The Glorious Revolution and British Industrialization Assignment - 1

The Glorious Revolution and British Industrialization - Assignment Example The judges’ salaries were paid by the King and so in disputes involving the crown and the wealth holders, the judiciary always favored the crown, thereby denying citizens their rights over their own property (North and Weingast, 1989, p.813). It was these restrictions on private property that eventually caused the decline of the crown and a political power rising over it in the form of the Parliament (North and Weingast, 1989, p.814). And this political power naturally promoted economy based on private property rights and markets, which became the major catalyst for the industrial revolution. After the Glorious Revolution, the right to impose taxes was exclusively vested with the Parliament (North and Weingast, 1989, p.816). The revenue eliciting devices of the King were reduced almost to nil, the crown was made to approach the Parliament for revenues, Parliament was given the right to audit the government, and the Parliament also came to command veto power over government expenditures (North and Weingast, 1989, p.816). It is also observed the hat this kind of institutional reforms gave higher control for wealth holders on the decisions of the government (North and Weingast, 1989, p.817). More economic freedom became incorporated into the laws (North and Weingast, 1989, p.818). Another positive step for better economic freedom was the establishment of an independent judiciary, not controlled by political forces and which enforced these new laws of economic freedom (North and Weingast, 1989, p.819). There was correspondingly an effort to regularize the structure of public finance (North and Weingast, 1989, p.820). Yet another important development was the emergence of the banking system (North and Weingast, 1989, p.825).

Day Dreaming Essay Example for Free

Day Dreaming Essay I have always dreamed of the perfect vacation, the perfect place to go. As I have just returned from that very location, I am excited to share the experience with everyone. I am sure that you, too, will want to visit this place where only your wildest dreams could compare. While shopping at a local grocery store I noticed an entry box for a free, all expenses paid getaway. I have always wanted a dream vacation, but without finding the time and the extra money, that was exactly what it would always be, a dream. The entry form said it was a getaway, not a vacation. So what was the difference? As I read the small print on the entry form I expected to find the catch that most of these offers have. I was surprised to find no catch. No salesman would call. No mass marketing e-mails would invade my e-mail box. The entry form simply stated that the winner would receive an all-expenses paid getaway. I entered the drawing with thoughts of getting away from the daily grind. As I left the store with my few bags of groceries, I found myself wondering where this getaway was. The entry never said anything about the location. If I were to win, I hoped that it would be someplace warm. I let my thoughts run wild as I made the drive home. I was amazed at how good I felt just thinking about the perfect vacation. All too soon my thoughts returned to real life and what was. During the next month, after what seemed like the longest day ever, I arrived home to find a letter in the mailbox stating that I had won the all-expenses-paid getaway. My family has always called me lucky, but I have never been this lucky. There had to be a catch. As I sat down to read the letter I felt just absolutely exhausted. I reclined on the sofa and continued reading the award letter. Before I knew it I had dozed off. A short time later I find myself driving to the airport. I was ushered to a very large private Leer Jet. I was stopped in my tracks the moment I stepped through the entrance to the aircraft. I was amazed at the comfort level of the interior. The seats were overstuffed, soft, tan leather. There were perfectly placed tables and couches. The excitement of a real getaway was truly setting in. Strange as it was, I was not worried about the destination. The letter said to pack a small bag of only the bare necessities, so I packed two large pieces of luggage with everything I could think of that I might need on this getaway. I was greeted by a very lovely lady, and as she showed me to my seat for the flight, I was told that once we were airborne that I could feel free to wander about the jet. As I sat in the overstuffed seat I felt my body relax. My mind slowly let go of all thoughts of my daily life and stresses. Take off was barely perceptible. I glanced out of what seemed to be a large window for an aircraft and watched the world I knew slowly disappear into the distance. I relaxed and closed my eyes. As the jet drifted off into the blue sky, I too drifted off. I cannot tell you how long we were in flight; as if in a dream I realized that we had landed. The landing strip was a beautiful field of grass. The outer edge of the landing strip was lined with the most beautiful green trees I had ever seen. As I reached the exit door of the jet, I saw only beauty. I didn’t know where I was, but I really didn’t care at that point. There was a golf cart waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. The driver was a very handsome young man. After a brief introduction he drove me to a very inviting bungalow and told me that this was where I would be staying during my visit. The bungalow had a well-appointed, covered, raised front deck area before the entrance. The view was more than I had ever hoped for. The oversized bungalow was everything I had ever dreamed of; the furnishings were made to order from my very own wish list. The colors of the decor were inviting yet calming. Not a wish or expectation had been left out. The rooms were much larger than I thought they would be. My luggage had already been delivered and as I began to put things in the closet and drawers, I found that my every need had already been provided for. There were clothes in the closet that were just my size and I could clearly see that they were made for a location just as this. I could not remember a time that I had felt so comfortable and