marketing research :: essays research papers

In an article written by Laura Schneider, titled â€Å"Customer Relationships Are Key to Your Marketing Strategy† July 2003, she states that she could show a business how to increase sales by 50% without increasing a marketing budget. Her research indicates businesses have inactive customers that the owners believe will stay with the company, without maintaining or trying to grow in the relationship. Business owners often wonder why haven't they heard from a customer or if they left, why did they leave? There are many reasons a customer or client may leave, but the ones heard most often are:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They felt prices were too high or unfair.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They had an unresolved complaint.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They took a competitors offer.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They left because they felt the business didn't care. The last two options make up the majority of why a client or customer will no longer use a service or a product. Laura believes this makes sense because customers often purchase a service or product because they have developed a relationship with the company, or they owned another product, or a friend or associate referred them to you. When given with the aforementioned information she ponders the reasons why businesses spend 80% of their marketing dollars going after new customers and clients rather than nurturing, retaining, and maintaining the customer relationships they already have? She suggests before spending time and money going after new customers and clients that a business does not have a relationship to consider the following statistics:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Repeat customers spend 33% more than new customers.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Referrals among repeat customers are 107% greater than non-customers.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It costs six times more to sell something to a prospect than to sell that same thing to a customer. Laura believes the marketing dollar will go further if it is used to build, nurture, and develop current customer relationships. Building these relationships means treating customers and clients as if they are strategic partners and showing them that they are appreciated. It's important to try to satisfy them with the right products and services, supported by the right promotion and making it available at the right time and location. Customers can easily detect indifference and insincerity and they simply will not tolerate it. Long-term client and customer loyalty is a long-term challenge that you must strive for every day and with every transaction no matter how big or small. While a growing business needs to constantly capture new customers, the focus and priority should be on pleasing the existing customer base.

Genetic engineering †Maize Essay

Introduction Genetically modified, by definition, is a term denoting or derived from an organism whose DNA has been altered for the purpose of improvement or correction of defects. (dictionary. com) Genetically modified foods are foods that have been altered to enhance certain traits for the purpose of making them more desirable to consumers. Since the development of this process, modified foods have become more common throughout the years, and with their increase in production there has also been great controversy. History of Genetically Modified Foods In 1994, the first genetically modified food the Food and Drug Administration deemed safe enough for human consumption was a tomato called the â€Å"Flavr Savr,† produced in California. The purpose of altering the tomato was for it to be resistant to rotting and decaying as quickly as tomatoes usually do. They were not labeled as being genetically modified and they were between two and five time more expensive than ordinary tomatoes, but consumers still purchased them. However, due to competition, brought on by a tomato made conventionally and with a longer shelf life, the Flavr Savr tomatoes were not profitable. Genetically modified tomatoes were then made into a tomato puree and sold in Europe in the mid-1990s, but a couple years later controversy arose over the concept of genetically modifying food. In 1998, a doctor from Aberdeen, in Scotland, published results from a research study he conducted suggesting that genetically modified potatoes, injected with an insecticide gene from the snowdrop plant, were toxic to rats. A year later it was announced that beginning in 1999, there were to be trials of genetically modified crops engineered to be resistant to herbicides. The purpose of the trials was to uncover the effects of these crops on farmland wildlife. However, this was criticized to be potentially dangerous to nearby crops, as well as honey that could be affected by cross-pollination. Sure enough, later that year pollen from genetically modified oilseed rape, a plant that is used to produce canola oil, was found at beehives almost three miles away. Two out of nine samples of honey being sold in supermarkets were contaminated in May 2000. At this point in time, nine out of ten people were against the idea of genetically modifying foods. (dailymail. co. uk) Despite the controversy surrounding genetically modified plants and foods in earlier years, technologies have advanced, and in 2006, 10. 