Thursday, October 31, 2019

Monopolies and Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Monopolies and Economics - Essay Example Economists have debated the value and the cost of monopolies for centuries and still have come to no clear consensus. Even our laws that protect the market from monopolistic practices have been viewed as incapable of defining the words 'market' and 'monopoly'. When does market share become a monopoly In the United States, the foul line is crossed when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) interprets the anti-trust laws and rules that the actions are injurious to competition. The technical definition of a monopoly is a business that is the sole provider of a good or service that has no suitable substitute. Consumers are restricted to buying from the monopolist. Geographic limitations can also create a monopoly such as being the only doctor within a hundred miles. Monopolies can also exist where a firm manufactures a specialized product to a limited market. New innovations may become monopolistic due to patent restrictions or until the innovation becomes more widely available. Another characteristic of a monopoly is that there needs to be a barrier to entry into the market. This is usually due to high sunk-costs that prevent competitors from reaching an economy of scale. Though all these traits are seen in monopolies, many practices are labeled monopolistic because they restrict competition and are prohibited by law. Most of these practices serve to limit competition or drive competition out of business. Product dumping, price fixing, predatory pricing, and bid rigging are all considered monopolistic practices. In the United States corporations are occasionally allowed to engage in a monopoly or monopolistic practices. Professional sports, utilities, government institutions, and markets with a single producer are sometimes exempted or protected. These protected monopolies do not always benefit from their monopoly status, as they may still need to be competitive to keep new entrants from competing. Major League Baseball is sometimes seen as a monopoly. However, there are substitute products in the form of other sports and entertainment activities. Though they prevent any new entries into the market, they can't be called a true monopoly. Even the US Post Office, a protected monopoly, has come under increased competition with the advent of new technology and services. Though they were once the only provider for their services, failure to innovate left them vulnerable to alternate suppliers. A criticism often leveled at monopolies is that they are complacent and slow to innovate. . Monopolies can be destructive to the economy because they give the firm the opportunity to be a price maker rather than a price taker. The monopoly will reduce the supply, which increases the price to the point that it maximizes profits (Parkin 110). This point is almost always at a point above the price that would be available in a competitive market. According to Stigler, "the purely "economic" case against monopoly is that it reduces aggregate economic welfare". For example: If a firm can sell 100 units when the price is $5 it will generate $500 revenue. If they price them at $7 they can only sell 80 units, but will have generated $560 revenue. However, the loss to the economy is 20 unsold units at $5 each, or $100. Though the firm has gained $60, the market has lost $100. This aggregate loss is known as deadweight loss and is what the anti-trust laws are designed to

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Organizational development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Organizational development - Assignment Example The firm that is analyzed in the paper is XYZ Company that deals with textile design. It has 2,000 employees. The company designs and makes clothes for various customers in Europe, Asia and North America. The company supply its products to different countries specifically designed according to preferences and demand of the market. Last year, XYZ ventured into African market with various customers demanding various designs that fits African cultures. In light with this, the company saw the need for the establishment of new outlets in three African countries which have an interest in using XYZ products. The human resource department resolved that the company has to transfer some employees from the U.S offices to the newly established offices in Africa. However, the move to diversify market to the African market was as a result of the downward trend in sales from the already existing markets. When employees were notified about the intentions to be transferred to the new market, over 100 employees resigned their positions as employees of EYZ Company. However, the situation deteriorated with more resignation letters flowing into the human resource office daily. At first, the human resource manager thought that the employees were afraid of being transferred to work in the new market. As some investigations were conducted, it was noticed that the employees left the company because of bad working conditions. Amazingly, those that had left were hired by XYZ’s main competitor whose working conditions were more enticing than those of XYZ. Intentions to open new offices in the new market were temporarily suspended until some organizational development was realized in the existing market. Statement of the problem Since its establishment in 2000, XYZ has been leading in textile design. At first, XYZ operated in the U.S market only. Its marketing strategies and employee relations were perfect, something that led to the establishment of new outlets in the European marke t. However, since the retirement of its human resource manager in 2008, the company performance has been deteriorating year after year. It has been argued that employee wellness and reward system has been ignored by the new management since 2008. Employees have not been proactive as there before, thus poor performance of the company. It is argued that employees are one of the best capitals an organization can ever have (Jex 245). Therefore, their wellness is vital as it help retain and motivate them. Once employees are motivated, they tend to perform their duties effectively. Due to this fact, XYZ’s profit margins have gone down to the extent of failing to take care of its liabilities including payment of its employees. This is what prompted the management