relaxed. On the desk I found a brochure explaining that anything I could ever want to do, experience, purchase or eat was only a thought away. I decided to sit on the front deck and just take it all in. On the table outside next to a lovely chaise lounge was a bottle of my favorite beverage. I smiled as I sat and sipped the cool drink. I hadn’t eaten all day and thoughts of what I would like to eat became clear. Just then a golf cart rolled up to the bungalow and a silver dinning tray was delivered to the outside table. The young waiter said nothing and left. The meal was exquisite. Never before had I tasted food so flavorful. Here I was on vacation and so satisfied to stay right here, relaxed. No sooner than I began to anticipate the sunset, it began. The sunset was anything but short lived. The colors were radiant. The entire scene, with all the colors, the mountains in the distance, the trees, all seemed to soak into my soul. It was just absolutely breathtaking. I really did not want to call it a day, but the thoughts of a limitless tomorrow made it easy to retire to the exquisite bedroom of the bungalow and stretch out on the luxurious bed. I dosed off to sleep with the sound of a gentle breeze through the trees and the distant sound of small waves lapping against a beach. The next morning as I stared into the mirror, after my glorious shower, I found that my own reflection seemed much younger. I felt so alive and reenergize! I decided to visit the small town, not too far from the Bungalow, that the brochure said would be a delight. As I entered the colorful little community, I noticed several small store fronts and shops that offered for sale anything a person could want. As I made my first purchase, I was very surprised when the sales person refused my cash I tried to hand him. The sales person, seeing my shock, informed me that cash was only a temporary illusion as were all tangible treasures that most people cling to. Furthermore, I was informed that I would find, in my wallet, just enough cash to purchase anything I may want, however, I would not need it. As I continued to visit the remaining shops, I was delighted each time I wanted to make a purchase, to find just enough cash in my wallet, but the cashiers would not accept any of it. The next several days brought a joyous time of swimming in the warm crystal blue waters of a secluded lake that was like a lagoon off the coast of Australia, sunning on a sensational beach, and hiking some of the most profound and beautiful mountains I have ever had the pleasure to see. The food had more than met my every expectation. Sleep had never been so satisfying. Every morning I was awakened by a delightful, brilliant sunrise and every evening was blissfully serene. I knew that all too soon my short getaway would have to come to an end. I chose to spend the last day of this wonderful vacation on the glorious beach I had visited several times. I swam freely in the warm water and snorkeled the coral reef where I was met with a burst of colorful coral and stunning little fish. Feeling somewhat exhausted for the first time during my stay, I decided to relax on the soft white sand and soon fell asleep. Somewhere in that sweet spot just before wakefulness, I felt something crawling on my foot and there was a phone ringing and the obnoxious noise of traffic. It surely must be a dream right? The thing rawling on my foot brought me to full consciousness. In a flash my dream vacation was over. I awoke to find myself still reclined on the sofa, letter in hand, telling me that my dream vacation was just that, only a dream, and out of the corner of my eye, crawling across the floor, I see the spider that brought my dream vacation to an end. You may be wondering how difficult it was to return to the reality of daily life. I must tell you that it was not all that hard because I know that I or anyone can return to this refreshing location in a matter of moments. You need only let your mind drift to where it really wants to be. Daydreaming is easy and has also been touted as good for you. A deep daydream can easily turn into a dream. An article from QualityHealth. com states that recent research conducted at the University of British Columbia in Canada reveals that not only is daydreaming extremely common (experts say we spend one-third of our lives doing it), but its actually healthy. It turns out that when we let our minds wander, numerous areas of the brain are activated, more than were previously thought. And were not even aware were doing it. In this study, scientists placed subjects inside a special scanner and had them perform a routine task. Their attentiveness was gauged using brain scans, their performance on the task, and reports by subjects themselves. Not only did the parts of the subjects brains responsible for easy mental tasks activate, but so did the so-called executive network responsible for processing more complicated thoughts and problems. What does this mean? When you put aside that tough essay after working on it for several hours in order to sit on your porch and stare at the flowers, it doesnt mean youre lazy. It means your brain is smart enough to recognize that switching to a more mundane activity allows complex thought to take place. By letting your mind wander, youre allowing it to hit on the solutions to problems that may have eluded you before. In fact, many creative people claim that they get their best ideas while doing something routine, such as taking a shower or going for a run. And some of the smartest kids in school may spend part of their classroom time doodling or staring out the window. Teachers or bosses may not approve of your daydreaming, but it is generally a healthy thing. Of course, if daydreaming takes up so much of your time that youre having trouble getting even basic chores completed, you probably should learn to focus a little more. Otherwise, dont worry about those mental time-outs that reenergize and refresh you for the tasks at hand. So, as you can see, you can go anywhere you want, do anything you want, see anything you want, touch, feel, or taste anything you can dream up. This can be done in a matter of minutes or if you have the time, you can spend hours at any location of your choice, in a daydream.