3 million farmers planted 252 million acres of transgenic crops in 22 countries. The United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, China, Paraguay, and South Africa grew 97% of these crops. Soybeans, corn, cotton, canola, and alfalfa were modified to be herbicide and insect resistant, whereas other crops, like sweet potatoes for instance were modified to be able to survive harsh weather conditions. (Ornl. gov) The process of genetic modification Genetically modifying foods changes their genetic makeup in some way. The purpose of doing this is to enhance certain aspects of the food, for example, increasing its resistance to herbicides or its nutritional value. Traditionally, this has been done by way of selectively breeding plants or animals for specific genetic traits, however this method has proven to be potentially inaccurate and very time consuming. Genetic modification on the other hand can physically isolate a particular gene and insert it into another substance, enabling it to then posses that quality. This is done very quickly and accurately. Plants can be made insect resistant, virus resistant, or more tolerant to herbicides. Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium that produces a gene for toxin production that is safe for human production. To achieve insect resistance, the gene is injected into the crops that will then be able to produce this toxin on their own, leading to a decreased need for insecticides. To achieve virus resistance, crops must be introduced to the gene from that particular disease-causing virus. This results in less susceptibility to the disease and higher crop yields. Similarly, to achieve herbicide tolerance, a gene from a bacterium that will transmit resistance to some herbicides must be injected into the crops, in turn reducing the amount of herbicides used. Purpose of genetically modifying foods. There are many reasons for producing and selling genetically modified foods over those that are traditionally produced. Originally, the intent was increased protection of crops. This is still one of the process’ objectives, however there are many additional benefits recognized today. Both consumers and producers who feel that genetically modified foods are advantageous believe that these foods can be cheaper, more durable, and more nutritional. Genetically modifying foods is also a way to ensure that with a world population that is predicted to double in the future, a food shortage will not be encountered. In addition to increased protection from diseases, pests and herbicides, there are other key reasons for genetic modification. Many crops are destroyed due to troubling weather conditions. Frost can come at unexpected times causing destruction to sensitive crops. Cold water fish have an antifreeze gene which, when introduced to plants like tobacco and potatoes, can lead to a higher tolerance to cold temperatures. Similarly, plants can also develop the ability to withstand droughts. A very important quality of food is the nutritional value that is possesses. Malnutrition is quite prevalent, especially in third world countries where people tend to rely on only one crop to fulfill their dietary needs. If however, these crops could be genetically modified to contain the amount of vitamins and nutrients necessary to sustain a healthy diet, it would be a great advantage. For example, in third world countries blindness caused by a vitamin A deficiency is very common, so researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute for Plant Sciences have developed what they call, â€Å"golden† rice, which contains uniquely high levels of vitamin A. The hope in this development is that this rice, funded by the non-profit organization Rockefeller Foundation, can be sent to any countries that request it. Vaccinations and medicines can be very difficult to produce, and they can also be very costly. Through genetic modification there is hope that the ability to produce foods with edible vaccinations in them will become a possibility. Common Genetically Modified Foods According to a WebMD article, experts say that about sixty to seventy percent of processed foods sold in the United States contain genetically modified ingredients. Soybeans, , corn, cotton, and rapeseed oil are the most commonly genetically modified foods. In other words, any foods that contain field corn, high-fructose corn syrup, soybeans, cottonseed oil, or canola oil all contain genetically modified ingredients. These ingredients are extremely common in most foods, much more so than most people are aware of. According to a study funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, only 52% of Americans are aware that