Personal Selling and Sales Management Essay Example

Personal Selling and Sales Management Essay Global Perspective INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS ARE GLAMOROUS, RIGHT? Some challenges associated with an international assignment include job security, readjustment upon return to the U. S. and adjustment to other cultures. Given these kinds of problems, is that international sales position being offered to we as attractive as it looks? Will it really help wer career? Particularly in relationship cultures such as China, relationship marketing, built on effective communications between the seller and buyer, focuses on building long-term alliances rather than treating each sale as a one-time event. Designing the Sales Force Based on analyses of current and potential customers, the selling environment, competition, and the firms resources and capabilities, decisions must be made regarding the numbers, characteristics, and assignments of sales personnel. Distribution strategies will often vary from country to country. Some markets may require a direct sales force, whereas others may not. How customers are approached can differ as well. Once decisions have been made about how many expatriates, local nationals, or third=country nationals a particular market requires, then more intricate aspects of design can be undertaken, such as territory allocation and customer call plans. Recruiting Marketing and Sales Personnel †¢Expatriates †¢Virtual Expatriates †¢Local Nationals †¢Third Country Nationals †¢Host Country Restrictions Expatriates The largest personnel requirement abroad for most companies is the sales force. The number of companies relying on expatriate personnel is declining as the volume of world trade increases and as more companies use locals to fill marketing positions. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Selling and Sales Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Selling and Sales Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Selling and Sales Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer However, when products are highly technical, or when selling requires an extensive background of information and applications, an expatriate sales force remains the best choice. The chief disadvantages of an expatriate sales force are the high cost, cultural and legal barriers, and the limited number of high-caliber personnel willing to live abroad for extended periods. Virtual Expatriates The Internet and other advances in communications technologies, along with the growing reluctance of executives to move abroad, are creating a new breed of expatriate, the virtual one. Virtual expatriates manage operations in other countries but dont move there. Local Nationals The historical preference for expatriate managers and salespeople from the home country is giving way to a preference for local nationals. At the sales level, the picture is clearly biased in favor of the locals because they transcend both cultural and legal barriers. They are also familiar with distribution systems and referral networks. The main disadvantage of hiring local nationals is the tendency of headquarters personnel to ignore their advice. Another key disadvantage can be their lack of availability. In many countries, sales positions are viewed negatively. Third Country Nationals Third-country nationals (TCNs), are expatriates from their own countries working for a foreign company in a third country. Host Country Restrictions The host governments attitudes toward foreign workers often complicate selecting expatriate U. S. nationals over locals. Concerns about foreign corporate domination, local unemployment, and other issues cause some countries to restrict the number of non-nationals allowed to work within the ountry. Selecting Sales and Marketing Personnel To select personnel for international marketing positions effectively, management must define precisely what is expected of its people. Effective executives and salespeople, regardless of what foreign country they are operating in, share certain personal characteristics, skills, and orientations such as maturity, emotional stability, breadth of knowledge, positive o utlook, flexibility, cultural empathy, energetic, and enjoy travel. Selection mistakes are costly. When an expatriate assignment does not work out, hundreds of thousands of dollars are wasted in expenses and lost time. Mew evidence indicates that a managers culture affects personnel decisions. Training for International Marketing The nature of a training program depends largely on both the home culture of the sales person and the culture of the business system in the foreign market. Continual training may be more important in foreign markets than in domestic ones because of the lack of routine contact with the parent company and its marketing personnel. One aspect of training is frequently overlooked: Home-office personnel dealing with international marketing operations need training designed to make them responsive to the needs of the foreign operations. The Internet now makes some kinds of sales training much more efficient. Motivating Sales Personnel Motivation is especially complicated because the firm is dealing with different cultures, different sources, and different philosophies. Because cultural differences affect the motivational patterns of a sales force, a manager must be extremely sensitive to the personal behavior patterns of employees. Individual incentives that work effectively in the United States can fail completely in other cultures. Communications are also important in maintaining high levels of motivation; foreign managers need to know that the home office is interested in their operations. Because promotion and the opportunity to improve status are important motivators, a company needs to make clear the opportunities for growth within the firm. In one study, sales representatives in comparable Japanese and American sales organizations were asked to allocate 100 points across an array of potential rewards from work. As shown in Exhibit 17. 4, the results were surprisingly similar. The Sales People Were Asked to: ‘Distribute 100 Points among the Rewards in Terms of their Importance to You. ’ SOURCE: R. Bruce Money and John L. Graham, â€Å"Salesperson Performance,Pay, and Job Satisfaction: Tests of a Model Using Data Collected in the U. S. and Japan,† Journal of International Business Studies, 1999. Designing Compensation Systems For Expatriates Developing an equitable and functional compensation plan that combines balance, consistent motivation, and flexibility is extremely challenging in international operations. Fringe benefits play a major role in many countries. Pay can be a significant factor in making it difficult for a person to be repatriated. Often those returning home realize they have been making considerably more money with a lower cost of living in the overseas market; returning to the home country means a cut in pay and a cut in standard of living. In general, short-term assignments involve payments of overseas premiums (sometimes called separation allowances if the family does not go along), all excess expenses, and allowances for tax differentials. Besides rewarding an individuals contribution to the firm, a compensation program can be used effectively to recruit, develop, motivate, or retain personnel. For a Global Sales Force – The Do’s Compensation plans of American companies vary substantially around the globe, reflecting the economic and cultural differences in the diverse markets served. Some experts feel compensation plans in Japan and Southern Europe are most different from the standard U. S. approach. Those same experts believe that generally compensation schemes around the world are becoming more similar to the U. S. systems with its emphasis on commissions based on individual performance. Global Similarity