Britton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Britton - Essay Example On the other hand, developed countries are defined as ‘technologically and ecologically advanced, enjoy relatively high standards of living and have modern social and political institutions and structures’ (Huybers, 2007, p. 28). Britton expresses his own view on underdeveloped countries by quoting ‘third word countries are seen to suffer from a series of common structural distortions in their economic and social organization. Britton makes emphasizes that third world countries are characterized by forms of dependent development. Britton claims that dependency is conceptualized as the process of historical conditioning that alters the internal functioning of social and economic sub-system within an underdeveloped country. He further outlines that foreign parties have a legacy of political, ideological and economic transformation in the third world countries (Britton, 1982, p. 333). He elaborates that dependency entails the subordination of the national economic ind ependence, which has to meet the requirements of foreign individuals and upper class society as a substitute of political priorities. According to his analysis, Britton believes that structural alterations include lack of fundamental infrastructure like air space, roads and proper knowledge of the tourism industry are the main cause of the underdevelopment. Telfer and Sharpley also attributes this underdevelopment to gender issues like lack of human safety, rights and security (Sharpley & Telfer, 2008, p.4). Britton through his journal draws the fact that colonialism is a major key in how much development takes place in a certain country. Colonization is defined as the invasion and control of other people’s resources and land. During colonization, the original population is kicked out of large plots of land and settlers from another country occupying their land (Mowforth & Munt, 2003, p. 73). Britton also argues that, colonial and imperial domination has largely contributed t o the downfall of many underdeveloped countries especially during the post-colonial period. Many post-colonized countries have close ties with the government of the countries that colonized them. However, according to Britton, this benefits the underdeveloped countries and offers them a chance to flourish due to these benefits since members of the ruling class bear the power required in dealing with the foreign government representatives and officials of the industry itself. According to Britton, many underdeveloped nations use tourism in generating foreign exchange as well as increasing employment opportunities that attract development capital. Therefore, these underdeveloped countries mainly target tourists from these developed countries since they are seen as higher valued in terms of tourism (Kunkel, 2008, p. 37). In order for the underdeveloped nations, to develop a strong tourist economy they have to be rely on the developed nations since capital from foreign tourism is necess ary and beneficial to any developing nation. Therefore, post-colonial countries always seek overseas investments in order to aid them in developing tourism plans. Due to this, many underdeveloped nations have developed business ties with developed countries that are their major tourists since they largely assist them in raising revenue (Lea, 1988, p. 27). Additionally, Briton states the fact that third world countries do not have a choice but to accept the high degree

