. Lasers have changed immensely since they were first invented. Before the laser was invented, Charles Townes developed the maser in 1954. The maser has basically the same principles as the laser, but it involves microwaves instead of light. The maser lead Theodore Maximan to assemble the first working laser in 1960; he did this by applying the masers qualities to light. This first solid-state laser was a ruby crystal laser. A year after the first solid-state laser was invented, the first gas laser was constructed by Ali Javan, W. R. Bennett, and D. R. Herriot. This was a helium-neon laser. The helium-neon laser is the most common laser found today. Many other types of lasers have been invented since then: the semiconductor laser (1962), the chemical laser (1964), the liquid laser (1966), and the free electron laser (1977). All lasers work basically on the same principles. First the atoms in the substance used are pumped. For example, the helium and neon would be pumped in a helium-neon laser. This is where the electrons of the atoms jump to higher orbitals, which have more energy. The substance can be pumped by using flashlamps, other lasers, atomic explosions, electric discharges, solar energy, and etc... When the atoms are pumped, they perform stimulated emission. This is where the electrons are stimulated by photons to release coherent photons of a single frequency and color. After the pumping process, the oscillation process takes place. In this process energy is amplified to make it stronger and more useful. This is done by bouncing the photons between two mirrors until they reach a certain intensity. The two mirrors are one of 100 percent efficiency and one of a lesser efficiency. When the photons reach the certain intensity, they leave the mirror of lesser efficiency in a coherent beam. There are basically four main types of lasers: solid-state, gas, liquid, and semi-conductor. Solid-state lasers are made from a crystalline material such as ruby. The crystals have impurities in them that can be stimulated to release radiation in a coherent fashion. These impurities are needed to make the laser last for long periods of time. If the crystals do not have impurities, then they can have some added; this is called "doping." The crystals in solid state lasers are usually pumped by using flashlamps. Gas laser beams are much more
Monday, September 2, 2019
Ways to Generate Awareness Among the People
Oil Conservation Fortnight (OCF) ââ¬â 4thà ââ¬â 19thà January Petroleum or crude oil is a non renewable energy source that means it is present in the limited amount. If the use of oil will continue with the careless nature it is going to exhaust definitely at one day. Hence conservation of this valuable resource is the need of the hour. Therefore in order to generate awareness among the masses about the urgency of conserving petroleum products, the celebration of an Oil Conservation Week (OCW), with the participation of the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) and the entire oil industry under the guidance of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MPNG), began in January, 1991. Considering the overwhelming response and enthusiasm generated by OCW in the country, and to further increase the reach as well as the effectiveness of the oil conservation campaign, the duration of the program was increased to a fortnight from the year 1997 onwards. During this fortnight, the entire oil industry undertakes various kinds of activities to emphasize the need and importance of the conservation of petroleum products and environment protection. This is carried out through print and electronic media, training programs, kisan or farmer melas, technical meets and distribution of literature in national as well as vernacular languages all over the country. The activities are carried out by the State Level Coordinators (SLCs) of the oil industry in each State under the direction of the Regional Level Coordinators (RLCs). Awards are given to Large, Medium & Small industries, State & Regional Level Coordinators, State Transport Undertakings, Energy Auditors, Upstream & Refining oil. Companies for outstanding performance in oil conservation activities. The State/ National level Essay Competition Awards for students & teachers are also given. Oil & Gas Conservation: Oil and gas conservation means their better and more efficient use with regard to economic, social or environmental costs and benefits, resulting in attainment of higher energy use efficiencies, minimization of wasteful practices and wastage and protection of the environment. Petroleum is the primary energy source in India and a preferred swing fuel. Its consumption has been increasing at a very steep rate from 3. 5 MMT in 1950-51 to 84. 3 MMT in 1997-98 and reached 130 MMT in 2001-02 and 175 MMT in 2006-07. The current estimate of natural gas reserves is about 100 million metric tons in the world. At current usage levels, this supply will last an estimated 100 years. In India, the power and fertilizer sector are major users of natural gas. In India, production of Natural gas increased from 17998 Million Cubic Metres in 1990-91 to 32274 Million Cubic Metres in 2007-08. Accordingly Strategy of Promoting Oil Conservation: Government has initiated various steps to promote conservation of petroleum products in the transport, industrial, agricultural and domestic sectors. These include adoption of measures and practices which are conducive to increase fuel efficiency and training programme in the transport sector; modernization of boilers, furnaces and other oil operated equipments with efficient ones and promotion of fuel efficient practices and equipment in the industrial sector; standardization of fuel efficient irrigator pump-sets and rectification of existing pump-sets to make them more energy efficient in the agricultural sector and development as well as promotion of the use of fuel efficient equipment and appliances like kerosene and LPG stoves in the household sector. These activities are promoted and coordinated by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) and Oil Marketing Companies under the guidance and supervision of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. The following specific activities are taken up from time to time. * Multi Media Mass Awareness Campaign Effective and result-oriented conservation methods adopted by the upstream undertakings in the oil sector like reduction of gas flaring by re-injection of gas to underground reservoir, installation of waste heat recovery systems, utilization of non-conventional energy sources and close monitoring of all conservation efforts by ONGC. * Energy audits, efficiency upgradation of equipment and appliances; substitution of diesel with Natural Gas, deployment of solar-powered illumination panel, battery operated vehicles, Bio-gas etc. * Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is used as a fuel in transport sector in many countries. Its advantage is being safe and clean burning fuel, besides being environment friendly fuel. * Blending ethanol (5%) / methanol (3%) with Petrol for using in vehicles without any modification of engine. All these steps are certainly playing a major role in conserving Oil and Gas resources which are available to us in a limited amount. Let us be a part of this national activity by using natural resources wisely! What Organization Can Do? Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX), Carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter, Lead (Pb) etc. Lower emissions of CO2à which is a green house gas contributes to reduce the impact of global warming. Similarly, lower emission of particulate matter and other pollutant help to reduce their harmful impact on the environment. For generating awareness: * A School Children's Rally for awareness * Organizing Film Festival, Seminars, exhibitions emphasizing value of natural resources ; need for their conservation. Organizing State/ National level Essay, Painting, Speech Competition about oil conservation especially emphasizing that children could be a beacon of light to guide the elders in the family and society on how to conserve oil. * Introducing ââ¬Å"Publicity Vanâ⬠which will go all over the city spreading the message of ââ¬Å"oil conservation. â⬠* Organizing ââ¬Å"Street playsâ⠬ - with the objective to project the routine oil conservation messages in a different way. * Use of Solar Street lights. * In the rural sector, use of gobar gas plants, would be excellent fuel conservation technique. This awareness campaign should not end at the end of the fortnight, but should continue in the hearts of all of us. What we Can Do in our day today life for Oil Conservation * While cooking use wide bottom vessels with covers. * Allow food articles taken out of the refrigerators to attain room temperature before cooking them. * Soak cereals and dals for sometime before cooking them to reduce the cooking time as well as the fuel consumption. * Use just sufficient water for cooking. * Pressure cookers used with separators lead to substantial fuel saving. * Try to eat together to avoid repeated warming of food. This not only saves fuel but also preserves the nutritional value of food. * Light the flame only after all preparations have been made and the vessel is ready to be put on the stove. * Use hot water from solar water heaters for cooking if the facility is available. * Try to use a solar cookers, solar lanterns. * The first rule of fuel conservation would be to travel judiciously and curtail wasteful driving. * Wherever possible/ available and convenient, use public transport instead of using personal transport. * Matching the size of the vehicle to your need would also go a long way in conserving fuel. For instance if you have the option of a personal car and a scooter, then use the scooter when only two persons have to travel, and the car if more persons have to travel or heavy luggage needs to be transported. * Emphasis should be given on reducing the use of petroleum products in our day to day life and act accordingly. This can be achieved by adopting car-pooling like practices. Car pooling will not only conserve fuel but will also improve social relations with your colleagues. * Use of solar lanterns in rural areas instead of kerosene based lamps. As far as possible, avoid idling the vehicle between red and green signal, be it a car, scooter or any other mechanized transport. * Try to buy fuel efficient vehicles. * There is no substitute for timely attention, servicing and tuning of the vehicle in fuel conservation and emission control. This should include checking of injectors and spark plugs, correct tire pressure, re-greasing, topping up or renewal of lubricants for engine a nd gear boxes. * Correct driving habits are important for fuel conservation. Try to avoid sudden Speeding, braking ; stopping, clutch riding, idling, over- speeding, and over-loading. All these small deeds will lead to fuel conservation and pollution control, which is our moral duty as citizens of India. It is the time we inculcate these measures to become a part of our daily routines. Only by practicing and preaching these conservation tips we can think of future progress. Given the difficult times ahead, it becomes our responsibility to spread this awareness, particularly amongst the youth who will be citizens of tomorrow. Good habits taught early will salvage the oil shortage to a great extent. This awareness campaign should not end at the end of the fortnight, but should continue in the hearts of all of us.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Mystery of disappearing oil Essay
1. Assume the role of Fuad, the accountant. What changes, if any, would you recommend, in the management of the petrol station, to Mat Jon? Why? Be as explicit as possible. The recommendation regarding to the management of the petrol station can divide into three major part, which is recording management, inventory management, and internal control. Because these problems can be directly or indirectly affect the performance of the business. In order to well managing a business, a skillful person with managerial aptitudes and ethical behavior are required. However, the person who carrying the day-to-day operation of the business, Jamel, does not possessed it. RECORDING MANAGEMENT Inaccurate amount in sales collection Based on the cases, the Mat Jon found out that the sales collection was greatly different for the beginning of July and ending of the July. The sales figures for first two days were reasonable good, it was around RM32, 000ï ¼Å'but it was dropped significantly in the end of the month, which is drop to RM14, 000 in 31st July. In 1st of July, the daily pump sales of unleaded petrol are RM34, 458.68, however, it already exceed the total sales of the day which amounting to RM 32, 220.40. Since the Mat Jon does not able to seek the explanation from his nephew, i suspect there is high possibility sales was take place, but may be intentionally or unintentionally omitted