Monday, September 30, 2019

Accounting and financial history Essay

Accounting and financial history Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many people have spent their entire lives doing research on the development of accounting and also the financial history. Economic sector is the stronghold of every country and that is why the research has been taken seriously. Accounting has taken different phases in its development and each phase have a significant meaning to the todays accounting process. The development has been influenced greatly by major economic, political and social events that affected the world in the past centuries. Different periods have also influenced the development of accounting, business and financial history. Every event that has been happening in the world has led accounting to another level in terms of development. Some of the events were negative while some were positive but they all influenced the development of accounting positively and that is what people enjoy accounting in the current time. Accounting and financial history is interconnected with e vents and periods and thus one cannot separate the two while studying this history. Different countries have different accounting history although there are some international events that had influenced more than one country and that means that they have the same accounting and financial history. The object of the paper is to discuss an event on accounting, business or financial history and its relevance for today. See more: Foot Binding In China essay Recognition and development of accounting as a profession in United States (1900-1920)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In early 1895, there were many companies and corporations in the United States industry and they were both big and small. The market could not accommodate the big numbers of the corporations and companies and thus the only solution to this problem was to merge them in order to regulate their number. This process eventually happened form 1895 to 1900 where many companies merged and formed few big companies. A good example is the tube company which was formed after merging many companies that were producing tubes. The many tubes companies formed one large company which had a lot of operations in it and that is where the issue of accounting got involved (Charles, 1992 p.2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the companies were small, they were calculating their financial results manually without any level of professionalism. However, the process of merging those companies and corporations made the companies and corporations to have a lot of operations and they needed a professional system of accounting. They were in need of more auditors to work on the financial operations in those companies because the financial status of the companies had gone up and they could no longer depend on the manual or outdated methods of accounting. Some companies that were merging were from diverse locations and thus they were forced to open some branches where they could manage all the accounting processes and auditing of all financial statements for all the companies that were merging (Stephan, 2003 p. 200). Also the number of auditors was increased while some auditors operated on mobile bases, they could move from one company to another because the demand was very high.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another change that occurred in accounting due to the merging of companies was the effect of the third party in the accounting operations. Some companies that had merged had holdings companies while others were under the control of banks. The introduction of the third party meant that there was another party which would be interested in the financial records of a company (Christopher, 2009 p. 40). Banks would send their auditor to calculate the financial records of the company under control and thus the accounting system in the company was improved in order to improve accuracy. Involvement of another party meant that there was more work in the accounting and it required a high level of professionalism, and that took the accounting system to another level. Some companies would elect other companies as holding and they were responsible of auditing the financial records of the company because they were stakeholders of the company. In 1909, th e congress passed a law that abolished the income tax but it introduced franchise tax. Franchise tax law required companies to pay their income tax to the government; this meant that they were supposed to present their annual financial statements to the government. They were forced to calculate their expenses and their income in order to come up with the right amount which would be taxed. This regulation required the company to have a complex and well-established accounting system. The auditor’s from the governments were also required to calculate and evaluate the financial statements of those companies in order to ensure that they were true. This event took accounting to another level of professionalism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After the introduction of franchise tax, there were no oppositions from the company owners because the tax had very low rate. The congress saw it as a success on their side and that is where they introduced a direct tax in 1913, this tax had higher rate than the franchise but it did not make an impact on organization and thus it was appropriate to companies. In this decade is where the First World War was fought, this war had a massive impact on the financial status of United States and thus they decided to raise the tax rate of companies. The new tax rates that were introduced by the congress required companies to give their excess profits to the tax unit. To determine the excess profits of a company required a more professional accounting system. The government would carry out the accounting processes but the companies would also use their auditors to evaluate their financial statements for transparency and accuracy in accounting. The ar ticle gives a clear history of the two decades that marked the recognition and the growth of accounting in United States (Frost, 1994 p. 75).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The events that happened shaped the accounting system of the United States, the current accounting system is out of those events and the way they influenced the accounting system. Currently, companies have a complex accounting system which ensures accurate financial statements of those companies. The historical event introduced an idea where a company had more than one auditor and that is what is there currently in companies. Companies especially the larger ones or the ones that merge employ more than one auditor, this is because they have many financial operations and there are more government’s regulations that require financial records of every company.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Companies currently are operating on diversified bases and thus they have inherited an accounting system where they have established accounting branches in different places. These branches are there for the purpose of accounting only. This idea was inherited form the historical event of accounting in United States. The branches are conducted by professional auditors from the high level accounts schools that were introduced in United States. However, there are some branches of accounting that are introduced by private agencies and thus they are not owned by any company. Some companies which do not have auditors or they figure employing auditors to be expensive than hiring, they prefer taking their financial statements to the accounting branches. Other companies prefer to employ private auditors to do their accounting operations. The decisions of these companies are influenced by the history of accounting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Banks have been involved more on accounting operations in a greater way because of the influence during the 1900 to 1920 era. Banks have their auditors; this is because banks and companies have become one entity. Companies currently cannot operate without the assistance of banks. Companies require financial assistance and also accounting and financial advice from banks and in order to receive all that, banks must assess the financial status of the company and this is done through accounting process. This concept of accounting has helped many companies avoid serious financial problems but the original idea was from the 1900 to 1920 merging event. Government has also been influenced by this event where the tax system that was put in action during that time is still the same even today although some terms have been changed. The tax Unit in United States have established an auditors unit that is concerned with assessment of financial records o f different companies in order to evaluate the tax rates and the financial stands of different companies. The whole concept of government involvement with the financial issues of companies is as a result of the 1913 events of company taxations. Currently, government has the responsibility of annual assessment of all companies’ financial records in order to determine the taxation criteria to use (Maher, 2001 p. 300). Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, accounting history of United States was greatly influenced by the political, social and economic situations in the country during the 1900 to 1920 era. The decision of companies to merge was the first step which marked professional recognition of accounting in United States, the issue of taxation during the same period marked the growth of accounting as profession in America. The two economic and political events influenced the current accounting system in a great way; the foundation of accounting system in United States was laid down by the two events that happened in 1900 and 1920. More research is being carried on to explore more on the accounting history in different countries. Reference Stephen A. Zeff. (2003). accounting profession in US: a review Article. Contemporary Accounting Research, 2(1), 189-205. doi:10.1111/j.1911-3846.1985.tb00607. Charles W. Wootton & Carel M. Wolk. (1992). Development of â€Å"the big eight† accounting firms in the United States, 1900-1990.: a Review Article. Accounting And Business Research, 9(36), 2. doi:10.1080/00014788.1979.9729170 Christopher J. Napier. (2009) Accounting Historiography: A Review Article. Journal Of Accounting Research, 1(2), 30-49. doi:10.2307/2489857 Frost, C., & Pownall, G. (1994). Accounting Disclosure Practices in the United States and the United Kingdom. Journal Of Accounting Research, 32(1), 75. doi:10.2307/2491388 Maher, M. (2001). The Evolution of Management Accounting Research in the United States. The British Accounting Review, 33(3), 293-305. doi:10.1006/bare.2001.0170 Links http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ruf.rice.edu%2F~sazeff%2FPDF%2FHorizons%2C%2520Part%2520I%2520%2528print%2529.pdf&ei=c53DVIq3HYOeygOhqoC4BQ&usg=AFQjCNHK0-fuRjxIaFx_Fhcm2irkeq0npg&sig2=Hbe-1XbRhXAfEQ1x7J7YEQ&bvm=bv.84349003,d.bGQhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpure.rhul.ac.uk%2Fportal%2Ffiles%2F9726813%2FNapier_Accounting_Historiography_Chapter_Final_Version.docx&ei=nZ3DVKCoM8fnywOW4oCQBQ&usg=AFQjCNF2TMA5Taow8bGh8IloT-akHFw_4w&sig2=YTqKJ_Jlv6iLFqsJYzkMjA&bvm=bv.84349003,d.bGQhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclio.lib.olemiss.edu%2Fcdm%2Fref%2Fcollection%2Faah%2Fid%2F11128&ei=hJ7DVLHeOsGrU-SUhMAI&usg=AFQjCNGrQQW06W5SPOdjzoGajkftCRYMZQ&sig2=A3u6u9KN-zhmqfg2LH7ARA&bvm=bv.84349003,d.d24 Source document

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet

The Internet seems to be one of the greatest wonders of the modern world. Nowadays, it is hard to find a house with no access to the Internet and every day, more and more people are discovering the amazing possibilities which it gives us. The Internet is the biggest and the most effective provider of the variety of resources and services. It is a worldwide database of any information you may need. However, information is not the only thing you can obtain thanks to the Internet.The World Wide Web also provides you with the access to a wide range of computer programs, games or the possibility to download your favourite music or films. What is more, the Internet facilitates your contacts with other people. Not only can you easily and quickly contact them via emails but you can also speak to them, thanks to the Internet communications program. They have become very popular recently as they enable you to make new friends on-line.However, the paradox is that while they facilitate your comm unication with others, at the same time they cause the deterioration of your contacts and relationships since it is much easier to stay at home and talk to somebody on the Internet instead of going out and socializing. Moreover, on-line friendships can turn out dangerous as you can never be sure who the other person is. In addition, the Internet is very addictive.People never notice that they spend too much time in front of the computer screen and that they use the Internet more often than they really need. Surfing on the net becomes more important than meeting with friends or going to the classes at the university and the reality they start to live in is the virtual reality. Another important advantage of the Internet is that it has become the most easily accessible and the best resource collection. It is used for the research purposes not only by the university students but also by the children from primary schools as more