Inderstanding Consumer Behaviour Towards Luxury Products Essay Example for Free

Inderstanding Consumer Behaviour Towards Luxury Products Essay Studying consumer behaviour enables marketing researchers to predict how consumers will react to promotional messages and to understand why they make the purchase decision they do. Marketers realized that if they know more about the consumer decision making criteria, they can design marketing strategies and promotional messages that will influence consumers more effectively. The importance of consumer behaviour made marketers to think of a separate branch in marketing research Consumer research, to deal exclusively for consumer related issues. The current focus of this report is on study of underlying needs and motives in taking purchase decisions, consumer learning process and attitude formation process. The study has been initiated for Club Mahindra Holidays. The purpose of this study is to analyze consumer perceptions of luxury products and the factors that influence his purchase decisions. The objective is to understand consumer behaviour towards luxury products and the steps followed while purchasing it. To achieve the above objectives, we first look at how luxury goods are different from regular goods and then go on to explore some facets and trends of the luxury goods as well as their market and consumers. We will understand the definition of luxury products through secondary research. Post secondary research we will develop few hypotheses which will give us the direction for our next step ie Qualitative Research. We will use interview method in qualitative research which will give an insight into the mindset of the consumers and their purchase steps involved and then follow it up with quantitative research (survey method). Through this we will quantify our findings for the Indian luxury consumer and their buying behaviour. We will analyze the factors that influence the consumers in buying the luxury products. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 4 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Research Abstract Scope: This project is a part of a job assigned to the planning department. This project is an initiative taken to understand the behaviour of consumers towards luxury products. Purchase of a luxury product involves lot of planning and research before taking any decision. There are number of factors that affect an individual?s decision making process as well as his choice about the product. These factors are different for different types of luxury product. A research into these aspects will give us an insight into the mindset of the consumer and will help to study the consumer better. Method: Primary research was done in two steps. ? Qualitative Research – Depth Interview Method ? Quantitative Research – Survey Method 1) Qualitative Research: For qualitative research, few high income people were asked open ended questions which were formulated based on the secondary research and in line with the hypothesis. Depth interview of 10 people were taken which gave an insight into their purchase behavior and their decision making process for a luxury good. Based on this interviews and a further review of the secondary research reports, a final survey questionnaire was prepared. 2) Quantitative Research: For quantitative research, after making the initial questionnaire it was pretested with 5 participants and was improvised. The final sample was 30 with target group being A and A+ socio-economic class people. In June 2009, the survey was conducted to observe the behavior pattern of consumers in buying luxury products. This allowed us to find out about the behaviour of the consumer towards luxury products across various income groups. Also we asked them about what all factors Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 5 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products influence them to buy such products and which brand of products do they feel are luxurious. We also understood the price range that they feel makes the product luxurious. Thus in future while designing any interactive campaign the output of this survey would be of great use for positioning the product as a luxury product. Also some secondary data was mined regarding what exactly influences an individual? s decision. Conclusion: Luxury products are high involvement products which require high thinking and are defined by their exclusivity and brand. They are mostly bought as a symbol of status. People have high emotional attachment with luxury products and are mostly influenced by their family members in decision making as most of the products are bought for family use. These products are also used as a means to gift their closed ones. Endorsing a film star or sport personality does not affect the image of a luxury product to a great extent. Luxury products give a feeling of pride and most of the purchase decision making is influenced by family members especially spouse. This entire initiative was one of its kinds and will help the INTERFACE COMMUNICATION to design its campaigns for Club Mahindra Holidays in a way to advertise them as a luxury club. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 6. Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Acknowledgement I would like to give my sincere thanks to my Industry Project Guide Mr. Nilesh Talreja, Senior Executive, Strategic Planning, Interface Communications and Ms. Nahid Elavia, Account Planner, Strategic Planning for their kind support and guidance during my project and also for providing me with a great opportunity to work with such a valuable organization. I would also like to thank Mrs. Shamla Sathe, Account Planning Head for giving me this great opportunity to work with Account Planning Department. It is her visionary thinking, which has been the guiding force for whole of the division and my report. I would also like to thank Mr. Amit Dhokai, my colleague, who has provided me with the necessary information and his valuable suggestion and comments on bringing out this project in the best possible way. I would also like to thank all the faculties at SIMSR who have helped me directly or indirectly in the completion of this project. I thank Interface Communications (A part of Draft FCB+Ulka) for such a valuable learning experience. Thank you Jitesh A Sanghvi MMS – 137 (2008-2010) K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 7 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Sr. No. 1 2 2. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Company Overview Secondary Research Luxury Products: Getting to know luxury 2. 2 2. 3 Difference between regular luxury goods Consumer Behavior: What is Consumer Buying Behaviour 2. 4 2. 5 2. 6 Stages of Consumer Buying Behaviour Types of Consumer Buying Behaviour Consumer Involvement: Causes of Consumer Involvement 2. 7 3 4 4. 1 4. 2 5 6 Models of Consumer Involvement Research Method Primary Research Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis Recommendations Appendix 23 26 28 30 35 59 60 17 19 21 15 16 Page No. 9 12 14 Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 8 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products LIST OF FIGURES CHARTS Sr. No 1. 1 1. 2 1. 3 Particulars Difference between regular and Luxury goods Stages of Consumer Buying Behavior Consumer Involvement Page No. 15 18 20 Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 9 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products COMPANY OVERVIEW. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 10 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products About Interface Communications History Interface Communications is the second agency of the Draft FCB Ulka group. The Draft FCB Ulka group has a 125 year heritage of pioneering concepts which define advertising and a 40 year heritage in India. Interface has grown from a single office to 5 offices in India and is one of the 1st few Indian agencies to boast of a pan Asia network. We are a team of 115 professionals across Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai. Interface is the first Indian agency brand that has gone beyond India. Interface has opened offices in Malaysia, Hong Kong, China. In 2003 we launched operations in Taiwan, Singapore. Work with some of the best known brands in each country. Business Interface is a second agency that is created to handle large scale clients. We work with some of the biggest brands across sectors from FMCG to automobiles, from real estate to finance companies, from consumer durables to holidays and many more. Majority of our clients are industry leaders and we are proud to be their strategic partners. Our clients have stuck by us as we are a process driven company. We have our share of global proprietary tools to provide a strategic edge to the clients we work with. Some of the more often used tools include: ? ? ? Mind and Mood and Moments The Wheel VIP and ICON Inspite of being process driven we are still a very people oriented organization. Our teams work together like a family and there is at all times a casual and jovial Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 11 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products. work environment maintained. We believe in an open door policy where any employee can express himself/ herself freely. As an organization we believe in constant learning and thus stress on training and development at all times. The Draft FCB Ulka group is one of the only advertising agencies in India to run a 2 month long training program for fresh recruits. This program called ‘The Star One training’ is a rigorous training ground for the future advertising biggies. This program is an annual feature and has been going strong for more than a decade. Draft FCB Ulka and Interface are some of the few agencies to have a very low attrition rate and most of the senior level management have been with the company on an average for more than 15 years which is a long time in advertising which sees constant churn. We at Interface live the values we believe in and for us our mantra is : We provide strategic communications partnership to our clients to help sell their brands today, and build brand value over time Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 12 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Secondary Research on luxury products Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing. Page 13 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Secondary Research: Luxury Products Getting to know luxury Luxury brands have often been associated with the core competences of creativity, exclusivity, craftsmanship, precision, high quality, innovation and premium pricing. These product attributes give the consumers the satisfaction of not only owning expensive items but the extra-added psychological benefits like esteem, prestige and a sense of a high status that reminds them and others that they belong to an exclusive group of only a select few, who can afford these pricey items. The luxury sector targets its products and services at consumers on the top-end of the wealth spectrum. These self-selected elite are more or less price insensitive and choose to spend their time and money on objects that are plainly opulence rather than necessities. For these reasons, luxury and prestige brands have for centuries commanded an unwavering and often illogical customer loyalty. Luxury has never been something easy to define, yet this mystery concept is something highly desired by one and all alike. We look at delving deeper into this mystery and aura of luxury goods by way of comparing them against „regular goods? as well as highlighting the characteristics of the luxury industry. But before beginning with that, lets first attempt to understand some common terms associated in the world of high-end goods : ? Luxury and prestige brands such as Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Cartier represent the highest form of craftsmanship and command a staunch consumer loyalty that is not affected by trends. These brands create and set the seasonal trends and are also capable to pulling all of their consumers with them wherever they go. ? Premium brands are those brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger that aspire to be luxury and prestige brands but their marketing mix strategies are more attuned to a mass market, albeit a luxury mass market. They are also termed as mass-premium brands or mass-luxury brands. ? Fashion brands on the other hand are those that address the masses. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 14 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Difference between regular luxury goods Fig 1. 1 Differences between Regular and Luxury Goods Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 15. Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Consumer Behaviour What is Consumer Behaviour Buying Behaviour is the decision processes and acts of people involved in buying and using products. Consumer Buying Behaviour refers to the buying behaviour of the ultimate consumer. A firm needs to analyze buying behaviour for: ? Buyers reactions to a firms marketing strategy has a great impact on the firms success. ? The marketing concept stresses that a firm should create a Marketing Mix (MM) that satisfies (gives utility to) customers, therefore need to analyze the what, where, when and how consumers buy. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 16 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Stages of Consumer Buying Behaviour Fig 1. 2 Stages of Consumer Buying Behaviour The above figure shows Six Stages to the Consumer Buying Decision Process (For complex decisions). Actual purchasing is only one stage of the process. Not all decision processes lead to a purchase. All consumer decisions do not always include all 6 stages, determined by the degree of complexity discussed next. The 6 stages are: 1. Problem Recognition (awareness of need)difference between the desired state and the actual condition. Deficit in assortment of products. Hunger-Food. Hunger stimulates your need to eat. Can be stimulated by the marketer through product informationdid not know you were deficient? i. e. you see a commercial for a new pair of shoes, stimulates your recognition that you need a new pair of shoes. 2. Information search-o Internal search, memory. Page 17 Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products o External search if you need more information. Friends and relatives (word of mouth). Marketer dominated sources; comparison shopping; public sources etc. A successful information search leaves a buyer with possible alternatives, the evoked set. Hungry, want to go out and eat, evoked set is o o o o Chinese food Indian food Burger king Klondike kates etc 3. Evaluation of Alternativesneed to establish criteria for evaluation, features the buyer wants or does not want. Rank/weight alternatives or resume search. May decide that you want to eat something spicy, Indian gets highest rank etc. If not satisfied with your choice then returns to the search phase. Can you think of another restaurant? Look in the yellow pages etc. Information from different sources may be treated differently. Marketers try to influence by framing alternatives. 4. Purchase decisionChoose buying alternative, includes product, package, store, method of purchase etc. 5. PurchaseMay differ from decision, time lapse between 4 5, product availability. 6. Post-Purchase Evaluationoutcome: Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction. Cognitive Dissonance, have you made the right decision. This can be reduced by warranties, after sales communication etc. After eating an Indian meal, you may think that you really wanted a Chinese meal instead. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 18 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Types of Consumer Buying Behaviour There are four types of consumer buying behaviour which are as follows: ? Routine Response/Programmed Behaviourbuying low involvement frequently purchased low cost items; need very little search and decision effort; purchased almost automatically. Examples include soft drinks, snack foods, milk etc. ? Limited Decision Makingbuying product occasionally. When you need to obtain information about unfamiliar brand in a familiar product category, perhaps. Requires a moderate amount of time for information gathering. Examples include Clothesknow product class but not the brand. ? Extensive Decision Making/Complex high involvement, unfamiliar, expensive and / or infrequently bought products (Luxury Products). High degree of economic / performance / psychological risk. Examples include cars, homes, computers, education. Spend a lot of time seeking information and deciding. Information from the companies MM; friends and relatives, store personnel etc. Go through all six stages of the buying process. ? Impulse buying, no conscious planning. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing. Page 19 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Consumer Involvement Some consumers are characterized as being more involved in products and shopping than others. A consumer who is highly involved with a product would be interested in knowing a lot about it before purchasing. Hence he reads brochures thoroughly, compares brands and models available at different outlets, asks questions, and looks for recommendations. Thus consumer involvement can be defined as heightened state of awareness that motivates consumers to seek out, attend to, and think about product information prior to purchase. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 20 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Causes of consumer involvement The factors that influences consumer involvement include personal, product and situational. ? Personal Factors Self-concept, needs and values are the three personal factors that influence the extent of consumer involvement in a product or service. The more product image, the value symbolism inherent in it and the needs it serves are fitting together with the consumer self- image, values and needs, the more likely the consumer is to feel involved in it. Celebrities for example share a certain self image, certain values, and certain needs. They tend to use products and services that reflect their life style. They get highly involved in purchasing prestigious products like designer wear, imported cars, health care products etc. ? Product Factors The consumer involvement grows as the level of perceived risk in the purchase of a good or service increases. It is likely that consumers will feel more involved in the purchase of their house than in the purchase of tooth paste, it is a much riskier purchase. Product differentiation affects involvement. The involvement increases as the number of alternatives that they have to choose from increases. This may be due to the fact that consumers feel variety which means greater risk. The pleasure one gets by using a product or service can also influence involvement. Some products are a greater source of pleasure to the consumer than others. Tea and coffee have a high level of hedonic (pleasure) value compared to, say household cleaners. Hence the involvement is high. Involvement increases when a product gains public attention. Any product, that is socially visible or that is consumed in public, demands high involvement. For example, involvement in the purchase of car is more than the purchase of household items. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 21 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products ? Situational Factors The situation in which the product is brought or used can generate emotional involvement. The reason for purchase or purchase occasion affects involvement. For example, buying a pair of socks for yourself is far less involved than buying a gift for a close friend. Social pressure can significantly increase involvement. One is likely to be more self conscious about the products and brands one looks at when shopping with friends than when shopping alone. The need to make a fast decision also influences involvement. A consumer who needs a new refrigerator and sees a „one- day- only sale? at an appliances retailer does not have the time to shop around and compare different brands and prices. The eminence of the decision heightens involvement. The involvement is high when the decision is irrevocable, for example when the retailer does not accept return or exchange on the sale items. Thus involvement may be from outside the individual, as with situational involvement or from within the individual as with enduring involvement. It can be induced by a host of personal-product-and situation related factors, many of which can be controlled by the marketer. It affects the ways in which consumers see, process, and send information to others. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 22 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Models of consumer involvement Learn-Feel-Do Hierarchy Model Buying decisions vary according to the way there are taken. Some decisions are taken with lot of thinking; others are taken with great feelings. Some are made through force of habit and others are made consciously. The learn-feel-do hierarchy is simple matrix that attributes consumer choice to information (learn), attitude (feel), and behaviour (do) issues. The matrix has four quadrants, each specifying a major marketing communication goal to be informative, to be effective, to be habit forming, or promote self-satisfaction. Thinking and feeling are shown as a continuum some decisions involve one or the other and many involve elements of both. High and low importance is also represented as a continuum. Fig 1. 3 Consumer Involvement ? High Involvement / High Thinking Purchases in first quadrant require more information, both because of the importance of the product to the consumer and thinking issues related to the purchases. Major purchases such as cars, houses and other expensive and infrequently buying items come under this category. The strategy model is learn-feel-do. Marketers have to furnish full information to get consumer acceptance of the product. Luxury products fall in this category. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 23. Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products ? High Involvement / High Feeling The purchase decisions in second quadrant involve less of information than feeling. Typical purchases tied to self-esteem- jewellery, apparel, cosmetics and accessories come under this category. The strategy model is feel-learndo. To encourage purchases marketers must approach customers with emotion and appeal. ? Low Involvement / Low Feeling The purchases in this quadrant are motivated primarily by the need to satisfy personal tastes, many of which are influenced by self-image. Products like news paper, soft drinks, Liquor etc., fall under this category. Group influences often lead to the purchase of these items. The strategy model is do-feel-learn. It helps marketers to promote products through reference groups and other social factors. ? Low Involvement / Low Thinking It involves less in thinking and more of habitual buying. Products like stationery, groceries, food etc. , fall under this category. Over a period of time any product can fall in this segment. The role of information is to differentiate any „point of difference? from competitors. Brand loyalty may result simply from the habit. The strategy model is do-learn-feel. It suggests that marketers induce trial through various sales promotion techniques. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 24 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Research Method: The study is classified based on the consumer buying preferences and factors that influence purchase decisions. The research method adopted is exploratory as the research is still in its initial stage and the preliminary information that will be gathered will help in defining the problems and suggest hypotheses. We are set to learn about consumer behaviour across various product categories of luxury. We intend to understand the influence of various factors including family members and friends on purchase decision, emotional attachment with the product, purchase of counterfeit products and endorsing a film or sports personality for luxury product. We also want to understand purchase behaviour for car, planning of holidays and perception of holiday clubs. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 25 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products PRIMARY RESEARCH Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 26 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Primary Research: Methods Primary research was done in two steps. ? Qualitative Research – Depth Interview Method ? Quantitative Research – Survey Method 1) Qualitative Research: For qualitative research, few high income people were asked open ended questions which were formulated based on the secondary research and in line with the hypothesis. Depth interview of 10 people were taken which gave an insight into their purchase behavior and their decision making process for a luxury good. Based on this interviews and a further review of the secondary research reports, a final survey questionnaire was prepared. 2) Quantitative Research: For quantitative research, after making the initial questionnaire it was pretested with 5 participants and was improvised. The final sample was 30 with target group being A and A+ socio-economic class people. In June 2009, the survey was conducted to observe the behavior pattern of consumers in buying luxury products. Purpose Based on the existing data and the findings of the survey, it can be understood what influences a consumer to buy a luxury product and how to reach a consumer. The different perspectives of luxury products from a consumer?s point of view can be understood giving a detailed insight as to how to position a product as luxury product. Consumer? s expectations from a luxury product will help us to understand the modifications needed in a product to be categorized as luxurious product. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 27 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Sampling Sampling procedure: The sample is selected in a random way, but those having a car with nearly worth more than 5lakhs. It was collected through mails and personal visits to the known persons, by formal and informal talks and through filling up the questionnaire prepared. The data has been analyzed by using the graphical method prepared in Microsoft Excel. Sample size: The sample size of my project is limited to 30 only. This is limited due to time constraints. Sample design: Data has been presented with the help of bar graph, pie charts, stacked graphs etc. Limitation: ? Time limitation ? Research has been done only at Mumbai ? Some of the persons were not so responsive ? Possibility of error in data collection ? Possibility of error in analysis of data due to small sample size Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 28. Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Analysis: In qualitative research, a personal interview was conducted of 10 people to understand the perception of luxury products and their purchase decision making process. The layout of the interview was: Warm up General details about the person, his family background, his interests and his lifestyle Luxury Product To understand their perception of luxury products and steps involved in purchasing a luxury product. Car, Holiday Club To understand his perception of a luxurious holiday and his planning process while going on a holiday. To understand his attitude towards clubs and decision making of a car Factors influencing To understand various factors that influence his decision for buying a particular luxury product. For qualitative questionnaire see appendix 1 For quantitative questionnaire see appendix 2 Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 29 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Qualitative Analysis: The Depth Interviews conducted gave some valuable insights into the mindset of the consumer? s perception about luxury products and their decision making process during purchase. Some of the interesting responses based on which quantitative questionnaire was made are as follows: 1) What is your opinion about luxury products? â€Å"Depends, it may be different for different people. DVD, TV and other stuffs would be luxury for me. † â€Å"They are good for show off† â€Å"Luxury products are created by seller. They are not necessities for a buyer but a need has been created by the seller. The way the products are advertised, branded and presented, a need is created to buy it. † â€Å"First and foremost it gives you a satisfaction in life, satisfaction that you are making use of the dreams that are available in the market. It can also be used as a status symbol. † â€Å"If you can afford it one must consider luxury products. What is the point if you can earn so much money and still don’t spend on luxury products? † Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 30 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products Observation: Luxury Products have different perceptions with different people. Some think it is a need created by buyer where as some feel these are products good for show-off. Some consider it as a status symbol. 2) Is luxury a necessity? â€Å"Today a four vehicle has become a necessity. Though a four wheeler is a luxury still it becomes a necessity. Second example is the latest technology mobile phones. We use mobile phones even while travelling, before sleeping, after getting up, checking emails. So whatever you say about these products they have become a necessity. â€Å"It is all in the minds of the people. If they get attracted to the promotions of the product and offers, it becomes a necessity for them. As said earlier, the need is created by the seller. † 3) Name a few luxury products? Expensive Car/Bike Jewellery Club Membership Branded Perfumes Travel Holidays Expensive Car/Bike Big House Jewellery Trendy Mobile Club Membership Travel Holidays. Club Membership Travel Holidays Electronic Gadgets Branded Perfumes Branded Apparels Club Membership Electronic Gadgets Travel Holidays Branded Perfumes Branded Apparels Observation: Club Membership, Travel Holidays and Expensive Car/Bike are considered Luxury products whereas other products like Jewellery, Electronic Gadgets, Branded Perfumes and Branded Apparels are considered semi-luxury products. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 31 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products 4) Can you take us through the entire process of buying this product right from the wish to buy – actual purchase? â€Å"My process to buy a new house started 10-12 years back. I saw an advertisement in the newspaper and then went and saw the house. Once finalised, I took a loan, sold the old house and bought this new house. † â€Å"My old car was giving me lot of problem. So I decided to buy this new car. I wished to buy this a year back. I didn’t want to take loan, so saved money for a year and finally bought this. In this period, the prices went down, so it helped me. † â€Å"I had a car before I bought this new one. It took me 2 years to buy this. It was the European car of the year. I saw the ad in the newspaper and decided I wanted to buy this. Observation: Purchase of a luxury product requires lot of planning and it takes many months to buy such high value products. Proper research and information needs to be obtained about the product before finalising the product. 5) What is your opinion of holiday clubs? Would you consider them as a luxury holiday club? â€Å"If you travel around a lot, than it is worth. It is not a luxury holiday because they have different offers which are affordable by most of the people. † I would consider it as a luxury. Most of these packages are designed in such a manner that you can get discount during weekdays. Weekends are expensive. So those are the times when you have time. † â€Å"They are good and give you the necessary relaxation. I don? t consider them entirely luxury because nowadays most of the people can afford it. † Observation: Opinions about holiday clubs are varied as there is not clear understanding of necessity. There are number of clubs providing cheap holidays and hence clubs seem to be losing on the title of luxury club. Jitesh Sanghvi MMS -137, Marketing Page 32 Understanding Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Products 6) Would you buy a counterfeit Rolex watch for a cheaper price? â€Å"I am not a watch person so I would definitely go for a counterfeit. But for.

