Thursday, October 31, 2019

Business Regulations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business Regulations - Essay Example This code was set up by the Press Compliant Commission in order to regulate the industry. This commission is an independent entity that was set up in the early 1990s following the recommendations of a commission on press regulation that was chaired by Sir. David Calcutt. The commission’s core responsibility is to ensure that the press adheres to the agreed code of practice on sensitive topics such minors and privacy (Fourie 2002: 46). In case of any breach of the code of conduct, the commission will conduct an investigation and either uphold the complaint or dismiss it in its entirety. With the exception of incidents regarding inaccuracies (these are dealt with by the editor responsible) all other cases have to be adjudicated and published by the commission. This commission came to being ultimately because government wanted to come up with measures to ensure protection of individual’s privacy rights against the activities of various media houses. The commission that was set up to give recommendations on how to replace the Press council which was the regulatory body before. This new regulatory body, the PCC had a maximum of one and a half years to have its impact felt or be replaced by a system that was to be statutory based. The defunct Press Council had been set up in the year 1947. This was after the recommendations of the Royal commission into regulation of the press. It was introduced to mainly deal with the ongoing claims of deteriorating standards in the press. It was however not successful and this was evident in the 1980s when the National Union of Journalists withdrew its membership. Many publications were ignoring it due to the fact that it did not any formal code of practice that the press could adhere to. It also did not have any legal means to enforce its resolutions and sanctions.(McNair, 2009) Over the years since the year 2000, events

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

SMS consolidates Essay Example for Free

SMS consolidates Essay Today SMS has become such a common mode of communication between youth peer groups that it has now become a mindset or norm amongst this young community and is no longer something that the youths even think about when using. [7] Of the 20 youths polled in our survey, 40% of the youths send between 5 and 10 SMS daily, and 20% send 15 or more SMS per day (Appendix 1, Figure 1). The reason for the enormous popularity of SMS amongst the youths in Singapore is, firstly, due to the fact that this mechanism of sending and receiving messages costs less. Sending an SMS message costs only five cents with some organisations offering users 500 free SMS messages a month. SMS is particularly suited for short messages like see you in the canteen at 2pm because SMS is much cheaper than calling someone and giving the same message. Calling someone to give the same message would invariably take more time and hence more cost. Secondly, sending SMS helps to save time, as it is an instantaneous form of communication. This is especially useful for youths in school, because very often they can only use their mobile phone in the strict constraints of break times. Also, SMS provides a very convenient method of exchanging small bits of information between young mobile users. The convenience of leaving messages when the other party is unreachable is one of the pros of SMS. Using SMS, one can get the message across even if they are unable to contact their friends. This function of SMS allows youths to have greater accessibility to their friends, hence its popularity. Thirdly, SMS allows the youth to feel more comfortable contacting people that they do not know very well because in contrast to voice communication, SMS is considered less personal. Certain things that teens dare not say to another person face-to-face can be done on SMS. Where shyness used to prevent some from communicating their feelings, text messaging has fully opened the gates. [10] Texting is considered less nerve-wracking and embarrassing than asking a girl for a date face-to-face. [10] Fourthly, at functional and symbolic levels, SMS allows youngsters to demonstrate that they are part of a social network and elevate their status within that network. The use of SMS consolidates a community of peers and allows them to differentiate themselves and their peers from others, such as adults. Within their small social networks, the use of particular words and symbols that are incorporated as SMS language also helps differentiate the networks through such common and tacit knowledge that is only shared by the community members. It provides a way of signifying group or community membership, as a way of marking outsiders and giving the group a clearer identity. Among the reasons for the popularity of SMS, most of the youths polled indicated that the convenience of SMS is the most favourable outcome of SMS. Also the survey shows that the greater accessibility to people and the time-saving factor are important outcomes of SMS (Appendix 1, Figure 2). CONS OF SMS TO YOUTH As described above, SMS has gained popularity among the youths due to its many advantages. However, there are also cons of SMS to the youth. In our survey, most youths indicated that addiction to SMS and language usage are unfavourable outcomes of SMS (Appendix 1, Figure 3). Now we shall go on to explain in detail the cons of SMS. Firstly, SMS is helpful and convenient to the youths, and hence they are in danger of getting addicted to SMS. A news report in London states that not finding a new message could be upsetting, especially for youngsters. [20] To them, receiving a message implied importance, boosted self-esteem, and knowledge that somebody cared and thought of them. [20] Many youngsters were paranoid and started worrying upon not receiving text messages. [20] Hence, they were constantly checking their mobile phones for new messages. It is clear that SMS addiction can potentially lead to serious distraction for the youth, especially when they start to expect people to drop them messages all the time. Furthermore, SMS is also distracting for youths who are still schooling. They can send SMS when the lessons are being delivered, dividing their attention span between listening to the teacher or lecturer. Thus these youths are unable to concentrate in class. Since SMS addiction has such serious repercussions, we are interested to find out what the youths feel about it. One question in our survey seeks to establish if the youths themselves think they are indeed hooked to it. The survey results (Appendix 1, Figure 4) show that 45% of the youths pooled stated that they are either addicted, or most probably addicted to SMS. A further 20% were neutral to the idea, and 35% indicated that they are either probably not addicted, or not addicted at all. These results are relatively close to one another, and hence not very conclusive. As such, we shall look at another question that asked what is the longest period they have gone without SMS. As high as 75% of the youths revealed that they have only gone without SMS for about 1 to 3 hours (Appendix 1, Figure 5). This time frame is rather small, and as such, we conclude that youths here do show some signs of being addicted to SMS. Secondly, just like the Internet, SMS has its side effects. Spam SMS is common nowadays as messages, especially jokes, are just forwarded blindly to anyone. Many parents worry that messages carrying fraudulent and pornographic content may harm their teenager children. However, from our survey, we learn that SMS spam is not ranked very highly as an unfavourable outcome of SMS (Appendix 1, Figure 3). This could be because messages with vulgar contents are relatively less common than jokes, and thus perhaps youths like the jokes sent, such that spam generally does not bother them. Thirdly, SMS serves as a threat to the youth relationship with their peers too. Misunderstanding and miscommunications can arise due to SMS. It is extremely difficult to discern tone in SMS, just as in email. What seems to the sender to be a completely innocuous message may be grossly misinterpreted by the recipient, causing certain discomfort if not irreparable harm. Also, there might be occasions when they compose a message and sent it to the wrong person. If the message happens to be about the person that they sent to, their relationship would be soured. Finally, using SMS will also cause loss of verbal communication, and affect our language usage. These aspects lead to stronger implications on the youths, and as such, they will be discussed in further details in the following section, which explain the social impacts of SMS on youths. THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF SMS ON YOUTH After ascertaining the reasons on why SMS is so popular, and the cons of SMS, we shall now focus on the social impact of SMS on youths. Firstly, one important social impact that SMS has on the youths is that it has altered the means of communication among the youths. Nowadays, some of them rely more on SMS than verbal communication. Indeed, this trend is shown through our survey: 70% of the youths polled prefer SMS to verbal communication (Appendix 1, Figure 6). As briefly mentioned under the cons of SMS, this has serious implications as the loss of verbal communication could cause youths to become shy, and be unable to express themselves effectively in future. In many situations too, one is relatively more comfortable sending a message via SMS than talking over the phone. Hence, SMS is seen as an easier method to get certain messages across such as breaking up with a girlfriend. This could be why young people breaking up via SMS is common. Furthermore, SMS has altered the means of communication by decreasing physical interaction among youths with people around them. Though due to its many advantages, SMS helps youths keep in touch with a greater number of people, this form of interaction be lose out in significance to the traditional form of meeting up and chatting with friends. This could have an important long-term effect on culture, interaction and attitudes of the youth within society. In addition, another way of how SMS has altered the means of communication is that, unlike in the past, arranging an outing beforehand is no longer needed, as SMS is instantaneous. People are now no longer as difficult to reach as before, and so a simple SMS message is often enough to arrange a physical meeting and night out with friends. Secondly, another social impact that SMS has on the youths is that there is now a change of language among the young SMS users. Due to the inherent limitations of 160 characters per SMS, there is a need for abbreviations or short-forms to save space, so as to squeeze as many ideas as possible in one single SMS. Sending messages like See you tonight at 830pm could be replaced by c u tonite, 830. Spelling out the entire word would take up more spaces such that more than one message would need to be sent, increasing the cost of sending. Hence short-forms have evolved to make SMS more efficient, less time consuming and cheaper. From our survey, we can conclude that 90% of those polled use short-forms in their SMS (Appendix 1, Figure 7). Hence, we can infer that SMS encourages a certain inventiveness to a language, [16] because the youths make use of abbreviations and smileys to maximise space, and to express emotions. As such, SMS is sometimes seen as a new language to youth culture. [16] Now, the word manipulations that the youths use, are increasingly being understood by other users. [16] As briefly mentioned under the cons of SMS, the form of language manipulation due to SMS usage has a detrimental effect on language as too many short-forms are used. Dr. Cynthia McVey, a psychology lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, summed this up very well, Texting was second nature to a generation of young people. They do not write letters, so sitting down to write or type an essay is unusual and difficult. They revert to what they feel comfortable with. Texting is attractive and uncomplicated. [12] Hence some youths even unconsciously carry on with the usage of short-forms in their daily schoolwork, not only irritating their teachers, but also causing themselves to lose marks.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Effects of Violent Video Games | Essay