Malaysias Microeconomic And Macroeconomic Environment Marketing Essay

Malaysias Microeconomic And Macroeconomic Environment Marketing Essay This chapter will discuss Malaysias microeconomic and macroeconomic environment to help the proponents know how much market potential they could have as they launch their product in the country. This chapter includes the countrys economic conditions, business environment and the consumer expenditure of Malaysians. In addition, this chapter also discusses the market segment that the proponents would like to target to fit as the users of the product. An analysis for the industry and the competitors are also discussed to determine the probabilities of success of the product. Malaysia practices a federal parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy in which the monarch is elected every five years from among the tribal elders of peninsular Malaysia. Malaysia has three branches of government including the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. These authorities serve as the separation of powers for a division of tasks to be performed in the country. The Executive branch consists of the Head of State and referred to as the King for having ceremonial duties. The Legislative branch consists of the bicameral parliament which comprises the House of Representatives. The member-parties of the National Front coalition form the government. The Lower House is composed of 222 members elected for five years from single member districts. 70 members of the Senate serve 3-year terms, with 26 of them elected by the state legislatures and 44 of them being appointed by the monarch or the King in the Prime Ministers recommendation. The Judicial branch consists of the Federal Court, Court of Appeals and high courts. Source: http://www.malaysia.gov.my and Euromonitor International Malaysias subdivisions comprise of 13 states and three federal territories including Kuala Lumpur, Labuan Island and Putrajaya. A chief minister heads each state for having its own assembly and government. Nine out the states have hereditary rulers titled sultans and four states have governors in counterpart positions. Source: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2777.htm The Constitution of Malaysia was established on the 31st of August in the year 1957, which commenced on the date of the nations independence. The Federal Constitution of Malaysia has its basis from the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya. This will serve as a way to protect the country in having laws as basis to follow, connected to the authorities of the branches of the government. Source: http://www.malaysia.gov.my The king of Malaysia is Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who has been the Head of State starting December 2006. 140 seats were won by the National Front while 31 seats went to The Peoples Justice Party. 28 seats were won by the Democratic Action Party and 23 seats by the Islamic Party. Najib Abdul Razak has been Malaysias Prime Minister since April 2009. Source: Euromonitor International Economic The economy of Malaysia according to Global Market Information Database is in a strong condition and expected to have faster progress where the officials are hoping for its performance boost when it comes to developments in manufacturing activities with a 60% target by 2020 in Gross Domestic Products for services. Economic Prospects According to Global Market Information Database, real GDP is expected to increase 6.7% in 2010, showing its fastest growth yet in several years for the first half of the year but the growth is expected to remain above 5.0% as domestic demand grows stronger to continue recovery. This increase got its support from stronger exports, particularly to China. The demand domestically will increase sooner due to better market conditions when it comes to labor, thus having an effect to increase the spending of the private consumers. Malaysia, just like in the Philippines, is known for their workers providing labor services. The countrys unemployment rate decreased to 3.4% in 2010 from 3.6% in 2009. Most of the workforces are sent in manufacturing division. However, the performance for workforce is poorly trained but workers from Indonesia and Vietnam are cheaper if to be compared, making the government work on this for improvement. In this case, the government has been investing heavily to improve income disparities in several regions. This activity will be continued until 2025. The progress for the projects during period of economic weakness may be slowed due to prioritizing of activities. Government Finance and Market Potential According to Global Market Information Database, government deficit rose to 7.5% of GDP due to programs they implement. In return, their spending with the help of fiscal consolidation will work together to lessen then 2010 deficit. Public debt will have its tendency to rise during the next several years, jumping from 52.5% in 2009 to 41.5% in 2008, equivalent to RM 354,266 million in 2009. However, interest rates would ease and found to be manageable. To withstand all the expenses, the government has the oil and gas industry of the country to support almost half of the revenues of the government. They also invest to achieve developments when it comes to manufacturing by having higher value added activities, encouraging service sector expansion. As an overview, Malaysias economic performance is impressive due to private investment recovery and offsetting expenses of the government. However, Total trade (exports plus imports) exceeded GDP, leaving the country especially vulnerable to the effects of the global recession. To boost economic growth and to attain stock market stabilization, the government acts by having two stimulus programs implemented and the funds will be used to help credit-starved firms, boost spending, support equity investment and fund off-budget projects. The indicators of business environment shows Malaysias rank when it comes to ease of doing business, together with different information relevant and needed to be considered when opening a business in the country. From the table, it shows time or duration estimates as you open or closes a business, duration for permits and taxes, importing and exporting and tax rates. These estimates may vary from time to time for these factors are considered to be uncontrollable and are changeable, depending on the government of Malaysias decisions. From the table, it shows an increase and a decrease of percentage throughout the years in Malaysias economic performance. If the inflation rate rises, this means that prices of goods are subject to change and rise, resulting as a factor to lower expenditure or consumption of consumers. Between years 2007 to 2008, there is an abrupt change in the percentage with a difference of 3.4%, resulting to change of high prices. But for the last two years for 2010 to 2011, there is an increase in percentage but not as bad as the performance over the former years to ease better consumption of the consumers. The table above shows Malaysias GDP performance. Malaysias GDP rose starting from 2009 to 2011 which is a great value if to compare to the value from former years. Higher GDP connotes a good performance in monetary value of all the goods and services being produced in the country. In this case, Malaysian citizens have the ability to procure or spend goods as the government takes its toll to improve and develop the countrys overall performance in goods and services. Malaysias Gross National Income performance in the latest years managed to increase except for the year 2009 where it decreased. GNI is the wealth in terms of monetary value of a country that it earned from all its economic activities, either products