recording. Recommendation: I would suggest Mat Jon make a proper reconciliation between the sales recorded, physical balance of unleaded petrol and bank statement in order to found out the missing amount. Exceeding of the overdraft amount The petrol station facing the shortage of cash and this is showed on the exceed limit of the bank overdraft. Compare the daily cash sales receive with the amount in the bank statement, it showed that the cash sales that deposit into the bank are lower than the actual sales. The overdraft limità is only RM20, 000, but they already overdraft for RM 21, 019.42. From the sales collection report, most of the sales is deemed from cash, so it is less likely the petrol station will facing the shortage of cash. It may be either have theft of cash or intentionally manipulation by Jamel since the Jamel was felt nervous when Mat Jon questioning him. Recommendation: Mat Jon should reconcile all the cash received against the sales, and this could be done in daily. In addition, Mat Jon should consider installing a CCTV all around the petrol station in order to prevent theft of cash by unethical staff. INVENTORY MANAGEMENT Inaccurate amount in stock balance report In addition, from the stock balance report, we found that the balance of the stock in the report is lower than the actual balance that the company should have. There are some shortfalls in the physical balance of the unleaded petrol. Jamel, who in charge in the petrol stationï ¼Å'should have responsible on the stock balances, so I assume that Jamel might be manipulate the figure in the stock balance report in order to gain self-interest. For example, he was paying out the cheque without obtaining any stock. Recommendation: Matching the purchase order (PO), delivery order (DO), and invoices when payment is made. Mat Jon should track back all the supporting documents in order to ensure the payment is made for the petrol purchased. In addition, this is related to the proper segregation of duties. Mat Jon should not give all the right and authority to Jamel. Increased in cost of sales while the sales are dropping over years Based on the trend analysis report, the cost of sales was increasing over years but the sales were decline significantly. One of the possibilities is that the inflation causes the cost of petrol increase and so leads to the decreasing in profit. But this assumption is less possible in this case. This is because the performance of recent year could not reasonably explain the increased cost. This might due to Jamel reported the cost of petrol atà higher price and gain the differences for himself or, he transferred the cost to the customer by raising the price of petrol, and thus loss of customers. Recommendation: Negotiated with the supplier and propose a hedging agreement to hedge the petrol price to avoid the inflation. INTERNAL CONTROL The role of Jamel Mat Jon left the management of the business almost wholly to his nephew, Jamel and he did not pay much attention to the business. But recently, Mat Jon suspected that Jamel was doing something unethical to his business, and also found that Jamel was not capable to manage the business. This raise the issue on the roles and capability of Jamel. Jamel does not have any direct interest in the business, so he might concern on his own interest instead of the revenue of the business. Recommendation Mat Jon should not fully rely on Jamel as he does not have any direct interest in this business thus there is possibilities that Jamel wonââ¬â¢t put much effort on the petro station business. Mat Jon can remain the Jamelââ¬â¢s position just for the sake of avoiding the conflict between them, but he should monitor the petrol station business by himself to avoid any potential loss. Besides, this can also enable him to regularly reviewing the business, provided guidance to Jamel, and can detect the problems as earlier as he can. Impolite staff When they receiving the complaint from their regular customer, Supramaniam, the attendant ignore him and alleged that his fuel indicator may be faulty. And when Supramaniam request to talk with the person in charge, but he was informed that the manager was not around. At the meantime, the supervisor of the petrol station, Sudin, however, could not provide the immediate assistance to the customer. So there is end up with increasing the customer dissatisfaction. Recommendation Provide proper training to the staff. This including provides guidance on how to deal with the customer complaint and solve the question from the customer courtesy. In addition, the person in charge of the petrol station, Jamel, can be assumed not come to work frequently. Therefore, Mat Jon can consider to install a punch card system to track the attendance record of the employees. Segregation of duties Most of the problems is arise is due to there is not proper segregation of duties. When there is one person handling too much of responsibilities, the fraud may occur. In addition, it will also reduce the performance of the person who handling too much of responsibilities because of the work overload. In this case, Jamel, as the sole person who managing the petrol station, was handle too much of duties so that he tend to manipulate the amount in order to obtain the personal gain. Recommendation Mat Jon should have proper segregation of duties between the manager, Jamel and its supervisor, Sudin to enhance the performance of the petrol station. Jamel as a station managers, he should responsible in term of the inventory, pricing, recording, and also customer services. Hence, Jamel should responsible: Daily operations at gas stations and fuel-selling convenience stores. To ensure that sufficient amounts of fuel are available, Ensuring stores are well-stocked, The fuelling equipment is functional, To ensure staff is available to meet customer needs, The payments for fuel and merchandise are processed and recorded properly. Ensure company policies are upheld, examine timesheets for accuracy, train new employees, distribute paychecks, make financial bank deposits and report financial transactions. Sudin as a station supervisor, he should handle the following responsibilities: Supervise and co-ordinate sales staff and cashiers toà avoid the theft of cash Assign sales workers to duties Authorize payments by cheque Resolve customer complaints and supply shortages Maintain specified inventory and report to the station manager Prepare reports on sales collection
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