to U. S. Compensations Plans SOURCE: David G. Schick and David J. Cichelli, â€Å"Developing Incentive Compensation Strategies in a Global Sales Environment,† ACA Journal, Autumn 1996. The Dos for designing compensation systems for a global sales force: †¢Do involve representatives from key countries. †¢Do allow local managers to decide the mix between base and incentive pay. †¢Do use consistent performance measures (results paid for) and emphasis on each measure. Do allow local countries flexibility in implementations. †¢Do use consistent communication and training themes worldwide. The Donts for designing compensation systems for a global sales force: †¢Dont design the plan centrally and dictate to local offices. †¢Dont create a similar framework for jobs with different responsibilities. †¢Dont require consistency on every performance measure with in the incentive plan. †¢Dont assume cultural differences can be managed through the incentive plan. †¢Dont proceed without the support of senior sales executives worldwide. A compensation Blueprint: How IBM Pays 140,000 Sales Executives Worldwide Beginning in the late 1990s IBM rolled out what is perhaps the most global approach to compensating a worldwide sales force. The main features of that plan, which applies to 140,000 sales executives in 165 countries, are presented in Exhibit 17. 6. SOURCE: Michele Marchetti and Antonio Langemi, â€Å"Gamble,† Sales and Marketing Management, July 1996, p. 65-69. Evaluating and Controlling Sales Representatives In the U. S. , emphasis is placed on individual performance, which can easily be measured by sales revenues generated. In many countries evaluation is more complex where teamwork is favored over individual effort. The primary control tool used by American sales managers is the incentive system. In other countries, corporate control and frequent interactions with peers and supervisors are the means of motivation and control. Preparing U. S. Personnel for Foreign Assignments Foreign assignments typically cost from 150-400 percent of the annual base salary. This cost increases if the expatriate returns home before completing the scheduled assignment. The planning process must begin prior to the selection of those going abroad and extend to their specific assignments after returning home. Overcoming Reluctance to Accept a Foreign Assignment Concerns for career and family are the most frequently mentioned reasons for a manager to refuse a foreign assignment. The most important career-related reservation is the fear that a two- or three-year absence will adversely affect opportunities for advancement. Concern for family may interfere with many accepting an assignment abroad. Initially, most potential candidates are worried about uprooting a family and settling into a strange environment. Questions about the education of the children, isolation from family and friends, proper health care, and, in some countries, the potential for violence reflect the misgivings a family faces when relocating to a foreign country. Reducing the Rate of Early Returns Once the employee and family accept the assignment abroad, the next problem is keeping them there for the assigned time. One researcher estimated that 75 percent of families sent to a foreign post experience adjustment problems with children or have marital discord. Before going abroad, cross-cultural training should be provided for families as well as the employee. Once the family is abroad, some companies even provide a local ombudsman (someone experienced in the country) to whom members can take their problems and get immediate assistance. Successful Expartiate Preparation Returnees should know where they are going and what they will be doing next month and several years ahead. A report on what MNCs are doing to improve the reentry process suggests five steps: 1. Commit to reassigning expatriates to meaningful positions. 2. Create a mentor program. Mentors are typically senior executives who monitor company activities, keep the expatriate informed on company activities, and act as liaison between the expatriate and various headquarters departments. 3. Offer a written job guarantee stating what the company is obligated to do for the expatriate on return. 4. Keep the expatriate in touch with headquarters through periodic briefings and headquarters visits. 5. Prepare the expatriate and family for repatriation once a return date is set. Developing Cultural Awareness Most expatriate failures are cause by lack of an understanding of cultural differences and their effect on management skills. Good cultural skills can be learned and developed. Cultural skills provide the individual with the ability to relate to a different culture even when the individual is unfamiliar with the details of that particular culture. The Changing Profile of the Global Manager Fewer companies today limit their search for senior-level executive talent to their home countries. Some companies believe that it is important to have international assignments early in a persons career, and international training is an integral part of their entry-level development programs. Many companies are active in making the foreign experience an integrated part of a successful corporate career. Foreign Language Skills Many believe that learning a language improves cultural understanding and business relationships. Many believe that to be taken seriously in the business community, the expatriate must be at least conversational in the host language. Many companies are making stronger efforts to recruit people who are bilingual or multilingual. Summary †¢The companys sales force is on the front line of a marketing organization. The role of marketers in both domestic and foreign markets along with the composition of international managerial and sales forces is rapidly changing. †¢The recent emphasis on using local personnel operating in their own lands has highlighted the importance of adapting U. S. managerial techniques to local needs. †¢The development of an effective marketing organization calls for careful recruiting, selecting, training, motivatin g, and compensating of expatriate personnel and their families. The most practical method of maintaining an efficient international sales and marketing force is careful, concerted planning at all stages of career development. An effective international sales force constitutes one of the international marketers greatest concerns. The companys sales force represents the major alternative method of organizing a company for foreign distribution and, as such, is on the front line of a marketing organization. The role of marketers in both domestic and foreign markets is rapidly changing, along with the composition of international managerial and sales forces. Such forces have many unique requirements that are being filled by expatriates, locals, third-country nationals, or a combination of the three. In recent years, the pattern of development has been to place more emphasis on local personnel operating in their own lands. This, in turn, has highlighted the importance of adapting U. S. managerial techniques to local needs. The development of an effective marketing organization calls for careful recruiting, selecting, training, motivating, and compensating of expatriate personnel and their families to ensure maximization of a companys return on its personnel expenditures. The most practical method of maintaining an efficient international sales and marketing force is careful, concerted planning at all stages of career development. Bibliography: International Marketing, Cateora P. R. , Graham J. L. , 12th ed, pp 500-525. Michele Marchetti and Antonio Langemi, â€Å"Gamble,† Sales and Marketing Management, July 1996, p. 65-69. David G. Schick and David J. Cichelli, â€Å"Developing Incentive Compensation Strategies in a Global Sales Environment,† ACA Journal, Autumn 1996.