to think of opening up new markets in the African market. The presumption was that there was a decrease in demand and stiff competition of their products in the existing markets. However, it is believed that a company is ab le to have a competitive advantage in markets with stiff competition only after employing all necessary measures including employee wellness. It is apparent that if XYZ fails to intervene on the matter, it is highly unlikely to remain in the market. In the short term intervention, it would be essential for XYZ to find ways of retaining the current employees by addressing their grievances at hand. This way, it is highly likely that the company will be able to uphold its present performance without going on a downward trend. Nevertheless, it is equally important to employ long-term measures, which would enable the company improve and survive the highly completive market. Objectives of intervention The main objective of this intervention is to use a reward systems intervention to help XYZ improve its performance Specific objectives To propose appropriate re-structuring of the XYZ organization To propose reward systems to XYZ that would help retain and motivate its employees Scope of in tervention Since XYZ company

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Consumer Behaviour and Sustainability Content

Consumer Behaviour and Sustainability Content 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. BACKGROUND In todays businesss world, one of the most challenging tasks for marketers is to understand the customers buying behaviour. What goes into the humans black box: what cause them to make the decisions of buying or not buying? Is it based on values, views which dominate the market today or purely rely on his/her demands, needs and wants or modern societys environment changes influences? These are all reflecting consumers buying behaviour. Hence, a proper knowledge of consumers behaviour will be a vital key to gain competitive advantage in the global business environment. To better understand consumer behaviour and what factors influence it, this article will be centered on three theories self theory, consumer decision-making and fashion theory. Literally all three theories relates to the process of buying behaviour which reflected through consumers perceptions. Self theory is ourselves performing as a system and creates a model of what we believe and understand for the outside world. Consumer decision-making is a concept that let us understand how customers choose and make the decision to buy or not buy in the full process. Fashion theory is all driven by the societys innovativeness. Indeed, all three theories are very important in making marketing strategies due to it is a key to the success of any business. 1.2. AIMS This article will be analyzed together with researchers diary to understand the prospects of consumers behaviour based on researchers own shopping experience. Below are the aims on this report is focused; The main concept of each theory and its influences in the consumer behaviour; Integrate researchers shopping experience and combine theory to analyze real consumer behaviour; 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 THEORY OF SELF 2.1.1 CONCEPT In simple words, self is a mirror image of me. It is an internal view of my own personality. It is considered an epicenter of all the perceptions. It is encapsulated image of humans personality. The self is a perpetually shifting dynamic system that is more like the flow of a river in which patterns emerge and disappear than a static backdrop (Kelso, 1995, p. 1). According to Mead (1934), the self is not a matter whereas it is prototype or procedure. As Goffman points out, the self is a sacred symbol in this society (1959). Self is a key factor which is responsible for fulfilling or meeting the most important emotional energy objective. That is why one critically mentioned the inadvertent rediscovery of self in experimental social psychology (Hales 1 98 1 a). It is nearly impossible to understand self on its own, as it provides philosophical foundation for social-psychological investigation into the self concept. Self concept theory also refers to theory of self -evaluation. Self concept is a complex of human thoughts about its own self. It denotes the totality of the individuals thoughts and feelings having reference to himself as an object (Rosenberg 1979, p. 7). Self is all about having our own perceptions about our own selfs. It is an inside view of a human which relates to an intangible world. From (1956) described self-concept as life being aware of itself. Self concept is not an individuals viewpoint whereas it is made up of multidimensional prospective as actual-self (how a person perceives herself) , ideal-self (how a person would like to perceive herself), social self (how a person presents herself to others), and global-self attitude (self-esteem or self-satisfaction expression, etc.). (Joseph, 1982) Self theorists essentially define self-concept as an attitude one holds about or toward ones person (self), this attitude consisting of cognitive components (knowledge, belief), affect ive components (evaluations), and behavioral-motivational components (predispositions or tendencies to respond). (Ivan, 1971) 2.1.2. SELF-THEORY IN CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR Self image/product image on brand/product preferences The self-concept is basically a cognitive structure which is in many ways associated with strong feelings or behaviours. Consumers make choices are in the connection with self-concept which is cognitive appraisal attributes about oneself in the attachment to different brands. This means a consumer may purchase some product as he feels that product enhances himself, and this consumer may not like to shop in a certain store due to the reason that he feels the stores products are not as the same level as he is at or not fit into him in terms if representing his image. (Edward, et,al.1968) And this is the image of self as individuals express themselves by choosing brands whose personalities are perceived to be congruent with their own personalities. (Ahmad, et.al, 2001) Since people have their own personalities, product/services is assumed to its own personality image as well. This personality is represented in the product/services attributes like conventional, posh, trendy, casual etc. The products personality is also represented