Article Assignment - 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article Assignment - 5 - Essay Example The basic difference between the two service types is that while one taps the spiritual and religious sensibilities of a child or youth the other tries to awaken or breed social and moral responsibilities. The faith based services are planned out with a certain perspective and that is to help the youths regain their faith and at the same time being permitted to practise the faith he wants to (Evaluation Review, p 125). The main intention of emphasizing on faith based program is to cultivate in the delinquents spirituality and also to develop in them a positive and elevated state of mind. It would not only make them self-composed but also make them emotionally mature. To this end youths are to be provided with mentors who would give them the required guidance, support and most importantly encouragement. However, while extending faith based services there must not be any kind of pressure or manipulation to convert the participant into some other faith (Evaluation Review, p 125). One must enjoy complete freedom in choosing one’s faith. The main purpose is not limited to preaching didactic stuff but to develop inner conscience and self awareness or realization among the youths so t hat they can lead a good life within society. The community-based services are secular in nature and focuses on areas like strengthening family bonding and practising secular exercises like thinking for a change and character education (Evaluation Review, p 122). The community based services are for those youth participants who have chosen to be put under a secular mentor. The emphasis of the community based service curriculum seems more to be on developing finer sensibilities to appreciate and value relationships and family. Such a service also teaches the social skills like adaptability, acceptance and the ability to reach out. In accordance with the conceptual planning relevant activities to be performed by the

A Cristmas Carrol Essay Example for Free

A Cristmas Carrol Essay After visiting the Cornish tin mines in 1842 Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution made a big change in peoples life because this was the introduction into machines in the workplace. In the Victorian times there were lots of poor and rich people, but the rich didnt talk to the poor and saw them as worthless slaves and did not talk to them. A Christmas Carol was aimed to teach the rich in 1842 a lesson people are more important than money. Dickens knew what it was like to be poor as he lived in poverty as a child. In A Christmas Carol the main character is Ebenezer scrooge, he is the meanest, most self-centred man in London, dickens describes his personality The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue this gives the impression that scrooge has no warmth and will always be lonely. The key words that show this are The cold within him. This makes the reader feel scrooge is old, frozen and has no love at all. Dickens wanted scrooge to represent the worst of the rich in 1842, he wanted to change there ways. Scrooges looks reflect his personality, scrooge is unfriendly to everyone even his family and employees like his book-keeper Bob Cratchit. The way scrooge lives also reflects his personality Dickens shows this by using personification They were a gloomy suite of rooms, in a lowering pile of building up a yard, where it had so little business to be, that one could scarcely help fancying it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and forgotten the way out again. This reflects the opposite of scrooges childhood and is stuck just like scrooge. The key words that show this are forgotten the way out again this makes the reader feel that scrooge is lost and so is the house. The people in dickens time were very religious, they believed in heaven and hell, angles and ghosts. This would have shocked them. The ghost of scrooges old work partner Jacob Marly visits scrooge to warn him that he with have three spirits visit him. Scrooge is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas. The ghost of Christmas past, present and yet to come. The ghost of Christmas past visits scrooge first and shows him shadows of his childhood. Scrooge loves money more than people, he lost his girlfriend because of this He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog days this shows that scrooge wants to be isolated. The keywords that show this are He carried his own low temperature always about with him this makes the reader feel sorry for scrooge but also that he pushed her away and now he regrets it. Dickens wanted the reader to learn about childhood in the Victorian times and how the rich always seamed to look down on them.

Coca-Cola Brand Image Essay -- Marketing Advertising Advertisement

Coca -Cola : Claims, Values and Polices Coca-Cola is a well-known and cherished brand name. When people think of this name, memories tend to overflow in their heads. Why? Because, not only does Coke taste great and refresh your own personal memories, it also fills you with memories of the Coca-Cola like "Always Coca-Cola", the antics of the Coke polar bears, and all of the different ads that have represented Coke over the years. Just about every ad you see, as a consumer, will have tons of hidden meanings. Coca-Cola may not always intend to present the same hidden meanings, but will always intend for their audience to see a commercial and hopefully crave a Coke product. I found a Diet Coke ad that really caught my eye in the August issue of Southern Living, a magazine for women. The ad, titled High School Reunion, pictured four Coke bottles in a diagonal line. The first bottle, a new unopened Diet Coke bottle, is pictured at the top left-hand corner of the page. The next two Diet Coke bottles are supposedly being consumed. At the bottom right hand corner of the ad page you see the bottle is empty. This reveals the conversation of a young woman contemplating the plans for her high school reunion. Over all Coca-Cola is believed to put these claims, supports, and warrants in their ads to make their product more appealing to the consumer. This particular Diet Coke ad is full of claims and proofs of facts, values, and policies, that are trying to make you remember the fun, old times, and memories of high school and, at the same time, associate it all with the memory of a good tasting Diet Coke. This particular ad boldly suggests the importance of friends and still being yourself. I know Coca-Cola wants you to see... ... you drink Diet Coke you will become a beautiful and skinny woman. Maybe another message this ad is trying to reveal is to not label yourself. Diet Coke doesn’t need a label; therefore you don’t need a label either. The pathos of this ad might be representing the fact that Coca-Cola has been around for a while and it has been a while since this young woman has seen her high school friends. In conclusion, I think Coca-Cola has done an excellent job of presenting the claims, supports, and warrants of it’s products in this ad. They have used many different tactics and hidden meanings to get this ad across; when their main concern is to make the ad appealing to the ordinary woman. A woman who is always in search of the perfect body, and the great memories of her high school years. Works Cited "Diet Coke Advertisement" Southern Living, August 1998. 28