Effects of Violent Video Games | Essay Violent computer games, and their possible effect on players. Introduction The Problems Social Effects of Playing Computer Games Conclusion Bibliography Introduction Feeding childrens passion for computers, billions of dollars in both public and private funds are being spent to give children access in school, at home, and in the community. Nearly every school is now equipped with computers, (Fisch, 2004, p. 2) and over two-thirds of our nations children have access at home. (Fisch, 2004, p. 4) But is computer technology actually improving their lives? Computer technology has transformed society in a number of profound ways. For better or worse, the increasing pervasiveness of computer technology is a reality no one can ignore or stop, not that one would. Computers are fast becoming integrated into nearly every aspect of daily living, from school to work, to banking and shopping, to paying taxes and even voting. They provide access to a wide range of information without a trip to the library. They convey personal messages in place of the post office or telephone. And they compete with newspapers, radio, and television in providing entertainment an d news of the day. Computer technology also has a profound effect on our economy. Not only are computers changing the way goods and services are manufactured, distributed, and purchased, but they are also changing the skills workers need to be productive and earn a living. This climate sets the stage whereby we encourage our children to utilize a computer, as such represents not the world of tomorrow, but the world of today, and thus they need to be computer literate. The public generally agrees that for children to participate socially, economically, and politically in this new and different world, they must acquire a certain level of comfort and competence in using computers. National polls indicate widespread support for providing children with access to computers to enable them to learn adequate computer skills and improve their education (Trotter, 1998, pp. 6-9). In surveys, most parents and children report that they view computers and the Internet as a positive force in their lives, despite conce rns about exposure to inappropriate commercial, sexual, and violent content (National School Boards Foundation, 2000). Most parents believe that the Internet can help children with their homework and allow them to discover fascinating, useful things, and that children without access are disadvantaged compared to those with access. The scenario’s described above represent the current generation of parents, as opposed to their children. A generation that grew up on computer and video games that their parents had no idea of what they were playing, or even what the technology was. Thus, there was a real understanding and involvement gap (Brougere et al, 2004, p. 1-4). Those basically unsupervised children are now adults. Adults that grew up selecting their own video and computer games while developing their own culture without guidance to determination as to what was good for them or bad, as they were just interested in the experience of a new technology changing the world of play and relaxation. Thus it was the game, almost regardless of what it was, and not the content that ruled (Brougere et al, 2004, p. 1-4). When discussing violence in computer games, as a result of this foundational background understanding, there are three standards from which to choose, the children of parents who grew up playing games and basically picking them out themselves, those whose parents supervised what they played and purchased, which is a small minority, and lastly, those adults who either didn’t have either video games or computers in their home. The assumption is, that almost all of today’s adults played video and or computer games when they were children, if not their own, then on a friends console or computer. Children of a generation whose parents were maybe exposed somewhat to computers at work, but more often than not, were not. Thus, the problem of violence becomes one that rests on the shoulders of game developers, manufacturers and designers based upon industry research, educational and emotional findings, as well as studies concerning the effects of violence on children. The parents of today’s adults knew about the creeping violence on TV, that they grew up with and which was publicized when they were children and teenagers. But, the circumstances are different today, as there is no television standards board making noise about PC and video game content. Thus, the level of acceptable violence as well as the controls, industry oversight and general standards as to what is and is not acceptable comes into play. If you question the underlying foundation, think about the popularity of Madden football. Like it our not, that U.S. sport tops boxing for all out mayhem, violence, competitive spirit and aggression. Thus, the dilemma as represented by attempting to equate the level of violence and their effe ct is based upon a generation that really had no boundaries. The jury is still out on the subject of the effects of computer games on children, teenagers, and young adults, and it is seemingly hopelessly divided. There are â€Å"an overwhelming number of parents†, pegged at 96 percent, based upon a survey conducted by the Interactive Digital Software Association who indicate that they pay attention to video and computer game content that their children play (Business Wire, 2003). That same survey indicated that 44 percent of the parents in homes that own either video game consoles and or computers stated that they themselves used to play interactive games and that they play with their children either on a daily or weekly basis (Business Wire, 2003). The returns from that survey found that all in all over 60% of the responding parents play interactive games with their children at least once in the month (Business Wire, 2003). The parents responding at a rate of 89 percent stated that they were there when the games were purchased for chil dren under the age of 18. The survey revealed some interesting trends, as well as revealed that the children who are playing computer and or video games are the offspring of former and present players themselves. This brings to mind if these parents acceptance level of violence in computer and video games is slightly jaded in terms of what constitutes violence. In fact, the majority of gamers, as they are termed, are in fact adults, according to the Interactive Digital Software Association survey (Business Wire, 2003). The survey revealed that the entire universe of game players is getting older. The percentage of players who were under the age of 18 made up just 30 percent of the gamer population, which is down from the 34 percent recorded in 2002 (Business Wire, 2003). However, the survey avoided the critical issue, the extent of violence in the games the parents indicated that they were supervising the buying for, as well as playing with their children. The survey did state that 36 percent of the games pla yed on computer were action oriented, which tied with puzzle, board, and card games for the top spot (Business Wire, 2003). In fact, the preferences were almost evenly divided across the four categories, with driving and racing games scoring at 36 percent, and sports at 32 percent. Excessive, unmonitored use of computers, especially when combined with use of other screen technologies, such as television, can place children at risk for harmful effects on their physical, social, and psychological development. Children need physical activity, social interaction, and the love and guidance of caring adults to be healthy, happy, and productive. (Hartmann and Brougere, 2004, p. 37- 41) Too much time in front of a screen can deprive children of time for organized sports and other social activities that are beneficial to child development. (Hartmann and Brougere, 2004, p. 37- 41) In addition, children may be exposed to violent, sexual, or commercial content beyond their years, with long-term negative effects (Brougere et al, 2004, pp. 8). At present, excessive use of computers among children, especially younger children, is not typical. National survey data gathered in spring of 2000 indicated that children ages 2 to 17 spent about 34 minutes per day, on average, using computers at home, with use increasing with age (Preschoolers ages 2 to 5 averaged 27 minutes per day, school-age children ages 6 to 11 averaged 49 minutes per day, and teens ages 12 to 17 averaged 63 minutes per day) (Brougere et al, 2004, pp. 9). Available data on computer use at school suggest that exposure in the early primary grades, at least, is relatively modest. A spring 1999 survey of 26 elementary schools in the heart of Silicon Valley, where computer use might be expected to be high, found that although 70% of teachers in kindergarten through third grade had their students do some work on computers, the students computer time averaged less than 10 minutes per day (Brougere et al, 2004, pp. 11). This data suggest that younger children in particular are not currently using computers for excessive amounts of time. In the case of video games, even their critics acknowledge that they are instructing our children. The critics just dont like the form and the sometimes violent and sexually explicit content of the instruction, which they believe teaches children aggressive behaviors (Suellentrop, 2006). Yet if such games are nothing more than murder simulators, as one critic has called them, why is it, as gaming enthusiasts never tire of pointing out, that the murder rate has declined in recent years, there are more video games, and more violent ones, than ever (Suellentrop, 2006). The important thing to find out about video games isnt whether they are teachers; The question is, as game designer Ralph Koster writes in A Theory of Fun for Game Design (2004), what do they teach? (Suellentrop, 2006). The marketing strategies of game companies links closely to Hollywood action movies as a means to reach more gamers. The Cinema has emerged as the most prominent influence on games. Both cinema and games are superficially alike, in that they are relatively modern media that deliver audio-visual content to paying audiences. The similarities that the media share have meant that some artistic strategies can be transferred between the two. However, there is a limit to the extent that artistic techniques can be taken from one and used in the other. Game designers are increasingly using unsuitable cinematic conventions in the creation of their games. Activision, a Santa Monica based game manufacturer generated the Fantastic 4 game in agreement with its studio, whereby you can â€Å"assume the persona of Mir. Fantastic/Reed Richards, Invisible Woman/Sue Storm, Human Torch/Johnny Storm, or Thing/Ben Grimm and master their individual attributes and unique powers to solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, and defeat enemies. Another option is to control the Fantastic 4 together as a team and dynamically switch b etween characters during their adventures, and combine super powers in order to level more devastating attacks and accomplish missions† (Society for the Advancement of Education, 2005). And the trend includes almost any Hollywood movie that can be converted to action, with the Fantastic 4 representing a mild version of what the industry has to offer. The basic theme is the ‘good guys, against the ‘bad guys’ in such re-creations as â€Å"X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, the rival X-Men and Brotherhood† where you are â€Å"†¦ bonded by a common enemy, fight side by side for the first time, allowing players to switch instantly between super-power wielding teammates as they overcome obstacles, solve puzzles, and defeat more than 100 types of enemies† (Society for the Advancement of Education, 2005). Violence is a popular form of entertainment â€Å"a crowd of onlookers enjoys a street fight just as the Romans enjoyed the gladiators, and wrestling is a popular spectator sport not only in the United States, but in many countries in the Middle East (Centerwall, 1989, p. 23). Local news shows provide extensive coverage of violent crimes in order to increase their ratings. Technological advances have dramatically increased the availability of violent entertainment. The introduction of television was critical, particularly in making violent entertainment more available to children. More recently, cable systems, videocassette recorders, and video games have increased exposure. Hand-held cameras and video monitors now permit filming of actual crimes in progress. Economic competition for viewers, particularly young viewers, has placed a premium on media depictions of violence, as their attention translates into store sales. The Problems The level of acceptable violence of computer games, as well as violence in itself thus represents the question, as the top selling computer and video games all were violence based. And while the non-violent ‘Sims’ simulation game proved to be the top seller at 16 million copies, the next four games totaled 32 million (Wikipedia, 2007). Of those games Starcraft, 9.5 million copies sold, is a strategy war game played in space, whereby one can get a good idea of its content by the name on its expansion pack, ‘StarCraft: Brood War’ (Blizzard Entertainment, 2007). Half-Life (Planet Half-Life, 2007), 8 million copies, is a first person shooter game featuring blood spatters and other effects. Of the top ten computer games four are violence based, and of the next ten, 11 through 20, 5 are violence-based games (Wikipedia, 2007). Thus the ethics are sales, as well as creative foundation and premise from which the games are fashioned. The differing themes represent dir ections in terms of game development, what the manufacturer has build their reputation on, and the gamer profile they appeal to. Based upon the preceding the industry is split down the middle, with half gong for violence, and the other utilizing non-violent content. There is considerable evidence that violence on television, in video as well as computer games is harmful to children (Hope, 2005). And just as the current parents became adjusted to certain levels of violence in their exposures decades ago, such has magnified for their offspring according to lecturer Lesley Murphy of Robert Gordon University (Grant, 2006). The preceding calls for a scientific psychology concerning the effects violence games had on the parents to understand the level their children are being exposed to. Such should not only help us to understand our own the parent’s violence level, it should help to determine where this all stands in the realm of what is normal, speaking in relative terms. Playing computer games can be an important building block to computer literacy because it enhances childrens ability to read and visualize