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Steps in Making Business reports

The importance of the report determines the kind of effort called for: – the amount of research – the length of the report – time spent in writing it to the importance of the subject – use of the report It is important that your readers to be identified, so that the style, format, and the tone of the report may be determined. Tone refers to the total emotional and intellectual effect of a passage of writing. Since tone reflects to feelings, the business report writer must take care that he does not cloud his purpose in writing the report with his emotions. The reader of the report must also be sensitive to the tone of the report. The following generalizations about tone may be considered in writing the report: 1. Reports that travel upward, especially to top management, generally, are written in a more formal tone than those that travel laterally or downward. 2. Reports circulates outside the company are usually more formal in tone than those kept within t he â€Å"family' for internal use. 3.Be generous with headings because report. 2. Words used must be simple 3. Sentences and paragraphs must be short 4. Coherence – provides transitional words between sentences and paragraphs which are expressed as therefore, yet, however, in addition to 5. Margins should be consistent throughout the report, and double spaced for easier reading 6. Illustrations (maps, tables, graphs, drawings, diagrams) give a clear presentation of data especially if any figures are used. After the first draft has been written and edit the report for mechanical errors or errors of facts.Are words correctly spelled? Do ideas relate to one another? Is the right word used? Here are a few examples to show how proper editing results in clarity and conciseness: Original: Sales for the month of July were, by and large, higher than they were for a similar period last year, but the difference is not appreciably so, at least to the extent where one might now consider sitting on â€Å"his success† so to speak. As a matter of fact, the increase was only approximates 4. 5% over last year's sales which were Just average for the industry.Edited: Sales for the month of July were approximated only 4. 5 percent higher than in the similar period last year. Although this is an improvement, it is not impressive and one should make every effort o increase this figure in the future. Original: The business executive has many duties to carry through in business nowadays. He is often called upon to make decisions involving the expenditure of funds, future corporate and movement of human resources. He must also attend many kinds of meetings which are professional in nature and scope.Moreover, he has counseling duties to his subordinates. And on some occasions he must serve as the company's representative to community groups. These are only few of the many tasks hat the modern business executive is expected to carry through. Edited: Today's modern business executive has many duties to perform. Some of these are: 1 . Decision making for the expenditure of funds, for corporate planning, and for the movement of personnel. 2. Attendance in professional meetings. 3. Counseling of subordinates. 4. Serving as the company representative to community groups.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Eastman Kodak and Fujifilm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Eastman Kodak and Fujifilm - Essay Example On the other hand, Fujifilm is a Japanese concern, established in the year 1934, operating in the segment of photography and imaging. But within a very small time frame, the organization became successful in captivating the entire market into its grips that contributed in cementing its reputation and competitiveness in the market of Japan (Fandel, 2007). Soon, it tried to expand its popularity and brand image on the entire globe by offering value-added products at a quite competitive price. This strategy proved effective for the organization of Fujifilm to enhance its leadership and reliability in the global market as compared to others. In order to amplify the sustainability and productivity, Eastman Kodak offered more attention over innovation as well as development of products. However, in order to offer innovative products, the organization concentrated more over digital imaging by utilizing digital print Kiosks in the entire globe. This strategy or product innovation proved extremely effective for the organization that amplified its reputation and demand in the market. Moreover, due to the utilization of digital kiosks, the organization was able to offer online photo services to its target customers that intensified its image and loyalty within their minds among others. Furthermore, in order to improve the customer base and profitability in the segment of ink jet printer, the organization developed digital camera. This helped the organization to increase its total sales and dominance in the market, in spite of numerous competitive rivalries. On the other hand, Fujifilm, tried to implement a different management strategy, in order to amplify its reputation and customer base (Markham, 2006). The organization ventured in different markets and offered varied types of new executions to its existing technology. This strategy of making various alliances and

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The relationship between the Fashion Industry and Recession in the UK Essay

The relationship between the Fashion Industry and Recession in the UK - Essay Example The essay "The relationship between the Fashion Industry and Recession in the UK" talks about the connection between Recession in the UK and Fashion. The fashion industry around the world is related to the business and the economy at large. Fashion itself is an industry covering various aspects of lifestyle of the people. It includes clothing, accessories and cosmetics and other related items which are required to make people look beautiful, affluent, sophisticated and elegant. But it has been seen in the past that the industry is very much interrelated to he overall picture of the economy. A dull economy or market will not encourage lot of fashionable choices. However, a bearish market will surely make the people to opt for the newest in fashion and make choices as they please. This economics is applicable irrespective of the type of industry. While we are discussing the effect of recession to the UK fashion industry, we must know the scenario that exists in this industry. UK itself is a country which is very much fashionable and is considered rich and vibrant when the fashion industry is considered per se. The fashion industry is worth about  £ 44.5 billion in UK. As per the statistics of 1960, it is said that 10% of the household expenses is spent on clothing and footwear and other fashion related items. However, the scenario had changed over a period of time. With cheaper imports coming form China and India the expenses have come down drastically. Presently only 6% of the householdÃ'Ž

Rite of Passage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Rite of Passage - Essay Example It is irrefutable that the way rites of passages are being conducted had evolved over time. As cultures recognized the changing needs of their member, they have devised new formal procedures to celebrate the transitions in their lives. However, rites of passage have already changed in context and meaning. For example, an individual's coming of age which was celebrated by a ritual which required jungle survival to test the survival ability and responsibility of an adolescent is now replaced with formal arties to celebrate the freedom from families especially parents. The current problematic situation of adolescents nowadays requires a modern rite of passage to signal their coming of age and transition to adulthood. This modern rite of passage should not only serve as an indication of the adolescents' newfound freedom to do what they want and the end of their parents' authority over them but also address the numerous issues which are currently faced by adolescents. This paper will present a modern rite of passage which will mark the transition between adolescence and adulthood. This will try to incorporate the issues which confront the modern youth in order to equip them with the much needed knowledge and skill to face adulthood responsibly. This report will be divided into three parts according to the distinct phases of rites of passage-separation, transition, and incorporation. This rite of passage will be conducted to teenagers aged 15-17 years of age. SEPARATION: LOSS OF IDENTITY The first part of rite of passage is called separation which is a process to end the current identity of the adolescent. This part is very important as the creation of a new identity is not possible without ending the old one. Thus, this modern rite of passage will begin with the physical separation of the adolescents from the significant people in their lives especially their families and friends. Adolescents aged 15-17 will need to prepare for the rite of passage by packing their clothing and other personal belongings to stay for a Transition Camp. It is extremely important that adolescents will only be restricted to bring what they will need. These are those basic things that individuals can't leave without like clothing, slippers, and things for personal hygiene. It should be noted that things like iPods, cellular phones, PCs, notebooks, and laptops shouldn't be brought to the Transition Camp. This will ensure that the adolescents will be fully separated from the outside world and will let them concentrate on the activities in the camp. Communication with people from outside the camp will not be tolerated. Also, no drugs, alcohol, and non-participants will be allowed inside the camp. Specific rules will also be observed inside the Transition Camp which will govern all the participants. The camp site will cater to both boys and girls. The boys will share a communal bedroom will all the boys while the girls will also be sleeping together. The adolescents will be doing on all the household chores in the camp. In order to organize the housekeeping, they will be grouped and assigned specific tasks for each week. The groups will consist of both boys and girls. Each of the household tasks will be rotated so that each group will have the chance to learn every household chore. Separation from the important persons in the adolescents is symbolic for this modern rite of passage. As the rite of passa

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Positioning and social responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Positioning and social responsibility - Essay Example Moreover, the strategic decisions may be aimed towards the customers of the business organization or the employees of the organizations. Strategic decisions aimed at the employees of the organization attempt to improve the productivity of the employees and hence lead to an increase in quantity or quality of the products produced. However, most of the strategic decisions that are aimed at the customers are usually aimed at increasing the sales of the products of the company, which the customer makes. Several strategies may be employed to help increase the sales by the customers. In addition, the company may undertake measures aimed at improving its image, which will therefore lead to improved sales and customer loyalty to the company. The company may base improved image of the company on the quality of the products, which they offer, a wide range of products or corporate social responsibility of the company. One of the strategic planning decisions, which business organizations make, i s the positioning strategy of the company. Positioning strategy Positioning strategy is a strategy that different companies make to improve their perception. Thus, it can be said to be a psychological approach to marketing. Positioning strategy is mainly aimed at making the customers prefer the products of a certain company as opposed to those from its main competitors (Hiam, 2009, p. 36). The positioning strategies of the company may be directed either towards the customer or towards the competitor. However, brand-positioning strategies can generally be classified into the following categories: Using product characteristics or customer benefits Price- quality approach Use or application of the product Product-user strategies Products class strategies Cultural symbol of the product Strategies aimed at competitor (Batra, p. 205) Using product characteristics or customer benefits This is the most used positioning strategy; it links a certain product with a certain characteristic, whic h is generally of great importance to the customer. The company may stress the durability, safety, or reliability of its products. However, a company may also use two or more different characteristics to build the brand image of the product. Companies that use two or more product characteristics to build the image of the brand risk confusing the image of the brand, which affects the customers’ perception of the brand (Batra, p. 208). Yo sushi helps in attracting customers to its restaurants using the claim that its food is fresh (company website – Yo! Sushi). Emphasis on the quality of food that is served in the restaurants portrays the image that the food is of higher quality and safe to the customers who may it. In addition, Yo sushi emphasizes on the speed in which the restaurant is able to serve its customers. The restaurant serves the food from conveyor belt. Yo sushi claims that its food is fast, fun and fresh (company website – Yo! Sushi). Due to the fact that a belt would definitely move at a fast speed the company in effect portrays to its customers that its services are very fast and hence the customers would not waste time waiting for the food to be served. This therefore helps in attracti