Geography Coursework Keswick

General aim: To find whether Keswick is a honeypot site. Specific Hypotheses: To test the general aim to prove that Keswick is a honey pot site, we will investigate 3 specific hypotheses: 1. Keswick town centre caters mainly for its tourists in its land use. 2. Keswick demonstrates some of the key problems associated with honeypot sites. 3. Keswick attracts a high proportion of non-local visitors. What is a honeypot site? A honeypot site is a site where there is attractive scenery or historical interest, and tourists visit in large numbers. Honeypot sites are areas which attract many tourists. They are so called because tourists flock to these places like ‘bees around honey'. Problems with a honeypot site The large number of tourist causes many problems in and around Keswick. These problems include – * Litter and pollution * Noise pollution * Vandalism * Traffic Congestion – This is a problem in the village to both locals and visitors. There is a large car park, with space for coaches, and public toilets but as peak times the parking provision is not enough and the congestion spoils the character of the village and affects its enjoyment by all. You can read also Classifications of Restaurants * Footpath erosion resulting from overuse. This is particularly the case around popular natural attractions. * Conflict with other landusers e.g. farmers and walkers How are these problems are being tackled? Footpath erosion – Improvements such as surfacing paths in local stone or re-routing certain paths have been undertaken to reduce the impact of erosion. An increasing number of litter bins have been provided throughout the village. What benefits are created by Tourism in the area? Social Benefits: * Jobs are created * Crime reduces due to higher levels of employment Economic Benefits: * Jobs are created. Therefore people have more money to spend on local goods and services. * Multiplier effect – by creating a factory and providing new jobs, the local economy grows by more than the original cash injection What is a National park? * National parks provide for tourists facilities * They encourage tree planting * They give advice to land uses * They arrange talks and guided walks * They mark out footpaths for you to walk along * They buy land to protect its character * They monitor and clean pollution * They provide on information service * They encourage suitable developments * The refuse permission for unsuitable buildings * The lake district is the largest National park in England * It is 885 square miles in size * There is 11 National parks in England * There are 1800 rules for footpaths in the countryside Introduction to Keswick Tourism is the world's largest industry, with annual revenue of almost $500 billion. And it is growing fast, with airline arrivals expected to double by 2010. In 1950 25 million international arrivals were recorded worldwide a figure which has risen to 500 million by 1996. Leisure is estimated to account for 75 per cent of all international travel. The World Tourism Organisation estimated there were 694 million international tourist arrivals in 2003, a drop of 1.2 per cent (attributed to the problems of the Iraq conflict, SARS and a generally weak world economy). Arrivals have picked up in 2004, and they are expected to reach 1.6 billion by 2020. Domestic tourism (people going on holiday in their own country) is generally thought to be 4-5 times greater than international arrivals. Globally, tourism accounts for roughly 35 per cent of exports of services and over 8 per cent of exports of goods. Tourism is now the world's largest employer. In 2001, the International Labour Organisation estimated that globally over 207 million jobs were directly or indirectly employed in tourism. In the UK alone, 10% of total employment is in the tourism sector. People who have employment within the UK usually earn a high salary compared to the rest of the world and people consider that they must strike a work/life balance and hence spend more time on holidays. The UK has seen a greater increase in car ownership since the 1950's when in 1951 only 1 in 20 families's had a car, by 1996 this figure had risen to 71% of all UK families owned at least 1 vehicle and by 2005 this figure has risen with many families owning 2 vehicles. The increase in car ownership obviously goes hand in hand with an improvement in the transport system of the UK which since the 1950's has seen improvements in roads especially motorways and urban by-passes have resulted in driving times between places reduced and encourage people to travel more frequently and greater distances. Keswick has excellent an excellent road system and is easy to reach being just 20 minutes along the A66 trunk road from junction 40 of the M6 motorway. As mentioned above a major factor for the increase in tourism in the Keswick area has been a change in lifestyle compared to the 1950's, people are retiring early and living longer and are able to take advantage of their greater fitness, also many people due to retiring early and greater disposable income has seen an increase in people buying 2nd homes in the Keswick area. There has been an increase in active holidays compared to the 1950's with a lot more people involved in water sports and fell running etc which the Keswick area offers a wide choice of such activities. Since the 1950's now almost everybody has a television and many have access to the internet, there is a greater ability to access information about holiday and tourism in general and the tourism industry use all means of advertising. There has been an increase in Green tourism or sustainable tourism which the Lake District and Keswick are a prime example where tourism is needed to benefit the local economy and the environment with people visiting the area and not spoiling the natural beauty of the area. With the increase in tourism since the 1950's there have been several areas described as Honey pot Sites In geography, a honey pot is a particularly popular attraction within a managed tourist area, such as a national park. Honey pot sites are often encouraged because they concentrate the damage caused by tourists on small sites, making conservation easier in other parts of the managed area. The problem is how to preserve the honey pots natural beauty and their unspoilt quality while providing facilities for the hordes of people who arrive at peak summer periods. The main problem with Honey pot sites is too many tourists overcrowding small places. Due to the fact that footpaths are been overused, they get eroded casing the council to pay out a large sum of money to repair these paths. There is a high level of litter, vandalism and trespassing on Honey pot sites which causes discomfort and trouble to those who live there this has sparked off a conflict between local farmers and tourists which has caused, restricting tourists access to footpaths, bridleways and separating activities, e.g. Water Skiing and Angling. Also roads have been congested by heavy Lorries, local traffic and tourist traffic which has caused scenic routes separating local and tourist traffic. A National Park is an area of great natural beauty can be preserved and enhanced, and so that enjoyment of the scenery by the public can be promoted. There are12 National parks in England these 11 parks contain some of the most diverse and spectacular upland and a variety of scenery which in turn provides a wide range of recreational activities. All the parks provide basic opportunities for walking, riding, fishing and water sports. These parks are within easy reach of both urban and rural conurbations, they all have motorways running near them which make them all easy access sites. National Parks are mostly owned privately (81%) , mainly by farmers with 6% owned by the Forestry Commission, 5% to the National Trust , 3% to the ministry of defence , 3% to the water authorities. The aims of National parks were updated in 1995, the aims were: 1. To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks. 2. To promote opportunities for the public understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Parks. The idea for a form of national parks was first proposed in the United States in the 1800s where National Parks were established to protect wilderness areas such as Yosemite this model has been used in many other countries since, but not in the United Kingdom. After thousands of years of human integration into the landscape, Britain lacks natural areas of wilderness. Furthermore, those areas of natural beauty so cherished by the romantic poets were often only maintained and managed in their existing state by human activity, usually agriculture. In1931, Christopher Addison chaired a government committee that proposed a ‘National Park Authority' to choose areas for designation as national parks. A system of national reserves and nature sanctuaries was proposed: 1. To safeguard areas of exceptional natural interest against (a) disorderly development and (b) spoliation; 2. To improve the means of access for pedestrians to areas of natural beauty; and 3. To promote measures for the protection of flora and fauna. In 1947 by a Government committee, this time chaired by Sir Arthur Hobhouse, which prepared legislation for national parks, and proposed 12 national parks. Sir Arthur had this to say on the criteria for designating suitable areas: â€Å"The essential requirements of a National Park are that it should have great natural beauty, a high value for open-air recreation and substantial continuous extent. Further, the distribution of selected areas should as far as practicable be such that at least one of them is quickly accessible from each of the main centers of population in Wales and England Lastly there is merit in variety and with the wide diversity of landscape which is available in England and Wales, it would be wrong to confine the selection of National Parks to the more rugged areas of mountain and moorland, and to exclude other districts which, though of less outstanding grandeur and wildness, have their own distinctive beauty and a high recreational value.† History Granted its market character by Edward in 1276. Keswick was an important wool and leather centre until about 1500. Location Keswick is standing on the shore of Derwentwater at the junction north, south east and west routes through the Lake District. It is situated in the north of the Lake District it is surrounded by lots of tall mountains. Carlise to Keswick 39m, Penrith 20m, Windermere 23, and Workington 22. Maps Here are some maps to show you where about Keswick is positioned. Map of Great Britain Map of North West Map of Cumbria Map of Keswick As you can see Keswick is very accessible due to the many roads that go through it and pass close by. Landscape around Keswick The Landscape around Keswick has stunning scenery, it has many lakes and mountains near by and it has vast countryside. It also has a well kept old town centre which is very popular for tourists, where they can buy souvenirs and enjoy dinner at the many restaurants. Here are some pictures to show why Keswick is a honeypot site because of its breath taking scenery. Here is at the centre of Keswick where there are many shops. Here is a picture of one of Keswick's beautiful lakes Here is one if the breath taking views that attract hikers and walkers to go to Keswick. A glacially eroded landscape Tourists are attracted to the Lake District by the spectacular landscape, which has been formed mainly by glacial erosion. The world's climate is continuously changing. Between 14 and 20 glacial periods have occurred in the last 1 million years. The most recent ice age started 100 000 years ago and ended 10 000 years ago. During it, ice sheets covered most of Britain north and the Midlands and changed the landscape by glacial erosion and deposition. A glacier is a mass of moving ice. It erodes by two main processes: * Plucking: water enters cracks in the rock and freezes so that it is attached to both the rock and the glacier. When the glacier moves, the block of rock is pulled out of the ground. * Abrasion: Blocks of rock (or load) in the base and sides of the glacier are scraped over the rock surface. They scratch it, making parallel groves called striations. Abrasion has a sandpaper effect so the rock surface looks smooth. Frost shattering also occurs in glacial environments. This is a weathering process, not an erosion process. When water enters a crack in the rock it expands by 10 per cent. The ice pushing on the sides of the crack it widens it. Blocks of rock can then fall on to the glacier from the valley side above. Frost-shattered rock surfaces are easier for glaciers to erode by plucking. Corries are produced by glacial erosion. Red tarn corrie is an armchair-shaped hollow on the eastern side of Helvellyn mountain in the Lake District. It is 0.5 km wide and 1km from the front to back. The steep back and side walls are up to 220 m high. A small round lake called Red Tarn lies in the hollow in the base of the corrie. The water is kept in by a rock ridge on the floor of the corrie called a rock lip. The quickest way to identify a corrie on a map is to find a round lake less than 0.5 km in diameter with a U-shaped pattern of contours. How ever many of them do not have lakes in them. Here is Red tarn corrie Conclusion My conclusion is that Keswick is defiantly a honeypot site, and that it is a honypot site because of its location and beautiful scenery. I also think that in time to come Keswick will still be honeypot site for years and years.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Phone ?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the mobile phone today ? It can be widely acknowledged that mobile phones have became a necesity nowadays being a fundamental part of technology’s evolution and progress. This magic device was first invented in the late 80’s being very special, rare and really expensive at that time. Using a mobile phone nowadays implays a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Talking about the positive side, a major benefit of using mobile phones nowadays is that there is a permanent connection between you and information’s updates thanking to the high-speed bandwidth internet.Another good advantage of the mobile phone is that it offers you mobility and accesability almost anywhere thanks to a large coverage area. Refering to accesability and network connections a great innovation of the last decade, according to mobile phones, is the 3G and 4G LTE bandwidth which is able to work as a normal connection but with a larger coverage area and less resources on a smaller device than a personal computer gving the possibility to control and administrate all the financial activities like shopping for example, or why not to control your bank accounts.Now, talking about the negative side, there are some important drawbacks which are pretty visible. A major disadvantage is the price, referring to the new models, these are quite expensive but the price is also influenced by the mobile operators who are practicing some high rates being a big obstacle in the front of the customer. Another drawback is linked to this option of a permanent connection.Well this function it is very usefull but it is also very vulnerable, being pretty easy to get infected with all kind of malicious attacks and viruses able to steal your passwords, mails etc. Taking everything into consideration I tend to believe that mobile phone is a very usefull gadget having more advantages of using it, than disadvantages.