genetically modified foods are even sold in grocery stores. The United States is the largest producer of corn in the world, and in 2000 it was estimated that 25% of corn crops growing in the United States were genetically modified. Corn is an ingredient in beer, salad dressing, margarine, flour, and anything containing corn syrup. The corn sold in stores is not necessarily intended to be genetically modified, however the concern for cross contamination between crops is there, since corn is wind-pollinated. Soy is the most heavily modified crop, and more than half the soy in the world was made up of genetically modified strains in 2007. There are different reasons for the modification of soy, including an added resistance to insects, and increasing its vitamin or fat and protein content in order to be suitable for animal feed. Soy is also used for creating chemicals used in pharmaceuticals. The likelihood of products in the United States containing genetically modified materials if they contain soy is very high, despite the lack of any labeling stating so. Tofu and soy milk are obviously effected products, however soy is also present in bread, cereal, ice cream and chocolate. Milk can be made from a genetically modified hormone called the recombinant bovine growth hormone. The function of this hormone is to produce more milk by keeping cells to produce milk alive in cows for longer periods of time. There is no proven difference between milk produced with the hormone versus that produced without it, however cows injected with the hormone are more prone to disease which can in turn have negative effects on the milk. Rapeseed oil, or canola oil, is one of the most genetically modified crops used. 80% of canola crops in Western Canada have been genetically modified. It is modified in the area of herbicide resistance. Also, modified rapeseed crops produce the main pollen used in the making of honey, suggesting that most honey from Canada could likely qualify as genetically modified. Advantages of Genetically Modified Foods Genetically modified foods offer several advantages. As already mentioned, an increased resistance to pests and diseases, the tolerance against bad weather conditions, and an increase in food supply are all obviously positive aspects. Crops have a better taste and quality when they are modified and they also have increased nutrients, yields, and stress tolerance. The time it takes for crops to mature is reduced as well. As far as the advantages for animals, they develop an increased resistance, productivity, and feed efficiency. They also produce more food, and their health can improve. The environment can benefit from genetically modifying foods as well. Firstly, the bioherbicides and bioinsecticides are environmentally friendly. Because genetic modification improves the resistance of plants and reduces their maturation time, soil, water, and energy can also be conserved. There is better natural waste management associated with genetic modification, and food processing is more efficient. Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Foods Despite the advantages of genetically modifying foods, the disadvantages of doing so seem to greatly outweigh the positive aspects of it. The most common criticisms against GM foods are in regards to the environment, health risks, and economic worries. Firstly, there have been several harmful, yet unintended effects on organisms in the environment. Monarch butterfly caterpillars have suffered an increased mortality rate due to the gene injected in corn crops. Though the caterpillars do not consume corn crops, they consume milkweed plants in neighboring fields, where the wind could easily transfer the pollen. There was a study done to test this theory, and the study did in fact support it. Another environmental concern is that the genes used to enhance certain crops will be transferred over to species unintended to contain the gene. For instance, in the case of crops that are introduced to a gene enabling them to develop an increased resistance to herbicides, the gene can potentially spread into the weeds themselves, causing them too to develop a higher herbicide resistance. This could cause problems because the weeds would then become very difficult to combat which could possibly ruin the crops. The concern for human health risks in regards to genetically modified foods is very high as well. Firstly, food allergies are very common among people in Europe and the United States, and in some cases these allergies can be fatal. The possibility that adding genes to plants could cause allergic reactions in susceptible people is there, and it is a very threatening possibility. Secondly, genetically modified foods pose an unknown overall threat to human health. Despite the lack of proof that foods made of genetically modified materials can be harmful to people, there have been studies showing that certain GM foods are in fact harmful to the digestive tract of rats. Just the fact that the effects of GM food on people are still not completely known also poses a huge threat