A Textual Analysis of Robert Jensens Saying Goodbye to Pat essays

A Textual Analysis of Robert Jensens Saying Goodbye to Pat essays The definition of the word patriotism is one to be questioned, or pondered over. If you ask any random citizen on the street what patriotism means, you will get a variety of answers. Some answers will probably come as a shock to you. Since the September 11th tragedy, the word has been used countless times, and has derived new definition in the eyes of many American people. In the article Saying Goodbye to Patriotism by Robert Jensen, he gives his own two definitions of patriotism, and questions what patriotism means in our modern day society. He writes about how Americans use the word to console deep wounds, and to place the United States of America on a pedestal. In my opinion, Jensens purpose to writing the article is to open the eyes of public and make them rethink, or even re-invent, the word patriotism. This paper is a textual analysis of Jensens Saying Goodbye to Patriotism, and it looks closely for hidden meanings that may not have been picked up by a reader the first time. I am going to argue for my opinion of Jensens purpose, in order to provide a deeper understanding of the article. I will discuss how he uses specific terms, and their different meanings, to undermine the meaning of patriotism. Then, I will establish how Jensen connects to his audience, through his speech, to make them realize that patriotism should be re-thought, or even abolished. The most common word throughout the piece is patriotism, yet I find myself reading multiple definitions. Jensens first definition of patriotism is found early on in the reading; in fact it is the heading of a section. Definition #1: Patriotism as loyalty to the war effort, means that the word is used in order to gain support for military causes. The government and media come together to influence the people, and say that it is the duty of the public to be patriotic. We were attacked. We must defend ourselves....

Self Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Self Critique - Essay Example Entrepreneurs have to be extremely organized because at the beginning they are they only ones working for their business, so this means that they have to stay focused and on track at all times. In addition to my huge workload at school, I also have to make time for extra curricular activities. Finally, because entrepreneurs have to be so open to new ideas, they will inevitably have some failures along the way. As a student, I have done poorly in some of my classes but I did not let it stop me from doing well the next semester. The key was to wipe the slate clean and think of a new class as a fresh start, and I can do the same as a small business owner. In my opinion, my three greatest strengths as an entrepreneur would be the fact that I do not take advice well, have weak communication abilities, and am not very creative. Although entrepreneurs can be single-minded, there are some occasions when they need to take advice from someone else who may be more of an expert in a particular area. I am a very individual person and like to go with my own ideas because I know that I can trust them. Also, entrepreneurs have to be able to appeal to potential investors and/or partners to help with a small business. In my honest opinion, I do not sound very convincing when I am asking for help because I can feel somewhat embarrassed. Finally, entrepreneurs need to be creative and innovative because to make a difference in the marketplace they need to come up with something new. I struggle to do this because I am always afraid that something new will not be very successful, so I try to copy other designs somewhat. I can overcome my dislike of other people’s advice by keeping an open mind and remembering that I do not know everything. As long as the final decision is mine, then I am still in control and I can always change my mind if I need to. Also, I can overcome poor communication skills by practicing making pitches to other people. I need to remember