Malaysia †Country book

Malaysia – Country book Free Online Research Papers Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to critically analyze an export strategy for an International company to Malaysia. Im going to assume that the International Company is located in a neighbor country (Australia), â€Å"Kangaroo International† an Australian soy product producer. It was chosen for this task, because of Malaysias increasing demand for westernized but healthy products. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Overview of Product 3. Country Study- Malaysia 3.1 Malaysias environment 3.1.1 Geography 3.1.2 Demographics 3.1.3 Implications of Malaysias national culture 3.1.4 Infrastructure 3.1.5 Technology 3.2 Political/legal forces 3.2.1 Political forces 3.2.2 Legal forces 3.3 Economic and financial environment 3.3.1 Economic overview 3.3.2 Economic performance 3.3.3 Financial performance 3.4 Competitive environment 3.4.1 Intensity of competition 3.4.2 Bargaining power of consumers 3.4.3 Threat of substitute products 3.4.4 Threats of new entrants 4. Marketing Strategy 4.1 Market Based Planning 4.2 Competitive Advantage 4.3 Positioning strategies 5. Market Entry Strategy 6. Marketing Mix 6.1 Product 6.2 Pricing strategies 6.3 Promotion 6.3.1 Contextual Factors affecting promotional campaign 6.3.2 Promotional strategies for Kangaroo International in Malaysia 6.4 Distribution 7. Conclusion 8. References Appendix A- Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions Appendix B -Summary of Cultural Differences Appendix C -SWOT Analysis Appendix D Contextual Factors explained 1. Introduction The purpose of this report is to outline the strategies necessary for Kangaroo International to successfully export Soy Cheese to the Malaysian market. To achieve this, a thorough analysis of the Malaysian business environment was conducted, identifying the key variables that need to taken into account when modifying the product to suit the Malaysian market. This involved researching the external environmental factors, as well as the Malaysian culture and the specific needs and wants of the target consumers. This provided the foundation for the strategic marketing plan and objectives. This involved creating a marketing mix and market entry strategies that most effectively suited the Malaysian market, while at the same time ensuring the success and profitability of Kangaroo International. 2. Overview of Firm and Product Kangaroo International is an Australian Soy Food manufacturer. Established in 1987 and is based in Brisbane, Queensland. Most products are certified Halal and Kosher and all of them contain Australian grown organic, non-GM soybeans as the main ingredient. Of Kangaroo Internationals vast range of products, Organic Soy Cream Cheese and Soy Cheese were selected for this assignment. 3. Country Study- Malaysia 3.1 Malaysias environment No matter where a company operates, external forces have an indirect impact on the organization. The key influencing factors have therefore to be analyzed before entering a new market. This country study intends to give an overview of Malaysia. Table 1 is summarizing the main facts. Table 1 Column1 Malaysia Land area 330,434 sq. Km Population 24 million (2004 estimate) Capital Kuala Lumpur Type of government Federated parliamentary democracy with constitutional monarch Head of State Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalulai Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Next election By March 2009 Currency used Ringgit (RM Source: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2005 . 3.1.1 Geography Malaysia is located just north of the equator, with a hot climate (up to 34C) and humid conditions between 2 to 4 metres of rain annually (Austrade, 2006). The country is easily accessed by air and sea offering many avenues for distribution of the product throughout the country. 3.1.2 Demographics Malaysia has a population of 23.37 million according to the 2000 census, with a growth rate of 1.8 percent. The major ethnic group of Malaysia are the Malays and indigenous people (65.1 percent), this group is predominantly of Muslim religion. The other ethnic groups include the Chinese (26 percent) and Indians (7.7 percent) (Austrade, 2006.). Malaysia has five major religions; these include Muslim, by far the most prevalent at 52%, Buddhism (17%), Taoism (8%), Christian (8%) and Hinduism at 8% (Austrade, 2006). The main language spoken is Bahasa Melayu; however English is also widely spoken and accepted in business practices. 3.1.3 Implications of Malaysias national culture An exact definition of culture is difficult to attain, however there are two main characteristics, which have developed over time, one it is learned and secondly it is shared. Culture influences all facets of society, including what behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable within a society. Fletcher (1979) defines culture as the total way of life within a society. Understanding culture is therefore critical to the success of an international organization. The role of marketing to satisfy the needs and wants of potential customers is highly dependant on the way culture conditions these needs and wants, as well as its influence on how marketing messages are received and interpreted. Culture influences all elements of the marketing mix. One of the most comprehensive studies of the differences between cultures was performed by Hofstede, in which he developed five main dimensions of culture. These included power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism verse collectivism, masculine verse feminine and long-term or short-term orientation. Using Hofstedes dimensions, It can be noticed that Malaysia has a very high score in the power distance index, meaning that Malaysian society accepts inequality and secondly in can be noticed that Malaysia is strongly collectivist, defined as placing more emphasis on the welfare of the group and collective achievement. For more information refer to Appendix A As Malaysia has a complex mixture of non-homogonous ethnic groups and religions, it is critical to determine the target market, in which the product has the greatest competitive advantage as well as potential profitability. As shown in the demographics of Malaysia, the major religion is Muslim at 52%. This has major implications for international firms in Malaysia, as Islamic beliefs have a significant influence on all aspects of a persons life. The two major aspects marketers have to address in the processed food industry include the requirement of food to be Halal, permitted by Islamic law (Austrade, 2006) and the need for the promotional campaign to be sensitive to religious beliefs. For further information on Malaysias culture refer to Appendix B. 3.1.4 Infrastructure Infrastructure is critical in determining the suitability of expanding a business into a foreign country. Infrastructure refers to all the services and facilities that are vital to the efficient functioning of the economy; these include energy supplies, transport, and communications as well as commercial and financial services. Malaysia has one of the most developed infrastructures in the newly industrialized countries of Asia. The area of communication is pivotal in fostering effective communication with the target market, Malaysia has a made significant gains in this area with 10.9 million people having radios (1999), 10.8 million people owning televisions (1999) as well as 5.7 million people who have access to the internet (2002) and 5 million people owning mobile phones (Malaysian Profile, 2006). This provides the marketer with many types of media in which to reach the target market. Malaysia also offers sufficient transportation facilities, such as highways, railways, 114 airpor ts and efficient seaports in which 95% of Malaysias total trade is conducted via the seven international ports (Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, 2006). Malaysias infrastructure offers businesses an environment suitable for the successful implementation of international expansion. 3.1.5 Technology Technology is still the most dramatic force transforming the international environment. As science parks all over the world develop, Malaysia takes a leading position with the nations Kulim Hi-Tech Park which is designed for high technology and RD companies who want to operate in the Asian-Pacific region (Kulim Technology Park Corporation in Yeoh, 2002). The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) offers not only the most advanced technologies, but also a very good infrastructure. In combination with well trained human recourses the KLSE will be consistently efficient, modern and cost-effective (Hashim in Yeoh, 2002). TV, radio, phone lines, internet, although of technical nature are key aspects of infrastructure, as a result technology cannot be separated from infrastructure in modern business. From Malaysias overview of infrastructure it can be taken that Malaysias government is conscious of the importance of well developed infrastructure. But Malaysia is also aware that technology alon e is not the key to success, it is only an enabler. Therefore, next to the very well developed and applied technologies, much emphasis is set on the human resource development (Moggie in Yeaoh, 2002). 3.2 Political/legal forces 3.2.1 Political forces The political environment in Malaysia provides a stable and safe country in which to operate a business internationally. Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy in which Abdullah Badawi is the Prime Minister, who took over from Mahathir Mohammad after 22 years in office on the 21st of March (Austrade, 2006). The next general election is scheduled for 2009. 3.2.2 Legal forces There are a number of tariffs, regulations and requirements businesses must conform to in order operate in Malaysia. The government is progressively liberalizing its tariff regime, however, some products that are in competition with locally manufactured products are still highly protected. In the processed food sector imported foodstuffs are subject to inspection and need to comply with labeling laws introduced in March 2004 (Austrade, 2006). Australia and Malaysia currently have a diverse bilateral agreement, however in April 2005 it was decided to move onto to free trade negotiations, this has wide reaching ramifications when exporting to Malaysia and will have to followed closely in order manage the dramatic influences this may have on the business environment (Austrade, 2006). 3.3 Economic and financial environment 3.3.1 Economic overview Malaysia is rich in natural resources and has developed therefore already as a British colony to a worldwide producer of rubber and tin. Although the colonial rule of the British let to a good legal system and an efficient administration, some of the economical drawbacks were that Malaysias products were not differentiated enough and they depended on North America and Europe. The immense exports caused a workforce-demand increase which led to a large Chinese and Indian immigration. 1957 Malaysia changed from a British colony to independency (Austin, 2004). In 1967 Malaysia formed with Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) . Although the foundation was originally political, ASEAN now plays a significant role in the present world economy. Economically ASEAN targets a common market, including a free trade area. Even though Australia is geographically very close, it had not been an important export market. Australian imports consist mainly of food products (Tan, 2003). Today Malaysia is a high middle-income export orientated economy and one of the worlds largest producers of electronic and electrical products (Austrade, 2006). 3.3.2 Economic performance For years Malaysia was an ideal developing country. The climate for investors had been very stable with an average annual growth rate of almost 9 percent and basically full employment (Tan, 2003). But the Asian crisis damaged this picture. The consequence was a deep cut into the GPN of 7,4 percent in 1998. The Malaysian government worked against this crisis with an expansive economic policy and was able to stabilize the economy relatively quickly (Tan, 2003). Ever since Malaysia has consistently maintained its position of 18th largest global exporter, with economic growth averaged at 5.5% in the four-year period between December 2001 and January 2006 (WTO report, December 2005). Also the consistently low levels of unemployment have been maintained while the living standards are good with a life expectancy of 72.5 years, and literacy rates of 89% (Malaysian Profile, 2006). Unfortunately the income distribution is fairly unequally and quite complicated because of three different major racial groups in Malaysia (Tan, 2003). 3.3.3 Financial performance The high annual growth rate in the nineties was connected to a very low inflation rate. Even the Asian crisis didnt increase the prices in an enormous way. The Malaysian government used a very uncommon way to get out of the crisis: Instead of using the help of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it chose to limit its flows of capital dramatically which was not appreciated by most international investors. After the crisis was handled successfully, the limitations were loosened up again (Tan, 2003). The increased terrorism development in recent years has had significant impacts on Malaysias economical and financial performance. Especially declines of foreign investments. Also less tourism has caused a slower economical growth in the mid term (Tan, 2003). But Malaysia has still managed to increase the measurement of per capita income in the latest four year period, and has received a strong average growth of 8.9 percent. The total public debt although is relatively high, hovering around 69% of GDP, however is expected to drop to 46% of GDP by 2009 due to the implementation of fiscal consolidation strategies by the federal government (IMF report, Article IV 2005). 3.4 Competitive environment Next to the external environmental forces, the competition in which the company competes has to be considered. This is done from two perspectives: In macro- (overseas industrys competitive structure) and micro- point of view (firms) (Grigoriou, 2004). Kangaroo Internationals competitors are both domestic producers and distributors in Malaysia and international companies. 3.4.1 Intensity of competition The Australian Government clearly states the food and agribusiness as one of the key opportunity areas in Malaysia. More specifically organic food, health snacks, cream cheese, and soy pudding and yoghurt are mentioned as current opportunities. As a result, increased (international) competition can be expected in Malaysia (Austrade). Some large international companies (see Table 2) have been present since centuries and have been able to gain local knowledge and train their staff accordingly. Especially the large companies have very strong brands, are experienced and have next to large financial resources a very well developed distribution network (US Foreign Commercial Service, 2003). Table 2: Large Dairy, Soy or Health Food Companies in Malaysia Name Year Products Country of origin Cold storage 1968 Dairy and meat Malaysia Dutch Baby 1963 Milk Holland Nestleacute 1912 Milk, cereals, noodles Switzerland Yeo Hiap Seng 1900 Marketing sale of food, beverages dairy products Malaysia Contra Enterprises 1969 Dairy Malaysia FN Foods Dairy, soft drinks Malaysia Radiant Whole Food new Organic health food Switzerland Tong Garden Snacks Singapore Pikzern 90s Importing and distributing: Dairy, Confectionary, Beverages, Snacks, Sea foods, Vegetarian Food, Seasonal Products Malaysia Source: Adapted from: Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (1994) cited in Muthaly, Ratnatunga Schroder, 1999, p. 116); mycen.com.my/search/food_beverage.html Next to the large multinational and local firms, there are thousands of small, family oriented businesses (Muthaly, Ratnatunga Schroder, 1999). There is also a quite strong presence of Australian and New Zealand dairy product companies. The competition in the organic soy product section is not as tough yet, but all the mentioned factors together create fairly high entry barriers for new importers. 