in itself. From an economic perspective, genetically modifying foods is very costly. With new technologies that are continuously surfacing, companies are starting to want to patent their ideas, and this raises the concern that with patents will come a raise in price of seeds, making business very difficult for farmers who will not be able to afford them. This would result in the domination of food production throughout the world by only a few companies if GM foods reached such a high existence. It would also increase the dependence of developing countries on industrialized nations. Lastly, it could also result in biopiracy, or foreign exploitation of natural resources. There are ethical issues surrounding genetic modification as well. Many people question if it is unethical to alter nature by taking the genes of one species and mixing it with another. There is also the question of whether or not it is ethically wrong to violate the essential values of organisms. This process can stress animals as well, as their natural ways of life and food production are being compromised in ways that are having essentially unknown effects on the animal. The ethicality of labeling foods as genetically modified is a very controversial issue. In the United States, labeling foods is not mandatory and to the many people who do not want to consume these foods, this is viewed as very unethical. Laws of Genetically Modified Foods The laws and governmental regulations of genetically modifying food varies throughout the world, yet a common factor is that all of these different governments are in fact working towards establishing regulatory processes. In Japan, as of April 2001, testing GM foods was made mandatory. In the United States, regulation is achieved by several different governmental agencies, such as the US Environmental Protection. Agency, the US Department of Agriculture, and the US Food and Drug Administration. The EPA is responsible for regulating the substances used that may cause possible harm to the environment and human health, pesticides for example. Farmers need to obtain licenses in order to use such chemicals, and the amount they are permitted ot use is regulated. The USDA includes different divisions each responsible for their own branch of assessment. â€Å" Among these divisions are APHIS, the Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service, which conducts field tests and issues permits to grow GM crops, the Agricultural Research Service which performs in-house GM food research, and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service which oversees the USDA risk assessment program. † (Csa. com) The FDA is involved when companies producing GM foods have issues they feel they want to consult with them about. They are not required to go to the FDA though. The future of Genetically Modified Foods Currently, genetically modified ingredients are present in many foods, however the process is mostly limited to altering the ingredients in the area of improved sustainability. In the future, there are plans to genetically modify much more. For example, there are plans to try to produce foods with the ability to produce human vaccinations. There are also plans to genetically alter food animals, like pigs, cows, and most recently salmon. Conclusion Genetically modified foods have come a long way since their first introduction into the market. They have great potential to solve many problems and improve upon many conditions. However, there are many challenges facing governments as far as the advancement of genetically modified foods is concerned. Regulations, food testing, and uncovering more of the possible effects on both human health and the environment are all great issues involved. The concept of genetic modification is also very controversial. However, regardless of the obstacles and controversy surrounding this phenomenon, it is becoming much more widespread throughout the world. Works Cited â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? † CSA. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms –HGP Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues. † Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . â€Å"Development and History of GM Foods – Genetically Modified Foods (UK). † Comphrensive Advice on Genetically Modified Foods at Genetically Modified Foods (UK). Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . Chapman, By James. â€Å"History of Genetically Modified Food | Mail Online. † Home | Mail Online. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. . Jibrin, By Janis. â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods (Biotech Foods) Pros and Cons. † WebMD – Better Information. Better Health. Web. 1 Nov. 2010. . dictionary. com.

Does Natural Disaster Affect International Trade