images in three-dimensional space and track multiple images simultaneously and there is also limited evidence available also indicates t hat home computer use is linked to slightly better academic performance. (Alington et al (1992, pp. 539-553). Dominick (1984, pp. 136-147) expresses concern there are the findings that playing violent computer games may increase aggressiveness and desensitize a child to suffering, and that the use of computers may blur a childs ability to distinguish real life from simulation. Compared to girls, boys spend more than twice as much time per week playing computer games (Funk, 1993, pp. 86-89) and are five times more likely to own a computer game system (Griffiths and Hunt, 1995, pp. 189-193). In a study of self-reported leisure time activities of 2,200 third and fourth graders, computer games topped the list of activities among boys: 33% of boys reported playing computer games, compared with fewer than 10% of girls (Harrel et al, 1997, 246-253). Initially it was thought that this disparity was the result of the games violent themes and lack of female protagonists (Malone, 1981, pp. 333-370). A more likely reason, however, is the difference between the genders in their play preferences: boys ten d to prefer pretend play based on fantasy, whereas girls tend to prefer pretend play based on reality, a rare theme for computer games, even those designed specifically for girls. Social Effects of Playing Computer Games As mentioned earlier, game playing has long been the predominant use of home computers among childrenespecially among younger boys. Although the available research indicates that moderate game playing has little social impact on children, concerns nonetheless have been raised about excessive game playing, especially when the games contain violence. Research suggests that playing violent computer games can increase childrens aggressive behavior in other situations. Existing research indicates that moderate game playing does not significantly impact childrens social skills and relationships with friends and family either positively or negatively. Studies often found no differences in the sociability and social interactions of computer game players versus non-players, (Phillips et al, 1995, pp. 687-691) but a few studies found some mildly positive effects. For example, one study found that frequent game players met friends outside school more often than less frequent players. (Colwell et al, 1995, pp. 195-206) Another study of 20 families with new home computer game sets explored the benefits and dangers of playing games and found that computer games tended to bring family members together for shared play and interaction. (Mitchell, 1998, pp. 121-135) Less is known, however, about the long-term effects of excessive computer use among the 7% to 9% of children who play computer games for 30 hours per week or more. (Griffiths and Hunt, 1995, pp. 189-193). It has been suggested that spending a disproportionate amount of time on any one leisure activity at the expense of others will hamper social and educational development. (Griffiths and Hunt, 1995, pp. 189-193) Indeed, one study of fourth- to twelfth-grade students found that those who reported playing arcade video games or programming their home computer for more than an hour per day, on average, tended to believe they had less control over their lives compared with their peers. (Wiggins, 1997) In addition, some evidence suggests that repeated playing of violent computer games may lead to increased aggressiveness and hostility and desensitize children to violence. (Provenzo, 2001, pp. 231-234) Although educational software for home computer use includes many games that encourage positive, pro-social behaviors by rewarding players who cooperate or share, the most popular entertainment software often involves games with competition and aggression, and the amount of aggression and violence has increased with each new generation of games. A content analysis of recent popular Nintendo and Sega Genesis computer games found that nearly 80% of the games had aggression or violence as an objective. (Dietz, 1998, pp. 425-442) One survey of seventh- and eighth-grade students found that half of their favorite games had violent themes. (Funk, 1993, pp. 86-89) Yet parents often are unaware of even the most popular violent titles, despite the rating system from the Entertainment In a 1998 survey, 80% of junior high students said they were familiar with Duke Nukema violent computer game rated mature (containing animated blood, gore, and violence and strong sexual Content), but fewer than 5% of parents had heard of it. (Oldberg, 1998) Numerous studies have shown that watching violent television programs and films increases children and adults aggression and hostility (Friedrich-Cofer and Huston, 2000, pp. 364-371) thus, it is plausible that playing violent computer games would have similar effects. The research on violent computer games suggests that there is, indeed, an association between playing such games and increased aggression, and that the critical variable is a preference for playing aggressive games, rather than the amount of time spent playing. (Friedrich-Cofer and Huston, 2000, pp. 364-371). Several experimental studies suggest that playing a violent game, even for brief periods, has short-term transfer effects, such as increased aggression in childrens free play, (Friedrich-Cofer and Huston, 2000, pp. 364-371) hostility to ambiguous questions, and aggressive thoughts. For example, one study of third and fourth graders found that those children who played a violent game (Mortal Kombat II) responded more violently to three of six open-ended questions than did children who played a nonviolent computer game (basketball) (Friedrich-Cofer and Huston, 2000, pp. 364-371). Furthermore, it has been found that children who have a preference for and play aggressive computer games demonstrate less pro-social behavior, such as donating money or helping someone. (Friedrich-Cofer and Huston, 2000, pp. 364-371). Studies of television have found that continued exposure to violence and aggression desensitizes children to others suffering, (Rule and Ferguson, 2001, pp. 29-50) but studies of computer games have not yet explored such a link. At least since the 1980s, however, both the U.S. and British military have used violent video games for training, reportedly to desensitize soldiers to the suffering of their targets and to make them more willing to kill. (Kiddoo, 2000, pp. 80-82). Conclusion The foundation of violence in computer games stems from the fascination with violence as spawned by the movies as well as television. These mediums have become an overbearing influence in game development and its expressive methods are being applied in game context. A look at the graphics of any video game reveals the similarities as well as attempt to capture as much realism as possible. Such is a natural evolution of the product and technology, but such also is continually blurring the fantasy atmosphere that used to be clearly delineated. The violence that exists in over 50 percent of computer as well as video games is not so much a product of the designers and manufacturers; it is a product of society in that the function of their businesses is to fulfill a need. And since the foundation for that need is there, they continue to create the games to fill it. The problem starts and exists with the consumer market, one that is a product of television and cinema culture that has been at work long before computer and video games arrived. There is now a sincere understanding that the effects have become deeply rooted facets of industrialized cultures, and games can not be blamed, yet they, along with other entertainment medium are contributing to the problem. Youth violence affects us all, and thus a reversal of the process is going to be a difficult undertaking as a result of the historical context from which it came. A look at the top selling video game categories reveals the extent of the problem: Table – Top Games Genres (Wikipedia, 2007) Rank Genre 1 Strategy / RPG 2 Action 3 Sport Games 4 Racing 5 All Shooter Games 6 Simulations 7 Family Entertainment 8 Children’s Entertainment 9 Fighting 10 Other Games 11 Edutainment With the following games rated as all time favorites, based on violent content: Donkey Kong, 1981, Nintendo Co. Ltd, Nintendo of America, Inc., Arcade. Doom, 1993, id Software, id Software, P.C. DOS. Dragon’s Lair, 1983. Magicom Multimedia, Cinematronics, Arcade. Duke Nukem, 1991, Apogee Software Ltd., Apogee Software Ltd., PC DOS. E.T.: The Extraterrestrial, 1983, Atari, Inc., Atari Inc., Atari 2600. Final Fantasy series I – IX, 1990 2003, Square Enix Co., Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc., Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, PlayStation, PlayStation 2. Final Fantasy VII, 1996, Square Co., Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc., PlayStation. Grand Theft Auto III, DMA Design Ltd., Rockstar Games, PlayStation2 Half-Life, 1998, Valve Software, Sierra On-Line, Inc., P.C. Win. ’95. Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, 2003, Nintendo Co. Ltd, Nintendo of Europe, Inc., GameCube. Mario Bros I-VII, 1983 –2003, Nintendo Co. Ltd, Nintendo of America, Inc., Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, GameCube. Max Payne, 2001, Remedy Entertainment Ltd., GodGames, Win. ’95. Metal Gear Solid, 1998, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Co., Ltd., Konami of America, Inc., PlayStation. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, 1998, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Co., Ltd., Konami of America, Inc., PlayStation 2. Myst, 1994, Broderbund Software, Keyboard Mouse, Macintosh. Pac-Man, 1980, Namco Ltd., Midway Mfg. Co., Arcade. Perfect Dark, 2000, Rare Ltd., Rare Ltd., Nintendo 64. Pokemon, 1998, Game Freak, Inc., Nintendo of America, Inc., Game Boy. Pong, 1973, Atari, Inc., Atari Inc., Arcade. Resident Evil, 2002, Capcom Co., Ltd., Capcom U.S.A., Inc., GameCube. Rogue Leader, 2001, Factor 5, Lucas Arts, GameCube. Silent Hill, 1999, Konami Computer Entertainment Kobe (KCEK), Konami of America, Inc., PlayStation. Space Invaders, 1978, Taito Corporation, Taito America Corp., Arcade. Spacewar, 1962, Russell, S. Street Fighter II, 1991, Capcom Co., Ltd., Capcom U.S.A., Inc., Arcade. Super Mario Bros., 1985, Nintendo Co. Ltd, Nintendo of America, Inc., Nintendo Entertainment System. Tekken 3, 1998, Namco Ltd., Namco Hometek, Inc., PlayStation. Tennis for Two, 1958. Higinbotham, W. Tetris, 1989, Pajitnov, A., Nintendo of America, Inc., Game Boy. Tomb Raider, Core Design Ltd., Eidos Interactive, PlayStation. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, 2003, Core Design Ltd., Eidos Interactive, PlayStation 2. Winning Eleven 6: Final Evolution, 2003, Konami Computer Entertainment Kobe (KCEK), Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Co., Ltd., GameCube. Wolfenstein 3D, 1991, Apogee Software Ltd., Apogee Software Ltd., PC DOS Zelda I –VI, 1987-2003, Nintendo Co. Ltd, Nintendo of America, Inc., Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, GameCube. As a business, the economics of a return on investment figures importantly into the reasons as to why so many violent games are produced. Simply speaking there is a market for them! The high cost of producing games engenders a desire within the companies financing games production to ensure a return on their investment. In most popular mass culture, this has seen a cautious approach to creating content. There has been a streamlining of the creation of content, be it music, films or games, that has seen the removal of as many variables as possible in order to produce content that can be easily quantified and accounted for. Companies are reluctant to take risks and the simplest way of avoiding them is to repeat previously profitable formulae, or in the case of a developing medium, such as games, to adopt the techniques of the more developed and superficially similar medium of cinema. Designers are reliant upon the finance provided by publishing companies to create games. This has seen the production of numerous games based on Hollywood films and characters, or the construction of games that can be marketed and sold on the strength of their cinematic aesthetics and sensibilities. Computer and video game companies base their strategies of what to produce based upon careful market research and raw numbers, and the fact is, since 50% of the market has been and continues to be buying violent game content, they will continue to design and market these types of games! And while the problem is deep seated, there is a logical and easy solution, if only the adults will play along. The survey conducted by the Interactive Digital Software Association (2001), indicated the following statistics: adults purchase 90% of all games sold And that is the only statistic that will be utilized to make the point. As the controlling variable in the purchase, it is the adults that need to be reached. The problem is how? Educating Adults to the problem is the logical answer. But as the primary buyers of games overall, they are also heavy buyers of violent game content themselves. The preceding is more than an ethical dilemma, it is a cultural one. One whereby the cycle needs to be broken with the same vigor and force that instilled it in the first place. But, that took decades and billions in advertising and marketing dollars to put into place. Thus it seems that the only force large enough to impact upon this situation are governments. Therein lies the ethical problem, for this speaks of another regulation is a world that is fast becoming over regulated in order to save ourselves from ourselves! The solution that the preceding is leading up to is the same as has been done in the instance of cigarette smoking, warning labels on each box as a mandated action. Could the foundation for this approach be similar to the health risk utilized in the instance of cigarettes, only in this instance as a societal risk? That represents an extremely touchy subject as it seemingly broaches upon freedom of choice. The warning labels and legislation to curtail smoking has achieved success as a result of the non-smokers who did not wish to inhale second hand smoke in restaurants, offices and other public indoor locales. These restrictions did not and do not restrict smokers for smoking. Thus, why would it curtail violent game players from playing. Thus, could a violent game tax be the solution. This would or might represent a choice in that the extra money so charged would be put into a victims and marketing fund to fuel additional education on the dangers of violence. Seemingly, that might create an outcry as well, however, as is the case with any type of social change, the majority wins out, thus the non-violent lobby would have to organize itself for a long