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Annotated Reference List Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Annotated Reference List - Assignment Example stated the addictive behaviors are divided into three important categories which include physiological model, disease model and social learning model. Further in the article she writes about the importance of these models in schools. She emphasizes on school prevention programs which are health focused and promotion programs. The author also describes the implementation process of the above stated models in the schools. This article sends a message across to the prospective counselors at schools and those working with the children. It works as a good professional foundation to understand, what addiction is and how the addictive behaviors can be restrained. This is a peer-reviewed journal article written by Gerald A.Juhnke who is understood to be working for the University of Texas at San Antonio in the department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Adult and Higher Education. This article provides an updated analysis on the information on the article contents published in the previous years. This article Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling is published by the American Counseling Association therefore the content in the article remains authentic. The article is primarily directed for the adulthood age group. This article is a literature review based on the previous articles written. New information regarding the author’s demographics and other details has been analyzed to make it more authentic and reliable source in the library. This article is of interest to me as it helps me to go in to the details of each author who has contributed to this subject. Additionally, because it is a literature review it provides me with critical analysis on the past literature written on the subject. Laux, J. M., Dupuy, P. J., Moe, J. L., Lambert, E., Ventura, L. A., Williamson, C., et al. (2008). The Substance Abuse Counseling Needs of Women in the Criminal. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 29(1), 36-48. The authors of this article are from the

Monday, September 23, 2019

Physical science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Physical science - Essay Example prejudice and stereotypes; â€Å"lawn maintenance schedules are inconvenient.† This is a misconception because it is based on faulty information; lawn maintenance schedules can be efficient depending on the level of grass at which one wants the lawn to thrive. One may want a thick, manicured, and lush grass garden; alternatively, one may want a simple lawn of short grass. The internet and other credible sources present a wide variety of scheduling resources and systems for lawn owners depending on the level of maintenance one wants to achieve. The second argument is based on inductive reasoning; â€Å"turf becomes better the more it is irrigated.† This is theoretical and a misconception due to lack of biological and chemical knowledge; in Arkansas, more fine turf is destroyed as a result of overwatering than from under-watering. Lawns should be watered early in the morning and once a week in the summer months. Research shows that most cultivators of bermudagrass spend less on water than those who use zoysiagrass. The third argument is based on red herring; â€Å"lawn maintenance is expensive as compared to xeriscaping gardens, which take up less water†. This is a red herring argument since it diverts the topic of lawn maintenance to the water issue. While it is true that water is a problem in the United States, lawns can be effectively watered to reduce wastage. Watering in the heat of the day is ineffective. Watering late in the afternoon is less costly and an effective way of maintaining the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Fololio Mulagia Essay Example for Free

Fololio Mulagia Essay In May of 2011 a Samoan schoolteacher by the name of Folole Muliaga was sent home from a New Zealand hospital suffering from a terminal illness called cardiomyopathy. Because, doctors believed she did not have much longer to live she was sent home with two oxygen tanks to help aid her with her illness. McNaughton (2006) states that on May 29 a contractor for Vircom EMS was sent by Mercury Energy to the Muliaga’s home to disconnect the electricity supply. Mrs. Muliaga pleaded with the contractor to keep the electricity because of her health condition but he disagreed. A few short hours later Mrs.  Muliaga would perish. Prior to the Muliaga’s electricity being disconnected, the family had an outstanding balance of $168. 00, and could not afford to pay the bill. The case of Folole Muliaga would later be broadcast around the world capturing the attention of many government officials. This paper will cover many aspects including but not limited to: the consequences and outcomes of the scenario, the illegal and unethical aspects of the Mercury Company, was the role of the coroner and police department justifiable, and lastly, what reforms and guidelines were put in place as a result of the devastating tragedy? Evaluate Ethical Behavior: The Historical Case of Folole Muliaga Folole Muliaga, a 44 year old terminally ill mother of four suffering from cardiomyopathy perished after not being able to pay a $168. 00 electricity bill. As a result of Mrs. Muliaga sickness she was unable to continue her teaching career which brought in the majority of the household income. Johnston (2007) states that Mercury Energy was unaware that disconnecting power to a South Auckland home could have potentially life-threatening consequences. The resulted consequence was too harsh; to disconnect the electricity given that Mrs. Muliaga was just released from the hospital days earlier. The major price Mrs. Muliaga paid was dying 3 hours after the electricity was disconnected from her home. The family of Mrs. Muliaga would later dispute that the bill was not overdue, and that it was actually due days later. Bennett (2007) states that Folole’s husband actually made a partial payment on May 17 and would make another payment a few days later. The Mercury Energy contractor who disconnected the power says he was unaware that Mrs. Muliaga depended on oxygen tanks to live. What’s disturbing is that the Muliaga family states that when the ontractor arrived, Mrs. Muliaga invites him in and thourgly explains to him her health circumstances. She begins to plead with him not to disconnect the electricity, but he is not being attentive to her needs. He states he is simply doing his job, and that she must contact Mercury Energy to have the electricity restored. Although health professionals who treated the victim said her health problems had tremendously worsened over the past few months, does not make it morally nor ethically factual for the company to not hear the concerns of its customers. After the incident went ational the general manager for Mercury Energy stated that he was sure the company was not at fault for Mrs. Muliaga’s death. Cleve (2007) He contended: I’m confident that the processes we have put, the communications we had with the customer, were very clear about the circumstances that would happen. The general manager’s arrogance toward Muliaga’s death clearly shows his lack of concern and unethical behavior. His thoughts are that the company done nothing immorally or illegally wrong. In the case of Folole Muliaga there was almost a trial by media, pressuring Mercury to change how they conduct business with customers who ave severe medical conditions. A company’s culture is the biggest element of how it handles difficult situations. Companies no matter how large or small should have a value statement that aids them on what is considered ethical behavior. The actions of Mercury Energy were illegal in the eyes of many consumers and shareholders around the world. It’s very bothersome and also reality that individuals who occupy senior level managenet roles does not uphold the standards and intergrity when it comes to satisfying the needs of customers. Meredith (2007) says the behavior of Mercury Energy top xecutives serves to do no more than confirm just about every negative stereotype there is about impersonal, arrogant, and greedy corporates. What makes Folole’s story so alarming is that Mercury Energy is a state owned enterprise, which means the taxpayers solely, owns the company. Research states that Jones (1991) a moral issue is present when a person’s actions, when freely performed, may harm or benefit others. It’s imperative to know that many judgments are moral decisions because they have a moral component, such as the case of Folole Muliaga. The actions that took place in Mrs. Muliaga’s home was horribly illegal and unethical, because the situation was not investigated thourghly. If the contractor would have taken five minutes to contact someone about Mrs. Muliaga’s severe health condition her life probably could have been prolonged. The contractor’s irrational behavior to further assist the family is what makes this situation so demoralizing. A few weeks after Folole’s Muliaga’s death, Police announced that there was no evidence that did not point to Mercury Energy nor the contractor’s that they were at fault for Mrs. Muliaga’s death. After Folole’s death the family expressed that the Police department showed lack of â€Å"Cultural Awareness† and had â€Å"institutionalized racism†. Bridgeman (2010) Coroner Gordon Matenga concluded that Mrs. Muliaga died of natural causes but, an arrhythmia caused by morbid obesity and that the cessation of oxygen therapy and stress arising from the fact of the disconnection (as opposed to the way in which the power was disconnected) have contributed to her death. To agree with the coroner’s report individuals would really have to reexamine Folole’s case. Certainly, the victim had health issues that contributed to her death. But, the question we must ask ourselves is that if Mrs. Muliaga’s electricity was never turned off would she have still perished a few hours later. Many of us would answer the question by saying no, she would still be alive. In many of our thoughts and private belief’s we would say that Mercury Energy is responsible for her death. Summary: The Folole’s Muliaga’s story should have been an eye opener for all major corporations. Many companies today do not follow Corporate Social Responsibility. Many top managers and executives are simply in the business to make a large profit off of its shareholders and onsumers. Organizations have to reexamine the culture, morals, and values of why they are in business. Meredith (2007) In the case of Mercury Energy, those needs should have been understood to include the cultural and economic issues of a Samoan family struggling to make a go of their lives in New Zealand and to have been deserving of care and respect in addressing what turned out to be the life threatening issue of the discontinuation of their electricity supply. A variety of theoretical perspectives have been established to support researchers and most mportantly managers on social issues. These concepts would help organizations to understand the importance of having values and morals when it comes to dealing with the public. The social life cycle theory was used to analyze the Mercury Energy case. Ackerman (1975) found that, in general, the responsiveness of business organizations to social issues progresses through a three-phase trajectory; policy, learning, and commitment. Most of us who are familiar with the Muliaga case would say that the company was in refutation about the Muliaga issue.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Hyperthyroidism Case Study