Does Natural Disaster Affect International Trade? Introduction Nowadays, many industries are developing such as machines, technology, and other fields in the world. Therefore, experts make an accurate estimate what will happen to futures. Economists estimate rates of economic growth or impacts of crises or other economic phenomenon. However, what if natural disasters occur in somewhere, economists still can estimate economic phenomenon or prepare what they have to do? Do they expect exchange rates will fall, and their countries’ economy will crisis? For example, Japan s earthquake and tsunami. The authors expected that the volume of Japan’s exports reduced by between 0.5% and 1.6%, and the volume of imports increased between 0.4% and 1.3% (Hubert Escaith). These numbers can say strongly that the natural disaster impacted on Japan’s international trade. Furthermore, Japan has one of the largest economics in the world, and fourth largest in trades in goods and services in the world at that time (Hubert Escaith). This is an ex ample of natural disasters affecting international trade. Literature Review a. International natural disasters Author Hubert et al. (2011) examined the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In the results, Japan was impacted on both imports and exports by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. However, the impact on international trade mostly remained small. Also, another author Meng et al. (2015) studied the impact of natural disaster in China andShow MoreRelatedUnit 7-P1, M1 Essay examples1291 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War to prevent another such conflict. The organization is financed by giving its member states a substantial fee. 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The majority of contemporary people falsely believe that we can continue to increase in our numbers, and that this practice does not affect the environment

Analysis Of Of Mice And Men And Macbeth - 1891 Words

For the purpose of this assignment, I will be exploring the ways women are presented in the texts ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘Macbeth’. My focus will be centred on the two main female characters in both texts - ‘Curley’s wife’ in ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘Lady Macbeth’ in ‘Macbeth’ - and discussing how the authors have portrayed them. As well as this, I will also be briefly looking at other female characters that feature in the texts that are equally as interesting. â€Å"She had full rouged lips and wide spaced eye’s, heavily made up.† - This is one of the ways John Steinbeck (who is the author of the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’) describes the character of ‘Curley’s Wife’. She is a complex and controversial character, who although is not referenced much throughout the book, still plays a significant role within the story. Our first impression of Curley’s wife is that she is very manipulative. The reader first hears about her in chapter two of the book, in a conversation between George, Lennie and Candy, thus giving the reader an insight into her character before she has even made her first appearance. During the discussion, Candy mentions that â€Å"She has got the eye† and describes her as being very flirtatious with the other workers on the ranch despite being married to Curley. He also refers to her as being a â€Å"Tart†, which gives the reader the impression that she is immoral and is not the stereotypical woman you would expect to see during the 1930’s. By introducing her character throughShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Of Mice And Men And Macbeth 1808 Words   |  8 PagesCoursework: How are women presented in ‘Of mice and men and ‘Macbeth ? Throughout time, society has always been prejudice towards women and their characteristics. With regards to Adam and Eve, the Biblical story in which God created two humans (Adam and Eve) and positioned them in a beautiful garden called the ‘Garden of Eden , since then people have associated the story to being sexist and prejudice towards women. When Eve disobeyed God about eating fruit from the tree of knowledge and forcedRead MoreRichard Graff s Hidden Intellectualism, By Gerald Graff1142 Words   |  5 Pagesexcited to read Macbeth by WIlliam Shakespeare and write about it like there’s no tomorrow,† it’s just uncommon. There are â€Å"more than 2.1 million students on 114 campuses,† in community colleges in California alone according to the California Community College Chancellor s Office, and we are all different, but expected to learn the same way. How does that make any sense? What one students might find interesting, the other might detest. Fo r example, I enjoyed reading Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckRead MoreHow To Write Literary Analysis4174 Words   |  17 PagesHow To Write Literary Analysis The Literary Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide When you read for pleasure, your only goal is enjoyment. You might find yourself reading to get caught up in an exciting story, to learn about an interesting time or place, or just to pass time. Maybe you’re looking for inspiration, guidance, or a reflection of your own life. There are as many different, valid ways of reading a book as there are books in the world. When you read a work of literature in an English classRead MoreNon Profit Analysis Essay7109 Words   |  29 PagesNon-Profit Analysis Project Liberty University Penny LeBaron Busi 602 Carlson Hurst Part 1: Christian World View According to Del Tackett’s article on the Focus on the Family website, a person with a Biblical world view â€Å"believes his primary reason for existence is to love and serve God† (Tackett, 2012). Barna Research Group asks the following questions to determine if a person has a Biblical worldview: â€Å"Do absolute moral truths exist? Is absolute truth defined by the Bible? Did Jesus