Friday, October 25, 2019

Clifton Suspension Bridge Essay -- History Historical Bridge Architect

Clifton Suspension Bridge The Clifton Suspension Bridge is located in Bristol England, and spans the beautiful Avon gorge. This bridge has become the symbol of Bristol much like the Eiffel tower has of Paris, and the Opera house has of Sydney. The story of the Clifton Suspension Bridge began in 1754 with the dream of a Bristol wine merchant who donated his life savings to build a bridge over the gorge. To decide on a suitable design for the bridge a competition was held. Thomas Telford, the leading civil architect of the time was the judge. Mr. Telford attempted to submit his own design; however the decision to declare himself the winner was overruled and a second competition was held. This time, contrary to the recommendation of Thomas Telford, 24 year old Isambard Kindom Brunel was declared the winner and appointed project engineer. Brunel’s design consisted of a suspension bridge that spanned the breath of the gorge. Telford disagreed with the concept of erecting a suspension bridge of this size in such an exposed position. His doubt was likely a result of the near destruction of his last project the Menai suspension bridge. Nonetheless Brunel was given his first commission, and construction on the bridge began. The foundation stone was laid in 1831, however the project was plagued with political problems and by 1843 the project was abandon with only the towers complete. Before the political and funding problems could be resolved Brunel died an unexpected death at just 53 years old and the project had to be finished with out him. The design of the bridge was altered after his death. The original scheme was far more ornate with stone lions and Egyptian inspired decoration, these were left off the engineers who finished t... ...le plagued this project and by the time it was complete it was no longer the largest spanning bridge, though it is still a spectacular bridge sitting 76 meter above a deep gorge. Certainly a site worth seeing, apparently it is breathtaking to drive down the road to Bristol, turn a sharp corner and the white structure spanning the gorge. Today it costs 30p to cross the bridge in a car, pedestrians are not charged, and the speed limit has recently been raised to 25 miles per hour. Work Cited 1.) http://www.clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk/index.php, October 27, 2004 2.) http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Clifton_Suspension_Bridge.html, October 27, 2004 3.) http://www.farvis.com/bridge,htm.htm, October 27, 2004 4.) http://www.about-bristol.co.uk/lnd-00.asp, October 27, 2004 5.) http://www.brantacan.co.uk/suspension.htm, October 27, 2004

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

My Dog Skip

English 101 09/17/2012 Gonzalo Garcia My dog skip When my english professor said to me that we was going to see â€Å"My dog Skip†, sincerely, I thought the film would be very boring. â€Å"the typical family film† I said. The only fact that glad me was that we went going to miss class. The praises that the professor said about the movie was useless, I thought that the movie would be boring. So, I started to see the movie. Soon I realized that the movie is not the comedy film, it is different.Little by little it begins to engage you until you cannot stop seeing the film. This movie does not look for too funny with a simple story line, easily jokes, and characters without evolution. My dog skip go far away showing a very good story line, an excellent soundtrack, and a excellent characters The story is set in 1942, town of Yazoo City, Mississippi during World War II. The story explores a family of three, Jack, Ellen, and Willie Morris. Willie is a shy boy. Ellen decides to go against father's orders and purchase Willie a faithful companion of his own for his birthday: a puppy.Although Jack firmly opposes this gift, his wife convinces him Willie is old enough to take care of a dog. Willie names his new friend Skip. The dog will become very well-known and popular among locals, and assist children to have higher self-confidence causing Willie make their first friends. The story line although it may seem simple in its approach is very deep and emotive. The story is about things like the value of friendship. For example, can be seen as the beginning of a child movie Willie is sad, lonely and left mauling by his classmates.But this situation is changing when he gives his dog skip and start having friends becoming someone much happier and self-confident. Another subject on which the film is about is the difficulty of integration that can have a young child due to continuing taunts that he receives from their peers. Causing great uncertainty in himself tha t prevents that he tries to relate to other children. At the beginning of the movie can be seen as Willie always is alone and with his head down due to its insecurity. This not only causes sadness in himself, also in their parents who feel the sadness of your child as much as the.Also another issue that the movie is about is that of a young man who gets involved in the war. In the film can be seen as both man that going to war and their loved ones and friends suffer by the uncertainty of whether he will return. This can be seen especially in the scene in which the bus returning from the army but they do not see the guy that they are expecting what causes them great sorrow. The best part of the movie is the final. When Willie is already elder and tells us the story of skip, is as Skip was our dog. It is very emotive. Is very difficult do not get excited with it.It is one of the best finals that I have never seen. Overall â€Å"My Dog Skip† has an excellent soundtrack. Always p erfectly accompanies the action. Generally is very quiet and leisurely helping to get involved more and more in the story line. This soundtrack gives as result some moments very emotional. For example when some men hit skip with a shovel and let him unconscious. Is likely to cry with this part. Other moment that stands out is when his mother gives Skip to Willie for first time and his father takes it away. In this part you feel sadness after they had seen the face of joy Willie and his later disappointment.Also must be emphasized the end of the movie already discussed above. In all these moments the soundtrack accompany action perfectly making us feel part of the movie. Finally, also must be emphasized that he characters also are very good. In general all characters are good, but in my opinion there are three characters that highlight over the rest: Jack is the heartbroken father who lost his leg in war years ago. Ellen is the simple minded housewife doing more manual labors than wo men usually complete. Willie, the protagonist with skip, is their lonely son-maybe ten years of age.He has no local friends, is poor at sports and teased at school. His best acquaintance is in his mid-twenties, a mechanic named Dink (Luke Wilson), who is called for battle not too long into the picture, leaving Willie all alone. Willie is the best character. He achieves get excited with his starring. For example, when he sees how one man hit Skip with one shovel. This scene is so hard that is almost impossible do not cry. Willie transmits his feelings very good, when he issad we are sad and when he is happy we are happy. This is the magic of this film. Moreover, we cannot forget Skip. He is only a dog, but I do not how I love him.May be, because I also had a dog, when I was younger and I fell identified with Willie and Skip. In conclusion, My dog Skyp is a very good film. Although at the beginning it seem a typical comedy film soon it engages you thanks to beautiful story, the good c haracters, and the emotive soundtrack. Every thing in the movie works good, there are not something that lower the lever. May be the only negative thing is that history is predictable. You know that something bad will happen to skip and that the finale will be sad. But the movie will remain in your memory during a lot of time, specially his fantastic finale.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

AMX Resources essays

AMX Resources essays ID Love ( Director, Non-executive Dir. ) MJ Palmer ( Chairman, Director, Non-executive Dir. ) With the $30,000 I had to invest I bought 37980 shares in the company at $0.79. Then I waited and hoped that they would go up. When the shares reached the price of $1.24 I sold them. One reason for this was that on observing the stock exchange and some of the stocks that rise rapidly is that after a while the stocks drop because everybody wants to sell them before other people do and the price drops. The day after I sold the shares in AMX Resources the price dropped $0.14 to $1.10. After that it dropped steadily to $0.98. When it reached this point I thought I might buy them again but I didn ¡t and the price didn ¡t rise until after our trading time had finished. h Will Becker gave me a tip. (A big reason as I don ¡t have much idea on the stock exchange) h I looked into the company and there was a bit of movement going on and so I thought it might go up. h I didn ¡t have anything else to invest in. h It was a mining share and so prone to extremely big changes. AMX Resources is a company mainly involved in the gold exploration sector. The company has been around for a while and so I thought it would be a good buy. Another thing I looked at whilst looking for a share to buy was the year high and the year low. I suppose in a way I was lucky that someone in our group was pretty involved in the stock exchange. I was also lucky that the stock went up and didn ¡t crash. There is not much control over the stock market and so any money that is won is either a lot of good luck or a bit and some good management. With this share I started with $30,000. ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Rollercoaster essays

Rollercoaster essays The purpose of the hill at the beginning of the ride is to build up a reservoir of energy. Potential energy or the energy of height as it is known because since the ground has zero potential energy then anything above the ground has a greater than zero potential energy, and the potential energy increases with increasing height. As the ball gets higher in the air there is a greater distance through which the gravity can pull the ball down. The potential energy you build going up the hill can be released as kinetic energy which is the energy of motion and the effect of this is that it puts the ball in motion. Roller coaster loops are much like a teardrop in shape, which is geometrically referred to as a clothoid loop. A clothoid is where the radius is constantly changing, not like a circle where the radius is constant. The radius at the bottom of the clothoid loop is much larger than the radius at the top. When a roller coaster is travelling through a clothoid loop they experience acceleration from a change in speed as well as a change in direction. In a circle the rider moves to the right, upside down and then to the left. There is always change in direction which is one characteristic that causes an object to accelerate. From energy transformations an increase in height (and therefore a increase in potential energy) results in an increase in kinetic energy and the converse is also true. The effect of this is that the rider experiences the greater speeds at the bottom and the lowest speeds at the top, a change in velocity is also a characteristic of acceleration. This concept of acceleration as a rider moves through the loop is described as a result of centripetal force. The acceleration of the rider has two components. The one that is directed towards the centre of the circle (centripetal force) and is the cause of the direction change, which affects the ball to move in a circle. The other is directed t ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Information Technology Revolution essays