or services, throughout the world. In this case, even if it decreased in 2009, it managed to recover as it increased in 2010 which is even greater than the year before it stumbled down. This shows that the economy of Malaysia managed to do well not only covering the country alone itself but also with its transactions all over the world. The data above shows the consumption expenditure of Malaysians and the expenditure by resident households that can serve as a basis and information for La Me Sa. The consumption expenditure of Malaysian citizens increased consistently, which means that as years go by, they still have the ability to spend goods for either their needs or wants. La Me Sa is categorized as a furniture yet it has a function which supports high technology electronic gadgets specifically desktop and portable computers used at home. The data above shows the consumer expenditure of Malaysians in household goods and services where home furniture enters in this category. The way Malaysians spend for home furnishings increased consistently as well which shows a good demand indicator for La Me Sa. Since the product is connected to computers, possessions of computers by households shown in Table 2.11 shows that it also increased consistently due to changes in high technology which make life easier, faster and more productive. Investment According to GMID, Malaysias performance shows a low level when it comes to investments. The government then suggests having a remedy for such deficiencies for the investment division by thinking of other roles for public companies in order to compete with private sectors and to fit to investment climate. However, the foreign investment in manufacturing began to recover in 2010 as manufacturing covers 28.2% of GDP and employs 7.7% of the workforce and US$2 billion is expected to be committed in the next two years, including nearly US$300 million in retail investment.   To encourage investment, the government has granted a ten-year exemption on venture capital and introduced investment incentives in certain regions. This was followed in 2009 by the elimination of local-equity requirements for investors in various parts of the service sector. Foreign Trade According to GMID, Exporters struggled as a result of the global slowdown, particularly due to its effects on the worlds electronic markets. Total exports contracted in 2009 for the first time in eight years. Policy makers are working to boost domestic demand and wean the economy off its dependence on exports. Exports of machinery and transport equipment accounted for 46.5% of total exports in 2009. Singapore, the USA and EU-27 are Malaysias largest export markets, making up 14.0%, 11.0% and 10.9% respectively in 2009. The current account surplus in 2010 will be 14.7% of GDP and slip to 13.8% in 2011. Demographics According to Global Market Information Database, the population of Malaysia grew at an average rate of 2.3% per year and reached 28.6 million in 2010. This is an increase of 10.5 million in two decades. The median age is gradually rising in between ages 24-26 while the mean age is also gradually rising in between ages 27-28. According to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, The rank of Malaysia is 43 when categorized in the number of population of countries in the world. Its rank among ASEAN countries is 6. Over the review period, the countrys population increased by more than 31% with solid growth recorded in all age groups, and that growth is expected to continue over the forecast period. By 2015, the projected population of Malaysias will reach more than 30.7 million. A lot of factors can affect a countrys population. These factors include the net migration of people from a country into another country and even the birth and death rate of the country. Aside from these, the lifestyles of people living in a country changes rapidly as well due to changes of preferences may it be about healthy living or the environment itself that they live in to. From the data above about the changes in population, there is a great shift in number of deaths in between years 2006 to 2011 for increasing consistently. However, in live births, numbers are both increasingly and decreasingly changing as well as in net migration. Live births decreased due to the decision of the people when it comes to marriage where they decide to marry in their later years and have just enough or fewer children. According to Global Market Information Database, Malaysias population continued to undergo an aging process during the review period. From the data above about the population of Malaysia by age, the number of people with ages 80 and above also grew. One of the reasons for a longer life expectancy is because of the improvement about the health care system in the country. There has been an increase in awareness in the country when it comes to healthier products and healthier lifestyle. The government also makes great efforts to ensure that they know the medical resources and alternatives available to them. In this case of increasing numbers in old age, consumer behavior also changes and the products entering the market change to fit for what the old-aged people would need. Obviously, products differ through ages. Middle-aged people would be into fashion, portable consumer electronic products due to rapid changes when it comes to technology and fast food. This just means that every age category has different preferences in which the market should offer something to consumers to fit their needs and wants The ratio for the population of males and females remains substantially the same. The population for males is increasing consistently, as well as for the females. Even though the population for both genders increases throughout the years, the number doesnt really change too much when it comes to differences. Men and women have totally different buying behavior due to needs and wants but changes have been occurring because most marketers and manufacturers are now seeking to sell products that would fit for both genders such as gadgets and other electronic products. The population for urban area is increasing consistently from 2006 up to 2011 while the population for rural area is decreasing consistently starting 2007 up to 2011. This is because of a lot of job opportunities booming in the cities of Malaysia especially urban areas where different industries are starting to get expansions. Just like any other countries, the population is undergoing urbanization rapidly. If a place has a lot of people and a lot of businesses are opening in a place in different industry types, these just mean that the place will have much more to offer for the people residing in the place. These people could either be in need of jobs or will serve as consumers who will choose in a wide range of varieties offered in the market. In this case, there are lots of differences between urban and rural areas, and the people living in the areas. Moreover, people residing in urban areas are most likely to influence and give exposure to the people residing in rural areas. After showing the demographics of Malaysia in general and totality as categorized by age, gender, urban and rural areas and key factors that affect changes of population, the data above shows the number of households in Malaysia and followed by percentages of households that possess computers that would fit as the possible users of the La Me Sa. It shows that the rates are consistently increasing throughout the years because of abrupt changes and upgrades when it comes to technology. This contributes as a great factor for the benefits and usage of La Me Sa. In Malaysia, the cultures present are adapted from different cultures from other countries including Malay, Chinese, Indian, Eurasian