International Finance Currency Trading Term Paper

Essays on International Finance Currency Trading Term Paper The paper "International Finance Currency Trading" is a brilliant example of a term paper on finance and accounting. The current exchange rate for EUR/USD is 1 Euro for 1.1285 US dollars, according to Google Finance. Figure 1 shows a graphical representation of changes in the value of the Euro over a period of one year. The graph shows a decreasing trend in the value of the Euro relative to the US Dollar with frequent fluctuations in between.Many factors have influenced the current value of Euro which includes purchasing power parity of the Eurozone, interest rate, and inflation. The purchasing power parity theory holds that countries have equal purchasing powers when the exchange rates between their currencies are in equilibrium (Antweiler, 2011). Differences in the inflation rate and the domestic price levels impact the exchange rate. The current value of Euro relative to the US Dollar suggests that the Euro area has been experiencing lesser inflation or price as compared to the US A. This means that the Euro has been depreciating as compared to the US Dollar. Considering another variable which is the interest rate will help explain Euro’s present value. Figure 2 shows the interest rate across the Euro area over a period of one year. The graph shows that the benchmark rate has gradually dropped over the year to 0.05 based on data provided by the European Central Bank.On the other hand, data from The World Bank shows that the real interest rate for the United States for 2013 has been 1.7 percent. The decreasing interest rate in the Euro coupled with a decreasing real interest rate in the United States explains the decrease in the value of Euro versus the US Dollar. A depreciating currency is due to a decrease in the real interest rate which means that investors are not as willing to invest because of lesser returns in the Euro area (McEachern, 2013). However, the United States also does not have a high real interest rate but is far greater than that in t he Euro area.Based on data by CME Group (n.pag.) the foreign exchange futures for Euro currency will increase over the next few years. By December 2015 the change between the prior settling value and the last value will be positive. The most important contract, in this case, is the EUR/USD currency futures contract. Liquidity plays an important role in foreign exchange futures and a EUR/USD currency future contract usually involves thousands of contracts in volume.According to an article by Oliver Wright and Ben Chu (n.pag.), Euro does not have any future especially in the wake of the European Fiscal Compact agreement which experts say is unsustainable. The recent economic crisis in Greece and poor economic performance being shown by many of the European Union countries present a dismaying story. Hence, Euro currencies' future is not as sustainable due to the economic performance of many of the EU countries including Greece, Portugal, Spain, and so on.

Comparing Religions of the World free essay sample

There are 3 different categories of religions that are still practiced in this world, Abrahamic, Dharmic, and Taoic. A lot of Religions are categorized by these, but they all have a specific meaning. Abrahamic means that the religions are monotheistic and trace to their origin of Abraham. Dharmic religions have a great importance in Indian philosophy and religions, and Taoic religions originate from the far eastern, often in China or India. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are in the Abrahamic category. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are all Dharmic religions, where Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism are Taoic religions. Many of these religions are still practiced today. Many of which are very popular, and many not so much. Christianity was formed when people started believing that Christ was Gods son, even though the religion wasnt officially formed until christian and catholic churches started teaching from the Latin Bible. Judaism, on the other hand, is not very popular. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing Religions of the World or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There arent any big Jewish cities or countries, besides Israel, but there are many Jews spread across the world. Islam was founded by Muhammad, in 622 CE. The people that believe in Allah (their God) are called Muslims. They also believe that Muhammad was a prophet or a messenger from God. Muslims worship the Koran (a Book) and Allah (a God). This religion is an Abrahamic religion, which means it is a monotheistic religion. Muslims pray facing Mecca, to worship Muhammads birth place. They also celebrate a world wide holiday called Ramadan, where they fast for a month. The large populations of Muslims are located in North Africa, Indonesia, and South western part of Asia. Buddhism is a Dharmic Religion, which means it is very important to Indian Philosophy. Buddhism was founded by Gautama Siddhartha, in the fifth century, in Nepal. People that believe in Buddhism are called Buddhists. Buddhists have a ritual of Meditating to find inner peace, and they read the Tripitaka, the holy book of Buddhism. Buddhists celebrate Hanamatsuri, Vesak, Band the Bodhi Day. They believe in the Four Noble Truths: life is suffering, suffering is due to attachment, attachment can be overcome, and there is a path for accomplishing this. Taoism originated in Eastern China, and was founded by Lao-Tse, which became a state religion in 440 CE. People that believe in Taoism worship the Tao Te Ching. Many people in Eastern China are Taoists. Taoists also have the ritual of meditating. Taoism and Buddhism are more beliefs than a religion. Islam, for example has rules to live by to be a Muslim, whereas Buddhism, or Taoism, only needs a persons own belief in what he wants to follow. I learned that there are many religions in existence, also, that by many you have to, both, believe, and follow the rules, but by some you just have to believe. I learned that many religions are not passed down to an offspring, though a lot are, the person, himself, has to decide on their own. There are 3 categories religions are categorized by, and they all have their own meaning. Comparing Religions of the World free essay sample There are 3 different categories of religions that are still practiced in this world, Abrahamic, Dharmic, and Taoic. A lot of Religions are categorized by these, but they all have a specific meaning. Abrahamic means that the religions are monotheistic and trace to their origin of Abraham. Dharmic religions have a great importance in Indian philosophy and religions, and Taoic religions originate from the far eastern, often in China or India. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are in the Abrahamic category. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are all Dharmic religions, where Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism are Taoic religions. Many of these religions are still practiced today. Many of which are very popular, and many not so much. Christianity was formed when people started believing that Christ was Gods son, even though the religion wasnt officially formed until christian and catholic churches started teaching from the Latin Bible. Judaism, on the other hand, is not very popular. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing Religions of the World or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There arent any big Jewish cities or countries, besides Israel, but there are many Jews spread across the world. Islam was founded by Muhammad, in 622 CE. The people that believe in Allah (their God) are called Muslims. They also believe that Muhammad was a prophet or a messenger from God. Muslims worship the Koran (a Book) and Allah (a God). This religion is an Abrahamic religion, which means it is a monotheistic religion. Muslims pray facing Mecca, to worship Muhammads birth place. They also celebrate a world wide holiday called Ramadan, where they fast for a month. The large populations of Muslims are located in North Africa, Indonesia, and South western part of Asia. Buddhism is a Dharmic Religion, which means it is very important to Indian Philosophy. Buddhism was founded by Gautama Siddhartha, in the fifth century, in Nepal. People that believe in Buddhism are called Buddhists. Buddhists have a ritual of Meditating to find inner peace, and they read the Tripitaka, the holy book of Buddhism. Buddhists celebrate Hanamatsuri, Vesak, Band the Bodhi Day. They believe in the Four Noble Truths: life is suffering, suffering is due to attachment, attachment can be overcome, and there is a path for accomplishing this. Taoism originated in Eastern China, and was founded by Lao-Tse, which became a state religion in 440 CE. People that believe in Taoism worship the Tao Te Ching. Many people in Eastern China are Taoists. Taoists also have the ritual of meditating. Taoism and Buddhism are more beliefs than a religion. Islam, for example has rules to live by to be a Muslim, whereas Buddhism, or Taoism, only needs a persons own belief in what he wants to follow. I learned that there are many religions in existence, also, that by many you have to, both, believe, and follow the rules, but by some you just have to believe. I learned that many religions are not passed down to an offspring, though a lot are, the person, himself, has to decide on their own. There are 3 categories religions are categorized by, and they all have their own meaning.