3.4.2 Bargaining power of consumers In general the disposable income of Malaysian customer is either fairly high or quite low (Austrade, 2006). But either way, they are very price sensitive and will definitely look for the best value (which doesnt necessarily have to be the cheapest). Therefore the bargaining power of the buyers is rather high, especially because this market is attractive and gives the consumer a wider choice and lower switching costs (Fletcher Brown, 2005). 3.4.3 Threat of substitute products On a micro level, competitors for Kangaroo International are not only producers of the same product, but also companies who offer substitutes such as dairy products, and health food or organic snacks. On the contrary wine, pizza dough, nachos, pasta, (in general Western style food), dips and crackers are seen as complementarities. Because health food in general is very popular in Malaysia, normal cheese has to be seen as a competitor, but it is believed that with an organic product, Kangaroo International has a good chance to penetrate a niche market. It has to be noted however that switching costs for consumers are fairly low if there is a choice of different organic products available. On a macro perspective competitors to the health food industry are producers with the same product which are not organically certified (normal cheese vs. organic cheese) and which are most often offered to a cheaper price. The food industry in general may see for example the leisure industry as a competitor as well as complementarities industry. They are an opponent if the industries have to compete over a limited budget in which the consumer will have to decide wherever the money will be spent on some more (healthy) snacks or if for example a visit to a botanical garden would be a better alternative. This is mainly because cheese is not an elementary food group. On the other hand the leisure industry can also be a driver, because a pick-nick trip to enjoy the nature may include some healthy food choices. 3.4.4 Threats of new entrants As mentioned in intensity of competition, the threat of new entrants is presently rather high because of the market opportunities. It is believed although that with the right niche-market a sufficient market share should be achievable. However, if the trend stays as it is, the market will, like the dairy market, eventually be saturated. 4. Marketing Strategy In order to develop a marketing strategy a SWOT-Analysis for Kangaroo International in Malaysia needs to be made. The SWOT-Analysis is a necessary tool to understand where the organization is positioned, what the competitive advantages are and where the improvements have to be undertaken. The Analysis for Kangaroo International and the objectives for the first export period can be found in Appendix C. 4.1 Market Based Planning Market based planning is an approach which starts with an analysis of consumer needs, in order to determine how modify the existing product to satisfy these needs (Fletcher Brown, 2005). This is the most appropriate approach for Kangaroo International, when adapting an existing domestic product to suit an international market, in this case Malaysia. The product will still be the same core product, however packaging and labeling will be modified in order to comply with Malaysian legislation and taste. 4.2 Competitive Advantage Kangaroo International will implement a basic competitive positioning strategy of differentiation. This involves concentrating on producing a highly differentiated product, supported by a marketing campaign that focuses on positioning the product as a class leader (Fletcher Brown, 2005). As Table 3 below shows, Kangaroo International will use segmentation to divide the market by geographic, psychographic and behavioral variables to create a significant competitive advantage (Kotler et al, 2004). Table 3 King Internationals Market Segmentation Step Geographic Segmentation Goal Market share 1st target on consumers in urban areas (large cities) large supermarkets Until product is well established AUS $0.3 million in first year 2nd target on consumers in urban areas smaller intermediaries Until product creates a good customer awareness AUS $3 million in first three years 3rd target on rural areas smaller intermediaries Market leader in organic soy cheese and soy cream cheese Psychographic segmentation Consumer who value healthy lifestyle Behavioral segmentation Benefits sought 4.3 Positioning strategies Product positioning is defined as; The way the product is defined by consumers on important attributes; the place the product occupies in the consumers minds relative to competing products (Kotler et al, 2004). To achieve product positioning in a favorable manner, Kangaroo International can implement a number of strategies. These are outlined below Product Positioning Strategies * They can position their products on specific product attributes * Products can be positioned on the needs they fill or on the benefits they offer * Products can be positioned according to usage occasions * Product is positioned for certain classes of users * Product can be positioned directly against a competitor * Product can be positioned for different product classes Kangaroo International will focus on two main strategies of both product attributes and the benefits offered. Firstly the product attributes to be reinforced will include that Kangaroo Soy Cheese is Australian made, particularly important in Asian cultures where it is perceived that higher levels of status are associated with Western products. Other critical product attributes are the non-GM, organic grown soy used, a critical attribute to the success in the Malaysian market. Secondly, it will be stressed that Kangaroo International Soy Products offer the major benefit of increased health. Research shows that soy can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer and diabetic, kidney disease (Soyfood, 2003). These factors coupled with a focus on product quality will allow Kangaroo international to attain a favorable position in the consumers mind relative to competitors. 5. Market Entry Strategy Once a market has been identified as profitable, the mode of entry has to be chosen. Evaluation of market entry modes involves a trade off between degree of control and commitment of resources (Fletcher Brown, 2005). For Kangaroo International a direct exporting mode in a combination with strategic alliances has been chosen. The products will not be sold directly to the end user but distributed through supermarket chains. Without ever been active in Malaysia, Kangaroo International will definitely need local partners who have the know-how to run the daily business. Strategic alliances are non-equity contractual relationships (Fletcher Brown) and will be building with the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI), the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), and the supermarket chains. The MICCI is Malaysias oldest chamber of commerce. The FMM is Malaysias economic organization, representing over 2000 manufacturing and industrial service companies (FMM, 2006 ). Advantages and disadvantages of direct export and strategic alliances can be listed as follows:- Advantages of a direct export Minimizes risk and investment. Speed of entry Maximizes scale; uses existing facilities. Disadvantages of a direct export Trade barriers tariffs add to costs. Transport costs Limits access to local information Company viewed as an outsider Advantages of a Strategic Alliance Increased leverage Strategic alliances allow you to gain greater results from your company’s core strengths Risk sharing A strategic alliance with an international company will help to offset your market exposure and allow you to jointly exploit new opportunities. Opportunities for growth Strategic alliances can create the means by which small companies can grow. By â€Å"marrying† your company’s product to somebody else’s distribution, or your RD to a partner’s production skills, you may be able to expand your business overseas more quickly and more cheaply than by other means. Greater responsiveness By allowing you to focus on developing your core strengths, strategic alliances provide the ability to respond more quickly to change and opportunity. Disadvantages of a Strategic Alliance High commitment – time, money, people Difficulty of identifying a compatible partner Potential for conflict A small company risks being subsumed by a larger partner Strategic priorities change over time Payment difficulties Political risk in the country where the strategic alliance is based If the relationship breaks down, the cost/ownership of market information, market intelligence and jointly developed products can be an issue. It is also considered to hire a local consulting firm for the Malaysian marketing and promotion. The marketing wouldnt be outsourced because Kangaroo International has chosen with its direct export mode to keep as much control as possible. Williamsons transaction cost approach suggests that control is the most important determinant of risk and return and that high-control entry modes increase return and risk (Fletcher Brown). Williamsons theory is outlined below Williamsons transaction cost approach Chosen entry mode should provide control, based on the following functions: * Transaction specific assets including specialized physical or human investments such as proprietary processes or products at an early stage of the product life cycle. * External uncertainty reflecting unpredictability in the chosen overseas market due to economic and political factors. * Internal uncertainty related to difficulties in exercising control over the agent in the overseas market due to lack of experience, culture and linguistic knowledge and familiarity with business customs and practices. * Free riding potential, which refers to an agents ability to exploit the relationship for personal advantage such as by degrading the brand name or by taking on the line to neutralize its competitive impact. Source: Fletcher Brown In Kangaroo Internationals case the company possesses transaction specific assets, which are the production knowledge of the organic soy cheese, and the uncertainty about the new market is high. Therefore a high control mode seems to be the most appropriate entry mode. 6 Marketing Mix 6.1 Product Kangaroo Soy Cheese is a tangible, consumer-orientated product incorporating the companys cheese making core competencies. The product has been adapted to suit market requirements of Malaysia on the strategy of market based planning. This will include modifying products packaging and labeling to meet local labeling laws, which were modified in 2004. Most notably changes will be made to the label contents and language. Also some marketing research will be undertaken to analyze the taste of Malaysians in terms of product size and packaging style like colors etc. The packaging size of products in general is smaller in Malaysia (Nestl, 2006) mainly because like this it is cheaper to buy one unit, and the product can be consumed more quickly. 6.2 Pricing strategies Malaysian consumer behavior is continually changing, with increased urbanization and concentration of wealth in cities, coupled with a more westernized culture, consumers are more discreet in their spending and will shop around for cheaper alternatives (Austrade, 2006). This has many implications for Kangaroo International when determining a pricing strategy. These changes in consumer behavior have resulted in higher levels of price sensitivity, requiring greater levels of competitive advantage in order to attract sales. Kangaroo International is faced with an inverse demand curve in the Malaysian market, meaning as the price of the product increases the amount of the product demanded decreases. The channels of distribution have a dramatic impact on the price charged to the end user in an international market, as each intermediary adds their own mark-up (Fletcher Brown, 2005). As such Kangaroo International has taken care to employ only those intermediaries that are critical to distribution of Kangaroo Soy Cheese in an attempt to reduce international price escalation (Fletcher Brown, 2005). Kangaroo International will implement market differentiated pricing, in which pricing is determined by market conditions of Malaysia, in relation to affordability of the product, nature of competition and strategic objectives of the firm (Fletcher Brown, 2005). The pricing strategy adopted by Kangaroo international in Malaysia will be based on a combination of Cost-Plus pricing and Marketplace pricing. This entails adding a specified mark-up percentage to the total cost of the product, while at the same time considering what are considered competitive prices in the local market (Fletcher Brown, 2005). This mark-up can manipulated accordingly with changes in environmental variables such as level of competition and demand as well as internal factors such a business expansion and increased supply costs (Fletcher Brown, 2005). 6.3 Promotion 6.3.1 Contextual Factors affecting promotional campaign During the process of developing the promotional campaign for an international product it is critical to evaluate how it will be influenced by contextual factors. These include culture, language, education, economic development, media infrastructure and government regulation (Fletcher Brown, 2005). These environmental factors act as interference between the successful encoding and decoding of a marketing communications. The implications of these factors are explained in Appendix D. 6.3.2 Promotional strategies for Kangaroo International in Malaysia Kangaroo International will implement a promotional campaign that will predominantly focus on pull strategies, however push strategies will be utilized. A pull strategy targets the end user through a variety of advertising, publicity and public relations in order to stimulate demand (Fletcher Brown, 2005). This will be complemented by the main push strategy medium of sales promotion, in particular trade shows. The advertising strategy undertaken by Kangaroo International will target opinion leaders, in order to generate positive word of mouth amongst consumers. This strategy relies on the fact that word of mouth is generally the most important means of promoting a product, as it more respected and easier for the consumer to believe (Gremler, Gwinner Brown 2001). This is of particular importance when appealing to the collectivist culture of Malaysia, where loyalty and trust are of the upmost importance (Patterson, Smith, 2001). The advertising campaign of Kangaroo International will initially focus on the mediums of newspapers, magazines, internet and radio due to limited resources, however as the business becomes more profitable, higher cost mediums such as television will be implemented to further increase market share. Magazines offer a selective way of reaching the target market, in this case, important opinion leaders (Fletcher Brown, 2005). The magazines of focus are trendy lifestyle magazines, such as CLEO Malaysias fastest growing lifestyle magazine and health magazines such as Health and Fitness and Buletin CME, which is monthly. The newspapers selected to advertise through are chosen due to the higher levels of trust by consumers and because they cover local entertainment and culture. These titles are Barita Harian and Vanakkam Malaysia. Radio offers the advantage of low cost and high levels of reach (Fletcher Brown, 2005). Market research identified National FM as the most appropriate station f or Kangaroo International promotional campaign. In order to build consumer trust and brand awareness, Kangaroo International will use Public relations heavily. This will include sponsoring local health initiatives as well as important sporting events in Malaysia, to achieve strong associations between our product and a healthy, popular lifestyle. 