into extended functions like tangible costs, benefits like quality, space, price and performance. These functions are not only the representatives of products/services image but also features in other factors like advertising, stereotype of the users, other marketing prospects, etc. This type of product image has been interacted with consumers self-concept and effect a so-called self-image/product image congruity, in which influence the consumers product preference and purchase intention. (Joseph, 1985) Self-esteem and Self-consistency V.S. Purchase Motivation If a product image is close to self-image, it will be named as self-congruity while as if a product image is close to ideal self-image, it will be named as ideal congruity. It is argued that self-congruity (SC) affects purchase motivation through the activation and operation of the self-consistency motive. In contrast, ideal congruity (DC) affects purchase motivation through the mediation of the self-esteem motive. (Joseph, 1985) Various self/image congruity illustrations will cause various purchase motivations among consumers. If a consumer has high self-esteem, he will purchase a positively valued product in order to keep his positive self-image. However, he will never purchase certain product which is negatively valued product as he wants to avoid negative self-congruity. Take an automobile as an example, a high self-esteem customer will always buy a good ideal car in order to satisfy others or societys point of view as it is important for him to maintain the status in his surroun dings. He will never buy a car which projects a lower image in comparison to his self-esteem. However, from the perspective of self-consistency, consumer will be always motivated to purchase a product either positive or negative image as it is important that the product itself should be reflecting his/her self-image belief. A table has been illustrated from Joseph (1985) is clearly stated the relationship in the purchase motivation and customers own image/personality. Source: (Joseph, 1985) Discussions Since the self-concept has been divided into multidimensional perspectives, researchers have studied a lot on different self-dimensions to find out any relationship to the consumers behaviour. Therefore, it turned out the product image/self-image can not always satisfy consumers to purchase certain product under his intention all the time. Some researchers argued that consumers are not only seeking the product which is close to self-image. Sometimes, consumer does not choose the product which represents him, but rather certain product which is related to his ideal self-image due to that the relevant self-image dimension is negative. (Laird, 1974) This has brought us into the considerations that social factors, status, environment have changed consumers actual purchase into the ideal purchase in order to match up with the reality or society though this is similar like self-esteem concept in the above part. Researchers have also argued that people purchase some branded product is not due to the perception of him, as it might be the cause of post-purchases effects. This means after purchase, consumer has taken its product-image into his self-image to represent himself instead of pre-purchase effect. It is the product-image causing the effect instead of self-image cause the purchase of the product. 2.2. CONSUMER DECISION MAKING 2.2.1. CONCEPT Decision making for a consumer has never been so complicated since high technology development in the global commercial industry. Similar products within same functions among various brands in retail outlets and shopping malls have created more choices for a consumer. And retailers are becoming competitors to each other by using various promotion methods like advertising, direct mails and leaflets of information on goods and services attract customers to purchase. With the development of information system, the choice for decision making for a consumer becomes much more complex due to the electronic format on products display. (Steven, 1996) An organization which embraces the marketing concept tries to provide products that satisfy customer needs through coordinated sets of activities that also allow the organization to achieve its goals. Customers satisfaction is the major aim of the marketing concept. (Dibb et al., 1994) It is a process in which both the parties are benefited by exchanging if buyer intend to purchase something of value from the seller, in return seller must get something of value. (Table 1 and Table 2) In order to grow in an efficient way, organizations always try to find out the reasons of why consumers make such purchase decision or why not. The key to drive a companys growth is to understand the elements that motivate into consumers buying decision. Only under such condition can a leader of the company to smartly arrange the allocation of the resources and supportive activities. (Todd, el,al,2005) Purchase a product involves a decision-making process among consumers. According to Paul (2007), there are four chains related to such decision making process: Search for alternatives, Evaluation of alternatives, Purchase, and outcomes of the purchase. The chart below has been a good example of a decision-making of motorists buying gasoline. Source: (Paul, 2007) Decision-making process has been largely influenced by the modern communication tools among companies. As from the view of marketers perspective, what is important is not simply understanding the nature of the decision process, but how this influences the individuals responses to advertising communications. (Keith) Hence, a proper understanding of consumers decision-making now is becoming much more and more complex and interesting. 