Hyperthyroidism Case Study Introduction Patient A is a 49 year old female of 76 kilograms and height of 161.5 centimetres. The patient has attempted to diet but has gained 11.3 kilograms in the previous months. The patient also sleeps for 14-16 hours a day. Her movements were slothful. The patients signs consisted of a slight enlargement of the neck area, coarse textured hair and dry skin. When her blood sample was analysed it showed that the hormone T4 (thyroxin) levels were 3.2 micrograms/millilitre which is lower than the normal range, 4.2-11.2 micrograms/millilitre. In addition to this her TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels were high. Diagnosis The analysis of the weight gain using the diagnosis table shows that this could be as a result of hyperthyroidism or Cushing syndrome or hypothyroidism. The slothful behaviour could be caused by Addisons disease or hypothyroidism. The dry skin of the patient is consistent with the hypothyroidism condition. The swelling on the neck could be a goitre which results from a lack of iodine in the thyroid gland. Overstimulation causes the thyroid gland to swell. This swelling could also be a result of hyperthyroidism whereby the thyroid gland secretes too much thyroid hormone and the swelling also results, or it could be a thyroid tumour which also causes the swelling. [1,2] The signs and symptoms are consistent with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and are on the thyroid gland. Cross-section diagram of the neck showing the thyroid gland (106.gif) http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Hypothyroidism-Underactive-Thyroid.htm Analysis of blood samples and effect of hormones on homeostasis The hormone T4 speeds up metabolic rates regulates the amount of oxygen used up by cells and regulates body heat. [3] The patients weight gain could be as a result of a decrease in the rate of digestion. Low T4 levels mean that not enough digestive juices are being secreted because T4 controls metabolic rates resulting in the slow movement of smooth muscles lining the stomach. T4 promotes the normal development of muscle tone and normal functioning of skeletal and cardiac muscles. This possibly explains why the patient is experiencing slothful movement. [1] In addition to this T4 also promotes the hydration of the skin, secretion of the exocrine glands and the growth of hair. The consequences of low T4 could explain why the patients hair is coarse and why the patient has dry skin. [1] To distinguish between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism a T4 and TSH test have to be done. [4] The TSH test is normally chosen for the evaluation of the thyroid function and for the symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. It is often done with or after a T4 test. The results of the tests performed show an elevated TSH level and a low T4 level which show that the patient has hypothyroidism. Condition Normal Hyperthyroidism Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism Secondary TSH Normal Low High Low T4 Normal High Low Low [4] WHAT IS HYPOTHYROIDISM Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by the underactive functioning of the thyroid gland whereby the thyroid does not produce enough or does not even produce triodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4). [1] The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ which is found inferior to the Larynx and in front of the neck. [1] If the thyroid is underactive hypothyroidism appears. They are two types of hypothyroidism and these are primary and secondary hypothyroidism. [4] Primary Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid does not produce T4 and T3 hormones at all. [4] Secondary Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid produces amounts of T3 and T4 which are below the normal levels. [4] The thyroid gland swells up in as a result of it trying to achieve homeostasis. The body has low T4 levels therefore the gland works even harder to try and produce more hormones and this causes an increase in the size of the gland. Causes 95% of the time the thyroid gland is not secreting sufficient thyroid hormone and this could cause the hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism could be an autoimmune disease. The immune system protects the body from foreign substances and infection. However, in this case the immune system mistakes the thyroid gland cells and enzymes, as foreign objects and attacks them resulting in the low production of thyroid hormone. [5] Hypothyroidism could also be as a result of Hashimoto disease (chronic thyroiditis). This is a genetic autoimmune disease which could also result the enlargement of the thyroid gland causing goitre. Goitre is a cyst like fibrous growth in the neck region and is caused by an immunologic dysfunction or by an infection and requires lifelong treatment. Stress, poor dieting and strenuous exercise could also cause an imbalance of hormones and leads to hypothyroidism. [6] Hypothyroidism can also result from low iodine concentrations in the body. Iodine is required for the proper and normal functioning of the thyroid gland hence insufficient amounts would cause a dysfunction. [5] The enlargement of the gland is an attempt by the thyroid gland to trap more iodine. X-ray radiation, drug abuse and pesticide residues also contribute to having an underactive thyroid gland. [7] Another way of acquiring hypothyroidism could be the after effect of a surgery for example on the removal of thyroid glands. The surgery could be performed on a patient with cancer or the Graves Disease but if partially removed it could fail to produce enough thyroid hormone necessary to regulate normal and necessary bodily functions. [7-8] Surgery could also be performed on the pituitary gland which sends instructions to the thyroid gland on how much thyroid hormone should be produced. [5] Any damage to the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus could cause hypothyroidism as they both p lay a role in sending signals to the thyroid gland so that it produces more thyroid hormone. In some cases the condition could arise from the use of drugs such as amiodarone, lithium interferon alpha, and interkulin-2. These drugs stop the thyroid gland from producing the thyroid hormone at a normal and are likely to trigger hypothyroidism especially in patients with a genetic tendency to auto immune thyroid disease. [5] Possible Treatment methods To treat hypothyroidism artificial hormones such as Levothyroxine or Liotrix can be administered to the patient so as to replace the hormones; T4, TSH or T3 that are lacking in the body. Iodine supplements or iodised salt for those with iodine deficiency can be effective as well. [9-10] The doses of the drugs are not fixed hence the medicine is only formulated when the amount of hormone in the patient has been determined, therefore the patient has to return for constant check-ups after 6 week intervals so that the blood samples and the hormones can be analysed again so that the dosage can be changed. [7-10] When treating the elderly that have a history of heart disease, low doses of the drug have to be administered as this could lead to a greater/increased risk of heart attack. [10] For the short term treatment of hypothyroidism, T hormones are used to inhibit the synthesis of TSH in the body. Hormone replacement is predominated by the prolonged effect of T hormones on the level of TSH present. For those who do not prefer drug therapy for hypothyroidism homeopathic remedies are also available. The homeopathic remedies such as Thyax and Thyroidinum 6C can be used to stimulate the thyroid gland to start to produce its own hormone. [11-12] Prognosis If the condition of hypothyroidism is detected early there is a high chance that the condition can be completely controlled using medicine. After treatment with drugs, the levels of thyroid hormones usually return to normal after several months, whereas in other individuals suffering from hypothyroidism, the disorder is a lifelong problem. [13] Their treatment should be taken consistently every day for the rest of their lives. [14] If hypothyroidism goes untreated it could lead to other complications. Low thyroxin levels cause the level of lipids and cholesterol to rise, causing the patient to suffer from heart disease. [13] In pregnant women there is an increased risk in having anaemia, still birth and serious bleeding after birth or it could lead to a myxoedema coma, which arises due to the low levels of thyroid hormone. [13-14] Advantages and disadvantages of chosen treatment methods With allopathic remedies there is a chance that if the drug dosage is too low it could cause hypothyroidism and if the drug dosage is too high it could lead to hyperthyroidism. The homeopathic remedies are the best treatment methods as compared to the supplementation medications as it aids the gland to function properly, whereas in the supplementation medications the gland could become too dependent on the drugs and throw the other glands in the body off balance. [12] If the doses of the artificial hormones are not check or changed, with time this could lead to hyperthyroidism. Prevention methods There are no medication preventative methods for hypothyroidism, but a healthy diet can protect and preserve ones health. The patient can take iodine supplements in their food and this reduces the risk of them contracting it. Exercising, getting enough sleep, relaxation are ways in which hypothyroidism future problems can be avoided. Exercise is another activity that boosts the levels of thyroid hormone therefore reducing the risk of hypothyroidism. [15] Conclusion There is no cure to the condition therefore the patient will have to keep taking medicine for the rest of their lives. The patient will have to go for constant check-ups in order to change the dose according to the thyroid hormone levels that they have, and the misuse of the drugs could make their condition worse. [16]