6.4 Distribution Using direct exporting, Kangaroo International will deliver its products to Malaysian supermarket chains. The alliance with MICCI and FMM will help in this process. Malaysias retail sector is highly fragmented with many small to medium-sized markets. Of course the use of retailers (supermarkets) will lead to some loss of control. For example Kangaroo International will not be able to state exactly where the product will be placed on the shelve. The good experiences in Australia lead to the conclusion that this will still be the best way to bring the product to the consumer. A direct distribution would be too expensive. However, an internet based distribution may be considered in a later state. There are around 500 supermarkets and hypermarkets, approximately 120 convenience stores and a rather large amount of traditional food stores (900000 nationwide). Table 4 shows the percentage of sales that goes through these retail outlets. Table 4 Percentage of Sales in specific retail outlet Retail Sector Sales by Type of Business* (2000) Sales (%) Department stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets 20 Grocery stores and similar outlets 20.5 Convenience stores 9.3 Household, personal goods, and other stores** 50.2 *: Excludes wet market, morning market, night market and other non-permanent retail facilities. **: These establishments were not involved in the sale of food and beverage products. Source: exporthotline.com/upload/731A3377-74C5-4191-88F1-31A9489495E8.html An increasing number of middle to upper-income Malaysians are shopping in the modern supermarkets which are mainly located in urban areas. Some more growth of the major supermarket chains is forecasted (US Foreign Commercial Service). Since Kangaroo Internationals target group is focused on health aware consumers in the middle and upper income group, this seems to be the right distribution channel. The traditional grocery stores sell all sorts of products and are located in urban and rural areas (US Foreign Commercial Service). This is where the majority of Malaysians shop and in the beginning the grocery stores in larger cities should be targeted as well. Rural areas will not be a target market until the company is well established in Malaysia, customer awareness has been created and a reasonable market share has been reached. 7. Conclusion Kangaroo International is an Australian Soy food manufacturer, which is currently in the process of looking to become an international firm, by exporting products to Malaysia. This report outlines the strategies and objectives put into place in order to successfully export Kangaroo Soy Cheese to Malaysia. This is achieved by first conducting a detailed analysis of the environmental factors within Malaysia, this includes identifying the aspects which need to be considered when modifying the product to suit the Malaysian consumer. The analysis revealed that Malaysia has a stable government, with positive economic performance expected to continue into the future. The infrastructure and technology environment provide substantial opportunities for an international business to prosper. The Malaysian culture is of a very collectivist nature and places high priority on trust and respect, there is also a high proportion of the population being Muslim, this has such implications as providing H alal certified products. Once these environmental factors were taken into account a marketing strategy was developed, modifying the marketing mix to most effectively fit with the Malaysian business environment. It is believed that these strategies implemented by Kangaroo International will allow the business to gain a significant competitive advantage and prosper in the Malaysian market. References: Anonymous 2003, Health benefits of Soy food, Soyfood, USA, Vol. 6, Iss. 1 Austin, IP, GK, 2004, Goh Keng Swee and Southeast Asian Governance, Marshall Cvendish International, Singapore. Austrade, Processed Food to Malaysia, viewed 26 April 2006, . Fletcher R. Brown L. 2005, International Marketing; An Asia Pacific Perspective 3rd Edition, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest NSW FMM, 2006, viewed 5 May 2006, Gremler, D., Gwinner, K. Brown, S 2001; Generating positive word-of-mouth communication through customer-employee relationships, International Journal of Service Industry Management, Vol. 12, Iss. 1; pg. 44. Info Please Encyclopaedia, Malaysian Country Profile, viewed 24th April 2006, Kangaroo International, Homepage, viewed 25 April 2006, . Kotler P, Brown L, Adam S Armstrong G 2004, Marketing 6th Edition, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest NSW Nestl, 2006, viewed 5 May 2006, Patterson, P. Smith, T 2001; Relationship benefits in service industries: a replication in a Southeast Asian context, The Journal of Services Marketing, Vol. 15, Iss. 6/7; pg. 425, 19 pgs Royal Malaysian Customs, Importer/Exporter, viewed 26 April 2006, . Tan, G, 2003, ASEAN Economic Development and Cooperation, Times Media, Singapore. US Foreign Commercial Service, 2003, viewed 10 May 2006, World Trade Organization, Trade Policy Review Body: Malaysia, viewed 25 April 2006, Appendix A- Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions Power Distance Index (PDI) focuses on the degree of equality, or inequality, between people in the countrys society. A High Power Distance ranking indicates that inequalities of power and wealth have been allowed to grow within the society. These societies are more likely to follow a caste system that does not allow significant upward mobility of its citizens. A Low Power Distance ranking indicates the society de-emphasizes the differences between citizens power and wealth. In these societies equality and opportunity for everyone is stressed. Individualism (IDV) focuses on the degree the society reinforces individual or collective achievement and interpersonal relationships. A High Individualism ranking indicates that individuality and individual rights are paramount within the society. Individuals in these societies may tend to form a larger number of looser relationships. A Low Individualism ranking typifies societies of a more collectivist nature with close ties between individuals. These cultures reinforce extended families and collectives where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. Masculinity (MAS) focuses on the degree the society reinforces, or does not reinforce, the traditional masculine work role model of male achievement, control, and power. A High Masculinity ranking indicates the country experiences a high degree of gender differentiation. In these cultures, males dominate a significant portion of the society and power structure, with females being controlled by male domination. A Low Masculinity ranking indicates the country has a low level of differentiation and discrimination between genders. In these cultures, females are treated equally to males in all aspects of the society. Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) focuses on the level of tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity within the society i.e. unstructured situations. A High Uncertainty Avoidance ranking indicates the country has a low tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity. This creates a rule-oriented society that institutes laws, rules, regulations, and controls in order to reduce the amount of uncertainty. A Low Uncertainty Avoidance ranking indicates the country has less concern about ambiguity and uncertainty and has more tolerance for a variety of opinions. This is reflected in a society that is less rule-oriented, more readily accepts change, and takes more and greater risks. Long-Term Orientation (LTO) focuses on the degree the society embraces, or does not embrace long-term devotion to traditional, forward thinking values. High Long-Term Orientation ranking indicates the country prescribes to the values of long-term commitments and respect for tradition. This is thought to support a strong work ethic where long-term rewards are expected as a result of todays hard work. However, business may take longer to develop in this society, particularly for an outsider. A Low Long-Term Orientation ranking indicates the country does not reinforce the concept of long-term, traditional orientation. In this culture, change can occur more rapidly as long-term traditions and commitments do not become impediments to change. Appendix B -Summary of Cultural Differences As stated earlier if an international firm is to be successful it must understand how cultures differ, these differences can be identified in a number of key concepts. First cultures differ in their attitudes towards time. Assumptions about time are very deep seated in cultures (Fletcher Brown, 2005). In general it is necessary to allow longer periods of time for business transactions in Asian countries than that of Western countries, this is particularly evident in the Malaysian business environment. This is due to Asian countries adopting a polychronic view of time in which time is cyclic and everything in life must be dealt with in terms of its own time (Fletcher Brown, 2005). This Contrasts the Western countries approach of a monochronic view, in which time is linear having a beginning and an end, with a focus on schedules and time is money (Fletcher Brown, 2005). The second concept is space; this can be both physical and abstract. Physical space refers to both location and size of offices and personal proximity (Fletcher Brown, 2005). This is demonstrated in western societies where office size and location define status, this is not the case in all cultures. Secondly personal space differs between cultures. Third, the concept of familiarity is important to understanding the speed in which friendships are formed, level of superficiality, obligations of friendship (Fletcher Brown, 2005). This is of particular importance when operating in Malaysia as trust and respect are integral parts of the culture. The fourth difference is in consumption patterns, these are reflected in varied views of material possessions and dress. In some cultures, Western for example, power is symbolized by material possessions. Appendix C -SWOT Analysis Internal view Strength excellent products * Organic * Halal (and Kosher) conform * Non-GM * Soy product counts as healthy food (lowers cholesterol) * Soy-cheese will be better for Asian people who have in general problems when they digest diary products. They will be able to enjoy cheese without the side effects * Wide product range (next to soy cheese and soy cream cheese many more soy products such as yoghurt, milk, and butter are produced) * Australian products stand for guaranteed high quality * Product can be accepted as alternative to local products and because soy based can fit in with local culture focus on building export markets successful in Australian market knowledgeable in different soy product production and handling technical alibility to adapt production efficiently to meet buyers needs Long tradition, established in 1987 Loyal, well trained (Australian) staff May use existing staff to manage export Companys name is already indicating international marketing opportunities (Kangaroo International). brand recognition by Australian target consumer (within Australia, but Australians will also recognize the product if they go overseas) support (knowledge) form Australian government if the company wants to enter Malaysia English is spoken in Malaysia Geographically close Australia has good connections to Malaysia Strategic Plan Weaknesses No previous experience with Malaysia Fresh products are preferred by locals Locals prefer low-priced, known products Alliances might not work Excessive capital needed Current premises may not meet export standards Product design might use some alteration Homepage only in English, not in Malay; not ready for internet sale Regular visits of Management costly and too time consuming External view Opportunities Trend to westernization in Asian countries Relatively large customer segment in Malaysia Possible Free Trade agreement between Australia and Malaysia Malaysia is political stable Wawassa 2020 (vision 2020). Malaysia has plans to achieve 1st world status (Madrid, 2004) Malaysia is a rapidly developing 2nd world economy Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) Domestic Mutual funds o Traditional equity o Fixed income o Islamic funds: money market and fixed income (Madrid, 2004) Overseas Mutual funds which target Malaysia Threats Supply of some of the products are subject to seasonal changes Fairly high entry barriers through well established dairy products Cultural differences Emerging market risks Domestic Mutual funds o Fixed income: risk analogous to US bond funds Legacies of assertive policies of 1998 Malaysia has liquidity problems (Madrid, 2004) Critical Success Factors 1. A country knowledge has to be established and management will have to visit Malaysia frequently 2. Financial Recourses and Human capital has to be guaranteed at all time 3. Products must be continuously deliverable Objectives Following objectives would like to be reached in the first exporting period. 1. Establish a market for Kangaroo Soy Cheese and Cream Cheese in Malaysia a. AUS $0.3 million in year one b. AUS $3.0 million in year three 2. Establish customer awareness 3. Establish well founded business connections and reliable networking Appendix D Contextual Factors explained As mentioned earlier in the paper culture plays a pivotal role in determining whether or not a product will be successful in an international market. As a result it is critical to understand the manner in which culture influences the target consumers perceptions of the marketing campaign of Kangaroo Soy Cheese in Malaysia. To address this issue the variety of promotional tools implemented throughout the marketing campaign will highlight that Kangaroo Soy Cheese is Halal certified and sensitive to the Muslim religion in order to avoid offending or disrespecting the local culture of Malaysia. Cultures also vary in the way the context of verbal and non-verbal messages are interpreted. As a result cultures fall onto a continuum between low and high context cultures (Fletcher Brown, 2005). A high context culture is one in which what is said conveys a limited amount of the message meaning, instead greater emphasis of interpretation is placed on how and where it is being said, as well as t he status and body language of the speaker. Malaysia falls into the category of a high context culture, a characteristic that has a significant impact on the correct approach to deliver the desired message. Consequently the promotional campaign will use opinion leaders of high social status to endorse the product, while ensuring that the appropriate emphasis is placed on non-verbal cues. The second factor which must be accounted for in order effectively communicate with the target market is language. Languages differ in the way they convey meaning, the precision of this message, the degree to which things are implied as opposed to specified and the extent to which messages are conveyed through verbal or non verbal cues (Fletcher Brown, 2005). As a result just translating one language into another seldom conveys the message accurately. While English is spoken in Malaysia and may be suitable in business situations, to effectively reach the target consumers it is considered vital to ensure that promotional mediums are communicated in Bahasa Melayu the native language of Malaysia. Care will be taken to correctly translate the message from English to Bahasa Melayu in order to accurately portray the desired message. These strategies will foster greater levels of communication reach and acceptance amongst the target consumers. The final factor of importance, to Kangaroo Internationals marketing communications within Malaysia, is government regulation. Strict censorship laws exist within Malaysia and must be complied with at all times (Austrade, 2006). Consequently all marketing communications will be thoroughly checked before public release to ensure compliance with current government regulations. Once these environmental factors that inhibit effective communication with the target market are overcome, strategies for the international promotion can be developed. Research Papers on Malaysia - Country bookDefinition of Export QuotasPETSTEL analysis of IndiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeThe Project Managment Office SystemResearch Process Part One