2.2.2. CONSUMER DECISION MAKING IN CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR Consumer decision styles: Below is a chart which will explain two types of influences that motivate consumers buying behaviour: tangible and intangible factors. Elements that influence consumers buying decision: (Todd, et,al.2005) Researchers also found that peoples choices over the products perceptions are various according to different nations. According to Sproles and Kendall (1986, p. 268), a consumers decision-making style is a mental orientation characterizing a consumers approach to making choices. They developed eight basic elements that influence consumers buying decision which are: quality conscious, brand conscious, fashion conscious, recreational and hedonistic orientation, price conscious, impulsive and careless tendencies, confused by over-choice and brand loyalty. (Cheng-Lu, et,al, 2004) This means any element or combinations of them among these eight mental characters can be the final decision of a buyers choice depend on what he is focusing on. Howard and Sheth Theory of Buyer Behaviour: Brand Model This model made by Howard and Sheth has considered various factors into the consumers decision making over a product. In the chart below, there are seven factors shown its relatives to a decision making of a buyer. And under this model, three situations have been composed to illustrate buyers decision of purchase over the products brand: Routinized Response Behaviour Brand Familiar, Limited Problem Solving new and unfamiliar brand in a familiar product class, and Extensive Problem Solving unfamiliar brand in unfamiliar product class. Under the theory, attitude has been considered as the sum of a number of dimensions. Attitude is like intention which equals to what level of motives of satisfying a customers needs inside of the mind. Source: Paul (2007) Rationality Behaviour Some researchers are questioning that what is the rationality decision making? Does rationality also involve in the buyers purchase decision-making? According to Keith (2007), the assumptions of rationality are that people strive to maximize utility and have perfect knowledge in the search for the optimum solution. By using the decision rules, a choice has to be made through a set of alternatives considering each alternative with certain criteria singling out the best suitable one in the process of a rationality decision making. It is always a process in the search and chooses over the factor of satisfaction. However, the existence of the debate between rationality behaviour and emotional conscious is always been argued. It might be possible for a customer that make a rational purchase, but some people would argue that there is certain existence degree of emotional impulses result in the choice among the alternatives. In this situation, decision-making under the consciousness of rationality and emotion sensual have gathered more researchers into the investigation to study consumers decision making in a comparative way. (William, 1998) Discussions: Researchers find out that various countries decision making style on consumers are different. However, due to the degree of economy of a country, consumers decision making on the products according to the eight characters are not exactly right since those features are more applicable to those countries where are more developed. Differences in culture and infrastructure of the retailers have also illustrated the various shopping experiences on decision making of the consumers. Take Indias retailers as an example, most of the shops are in small sizes and family owned. There is not so much space for consumers to compare with various choices inside of the store, and usually consumers buy the products with predetermined list on hand and expected prices to choose from the products in store. People always buy the cloth and put it into tailor shop to do the designs instead of buying the ready ones. Hence, searching for a universal instrument that can describe consumers decision-making styles among a wide domain of cultures is problematic. (Steven, et, al. 1996) Online shopping environment allows marketers to build interactive tools for consumers to make decision in a new transformation way. Consumers make online shopping decision has changed the traditional way that online interactive tools have allowed consumers to compare products in depth and purchase a quality product in an efficient way. However, this suggests that interactive decision aids have the potential to drastically transform the way in which consumers search for product information and make purchase decision. (Gerald Valerie, 2000) This also has carried out a future research on the relationship between consumer decision making and behaviour in the settings of virtual world. Some researchers believe that purchase behaviour includes consumer decision process while others argue that for many purchases, a decision process has never occurred, not even on the first purchase. This is due to several reasons: necessity purchase, culturally-mandated lifestyles purchases, purchase because of childhood preferences acquirement, purchase of recommendations, or random purchase, etc. (Richard Donald, 1979) 2.3. FASHION THEORY 2.3.1. CONCEPT Fashion in a theoretic term is a culturally endorsed form of expression, in a particular material or non-material phenomenon, which is discernible at any given time and changes over time within a social system or group of associated individuals. The typical examples to express fashion are clothing, dresses and adornment. The popular adoption for fashion is under the term of clothing, and normally, clothing and fashion are synonymous terms. Also, fashion is expressed in other ways between material in nature like furniture and non-material context like art appreciation. According to the researchers, there are two dimensions inside of fashion: fashion object and fashion process. Literally to understand, fashion object is a specific object such as a dress/a coat, etc. Due to its special appearance or particular style, it is named as fashion object. It represents the fashion at that point of time. In order to identify fashion process, a cycle below has been drawn to better understand the cycle of fashion process. (Charles Lawrence, 1980) 3). Early Adoption by Fashion Leaders. 