Important Role In Job Design Management

Important Role In Job Design Management The topic which I choose for my research is the impact of job enrichment and enlargement on employee motivation and performance. I intend to find the factors which play an important role in Job design which is constituted of job enrichment and job enlargement so that they could best motivate employees and in turn enables them give their best performance. Organization is the strength of any business. The more organized and efficient the different components in the business are, the better it functions and produces. Therefore jobs must be enlarged and enriched keeping in mind what is best in the interest of an organization. I would like to mention here what is job enrichment and job enlargement. What are their Pros and Cons, and their effectiveness? Job enrichment basically refers to the concept of improvement in job or an increase with the help of upgrading and development. For example if you are a typist by job enrichment you will have to type and proof read as well. It also stresses upon the concept of employee satisfaction in respect to their position and personal growth potential. Job enrichment involves organizing and planning in orderÂÂ  to gain more control over their duties and work as a manager. The execution of plans and evaluationÂÂ  of results motivates workers and relieves boredom. Job enlargement on the other hand means adding more duties or increasing the workload to the same job. It provides the chance of enhancement and more productivity for employees. For example if you are a typist and you type 20 pages per day by job enlargement you will have to type 30 pages per day. Job enlargement is a vehicle employers use to put additional workload on employees, perhaps in economical downtime. By adding or inc reasing the responsibilities employees are also getting a chance of enhancement and more productivity. In literary terms job enlargement is the expansion of job context to include a wider variety of tasks and to increase the workers freedom of pace, responsibility for checking quality and discretion for method. Therefore to summarize the major differences between the two we can state that job enrichment, when compared to job enlargement, not only includes more duties and responsibilities, but also gives the right of decision making and control. Apart from that job enlargement is horizontal where as job enrichment is vertical expansion of work. But both the forces Job enlargement and job enrichment are useful for motivating workers to perform their tasks enthusiastically. It is through job design organizations try to raise productivity levels by offering non monetary rewards such as greater satisfaction. Job enrichment and job enlargement are such techniques used in job design exerci se. Statement of problem Job design is the intentionally planned structuring of work effort performed by an individual. There is increasing evidence that poorly designed jobs now a days is a persistent social problem affecting the performance of employees. Justification for the topic The reason I choose this topic was because of the fact to identify factors which play important role in job design so that it could best motivate the employees and in return they give best performance. Scope of study The scope of the study is focus on the impact of job enrichment and job enlargement and how employees respond to it in terms of their performance and how motivated they get. Back ground Information Job design with the concept of job enrichment and job enlargement came about with rapid technological advancements at the turn of the 20th century when mass production and assembly line operations emerged. As jobs continue to become more sophisticated and specialized, the need for an educated and motivated workforce has become indispensable. The nature of work and its organization has interested managers, economists and social scientists for as long as people have been employed by others to engage in productive activity. Managers have largely been interested in maximizing output from available resources. Economists and social scientists have raised questions about the organization of work in relation to issues of the individual and society in general. It is also important for the HR departments of organizations to understand the importance of job design. As Well-designed jobs help to accomplish two important goals: getting the necessary work done in a timely and competent manner, and motivating and challenging employees. According to Hackman and Lawler (1971) a job will be motivating and intrinsically only if it high on all five of the core dimensions which are skill, variety, autonomy, task identify and feedback. It is only then that an employee would perform better than expected. Related definitions Job design: It refers to the process of determining exactly what an employee does on the job: the tasks, duties, responsibilities, decision-making and the level of authority. Job enrichment: Job enrichment adds newÂÂ  sourcesÂÂ  ofÂÂ  job satisfactionÂÂ  by increasing the level ofÂÂ  responsibilityÂÂ  of theÂÂ  employee. It is also calledÂÂ  job enhancementÂÂ  orÂÂ  vertical job expansion. Job enlargement: Job designÂÂ  techniqueÂÂ  in which the number ofÂÂ  tasksÂÂ  associatedÂÂ  with aÂÂ  job is increased and appropriateÂÂ  trainingÂÂ  provided to add greater variety toÂÂ  activities, thus reducing monotony. It is a horizontalÂÂ  restructuringÂÂ  methodÂÂ  in that the job is enlarged by adding related tasks. Job enlargement may alsoÂÂ  resultÂÂ  in greaterÂÂ  workforce flexibility. Job involvement: The degree, to which an employee identifies with his job, actively participates in it, and considers his job performance important to his self-worth. Internal motivation: Learners are motivated from within by personal needs or wants that are positive in nature such as a desire to succeed or love of learning. High morale: High morale is a concept that states high emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness and confidence. Job performance: Job performance is a commonly used, yet poorly defined concept in industrial and organizational psychology, the branch of psychology that deals with the workplace. It most commonly refers to whether a person performs their job well. Despite the confusion over how it should be exactly defined, performance is an extremely important criterion that relates to organizational outcomes and success. Problem development The reason why I am conducting this research is to judge the impact of job enrichment and job enlargement on employee performance. As we know that the concepts of job design that include enrichment and enlargement are not widely used in Pakistan, therefore this research will give a proper perspective on how job enrichment and enlargement impacts employee performance. Secondly because of the fact that whether these concepts of job design will be helpful to motivate employees, increase employee performance and productivity. Literature review Job design and its approaches are usually considered to have begun with scientific management in the year 1900. Pioneering scientific managers such as Taylor (1947), Gilbreth (1911), and Gilbreth and Gilbreth (1917) systematically examined jobs with various techniques. They suggested that task design might be the most prominent element in scientific management. Robert A. Karasek (1971) described some implications of job redesign. He explained that job enrichment and job enlargement helps employees to develop new skills and face new challenges. Job enrichment specially is the major driving force for the employees that motivate them to perform much better. It was also observed that well designed jobs have a positive impact on employee satisfaction and quality performance. Another important factor stressed upon by Robert A. Karasek was that some employees do not have the motivation that is repetitive to the enriched job. This results in less satisfaction and lower work output. According to Argyris (1964) and Blauner (1964) simple, routine, non challenging often produce dissatisfaction and demoralization of workers. They suggested that for optimal worker motivation tasks should be enlarged rather than simplified. In a no. of different experiments it has been showed job enlargement has a positive impact on motivation and performance. With respect to the design of individual jobs, the first major theory was that of Herzberg and his colleagues (Herzberg 1959). Their two-factor theory distinguished between two types of factors, namely motivators, which are intrinsic to the work itself (e.g. achievement, recognition, and responsibility), and hygiene factors, which are extrinsic to the work (e.g. work conditions, pay, and supervision). The proposition was that the hygiene factors are absolutely necessary to maintain the human resources of an organization. According to Hertzbergs theory, only a challenging job has the opportunity for achievement, recognition, advancement and growth that will motivate personnel. According to Hackman and Lawler (1971) a job will be motivating and essentially satisfying only if it is high in all 5 core dimensions. The core dimensions are autonomy, task identity, feedback, variety and skill. It is only then a person finds that performing well leads to important intrinsic rewards such as feeling of heightened self-esteem, personal growth and worth wile accomplishments. Finally it was proposed that only people who have strong desire for higher order need satisfaction will respond to jobs that are high on all core dimensions. That is unless workers value feeling of accomplishment and growth; they will be unlikely to respond positively to a job which is structured to provide opportunities for their attainment through hard work. It was found that when jobs were high on all core dimensions employees who were desirous of higher order need satisfaction tended to have high morale, high work motivation, few absences from work and be rated by their supervisors doing high quality work. Thus this theory emphasized a job high on all core dimensions will result in higher motivation and better results in terms of performance. According to Podsakoff (1996) enriched jobs have been found to provide fundamentally satisfying tasks and job enrichment is positively related to a wide variety of employee attitites and performance. As stated by John R. Cook (1997) the objective of good job design is to design jobs which allow people to perform tasks in a safe, efficient and economical manner which facilitate the realization of various organizational goals such as profit and increased production. The goal of job enrichment is to improve employee satisfaction and performance by increasing job scope vertically allowing opportunities for personal achievement, recognition and growth. Job enrichment principles were largely associated with the phenomena that enriching a job is proposed to increase positive work outcomes that is motivation and performance and decrease negative outcomes which included stress and boredom. Problem definition The impact of job enrichment and job enlargement on employee motivation and performance. Statement of study objectives Hypothesis H0: Job enrichment does not have a positive impact on employee performance. H1: Job enrichment has a positive impact on employee performance. H0: Job enlargement does not have a positive impact on employee performance. H1: Job enlargement has a positive impact on employee performance. Theoretical framework Job enrichment Robert A. Karasek, Jr (1979) J.Lee (2004) Boredom Strain Job dissatisfaction Physiological distress Intellectual stimulation Diversified workforce Employee performance Employee motivation Innovation Job enlargement Edward E Lawler (1973), John R cook (1997), J.Lee (2004) More opportunities Develop new skills High morale High work motivation Variable reference list Robert A. Karasek, Jr.(1979) Job Demands, Job Decision Latitude, and Mental Strain: Implications for Job Redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 24, No. 2 (Jun., 1979), pp. 285-308. Edward E Lawler , J Richard Hackman (1973) Effects of Job Redesign: A Field Experiment. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1973, 3, 1, pp. 49-62. J.Lee Whittington, Viki L Goodwin (2004) Transformational leadership, goal difficulty, and job design: Independent and interactive effects of employee outcome. Leadership quarterly 15 (2004) 593-606 John R. Cook (1997) Job enrichment and mental workload in computer based work: implications for adaptive job design. International journal of industrial Ergonomics 24 (1999) 13-23. Christopher Orpen (2001) Effect of job Enrichment on employee satisfaction, motivation, involvement and performance. A field experiment. Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, 1, Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa. Michael J. Smith, Pascal C. Sainfort (1989) A balance theory of Job design for stress reduction. Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 U.S.A. Received 17 October 1988;ÂÂ  accepted 5 January 1989.ÂÂ   Available online 27 February 2003. Theoretical justification As I have stated earlier that job enrichment and job enlargement are the most important aspects of job design in order to motivate employees so that they give better performance. The variables mentioned in the framework basically represent that why job enrichment and job enlargement is there and what are their implications. All variables are directed towards increasing employee motivation and performance. The framework shows that through job enrichment and job enlargement according to the variables (Boredom, Strain, Job dissatisfaction, Physiological distress, and Intellectual stimulation) a job can be made more interesting with reduced levels of boredom and repetitive movements which will in turn motivate employees to perform exceedingly well than anticipated. Job enrichment also intellectually stimulates employees as think out of the box, thus motivating them towards better performance. Apart from that diversified workforce and innovation are two such variables that are positively related to employee performance. The more diversified and specialized a job the better is the performance as all specialist ar put to work. Lastly through innovation as well employees tend to perform really well. Elements of research design Type of research: Applied Study setting: Natural Nature of data: primary data Unit of analysis: organizations Reference period: (Jan- Aprill 2011) Survey research: working population Statement of analytical approach: qualitative and quantitative questionnaires if required statistical modeling Limitations Respondents bias Time constraints (less sample size) Complete access to different departments of an organization References used www.jstor.com www.sceincedirect.com www.google.scholar.com www.businessdictionary.com http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/employee-development/100470-1.html

McCarthyism in Film Essay -- Film Analysis

Two films, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Good Night and Good Luck, are produced over five decades apart and illustrated similar anti-communist sentiment. The first film, The Day the Earth Stood Still, was produced in 1951 during the height of the anti-communist movement or in other words McCarthyism. Good Night and Good Luck, which George Clooney directed and starred in, was produced in 2005 as a black and white docudrama film. These two films portray the mood felt by society during the 1950s through two complementary perspectives. The first film shows an overt view by the media toward Senator McCarthy while transmitting a hidden message to the United States government. The second film does the same only five decades earlier. As stated, both films share a hidden agenda which is disgust and distrust toward Washington D.C. from Hollywood. The media and entertainment industry felt hatred toward Washington D.C. and expressed their feelings through cleaver movie scripts and metaphors. Two films in particular, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Good Night and Good Luck carried the message loud and clear. Good Night and Good Luck chose to illustrate the unjust and biased actions of Senator Joe McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Because of his outspoken negative slander McCarthy was considered the high-status target. McCarthy led the charge against Soviet infiltration and in general did not hide his negative feelings toward Communist activity. While Good Night and Good Luck showed a retrospective chronological view of the early 1950s The Day the Earth Stood Still was actually a product of this era with the writers choosing to use fictional characters. The characters helped illustrate their viewpoi... ...2012. Doherty T. Good Night, and Good Luck. Cineaste [serial online]. Winter2005 2005;31(1):53-56. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 22, 2012. Pardon J. Revisiting a Science Fiction Classic: Interpreting The Day the Earth Stood Still for Contemporary Film Audiences. Journal Of Popular Film & Television [serial online]. Fall2008 2008;36(3):141-149. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 22, 2012. Briley, Ron, and Robert Brent Toplin. "Good Night, And Good Luck." Journal Of American History 93.3 (2006): 985-986. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. "George Clooney: 'Good Night, And Good Luck' Came Out Of Anger." Huffington Post. Huff Post Entertainment, 23 Jan. 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2012. .