Friday, September 20, 2019

Interaction Between Major Environmental Systems

Interaction Between Major Environmental Systems ‘Explain how the major environmental systems (atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere and biosphere) interact and are interrelated’ In this assignment I will discuss and explain how our four major environmental systems the atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere and biosphere interact and are interrelated. I will explain each one individually then go onto detailing how they link with one another with examples of photosynthesis, respiration and precipitation with the help of conceptual diagrams, lecture notes and my own personal knowledge. Our planet is made up of four basic ‘spheres’ or also known as ‘the four great realms of earth’ (Strahler and Strahler, 1994, pp. 7-7). Each serves a purpose and is interrelated with one-another and requires each other to form the life-cycle we live in. Figure 1 below shows a basic form of how our four main environmental systems interact: Figure 1: Interactive processes (Lal, Kimble, and Follett, 1997, 4.) Our atmosphere consists of many elements and plays an important part in making our planet inhabitable and sustainable for life. It comprises of around 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon and a small trace of gases such as carbon dioxide (earth system pp). There are also several layers which can be split up which are the Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere and the Ionosphere (White, 1984, pp. 71 -71). The atmosphere today has been derived from the Earth itself by chemical and biochemical reactions (White, 1984, pp. 68 68) and also plays a vital role in creating our Earth’s weather systems. The hydrosphere is the Earth’s liquid cycle; it contains our rivers, lakes, oceans, streams, glaciers and groundwater and is linked into our water cycle. It’s our most dominate environmental system and covers around 70% of the earth’s surface which it contrives of features for plants and animals to inhabit. It also contains 1.4 billion cubic kilometres of water and water is essential to life and required for the survival of organisms (Strahler Strahler, 1999, pp. 7 7). The biosphere can be referred as the part of our environmental system where life exists. The term biosphere is used to describe either this veneer of life, or these organisms together with the surface environments in which they interact (White, 1984, pp. 128 128). It consists of abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components and it extends from our deepest oceans all the way to around 10km above sea level (earth system pp) and incorporates all different kinds of organisms and species. The Pedosphere is the Earth’s outer layer which contrive of soils and soil formations. It can also be linked in with the Lithosphere but has its own determined category. It provides a solid foundation for sustainability for plants and other organisms to live. The major factors influencing soil and soil development are parent material, climate, vegetation and time (Strahler Strahler, 1999, pp. 240 240). There are two main classes of soils which are primary and secondary which vary in terms of substance. Photosynthesis is the process by which higher plants, algae, and certain species of bacterial transform and store solar energy in the form of energy-rich organic molecules (Eaton-Rye, Tripathy, Sharkey, 2011, pp 1-1) and is a direct interaction between the atmosphere and biosphere. The process occurs from when the sun releases energy rays into our atmosphere which are absorbed by the biosphere within plants via their leaves, they then use this energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen, sugar and starch which is used as a food source by plants. Plants contain chloroplasts which makes the scenario of photosynthesis possible. They then release oxygen back into our atmosphere which humans intake and release back carbon dioxide to complete the cycle. This interaction between the atmosphere and biosphere in terms of collaborating and enhancing organisms. Photosynthesis also contributes towards ‘fossil fuels’ (i.e., coals, oil, and gas) that power the industrial s ociety. The fuels provide energy to fuel factories, homes and also raw materials such as plastics and other materials (Bassham, 2014). Figure 2 below shows the basic process in which photosynthesis occurs and how the cycle works: Figure 2: Diagram showing Photosynthesis (n. d.) In return, respiration occurs from the process of photosynthesis in animals and plant life contributing to the atmosphere where energy is released from glucose and other substances. Respiration, which occurs in mitochondrial and bacterial membranes, utilizes energy present in organic molecules to fuel a wide range of metabolic reactions critical for cell growth and development (Eaton-Rye, Tripathy, Sharkey, 2011, pp 1-1). There are two types of respiration, the first being aerobic which are common in all higher plants and animals and the process occurs within living cells and oxygen. It is a permanent process that continues throughout the life of plants and animals. The second is anaerobic and is common in microorganisms but very rare in higher plants and animals. The process occurs in the absence of oxygen and can be toxic to plants and animals (‘Major Differences’, n.d.). Respiration breaks down food molecules which occur inside cells to release energy, this is known as the oxygen cycle which animals and humans consume oxygen discharged by plants through the basis of metabolism. Carbon dioxide is then released by animals and humans in which plants then absorb and the whole cycle begins again starting with photosynthesis which forms part of an interrelated system and sustainability for life. Figure 3 below shows the process of the oxygen cycle with respiration between animals and plants in working order: Figure 3: The Oxygen Cycle (n.d) Precipitation is a direct interaction between the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. Water exists in the air in the form of humidity, clouds, fog and precipitation (Introducing physical geography p 77). Precipitation can form in two ways. In the first, cloud droplets collide and coalesce into larger and larger water droplets that fall as rain. In the second, ice crystals form and grow in a cloud that contains a mixture of both ice crystals and water droplets (Strahler Strahler, 1999, pp. 86 86). There are many forms of precipitation which include rain, freezing rain, snow, sleet and hail which form a part of the water cycle. It also plays a part in creating our weather system which can affect the environmental systems on our planet. Rain develops when the droplets clouds hold become too heavy to sustain and eventually fall to the ground producing rain. Rain can also start out as being small ice crystals which then turn into snowflakes and as the temperature gets warmer with the flakes falling they warm up and melt into rain droplets. These rain drops can benefit organisms in the biosphere such as plants for food and growth. Snow is formed by the process of water vapour turning into ice crystals from within clouds, the process is called sublimation (‘Sublimation from Snow and Ice’, n.d.) and the snow never melts on its way down to the ground. Hail is the process of where raindrops collaborate and freeze and when the clumps get too heavy for clouds to hold they fall to the ground. Hail can form in all different sizes from tiny pebble shapes to anything up to the size of a cricket ball. Sleet is the simple form of frozen raindrops which melt then refreeze in sleet as it falls to the ground. It begins as either rain or snow which falls through layers of cold air which contains temperatures below freezing. Figure 4 below shows the water cycle with precipitation incorporated into it: Figure 4: The water Cycle ‘USGS’ U.S Dept. of the Interior, U.S Geological Survey In conclusion our planet contrives of many different environments which contain contrasting forms of organisms and life. Us as humans have categorised and produced cycles in which all these processes occur. The cycles play a major role in how life is sustained on our planet and each cycle relies and interacts with one another in maintaining the constant flow needed. Having these processes helps us understand how things work and how we can help make a difference to insuring to managing our environment for future generations. Word count References: Bassham, J. A. (2014, August 27). Photosynthesis (biology). In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/458172/photosynthesis (n. d.) Retrieved 6 December 2014, from https://biochemunrated.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/jgjffjf.jpg (n.d.) Retrieved 30 November 2014, from http://www.ecoregionproject.weebly.com/nitrogen-oxygen-and-carbon-cycles.html Major Differences. (n.d.) Retrieved 6 December 2014, from http://www.majordifferences.com/2013/05/difference-between-aerobic-and.html Sublimation from Snow and Ice. (n.d). Retrieved 7 December 2014, from http://link.springer.com/referenceworkenentry/10.1007/978-90-481-2642-2_686 The Water Cycle. (n.d.). Retrieved 7 December 2014, from http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html Bibliography: Dury, G. H. (1981). Introduction to Environmental Systems: Tchrs’. United Kingdom: Heinemann. Eaton-Rye, J., Tripathy, B. C., Sharkey, T. (2011). Photosynthesis: Plastid Biology, Energy Conversion and Carbon Assimilation. Gresswell, R. K., Cooper, H. J. (1971). The geography of the earth as a globe. Amersham: Hulton Educational Publications Ltd. Organizations, B. on I.S and Affairs, P. and G. (2009) Frontiers in Soil Science Research: Report of a Workshop. United States: National Academies Press. Strahler, A. and Strahler, A. (1994) Introducing Physical Geography. United States: John Wiley and Sons (WIE). White, I. (1984) Environmental Systems. London: Chapman Hall.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Automotive Energy Consumption Essay examples -- Automobiles Transporta

Automotive Energy Consumption In the United States, the automobile has come to be more than simply a means of transportation, but also a status symbol and a symbol of autonomy. As a status symbol, automobiles have gotten larger and more expensive, with little or no regard for efficiency or environmental impact. With the proliferation of the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), the average fuel efficiency of cars in the United States has begun to fall from a peak over a decade ago. With technological and material advances made in the last decade, it seems counterintuitive that average fuel economy had begun to decline. In order to understand the advances made in internal combustion engine technology, one must have a basic understanding of engines and the fuels they burn. Four Stroke Internal Combustion Engines The 4-stroke, internal combustion engine at the heart of most automobiles on the road today is relatively inefficient and produces high levels of pollutants. Even the most efficient gasoline burning internal combustion engines convert only 30-40% of the energy available in the fuel in to work. The rest of the energy is lost to heat, and is thrown away into the environment through a heat exchanger (radiator) or through exhaust gases. Exhaust gases account for much of the pollution generated by internal combustion engines. Gasoline, for example produces Greenhouse gases such as Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx’s) and releases unburned hydrocarbons (fuel) into the atmosphere. Greenhouse Gases are responsible for much of the depletion of the ozone layer, lead to global warming and pose health threats to humans. In addition to these drawbacks, fossil fuels are not in endless supply and co... ...ssil fuel supplies. In order for any course of action to have widespread success, the people must stand behind it. In the case of this investigation, the citizens of the United States need to understand the necessity of conservation and the consequences of non-conformance. This may require government- imposed penalties to businesses and individuals who don’t do their part to conserve. The exact details of such a system are not crucial at this moment, but rather a simple understanding of the outlook for the future. Without swift action in the near future to curb hydrocarbon consumption, both the environment and the world economy stand to suffer significantly. Sources http://www.gm.com/ http://www.energy.gov/ http://www.epa.gov/ http://www.fossilfuels.org/ http://www.thinkmobility.com/ http://www.afdc.doe.gov/ http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg Essay examples -