4). Diffusion of the fashion through social networks; 5). Fashion Decline of that object 1). Public Acceptance of a potential fashion from origination 2). Introduction of a fashion innovation Modern individuals new lifestyles have been translated by the fashion designers into new fashion concepts in todays society. And such new process has composed the fashion process into another new framework. The fashion process in a new framework has been re-conceptualized as fashion transformation process model. This model, combined with symbol interactions (SI) theory, has built some new predictions regarding the fashion industry. Fashion changes will also change the relationship between individuals (various in society) and society as a whole which is affected by two factors: micro-level (individual) and the macro-level (socio-dynamic) forces. (Fletch, et,al. 2002) Fashion, empirically speaking, changes due to the high demands of micro forces in individuals expectations such as fashion designers, innovators or wearers. How quick to change fashion is not only depends on those micro-level factors but also on a social trends which are considered as macro-forces in society such as needs to conform, pressures from others want to be the same or different from others in the society. However brand effect is always connected with micro-level subjects who are considered through an individual on how important he values a brand on what level to match with himself in society. After all, all these factors are changing the fashion sector and influence consumers buying behaviour simultaneously. (Appendix 1 Appendix 2) Fast fashion industry has contributed a lot into the consumers buying behaviour in these years. Fashion means designer shops or retailers change all styles in the shop/floors within every two weeks or even shorter period. This has generated a lot of revenue to those retailers by selling cheap amount of quantities of clothes to various people who prefer to change clothes all the time, especially in the young generations. Shops like Primark, HM, Top shop and New Look are classic retailers working on fast fashion trend and all of the shops are competitive to each other due to similar fashion in the markets. And people do like shopping in these shops not only of the cheap prices attraction, but also because of the fast changing new styles. (Louise, Grete, 2009) 2.3.2. FASHION THEORY IN CONSUMER BEHAIVOUR Fashion Clothing Involvement The fashion clothing involvement has been suggested as one of the main subjects that can confirm purchase behaviour among buyers. It can be learnt through the attached feeling toward consumer-fashion clothing. It is important to learn the fashion clothing involvement among various people as it is the main driver which influence the societys fashion adoption process and involvement is potentially an important area as it represents an important symbolic consumption area for consumers. To better understand consumers purchase behaviour, it is a key to know his involvement in fashion clothing. Apart clothing served as a protection of warmth, it is represented other functions such as social status for an individual and what he looks like (professional, casual, etc.). Therefore, research on such consumer behaviour is also seen as the major role of marketing companies to understand and provide right choices for the customers. ( OCass, 2000) Involvement is valued as the factor to boost customers motivation and a base to better understand bi-lateral relationships between sellers and buyers in the markets. It is also a fact to drive individuals growth and satisfaction as well as personal goal-oriented behaviour. Hence, it is a vital task for marketers to understand such fashion clothing involvement in the marketing environment. Luxury Brands in Buyers Behaviour The market for luxury branded products has never been so demanded in the last ten years. The most suitable reason of people behind the luxury brands is because of the fact of social status symbol. Research found out that luxury brands are not only purchased by the rich older generations, but also younger generations who are crazily enjoying the purchase behind the brands. In order to target more younger generations into the shopping branding list, marketers start to focus on diffusion brand: an extension of a brand. This means a new product is introduced under the name of an existing brand. (Aaker 1991) A diffusion brand is a step-down brand extension of an existing luxury brand in similar product categories, which aims to establish a close connection with the parent brand as a luxury product. (Fernie et al. 1997, Speed 1998) However, the differences can be varied into quality and price to fit more into the market under the same line of a luxury brand such as Armani Exchange under th e luxury brand of Armani. This is also to fit into society and adopt more acceptance from the buyers in the society among young generations. Media Celebrity Influence Consumers follow media and celebritys fashion is very common in modern society. Marketing tools put massive presences of new trend fashion into media channels like (advertising on magazines, newspaper) have largely boosted consumers buying behaviour in recent years. And consumers are would love to follow the trends due to its the societys trend. For celebrity, due to her/his nature of job profile, clothes for socializing are only worn few times and their massive presences on media have also brought the newest fashion trend among the followers in young generations, and this at the same time boost similar kind of products production into a good selling. (Louise Grete, 2009) Discussion Researchers also argued that SI theory in the fashion process transformation has not fully solved the relationship between two forces. This is expressed as such questions like: if a customer is concerning culture factor into the fashion, what will be the process related to a fashion product? What will be the features of the image, product/buyers result in the influence of such process? Are there differences between fashion innovators and fashion followers in terms of tolerance of symbolic ambiguity, need for uniqueness, and other related characteristics? The combination of SI to new fashion process model is not so clear on such situations. Future more studies will be focused as well as re-conceptualize the process model related to fashion change. As fast fashion exists, there is more and more concern on the increasing textile waste which needs to be dealt with. This term is named as disposable fashion. Researchers started to question the relationship between fast fashion and environment sustainability issues. Is such fashion valuable to the market as well as consumers concern? To maintain a good environment, fast fashion properly needs to re-define its own meanings into the society. And this needs those retailers to understand the importance of reducing the volume of textiles waste. (Louise Grete, 2009) 2.4. DIARY V.S. THEORIES According to researchers own shopping experience, his emotional impulse has driven him into that specific product. At the same time, style and design, expected price range have been composed as the factors to motivate researchers buying. And emotional factor