The Information Technology Revolution essays Information technology is a fundamental change which is taking place in the nature and application of technology in business. This change has profound and far-reaching implications for an organization. Information technology is driven by the demands of the new, competitive business environment on the one hand and profound changes in the nature of computers in the other. Information Technology systems come in the shape of many technologically advanced devices which help deliver important information to managers who in turn, use this information to make a crucial decision regarding the operations of their organization. Information Technology can come in the form of computers, robots, sensors, and decision support systems. The newest form of Information Technology which is being implemented on the market today is the use of handhelds to aid managers and subordinates in their day to day operations. Is information Technology Flawless? Information technology (IT) is revolutionizing how bus iness operates. Advanced information technology is becoming the single most powerful force shaping the structure and functioning of work organizations, plants, offices, and executive suites. However, this revolution has not been without casualties, such as systems not running as they were supposed to, millions of dollars lost in downtime and missed opportunities, as well as computer systems that intended to expand creativity productivity instead turned around and made unwanted organizational responses and remained sluggish. These Information Technology systems usually fall short of their potential due to the failure to understand and manage the mutual influences of technology and organization throughout the extended implementation process. In recent years, many corporations have made major investments in the area of information technology. Despite these large investments, productivity and efficiency gains related to IT have been disappointing at times f...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

A research paper of a film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

A research paper of a film - Essay Example Most importantly, the information is stored for future use and hence conserves the culture of the respective individuals. In most instances, the background of the writers greatly influences the nature of the film. In particular, it is widely agreed that the previous experiences of the writers are commonly highlighted in the films. This is because of the fact that the respective experiences shape the perceptions of the authors as well as the decisions that they make. To a great extent, their previous experiences regarding education and professional develop have a direct impact on the quality of the products that the individuals present on the market. Perhaps the most important aspect pertains to the culture of the author or director of the film. In most instances, this will always be reflected in the piece of work. It is against this background that this paper explores the themes presented in The Wedding Banquet in light of Ang Lee’s experiences. To enhance a harmonic consideration, the paper begins by highlighting the cultural setting of the film. The Wedding Banquet is an Asian-American film that is based on both the American and Asian values, virtues, traditions and culture. Seemingly, it explores the aforementioned cultural aspects through its characters and themes. According to Berry, this is aimed at bridging the gaps between the American and Asian cultures in an effort to come up with a complex and unified version (Berry 33). From a cultural point of view, unification or reconciliation of cultures is an important aspect of enhancing cultural growth. Put differently, this makes the audience to understand and appreciate both cultures. From a business standpoint, this is instrumental in enabling the film to reach a broader and more diversified client base. Undoubtedly, this is critical in enabling the author to meet his or her business goals without compromising the

Friday, October 18, 2019

Team conflict x 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Team conflict x 2 - Essay Example Personal level conflicts arise due to temperamental differences, competitive attitude, egocentric bias etc. While in the case of peer to peer relations, personal interests get involved, in the case of boss to subordinate relations, conflicts would lead to underperformance and disobedience. Relational conflicts are easy to foresee as individual attitudes get easily noted as potential threats; failure to meet milestones in a time-bound manner is a sure sign of team conflict, arising mainly out of differences in goal interpretation and ways to achieve same. Conflicts play an important role in generating new ideas and hence all conflicts are not necessarily undesirable. A task may be performed in different ways and if a team member believes that there is scope for improvement in the way it is being done at present and hence voices his/her opinion, even though it may lead to conflict with colleagues or the team leader, such conflicts are to be assessed for the overall benefit to an organization, setting aside individual ego problems. Thus it is not appropriate to create an entirely sterile atmosphere that The issue here is the insecurity and jealousy of the team mates vis-Ã  -vis Vladimir and his superlative achievements. A reading of the case history clearly points to the fact that Vladimir is not averse to adjust himself to his work situation, his colleagues are not unappreciative of his talents and that given a helping hand, the situation can be brought under control. As the team leader, first task would be to settle the dispute before it escalates any further. I would call for a group meeting of my team in which Vladimir and his distracters take part. In the meeting, I will unequivocally condemn the incident and elaborate on the dire consequences that would follow if the issue is taken to its logical conclusion through a police complaint etc. Following this

Direct and e-Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Direct and e-Marketing - Essay Example One of the basic principles of the Direct Marketing is usage of a database for storing personal customer data and their purchase history. Roll notes that fundamental benefit to the business is that you are able to treat your existing customers in a different way to new prospects and thus create loyalty and maximize profitability. (Roll 2003) So the main purpose of the Direct and e-Marketing for Les Cadeaux Gourmets is to carry out an active strategy and to get more sales from the returned customers. Customer lifetime value (also variously referred to as lifetime customer value or just lifetime value, and abbreviated CLV, LCV, or LTV) is a marketing metric that projects the value of a customer over the entire history of that customer's relationship with a company. Use of customer lifetime value as a marketing metric tends to place greater emphasis on customer service and long-term customer satisfaction, rather than on maximizing short-term sales. (Wikipedia). As Les Cadeaux Gourmets spend some money for advertisement to attract a number of customers, it would be unreasoned to loose them. Calculating customer lifetime value will help company to know exactly how much each customer is worth in dollar terms and therefore exactly how much a marketing department should be willing to spend to acquire each customer. Thus it would be possible to range customers from the most profitable to the least ones and to concentrate the company's efforts on the most profitable customers. Use of customer lifetime value can also help to predict what customers will buy over years. For example, if Mary Smith buys a toy for a 4-year baby in 2005, she will probably order a toy for a 5-year baby in 2006. If Mr. Jones buys bath & body care pieces in March three years in a row, it's possible to make a conclusion that he makes presents for the birthday of his wife and send offering with new products to him in the next March. So Les Cadeaux Gourmets should truck its customers' purchases and use them for planning its advertising campaign. Also the company should monitor customers' responses over time for as long as the relationship with them lasts. Geodemographic profiling uses detailed information based on postcode to match differing lifestyle profiles to the customer database. Postcodes do not resolve down to individual addresses but provide pretty good targeting. Les Cadeaux Gourmets can use geodemographic division of customers into some categories and then offer its goods to each specific category. For example, customers ranking by nationality allows taking into consideration national traditions. Les Cadeaux Gourmets can congratulate customers from Israel with Hanukah, customers from the Middle East with Ramadan and wish other customers Merry Christmas. As a result of this national-specific proposals could be sent to each category. Use of external database with information about postcodes and countries also allows choosing seasonal proposals: in winter there is cold in the US and hot in Australia. Les Cadeaux Gourmets can use this information for advertising of clothes and other season-specific goods. Special databases cover such categories as consumer expenditure, crime statistics, business and employment, and many others. One of the more powerful special databases is called a segmentation system. A segmentation system is useful because it allows users to add another dimension by displaying lifestyle clusters

Costco Wholesale Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Costco Wholesale Corporation - Case Study Example Though less readily measurable, it is apparently accompanied by a shrinking of activities for the few remaining general merchandising wholesalers and a loss of sales for small stores carrying women's and children's apparel, particularly in low and medium-quality lines. Costco is a closed-door store which allows only "members" access to the store through membership eligibility as defined by rather broad classifications of government employees, teachers, union members, or employees of government contractors (see Appendix 4). The chain carries a wide range of soft goods and apparel, but also gives major attention to furniture, appliances, food, and automotive supplies. Several of the closed door operations have recently opened their doors to the general public. "Examples of Costco's incredible annual sales volumes included 96,000 carats of diamonds (2006), 1.5 million televisions, $300 million worth of digital cameras, 28 million rotisserie chickens (over 500,000 weekly), 40 percent of the Tuscan olive oil bought in the United States, $16 million worth of pumpkin pies during the fall holiday season, $3 billion worth of gasoline, 21 million prescriptions, and 52 million $1.50 hot dog/soda pop combinations" (Thompson p. 2008, p. C5). Low operating margins achieved through volume sales and limited service expenditures for clerks, delivery, credit, and so on have allowed prices which average about 15% below those of the department stores and specialty shops with which discount stores compete in the sale of soft goods. Full-size food supermarkets are being established within many of the new large discount stores. Because of consumers' long experience in comparing food values between stores and because of the frequency of food store visits by the average family, these food departments are attractive to the soft-goods stores as traffic builders, and are frequently operated with planned narrow margins (or even planned losses) to maximize their drawing power (Costco Home P age 2008). Chief Elements of the Costco's strategy The uniqueness of Costco strategy is that it proposes advantages and benefits to its members only, except gasoline and beverage products. The closed-door stores depend primarily on word of mouth and on mail promotion to their members to publicize the attractive values offered. Costco does not make extensive use of advertising media to give publicity to the low prices and special values which they offer. Major retail innovations involve an "invention" of new means of performing the retailing function. They are dependent on concomitant developments in products, in physical handling technology, and in organization at the wholesale supply level; but, most important of all, they are dependent on changes in the income, location, and style of life of consumers (Drejer 2002). In contrast to other retailers, Costco proposes wide product rage: "Whereas typical supermarkets stocked about 40,000 items and a Wal-Mart Supercenter or a SuperTarget might have as many as 150,000 items for shoppers to choose from, Costco's merchandising strategy was to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Evaluating Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Evaluating Culture - Essay Example If this value is missed, then this will limit my personal success, thinking and behaviours. I remember, once I was working on my assignment and there was not much research available for me, like I was stuck what i suppose to do, from where I get related data. At that time the value of self-awareness plays a vital role and I consulted my teachers and think ways to overcome such problems and finally due to self-awareness I did not panic but tried to find more positive ways and outcomes to resolve my problems. This value enabled me to think what motives are essential to free yourself from your own de-motivating behaviours. Many people failed to realize the importance between value statements and learning. These values are always beneficial to overcome many issues when we are involved in something. It is very important for us to act properly, identify our values which will allow us to create more productive options while we are doing any task and ways to accomplish them effectively (Troc him and Donnelly, 2008). References Trochim, W.K. & Donnelly, J.P. (2008), Research methods knowledge base (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Research - Essay Example ted patient to 30 degrees, controlling venous thromboembolism through anticoagulation and use of chronological compression devices, initiating early mobilization, practicing good hand hygiene, giving patient gastric acid histamine 2 blockers and performing daily routine interruption at 10 am to find the neurological status. The objective of this research paper is to support the argument that oral care in terms of timed tooth brushing in combination with VAP bundle can help prevent and mitigate the occurrence of VAP. This project specifically addresses timed oral care of medical ICU, neurologic and unconsciously ventilated patient on a twenty-four hour bed stroke. Several patients were formed into a control group that performed a usual oral care of brushing teeth after every eight hours. The results were quiet startling (A life in the day, 2013)The VAP rate in the intervention group dropped to zero after one week of every eight hours brushing. The result was so successful that the intervention group was released after six months and the teeth of all incubated patient after every eight hours until a zero rate maintained at the end of study. There is inadequate evidence to show whether difference in the duration of brushing has any effect on the outcome on the mechanically ventilated patient. There is ins ufficient evidence of the effects of other oral care