Draft Report 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Draft Report 1 - Essay Example Notably, Valentine’s day also marks a remarkable consumption rate of chocolate and candy. This is because of the gift-culture in the United States, whereby many people prefer buying chocolates for those they love and treasure ("Hot Chocolates" 182). Many of those buying gifts are usually consumers themselves. Without doubt, chocolate and candy have a ready market more than in any other country across the globe. As highlighted above, the United States registers the highest consumption of chocolate and candy. However, it is worth noting that some brands of chocolate consumed by many Americans have lasted for the last 50 years. They are established chocolate and candy brands with a unique taste and quality (Research and Markets). They are given reverence as premium chocolates because of their outstanding taste and quality over the years. Companies such as Hershey and Mars have the leading percentage of the market share and are the main suppliers of chocolate and candy in the United States. Although chocolate is a preferred snack in the United States, this does not mean that businesses operating in this industry do not have to indulge in rigorous research. Notably, the American consumer is very specific with taste when it comes to snacks and chocolate (Kim, Lopetcharat, and Drake 4850). Moreover, there is a varied preference for either dark chocolate or milk chocolate. These are some of the factors that companies with the leading market share have often considered in a bid to maintain their market position. There is evidence that the packing of the chocolate has the potential to evoke different feelings to the consumer. This gives manufacturers of candy and chocolates a new task of ensuring that the packaging of the chocolate evokes emotions such as desire, satisfied, joy, and pride. Chocolate packs evoking such emotions are likely to have a higher chance compared to others in the market (Johnson). Moreover, the health

Business model Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business model - Assignment Example The company is one that focuses to make games that are easy to learn and still maintain the fun element. The company has differentiated the way it looks at the gaming market from its competitors. The company is focussing on providing gaming that is fun and easy to children and adults alike. There has also been an effort to incorporate both male and female players into the gaming experience The main point of focus with Nintendo games is in the simplicity of their products. The product’s simplicity can be looked at in two ways. On the one hand you have the devices that have few buttons for their operation, a good example is the Wii console. Despite this they are able to give the customer an experience like no other when it comes to gaming. Secondly the games that they offer to their clients are simple in terms of game play. These are usually easy to play. The company has been able to differentiate itself from the industry norm of only appealing to a few devoted gamers. It has been able to do this through offerings of consoles such as the lately released Wii which has beaten rivals in the gaming console market (Torres, 2013) The company has tried to ensure that it markets and delivers its products in a way that saves both on cost as well as delivery times for the products that they offer. It has therefore taken the approach of using already established retailers to bring their products to market in the different regions of the world. Such retailers include partnerships with the likes of Amazon that guarantee as U.S. wide presence for the company. This leaves the online store that they maintain to service only replacement parts for their products. The one thing that the company has invested heavily in is ensuring that they utilize the feedback that they get from consumers. On the one hand the company has heavily invested in ensuring that this information is shared