has always been the debate between rational behaviour and emotional conscious. According to William (1998), while most consumer researchers have favored a rational information processing model of buyer decision making and behaviour, a few also tried to understand consumers in more emotional and sensual terms. However, the emotional consciousness has never been empirically tested as there is little research work focusing on this. Hence, researchers own experience has challenged that there was certain level degree of emotions factors drive him to purchase the products in the market apart from other factors. Brand preference is another factor motivating purchase behaviour. Though there is an emotional feeling inside toward brand preference, it is still brand itself influencing researchers buying behaviour as a lot of people like researcher believes that a product under a good brand always contains the feature of quality. Brand preference in here is expressed both in the self-concept and fashion theory. According to researcher, an un-planned purchase in Zara meant two elements in the behaviour: fashion style toward and self-concept image. As researcher has seen students wearing similar kind of style in university, he bought the similar kind of products in Zara. From the fashion perspective, this is because of brands orientation while as from the self-concept perspective, researcher has certain feeling that he wants to be fashionable status or looking good in the university. And that is the process from actual self to ideal self images changing process. This means researcher is very carin g for the fashion trend in the market. Individuals express themselves by choosing brands whose personalities are perceived to be congruent with their own personalities. (Ahmad, et.al, 2001) Researcher also experienced certain brand he does not like due to the unfamiliar and that brand he considered is not fit into his own personality. This once has clearly proved the theory of self that product/brand image will influence consumers behaviour since consumer has his own view of himself in the market although factors like price and quality is also the concerns inside of self-image sometimes. In the course of shopping experience in House of Fraser, factor like environment of the shopping mall has also driven researcher getting his own products. This could be the design of the mall and emotion consciousness inside of consumers mind which make decisions of buying certain product in specific store/shopping mall. Although cognitive factors may largely account for store selection and for most planned purchases within the store, the environment in the store and the emotional state of consumers may be important determinants of purchase behaviour. (Elaine Anil, 1997) This can also be the future research topic as the combinations of environmental elements and emotional driven forces in the expression of consumers behaviours. 3. CONCLUSION After all, there are three findings beyond theories: All theories are correlated: It has become very important for researchers to cover all the theories while doing market research. As at some point these theories show acquaintance to each other. -Some uncovered factors: It has been discovered most situations in consumer behaviours can be explained related to the theory mode. But there are still some other factors (environment in the store/emotional consciousness) needs to be researched in the future to carry out a better understanding on consumers behaviour. Brand preferences: It has been spoken in all three theories; this means that people would like to purchase brands all the time and brand power is massive and beyond considerations. That is why fashion is about brand, personality is about brand and decision-making is about brand. The topic of consumers behaviour will always remain an interesting topic for marketers. Marketers are still not able to understand the central processing unit of human fully, where all the analysis takes place about purchasing a product or service. It needs a constant research and deep understanding of human mental map. Its a saying Nothing is permanent in this world same applies to human buying behaviour. Demand for a change in human nature will always disappoint researchers. The processing in the black box is like phase, one phase finishes another comes with different influencing factors. REFERENCES A. Cholachatpinyo, I. Padgett, M. Crocker B. Fletcher, 2002, A conceptual model of the fashion process part 1: the fashion transformation process model, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, [e-journal], 6(1), pp.11-23, Available throughà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã… ¡Emerald Database, [Accessed 10th, December. 2010] A. OCass, 2000, An assessment of consumer product, purchase decision, advertising and consumption involvement in fashion clothing, Journal of Economic Psychology, [e-journal] 21, pp.545-576, Available through: Elsevier Database, [Accessed 10th, December, 2010] Ahmad Jamal, Mark M.H. Goode, (2001), Consumers and brands: a study of the impact of self-image congruence on brand preference and satisfaction, Marketing Intelligence Planning, [e-journal], 19(7), pp.482-492, Available through: Emerald Database, [Accessed 07th, December, 2010] Bailey, L., Seock, Y. K., (2010) The relationships of fashion leadership, fashion magazine content and loyalty tendency, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, [e-journal] 14(1) Available through: Emerald Database [Accessed 03rd, December, 2010] Brown, S., 1995. Postmodern Marketing. London:Routledge. Charles W. King, Lawrence J. Ring (1980), The Dynamics of Style and Taste Adoption and Diffusion: Contributions From Fashion Theory, Advances in Consumer Research, [online], 07, pp.13-16, Available through: Association for Consumer Research, [Accessed: 10th, December, 2010] Cheng-Lu Wang Noel Y.M. Siu and Alice S.Y. Hui, 2004, Consumer decision-making styles on domestic and imported brand clothing, , European Journal of Marketing, [e-journal], 38(1/2), pp.239-252, Available through: Emerald Database [Accessed 09th, December, 2010] Cova, B,. Cova, V., (2002) Tribal Marketing: the tribalisation of society and its impact on the conduct of marketing, European Journal of Marketing, [e-journal] 36 (5/6), pp. 595-620. Available through: Emerald Database[Accessed 03rd, December, 2010] David B. Wolfe, Rajendra Sisodia, (2003), Marketing to the self-actualizing customer, Journal of Consumer Marketing, [e-journal], 20(6), pp.555-569, Available through: Emerald Database, [Accessed 04th, December 2010] Dibb, S., Simkin, L., Pride, W.M. and Ferrell, O.C. (1994), Marketing Concepts and Strategies, 2nd European Edition, Houghton Mifflin, London and Boston, E. Laird Landon, Jr. (1974), Self Concept, Ideal Self Concept, and Consumer Purchase Intentions, The Journal of Consumer Research, [e-journal], 1(2), pp.44-51, Available through: JSTOR Database, [Accessed 07th, December, 2010] Edith Cheong and Ian Phau, 2003, Young Status Consumers Evaluation of Diffusion Brands: The Effects of Consumer Innovation, Conference Proceedings Adelaide, [online], Available through: www. smib.vuw.ac.nz:8081/WWW/AN