Functional Health Assessment

Nursing theorist Marjorie Gordon developed, in 1987, functional health patterns as a tool guide, used by nurses as a comprehensive data collection during patient assessments. Functional health pattern enables the nurses to identify and determine all aspects of health and human function (Kosher, 2013). The purpose of this assignment is to discuss how the interviewed family views their health overall, to improve their health promotion/patient education, and to identify the needs of the family using Gordon’s 11 functional health patterns. Family Health AssessmentThe family selected for this project is a bi-nuclear family with three children. The mother is 40 years old and has two occupations, a phlebotomist and a nursing assistant. She has a 15 year old daughter, 3 year old twin boys. Her daughter is from her previous marriage. The father is 48 years old and works as a long distance truck driver. The couple has been married for 7 years. During the interview the family was asked o pen ended questions to evaluate their overall views of their health. These open ended questions were used in conjunction with Gordon’s 11 functional health patterns.The minor children were included in discussions with parents present. Patterns of Health Perception and Health Management The family as a whole perceives their health in overall good condition. They believe that with frequent and check-ups with their primary physician, their health can be maintained and managed properly. The importance of spirituality plays an important role in maintaining mental and physical wellness. The father has past medical issues with hypertensive crisis induced by stress and diet. The mother has a history of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean section with the childbirth of the  twins.In order to improve health maintenance they are dieting appropriately and exercising regularly and taking what they call a â€Å"family time-out† on the weekends to relieve stress and bu ild emotional bond. Nutrition-Metabolic Pattern Diet is an important part of this family maintaining their health. Because of the fathers condition the family eats a cardiac healthy diet. Their typical daily intake, consist of lots of vegetables, salads, chicken and fish. They have deleted red meat and carbonated drinks out of their diet.The father confessed to eating sweets and other unhealthy items. The children state that they like to snack all day. Mom sends the twins with healthy snacks at daycare and the older daughter opts to eat school lunch every so often. She prefers to bring a Gatorade and sandwich for lunch. The family was noted to practice eating the recommended 6 small meals per day. The main meal in this household is eaten around five or six p. m. The father and mother had experienced weight fluctuations due to diet changes and life changing stressful events.Pattern of Elimination The elimination function is regular without difficulty for anyone with bowel movements o r urination. The frequent urination is no longer an issue for the mother since she has lost some of the baby weight and no longer with pregnant. The twin boys are currently being potty trained, with some episodes of incontinence at night, which is to be expected. They are still using pull-up briefs at bedtime. Pattern of Activity/Exercise This family is very active. The mother says she stays active with work and the two boys at home keep her busy.The mother does a lot of heavy lifting at working so she is required to wear safety brace while at work. The father job requires sitting most of the time with lifting from time to time. They do many outdoor activities for family time, for example, fishing, swimming, and bike riding on the trail, at the local park. The mother participates in zumba exercise class on Wednesday evenings. Cognitive and Perception Education is a continued factor in this household. The mother is in school for licensed practical nursing.The daughter is in high scho ol and maintains  a 3. 5 grade average in her classes. The twins go to day care every day for early learning. The father completed 2 years of college and has degree in general studies, has a special driving license. Pattern of Seep and Rest Family’s response towards rest was different. The mother complained of lack of rest since the twins were born and the father stated that when he is home from a long trip it is difficult for him to sleep at home because he is used to being up all night driving. The twins and the teenage daughter take naps and gets sleep without any complaints.Pattern of Self Perception and Self Concept Some family members noted to feel unsatisfied about their appearances in different ways. The daughter felt that she had chunky legs. The father felt that he could stand to lose a few more pounds because he felt fat. The mother is still worried about fitting into that bathing suit she bought two months ago on sale. Body image was an issue, but it was discuss ed nonchalant throughout the conversation. The daughter appeared to be vainer about her appearance than any other family member.Role Relationships PatternSupport for each is noted throughout the family, they attend church regularly on Sundays has a spiritual and emotional support system. The parents socialize with other church members through activities. They voiced satisfaction with their home life. They often go out on dates with other couples and families with children. The mother’s relatives live close by, so they have frequently family visits. Sexuality –Reproductive Pattern The parents are currently sexually active. The teenage daughter stated she is not, but was curious and had some questions.The daughter started her menses at age 11. The mother started her menses cycle at early age 9. The parents were informed of the teenage daughter curiosity and questions so that could be addressed personally. Pattern of Coping and Stress Tolerance Stress has had an impact on this family. The father has been hospitalized twice with a hypertensive crisis. Life changing events started from the birth of the twins, then the death of his mother a year ago and now work has been slower than usual, not enough hours to work and support his family.The mother is stressed from taking on the extra load of responsibilities. No recreational drugs or alcohol abuse in the home. Stress is relieved by spiritual needs being met and family support. Patterns of Values and Beliefs Religion is very important to this family, by attending church regularly and participating in extra activities at church with their church family. A close knit family is highly valued. The American culture is practiced in this family. Western medicine is their health practice.Wellness Diagnoses/Family Nursing DiagnosisReadiness for Enhanced Caregiver Role related to interrupted family processes and caregiver role strain (Gordon, 1994) Effective therapeutic Regimen Management related to non-complianc e with diet (Gordon, 1994) Conclusion The interviewing process of this family was intensive, but important information was gained. Areas noted for increased education and health promotion/well-being. Based on the functional health patterns assessment, wellness and family nursing diagnoses was implemented. Factors taken into consideration were the diet and weight concern, and the shift of responsibilities increasing stressors.

Interest Rate Risk

INTEREST RATE RISKQ1. Which of the following correctly defines Basis Risk? (MCQ)A company having a variable interest rate for a specific loanA company having a fixed interest rate for all loansThe risk of the difference of interest rate amount set on assets & liabilitiesA company has a similar quantity of assets & liabilities, having a different basis for their floating rate(2 marks) This information relates to Q2 & Q3.Rotec Co wants to borrow $30,800 in two months' time ; is seeking to save them from any interest risk. The bank has explained an agreement to provide hedging for Rotec Co. This agreement can lock interest rates for future. The borrowing will be for three months. The forward rate agreement is as follows: 2 months V 3 months 3% – 4.5%2 months V 5 months 4.2% – 5.1% Q2. Calculate the interest amount to be paid if the actual rate will be 3% in two months' time? (MCQ)$161.7$231$392.7$924(2 marks) Q3. Calculate the refund amount by the bank if the actual rate will be 6.3% in two months' time? (MCQ) $46.2$92.4$138.6$161.7(2 marks) Q4. A company is looking at the following options to hedge itself from interest risks. Which of the following will support the cause? (MRQ) SmoothingMoney market agreementsMatchingDealing with home currency(2 marks) Q5. A yield curve is a relationship between yield ; maturity dates of similar bonds. Select the appropriate yield curve. (P;D)Short-term bonds have lower yield due to their risk Long-term yields have lower yield due to the downfall in the economy Short/Long – term bonds provide a close equal yield FLAT YIELD CURVE NORMAL YIELD CURVE INVERTED YIELD CURVE(2 marks) Q6. Select the appropriate theories in relation to different interest rates on different securities. (P;D)Investors needing high returns for long-term security contracts The assumption by an investor that higher interest rates are due to future inflation Security markets are separate from each other ; have distinct customers GOVERNMENT POLICY MARKET SEGMENTATION THEORY LIQUIDITY PREFERENCE THEORY EXPECTATION THEORY(2 marks) Q7. Select the appropriate option relating to the usefulness of the yield curve. (HA)Yield curve may indicate the economy position TRUE FALSEYield curve may be helpful in decision making with respect to loan ; but not interest TRUE FALSE(2 marks) Q8. Which of the following contract have long-term validity? (MCQ)Currency FuturesInterest rate OptionsInterest rate Swaps Forward rate agreements(2 marks) Q9. Select the appropriate option in relation to interest rate futures. (HA)If the need for Borrowing, Selling the futures now ; Buying them back at the close date TRUE FALSEIf the need for Deposit, Selling the futures now ; Buying them back at the close date TRUE FALSE(2 marks) Q10. Which of the following statements is correct? (MCQ)Currency futures have a range of closeout datesInterest rate options are cheaper than Forwarding rate agreementsForward rate agreements lapse if unused in the given time periodSwaps are unable to be exercised if the amount ; time periods are different(2 marks) Q11. Yakut wants to borrow money from the bank in three months' time by using a collar transaction. Which of the following statements are true in relation to the collar transaction? (MRQ) Yakut will buy a cap agreementBank will buy a cap agreementYakut will sell a flooring agreementBank will sell a flooring agreement(2 marks) Q12. Uma Co wants to deposit money into Hale Ltd, a banking institution. Hale has offered a collar transaction. Which of the following statements are correct? (MRQ) Bank will sell a cap agreementUma Co will sell a cap agreementUma Co will sell a flooring agreementBank will buy a flooring agreement(2 marks)INTEREST RATE RISK (ANSWERS)Q1. DA company having a variable interest rate for a specific loan (Floating interest rate risk)A company having a fixed interest rate for all loans (Fixed interest rate risk)The risk of the difference of interest rate amount set on assets & liabilities (Gap risk)A company has a similar quantity of assets & liabilities, having a different basis for their floating rate (Basis risk) Q2. CInterest Payment = [30,800 Ãâ€" (3% Ãâ€" 3/12)] = $231Payment Extra = [30,800 Ãâ€" ({5.1 – 3} % Ãâ€" 3/12)] = $161.7Total cost = 231 + 161.7 = $392.7 Q3. BInterest Payment = [30,800 Ãâ€" (6.3% Ãâ€" 3/12)] = $485.1Refund = [30,800 Ãâ€" ({6.3 – 5.1} % Ãâ€" 3/12)] = $92.4Total cost = 485.1 – 92.4 = $392.7 Q4.Smoothing, Maintaining a balance between fixed & floating borrowing rates (Correct)Money market agreements not exist (Incorrect)Matching, Matching assets & liabilities with same interest rates (Correct)Dealing in home currency, the technique of dealing foreign currency risk (Incorrect) Q5.Short-term bonds have lower yield due to their riskNORMAL YIELD CURVE   Long-term yields have lower yield due to the downfall in the economy INVERTED YIELD CURVE Short/Long – term bonds provide a close equal yield FLAT YIELD CURVENORMAL YIELD = Sign of economic boom INVERTED YIELD = Sign of economic recessionFLAT YIELD = Sign of transition from boom to recession or vice versa Q6.Investors needing high returns for long-term security contracts LIQUIDITY PREFERENCE THEORY The assumption by an investor that higher interest rates are due to future inflation     EXPECTATION THEORY Security markets are separate from each other & have distinct customers   MARKET SEGMENTATION THEORY The government policy of keeping interest rates high may effect in keeping short-term interest rates higher than long-term rates. Similarly, a government may also keep very low short-term interest rates. Q7.Yield curve may indicate the economy position TRUE Yield curve may be helpful in decision making with respect to loan & but not interest FALSEYield curves help in both loan & interest decision making. Q8. CAll other agreements are less than a year. Q9. If the need for Borrowing, Selling the futures now & Buying them back at the close date TRUE If the need for Deposit, Selling the futures now & Buying them back at the close date FALSEIf the need for Deposit, Buying the futures now & Sell them back at the close date Q10.Currency futures have a range of closeout dates, has specified date (False)Interest rate options are cheaper than Forwarding rate agreements, are expensive (False)Forward rate agreements lapses if unused in the given time period, have to close out at the given time (False)Swaps are unable to be exercised if the amount & time periods are different, it can only be exercised if timing & the amount are same hence (True) Q11. Yakut will buy a cap agreementYakut will sell a flooring agreementCap is an interest rate ceiling limiting the interest rate. Floor sets a lower limit of interest rates. Q12.Bank will sell a cap agreementBank will buy a flooring agreementCap is an interest rate ceiling limiting the interest rate. Floor sets a lower limit of interest rates.