Past present and predicted future of India

Past present and predicted future of India The Republic of India has a population of 1.2 billion according to the survey done in 2009. It covers an area of 3.1 million sq km. The major languages spoken there are Hindi, English and 16 other official languages. It is a nation of diverse religions Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Monetary unit used there is the Indian Rupee (INR) = 100 paisa. The major export sectors are agriculture products, textile goods, gems and jewellery, software services and technology, engineering goods, chemicals, leather products. The Gross National Income (GNI) per capita income in regards with the World Bank report, 2008 was US$ 1070. It has the worlds largest democracy and second most populous country emerged as a major power in 1990s. India is highly diverse with its many languages, cultures and religion. A land of ancient civilisation, which unfolds its history dated as early as 1000 BC. Witnessing the creation and the demolition empires and kingdoms. It gained its independence on 15th August 1947. Thereafter, not looking back at what is left but what is there to make. After independence, the economic condition of the country was very poor. It addressed its economic crisis along with a combination of socialist planning and free enterprise. During the 1950s and 1960 the government focused on the Green Revolution thereby providing irrigation facilities combined with land redistribution schemes. India also focused on the education system by building infrastructures for schools colleges and universities thereby applied research facilities that trained one of the worlds largest scientific and technical establishment s. It has a powerful economy with is growing at a rapid pace. Religion, regional and cultural diversities exist against a background of poverty. This reflects in t he federal political system, whereby power is shared between the central government and the 28 states. India was under the social democratic-based policies till the year 1991 when it opened its doors to liberalisation. Two factors facilitated the emergence of labialisation phase. First were industrialist themselves who were beginning to find the government controls very strict and second was the export performance from overseas workers in the middle east which led to a comfortable level of foreign exchange reserves. This policy opened the doors to international trade and investments. The main motive behind the transformation and the deregulation of earlier practices was to replace the social democratic polices with capitalism so that there would be a high economic growth which would in turn increase the industrial production for the wellbeing of Indian citizens. Before the year 1991, the government had closed the Indian economy to the outside world. The Indian rupee was inconvertible and the high licensing fee prevented the foreign goods from entering the country. The countrys balance of payment crises in 1991 brought the country near bankruptcy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was bailed out in exchange for gold transferred to London as collateral. The Indian economy was at its worst and needed a reform. The Indian Government started to loosen the controls and the tariffs, duties and taxes were lowered. The country opened its doors to trade and investment. Privatisation was also encouraged and Globalisation was embraced slowly. Post the liberalisation, India progressed in areas like foreign investments, reforming the capital markets, deregulation of domestic business and reforming the trade market. In the year 1993 the National Stock Exchange was introduced. They remained at the forefront of modernisation of Indias capital and financial market. The share of consumer goods manufactured in India increased from 50.6% in 1990 to 72.5% during the five year trial period. The share of labour intensive exports in total manufactured exports increased from 13% to 34%. The share of High tech exports increased from 13% to 31%. The proportion of capital goods in total manufacturing imports increased from 26% to 61%. India increased their share of total exports. An overall effect in an increase in the trade was evident however there was no change in the Gross domestic product which still continued at 5.7%. The prices for food, beverage, tobacco animal, machinery and transport equipment fell marginally. The Indian companies suffered huge loss and competition from the foreign market. Quoting an example of the Ludhiana Knitwear company which specialised in garment manufacture suffered a loss of 21%. However, there was a lack of growth in the industrial sector which was earlier at 6.8% compared t 6.4%. India was now a market based economy. A revival of economic reforms and better economic policy in 2000s accelerated Indias economic growth rate. Indias Population had touched 1,028,610,328 and the growth rate of 2.11%. The whole nations economic infrastructure was undergoing stress. However the people below the poverty line percentage had drastically improved owing to the different provisions and self employment schemes introduced by the government. Stress was being laid on rural development as 70% of the Indian population were still living in villages. India was ranked fourth in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) IN 2001. The Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows increased by 65% as compared to the previous year, where are the Global FDI during that time had decreased by 40%. This was definitely an encouraging factor for the country. As quoted in the world investment prospect 2002 report, there was an annual Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow of US$ 5.3 billion from 2002 until 2006. During the year 2005 2006 the overall production growth was 8.3% which was marginally lower than that of the previous year. Manufacturing speed had increased. Growth in the capital goods sector was there by 3 percentage higher than 2005. This was the time when sectors like the cotton textile, basic metals, transport, food products, jute and other fibber textiles, manmade textiles and rubber growth rate increased marginally. Exports were at an increase of 16.19% from the previous year however the oil import showed a sharp rise of 63%. The total Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) accounted for a $ 8472 million. This also impacted the foreign exchange reserve by a fall of 3.4%. The Indian rupee held the same value against the US$ but weakened its position against the Euro by 0.47%. Sharing direct trade links with the United Nations India too was affected because of recession. The export percentage went down almost by a quarter. Unemployment increased as the companys started to lay of their employees to cut down on the expenses. The textile and the handicraft industry were the worst affected. Figures reported from the FIEO (Federation of Indian export organisation) also revealed that the Tourist inflow had gone down by 37%. The year 2009 saw a decrease in the growth rate by 6.8% as well as the return of a large projected fiscal deficit of 6.8% of GDP which would be highest among the worlds. According to the recent reports provide over an year, India has been ranked as the eleventh largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the fourth largest purchasing power party. The strong economic reforms adopted in the early 1990s proved to be good for the countrys fast paced economy and a free market activity for international competition and foreign investment. India is growing at a rapid pace and will soon emerge as a strong economic power with huge human and natural resources with skilled and experienced individuals. Today India is characterised as mainly a market economy. Indias service industry accounts for a total of 55% of the country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while the industrial and the agricultural sector contribute to about 28% and 17% of the Gross domestic Product (GDP) respectively. Agriculture till date is the most predominant occupation of India and accounts for a total of 52% of the employment alone. The service sector accounts for another 34% of the employment hold and is followed by the industrial sector with a percentage of 14% of the employment. The labour force collectively holds half a million workers. In the agricultural field the major production is that of wheat, rice, oilseed, cotton, juice, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goat, poultry and fish. In the industries consists of other subdivisions such as telecommunication, textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation, equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, information technology enabled services and softwares. As discussed previously the per capita income of India according to the World Bank report of 2008, is US$ 1,030 and is ranked on 139th position in the world. However its per capital production (PPP) is ranked 128th in the world at US$ 2,940. This shows that the trade had increased in a very short span of time which can be estimated roughly at 20 years time frame as India earlier was a closed economy. A total of 2% of the world trade has been recorded by the World Trade Organisation and Indias total merchandise is estimated at a total value of US$ 294 in the year 2006 and Indias total service trade inclusive of both import and export was estimated at US$ 143 billion. Thus, a collective total of US$ 437 billion in the year 2007 in comparison to the year 2004 at a total of US$ 253 billion. There has been a remarkable growth of 72% in this context. There has been a more evident increase in the GDP share by 24% in comparison to a minor share of 6% in the early 1990s The year 2009 when the entire world was still in the midst of the recession crises, India was able to escape the condition of extreme poverty even though the major trade links were with the United Nations. India recorded its highest GDP of 9% in the year 2007. This was the effect of liberalisation and its height. India now stands on the second position after China after having labelled itself as the fastest growing economy. In a report by an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it states that the average growth rates of 7.5 % will double the average income in a decade. The inclusion of a few more reforms would accelerate the pace. In regards to China who liberated its economy in the year 1978, India is still at a slow pace and needs to continue liberalisation for the betterment of the country. Also reports reveal that provide all the obstacles in the path of liberalisation are removed, India would grow at a pace 10% higher than that of China. According to a report by the CIA World Fact book, it states that India escaped the brunt of global financial crisis because of the cautious banking policies and a relatively low dependence on export of growth. The domestic demand, driven by the purchases of consumer durables and auto (SOURCES, 2010) mobiles, has emerged as the key driver of the economy, as exports have fallen ever since the global crisis has started. Indias fiscal; deficit increased substantially in 2008 due to fuel and fertilizer subsidies, a dept waiver program for farmer, a job guarantee program for rural workers and stimulus expenditure. Economists have also predicted that by the year 2020, India will be among the largest economies of the world. The Indian government has already declared their commitment to the fiscal stimulus and the deficit reduction in the next two years. The government has also proposed the privatisation of some of the public industries owned by the government. The government has also forecasted the expenses for the necessary equipment and resources required for the removal of long term challenges which include inadequate physical and social infrastructure to carry out the necessary reforms. The only challenge that the Indian Economy will have to face in due course of time is the huge and growing population and their fundamental, social and environmental problems.

Comparing Anzia Yezierskas Bread Givers and Soap and Water Essay

Anzia Yezierska's Bread Givers and Soap and Water       In Anzia Yezierska's works Bread Givers and "Soap and Water", she uses similar aspects of the characters that portray her own life. Both of the stories resemble similarities of Yezierska's life and appear to be autobiographical to her personal experiences. The author portrays, in both the stories, a belief that the majority culture is "clean" while the minority culture is dirty. Sarah in Bread Givers and the narrator in "Soap and Water" each have a hunger that drive them in different directions: actual hunger for food, progress into society and a hunger for knowledge. The ladies in both of the stories share similar desires: to become a teacher, go to college, and feed a constant hunger. Though the stories are alike they differ in some areas: outcomes of college life, self -portrayal and chances of getting started in the professional world.    Yezierska's work appears to reflect her own lifestyle. In fact, since the use of the first person narration many think that her work his autobiographical. Most of her works portray the Immigrant woman is in pursuit of the American dream (Drucker 1-3).   Like the Characters in Yezierska's stories Bread Givers and "Soap and Water", Yezierska had the same goals and accomplishments and came from a similar background: going to college, becoming a teacher, working in the laundry business and being raised in poverty. Although the stories resemble Yezierska's life, they are not, according to her daughter, completely accountable. According to Henriksen's "A Writers Life", he claims Yezierska's daughter warns against the accuracy of her mother's writing. "Although most of her writing was autobiographical, she was inc... ...ctions: actual hunger for food, progress into society and a hunger for knowledge. The hunger is what leads them to their ultimate goal.    Works Cited Druker, Sally. Homepage. 15 April 2014.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.georgetown.edu/bassr/heath/syllabuild/iguide/yezierska.html Ebest, Ron. "Anzia Yezierska and the Popular Periodical Debate Over the Jews." Melus. Spring 2000 http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2278/1_25/63323838/p1/article.jhtml?term=Anzia+and%20the+the+popular+periodical+debate Prentice-Hall. Homepage. 14 April 2014. http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/keating/chapter6/custom17/deluxe-content.html Yezierska, Anzia. Bread Givers. New York: Persea Books, 1925. ---. "Soap and Water." Imagining America: Stories from the Promised Land. Ed. Wesley Brown and Amy Ling. New York: Persea Books, 1991. 105-110.

Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Essay

One very debatable ethical dilemma in today’s society is euthanasia. Euthanasia, like any other medical treatment should be seen as a choice. As a society, there are obligations to the sick that should be up held, but morally and legally may not be supportable. There are many aspects that go with this choice besides the obligation. There are also stakeholders to consider as well as social values, morals and religious implications. Euthanasia is Greek for good death which translates into English as easy death or mercy killing. It was accepted by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Three Asian religious traditions accept euthanasia: Buddhism, Shintoism, and Confucianism. It was rejected by the 3 main monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It has its supporters and opponents in all countries. Two types of patients are involved in euthanasia: (a) a patient in a persistent vegetative state who is awake but is not aware of self or the environment. Such a patient has no higher brain functions and is kept alive on artificial life support (b) patient in terminal illness with a lot of pain, psychological suffering and loss of dignity. The patient may or may not be on life support. There are different types of euthanasia. Active euthanasia, an act of commission, is taking some action that leads to death like a fatal injection. Passive euthanasia, an act of omission, is letting a person die by taking no action to maintain life. Passive euthanasia can be withholding or withdrawing water, food, drugs, medical or surgical procedures, resuscitation like CPR, and life support such as the respirator. The patient is then left to die from the underlying disease. Sometimes a distinction is made between normal nutrition and hydration on one hand and medical nutritional support involving intravenous and naso-gastric feeding on the other hand. Euthanasia can be by the patient or by the health care giver. Euthanasia can be voluntary when the pat ient takes the decision, non-voluntary when the decision is made by another person for an unconscious patient and involuntary when the decision is made contrary to the patient’s wish. There are ethical implications of European and American arguments for and against euthanasia. Two arguments are made for active euthanasia: (a) mercy killing because of pain, psychological and physical suffering (b) the utilitarian argument is that euthanasia is desirable because it relieves the misery of the terminally ill. Two arguments are made against active  euthanasia: (a) killing is morally wrong and is forbidden by religion (b) unexpected cures or procedures may be discovered to reverse the terminal condition. Nurses are the gatekeepers of the healing facility, although they may have their own outlooks based on their own ethical, cultural, and religious views (LeBaron, 2010). There are always value conflicts when it comes to euthanasia, which can be demonstrated by examining utilitarianism and rights. The nursing practice should be to keep patients alive, do no harm, do everything possible to save the life, and do good to everyone by respecting the right or autonomy of the individual patient. Although most of Americans presently think that physician-assisted suicide should be legal and no existing federal laws prohibiting the practice of euthanasia in United States, voluntary/assisted euthanasia is yet considered illegal and killing in all of the States but in Oregon, Washington, and soon Montana (Webster, 2009). First, Oregon and recently Washington passed a Death with Dignity Act and are actually the only places where euthanasia in terminally ill patients is legally and openly authorized (Blizzard, 2012). In 2009’s Baxter v. Montana case, the Montana Supreme Court declared that no law in state constitution stops patients from practicing voluntary/assisted euthanasia (O’Reilley, 2010). Any time the legislature can act to join Oregon and Washington in the public arena. According to both States’ laws, an adult competent patient must address three witnessed solicitations, two verbally and one in writing, to his/her attending physician for a fatal medica tion. Then the patient administers the dose on her/ his own. Obviously, the Death with Dignity Act unambiguously bans assisted euthanasia that obliges another person than the patient to take part in administering the medication (Exit International Australia, 2012). As euthanasia is observed from a diversity of different perspective, the stake holders’ opinions are considered. In front comes the patient who wishes and requests to discontinue her/his life in respect to human right to select the time and manner of death when she/ he is terminal ill by stopping unwanted, burdensome and/or futile medical treatment. Other people entrusted with the euthanasia dilemma include physicians/healthcare professionals, the family, insurance companies, religious groups, and the government. The second stakeholder is families that have to admit and follow the desires of their loved one to die in nobility. The involvement in this kind of decision  may be an unbearable load for some families who would be would be either not ready to let their darling one go, which could generate a catch-22 mainly if they are bending patient’s wishes, or emotionally scarred by the death. Other stakeholders in this situation are physicians and other practitioners who might come across a real impasse because the euthanasia breaches the â€Å"do no harm† Hippocratic Oath. The insurance companies may drive the patient in opting for death to conserve the money on an individual who does not hope of staying alive. Some religious groups are against euthanasia and consider it a suicide. Lastly the government intervenes in the stake holder in this state of affairs in defensive position for citizen from illegal measures. Voluntary/assisted euthanasia is an ethical dilemma, and creates issues and disagreements amongst those involved (Gore, 2012). Netherland and Belgium are the two countries in the world to legalize euthanasia. In the US, Oregon and Washington also legalized euthanasia. The main barriers to legalize euthanasia are the government, religion, fear, education and the media. More religious people are against euthanasia. Education also plays a major role in euthanasia. The more education a person has he/she believes all individuals have the right to autonomy and therefore the person has the right to decide to end their life. Euthanasia has pros and cons. Pros include relief from pain, relief from low quality or vegetative state of life, relief from financial strain on health care system and the resources can be used for other people. The cons include family members can kill another family member if they don’t like them or reduce financial burden, loss of respect of human life and according to religious view God can only choose when to end life. In Euthanasia legalized countries, such as palliative care nurses in Belgium have important roles and responsibilities in working with euthanasia requested by patients and their families. The nurse involvement starts when the patient requests to euthanasia and ends by supporting family and loved ones. They are in key positions to provide valuable care to the patient and family. Nurses assist the health care team after the life threatening procedure. Pain management and comfort care are their main goals at that time. Nurses are open-minded and have unique relationships with the patient and family. â€Å"In the twentieth century, a number of social and technological changes made euthanasia a morally acceptable choice to growing numbers of people† (Wells, 2006). There are two  types of ethical theories that are going to be focused on. The first is utilitarianism, which is an action that is morally correct if its consequence is good for the greatest numbers. It generally focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number, and neglects the individual rights. The other theory is called deontology, which takes into consideration the way something is to be done and not just on the consequences of that action. One may tell a lie to the doctor, just to save a friend but doesnâ₠¬â„¢t think of the grave consequences they have to suffer later on. A person making a voluntary euthanasia uses the utilitarianism theory when making such a judgment. One might choose to voluntarily do euthanasia if the person has reached an all-time low and the only other option is to the act. The person has to have thoroughly thought about the consequences and make sure his or her judgment is not biased or is not taken personal. There are certain conditions that apply for one to request voluntary euthanasia. Conditions are an unlikelihood of recovering from a cure, suffering from a terminal illness, and most importantly, they must have a voluntary wish to die. As can be seen by the multiple views of the authors, euthanasia is not an easy topic to side on. Due to many religious beliefs, one may feel euthanasia is wrong. But as a nurse that sees suffering every day, this same person would support euthanasia if not condemned by his/her religion. With the support of the ‘do no harm’ belief, it can also be construed that assisting in euthan asia is not doing harm, but preventing harm for those with chronic severe pain. There is no nationwide movement for the majority of the states to legislate for euthanasia, but thankfully there are two, soon to be three compassionate states that have in-acted this law. References Blizzard, R. (2002). Right to die or dead to rights? Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/6265/Right-Die-Dead-Rights.aspx?version=print Euthanasia: The nurses role (2011). Issues in nursing. Retrieved on 10/3/12 from Nursing students 417.wordpress.com Exit International Australia (2012). Death with Dignity in Oregon (soon to be Montana. Retrieved from http://www.exitinternational.net/page/USA Gore, J. (2011) Stakeholders in Euthanasia. Retrieved from http://jacktgore.edublogs.org/2011/08/03/stakeholders-in-euthanasia/ LeBaron Jr, G. (2010). The ethics of euthanasia. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://www.quantonics.com/The_Ethics_of_Euthanasia_By_Garn_LeBaron.html Purtilo, R., & Doherty, R. (2011). Ethical dimensions in the health professions (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Task Force on the Nurse’s Role in End-of-Life Decisions, 2011. (2011). Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 8(1). Webster, B. (2009). Assisted Suicide/Voluntary Euthanasia. International debate education association. UK. Retrieved from http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_print.php?topicID=55 Wells, K. R., Frey, R. (2006). The gale encyclopedia of nursing and allied health ed. In J. L. LONGE (Ed.), (2 ed., Vol. 2, pp. 993-996). DETROIT, GALE