Friday, October 25, 2019

Can virtue be taught? Essay -- essays research papers

lthough today's society includes much technology and new things are supposedly being discovered every day, many age old questions still remain unanswered; questions such as: "Can virtue be taught?" This question is examined in detail throughout Plato's Meno, and although the play leaves the question as to what virtue is unanswered, Socrates attempts an answer to Meno's question. Although he is not particularly keen on answering whether virtue can be taught without first having a complete understanding of what virtue is, he attempts to please Meno by solving this in the way that geometers conduct their investigations, through a hypothesis. Socrates states that if indeed virtue can be taught then one thing will happen, and if it cannot a different thing will happen. In the end of the play, the conclusion is reached that virtue is a gift from the gods. Now the question must be asked: how was this conclusion reached in relationship to Socrates' previous hypothesis? It is thought by Meno that men cannot be taught anything but knowledge, therefore, virtue must be a kind of knowledge in order to be taught. This corresponds with the hypothesis because the conclusion can be reached that, if virtue is knowledge then it can be taught, but if it is not knowledge then it is impossible to teach. However, this leads to a new question that must be answered before a conclusion can be reached: is virtue knowledge? It is later stated that, if knowledge includes all aspects of realit...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Insanity or Feigned Madness

Throughout William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the protagonist, Prince Hamlet, is faced with avenging the cruel murder of his Father. In attempts for vengeance, Hamlet feigns madness as a ploy to perform actions he would normally be prohibited from and as a way to prevent people from taking him seriously, thus allowing him to execute his plans unnoticed. He uses his ‘insanity’ as a way to vent his feelings and thoughts towards other characters as shown when he is speaking to Claudius, Gertrude and Ophelia. Hamlet blatantly states on various occasions that he in fact is not mad and even says that he will put on an â€Å"antic disposition†. He also only portrays his madness when necessary for his underlying goal, but when there is no need to deceive, Hamlet acts as a perfectly sane person would which is demonstrated when he speaks to Horatio as well as the actors. Finally in comparison to Ophelia, who is the portrait of madness and has undergone similar tragedies as Hamlet, he appears as normal as anyone else. Hamlet appears to be mad as a way to vent his emotions and conceal any action he plans to take against Claudius to avenge his father. This is part of Hamlets initial plan when he tells Horatio and Marcellus that he will â€Å"put an antic disposition on†(I. v. 173) and that they must swear not to speak a word of his feigned madness. This allows Hamlet to maintain his appearance of insanity thus allowing him to make his remarks of disgust towards Gertrude and Claudius without being punished or taken seriously as a sane prince would be. Through his act, Hamlet is able to vent his feelings towards Gertrude about how she married too soon after the death of his father and is even able to criticize her. Hamlet also uses his feigned madness as an excuse for his actions. This is shown when Hamlet apologizes to Laertes: Was’t Hamlet wrong’d Laertes? Never Hamlet: If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away, And when he’s not himself does wrong Laertes, Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it. Who does it then? His madness: if’t be so,(V. ii. 224) Even in Hamlets apology he makes it seem as though he is mad. The line â€Å"If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away† represents the modern description of madness stating that Hamlet was not all there. He also speaks about himself in third person, which is seen for the first time in the play, and also conveys the principle of madness. By apologizing in a ‘mad state of mind’, Hamlet hopes to make his insanity more believable thus making it easier for Laertes to accept it. By feigning insanity, Hamlet is able avoid questions about his peculiar behavior and is able to focus on his revenge on Claudius. Hamlet only uses his guise of madness when necessary. Proving his sanity, Hamlet is able create a play based on what the ghost of his father told Hamlet about his death. Also when telling Horatio, a scholar, of his plan Hamlet not only appeared sane but Horatio had no issues with his instructions â€Å"Observe mine uncle: if his occulted guilt Do not itself unkennel in one speech it is a damned ghost we have seen,†(III. ii. 79) Hamlet tells Horatio to watch Claudius for any signs of guilt. Showing that he is not insane, Hamlet also questions the intentions of the ghost and whether it is good or evil. If he were mad, then he would not even contemplate the intentions of the ghost. Above all Hamlet was correct with his plan and the king did in fact show signs guilt. Even other characters notice that Hamlet is not completely mad. A prime example is when Polonius was speaking to Hamlet and says, â€Å"Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t. †(II. ii. 204). Although Hamlet was able to fool Polonius that he was indeed mad, Polonius notices that Hamlet’s remarks are full of meaning and quick-witted, no easy task for a man who is truly insane but not as difficult for a man nearly playing the role. Polonius’ analysis of Hamlet proves to be true when Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he in fact is