"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" by Joanne Greenberg Schizophrenia has long been a devastating mental illness and only recently have we begun to see an improvement in our capabilities to treat this disorder. The development of neuroleptics such as, Haldol, Risperidal, and Zyprexa have given psychiatrists, psychologists and their patients great hope in the battle against this mental disease. However, during the 1960s, drugs were not available and psychologists relied upon psychotherapy in order to treat patients. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, is a description of a sixteen-year-old girl's battle with schizophrenia, in the 1960s. Deborah Blau’s illness spanned three years, in which she spent her life in a mental institution. The book itself is a semi-autobiographical account of Joanne Greenberg’s experiences in a mental hospital during her own bout with schizophrenia. She presents her experiences by relating them to Deborah. The novel was written to help fight the stigmatisms and prejudices held against mental illness. In the late 1960s, reactions to mental illness generally fell between two polarized attitudes. One, popular with the counterculture generation, romanticized mental illness as an altered state of consciousness that was rich in artistic, creative inspiration. The protagonist of this myth was the tortured artist who poured out his or her soul in writing or art between periods of mental breakdown; Sylvia Plath, Vincent Van Gogh, and Virginia Woolf are only a few such individuals whose artistry is practically inseparable from the idealized myths of their mental instability. Often their periods of mental breakdown were a source of inspiration, but before one romanticizes their mental illnesses, it necessary to remember that all three committed suicide. On the other end of the spectrum, mental illness was stigmatized as a weakness or fatal flaw on the part of the sufferer. Even today, many uninformed people regard mental illness as a stigmatized condition, shrouded in shameful secrecy and negative stereotypes, to be described with frightening or belittling euphemisms. In the late 1960s, when Greenberg's novel was published, mental illness was even more misunderstood and feared. The reading public had absorbed centuries of inaccurate information about mental illness, all based on prejudice, ignorance, and fear. Because of he... ... is sufficient to treat schizophrenia. Still, these new findings certainly do not invalidate the importance of empathy and understanding in the treatment of schizophrenia. Greenberg's desire to garner sympathy, respect, and understanding for sufferers of mental illness is still a valid concern, and her novel remains valuable as a sympathetic portrayal of mental illness. Although this novel uses outdated treatment methods, it does succeed in allowing the reader to see into the mind of a mentally ill person. Greenberg portrays the problem of mental illness from different perspectives. She details Jacob and Esther Blau's struggle with self-doubt, blame, and the stigma of their daughter's sickness. The novel also portrays the difficult, stressful work required of the medical professionals and the staff who work with mentally ill patients. However, most importantly, Greenberg portrays the experience of mental illness from the patient's point of view. Struggling with mental illness is not glamorous or easy. The road to recovery is lined with setbacks, doubt, and fear. It takes a great deal of courage and perseverance on Deborah's part to face her illness and fight it through treatment.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Honda City Marketing Research