Using a Focus Word to Help With Pronunciation

Using a Focus Word to Help With Pronunciation Pronunciation can be improved by focusing on the right words. Knowing the difference between content words and function words is the first step. Remember that we stress content words in English as they provide the words that are most important to understanding a sentence. In other words, function words like the prepositions  at, from, or to are not stressed, whereas content words such as the nouns city or investment and main verbs like study or develop are stressed because they are key to understanding. Step 1: Find the Focus Word Once you are familiar with using content words to help with stress and intonation, its time to take it to the next level by choosing a focus word. The focus word (or words in some cases) is the most important word in a sentence. For example: Why didnt you telephone?  I waited all day! In these two sentences, the word telephone is the central focus. Its the key to understanding both sentences. Someone might answer this question by saying: I didnt telephone because I was so busy.   In this case, busy would be the focus word as it provides the main explanation for someone being late. When saying the focus word, its common to stress this word more than the other content words. This may include raising the voice  or speaking the word louder to add emphasis. Step 2: Change Focus Words to Move the Conversation Along Focus words may change as you move through a conversation. Its common to choose focus words that provide the next topic for discussion. Take a look at this short conversation, notice how the focus word (marked in  bold)  changes to move the conversation forward. Bob: Were flying to Las Vegas next week.Alice: Why are you going there?Bob: Im going to win a fortune!Alice: You need to get real. Nobody wins a fortune in Las Vegas.Bob: Thats not true. Jack won a fortune there last year.Alice: No, Jack got married. He didnt win a fortune.Bob: Thats what I call winning a fortune. I dont need to gamble to win a fortune.Alice: Looking for love in Las Vegas is definitely not the answer.Bob: OK. What is the answer in your opinion?Alice: I think you need to start dating girls from here.Bob: Dont get me started on girls from here. Theyre all out of my league!Alice: Come on Bob, youre a nice guy. You will find someone.Bob: I hope so... Stressing these key words helps change the topic from a vacation in Las Vegas  to finding someone to marry to solving Bobs love life issues.   Practice: Choose the Focus Word Now its up to you to choose the focus word. Choose the focus word for each sentence or group of short sentences. Next, practice speaking these sentences while making sure to emphasize the stress word more.   What do you want to do this afternoon? Im bored!Why didnt you tell me she had a birthday?Im hungry. Lets get some lunch.Nobodys here. Where has everyone gone?I think Tom should buy lunch. I bought lunch last week.Are you going to finish work or waste time?You always complain about work. I think you need to stop.Lets get Italian food. Im tired of Chinese food.The students are getting horrible grades. Whats wrong?Our class is going to have a test on Friday. Make sure you prepare. The focus word for most of these should be clear. However, remember that its possible to change the focus word in order to bring out different meanings. Another good way to practice is to use sound scripting - the marking up of your text - to help you practice dialogues.

History of Rockets and Space Travel Innovations

History of Rockets and Space Travel Innovations The evolution of the rocket has made it an indispensable tool in the exploration of space. For centuries, rockets have provided ceremonial and warfare uses starting with the ancient Chinese, the first to create rockets. The rocket apparently made its debut on the pages of history as a fire arrow used by the Chin Tartars in 1232 AD for fighting off a Mongol assault on Kai-feng-fu. The lineage to the immensely larger rockets now used as space launch vehicles is unmistakable. But for centuries rockets were in the main rather small, and their use was confined principally to weaponry, the projection of lifelines in sea rescue, signaling, and fireworks displays. Not until the 20th century did a clear understanding of the principles of rockets emerge, and only then did the technology of large rockets begin to evolve. Thus, as far as spaceflight and space science are concerned, the story of rockets up to the beginning of the 20th century was largely a prologue. Early Experiments All through the 13th to the 18th ​Century, there were reports of many rocket experiments. For example, Joanes de Fontana of Italy designed a surface-running rocket-powered torpedo for setting enemy ships on fire. In 1650, a Polish artillery expert, Kazimierz Siemienowicz, published a series of drawings for a staged rocket. In 1696, Robert Anderson, an Englishman, published a two-part treatise on how to make rocket molds, prepare the propellants, and perform the calculations. Sir William Congreve During the early introduction of rockets to Europe, they were used only as weapons. Enemy troops in India repulsed the British with rockets. Later in Britain, Sir William Congreve developed a rocket that could fire to about 9,000 feet. The British fired Congreve rockets against the United States in the War of 1812. Francis Scott Key coined the phrase the rockets red glare after the British fired Congreve rockets against the United States. William Congreves incendiary rocket used black powder, an iron case, and a 16-foot guide stick. Congreve had used a 16-foot guide stick to help stabilize his rocket. William Hale, another British inventor, invented the stickless rocket in 1846. The U.S. army used the Hale rocket more than 100 years ago in the war with Mexico. Rockets were also used to a limited extent in the Civil War. During the 19th century, rocket enthusiasts and inventors began to appear in almost every country. Some people thought these early rocket pioneers were geniuses, and others thought they were crazy. Claude Ruggieri, an Italian living in Paris, apparently rocketed small animals into space as early as 1806. The payloads were recovered by parachute. As far back as 1821, sailors hunted whales using rocket-propelled harpoons. These rocket harpoons were launched from a shoulder-held tube equipped with a circular blast shield. Reaching for the Stars By the end of the 19th century, soldiers, sailors, practical and not so practical inventors had developed a stake in rocketry. Skillful theorists, like Konstantian Tsiolkovsky in Russia, were examining the fundamental scientific theories behind rocketry. They were beginning to consider the possibility of space travel. Four persons were particularly significant in the transition from the small rockets of the 19th century to the colossi of the space age: Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in Russia, Robert Goddard in the United States, and Hermann Oberth and Wernher von Braun in Germany. Rocket Staging and Technology Early rockets had a single engine, on which it rose until it ran out of fuel. A better way to achieve great speed, however, is to place a small rocket on top of a big one and fire it after the first has burned out. The US army, which after the war used captured V-2s for experimental flights into the high atmosphere, replaced the payload with another rocket, in this case, a WAC Corporal, which was launched from the top of the orbit. Now the burned-out V-2, weighing 3 tons, could be dropped and using the smaller rocket, the payload reached a much higher altitude. Today of course almost every space rocket uses several stages, dropping each empty burned-out stage and continuing with a smaller and lighter booster. Explorer 1, the first artificial satellite of the US which was launched in January 1958, used a 4-stage rocket. Even the space shuttle uses two large solid-fuel boosters which are dropped after they burn out. Chinese Fireworks Developed in the second century BCE, by the ancient Chinese,  fireworks  are the oldest form of rockets and the most simplistic model of a rocket. Preluding the liquid-fueled rocket,  solid propellant  rockets began with contributions to the field by such scientists as Zasiadko, Constantinov, and Congreve. Although currently in a further advanced state, solid propellant rockets remain in widespread use today, as seen in rockets including the Space Shuttle dual booster engines and the Delta series booster stages.  Liquid fueled  rockets were first theorized by Tsiolkozski in 1896.

Midterm film analysis paper Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Midterm film analysis paper - Movie Review Example The primary strategy of Dom Cobb comprised of his ability to project himself into the subconscious minds of other people to steal ideas and information, which even the most virtuoso of hackers could not pillage with all the technology and skills lying at their disposal. So, Cobb is projected in the movie as the ultimate tool specializing in corporate espionage. However, as is common with most of the capable men, Cobb has many accounted issues imbuing his past, to redeem which he is made to embark on a mission that is to become his way to redemption. However, this mission tends to be different in the sense that this Time Cobb is required to plant an idea into rather than gleaning some information from the mind of his target. Cobb and his ensemble team of espionage specialists would have certainly entered into a new dimension of psychic espionage had they succeeded. However, this time their mission is made complex and complicated by a capable adversary who not only knows what they are up to, but also possesses the power to stop them. To put it simply, in Inception, Christopher Nolan has managed to come out with a fantasy scenario, unraveling in the realm of the mind that is not only awesomely fantastic, original and innovative, but also requires multiple viewing to grasp its full potential and scope. It is a movie that exploits the existing technical expertise in the realm of cinematography to come out as being something interestingly stunning and audaciously bold. There is no denying the fact that Nolan’s primary theme in Inception is the dream world. The mastery of Nolan lies in his ability to use the cinematic devices to bring to the life the hitherto unexplored dynamics of the dream world. Not only Nolan manages to create a complicated maze meandering into the dreams of the characters in the movie, but also succeeds in soliciting the trust and confidence of his viewers in his