The Best Question to Ask in an Interview to Impress Your Interviewer

The Best Question to Ask in an Interview to Impress Your Interviewer Every interview is a source of stress. You need to prove yourself by answering all the questions relevant to the job correctly (and well). But you also need to stand out from the crowd. While the first thing depends a bit on your field, the second is universal. Here’s the bottom line. In an interview situation, you and your future employer are both trying to figure out whether you would work effectively together. They want to know whether you will succeed in the position. You do too! So how do you find out? Try asking the following when it comes time for you to ask â€Å"whatever questions you might have†:â€Å"How would you define success for this position?†Right away, you’re going to get insider information. Your interviewer is about to spill the holy grail with juicy tidbits such as: strategies and specific skills the job requires, priorities the job demands, and the culture of the company itself.You ask this question and it will be immediately clear th at you’re taking the job and the process seriously. You’ll have expressed interest in the nuances of the job, and you’ll show off some truly snazzy communication skills while you’re at it.It won’t guarantee you’ll get the job, by any means, but it will put you in a great position to see whether you’d find it a good fit, and to prove that you should be a strong contender.

Definition and Examples of Perception Verbs in English

Definition and Examples of Perception Verbs in English In English grammar, a verb of perception is a  verb (such as see, watch, look, hear, listen, feel, and taste) that conveys the experience of one of the physical senses. Also called perception verb or perceptual verb. Distinctions can be drawn between subject-oriented and object-oriented verbs of perception. Examples and Observations I discovered that to achieve perfect personal silence all I had to do was to attach myself leechlike to sound. I began to listen to everything. I probably hoped that after I had heard all the sounds, really heard them, and packed them down, deep in my ears, the world would be quiet around me.(Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House, 1969) This is the pit of loneliness, in an office on a summer Saturday. I stand at the window and look down at the batteries and batteries of offices across the way, recalling how the thing looks in winter twilight when everything is going full blast, every cell lighted, and how you can see in pantomime the puppets fumbling with their slips of paper (but you dont hear the rustle), see them pick up their phone (but you dont hear the ring), see the noiseless, ceaseless moving about of so many passers of pieces of paper . . ..(E.B.White, Here Is New York. Harper, 1949) Now perchance many sounds sights only remind me that they once said something to me, and are so by association interesting. . . . I see a skunk on bare garden hill stealing noiselessly away from me, while the moon shines over the pitch pines which send long shadows down the hill . . .. I smell the huckleberry bushes. . . . Now I hear the sound of a bugle in the Corner reminding me of Poetic Wars, a few flourishes the bugler has gone to rest.(Henry David Thoreau, July 11, 1851. A Year in Thoreaus Journal: 1851, ed. by H. Daniel Peck. Penguin, 1993) A Markedness Hierarchy In Viberg (1984), a markedness hierarchy is presented for the verbs of perception based on data from approximately 50 languages. In slightly simplified form, this hierarchy can be stated as follows: SEEHEARFEEL{TASTE, SMELL} If a language has only one verb of perception, the basic meaning is see. If it has two, the basic meanings are see and hear etc. . . . See is the most frequent verb of perception in all eleven European languages in the sample.(Ã…ke Viberg, Crosslinguistic Perspectives on Lexical Organization and Lexical Progression. Progression and Regression in Language: Sociocultural, Neuropsychological and Linguistic Perspectives, ed. by Kenneth Hyltenstam and Ã…ke Viberg. Cambridge University Press, 1993) Subject-Oriented and Object-Oriented Verbs of Perception It is necessary to draw a two-way distinction between subject-oriented and object-oriented verbs of perception (Viberg 1983, Harm 2000), for . . . this distinction plays into the expression of evidential meaning.Subject-oriented perception verbs (called experience-based by Viberg) are those verbs whose grammatical subject is the perceiver and they emphasize the perceivers role in the act of perception. They are transitive verbs, and they can be further sub-divided into agentive and experiencer perception verbs. The subject-oriented agentive perception verbs signify an intended act of perception: (2a) Karen listened to the music. . . .(3a) Karen smelled the iris with delight. So in (2) and (3), Karen intends to listen to the music and she intentionally smells the iris. On the other hand, subject-oriented experiencer perception verbs indicate no such volition; instead, they merely describe a non-intended act of perception: (4a) Karen heard the music. . . .(5a) Karen tasted the garlic in the soup. So here in (4) and (5), Karen does not intend to go out of her way to auditorily perceive the music or to gustatorily perceive the garlic in her soup; they are simply acts of perception that she naturally experiences without any volition on her part. . . .The object of perception, rather than the perceiver himself, is the grammatical subject of object-oriented perception verbs (called source-based by Viberg), and the agent of perception is sometimes wholly absent from the clause. These verbs are intransitive. When using an object-oriented perception verb, speakers make an assessment concerning the state of the object of perception, and these verbs are often used evidentially: (6a) Karen looks healthy. . . .(7a) The cake tastes good. The speaker reports on what is perceived here, and neither Karen nor the cake are perceivers.(Richard Jason Whitt, Evidentiality, Polysemy, and the Verbs of Perception in English and German. Linguistic Realization of Evidentiality in European Languages, ed. by Gabriele Diewald and Elena Smirnova. Walter de Gruyter, 2010) Usage Note: The Perfect Infinitive After a Verb of Perception The perfect infinitive of verbsthe infinitive of the past, such as to have loved or to have eatenis often misused. . . . Usually . . . where one may have the instinct to use a perfect infinitive, one ought correctly to use the present. One of the rare legitimate usages is to refer to a completed action after a verb of perception: he appears to have broken his leg or she seems to have been lucky.(Simon Heffer, Strictly English: The Correct Way to Write . . . and Why It Matters. Random House, 2011)