and even groups from North Borneo. In effect, a unified Malaysian culture is emerging in the country and the celebrations come together such as Chinese New Year, Moon Cake Festival and Hari Raya Puasa. Just like in the Philippines, they also celebrate Christmas but their celebration is only celebrated in a small scale due to a lesser number in populations who are Christians. Christmas is still treated as a public holiday as they also perk up their homes and business establishments with colorful decorations to experience the holiday atmosphere. Source: http://www.worldtravel4indians.com/malaysia/festivals-in-malaysia.html http://allmalaysia.info/msiaknow/festivals/christmas.asp Since a lot of cultures influenced the culture in totality of Malaysia, Malaysias cuisines are blended from different classes. Meals such as rice and noodles are the popular dishes in the country. However, since there are different religions, Muslims in particular are forbidden to eat pork but are a favorite dish for the Chinese and Buddhists are mostly vegetarian. Just like in the Philippines, Malaysians are also known for their hospitality with their guests as they offer food as a welcome. The usual drink offered is tea or coffee with small snacks. Religions Almost all the religions present in the world are present in Malaysia including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. Each religion shows different presence in the society, having strong sense in terms of practices, making it easier for the people to identify having the same religion. In Malaysia, the government is concerned with Muslim practices for having Islam as the highest percentage of all the religions in the country with 60%. Muslims holy place is called the National Mosque located in Kuala Lumpur in the year 1965. For the Christians who cover 10% in percentage, there are churches built for prayers, built as their holy place while temples are also built especially for Buddhists. Source:  Culture of Malaysia history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family  http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Malaysia.html#ixzz1DjTxtna0 Technology as a Culture According to Global Market Information Database, the Malaysian government has been active with the updates about high technology, specifically computers and the internet for bringing these to schools, businesses and government agencies as tools to be used to introduce them to modern information age. Usage of internet is also sorted for either public use or just home connectivity, since most of the households have their computers with enabled internet services. This caused the increase in computer and internet users and business establishments offering services that would cater the needs of the consumers. These services include internet service providers, wireless services and developed broadband services. Because technology is now a part of the culture of the country just like in any other countries, La Me Sa would fit well as a product to be used together with these updating technology and in demand use for gadgets and computers, may it be for school, for business or even government purposes. Technological When it comes to technology, Malaysia makes it sure to be updated with the latest updates when it comes to gadgets and other electronic products. According to Global Market Information Database, Malaysias consumer expenditure when it comes to communications, televisions, media, telephones, computers, the internet and electronic gadgets increased in percentages. One of the fastest growing mobile telecommunications market in Southeast Asia belongs to Malaysia for reaching 71.2% in 2008 when it comes to total telecom revenues compared to 51% in 2003. Communications is an important role for a country especially to fill in business relationships in different industries. Through high technology services, it will be easier to do business transactions for faster services and results. Aside from the normal calls and sending SMS to other subscribers, telecommunications companies now offer mobile internet to easily communicate for either personal or business purposes. In this case, a persons work would be more productive for saving time to do something more important. Expenses for this category in totality have increased but for individual benefits, each of the users gets to save money, especially when it comes to habitual communications and international uses. Aside from telecommunications, the use of computers and the internet increased abruptly as well just like in any other countries in todays generation. The number of computer and internet users in Malaysia grew from nearly 5 million users in 2000 to more than 12 million users in 2007. This growth is about 144% and is consistently increasing throughout the years. Aside from the computers and the internet, more high technology electronic products are being in demand in the country such as portable electronic products, laptops and different kinds of on the go gadgets and easy keep gadgets due to wireless, portability and convenience features offered by service providers where competition in the said industry is starting to grow. Just like what the proponents discussed about technology being a part of the culture of the Malaysian, La Me Sa is a good choice of product to introduce in the market of Malaysia featuring technology and furniture industries. Target Market Profiling Description of Target Market The proponents would like to focus on households, residing a 25-34 year old male or female in Kuala Lumpur with a disposable income above $15,000 as their target market segment for La Me Sa. The proponents will not base or focus their target market to students. The students may be some of the end users of the product but the age range preferred are the people who are able to buy the product. Furthermore, businessmen or businesswomen, people with jobs such us for office works are also fit as users and are capable of buying the product. The population of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia consistently increases. The proponents choose Kuala Lumpur as the target market city not only because of the consistently increasing number of population or being the highest in terms of population, but also because it is the city where most business opportunities are present. If a lot of business establishments are present in Kuala Lumpur, this just means that there will be a lot of jobs to be offered for the Malaysian citizens, making them earn money to be able to spend for their needs and wants. Given the population for Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, the proponents used the data to get the percentage of Kuala Lumpur in the country. Since the population for different age ranges in Malaysia is also given, the proponents used the percentage of Kuala Lumpur to multiply it with the population by age to set apart the data only for the city. Even though the percentage of Kuala Lumpur as a whole is decreasing, the population for the age range chosen by the proponents as target market is increasing consistently. The data for the population density in Malaysia or the population per unit area is also shown where throughout the years, it boosts constantly in terms of number of people in an area. Consistently increasing number of population could mean greater possibility or chance to have more consumers fit for the product. Connected with this factor, a greater impact would be present if these people in the given age range are earning money for having jobs. The technology nowadays, based on everyday experiences and lifestyles are seen to be a necessity already and according to Global Market Information Database, middle-aged consumers are mostly to spend their money in high technology gadgets and products. The proponents will focus on households with annual disposal income of over $15,000 and above. Due to lack of data where the disposable income corresponds to specific ages, the proponents considered the data for Malaysia in totality as a basis. It shows that households with the chosen disposable income are not increasing consistently. Between years 2008 and 2009, the disposable income of Malaysians dropped abruptly but managed to increase for the year 2010. The good thing about the given data is that the performance in terms of income got better because it will increase well for the present year which is 2011. This means that it is getting more progressive if to be compared with the past years, making them able to spend more of what they need and want. Psychographic and Behavior 25-34 year olds in Malaysia are increasing in number not only for the whole Malaysia but for Kuala Lumpur itself, which is what the proponents have chosen. It is forecasted to increase and would cover 25% in total population by 2015. From the Euromonitor Internationals report in their Population and Homes category for Malaysia, it has been mentioned that the said age range would increase further in the future. Another report under categories of Technology, Communications and Media and Consumer Trends and Lifestyles, there is a significant increase in number of middle aged consumers together with their disposable income. They served as a positive influence when it comes to sale of products including in-home consumer electronic products in particular. Being bachelors or bachelorettes and having a job while living in the city, middle aged consumers are also those people who tend to spend time with their families or deciding to start a family. Because of these behaviors and lifestyles, the middle aged consumers are known to be investing well when it comes to household durables, appliances and different home-related and home-improvement products and services. Middle-aged Malaysians are already far more conservative in their spending habits than younger consumers, and the thought that new economic hard times are on the horizon could prompt many to curtail their spending even more. To connect this with the product of the proponents, La Me Sa will serve as a furniture that is good for lesser space but has a lot of features and benefits and would fit to users as they wish for high technology gadgets even more because of the fast-paced lifestyle nowadays, together with other communication industries such providing internet, specifically wireless, to be used with the gadgets are starting to grow and the smaller but more powerful, much better thought counts. The table above shows market shares of companies in home furnishings industry in Malaysia. It shows that there are a lot of companies competing with each other in the same industry. However, the IKEA leads the market share together with the next three companies. The rest of the companies mentioned are far from the shares the company leaders have. For the Philippines, there are no companies indicated in Global Market Information Database but it shows an article about Cebu as a pre-recession furniture manufacturing center and is dependent on exports to US by exporting well-designed middle to high-end furniture. Cebu has been producing some of the finest furniture on the market, and manufacturers there introduced many of the industrys most celebrated very Filipino designs innovations, including the use of indigenous Cebu raw materials like rattan, buri, stone craft (using Cebu limestone), cane and iron and, most recently, abaca. Furniture made in Cebu was highly prized, and for many years manufacturers reaped the benefits associated with the booming US housing market. However, looking to meet demand in their fast-growing domestic market, players in the Middle East have now built new manufacturing facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai and have lured away many of Cebus out-of-work finishers/polishers, craftsmen and other highly skilled workers. Home Furnishing Companies in Malaysia IKEA Malaysia Strategic Direction Grand Teak is planning to improve its sales, competitiveness and increase its brand image among consumers by aggressively promoting new products and introducing new trends and innovative ideas with better functions from its range of products to suit every customers needs. Capabilities The company specializes in producing innovative and quality house ware and home furnishings, targeting every consumer with low prices. Production The company has no production facilities in Malaysia and most of the products are imported to cater the demands of the Malaysian consumers. Competitive Positioning The company has a wide product portfolio specializing and innovating unique ideas in house ware and home furnishings. It maintains a well-established worldwide distribution network with expertise to constantly listen and understand consumers requirements and demands. The company is expected to increase its sales and improve its performance by introducing and retailing better varieties of products in its stores. Market Segmentation As a manufacturer and a retailer, Grand Teak positions itself in the middle and lower segments of the market for both house ware and home furnishings. Market Share Grand Teak is the market leader in home furnishings in Malaysia with a share of 6% and is expected to grow steadily due to its unique and innovative designs, ideas and the affordable prices of its products. Its current rank in home furnishings in Malaysia is number 1. Source: Euromonitor International Macy Home Furnishings Strategic Direction Macy Home Furnishings is expected to display better sales and demand due to its brand name and its establishment in Malaysia as one of the pioneer brands in home furnishings and retailing by seeking to capture a bigger share of the market as it improves further its brand name and expand its range of products offered to consumers. IKEA is Macy Home Furnishings main competitor which retails similar products. The company is now introducing better varieties and lower prices with promotions for its products Capabilities Beside fabrics, the company also offers a comprehensive range of home furnishings accessories and provides services including interior consultancy, expert advice and practical guides to professional tailoring. Production As an importer and retailer company, the company mostly imports its products from neighboring countries to minimize costs. The company distributes imports and retails various home furnishing products throughout Malaysia from its outlets and does not produce any products of its own in Malaysia. Competitive Positioning The company not only specializes in home furnishing products but it also has other interests. It is also involved in providing new trends, home decoration ideas and solutions for interior decoration in order to cater to a wider range of consumers with its products and services. Market Share The company currently ranks second in terms of home furnishings shares in Malaysia with an overall 5.8% share. Its share has been growing due to high demand and the success of its strategic ideas in boosting its overall sales. Source: Euromonitor International Lumbermart Strategic Direction The company has its reputation as a renowned quality floor specialist for homes. The companys objective is to establish itself as the leader in providing quality floor boards and floor furnishings made from quality wood for both commercial and non-commercial use. Capabilities The company is exclusively tied to the Swedish company Bona, and can access to the latest equipment and technology in floor materials and maintenance and continuous RD and international training. Production The company has manufacturing facilities located in Selangor in Malaysia. The primary function of the manufacturing plants is to manufacture high quality wooden floor and materials for the residential and commercial building sectors. Competitive Positioning The company is the only one that deals with wooden flooring at all stages and has customized installation and precision manufacturing facilities that

Life in Maycomb in To Kill a Mockingbird :: English Literature

What impressions are there of life in Maycomb in To Kill a Mockingbird Maycomb is seen as a tired and sleepy town, where nothing happens. Maycomb is a very isolated town itself, so it is insular. There are no nearby towns or villages so are very alone. This makes the town so boring and tired. Nothing very exciting happens in Maycomb, if there is something reasonably different from to Maycomb’s usual routine then the community get both excited but also scared. For example when it snowed Scout was scared that the sky was falling, but Jem knew what it was and got very excited and managed to make a snowman. When the Radleys’ house is supposedly broken into by Negroes, and the mad dog incident are both examples of Maycomb’s panic at something different. The trial is a very prominent example of something that Maycomb finds exciting and new, the new part being a white man trying to prove a black man innocent. The Maycomb community make a family day out or picnic out of the trial, even thought is a very serious and unpleasant court case. â€Å"It was a gala occasion.† â€Å"The courthouse square was covered with picnic parties sitting on newspapers, washing down biscuit and syrup with warm milk from fruit jars.† Nothing has changed in Maycomb, it is very traditional and tries to keep as much of its past as possible. Maycomb town is obsessed with background; it clings to old views the main one being prejudice against blacks. Maycomb needs the likes of Atticus and his children to bring the town forward. For example the Maycomb County Courthouse: â€Å"a view indicating a people determined to preserve every physical scrap of the past.† Racism in Maycomb has existed since the Indians. It shows how Maycomb is based on extreme racial and prejudice. â€Å"If General Jackson hadn’t run the Creeks.† Maycomb is also shown as a town that has not been brought up to present times by the state of the actual town. It is very poor and in disrepair, it only has one taxi. When Miss Maudie’s house catches on fire the fire engine does not reach Maycomb for a while because Maycomb is a very isolated town and not very important so therefore there is now nearby fire station. â€Å"In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square.† Maycomb seems to be an innocent, peaceful town when first seen. Harper Lee proves to show this is a misconception made by outsiders. Throughout the novel we learn the ways and life of Maycomb. â€Å"Maycomb County had recently been told it had nothing to fear but fear

The Child by Tiger †Dick’s Character :: The Child by Tiger

The Child by Tiger – Dick’s Character In "The Child by Tiger", Wolfe does a superb job of making the story reveal a truth about human experience. Dick's killing rampage in the short story showed how the human sole has a tendency to become violent. Characterization and excellent choice of tone and mood used in the story display how the Dick becomes violent. Wolfe carefully develops Dick's character in the short story. At the beginning of the short story, Wolfe describes Dick's actions precisely. Wolfe illustrates anything from Dick's movements to his talk. Furthermore, Dick is depicted as an honest hard working and notably talented individual. Wolfe does all of this for a simple reason, to show that any human sole can turn evil, no matter how intelligent, honest, or hard working. For this reason, Wolfe's characterization of Dick is essential to the short story. Without a good characterization of Dick before his sole turns violent, the story would have no meaning and would just be about a mad man. However, with Wolfe's exquisite characterization, the reader find outs how an innocent god fearing man can turn violent. Overall, Wolfe's characterization is key to the short stories meaning. Outstanding tone and mood choice also help show the truth about the weak human sole. First, the Wolfe's informal tone of the story is significant. I believe Wolfe's tone help set up the readers for the shock of what Dick does. However, the tone the author sets is important because of the shock we get, we also see how fragile the human sole is and how it can easily change. In this case, the author's informal and almost ironic tone surprise the reader but also help show the significance of Dick's experience. Second, the author's mood for the story is quiet deceiving. Since the plot of the story is to show how any human sole can turn evil, the author sets an ironic mood. Though the mood is informal, the irony of the situation is of a "good" mad turning "evil". Wolfe sets up this mood by his description and analysis of Dick's character and actions at the beginning of the story. The mood is ironic because when the violent side of Dick comes out, our mood towards the story changes because we are shocked at what has happened to innocent Dick.

Diabetes :: essays research papers fc

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas either cannot or has trouble making enough insulin to control the sugar a person receives from their food. (Bete, Co. 1972) Diabetes Mellitus is broken down into two groups: Juvenile (Type One), and Adult (Type Two) (McHenry, 1993). Type One diabetics are insulin dependant. People under forty years of age are more prone to this type. They have low serum insulin levels and it more often affects small blood vessels in eyes and kidneys. Type Two diabetics are non-insulin dependant. This type is prone to people over forty years of age. They have low, normal or high serum insulin levels. It most often affects large blood vessels and nerves (Long, 1993). Type One diabetes was one of the earliest diseases to be documented by historians. Once called "honey urine" and the "Persian fire". The name diabetes was conceived by the Greek physician Arteus almost eighteen hundred years ago. The disease remained a mystery until 1700 when an English doctor demonstrated that a diabetic's blood was abnormally high in sugar (Aaseng, 1995). Thus, bringing to the conclusion that diabetics are unable to use blood sugar as other persons bodies do (McHenry, 1993). With this fact, a young doctor named Fredrick Banting and a biochemist, Charles Best, were lead to the discovery of manufacturing insulin, the hormone for which is the key to blood sugar processing. Many diabetics lives have been saved because of this discovery (Aaseng, 1995). A person is at risk of this disorder if they have diabetic relatives, are over the age of forty years, are over-weight, and if they are of certain racial or ethnic groups. Women with gestational diabetes who give birth to a baby that weighs more than nine pounds are also at good risk of conducting this disease (Long, 1993). Higher numbers of diabetics occur more in Caucasian people than other races, and the highest incidents of Type One diabetes in the world are found in people residing in Scandinavian countries (Aaseng, 1995). Some signs and symptoms of this disorder are: an increased thirst and appetite, frequent urination, fatigue or anxiety, sickness of the stomach, loss of weight, skin infections, blurred vision, or numbness to feet and hands. Blood, urine, or supplementary tests can be done to determine whether a person is diabetic. Once diagnosed, the patient can be treated by making changes in their diet, exercising regularly, injecting themselves with insulin, or taking oral medications (Diabetes, 1997).

Five Marketing Steps in Bowie State Expansion Essay

Marketing is the activity and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. Marketing as it applies to Bowie State University plays an integral part in the longstanding tradition and the growth of the university. In order to fully understand marketing you have to be aware that the ability to adapt and change is a major part of grasping and successfully competing in this global marketing society. Accountability in marketing is more important than ever today due to the tight economic restraints and an ever evolving society. Bowie State University realizes that they cannot spend large amounts of money on unproductive marketing campaigns, but in order to be successful an effective marketing plan must be in place. Bowie State University goal should be to create a strategic marketing plan that will have a measurable impact on obtaining and maintaining student enrollment at a minimal cost. There are critical marketing concepts such as relationship marketing, integrated marketing, internal marketing, interactive marketing and market adaptation that all play an important role, not only in society, but also in the development and success of Bowie State University and any other entity or corporation. Relationship marketing is a type of marketing that puts an emphasis on consumer satisfaction and retention. It focuses on the longstanding relationship with the consumer rather than the prominent focus on an immediate sales transaction. With the growth of the internet in the past two decades, relationship marketing has continued to evolve and move forward as technology opens more collaborative and social communication channels. Relationship marketing extends to include inbound marketing efforts, public relations, social media and application development. The overall goals of relationship marketing are to discover, attract and win new clients, take care of and retain those the company already has, attract former clients back into the fold, and decrease the costs of marketing and client service. Retention is a major factor in relationship marketing and to the demise of Bowie State University. The implementation of random surveys to current students is an excellent tool used to measure customer/student satisfaction of the university as a whole. In addition to, there must be some interactive relationship building with future students in whom they are attempting to acquire and retain. I have noticed as new student to the campus of Bowie State that the university doesn’t place enough emphasis on customer satisfaction, because I have been enrolled for two semesters and nobody in the student affairs/customer relations has inquired to my satisfaction. I have definitely been pondering the idea of accepting some of the other offers provided for the MBA program. I am huge on excellent customer as I have personally worked in that area for many years and I understand the importance of retention to the success of one’s business. Bowie State desperately needs to re-direct some resources in that area to decrease the retention rate and increase student morale, and also to a ttract new clients to the campus. Relationship marketing is a concept not only intended for current students, but also for potential staff and faculty that the university is attempting to acquire. Integrated marketing happens when the marketer devises marketing activities and assembles market-programs to create, communicate, and deliver value for consumers such that â€Å"the whole is greater than the sum of its part.† All company communications must be integrated, meaning that being able to choose communication options that reinforce and complement the one another. In order for Bowie State to achieve in this area, there must be commercials via television and the radio, printed advertisements, public relations and some kind o events to entice a more loyal customer population. Bowie State University website is very user-friendly, but the website alone is not sufficient to the success of a greater student enrollment and retention. Integrated marketing must be employed to ensure Bowie State University’s success, because they must equally maximize all areas to ensure and reinforce the face of the university. The ability to employ integrated marketing puts Bowie State University at the center of its strategy and executes extremely well across all channels and lines of business. Integrated marketing doesn’t stop at the organizational boundaries of the marketing department. Integrated marketing requires an integrated approach to marketing, sales, and service. Internal marketing is the task of hiring, training, and motivating able employees who want to serve customers well. This concept is just what it says-internal and Bowie State University in my opinion, isn’t utilizing this concept to help grow the business. This process occurs within an organization where the functional process aligns, motivates, and empowers employees at all management levels to deliver a satisfying customer experience. Over recent years internal marketing has increasingly been integrated in brand management, which strives to build stronger links between the employee brand experience and customer brand experience. The challenge for internal marketing is not only to get the right messages across, but to implant them in such a way that they both change and strengthen employee performance. Bowie State University has a major need for internal marketing, because in my brief experience here on campus I’ve noticed how the faculty and staff are unequally balanced and not customer motivated. We as students are the customers to the university and yet I feel we are treated as to be insignificant and are expected to just accept whatever is offered by key administration. It appears if there is some type of buddy system in place when it comes to hiring qualified staff, because in my observation I have noticed that many instructors aren’t prepared for class, nor are they even delivering a quality education. My experience here at Bowie State University has been a bitter-sweet one, because of the inequalities and inconsistencies I have noticed. Interactive Marketing refers to the evolving trend in marketing where marketing has moved from a transaction-based effort to a conversation. Interactive marketing is the ability to address an individual and the ability to gather and remember the response of that individual leading to the ability to address the individual once more in a way that takes into account his or her unique response. The ability to remember what the customer has said and implementing those ideas can and will benefit the brand of Bowie State University. Amazon.com is an excellent example of the use of interactive marketing, as customers record their preferences and are shown selections that match not only their preferences but recent purchases. Interactive Marketing allows customers and prospects to participate in the process of building a brand’s image in a certain market or target group’s minds and as a result it makes the customer feel empowered and heard. With brands becoming more defined by actions and not simply words, social networks, search engines and mobile device growth gives our consumers even more power, so it’s important to love your customers and most of being able to respect their opinions and views on certain things that would better enhance the brand name of Bowie State University. I would really love to sit with the marketing department and observe their thought patterns as it relates to the student body who are the customers of Bowie State University. Performance marketing is a type of marketing in which business rewards one or more affiliates for each customer gained based on their marketing efforts. I feel that this particular program should also be implemented within the marketing/admissions department here at Bowie State University; however, it should also extend to the number of satisfied customers retained as well. Many times the business is acquired, but maintenance and follow-up is critical to the success of any organization or social enterprise. Bowie State needs to have a plan in place that rewards faculty and staff for generating new referrals/students or staff to the campus. At the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, it is and has been a practice that whenever new undergraduate or graduate students come on-board they are uniquely placed with a current students whose responsibility is to aide them in any means necessary until they are solely comfortable with the campus, the administration and all of the resources th at are offered to the student. Bowie State University acquires the students, but really no follow-up to see how comfortable they are. Now, in my opinion this isn’t good customer service nor should any reward be granted based on that kind of behavior. Performance marketing needs to be measured very closely by upper administration, because many times lower ranked staff generally take the attitude as if it’s not their problem. So, if everyone is taking on that same approach then it’s obvious as to why enrollment has significantly dropped. In my conclusion, Bowie State University has many opportunities where it can advance in the marketing arena. Unfortunately, if they continue down this path then all the other major colleges and universities will obtain and retain the vast majority of business that is streaming abroad.