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Costco Wholesale Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Costco Wholesale Corporation - Case Study Example Though less readily measurable, it is apparently accompanied by a shrinking of activities for the few remaining general merchandising wholesalers and a loss of sales for small stores carrying women's and children's apparel, particularly in low and medium-quality lines. Costco is a closed-door store which allows only "members" access to the store through membership eligibility as defined by rather broad classifications of government employees, teachers, union members, or employees of government contractors (see Appendix 4). The chain carries a wide range of soft goods and apparel, but also gives major attention to furniture, appliances, food, and automotive supplies. Several of the closed door operations have recently opened their doors to the general public. "Examples of Costco's incredible annual sales volumes included 96,000 carats of diamonds (2006), 1.5 million televisions, $300 million worth of digital cameras, 28 million rotisserie chickens (over 500,000 weekly), 40 percent of the Tuscan olive oil bought in the United States, $16 million worth of pumpkin pies during the fall holiday season, $3 billion worth of gasoline, 21 million prescriptions, and 52 million $1.50 hot dog/soda pop combinations" (Thompson p. 2008, p. C5). Low operating margins achieved through volume sales and limited service expenditures for clerks, delivery, credit, and so on have allowed prices which average about 15% below those of the department stores and specialty shops with which discount stores compete in the sale of soft goods. Full-size food supermarkets are being established within many of the new large discount stores. Because of consumers' long experience in comparing food values between stores and because of the frequency of food store visits by the average family, these food departments are attractive to the soft-goods stores as traffic builders, and are frequently operated with planned narrow margins (or even planned losses) to maximize their drawing power (Costco Home P age 2008). Chief Elements of the Costco's strategy The uniqueness of Costco strategy is that it proposes advantages and benefits to its members only, except gasoline and beverage products. The closed-door stores depend primarily on word of mouth and on mail promotion to their members to publicize the attractive values offered. Costco does not make extensive use of advertising media to give publicity to the low prices and special values which they offer. Major retail innovations involve an "invention" of new means of performing the retailing function. They are dependent on concomitant developments in products, in physical handling technology, and in organization at the wholesale supply level; but, most important of all, they are dependent on changes in the income, location, and style of life of consumers (Drejer 2002). In contrast to other retailers, Costco proposes wide product rage: "Whereas typical supermarkets stocked about 40,000 items and a Wal-Mart Supercenter or a SuperTarget might have as many as 150,000 items for shoppers to choose from, Costco's merchandising strategy was to

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Research - Essay Example ted patient to 30 degrees, controlling venous thromboembolism through anticoagulation and use of chronological compression devices, initiating early mobilization, practicing good hand hygiene, giving patient gastric acid histamine 2 blockers and performing daily routine interruption at 10 am to find the neurological status. The objective of this research paper is to support the argument that oral care in terms of timed tooth brushing in combination with VAP bundle can help prevent and mitigate the occurrence of VAP. This project specifically addresses timed oral care of medical ICU, neurologic and unconsciously ventilated patient on a twenty-four hour bed stroke. Several patients were formed into a control group that performed a usual oral care of brushing teeth after every eight hours. The results were quiet startling (A life in the day, 2013)The VAP rate in the intervention group dropped to zero after one week of every eight hours brushing. The result was so successful that the intervention group was released after six months and the teeth of all incubated patient after every eight hours until a zero rate maintained at the end of study. There is inadequate evidence to show whether difference in the duration of brushing has any effect on the outcome on the mechanically ventilated patient. There is ins ufficient evidence of the effects of other oral care

Classroom Management Essay Example for Free

Classroom Management Essay Classroom management and discipline are two very important building blocks in a successful classroom. Setting rules and expectations for students has many positive benefits. Not only will students feel more comfortable in a stable well managed classroom, they will also learn more because there will be less distractions. Students in a classroom that are well managed will also retain the information for longer periods of time rather than just for the moment to make a good grade. Teachers want more than anything for their students to learn life skills that they can carry on with them into the future. Teachers want their classrooms to be a place that students look forward to attending to learn and feel safe and relaxed. In any classroom teachers want there to be mutual respect among teacher and students. In a classroom everything is to be organized and in its place, this will make it easy to move on from one subject or activity to the next without distractions. Colorful classrooms will make a fun and inviting environment for all kinds of students. Teachers should not want to have bland classrooms that bring the mood down with nothing fun or happy to look at. A classroom where students run wild and do whatever they want will not work for teachers or students. Many time school is not taken as seriously as it should be especially in younger grade levels, these are the years that form the minds of children, and their experiences in the classroom will have an effect of how they form into young adults. Most believe that all students have the want to learn. Fourth grade is about the time that students start paying more attention to their peers and surroundings. All students want to feel that they belong and be in an environment that they feel comfortable in. Therefore as a teachers it is their job to make sure that attention is paid to what the students are telling teachers even if they are not saying it out loud, and also to make sure that they are helped to learn not only what is written in the books, but also help them to learn about themselves. Section 2: Positive Climate A classroom is a place where teachers want students to love to be. First and most importantly all classrooms will have a set of rules and expectations that will be followed by teachers as well as students. If teachers do not set a good example in their classrooms, rules set for students will not be successful. The desks should be lined up in perfect rows making it easy to navigate around them, and give the students plenty of personal space. All the colors of the rainbow in a classroom make it a happy bright place. There will be posters on the walls with fun facts for students to read, along with classroom rules and expectations. A section full of pillows for students to relax and read, along with a section for games and group activities are positive spaces to have in a classroom. A great classroom will allow students to explore and learn on their own as well. As students are welcomed into the classroom, they will be met at the door with a happy smiling face and an excited positive attitude. The students will be allowed to find their desks, which will have their names on them, which will in that instance give them a sense of belonging. There will be games played on the first day to lighten the mood and help everyone get to know one another. Section 3: Rules, Consequences, and Procedures. The rules that will be established in a classroom should not be large in number. They will be rules that will keep the classroom running smoothly and keep students happy and respecting the teacher as well as their peers. With a solid easy to understand set of rules a teacher should expect that there will be a positive outcome. Starting with the first day of class rules and consequences will be established with all students. This information will be posted on the wall so that students can always see the rules to be reminded of what is expected of them. These rules and consequences are not to be used to make students afraid or uncomfortable, it’s so they will be shown and explained in a positive way, maybe even by playing a game to lighten the fact that there are rules that must be followed at all times. Rules: 1. Show respect to yourself as well as others 2. Keep hands and feet to yourself 3. Pay attention and follow directions 4. Raise your hand before speaking in class and use your indoor voice 5. Be prepared to learn Consequences There is a consequence to students’ actions whether it be a positive or negative one. Every week there will be a new chart made by the students with their names and five spaces for each day of the week, by allowing the students to make the charts themselves it gives them a way to express themselves and individuals. During the week their behaviors will be monitored and they will receive red dots for good and blue dots for bad behavior, at the end of the week the person with the most red dots will get a special treat. All the other students who have red dots will have a down time to read or play games. Students with blue dots will have to sit at their desks and go over the lesson or read silently, and not chat with their peers. If behavior is bad throughout the week and is becoming a habit the student will be taken aside and talked to. Not in a negative way but in a way to try and figure out what the teacher and student can do as a team to make the situation better. Make sure to ask the student if they may have a solution for the problem at hand. Procedures: 1. Restroom – ask, take bathroom pass, wash hands before returning to class. 2. Asking questions – raise hand and wait to be called upon 3. Turning in work – when work is complete quietly walk to the front of the room and put assignment in correct bin. 4. Needing help – place the red dice on the top of your desk and teacher will come to help with questions. 5. Changing activities – replace all materials being used, move back to desk and get materials ready for next assignment. Section 4: Specific Discipline Procedures or Measures Preventing bad behavior in the classroom may seem impossible, but in all honesty it may be attainable. If teachers keep a well managed classroom and their behaviors shadow the expectations that are given to the students, good behavior will be the outcome. By having all rules and expectations in an area where all students can see them, they will be reminded of them and be more likely to follow them. By having consequences for good and bad behavior this will help students to practice good behavior because they will already know the outcome of their actions. All desks will be facing the teachers desk so that they can see the teacher at all times. Keeping them in straight rows will also help students in keeping their hands and feet to themselves because they will all have adequate room. The white board where assignments are written, and the board with their behavior charts will be at the front of the class as well so they may see them at all times also. To help students who misbehave the teacher should take the time out to speak to the student in a one on one setting, giving the student the chance to explain themselves, and maybe express why they are behaving the way they are, and what steps they think they may need to take to fix the problem at hand. Teachers should not act as if they know what the problem is and how it should be fixed without giving the student a chance to speak as well. Good behaviors should be acknowledged as well, do not only focus on the bad. After speaking with the student take steps to help with behavior by asking the student how they are doing and if there is anything more you can do to help. If behavior continues to be bad, maybe taking a step for after school one on one time should be used to further access the problem. If a student violates school board policy, state regulations, or criminal laws steps outside of classroom discipline will have to be put into motion. If a student ever breaks any of these rules, school officials as well as the students parents will be called and actions will then be taken to fix the situations. Section 5: Approach to Discipline Personally I prefer Ginotts’ approach to discipline. I like the fact that he thinks the student should have the chance to express their opinion in the situation. By the teacher showing respect for the student and their thoughts I think this would be a very good approach because you gain the respect and trust from the student by showing them the same. There are times that I know that I am correct in a given situation, but I do not like to act as if I know everything; I like to give the other person a chance to make their case and explain why they feel the way they do. As I person I do not like to make people feel foolish so I respect every opinion and give mine in a nice respectful way. That is why I think that Ginott’s style fits my personality.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Business Plan For Online Shoe Shop Marketing Essay