Conference week Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Conference week - Essay Example He believes that globalisation is wrong because it solely serves the interests of the ruling elites by controlling everything, including the government, the media, and now, even those who are supposed to be critical of and against them. I agree that globalisation has its weaknesses and negative consequences to the poor and marginalised sectors; however, I also believe that with the right vision, mission, goals, leaders, advocacy, and activities, disempowered sectors can use globalisation to develop a more humane, environmentally-friendly, and socially balanced form of global capitalism. The rich and powerful has been using the WTO and other international and national institutes to promote their economic goals, which includes political and cultural dimensions too, but the poor can use the same platform to improve the quality of their lives. I understand what Chossudovsky means when he criticises the hi-jacking of the people’s movements through international organisations that fund anti-globalisation movements. Nevertheless, the same system can be used to benefit the disempowered through using current technologies and marketing strategies to let the world know social injustice and to help society change itself. Instead of stopping globalisation, the disenfranchised because of it should also use it to advocate and support fair and benevolent capitalism. Hence, Chossudovsky is wrong to think that globalisation itself is wrong because people can use it to do great noble things that will empower the poor and minority

3-5 year sample marketing plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

3-5 year sample marketing plan - Essay Example The features of the products are completely in line with the mission statement of the company, which aims to improve quality and convenience of the lives of customers or users of the product. The key features of the new kitchen appliance are: â€Å"Quality† of the mission statement can be seen in the supreme quality of the product and the â€Å"convenience† part can be seen in the fact that the product is light, easy to use, and has multiple features which makes it convenient to use. Following the three way classification of consumer goods, which divides goods as convenience goods, shopping goods and specialty goods; this product can be classified as a shopping good because it will not be purchased regularly, like, milk, butter (convenience goods) or very rarely, like, luxury cars and designer goods (specialty goods). In order to consider the appropriate target market, following variables can be considered by the company: gender, household income, marital status and presence of children in the families (Pride & Ferrell, 2011). Kitchen appliances are particularly required by women for helping themselves in the kitchen. Income of the families will also be a major determinant for recognizing the probable customers. However, the company is trying to fix the price of the product reasonably, so that middle income group can easily afford it. The presence of children will also enhance the sales, as children love home baked cakes and the blender would hugely serve the purpose. So, basically women of the family with little children form the primary target market for the company. Competitive Rivalry: The competitive rivalry is very high in the kitchen appliance industry as competitors are mainly global ones, like, Haier, Electrolux, Whirlpool and Morphy Richards, to name a few (Letto-Gillies, 1996). The growth of any industry automatically slows down as it matures and competitors become more alike, given that the industry conventions emerge,

Confronting the problem of the low level of students academic Research Paper

Confronting the problem of the low level of students academic performance - Research Paper Example Excelling in academics is a universal concern in today’s world,where students from a very early age are taught to compete and work hard towards academic success This poses a serious relational and interpersonal challenge not only for the students and their parents, but is also troubling for teachers and professionals linked to the academia. Why is it that despite equal resources being invested in all pupils, some perform well and others don’t? In a school system where academic success spells out life success, this question is as compelling as it is haunting – does a low academic performance in school doom the pupil to eternal failure for the rest of his life? Through this research essay, the problem of low academic performance will be looked at closely through the help of relevant case studies and connected to the fundamental concepts of Social Intelligence. Moreover, the role of leading administrators will be assessed in such academic environments, and the strat egies needed to facilitate academic performance will be elaborated upon. The concept of Social Intelligence, as advocated by Karl Albrecht, is central to the understanding of low academic performance as an interpersonal challenge.First coined by E. L. Thorndike, the term Social Intelligence has been further described by Albrecht in his book â€Å"Social Intelligence:The New Science of Success† as â€Å"the ability to get along well with others and to get them to cooperate with you†. In the classroom, interacting with peers and teachers is crucial for one’s academic performance.Academic performance therefore has a link with academic performance, with multiple researches focusing on whether low academic performance has an impact on poor social relations or vice versa. Results of the research It was initially believed that IQ was an objective means of measuring intelligence, where a high IQ meant a high intelligence (Stanford-Binet, 2013). However, more recent rese arch reveals that an individual’s intelligence comprises of different types, of which IQ is only one part. Although Professor Gardener first spoke of the concept of multiple intelligences, it was Albrecht who placed these multiple intelligences in six categories, namely, Abstract, Social, Practical, Emotional, Aesthetic and Kinesthetic – abbreviated as ASPEAK. He spoke of these six intelligences as â€Å"the six faces of a cube, all come together to form a whole† (Albrecht, K. 2006). Thus, from Albrecht’s words, it is easy to see one’s intelligence as a combination of different skills, and not a result of a single isolated factor. In analyzing a person’s intelligence, therefore, it is important that IQ is not the only factor being taken into account, and the individual’s interpersonal skills are also included in an analysis of his intelligence. The modern education system is a perfect example of a setting where one’s cognitive and social skills are tested together. Excelling in academics is as important as finding acceptance among peers, and pupils often struggle to strike a balance between both (Cillessen, 2010). Moreover, in a context where students have to interact with peers as well as authority on a regular basis, the success one has in his interpersonal relations may have an impact on how well he performs in academics. A student is hesitant to ask his or her teacher for help, or feels awkward while approaching his peers had less chances of having confusions regarding academics clarified. The

Stress Management in the RN Role Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stress Management in the RN Role - Essay Example According to Taylor and Barling (2004), career stress or simply burnout is a threat to the well-being of health workers. Career strain has been defined by Farrington (1997) as bleeding oneself for the benefit of others. Symptoms of burnout are evident on these individuals' emotional, cognitive and physical facets (Taylor & Barling, 2004). These symptoms described by Farrington (1997) include: lower level of energy, pessimism, feelings of helplessness, depersonalization, lowered self-esteem and even cynicism. Mental health nursing has been closely connected in dealing with burnout and stress on the nursing field (Taylor & Barling, 2004). Rees & Smith, in their 1991 article, has provided a documentation of the stress order of National Health Service professionals in the United Kingdom. It shows that community mental health nurses (CMHN) occupied the top place alongside speech therapist followed by general nurses and mental health nurses who are ward-based both in the third position. Another survey by Nolan (1995) on mental health nurses used the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) in measuring caseness. Caseness is a name pertaining to the probability of acquiring a psychiatric disorder. The GHQ created by David Goldberg is available in 4 different versions with varying number of items-12, 28, 30, and 60 item Likert-type (with 4 choices) scale. Since the GHQ is a screening measure to identify trivial psychiatric problems, the questionnaire items aim to know the general health of the respondents over the recent weeks. It can be used with the general public but mostly used with health care professionals. Higher scores in the questionnaire imply psychological distress of the individual (General Health Questionnaire, n.d.). The GHQ was also used by Brown et al (1994) and Fagin et al (1995) to measure the psychological distress of health workers. Results indicated that CMHN have the highest psychological distress among the nursing sample. Ward nurses were also seen to have high levels of depersonalization. This was backed up with the researchers by the explanation that ward nurses have lower levels of empathy towards their patients. Stress in psychiatric nurses has been identified with their interaction to mentally ill patients (Melchior et al 1996). Different sources of stress include the patients tended to by the nurses, the co-nurses and doctors they are working with, the facilities in the hospital and the work itself (Taylor & Barling, 2004). Specifically, the researchers cited examples of stressful activities by CMHN nurses. Usually, they are stressed when in contact with the nerve-racking conditions of the work place-long waiting lines of patients, suicidal patients who can be very emotionally stressful, violent patients and hazardous work areas in different communities (Taylor & Barling, 2004). Some of these conditions were also true for ward-based nurses. The literature has wide accounts of different nursing fields as having specific types of stressors (Farrington 1995; Leiter & Harvie 1996; Mcleod 1997; Wheeler 1998a). Stress indicators in general have been identified in the literature. These include dealing with different types of patients (Haynes, LaCroix, & Lippin, 1987), doing the same work over and over again (Haynes et al., 1987; Karasek, 1979), the educational attainment of the individual needed in the job