Tanglewood Case Study 2 Essay Example For Students

Tanglewood Case Study 2 Essay Tanglewood Case 2 Table 1. 1 Markov Analysis Information Transition probability matrix Current Year Previous year: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) Exit ( 1 ) Store associate 0. 43 0. 06 0. 00 0. 00 0. 00 0. 51 ( 2 ) Shift leader 0. 00 0. 54 0. 16 0. 00 0. 00 0. 30 ( 3 ) Department manager 0. 00 0. 00 0. 64 0. 06 0. 00 0. 30 ( 4 ) Assistant store manager 0. 00 0. 00 0. 06 0. 52 0. 08 0. 34 ( 5 ) Store manager 0. 00 0. 00 0. 00 0. 00 0. 66 0. 34 Forecast of availabilities Next Year (projected) 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) Exit Previous year: Current Workforce ____ ( 1 ) Store associate 8,500 3655 510 0 0 0 4335 ( 2 ) Shift leader 1,200 0 648 192 0 0 360 ( 3 ) Department manager 850 0 0 544 51 0 255 ( 4 ) Assistant store manager 150 0 0 9 78 12 51 ( 5 ) Store manager 50 0 0 0 0 33 17 Gap analysis Next Year (projected) ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) Year end total 3655 1158 745 129 45 (column sum) External hires needed 4845 42 105 21 5 (current workforce-total) Environmental Scan Upon performing an environmental scan, we have determined that Tanglewood might have problems filling their vacancies in the future for a variety of reasons. According to the scan, there are available candidates who are ready to fill managerial positions. However, our hiring policies at Tanglewood require employees to start out as store associates and work their way up in the organization if they choose to do so and if the store needs these positions filled. We also strive to hire an exceptional workforce. We will write a custom essay on Tanglewood Case Study 2 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now One way we may want to go about hiring an exceptional workforce may be to hire motivated, intelligence college graduates. However, according to the environmental scan, we have found that recent college graduates do not necessarily want to start at the bottom of an organization as a store associate in order to work their way up to a higher position. Additionally, the retail industry holds a negative (and partially accurate) image of providing low pay, requiring long hours, and of their being frequent conflicts with lower-level employees. A Prelimiary Statement of the Action Plan for Hiring for Washington Next Year According to the forecast of labor requirements found in Table 1. 1, next year we will need 4,845 store associates, 42 shift leaders, 105 department managers, 21 assistant managers, and 5 store managers. As a result of both these figures and our hiring policy of hiring internally and thus starting every employee at the lowest position, we will need to hire a large amount of store associates. We will keep most of them at the associate position and promote some of the more experienced associates into the managerial positions. We also must keep in mind our other hiring policies of developing talent and having exceptional workforce quality. In order to fulfill all of our hiring practices, we propose the following plan. We will hire at least 4,845 store associates to meet our projected needs for the next year. We will do this by attempting to dispel negative perceptions of retail store employment by providing higher pay and store discounts as well as offering flextime. We will also strive to have and to build exceptional workforce quality in a number of ways. We will work to improve job satisfaction by providing employees with task variety. We will allow store associates to work in different departments and to do different things from working the cash registers to designing and assembling in-store displays. We will also encourage teamwork by having contests between store departments and have parties to celebrate everyone’s hard work and to honor the winning team. Tanglewood’s comment system will also be stressed to show that although store associates are the lowest level position at Tanglewood, these people are one of the company’s most important assets and that their comments and suggestions are encouraged. We must keep in mind that associates are often the face of the company because they directly interact with customers. We must show them how important they are to Tanglewood. We may want to focus much of our efforts to recruiting high school students for these store associate positions. .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .postImageUrl , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:hover , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:visited , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:active { border:0!important; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:active , .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8 .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u910751157e774034be254a17cf15eff8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Illustrations and Interpretations EssayEach store needs to have a large number of store associates and not very many managers. As a result, we do not want all of our associates to have a desire to move up into managerial positions. High school students may be the perfect match for this role because these candidates may just be looking for a part-time job to have in order to make some extra spending money and to gain some work experience. They may not want to have all the responsibility of a manager and they cannot work all of the hours required of a manager because they must go to school. We will also work toward developing talent and hiring internally. For employees, such as recent college graduates, who have expressed a desire to attain managerial positions, we will allow them to enter a management trainee program. This program will follow our policies of having everyone start at the bottom, but it will allow participants to move up quickly in the organization provided they learn what is necessary to hold these positions. Workers in this program will be paired up with exceptional workers so they can learn the culture and operations of Tanglewood quickly.