Business Plan For Online Shoe Shop Marketing Essay Today, there are many shoe companies that sell their product through website. The customer can have much type of shoes and can choose varieties of latest shoes fashion on the web. In this task, I will find some sample website to give me some ideas on the arrangement for the new Special Shoe website. The sample website will be explained in details. The following are three websites that I have found in the Internet. http://www.mbt-shoescom.com/ A B C D E F Figure 1. (mbt-shoescom.com) Above figure shown all the MBT shoes shown on this website are much cheaper with a guaranteed quality, there is no minimum order, and you can enjoy a wholesale price even when you order one product. If you would like to put a large order, there is also more discount base on the wholesale price. MBT Online Shoe promises the good will 100% satisfy you. All the products here can be returned within 7 days after you receiving them. But the products cannot be returned in used condition unless defectives which are the manufacturers-responsibility are found. The MBT Online Shoes will be shipped within 3 days after receiving your payment. You can cancel your order within 24 hours after your order. MAIN LINKS These are links that connect customers to all main page of the website. Home Page This is about the web home page display in the great design to attract online customer to view this website. New Product This is one of the product that customer can imagine how new MBTshoe are design in latest version and trendy. Shopping Cart Customers are provided a shopping list when shopping through this website My Account This Website also provides a special form for customers to create accounts on MBT Sports Shoes, you will be able to shop faster, get information on the status of your order and may review the orders you have previously made. Contact Us This Website also provides a special space for customers to contact the company by writing a few words on the form provided. PRODUCTS This site is where customer can see one of the latest models of the sport shoes advertised in this website ADVERTISEMENT This plot is an advertisement for the use of shoes, it is a motto used by these company to promote their products. Walking in MBTs, Walking in conventional shoes and Revolution begins in the sole. CATEGORIES Customers can also find their favorite shoes in here, such like:- 2010 MBT new style MBT Sandle shoes Ospop shoes MBT Casual shoes for Mens MBT Sport shoes for Womens MBT Casual shoes for Womens Air max shoes for Mens Air max shoes for Womens SPECIAL OFFER This column advertised special offer for the latest model and style of the shoes. PRODUCT This is the site where customer can see a lot of the latest models of the sport shoes advertised in this website with special price. http://www.schuh.co.uk/ A C B D E F G Figure 2. (Schuh.co.uk) Above figure showing another sample of website, Schuh is born in North Bridge Arcade, Edinburgh since1981, its first Glasgow Store opens in Gordon Street in 1993, and its caused a sensation bringing color and variety to the footwear fashion scene in the City until now theyve dolled up their Birmingham Bullring and Belfast stores and relocated their Newcastle Eldon Square branch to the swanky new center extension. Schuh is the Best Multichannel Retailer at the Drapers retail awards and Footwear Retailer of the Year and Multiple Footwear Retailer of the Year at the Drapers Footwear awards 2010. COMPANY LOGO This is the companys logo, once it clicked its go to home page. CUSTOMERS CORNER This corner is for customer use together with company contact number. MAIN LINKS These are the main links provided for customer to go directly to the main pages of this website. The web provides 7 different links: Women This link provides types and brands of the women shoes where the customers can choose it. Men In this link, the customers can search different types and brands of the men shoes. Brands This link provides all women and men brands shoes from a to z brands shoes. Junior This link is for kids shoe either boys or girls. Bags This link is provides the products such as shoes bags and shoes cares. Sale This link is special for selling men and women shoes at reduced prices. It also provides categories for customers to choose and select on what they want from type, size and color. Help This link button provide an help services that customers might have ask such as customer services, track my order, check my gift card balance, delivery info, returns policy, size guides, FAQs and care maintenances. PROMOTIONS This ad campaign is the latest shoes at a discounted rate of interest at all times. ADVITESMENT This website will never drop out to preach the new products to its customers, especially the pattern that has not been in previous advertising. GET NEWS This website also provides space for customers on the latest news items issued by the company. INFORMATION This room is where customers can reveal about this company. Customers can also ask any questions about ordering, shipping, and discerned the history of the company. http://www.shoes.co.uk/ A B G E C D F H Figure 3. (shoes.co.uk) Above figure showing another simple of website, this website nicely design to make attraction to all customers to buy the product on the web. Main Links These are links that connect customers to all main page of the website. Home Page This is about the web home page display in the great design to attract online customer to view this website. Women This link provides types and brands of the women shoes where the customers can choose it. Men In this link, the customers can search different types and brands of the men shoes such like: Fashion Comfort and Classic Sport and Skate Outdoor and Hiking Mens Slippers Mens Accessories School and College Kids This link displays a lot of shoes to children with various types, fishion, styles and the latest styles and great for boys and girls. Brand This link displays a lot of variety in the world famous brand shoes. Customers just choose the brand which is popular and in demand. Among others, such as Alegria, * art, Azor LA MODE, BAMBOO, Bose, Ben Sherman, Blink, and many more. Department At this link, customers can access what is requested by a fast and easy way, the department offers three such departments, Women, Men and Kids department. Sale This link displays and promotes various types of shoes with the lowest prices and the biggest discounts promised. Collections This column shows the variety of famous brand shoes it is a collection provided by the company to its customers loved ones. Customers can also see the brand of shoes they like. Departments This column created in the webpage which can links to each department such as Women, Man and Kids department and displays a lot of latest fashions and styles of verities type of shoes in side there. Promotions In this column display promotions advertisement for this month, a lot of discount for all items daily. Shop by Brand In this website customers also can find their favorites shoes in this column by clicking the brand names displayed. News blog This is Shoe Blog, It contain News from the UKs best online Shoe Shop. In this side customer also can see updated latest version of shoe styles and fashions. Members Area Customer can win  £100 in Shoes every month by signing up to the newsletter. Collections This column, the customer can see the shoes collections and their verities prizes and promotions. CONCLUSIONS I have completed my Task 1 and have found these three different views of sites that specialized in online selling shoes. It would be useful for me as a guide in designing the website for Special Shoes for the current season. Currently, the few outstanding new ideas and old merge into one unique design, simple and seasonal tastes of consumers. Various fashions and styles for elderly, youth, teens and children in particular create the desire for fulfilling their tastes with competitive prices, allowing consumers take the time to surf the web and shop online at any time, because the shop opens 24 hours a day. Through these websites, consumers will also be able to get great discounts, special gifts from the famous shoe company and enjoy fabulous deals. TASK 2 PROJECT PLAN TASK 3 POWER POINT DOCUMENTATION Infrastructure limitations Despite infrastructure limitations in the Pacific, the target markets in developed countries are likely to be Internet users. Start small If unsure, start small. An existing website helps develop capacity to interact with customers and measure web potential. Lobby Government for effective IT Strategy. Lobby Government for effective IT Strategy that develops infrastructure and builds local capacity. Aware of channel conflict Channel conflict will not go away by itself, it needs active management. There are many positive examples today such as multià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœchannel strategies. Thank You Thank you and I hope this presentation can lead the business to success. TASK 4- MARKETING PLAN In this task, I will prepare a brief marketing plan for special shoes with some sample activities that can be done to promote new e-commerce services. Marketing plan is to assist in the promotion of special shoes E-commerce Services and give them a brief idea on how to promote it to a wider market. There are many activities that can be done to promote the website. We can put a few advertisements in different media to promote the website, as an example, we can make advertisements through newspapers, television, radio, posters, banners, face book, twitter, e-mail, blogs and much more. Despite the many ways that can be used for advertising through the video, but I see the use Youtube.com as blatant advertising medium of the best video so far. This is because membership of the millions of YouTube highly beneficial to your video advertising. Implementation of the various ways to promote the website to reinforce the existing customers is to make a variety of activities in it. We can tell the latest news and activities via e-mail by sending a brochure, newsletter or through social networks like Face Book, Twitter, radio and TV advertisements. To attract new potential customers we have a range of activities and events of interest and gifts to be given to potential new customers solely to promote e-commerce services. We can publish advertisements in local newspapers to introduce the website address there. We can also issue a set of pamphlets on special shoe shop as enhance the website addresses to be distributed to the shops or to the public. We can also use banner advertisements on other websites, but we must get prior permission from the owner of the website. Similarly, the bulletin board signs therefore, we can place our banner advertisements on all those billboards. In addition, we can diversify the latest designs and images to be loaded into the website, Blog and the social networking site in this way we will be able to attract customers to our website. There we will show our company name and address to facilitate our customers to browse and visit our shoe shop. By participating in the social networks, it can increase the networks list so that we can intentionally promote new services in e-commerce. But do not forget to set the face book or Twitter as a business site, so people can add to or they can just simply click the button like and we can have lots of friends list. By doing this activity, we can promote new services. Perhaps what is called a search engine optimization is a way to get subscribers to your blog or website from search engines to identify some specific way. Many articles written about this and quite pleased to be applied into your web page. But in pursuit of the highest ranking position in search engines, sometimes we over-optimize your blog or website so we can show as overly optimized. Perhaps the following points will make your blog or website we are considered over Optimize Repeating several times the main keywords in the content of our web site to increase the key word density. Using keywords in bold or italic writing repeatedly in the articles are written. Placing the reference is not related to the other pages in our blog or website. Select a blog that has links do follow we put our comments, so we had the opportunity to enhance our position in the blog search engine. Besides, we have the opportunity to add subscribers at our website. This tactic may be effective in the short term to increase the highest ranking, but it will not last long. Sooner or later the search engine robot will be able to detect this and when this happens its likely to be significantly affected. Thus the best place to follow the basic meanssearch engine optimization without excess. Another type of promotional activities is offline activities. Such as publishing advertisements in certain newspapers, to display banner advertisements on billboards, and distribute brochures or flyers at the store or to the public, include the address of your store site would have many opportunities to get more potential customers. Follow the events gathering bloggers and make as many acquaintances. Merchandise Create and share your website, or to share things of interest-free. Write articles to the media and ask them to list your web address Include your web address on your business card, if you are the seminar speaker, say the name and address of your web site. If you have a chance to speak in more general says the name and address of your web site! Another no less effectiveness way is to introduce addresses into the yellow pages directory, draw a map that shows where the location of your store. In this way, subscribers would flock rushed to your store. Special shoes may use information collected from visitors to the website for further marketing activities. With this information collected, companies can use the