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The project in its present form and state would not have been possible had it not been for the able guidance and support of Prof. Sandip Anand whom we always looked up to, when faced with any difficulty and have disturbed him at all times and hours. We would also like to thank our seniors and classmates who provided us with references required for collection of data. No research would be successful, without the active involvement of the respondents and we take this opportunity to thank our various respondents for having patiently filled our response sheet. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND The first automobile was steam powered vehicle invented in 1672. Since the first car rolled out on the streets of Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1898, the Automobile Industry of India has come a long way. During its early stages the auto industry was overlooked by the then Government and the policies were also not favorable. As a result automobiles were not a common sight. However with liberalization policy adopted y the GOI, significant changes have been made. Today, India is one of the largest markets for automobiles in the world. Our research is concerned with the sedans. A sedan car or saloon car (British English) is a passenger car with two rows of seats and adequate passenger space in the rear compartment for adult passengers. The vehicle usually has a separate rear trunk for luggage, although some manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Tata, and Volkswagen have made rear-engined models. It is one of the most common body styles for modern automobile LITERATURE REVIEW We studied some current literature and news reports available on the growing mid segment sedan market in India. There is a huge shift that is currently happening as far the car market is concerned. Companies are now starting to believe in the â€Å"India Growth Story†, and changing their focus to lure high spenders and people who are connoisseurs of luxury and premium cars. All companies have either entered or planning to enter this segment. Some of the latest reports from the executives (or the company) of some of the leading players in the market are as mentioned below. Speaking to Business Standard, Fumihiko Ike, chief operating officer of regional operations, Asia Oceania, Honda Motor Company, said: â€Å"There will be multiple models coming out of the small car platform after its launch in 2011. We will explore a sedan, too, using the same platform to make maximum use of our resources. † While Japan's third largest auto company, Nissan, had stated earlier that it would also pull out a mid-sized sedan from the small five-seater car that it would launch this May. Toyota Kirloskar Motors will be launching a sedan based on the concept compact model, which it had showcased at the recent Auto Expo held in Delhi. Company officials decline to reveal the targeted price, but state it will be available in the same range as the Swift Dzire, which is Rs 4. 90-5. 5 lakhs. Czech-based car maker Skoda Auto is also working on a car which it is keen on positioning below the Octavia, a premium car sold above Rs 10 lakhs. Thus, this area presents a huge marketing opportunity for companies and so is an exciting subject for study as well. CATEGORY The brands this study would cover are Ford Fiesta, Maruti Suzuki SX4, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea and Honda City. Research Methodology Prime focus of the research: To find the value positioning of Honda City among the mid segment sedans. Target Group Since we were studying the mid and the premium segments there are three groups that we targeted in our study: Existing consumer who buy cars. Probable consumers who can convert into active consumers into near future. Consumers who shall be converting into such category in distant future. We basically studied the following categories of people for our analysis: Working professionals Youths in the age group of 25-40 with high disposable income Students and other youth about to join service or start up on their own First year students of XIMB were also considered for the study Methodology The attempt of this study was to cover the growth of the premium segment watches as a lifestyle statement, the coverage included quantifying or finding the strong and the weak attributes that pursues the sales of these watches hence the methodologies used are: Focus Group Discussions (2) In-depth Interviews Survey methodology (Sample Size = 101) While the group observation and discussion helped us to identify the qualitative aspect of the study at length the survey methodology helped us to reach to a various inferences related to percentage of people preferring the sedans, the primary drivers for the various mid segment sedans, the strengths and weaknesses of the brands, stochastic share of brands etc. which is discussed in detail in the report at a later part. Process Since we are targeting such diverse consumer group our survey has to extend beyond regional level. The focus of our survey shall be: Pan India Survey Respondents from metros- Prime target study Mini metros Class 1 towns Online questionnaire: We used this as our method for collecting data so as to reach customers from all possible segments and various cities. Sampling The traditional sampling approach, i. e. the sample was selected before data collection began and sampling without replacement was performed. The following techniques were used: Sampling Technique The traditional sampling approach was used, i. e. he sample was selected before data collection began and sampling without replacement was performed. The following techniques were used: For the qualitative analysis, i. e. in-depth interviews and focus groups discussion, subjects were selected based on the attributes and the parameters for buying the mid segment sedans mostly from students and working population. For the quantitative analysis, snowball sampling was adopted. Recent buyers helped to send the questionnaire to ot her people who were passionate about mid segment sedans. Sample Size Around 150 people were included in the study with the following rough breakup. Around 10 people for the focus group discussions and the in-depth interviews (Qualitative Analysis) Around 101 people for the Sample survey (Quantitative Analysis) Aspiring groups comprising of students, young working people and executives were considered. Variables Dependent Variable Independent Variables Now we have a look at the various independent variables that in turn have helped us to decide the preference of a particular mid segment sedan. Affordable Price – Whenever customers go to buy a car, some of them may have a particular budget in their mind while some may be willing to spend any amount. Many a times it happens that a customer goes to a showroom and asks the dealer to show cars with a particular price range while at times they are willing to spend any amount if they like a particular car. Hence this variable helps us in understanding the attitude of customers with respect to the price they are willing to spend when they go to purchase cars especially in the segment of 5 lakhs to 12 lakhs. This variable also helps us to understand very important factors like whether the customer is willing to compensate quality to save cost because if he is not willing to spend more if he is getting a better quality car in a price beyond his budget then it shows that the customer is strictly limited by his price range while making the purchase. Comfort – Comfort is one of the important aspects while deciding on the choice of cars. When a customer is willing to pay any amount over 5 lakhs for a sedan that means he or she is looking for a car which provides good comfort. Comfort in a broader aspect touches upon the experience of a customer when he or she is travelling in car. Sufficient leg space, seats and a good shock absorbing system are quintessential in determining the comfort of a car. Interior and Exterior looks – Aesthetics and looks are always an important criteria for purchasing a car. Sedans are typically considered as mid segment cars because of its superior exterior looks and good interiors. This variable helps us to determine whether people consider exterior and interior looks as one of the defining criterion while going for a sedan. Safety and additional Features – With increase in the options available in the market, many a time customers may want to look for additional features being offered in different mid segment cars. Air bags, power steering, alloy wheels, music player, central locking and multiple colour options are various other additional features which customer are looking for when they purchase a car. This variable will give us an idea as to how much priority a customer gives to these features. Mileage – Middle and upper middle class people always look out for a car which has a good mileage. As fuel prices are increasing year after year, mileage has definitely been a governing criterion for all car takers. This variable will help us measure the importance of mileage as one of the deciding parameters. Power – One of the most important features of a mid segment sedan is the power. There is a substantial increase in power from the small cars thereby giving more pick up and stability in the long run. This variable will help us to determine whether people perceive power as a criterion to select a sedan or not. After-Sales Service – Possessing a good car does not solve one’s purpose. Customers are looking for cars which not only are affordable, give good mileage but also which have good after sales service. Therefore, after sales service is very important in today’s competitive environment. This variable will give us an idea how important is after sales service when customers go for a particular brand. Status Symbol – India has been growing at a fairly fast rate which eventually has raised the per capita income. With the growth in income people have become more conscious about the kind of cars they possess. Therefore, status symbol is an important parameter when we go for a particular brand. This variable will tell us whether status symbol is one of the criteria to go for a particular brand. In addition to the above independent variables we have also gathered some demographic data of the people so that we can have a better understanding of the pattern of preference of people coming from different locations, belonging to different age group, having different annual incomes etc. Some of these demographic variables are listed below Name: Name of the respondent Gender: To find out the gender of the respondent Occupation: To find out the current occupation of the respondent Household Income per annum: To find the income group to which the respondent belongs. Price willing to pay for a sedan: To find out the price range which respondents are comfortable while going for a sedan. Qualitative Analysis Qualitative Analysis was carried out using focus group discussions to generate hypothesis about purchase decision of a car for people and how different factors affect their decision. Qualitative analysis will be helpful for getting a detail insight into the problem. Focus Group Discussions Honda City has been regarded as a prestigious brand in India since its launch in 1998. It maintains a significant market share in its class and enjoys a very high level of popularity. The luxurious sedan has a lot to offer to its potential buyers- new engine, new design, more grandeur, increased cabin space, and of course top notch performance. Objectives: To find out the perception of people about Honda City among the mid segment cars in terms of factors that affect the purchasing behaviour of customers. They are factors like: {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} To check the status of Honda City as compared to its competitors like Verna, Ford Fiesta and Linea in the sedan segment of cars. Target Population: Young Professionals in the age group of 22-35 years. Users of Honda City and users of other brands Non users of cars Students with no work experience and others with substantial work experience of 2-4 years. Content Analysis: Table 1 CONCLUSION BASED ON QUALITATIVE FINDINGS From the overall Qualitative Analysis, it seems that customers of premium watches are very conscious and careful buyers. For them the most important features are the Quality of the watch and are very particular about its Performance as well. They view it as a strong status symbol and an accessory, which adds to their personality. Also, people these days lay a lot of stress on the additional features like Embedded Jewellery, chronographs etc Quantitative Analysis Quantitative data analysis has been done in the following way. An Excel Analysis of the demographic profile was done first to understand the respondents’ background and to check the general attributes of the respondents. Then the Factor Analysis was done, the result of which has been explained below. Then the top 2 boxes scores were analyzed for various attributes based on respondent profiles. Then Jaccard Analysis was done to find out the primary drivers for the mid-segment car category. It was followed by stochastic share analysis and SWOT analysis. Then cross tabulation was done to measure Brand Preference with the top 2 boxes for all the important attributes. This is how an extensive quantitative analysis for our research was done. Demographic profile of the respondents Gender Profile {draw:frame} The gender profile of the respondent base is tilted towards the male category as they constitute 76% of the total base. Age Profile {draw:frame} Occupation {draw:frame} Of the total number of people surveyed, the service and self employed categories almost constitute 50% of the responses. All the respondents provided their employment status within these three categories and nobody opted for the â€Å"Others† category which was provided. A lot of respondents were from our institute making the student population half of the total responses. Students make the aspiring group and also form an important part for the emerging market. Total Household Income {draw:frame} Pilot Testing Initially a questionnaire was developed as per the requirements of the research proposal. This questionnaire was subject to pilot testing to find out the errors in it if any as per the attitude of the people. To find out if any question is confusing or not conveying the intended meaning it was done. For this we selected around 15 people according to the sample needed for the study. These people were asked to fill up the questionnaire. We noted down any possible problem that these respondents faced while filling up the questionnaire. After this we worked on such problems found out and the suggestions from these respondents with respect to the questionnaire. Some questions those were conveying double meaning or creating confusion was omitted from the questionnaire. This edited questionnaire was then used as the final questionnaire and then the study was carried out. Bi-Variate Analysis Total Household Income Vs Amount Willing to Spend on a Sedan It can be inferred from the above figures that the people want to own a car mostly in the range of annual salary they earn. But majority of the people are willing to buy a car in the range of Rs. 5-7 lakh. It is interesting to find that a very few people want to buy a sedan in the range of above Rs. 12 lakh among the first four income groups. Still people having income below Rs. lakh have shown interest in buying such a sedan possibly due to aspirational reason. Total Household Income Vs Preference of Respondents for Various Brands It can be observed that for those people earning less than Rs. 300000, there is not much difference between the preferences for the different brands. Nonetheless, Honda City and Ford Fiesta are the winners with equal percentage of fan following. In the higher categories of to tal household incomes, it can be inferred that Honda City has a clear cut upper hand over the other brands. Only Suzuki SX4 comes close to it in some cases. This shows that people with higher earnings definitely would like to choose City over other given brands in the mid segment category. People with lower incomes are open to any brand FACTORING Factor analysis is a data reduction technique that aims at grouping the input variables, which have dependency with each other, into factors that underlie the input variables. Initially the total number of factors in the factor analysis is equal to the total number of input variables. But after the factor analysis the total number of variables in the study can be reduced by discarding the insignificant factors based on certain criterion. We have performed factor analysis on all the questions that we had in our questionnaire treating each one as an independent variable. The extraction method chosen for factor analysis was Principal Component matrix. This is the most popular technique for factor analysis, which determines loadings of variables on different factors by using the standard normal values of the observations of the original input variables. The rotation method used is Varimax with Kaiser Normalization. We have given the SPSS output as a separate attachment with the report. Extraction communalities are the variances of the variables accounted for by the factors in the factor solution. Large values of communality of all the variables indicate that they fit well with the factor solution, and thus should not be dropped from the analysis. Clearly all the fifty-two variables have fairly high value of extraction communality and thus should not be dropped from the factor analysis. Scree plot is the curve obtained by plotting Eigen values against their corresponding factors. The eigen value of a factor captures the variation in all the variables captured by it. The Scree plot above clearly shows that the slope of the curve falls after the fifteenth factor and also eigenvalue drops below Due to these only fifteen factors are taken into consideration. The total variance table also gives the details of the fifteen variables of the factoring output. The second column indicates that there are 15 factors for which Eigen value is greater than 1. The last column ‘cumulative %’ gives the percent of variance accounted for by all factors or components up to and including the current one. The fifteenth factor has a value of 82. , which indicates that all the fifteen factors till the current one total account for 82. 6% of variance. The following manifest variables were used for factor analysis: Price on mind while buying Price is the deciding factor Japanese cars of superior quality Warranty important Spare parts availability Serviceability Engine life After sales value Additional features 10. Mileage 11. Engine power 12. Performance feedb ack 13. Status symbol 14. Uniqueness 15. Investment source 16. Superior functionality of premium cars 17. Necessity 18. Affordability reduces attractiveness 9. Perceived as successful by colleagues when driving premium cars 20. Great interior and exterior looks KMO and Bartlett’s Test KMO test indicates if the sample size is adequate with respect to number of variables being considered. 0. 815 indicates that the sample size is adequate. We can also reach the same conclusion by multiplying the number of manifest variables by 5, which is 100 (=20Ãâ€"5) and that is less than 101, the sample size. Bartlett’s test has a chi square distribution and if significance is greater than 0. 1, then data is unimodal. But the high significance level here shows that the data collected is not skewed and has more or less a uniform distribution. Communalities Total Variance Eigen cut-off value has been set to one here. As we can see in the appendix attached, there are four factors which explain 60. 97% of total variance. {draw:frame} Screen Plot Scree plot shows how the Eigen value varies across factors. The points above the Eigen value of 1 in the scree plot constitute the factors. The first four factors have thus a steep value after which the slope flattens. Rotated Component Matrix draw:frame} The rotated component matrix shows all the manifest variables grouped together in various classes which are called factors. They are called latent factors because they are the underlying variables which determine the dependent variable. Also the first factor and the manifest variables under it explain the dependent variable more than the second and third factor. As can be seen from the rotated component matri x table below, eight manifest variables can be grouped under one factor. Another 5 variables under the second factor and so on. Each factor has been provided by a name. A list of the factors and the manifest variables involved is given below: Factor 1 – Features of car/sedan Warranty important Spare parts availability Serviceability Engine life After sales value Additional features Mileage Performance feedback Factor 2 – Social/Perceived Factors Investment source Superior functionality of premium cars Necessity Affordability reduces attractiveness Perceived as successful by colleagues when driving premium cars Factor 3 – Prestige Factors Japanese cars of superior quality Status symbol Uniqueness Factor 4 – Monetary Aspects Price on mind while buying Price is the deciding factor _ _Top of Mind Analysis {draw:frame} The above chart shows the percentage distribution of the various car brands which were provided by the respondents when asked for four various car brands which came to their minds in the mid segment. A total of 45 different car brands were given as response by them consisting of vehicles in the low, mid and the high segments. The most prominent brands were selected and the data concerning them was analyzed. It can be clearly inferred that Honda City enjoys a very good share of the respondents’ top of the mind with a share of about 27%. Maruti SX4 comes next with a share of 14% followed by Ford Fiesta at 11%. When asked about the first brand which comes to their minds, again Honda City was the clear winner by a large margin with about 37 respondents providing the brand name. Jaccard Analysis Jaccard analysis is used in market research to establish which attributes of a brand are important to the customers and the extent to which each of the attributes satisfies their expectations. Jaccard analysis is primarily done to find out the variables in order of their importance for their ability to govern groupability or similarity with the dependent variable. In our marketing research, we have used Jaccard scores to identify the attributes which are important for the brand category using five brands, namely, Honda City, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea and Suzuki SX4. These attributes will constitute the primary drivers of the brand. We calculate the Jaccard score as follows: The respondents are asked about their brand preferences in the category and their responses are noted down. Then they are asked if they associate a particular attribute with each of the brands under study and their responses are again noted down as follows: YY: If the respondent prefers a brand and associates with a particular positioning. YN: If the respondent prefers a brand but does not associate with a particular positioning. NY: If the respondent doesn’t prefer a brand but associates with a particular positioning. Jaccard Score = YY / (YY+YN+NY) We calculated the Jaccard score for each of the attributes and ranked the attributes from highest to lowest in descending order of the scores. That means in Jaccard analysis, higher the Jaccard score, better is the attribute. After they are ranked, the attributes with scores above a benchmark score are listed. These attributes are named Primary Drivers. The table given below gives the primary drivers for the brand category of Honda City: Based on a cut-off of 0. 4, we find that the following attributes are the primary drivers in the brand category concerned: Exterior/Interior Looks Comfort Affordable Price Power SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is done to find the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of a particular brand with respect to other brands in the same category. When studied along with the help of Jaccard analysis, it becomes a powerful tool to identify the areas of strengths and weaknesses. In SWOT analysis, strengths and weaknesses are internal to the organization while opportunities and threats are external to the organization. A positive SWOT score indicates strength and a negative SWOT score indicates a weakness. It is also observed that the SWOT analysis works on the principal of zero-sum game. A gain on an attribute of a brand is counterbalanced by a loss in another attribute. SWOT scores are calculated as follows: SWOT SCORE = (Brand Attribute score – Attribute Average) – (Brand Average – Grand Average). Here, Attribute’s average is average of all brands’ scores for that particular attribute (Row Average) Average of Brand’s scores on all attributes being considered (Column Average) Grand average of scores (Average of row averages/column averages) The following table is generated for the SWOT scores of different attributes and brands: We have categorised the scores on the basis of the above table. As shown, the attributes with a SWOT score of more than 2 are identified as strengths and are shown in dark green colour. Attributes with SWOT score between 0 and 2 are weaknesses and coloured red, those between 0 and -2 are threats and coloured yellow. Lastly those attributes with SWOT scores less than -2 are labelled as weakness of the concerned brand and coloured red. Now we focus on the brand under question – the Honda City. The attributes of the brand based on SWOT scores can be summarised as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the table given below: Honda City STOCHASTIC ANLYSIS When we are talking about the strength of a brand there are few parameters using which we judge the strength of the brand based on the share it has like: Share of Market This measures the hold of the brand of the market. The problem with this kind of analysis is that it tells the strength of the brand today it reflects no projections and possibilities for future. Share of Mind and Heart is the one that highlights the prospects of the brand in the coming future. It tries to capture what the consumer thinks and believes of a particular brand and thus helps us to determine the prospects of the brand in future based on present perceptions. While conducting the market research for Honda City we have resorted to stochastic share analysis, to see the strength of the brand Honda City relatively to other brands in terms of share of mind The analysis has two parts: Preferred set size of the brand Stochastic share of the brand Preferred set size analysis This part of the analysis hovers to procure the data regarding the preference of the brands in the market. It is the simple process in which the respondent has been asked for preference for the brand from the given choices. Respondent’s response for each brand is treated as a unit for each brand; he can prefer more than one brand. All the brands for which the respondents has respondent in affirmative get allocated a unit i. e. if the respondent says he is aware of Honda City and Fiat Linea, both of them will be appended to the column of Honda City and Fiat Linea. In the end summation of the response is taken and the preferred set size is calculated. Of a brand = ————————————————————————————— Total no of respondents that has a preference for that brand Following table has been extracted from our analysis OBSERVATION The preferred set size for all the brands lies between 1. 38 and 2. 41. Honda City has the value of 1. 38 which essentially means people are pretty clear when it comes to Honda City than any other brand. In fact the total data exhibits far lower preferred set size. If see the preferred set size of the other sedans, we can see that they are pretty well distributed which means preference of a particular brand are clearly visible. Inference The ideal score for any preferred set size is 1 which means this is the only brand preferred by the respondent. This sends a very strong message that there is no close competitor to the given brand, when we are talking in terms of preference set of consumer. For the given analysis we observe that some of the sedans have a preference set greater than 2 and some have a score significantly less than 2. The scores which are less than 2 are a good signal because the customer has more clarity and Honda City enjoys higher preference as compared to its competitors. Stochastic Share Analysis This is the second part of the analysis here we approach the core of the analysis. Taking data from the preferred set size analysis we proceed to calculate the stochastic share of the brand The number of respondents that have responded in affirmative for any brand represents the set, which can become the buyer of the brand hence they represent the future market share for the brand and today’s share of mind this is calculated as No of respondents who responded in affirmative for the brand preference __ Total set size of the respondents considered Now this is the market share of the brand but as we have analyzed before the brand is preferred alongside other brands as well so this share of the mind includes the respondents who prefer other brand as well. Thus to get the actual % representation of a brand in the market we calculate Proportionate market share = % of market calculated earlier ——————————————————- This is now the actual share of the brands but this is not the actual share of mind of the brands that is represented by the share of the brand among he brands considered for study. Proportionate share of the brand Stochastic Share = —————————————————————————- ? Proportionate share of all the brands in the consideration set Fol lowing is the table from our analysis Observation There has been a conformance in the data pattern from that noted in the Preference set analysis. Honda City has the least preferred set size, and has the stochastic share of 56. 40% where as the other sedans have stochastic share between 8% and 17%. Inference This reiterates the fact of the preferred set size analysis where Honda City had the lowest preference set score, thus Honda City could be a leading brand in the market. This analysis emphasizes that Honda City is the brand with the highest share of mind of all consumer. This would or already has translated into highest market share in the segment of sedans, as people are all for this brand when it’s up against the other considered brand. Unparallel attributes that are highlighted by the brand Honda Aggressive marketing effort, which has left a lasting impression on the respondents Precaution in adaptation of analysis The analysis has been done based on the respondents and following points have to be kept in mind The analysis has been drawn on the basis of the respondent set thus depending on the response for the sample set the analysis is done. The competitor set size has been defined with deliberate efforts but the share output could vary with the competitor set. Conclusion Honda City definitely enjoys a good top of mind share in the mid segment cars. So, it shows it is enjoying a good position in the sedan segment. But the pricing is obviously becoming a deciding factor in a small city like Bhubaneswar. Most of the people are willing to spend around 5-7 lakhs on Honda City and not more than that. The most important factors that people look for while purchasing a car are features present in the car, prestige issue linked with the purchase, factors like after sales service, availability of spares, etc and of course monetary factors. Comfort, looks, status symbol and maintenance are the strengths of Honda City. But there are other things like after sales service where Maruti SX4 is the leader. It is also lagging behind competitors like Hyundai Verna, Ford Fiesta, and Maruti SX4 in areas like power, mileage and additional features that people expect to be present in a sedan. Honda has got a high stochastic share which means that it has a large potential market. People want to go for it but are not doing so presently due to some factors. So, Honda should try improving on its weaknesses and keep its strengths intact. It should also be alert for new threats in the market. This can lead Honda to be the market leader in the Sedan segment.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Digital Fortress Chapter 25

Inside the Clinica de Salud Publica, visiting hours were over. The gymnasium lights had been turned out. Pierre Cloucharde was fast asleep. He did not see the figure hunched over him. The needle of a stolen syringe glinted in the dark. Then it disappeared into the IV tube just above Cloucharde's wrist. The hypodermic contained 30 cc of cleaning fluid stolen from a janitor's cart. With great force, a strong thumb rammed the plunger down and forced the bluish liquid into the old man's veins. Cloucharde was awake only for a few seconds. He might have screamed in pain had a strong hand not been clamped across his mouth. He lay trapped on his cot, pinned beneath a seemingly immovable weight. He could feel the pocket of fire searing its way up his arm. There was an excruciating pain traveling through his armpit, his chest, and then, like a million shattering pieces of glass, it hit his brain. Cloucharde saw a brilliant flash of light†¦ and then nothing. The visitor released his grip and peered through the darkness at the name on the medical chart. Then he slipped silently out. On the street, the man in wire-rim glasses reached to a tiny device attached to his belt. The rectangular pack was about the size of a credit card. It was a prototype of the new Monocle computer. Developed by the U.S. Navy to help technicians record battery voltages in cramped quarters on submarines, the miniature computer packed a cellular modem and the newest advances in micro technology. Its visual monitor was a transparent liquid crystal display, mounted in the left lens of a pair of eyeglasses. The Monocle reflected a whole new age in personal computing; the user could now look through his data and still interact with the world around him. The Monocle's real coup, though, was not its miniature display but rather its data entry system. A user entered information via tiny contacts fixed to his fingertips; touching the contacts together in sequence mimicked a shorthand similar to court stenography. The computer would then translate the shorthand into English. The killer pressed a tiny switch, and his glasses flickered to life. His hands inconspicuously at his sides, he began touching different fingertips together in rapid succession. A message appeared before his eyes. SUBJECT: P. CLOUCHARDE-TERMINATED He smiled. Transmitting notification of kills was part of his assignment. But including victim's names†¦ that, to the man in the wire-rim glasses, was elegance. His fingers flashed again, and his cellular modem activated. MESSAGE SENT