Stony Corals (Hard Corals) Facts

Stony Corals (Hard Corals) Facts Stony corals, also called hard corals (as opposed to soft corals, like sea fans), are the reef-builders of the coral world. Learn more about stony corals - what they look like, how many species there are, and where they live. Characteristics of Stony Corals Secrete a skeleton made of limestone (calcium carbonate).Have polyps that secrete a cup (calyx, or calice) in which they live, and in which it can withdraw for protection. These polyps usually have smooth, rather than feathery tentacles.Are usually transparent. The brilliant colors associated with coral reefs are not caused by the corals themselves, but by algae called zooxanthellae that live within the coral polyps.Are composed of two groups: the colonial corals, or reef-builders, and the solitary corals. Stony Coral Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: CnidariaClass: AnthozoaOrder: Scleractinia According to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), there are over 3,000 species of stony corals. Other Names for Stony Corals Stony corals are known by many different names: Hard coralsReef-building coralsHexacoralsHermatypic coralsScleractinian corals Where Stony Corals Live Corals arent always where you think theyd be. Sure, many of the reef-building corals are warm-water corals - restricted to tropical and subtropical areas where the water is salty, warm and clear. The corals actually grow faster when they have more access to the sun. They can build large reefs like the Great Barrier Reef in warmer waters. Then there are corals found in unexpected areas - coral reefs and solitary corals in the deep, dark sea, even as far down as 6,500 feet. These are the deep-water corals, and they can tolerate temperatures as low as 39 degrees F. They can be found around the world. What Stony Corals Eat Most stony corals feed at night, extending their polyps and using their nematocysts to sting passing plankton or small fish, which they pass to their mouth. The prey is ingested, and any waste is expelled out the mouth. Stony Coral Reproduction These corals can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction occurs either when sperm and eggs are released in a mass spawning event, or by brooding, when only sperm are released, and these are captured by female polyps with eggs. One the egg is fertilized, a larva is produced and eventually settles to the bottom. Sexual reproduction allows coral colonies to form in new places. Asexual reproduction occurs through splitting, in which a polyp splits into two, or budding when a new polyp grows out of the side of an existing polyp. Both methods result in the creation of genetically identical polyps - and the growth of a coral reef. Asexual reproduction occurs through splitting, in which a polyp splits into two, or budding when a new polyp grows out of the side of an existing polyp. Both methods result in the creation of genetically identical polyps - and the growth of a coral reef.

Hindu Mythology Research Paper Example

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How I can enrich the University of Boulder's diverse and inclusive community and what are my hopes for my college experience - Personal Statement Example Since my parents raised me to be a pacifist and use my words instead of my fists or angry facial expressions while I try to get an important message across to others, I learned to develop a soft spoken way of dealing with even the worst of my opponents. This soft spoken way of mine has allowed me to easily find a way to get along with others because I learned how to become a very good listener who, rather than engaging in a lengthy debate or argument, would rather find a common ground that we could agree on and get along with each other based upon that. It is not difficult to get along with people once you learn how to listen and compromise. I fully intend to share those character traits of mine with my classmates in the hopes of helping narrowing the communication gap between the haves and have not students on campus. I also wish to become involved in various student organizations and clubs while I am enrolled at UCB. My parents raised me to become a leader rather than a follower but that is not to mean that I will find it difficult to become a follower instead. Rather, I will always work with the group towards the betterment of our activities and the promotion of our group mission, vision, and objectives at all times. I feel that by participating in this activity, I will also be able to help other new students ease into college life as well. My parents often praise me for being so persistent about anything that I wish to undertake and accomplish as a person. They say that persistence seems to be my middle name in this case and it is not something that they tried to quash in my personality because my persistence always resulted in my learning to become a better person based upon my failures or successes in life. I grant that most people would describe me to be a perfectionist in life. I cannot help it. I believe it comes from my being so persistent about things that need to get done. I will

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