information to create new value for subscribers. The new value for subscribers is as offering superior subscribers history online reservations, reserve under the previous purchase and display the latest information on products in which subscribers may be interested. In addition, if the shoe stores to a special e-commerce service provider succeed, they must involve all approaches as enabling potential customers to find information easily and adjust the depth and nature of the information. With this approach may encourage subscribers to buy. Special Shoe Stores must detect and check the behavior of subscribers or visitors that they can use the information to provide customized, value-added digital products and services in their websites. Special Shoe Stores need to use technology-enabled relationship management tools so they can increase their contact with subscribers to succeed. Online chiropody services to assist in promoting the new site. This is due to online services can help subscriber on how they can select the right shoe for them to buy. Especially when the shoe stores are advertised, either through online or offline promotional activities, subscriber may be interested in by the advertising that display on foot care services. It can make subscriber want to know about the shoes they should wear. This service may attract potential new subscriber, it can promote the services of Special Shoe Store e-commerce. Conclusion Based on a strategic marketing plan to promote new e-commerce is not so difficult. As long as we understand the business consequences of this in detail, at least we should know our finances. Although there are so many types of advertisement, if we do not have enough knowledge about the right marketing plan and finance is limited, so we cannot do any advertisement. With extensive knowledge of planning and marketing plan and financial strength, I believe, with the ingenuity of this plan it may help us to promote our website. So we can easily select specific advertisement with creativity and advertising information. Therefore, a brilliant plan really gives satisfaction to customers and shop owners themselves. (1,173 words)Listen Read phonetically TASK 5 LOCATING E-COMMERCE SITE Introduction As we have discussed in the previous task, one way to ensure that the new e-commerce site can be quickly and easily found by prospective customers is by making sure the search engine will be able to find it and place it as the top of the search result. In this task, I am going to explain more on this topic. Basically, a search engine is a software program that searches for sites based on the words that you designate as search terms. Search engines look through their own databases of information in order to find what it is that you are looking for. [Wendy Boswell, (2011) http://websearch.about.com/od/enginesanddirectories/a/searchengine.htm] The search engine positioning concept Before we take a look at the importance of the search engine positioning, let me discuss about the meaning of the search engine positioning first. The first step is done by an internet browser to find any information on the internet is to type keyword or keyword into the Google search bar. If they press enter, all the articles in the web of the index in search engines, which contain the keyword in the type of internet browsers today, will appear in the result. Keyword articles and is an important partner in the internet marketing. The importance of search engine positioning The search engine positioning for your website in the search engine result is very important because internet browsers are really hungry for information, or information contained in the various fields. Therefore, to provide information or information in the article is one of the most effective ways to attract visitors to our business web. Among the reasons why the article became a key marketing methods used by experts and specialists is the first internet marketer. Our website will be in the index in a short time in the search engines. When we send the articles on our products or services to the article directories, spider, crawler, boat from a search engine will immediately visit our article and scan each item, pictures, links, words, paragraphs and what characters are there in our article identify the title, category, class, keyword, etc.. Then the information will be brought back to the search engine databases for the index to facilitate looking through the internet browser key word search. 3 suggestions on sensible domain names Domain name is the foundation of this website access to the Internet. When the search engine locates the website, it will search for the domain name first. A good domain name for the page can help this process. Choose a domain name with the host in particular, should focus on the image and quality. Search Engine Optimization laid a strong foundation for the implementation. If people see the domain name, they would know the company since the name is representing the business. If the domain is simple and clear, it will be easier to remember. In this task I like to propose some domain names, which are good, simple and easy to remember such as: www.Specialshoe.com By using this name public would respond quickly about our company. The name also has a connection with the companys brand. The name of the company may be strong enough to get potential customers. I believe other company may not use the same name. www.Shoeassorted.com These names have the potential to be brought forward. The words are very simple and easily remembered by the people who are surfing the Internet. This name also seems to reflect the diversity of products that people are very excited to find out. But most likely this name has been used by other companies from other countries makes the opportunity to gain new customers is very thin. www.Shoeexecutive.com This is also the best name we could use. The name is appropriate for companies and communities can be attracted. As the two domain names that are very simple and easy to find. The most appropriate domain name We recommend using the www.Specialshoe.com the most appropriate name for the page Special Online Shoes Store, because:- Since the domain name is the same as the name of the store, please can just guess the name of the website. Character is not too long, relatively simple to remember. Domain name can assist in locating site for potential customer Just like when we choose name for a shop, website name also has to be chosen carefully because its important to be clear and concise about the services that you offer to avoid confusion. The reasons are twofold. Firstly, if potential customers know what they are getting they will be more likely to buy a service from you and hopefully become one of your loyal customers. Secondly, the search method of the search engine will prioritized the domain name. Hence, with the good name, the website will be easier to be found. Conclusion With an understanding of search engine rankings and the importance of the right domain name and is also important to provide the best possible service to you and you will minimize the level of complaints. Remember to build your business that the companys warehouses are here to help you on the road to success. The non-geographic users instruction to help your company to provide National and feels professional, even when you are just starting. We can provide you with your domain names and web sites designed with both the contact page. This page contains the contact form to allow customers to send e-mail automatically with ease and speed. Make sure you answer quickly to meet the needs of your customers and develop a loyal customer base. Established well with it, letterhead and other items of identity will help your company provides a professional atmosphere and attract customers. All these elements are part of customer service. (932 words) TASK 6- EFFECTIVE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Introduction In this task, we will explain the different supply chain management system that can effectively help to ensure that customers e-commerce web site is provided with a high level of service. The product flow includes the movement of goods from a supplier to a customer, as well as any customer returns or service needs. The information flow involves transmitting orders and updating the status of delivery. Services designed to meet the needs of each supply chain relationships. From purchasing to issue directions to the door delivery of goods to customers, supply chain management services also allows for lower costs and provide a real service to customers and can be expected. Tracking deliveries Settings for your goods transport and logistics, so it sent the right way, play an important role in selling our products to customers. Customers receive a confirmation after purchasing the product. They are given directly to their code number to track the journey of their products until the product arrives to the customer. With this, customers will not feel cheated and are not afraid to deal with the company but will continue to subscribe to our company as a regular customer. Not only due to the satisfaction felt by customers, but will recommend our company to new potential customers. Stock levels Ensure and monitor stock levels are adequate but not too much because the products are feared to be out of date and we need to make new reservations when the stock began to decline after we make an inventory of the forecast calculation of that appropriate. By doing these activities the customer will feel more confident and believe in the strength of our company and become loyal customers as their demands meet. Demand fluctuation Total supply and demand affect prices, because if demand is rising while supply remains more or less, there will be a shortage of goods, if other factors are considered fixed, the scarcity of goods would lead to higher prices, or otherwise the price will be cheaper. Fluctuations in prices will be influenced by supply and demand, while demand and supply is influenced by purchasing power, substitute products, customer tastes, and so forth. Price fluctuations will have a balance point for the interaction between supply and demand. Quality of the Products Product quality must be very satisfying to follow customers tastes of what they have purchased. Products must be in good condition during the course of transmission. Products must conform to what the customer purchase, especially in color, size and style they want. When customers receive the products ordered, it must be in perfect quality and no damage at all. Make sure customers are satisfied with what is in receipt. Product Detail Detail about the product on the website must be clear and easy for customers to get a description of the products they want to buy. Product information on the website should not has mistakes in it to prevent from customers not satisfy with the product they purchase. This website should identify key information such as prices of products, materials that the shoe are made from, some sizes have also been pervasive, special colors and, if necessary, weight can also be included in the product information. Conclusion The conclusion of this task is the business owner needs to understand the five ways of supply chain management to ensure that e-commerce new site is provided with a great level of service for customer. With all these explanations the company will get an idea of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹how to manage the business more efficient and more organized. Lastly e-commerce has brought a new dimension in the shoes industry and when these concepts can help to facilitate all parties involved, including suppliers, consultants and others in which any transaction between them can be done online. I hope all this explanation has met with the aim of job 6. TASK 7- RETURN POLICY Introduction and the objective of Task 7 In this task I would like to explain about return policy that you may return any item purchased on our website. Shoes must be returned in their original boxes, but the shoe boxes cannot be marked by shipping labels. Pending inspection, a refund will be issued to you using the following policy: Return Policy Circumstances in which purchased shoes are allowed to be returned The size is not fit The product is not in a good condition such as, no shoelace hole on one of the shoe. Received the wrong item. Exchange Policy Items only can be return within 7 days from receipt of goods. Customer required to fill in the form Filled form must send to service department and they will respond within 3 days. RMA will be emailed to the customer, customer have to print it. The RMA must be placed outside the return package Goods must be received within 7 business days after the response with RMA If the price of the new pair is different, we will refund or charged the extra to the customer Goods sent for exchange are advised to be insured. All goods received must met the return condition Refund Policy The process is the same as exchange policy Refund process will take around 2 weeks time. Condition the shoe must be returned Item must be unworn and still in original condition Return in original box. Make sure dont tape and dont write on the box. Received within 7 days from invoice date Require an original sales invoice in order to process any return Responsible for paying the postal charge For refund of goods, customer must arrange and pay the return shipping charge For exchange of goods, customer must arrange and pay the return and new product shipping charge Unauthorized merchandise will be sent back at customers expense. Conclusion In this task showing the rules and regulation of return and refund policy in which the customer has to follow. This return policy shall be included in the e-commerce site to let the customer understand the terms and conditions. (378 words)