History of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

History of Art - Essay Example The British Museum is a house of art that houses a wide collection of world art and artefacts free to all visitors. Giovanni Antonio Canaletto drawing of London at around 1751 Image Location: http://www.britishmuseum.org/images/ps355425_m.jpg The picture shows a favorite eighteenth century view of London from high ground. The cathedral is the tallest building in the drawing, as it is seen high in the sky. The middle ground on the right hand edge of the picture presents a building with its walled forecourt, which the artist calls The Founding Hospital at the north of the tow. These make the landmarks of the town among the mass of smaller buildings surrounded by a number of parish churches. The fact that the drawing served as a model for the engraver explains the careful outlines and the slightly labored appearance of the drawing. Although the artist’s characteristic of penwork is evident in the free drawing of the plants in the foreground, which brings out the liveliness of ske tches and drawings which represented a finished work. The visual evidences the artist presents about London are evident in the drawing. Even the color used represents the period during which the drawing was made. Lucas Van Leyden’s Copperplate Engraving of Christ Presented to the People Image Location: http://www.britishmuseum.org/images/ps141709_m.jpg The engraving shows a group of people gathering in a crowd, with some holding swords. The picture shows dressing codes of people during the era when Jesus was crucified. The buildings too represent palace buildings of the time. To bring out the presentation of the time, the artist has used linear perspective to create a detailed sequence of space between multifaceted and magnificent buildings (Griffiths 1510). The background of the engraving shows a clear appearance of clouds, which show the sky background of any good work of art. This work of art also shows the characteristics of a good picture in the way the grounds are arran ged. The foreground, middle ground and the back ground all show differentiated arrangement of views. The sizes of the buildings differ according to the grounds. The engraving is clearly a representation of the period brought out by the artist. Thomas Gainsborough‘s watercolor of A cart Passing along a winding road Image Location: http://www.britishmuseum.org/images/ps219472_m.jpg The image according to its title shows people with a cart journeying on a road with trees depicting a windy weather. These are visually evident characteristics of the image. The artist has used paint to bring out the theme of the picture in the drawing. The watercolor paint used over black chalk heightened with white bodycolor brings the light and shade, which are the most noticeable features in the picture (Royalton-Kisch 1999). The light pool brings illumination to the road, the horses, and gaps appearing between the trees. The picture shows a clear image of nature as the title depicts. The artist b rings out work of landscape artists who can make a good representation of landscape. Wenceslaus Hollar drawing View of The Tower of London Image Location: http://www.britishmuseum.org/images/ps219443_m.jpg The picture, as is visual has a ship in the foreground, in the middle foreground are small boats and at the background is the tower. This drawing was made in pen and brown ink with watercolor over black lead. The foreground shows

Improving Health Care Facilities Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Improving Health Care Facilities - Term Paper Example I happened to visit a health care facility within our community where I observed that services did not reach the expected level. To begin with, the reception area was crowded since the queues moved so slowly. The fact that most patients required urgent attention triggered a feeling of inconveniences when one looked at the queues. In some cases, patients paid other people to queue on their behalf as they waited for their long-awaited turn to see a doctor. Later on when my turn came, I realized that the long queues were as a result of mismanagement and disorganization at the reception desk. The facility is still using manual filling and patient allocation system to the relevant doctors. This made the attendants at the reception look exhausted hence disinterested in what was happening. The communication channel in the facility can well be described as inefficient. The receptionist shouted the patient name when their turn came to be attended. Other than triggering noise making in the facility hallway, it caused confusion as everyone tried to enquire the owner of the name. In response to such situations, telecommunication application in this facility can best improve their services for instance, installation of microphone communicators. The communicator effectively ensures that the information passed by the reception attendant systematically flows to all hallways in the facility. Consequently, its application ensures organization at the reception since each individual hears their name from wherever they are without much struggle. In effort to reduce the queues, the health facility needs to appreciate the advancement of technology such as the use of computers. Other than reducing the workload at the reception, it organizes the facility’s data in such a manner that each patient’s data appears by the click of a button (Russell, 1927) . Moreover, most facilities now utilize the resources offered by the digital advancements hence offering better services to the respective clients (Julie, Miller & Horowitz, 2010). On the other hand, application of certain frameworks with the intent of improving the facility’s processes best achieves the improvement objective (Teicholz & Ikeda, 1995). However, focusing on the management of the Information Technology department (IT), the frameworks call for critical assessment first. As a recommendation, the management can start with adoption of technological advancement to increase the efficiency of their department’s services. At the outset, advocacy of installing surveillance systems by the management of the Information and Technology department greatly improves the facility’s processes. It simplifies yet improves the efficiency of supervision in the facility. This way, monitoring the employee’s activities becomes easier since it does not require personal presence. In addition, monitoring more than one sector at a go becomes possible when using screens in the IT department. Moreover, network connection done from the IT department would not only enhance the facility’s processes but also augment improvement of communication channels. Application of such network frameworks contributes towards better performance of the facility by simplifying process performances. In the patient monitoring section for instance, these networks monitor the patients performance continuously hence avoiding person to person contact between the patient and the nurse. Therefore, installing these networks means that the facility reduces p ersonal check-ups every now and then. Thus, personal attendance only becomes essential when the machine signals an emergency in

Critical Evaluation of Currency Unification of GCC Countries The Essay

Critical Evaluation of Currency Unification of GCC Countries The Potential Impact On Member Countries - Essay Example The problem is that the countries in the region do not have enough convergence to make a unified currency work. The per capita incomes between the countries are wildly divergent, as are the debt levels. Plus, only two of the countries have met the threshold regarding inflation. When there are such differing economic problems with each country, there is a need for an autonomous monetary policy that will allow each country to the independence to use exchange rates to fix whatever is broken with their economies. Having a unified currency takes this autonomy away, taking a one-size-fits-all approach to every problem. While the issue of the divergence in economies has been masked by the fact that all the countries in the union have the same economic basis, ie, oil, this is not going to last forever. Therefore the countries in the GCC have to align their member countries with similar economic policies that will be designed to bring the countries more in line with one another on the key eco nomic factors that will make a unified currency work. ... y have to attempt a similar tact as this, however, since the GCC is still a long way from having enough convergence to have a unified currency, it will be a number of years before the GCC will be ready for this, even if the countries change their economic policy right now. This paper will examine the factors that are necessary to have a currency union, as well as examine if the GCC countries meet the standard. There are certain hurdles that need to be faced in order for the currency unification to become a reality, and these will also be examined in greater detail. Further, there are drawbacks and benefit to unified currency, and this will be another section of the paper. Finally, there will be a conclusion and recommendations for the GCC. What is a monetary unification? Monetary unification is a common currency in a region. There are two conditions that economists believe are essential to having a common currency. Mundell (1961) believes that the perfect factor mobility within the r egion is essential for monetary unification, while McKinnon (1962) believes that the openness of the economy is the necessary condition for the adoption of a unified currency.1 If a region can achieve one or the other, preferably both, then that region would be considered to be an optimum currency area (OCA). Monetary integration involves the â€Å"irrevocable fixing of exchange rates, full and complete convertibility of currencies, financial market integration, the complete liberalization of current transactions and a common monetary policy.†2 AlKhilifey & Alreshan (2009) state that a region with unified currency will display the following characteristics: First, the region will have a single currency. Second, the region will have a central bank that will set the monetary policy for the

Fieldwork Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fieldwork - Research Paper Example So in any case culture is based on the information which people create, offer, and consume. With Internet invention the necessity to transmit the information orally and in written form has disappeared, moreover the way of information storage has changed as well. All the information is kept on servers of the biggest global sites such as Google. This search engine along with other influential companies receive huge power as they can predict and even create tendencies knowing what information people look for (Komando, 2013). In order to outline how the global culture is developing Google has created zeitgeist videos which tell about the most frequent requests of its users. Culture is a dynamic notion, and thus those entities that possess the information and know how it is consumed can outline cultural shifts and tendencies. So following and tracing informational currents may help to understand what the phenomenon of digital zeitgeists say about our culture. Analyzing this videos and dis tinguishing dominant events, personalities, and emotions allows seeing global attributes of development. Reviewing five Google digital Zeitgeist videos helped to distinguish five trends that appeared in global cultural development. In 2009 Google launched the video in which all the main events of the world were typed as words of request. This choice is not accidental as the way of information transmission was always the way of power control in the world. In this zeitgeist video Google has concentrated on the personalities which create the world history. With the help of Google people learn who became significant, as Barack Obama being elected as the President of the USA or Hussein Bolt setting a new record in running. Moreover, fame spreads instantly so Google marks the à ©poque in which every person can receive global fame and power in a minute. On the one hand,

Rhetorical analysis of Sweatshop Oppression Essay

Rhetorical analysis of Sweatshop Oppression - Essay Example In the opening paragraph, Ravisankar says that we are all â€Å"poor college students† (87). Through these words, Ravisankar conveys the message that despite our formal education, we fail to understand the relation between our tendency of low-cost consumerism and the poor wages the employees get in those sweatshops. In other words, ‘we’ are placed first in the list of culprits by Ravisankar. Thereafter, one can observe the use of pathos by Ravisankar. He says that the employees in sweatshops ‘are forced to work 70-80 hours per week making pennies per hour’. In addition, there are ‘unsanitary bathrooms, poor ventilation, and extreme heat upward of 90 degrees’ (86). Evidently, this description sufficiently informs the readers about the pathetic situation prevailing in such sweatshops. Thereafter, Ravisankar depends on logos to disprove the claim that the fight against sweatshops has adverse impact on the poor in developed countries as companies change their locations when there is opposition from labor right activists and trade unions. Here, Ravisankar uses the logic that trade unions and labor right activists are not against the location of the companies but against the inhuman activities prevailing there. He alleges that the companies shift their location because they want to find cheap labor in another location. From the very beginning, one can see the use of ethos. Throughout the essay, he relates sweatshops with the inhuman situations in the said companies. At first, he says ‘we’ are responsible for this inhuman condition as we are crazy about ‘low-cost’ products. Thereafter, he describes how pathetic is the condition of employees in such sweatshops. After contradicting the claim that anti-sweatshop campaign adversely affects the poor workers, he asserts that the companies are the ones to be blamed. It is their zest for excessive profit that creates such a situation. Now, as ‘we’- ‘the poor

Critical Evaluation of Currency Unification of GCC Countries The Essay

Critical Evaluation of Currency Unification of GCC Countries The Potential Impact On Member Countries - Essay Example The problem is that the countries in the region do not have enough convergence to make a unified currency work. The per capita incomes between the countries are wildly divergent, as are the debt levels. Plus, only two of the countries have met the threshold regarding inflation. When there are such differing economic problems with each country, there is a need for an autonomous monetary policy that will allow each country to the independence to use exchange rates to fix whatever is broken with their economies. Having a unified currency takes this autonomy away, taking a one-size-fits-all approach to every problem. While the issue of the divergence in economies has been masked by the fact that all the countries in the union have the same economic basis, ie, oil, this is not going to last forever. Therefore the countries in the GCC have to align their member countries with similar economic policies that will be designed to bring the countries more in line with one another on the key eco nomic factors that will make a unified currency work. ... y have to attempt a similar tact as this, however, since the GCC is still a long way from having enough convergence to have a unified currency, it will be a number of years before the GCC will be ready for this, even if the countries change their economic policy right now. This paper will examine the factors that are necessary to have a currency union, as well as examine if the GCC countries meet the standard. There are certain hurdles that need to be faced in order for the currency unification to become a reality, and these will also be examined in greater detail. Further, there are drawbacks and benefit to unified currency, and this will be another section of the paper. Finally, there will be a conclusion and recommendations for the GCC. What is a monetary unification? Monetary unification is a common currency in a region. There are two conditions that economists believe are essential to having a common currency. Mundell (1961) believes that the perfect factor mobility within the r egion is essential for monetary unification, while McKinnon (1962) believes that the openness of the economy is the necessary condition for the adoption of a unified currency.1 If a region can achieve one or the other, preferably both, then that region would be considered to be an optimum currency area (OCA). Monetary integration involves the â€Å"irrevocable fixing of exchange rates, full and complete convertibility of currencies, financial market integration, the complete liberalization of current transactions and a common monetary policy.†2 AlKhilifey & Alreshan (2009) state that a region with unified currency will display the following characteristics: First, the region will have a single currency. Second, the region will have a central bank that will set the monetary policy for the

Rhetorical analysis of Sweatshop Oppression Essay

Rhetorical analysis of Sweatshop Oppression - Essay Example In the opening paragraph, Ravisankar says that we are all â€Å"poor college students† (87). Through these words, Ravisankar conveys the message that despite our formal education, we fail to understand the relation between our tendency of low-cost consumerism and the poor wages the employees get in those sweatshops. In other words, ‘we’ are placed first in the list of culprits by Ravisankar. Thereafter, one can observe the use of pathos by Ravisankar. He says that the employees in sweatshops ‘are forced to work 70-80 hours per week making pennies per hour’. In addition, there are ‘unsanitary bathrooms, poor ventilation, and extreme heat upward of 90 degrees’ (86). Evidently, this description sufficiently informs the readers about the pathetic situation prevailing in such sweatshops. Thereafter, Ravisankar depends on logos to disprove the claim that the fight against sweatshops has adverse impact on the poor in developed countries as companies change their locations when there is opposition from labor right activists and trade unions. Here, Ravisankar uses the logic that trade unions and labor right activists are not against the location of the companies but against the inhuman activities prevailing there. He alleges that the companies shift their location because they want to find cheap labor in another location. From the very beginning, one can see the use of ethos. Throughout the essay, he relates sweatshops with the inhuman situations in the said companies. At first, he says ‘we’ are responsible for this inhuman condition as we are crazy about ‘low-cost’ products. Thereafter, he describes how pathetic is the condition of employees in such sweatshops. After contradicting the claim that anti-sweatshop campaign adversely affects the poor workers, he asserts that the companies are the ones to be blamed. It is their zest for excessive profit that creates such a situation. Now, as ‘we’- ‘the poor

Chemistry of Anti-money Counterfeiting Technology Essay Example for Free

Chemistry of Anti-money Counterfeiting Technology Essay I. Abstract Counterfeiting money is a big business for criminals. Nearly $70 million of fake currency gets used daily, costing consumers millions. In the present day, there are many new technologies that have been discovered and studied in order to help put counterfeiters out of business. Our currency is something that we must protect, which is why these technologies and discoveries are very important in the safety and development of our economy. The new generation of Philippine banknotes includes new and more advanced technology to ensure the safety of the genuine Philippine banknotes. This is to prevent money counterfeiting in our country. These new features include more advanced photo editing, which features micro printing on the different images and texts on the banknotes, a unique rough texture, a new system of serial numbering, advanced security fibers and security threads, watermark technology, and optically variable ink. These are the most advanced and efficient methods of preventing money counterfeiting today. Provided in this paper is a detailed explanation and description of each security precaution and a detailed review of the methods used to execute them. II. Denominations of Currency The new generation Philippine banknotes composes of the denominations twenty, fifty, one hundred, two hundred, five hundred, and one thousand peso bills. The new twenty-piso bill honors President Manuel L. Quezon, the first President of the Republic of the Philippines on the front of the bill while the reverse shows the image of the breathtaking Banaue Rice Teraces and the Palm Civet from the Cordilleras. The fifty-piso bill commemorates President Sergio Osmeà ±a who led our country at the critical stage of World War II. The reverse shows an image of the Taal Lake, one of the world’s smallest active volcanoes and the Maliputo Fish. The one hundred-piso bill pays tribute to President Manuel Roxas who prioritized the crafting of the Central Bank charter then provided the leadership for the reconstruction of our country after the devastation of the Second World War. On the reverse, the near perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano and the Butanding or Whale Shark is also featured. The two hundred-piso bill features President Diosdado Macapagal who restored the celebration of Philippine independence on June 12. The reverse features the unique icon of Bohol, the Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier. The five hundred-piso bill is a salute to the champions of Philippine democracy, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and President Corazon Aquino. The reverse features the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Finally, the one thousand-piso bill features three of our war heroes, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda, and General Vicente P. Lim. The reverse features the Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park and the world famous South Sea Pearl. Figure 1 The money denominations come in specific color schemes of orange for the twenty-piso bill, red for the fifty-piso bill, violet for the one hundred-piso bill, green for the two hundred-piso bill, yellow for the five hundred-piso bill, and blue for the one thousand-piso bill. III. Security Features The Philippine Banknote or the Philippine Peso Bill finds the need to be current with the use of new technology to enhance the security of banknotes to remain impossible to replicate by criminals. The new generation Philippine banknotes incorporates the latest available technology in banknote security. This is the reason that they have developed new designs and upgraded the security features of all our banknotes. A. Photo Editing The Central bank of the Philippines uses a special photo editing software to ensure specific prints that are impossible to copy by criminals. Some of these specifications include nano prints on the images, lines, and words on the banknotes. B. Texture The note is not smooth to the touch, but a bit rough. This is because the bank notes are made of 80% cotton and 20% Philippine Abaca. Aside from that, the raised prints that are embossing from the Intaglio printing process give the bill a unique tactile feel. Intaglio printing is a printing technique in which the image is incised into a surface. Normally, copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) are used, and the incisions are created by etching ot engraving the image. In printing, the surface is covered in ink and then rubbed vigourously with tartalan cloth or newspaper to remove ink from the surface, leaving it in theincisions. The very sharp printing obtained from the intaglio process is hard to imitate by other means. Intaglio also allows for the creation of latent images, which are only visible when the document is viewed at a very shallow angle. Figure 2 C. Serial Numbers The serial numbers are composed of one or two prefix letters and six to seven digits in asymmetric or increasing size. Serial numbers are not difficult to forge; yet they make banknotes easier to track and audit. Figure 3 D. Security Fibers The paper used to print our currency has tiny threads of fibers embedded into the paper. These red and blue fibers glow under ultraviolet light. If the bill has no red and blue fibers that glow, then it is probably a fake bill. Fluorescent marks are the invisible phosphor dyes on banknotes that glow under UV or blacklight. This glow will be visible under a money detector device. There are two kinds of security fibers. The first one is the visible security fibers. These are easily seen in current Philippine banknotes as the blue and red fibers that are randomly spread throughout the front and back of the paper. The other kind is the invisible security fiber. These glow a fluorescent yellow under ultraviolet light. Genuine security fibers in Philippine banknotes can be easily plucked out (yes, try it!) with the aid of a needle. Counterfeit money usually only prints the fibers on paper, thus they cannot be plucked out. Figure 4 E. Watermarks The watermark shows a shadowed image of the portrait and the banknotes’ denomination on the blank space when viewed against the light from either side of the bill. This is possible due to paper density variations. Figure 5 The word â€Å"Pilipino†, written in our ancient Filipino alphabet, Baybayin, can be seen in its complete form when the banknote is viewed against the light. F. Concealed Value When the banknote is rotated at a 45-degree angle and tilted downwards, we can see the concealed denominational value super imposed on the smaller version of the portrait. Figure 7 G. Security Threads Both the twenty-piso and the fifty-piso have a 2mm wide security thread that can be visible when viewed against the light. The one hundred, two hundred, five hundred, and one thousand-piso bills have a 4mm wide stich-like security thread embedded on the bill and when viewed from different angles, its color changes from red to green. The embedded security thread is a special thread vertically implanted off center of the note during the manufacture of the banknote paper. The front of the thread carries a clear text – the initials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the numeric denomination of the bank note. The back of the thread is also printed with the initials BSP. There are two kinds of security threads. One is a thin aluminum (Al) coated and partly demutualized polyester film thread with microprinting, which is embedded in the security paper as banknote or passport paper. The other kind of security thread is the single or multicolor sewing thread made from cotton or synthetic fibers, mostly UV fluorescent, for the bookbinding of passport booklets. Figure 8 H. Optically Variable Device Patch The five hundred-piso bill and the one thousand-piso bill have the optically variable device patch, a reflective foil. For the five hundred-piso bill, it reveals the small BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) logo and the blue parrot, while the one thousand-piso bill reveals the small BSP logo and the South Sea Pearl inside a clam. The patches change color from red to green when the note is rotated 90-degrees. Figure 9 I. Optically Variable Ink A security feature exclusive to the one thousand-piso note is the optically variable ink for the embossed denomination value on the lower right corner on the face of the banknote, which changes color from green to blue when it is viewed in different angles. Color changing inks are inks containing pearlescent pigments that change color when viewed at a different angle. The color of the ink does not actually change, but the angle of the light to the viewers eye changes and thus creates the change in color. A number of types are available, including green to purple, gold to green and green to lilac. Optically variable inks (OVI) are very expensive inks applied on banknotes as a security feature. So far, only the 1000 peso bills have this. There are two versions of OVI printing on the 1000 peso banknotes. This is an excellent security feature because counterfeiters will need a lot of effort and money to replicate it. They are called optically variable inks because tiny flakes of color-shifting film are incorporated in the intaglio ink. Thus, prints of OVI change color when viewed from different angles.