not mad. I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw. (II. ii. 376). Though spoken in an unconventional way, Hamlet blatantly states that he is not mad. Hidden within that statement, Hamlet also was able to convey the message that he can recognize his enemies, â€Å"I know a hawk from a handsaw†. Some have analyzed this quote as an attack towards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern1. Hamlet is not mad he is merely feigning it and with his knowledge of acting he is doing an exceptional job. Similarly to Hamlet, Ophelia suffers the same tragic loss of a father. Cambridge University did a study on the effects of losing a parent and came to the conclusion that â€Å"The death of a parent imposes an unexpected crisis for most healthy, well-functioning adults. This crisis can result in high levels of physiological distress, increased risk for depression, impaired physical health, or increase alcohol consumption. These effects go largely unrecognized by everyone except those going through the loss. †(Umberson,7). This study proves true to Hamlet who undergoes similar signs of depression and physiological distress. Ophelia on the other hand shows true signs of insanity. She is unable to process thoughts logically and when she falls in the water she is unable, or unwilling, to sense the danger at hand and drowns without the slightest struggle. Unlike Ophelia, Hamlet is constantly thinking and rationalizing his possible actions. This is shown when Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius: Now might I do it, now he is a-praying; and now I’ll do’t: and so he goes to heaven: and so am I revenged. That would be scann’d: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven. (III,iii,74-79) Hamlet’s thoughts follow a logical progression that shows his understanding of the situations around him. With the chance to kill Claudius, Hamlet realizes that by killing him while he is repenting his sins, Hamlet would thereby be sending him to heaven and thus doing Claudius a favour. Hamlet proves that he is sane by having the ability to think logically and therefore in comparison to Ophelia he is far from madness. The question of Hamlet’s sanity is one that has been questioned since the moment Hamlet was first performed. Madness is one of the main elements driving the plot and as the play progresses, Hamlet’s depiction of a madman becomes increasingly believable. His feigned madness is a mere ploy for vengeance on Claudius and should not be mistaken for true insanity. Hamlet himself states that he is not mad and will put on an â€Å"antic disposition† and in comparison to Ophelia, Hamlet is the picture of sanity. In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Young Hamlet feigns madness in attempts to avenge the death of his father and although he shows signs of depression he should not be believed to be a madman.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Proctor tears up his confession particularly dramatic? Essay

The author quotes, â€Å"He has lifted her, and kisses her with great passion†. This shows the affection that we previously have not seen in scenes, so this sequence is dramatic. Also, the way that the audience would be able to physically see their love for each other adds intensity to the moment. Proctor experiences a moral dilemma through constant questioning. He is interrogated, â€Å"What is John Proctor? † This gives the impression that he is not seen as a person, but more as a symbol of what he represents. This is significant because to some, his religious virtues are questioned because of witchcraft. Secondly, Elizabeth forgiving him exaggerates the fact he deceived his wife. Also, the way he is accused of being a liar is compromised by the confession. This is dramatic because all these different themes rolled into one, make the audience engrossed in the play to discover what will actually happen to him. In the last act, we see that Hale feels it his fault that people are dying, so he tries to make Elizabeth persuade John to confess by saying, â€Å"I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. † Nevertheless, Proctor says, â€Å"Spite only keeps me silent, it’s had to give a lie to dogs. † At this point, we see Proctor taking the moral high ground, but also confessing by the way he says â€Å"a lie†. He is basically telling the people that it is hard to lie to people, who already lie themselves. Hale is trying to make Proctor lie with them. However, Proctor refuses to be forced into the lies. This is dramatic because it shows Proctor to be a person of great courage as he is being pressurised into this culture of lies, when he wants truth. Towards the end of the play, Proctor sees that he has confessed to himself and God, and believes this is enough. He then says, â€Å"God does not need my name nailed upon the church†. This would give the impression that he is comparing himself to Jesus as he was nailed to the cross. Proctor is sacrificing his own life, by convicting himself for other people. This is dramatic since it gives a theme of spiritual drama to the play. The whole climax of the story is when Proctor does actually tear up the confession in front of Danforth. â€Å"Proctor tears the paper and crumples it, and he is weeping in fury†. This symbolises as he rips up this confession, it is as though he is also tearing his life away for the truth. â€Å"Proctor: And there’s your first marvel, that I can†. This suggests that although he may be condemned to death, he can see that it is the right thing to do. It is dramatic because he once had a strong presence and now that he is faced with death, mortality makes him question himself. In contrast, he regains his virtue. In conclusion, the theme of the play was rising over adversity, and standing for the truth even till death. John had the chance to free himself, by signing the confession and living a lie. At the trial he stood up for what he believed in, and died a righteous man. He learnt what truth meant through his suffering. This could be compared with how Jesus suffered, which reflects the depth of his religious beliefs to the audience. Through Proctor’s struggle, Miller displays the struggles within people of today. It reminds us that man is not perfect, and that we can make mistakes. It shows we can be forgiven by doing what is right. Overall, we experience an effective piece of drama. Charlotte Hamil Year 10 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.