Newfoundlanders Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Newfoundlanders - Assignment Example It involves six to twelve actors, playing the roles such as King George, the Turkish Knight, or the Doctor. This practice survives among the Newfoundlanders due to several factors; among them the, geographical, historical and traditional nature of the people, unlike other cultures. Consequently, it this practice is passed from one generation to the next, since time immemorial. This is despite its perceived death in the 1960s. This practice also thrives because of Newfoundland’s proximity to the sea. Indeed, the practice is said to have source in England and Ireland. Consequently, the practice was inherited due to interactions with visitors from abroad who came through the sea. Following the adaptive nature of the Newfoundlanders to this foreign culture, this practise has stimulated trust and bolstered their relationship. Indeed, the success of this practice heavily depends on preexistence of trust and relationships that prevent the practise from degenerating into violence that can injure the participants. The practice, however, is considered non-religious and consequently should not be practiced during Christmas or any other Sunday during the period. Moreover, participants place themselves at risk in the hands of other participants during the course of the plays especially those involving mock fight between ‘good’ and

Stress Management in the RN Role Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stress Management in the RN Role - Essay Example According to Taylor and Barling (2004), career stress or simply burnout is a threat to the well-being of health workers. Career strain has been defined by Farrington (1997) as bleeding oneself for the benefit of others. Symptoms of burnout are evident on these individuals' emotional, cognitive and physical facets (Taylor & Barling, 2004). These symptoms described by Farrington (1997) include: lower level of energy, pessimism, feelings of helplessness, depersonalization, lowered self-esteem and even cynicism. Mental health nursing has been closely connected in dealing with burnout and stress on the nursing field (Taylor & Barling, 2004). Rees & Smith, in their 1991 article, has provided a documentation of the stress order of National Health Service professionals in the United Kingdom. It shows that community mental health nurses (CMHN) occupied the top place alongside speech therapist followed by general nurses and mental health nurses who are ward-based both in the third position. Another survey by Nolan (1995) on mental health nurses used the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) in measuring caseness. Caseness is a name pertaining to the probability of acquiring a psychiatric disorder. The GHQ created by David Goldberg is available in 4 different versions with varying number of items-12, 28, 30, and 60 item Likert-type (with 4 choices) scale. Since the GHQ is a screening measure to identify trivial psychiatric problems, the questionnaire items aim to know the general health of the respondents over the recent weeks. It can be used with the general public but mostly used with health care professionals. Higher scores in the questionnaire imply psychological distress of the individual (General Health Questionnaire, n.d.). The GHQ was also used by Brown et al (1994) and Fagin et al (1995) to measure the psychological distress of health workers. Results indicated that CMHN have the highest psychological distress among the nursing sample. Ward nurses were also seen to have high levels of depersonalization. This was backed up with the researchers by the explanation that ward nurses have lower levels of empathy towards their patients. Stress in psychiatric nurses has been identified with their interaction to mentally ill patients (Melchior et al 1996). Different sources of stress include the patients tended to by the nurses, the co-nurses and doctors they are working with, the facilities in the hospital and the work itself (Taylor & Barling, 2004). Specifically, the researchers cited examples of stressful activities by CMHN nurses. Usually, they are stressed when in contact with the nerve-racking conditions of the work place-long waiting lines of patients, suicidal patients who can be very emotionally stressful, violent patients and hazardous work areas in different communities (Taylor & Barling, 2004). Some of these conditions were also true for ward-based nurses. The literature has wide accounts of different nursing fields as having specific types of stressors (Farrington 1995; Leiter & Harvie 1996; Mcleod 1997; Wheeler 1998a). Stress indicators in general have been identified in the literature. These include dealing with different types of patients (Haynes, LaCroix, & Lippin, 1987), doing the same work over and over again (Haynes et al., 1987; Karasek, 1979), the educational attainment of the individual needed in the job

Government Contracts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Government Contracts - Essay Example The topics in this process include the persons who will be involved, how the process will be structured and where the real negotiations will take place. In the same way, the business has to outline the whole process of government contracting and come up with an effective way on how to approach it (Stein, 2011). It is normally realized that participating in government contracts involves a lot of bureaucracy and a lot of procedures which must always be adhered to by the business. All these factors must be known beforehand in order for the process to be effective. In any case, government contracts normally attract several parties and competition is therefore very stiff. The organization therefore needs to get acquainted with all the operations of the government relating to contracting. In the same way, every government contract comes with a series of rules and regulations which must be well understood. As a result, it is important to conduct the pre-negotiation in order to ensure that everything is taken into account and nothing remains unattended. Without conducting pre-negotiations, it is normally seen that negotiations are bound to fail or become counterproductive. The process helps in reducing much of the conflicts that are normally realized in the actual negotiations process (Alston, 200 5). Considering the importance of pre-negotiations prior to engaging in government contracts, it is normally viewed as part of the negotiations. Like the actual negotiation, pre-negotiation is normally conducted in specific stages in order to realize the objectives. The first stage involves definition of the problem; the second stage involves showing commitment to the negotiation while the third stage involves arrangement of the negotiation process. The participants of the actual negotiations are selected in the pre-negotiation stages and the boundaries of the actual negotiations are also effectively demarcated in the process. Most importantly, the agenda for the

How policies and procedures help children Essay Example for Free

How policies and procedures help children Essay Discuss how policies and procedures help children and young people and their families whilst the child is being looked after. In this essay I am going to discuss 6 policies and their procedures whist a child is being looked after. I am going to expand on why this is important for the child parent or legal guardian and also why they are put in place. Firstly I am going to discuss the Safeguarding Policy. Safeguarding Policy Safeguarding is the policy that describes the function of protecting adults and children from abuse or neglect. It is an important shared priority of many public services, and a key responsibility of local authorities.Safeguarding relates to the need to protect certain people who may be in vulnerable circumstances. These are people who may be at risk of abuse or neglect, due to the actions (or lack of action) of another person usually their parent or carer. In these cases, it is critical that services work together to identify people at risk, and put in place interventions to help prevent abuse or neglect, and to protect Safe guarding helps make sure the people whom are protecting the children are correctly checked for example a CRB is mandatory when looking after a vulnerable child. What is a DBS check and why is it needed? Since March 2002, the Criminal Records Bureau has enabled employers to check the criminal records of employees and potential employees, in order to ascertain whether or not they are suitable to work with vulnerable adults and children. For individuals working in certain positions, a valid DBS disclosure is a legislative requirement. The Disclosure and Barring Service also manage lists of individuals who are barred from working with children and adults. New safeguarding regulations introduced in October 2009 place an obligation on employers, social services and professional regulators to notify the DBS of relevant information. This obligation ensures that individuals who pose a threat to vulnerable groups can be barred from working with them. It also makes it a criminal offence for these individuals to apply to work with these groups and for employers to knowingly employ them. This makes sure the child is safe whilst being cared for by a  professional or a carer whom isnt their parent or legal guardian. It is also important so the parents or carers know the child is in safe hands whilst being cared for out of their control. Recording and Handling Information Policy Recording and handling data is important when looking after children for example whilst a child is in school all their documents must be kept confidential in case any of the other children or irrelevant staff members read or disclose any confidential information. The only time data or information about child should be revealed is if the child is at risk or in danger. Then the relevant person can inform the carer or relevant person to make sure the child is kept safe. Keeping childrens medical records safe is also important in case they ever need reviewed or used in case of emergency. Health and Safety Policy This policy promotes making sure the child is kept safe and in a safe environment for example there are a few policies put in place to make sure this is possible. They are RIDDOR  (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) This is an assessment that must be put in place and a report filed upon if a child is injured in school or any other official place of work. For parents or carers this makes sure it is dealt with and supported correctly it also keeps children safe. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) This is similar to the RIDDOR policy I have expanded on above. All people taking care of the child must make sure all harmful substances are kept away from the child to prevent serious or injury or death. Risk Assessments. Risk assessments are carried out everywhere a child is looked after to make sure the environment and building is safe for the child to live or be taught in. This is a mandatory legal document especially in a school or care environment. This could put a parent or carers mind at risk knowing there child is safe. Health Policy It is a legal requirement that all children must get free healthcare throughout their childhood and adolescent life if needed for example medical care, dentistry care and mental support if needed. This helps support the child so they can stay healthy and get the right support they need. It also helps the parent so they don’t need to worry about the financial side as all this support is free. Education Policy Education is mandatory until you are 18 as of 2012. This is so children don’t fall out of education at 16. You can go down many routes when leaving school for example college, sixth form, training or apprentiships. There is also a legal standard of education in the United Kingdom that must be followed, there are 224 policies within 1 policy itself for education ranging from Reducing violent and gun crime to Reforming qualifications and the curriculum to better prepare pupils for life after school. Having policies in place makes sure that children get the right standard of education and that parents and carers can go out to work whilst their children are at school to make sure they can give their children the best standard of life. It also sets the child up for a good standard of life with good qualifications and life skills. Play Policy When children are in education especially primary school it is a legal requirement that they get break time and toys and equipment to use during this time. The best way for a child to learn is using exploratory learning and learning by trial and error. This is how a child learns life and social skills from a young age. When a child starts school this also gets them well adjusted to letting go from spending all their time with there parent or carer. Every Child Matters 1 Be Healthy 2 Stay Safe 3 Enjoy and Achieve 4 Make a Positive Contribution 5 Achieve Economic Wellbeing I believe that all they above policies shape a childs life and with the right guidance from parents, carers and education you can shape a decent outcome and setup for a childs life and development. Refrences. http://www.every-child-matters.org.uk/Framework_5_key_outcomes http://www.theguardian.com/politics/education http://www.playengland.org.uk/resources/national-play-policy.aspx https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-safety-advice-for-school https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview