Structure of Language Free Essays

string(113) " children are born with a universal grammar, which makes them receptive to the common features of all languages\." he Structure of Language Language is a system of symbols and rules that is used for meaningful communication. A system of communication has to meet certain criteria in order to be considered a language: A language uses symbols, which are sounds, gestures, or written characters that represent objects, actions, events, and ideas. Symbols enable people to refer to objects that are in another place or events that occurred at a different time. We will write a custom essay sample on Structure of Language or any similar topic only for you Order Now A language is meaningful and therefore can be understood by other users of that language. A language is generative, which means that the symbols of a language can be combined to produce an infinite number of messages. A language has rules that govern how symbols can be arranged. These rules allow people to understand messages in that language even if they have never encountered those messages before. The Building Blocks of Language Language is organized hierarchically, from phonemes to morphemes to phrases and sentences that communicate meaning. Phonemes Phonemes are the smallest distinguishable units in a language. In the English language, many consonants, such as t, p, and m, correspond to single phonemes, while other consonants, such as c and g, can correspond to more than one phoneme. Vowels typically correspond to more than one phoneme. For example, o corresponds to different phonemes depending on whether it is pronounced as in bone or woman. Some phonemes correspond to combinations of consonants, such as ch, sh, and th. Morphemes Morphemes are the smallest meaningful units in a language. In the English language, only a few single letters, such as I and a, are morphemes. Morphemes are usually whole words or meaningful parts of words, such as refixes, suffixes, and word stems. Example: The word â€Å"disliked† has three morphemes: â€Å"dis,† â€Å"lik,† and â€Å"ed. † Syntax Syntax is a system of rules that governs how words can be meaningfully arranged to form phrases and sentences. Example: One rule of syntax is that an article such as â€Å"the† must c ome before a noun, not after: â€Å"Read the book,† not â€Å"Read book the. † Language Development in Children Children develop language in a set sequence of stages, although sometimes particular skills develop at slightly different ages: Three-month-old infants can distinguish between the phonemes from any language. At around six months, infants begin babbling, or producing sounds that resemble many different languages. As time goes on, these sounds begin to resemble more closely the words of the languages the infant hears. At about thirteen months, children begin to produce simple single words. By about twenty-four months, children begin to combine two or three words to make short sentences. At this stage, their speech is usually telegraphic. Telegraphic speech, like telegrams, contains no articles or prepositions. By about age three years, children can usually use tenses and plurals. Children’s language abilities continue to grow throughout the school-age years. They become able to recognize ambiguity and sarcasm in language and to use metaphors and puns. These abilities arise from metalinguistic awareness, or the capacity to think about how language is used. Ambiguous Language Language may sometimes be used correctly but still have an unclear meaning or multiple meanings. In these cases, language is ambiguous—it can be understood in several ways. Avoid biting dogs is an example of an ambiguous sentence. A person might interpret it as Keep out of the way of biting dogs or Don’t bite dogs. Theories of Language Acquisition The nature vs. nurture debate extends to the topic of language acquisition. Today, most researchers acknowledge that both nature and nurture play a role in language acquisition. However, some researchers emphasize the influences of learning on language acquisition, while others emphasize the biological influences. Receptive Language before Expressive Language Children’s ability to understand language develops faster than their ability to speak it. Receptive language is the ability to understand language, and expressive language is the ability to use language to communicate. If a mother tells her fifteen-month-old child to put the toy back in the toy chest, he may follow her instructions even though he can’t repeat them himself. Environmental Influences on Language Acquisition A major proponent of the idea that language depends largely on environment was the behaviorist B. F. Skinner (see pages 145 and 276 for more information on Skinner). He believed that language is acquired through principles of conditioning, including association, imitation, and reinforcement. According to this view, children learn words by associating sounds with objects, actions, and events. They also learn words and syntax by imitating others. Adults enable children to learn words and syntax by reinforcing correct speech. Critics of this idea argue that a behaviorist explanation is inadequate. They maintain several arguments: Learning cannot account for the rapid rate at which children acquire language. There can be an infinite number of sentences in a language. All these sentences cannot be learned by imitation. Children make errors, such as overregularizing verbs. For example, a child may say Billy hitted me, incorrectly adding the usual past tense suffix -ed to hit. Errors like these can’t result from imitation, since adults generally use correct verb forms. Children acquire language skills even though adults do not consistently correct their syntax. Neural Networks Some cognitive neuroscientists have created neural networks, or computer models, that can acquire some aspects of language. These neural networks are not preprogrammed with any rules. Instead, they are exposed to many examples of a language. Using these examples, the neural networks have been able to learn the language’s statistical structure and accurately make the past tense forms of verbs. The developers of these networks speculate that children may acquire language in a similar way, through exposure to multiple examples. Biological Influences on Language Acquisition The main proponent of the view that biological influences bring about language development is the well-known linguist Noam Chomsky. Chomsky argues that human brains have a language acquisition device (LAD), an innate mechanism or process that allows children to develop language skills. According to this view, all children are born with a universal grammar, which makes them receptive to the common features of all languages. You read "Structure of Language" in category "Essay examples" Because of this hard-wired background in grammar, children easily pick up a language when they are exposed to its particular grammar. Evidence for an innate human capacity to acquire language skills comes from the following observations: The stages of language development occur at about the same ages in most children, even though different children experience very different environments. Children’s language development follows a similar pattern across cultures. Children generally acquire language skills quickly and effortlessly. Deaf children who have not been exposed to a language may make up their own language. These new languages resemble each other in sentence structure, even when they are created in different cultures. Biology and Environment Some researchers have proposed theories that emphasize the importance of both nature and nurture in language acquisition. These theorists believe that humans do have an innate capacity for acquiring the rules of language. However, they believe that children develop language skills through interaction with others rather than acquire the knowledge automatically. Language, Culture, and Thought Researchers have differing views about the extent to which language and culture influence the way people think. In the 1950s, Benjamin Lee Whorf proposed the linguistic relativity hypothesis. He said language determines the way people think. For example, Whorf said that Eskimo people and English-speaking people think about snow differently because the Eskimo language has many more words for snow than the English language does. Most subsequent research has not supported Whorf’s hypothesis. Researchers do acknowledge, however, that language can influence thought in subtle ways. For example, the use of sexist terminology may influence how people think about women. Two ways that people commonly use language to influence thinking are semantic slanting and name calling. Semantic Slanting Semantic slanting is a way of making statements so that they will evoke specific emotional responses. Example: Military personnel use the term â€Å"preemptive counterattack† rather than â€Å"invasion,† since â€Å"invasion† is likely to produce more negative feelings in people. Name Calling Name calling is a strategy of labeling people in order to influence their thinking. In anticipatory name calling, it is implied that if someone thinks in a particular way, he or she will receive an unfavorable label. Example: On the day a student buys a new desk, he might say, â€Å"Only a slob would pile junk on a desk like this. † This might help ensure that his roommate keeps it free of junk. Bilingualism Although people sometimes assume that bilingualism impairs children’s language development, there is no evidence to support this assumption. Bilingual children develop language at the same rate as children who speak only one language. In general, people who begin learning a new language in childhood master it more quickly and thoroughly than do people who learn a language in adulthood. Language and Nonhuman Primates Some researchers have tried to teach apes to use language. Because of the structure of their vocal organs, apes can’t say words, but they can communicate using signs or computers. Using these means, apes can make requests, respond to questions, and follow instructions. The Case of Washoe the Chimpanzee Researchers at Central Washington University taught a chimpanzee named Washoe to use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate. She could sign not only single words but also meaningful combinations of words. She could follow instructions and respond to questions given in ASL. Later, Washoe’s foster child, Loulis, learned signs just by watching Washoe and other chimps that had been trained to use language. Some research even suggested that language-trained chimps may use signs spontaneously to communicate with each other or to talk to themselves, although this behavior is not thoroughly documented. Skepticism about Ape Language Critics of the idea that apes can learn and use language have maintained several arguments: Apes, unlike people, can be trained to learn only a limited number of words and only with difficulty. Apes use signs or computers to get a reward, in the same way that other animals can be taught tricks. But learning tricks is not equivalent to learning language. Apes don’t use syntax. For example, they don’t recognize the difference between Me eat apple and Apple eat me. Trainers may be reading meanings into signs apes make and unintentionally providing cues that help them to respond correctly to questions. Clearly, communication in nonhuman animals differs drastically from language in humans. The spontaneity, uniqueness, and reflective content of human language remains unmatched. Nonprimates Can Communicate Researchers have taught nonprimate animals, such as parrots, to communicate meaningfully. Parrots that participated in language acquisition studies learned to identify dozens of objects, distinguish colors, and make simple requests in English. One famous example is Alex the African gray parrot, owned by Irene Pepperberg from the University of Arizona. Alex can â€Å"speak† hundreds of words, but what makes him more unique is that he appears to do more than just vocalize. Though Pepperberg does not claim that Alex uses â€Å"language,† she does believe that when Alex talks, he is expressing his thoughts, not just mimicking. The Structure of Cognition Cognition, or thinking, involves mental activities such as understanding, problem solving, and decision making. Cognition also makes creativity possible. The Building Blocks of Cognition When humans think, they manipulate mental representations of objects, actions, events, and ideas. Humans commonly use mental representations such as concepts, prototypes, and cognitive schemas. Concepts A concept is a mental category that groups similar objects, events, qualities, or actions. Concepts summarize information, enabling humans to think quickly. Example: The concept â€Å"fish† includes specific creatures, such as an eel, a goldfish, a shark, and a flying fish. Prototypes A prototype is a typical example of a concept. Humans use prototypes to decide whether a particular instance of something belongs to a concept. Example: Goldfish and eels are both fish, but most people will agree that a goldfish is a fish more quickly than they will agree that an eel is a fish. A goldfish fits the â€Å"fish† prototype better than an eel does. Cognitive Schemas Cognitive schemas are mental models of different aspects of the world. They contain knowledge, beliefs, assumptions, associations, and expectations. Example: People may have a schema about New York that includes information they’ve learned about New York in school, their memories of New York, things people have told them about New York, information from movies and books about New York, what they assume to be true about New York, and so on. Theories of Cognitive Development Cognitive development refers to the change in children’s patterns of thinking as they grow older. Jean Piaget’s Stage Theory The scientist best known for research on cognitive development is Jean Piaget (see pages 72–75), who proposed that children’s thinking goes through a set eries of four major stages. Piaget believed that children’s cognitive skills unfold naturally as they mature and explore their environment. Lev Vygotsky’s Theory of Sociocultural Influences Psychologist Lev Vygotsky believed that children’s sociocultural environment plays an important role in how they develop cognitively. In Vygotsk y’s view, the acquisition of language is a crucial part of cognitive development. After children acquire language, they don’t just go through a set series of stages. Rather, their cognitive development depends on interactions with adults, cultural norms, and their environmental circumstances. Private Speech Vygotsky pointed out that children use language to control their own behavior. After children acquire language skills and learn the rules of their culture, they start to engage in private speech. They first talk to themselves out loud, and then, as they grow older, silently, giving themselves instructions about how to behave. Current Research on Cognitive Development Current research indicates that children have complex cognitive abilities at much younger ages than Piaget suggested. As early as four months of age, infants appear to understand basic laws of physics. For example, a four-month-old infant can recognize that solid objects cannot pass through other solid objects and that objects roll down slopes instead of rolling up. At five months of age, infants can recognize the correct answers to addition and subtraction problems involving small numbers. These observations have led some researchers to speculate that humans are born with some basic cognitive abilities. Critics argue that researchers who find these results are overinterpreting the behavior of the infants they study. Quick Review The Structure of Language Language is a system of symbols and rules used for meaningful communication. A language uses symbols and syntax and is meaningful and generative. Language is organized hierarchically from phonemes to morphemes to phrases and sentences. Children develop language in a set sequence of stages. Theories of Language Acquisition Behaviorist B. F. Skinner strongly supported the idea that language depends largely on environment. Skinner believed that people acquire language through principles of conditioning. Critics argue the inadequacy of behaviorist explanations. Some cognitive neuroscientists have created neural networks that can acquire some aspects of language by encountering many examples of language. They think children may acquire language in the same way. Noam Chomsky is the main proponent of the importance of biological influences on language development. Chomsky proposed that human brains have a language acquisition device that allows children to acquire language easily. Some researchers believe that language is both biologically and environmentally determined. The linguistic relativity hypothesis states that language determines the way people think. Today, researchers believe language influences, rather than determines, thought. Two ways that people use language to influence thinking are semantic slanting and name calling. People master a new language better if they begin learning it in childhood. Nonhuman animals can learn some aspects of language. Language and Nonhuman Primates Some researchers have tried to teach apes to use language. Apes can communicate, but researchers are divided on whether this communication can really be considered â€Å"learning language. † The Structure of Cognition Cognition involves activities such as understanding, problem solving, decision making, and being creative. People use mental representations such as concepts, prototypes, and cognitive schemas when they think. Theories of Cognitive Development Jean Piaget believed that children’s cognitive skills unfold naturally as they mature and explore their environment. Lev Vygotsky believed that children’s sociocultural environment plays an important role in cognitive development. Some researchers have shown that humans are born with some basic cognitive abilities. Problem-Solving Problem-solving is the active effort people make to achieve a goal that is not easily attained. Three common types of problems involve inducing structure, arranging, and transformation. Some approaches to problem-solving are trial and error, deductive and inductive reasoning, use of algorithms and heuristics, dialectical reasoning, creation of subgoals, use of similar problems, and changes in the way the problems are represented. Researchers have identified many obstacles to effective problem-solving, such as focus on irrelevant information, functional fixedness, mental set, and assumptions about unnecessary constraints. Decision-Making Decision-making involves weighing alternatives and choosing among them. Additive strategies and elimination strategies are ways of making decisions about preferences. Using expected value, subjective utility, the availability heuristic, and the representativeness heuristic are all ways of making risky decisions. Using the representativeness heuristic can make people susceptible to biases, such as the tendency to ignore base rates and the gambler’s fallacy. Using the availability heuristic can make people susceptible to overestimating the improbable or underestimating the probable. In an effort to minimize risk, people also make decision-making errors, such as the overconfidence effect, the confirmation bias, and belief perseverance. Creativity Creativity is the ability to generate novel, useful ideas. Creativity is characterized by divergent, rather than convergent, thinking. Some characteristics of creative people are expertise, nonconformity, curiosity, persistence, and intrinsic motivation. People can best realize their creative potential if they are in environmental circumstances that promote creativity. 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The Scarlet Ibis Essay Example For Students

The Scarlet Ibis Essay In The Scarlet Ibis Essay, James Hurst develops the universal idea that determination enlightens using simile, metaphor, and personification. Hurst develops the theme that determination enlightens using similes. First, Hurst compares Doodle to an old worn out doll. When he tries to crawl, Doodle .. .pushes himself (156) but keeps falling down .. . (157) like a half empty flour sack (157) from lack of strength. Doodle is determined to walk because of the enlightenment of brother who is embarrassed to have a five year old brother who cant walk. Finally, Hurst compares success to a pot of gold. After the winter, Brother uses the summer to teach Doodle everything and thought Doodles Success.. . (159) is like a pot of gold at the end of summer.. . (159). Doodles determination to learn how to swim and row, he is enlightened by his goal to learn by the end of summer. .

Marketing Business Plan

Introduction A marketing plan refers to a blue print that is developed and implemented by organizations for execution of their marketing strategies. It is a well-coordinated plan for orchestrating organization’s marketing functions (Applegate, Johnson, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Marketing Business Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The organization aims at developing a marketing plan that is well-aligned with the organization goals and objectives. The retail chain of stores operates in Indianapolis with outlets, such as the Carmel, the Greenwood Park and the Circle Centre Malls. The company has been in business for the last 5 years. Due to the significant growth of its sales in the past two years, it has managed to become one of the leading retail stores in Indianapolis. Indianapolis has a high level of population, and it is located in North America. The company under the study stocks sp ecialty toys, gifts, and clothing among other products for customers in the region. Currently, the price of the products ranges from $ 20 to $500. In line with the organization’s goal of achieving growth, the company aims at extending its market coverage to five other cities by establishing 2 or 3 stores in all those places during the period of the next 2 years. After that, the organization plans to focus on its further expansion to cover a larger market in Indianapolis. This paper aims at presenting a marketing plan for the company’s development. Market Analyses Overall Marketing Strategy The overall marketing strategy will be based on the organization’s goals and vision which will also be aligned with the organization’s corporate strategies. In this case, the organization presents varying types of goods with different price levels ranging from $20 to $ 500. This implies that organization’s marketing strategy will be aimed at enhancing sales as we ll as market share of the company due to a wide price spread. The organization’s strategy will thus be tailored in such a way so as to offer the needed services to the mass market.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Discount pricing strategy will guide the generic strategy adopted by the organization in its overall marketing strategy. This will enhance the ability of the organization to extend its operations to diverse markets in Indianapolis. Situational/Environmental Analyses There are a number of factors that determine the cities in which organization should initiate its operations. One of these factors includes the level of population in the city. Higher level of the population in such cities means a wider market for the company to sell its services and goods as well as higher level of revenue. The organization will equally prefer to operate in cities that are pol itically stable. It is worth noting that different cities or countries have a different level of social and political stability. Thirdly, the organization will run its business in the cities where the level of income among residents is high. This will increase the customers’ ability to purchase the organization’s products. It will also expand to the regions where the local authorities’ regulations are in line with the organization’s operation goals and objectives. The company will equally identify areas to enter where the level of competition is low. Finally, the organization will assess and enter into a market where the level of demand for its goods, specialty stores, as well as other products is high (Young et al, 2008). Product Category Although the organization presents a wide variety of product lines in the market, these products have different levels of profit margin as well as demand. The organization will engage in margin analyses for different pr oduct lines. It will assess the level of demand for each of its products in potential markets it is to enter in two years, as well as in those in which it is to operate in five years. Once the levels of demands in each potential city are determined, the cost of producing and marketing such products will be defined.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Marketing Business Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The price for such products will thus be set considering the unit cost, desired margin levels, as well as the average market price for such products in these cities. Selling price that is less than unit cost of different products demanded in different cities will give the company contribution margin. Such margin will be multiplied by the respective product demand in these cities. Products generating the highest level of profit will be launched in such markets (Young et al, 2008). Target Customers A marketing pl an should have an objective that it is aimed at achieving its goal. Such a goal will include financial targets, such as growth in profit and sales revenue, among others. On the other hand, a marketing plan may be aimed at growing the organization’s market share as well as its effectiveness in terms of communication. It can be tailored to achieve a certain price level, enhance quality of products and ensure customer satisfaction, among others. Before the organization engages in its new outlet promotions and marketing campaigns, customer targeting will be carried out. There will be a need for the company to split the market into different sectors that share homogeneous characteristics. The organization will segment the market and adopt the following targeting strategies, either differentiated marketing or undifferentiated marketing strategy. In this case, since the organization aims at presenting its product as a mass product, it will engage in undifferentiated marketing. Undif ferentiated marketing is indicated in the diagram below: Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Source: Learn Marketing.net (2012). Under the above category, the organization will not focus on a certain segment of demographics in the city. It will target all the customers who demand its products presented in the different cities, regardless whether such customers are in the high or low end market. The organization’s focal point will be on the low end market. Nevertheless, in its market communication strategy, the organization will ensure that such communication reaches the target customer. This implies that when advertising its goods (toys in this case), the organization will develop advertisements that will easily get noticed by young children. It is worth noting that children are one of the main influencers in decision making in the toys market. Branding Stores Branding is one of the key drivers of success in organizations. It aims at increasing customer loyalty to organization’s products; enhancing the positive image of the firm as well as its products, beside s generating positive brand image. In its marketing plan, an organization carries out competitors’ analyses. The strengths of its competitors as well as their weaknesses are studied, and the companny then develops a mechanism on how to increase its competitiveness in the market. The availability of substitutable products is carried out. This helps the organization in developing mechanisms on how to thrive amidst competition and promote its products in a market taking into account competing produces. The baseline to the problem of substitutes is for the organization to develop innovative products for the next three years that would satisfy the needs of customers better than those of the competitors do (Young et al, 2008). In this case, the organization will present quality products as well as quality services to its customers. This will significantly enhance their satisfaction. Responding to their queries in a timely manner will equally promote their brand loyalty. On the othe r hand, to boost customer appreciation, a loyalty scheme will be established where customers earn redeemable points once they buy an item from the organization. This will discourage them from buying such products from other sellers. Finally, to enhance customer retention, the organization will engage itself in reminder advertising as well as purchase software that manages customer relationships. This will increase the chances of repeat purchases in the organization by maintaining positive awareness and brand image after purchase. Marketing Strategy In the development of a marketing plan, the organization has an option of employing various marketing strategies in its operations. Such strategies include mass marketing as well as target marketing. Mass marketing refers to market delivery of homogenous solutions based on the premise that consumer needs are similar. The organization can develop toys which are affordable not only by the high end markets but also the lower market segments. This implies that organization’s products’ promotions as well as its distribution channels will target the entire market. This has the potential of increasing the market share in which the organization sells its products. On the other hand, it presents challenges where the consumer needs are rarely homogeneous. This implies that a company cannot fully meet the needs of its customers in the market by offering them a homogeneous product. An organization has an opportunity of engaging in target marketing, which can involve niche marketing. Identifying a viable niche (a group of potential clients sharing similar characteristics), the organization can achieve this through segmentation. Pricing The bottom line to the marketing planning process is making sales. The organization needs to ensure that a price is set in order to maximize its returns, while remaining competitive in the market. Nevertheless, the price for the organization products may vary later on due to changes in macro economic variables that affect inflation, demand for toys, gifts, clothing and other materials as well as supply for raw materials to produce those goods as well as other products. Nevertheless, since the strategy for the organization in the next three years is to serve both the low and the upper market segments, its price needs to be differentiated accordingly (Young, et al, 2008). Promotion Promotion refers to one of P’s used in marketing of products that demand for effective communication regarding a product to customers in the market. This does not only help in creating awareness about a product in the market, but also serves as a reminder to existing customers to encourage them to purchase the product. The company has used its website ‘our organization.com’ in the past, to promote its products worldwide, but due to the wide coverage usually presented by websites, the organization needs to move a step further and effectively enhance its customersâ₠¬â„¢ awareness of the website in the market. The organization will also need to ensure that the medium of communication used reaches the target market. This includes reaching the target market that is currently comprised of young people that are technologically savvy, willing to take the repositioned organization products which now will be computer based. The organization can use TV, newspapers, billboards or even magazines to communicate to the market. The baseline to this is that whichever product is selected, it must be capable of reaching the target market. Promotion of the organization products needs to target two groups of people in the market, which are influencers and decision makers (Applegate, Johnson, 2007). Social Responsibility and Its Communication The organization will operate in a socially sustainable manner. To attain this goal, the organization will ensure that all of its products meet the health and safety requirements. The company will also engage in recycling o f worn-out products collected from customers as well as other waste. This will enhance its ability to protect environment. Finally, the organization will adopt carbon reduction strategies in its operations. This will reduce its carbon emissions by 30% in the coming year and 10% annually in the subsequent years. This will significantly boost environmental sustainability in Brunt Land regarding the sustainable operations and development, where firms exploit current opportunities and resources without jeopardizing the ability of future generations and firms to exploit the same. Implementation Implementation of a marketing plan is the starting point to the achievement of organizations objectives. Irrespective of how good a marketing plan may be, if the plan is left unimplemented, it will remain a mere dream. The organization needs to classify its marketing objectives into corporate, functional and tactical ones. Once the organization leadership provides the corporate level with resource s needed to execute the marketing strategy, the marketing team needs to implement the functional level strategies including indentifying distribution channels, running promotion campaigns, working together with the production department to assign products the intended price as well as ensuring that products in the market are of the right quality. Once these objectives are achieved, then the next step involves the development of action plans. Individuals are assigned tasks that they are supposed to carry out within a set time frame. Its strategies are converted to actions. For instance, if the suggested promotion strategy is to set up of billboards, its actual implementation should be carried out. Sites are secured, and the billboard is erected or hired with the rest message on it. Implementation of a plan leads to the achievement of outcomes, which may or may not tally with what is projected (Armstrong Kotler, 2010). This calls for comparison of the plans with the laid out goals an d projections. It is the marketing team’s role to ensure that significant deviations from the expected outcomes are quickly rectified in the light of the new information in the industry. Budgets will be based on the unit and fixed cost of production. Advertising costs will be maintained at 5% of sales. Conclusion The above presentation indicates the immense need of a marketing plan. It calls for the marketing units in an accounting entity to align with the marketing campaigns and the organization’s goals and objectives. It equally shows the need for marketing managers to understand market conditions, as well as country’s factors, which may have influence on the success of their products in the market. An effective marketing mix is critical to the success of an organization’s marketing strategy. Nevertheless, in pursuit of increased sales or market share, there is increasing need for the organization to operate in a socially responsible manner. This signif icantly boosts its sustainability in the long run. References Applegate, A., Johnson, A. (2007). Cases in advertising and marketing management. Toronto: Rowman Littlefield. Armstrong, G., Kotler, P. (2010). Marketing: An Introduction: Global Edition. New York: Pearson. Learn Marketing.net (2012). Market targeting options. Retrieved from http://www.learnmarketing.net/targeting.htm Young, et al. (2008). Principles of marketing. UK: Rex Bookstores. This proposal on Marketing Business Plan was written and submitted by user Cristian Bowman to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Del Monte Provides secure Connections for Telecommuters Essay Example

Del Monte Provides secure Connections for Telecommuters Essay Example Del Monte Provides secure Connections for Telecommuters Essay Del Monte Provides secure Connections for Telecommuters Essay Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Del Monte Provides Secure Connections for Telecommuters The primary concern of making a private network available to employees who are outside the office is for security purposes and reliability. When an organization opens up connections over the internet, it makes its network more vulnerable to hackers. Furthermore, in terms of security, the private network requires internet connections that are more stable so that it can get a reliable service as time and quality is a necessity in the Del Monte. Therefore, supplying them with the necessary information enables them to have access to information systems such as the corporate enterprise resource planning (ERP), data warehouse, and customer relationship management (CRM). This is because Del Monte required a system that employees could use to access the corporate network so that they could work as effectively as the employees in the corporate offices could. Technologies employed by Del Monte to address this primary concern include firewalls, encryption, IPSec, and AAA Server. Firewalls are used to offer strong barrier private network and the internet. Firewalls can be set as a restriction to numbers of open ports, the type of packets passed through and the protocols that are permitted through. Therefore, it should be noted that a person could have a good firewall first before implementing a VPN, although a firewall can also be used to destroy the sessions of VPN (Hoover 195). Another technology used is Encryption, which is a process that takes all the information that one computer sends to another and encodes it into a form that only the other computer will be able to decode. IPSec which refers to as internet protocol security protocol has the main function of providing improved security features like better encryption algorithms and extra significant authentication. Lastly, Del Monte employed another technology known as Authentication, authorization and accounting servers (AAA). This technology is mainly used to provide more security in a remote-access VPN surrounding. AAA checks the identity of the person sending a request, provides permission on what to be done, and then accounts for what a person actually does. Therefore, Del Monte employed these technologies in order to set up a secure website for the employees and partners to access the any internet connections. These technologies could keep hackers out and permit the authorized users’ in. The users are enabled to access only the parts of the network and data that they have been authorized to access. In addition, Del Monte supplies its employees with even secure connections for employees that work at home. The benefits enjoyed by both Del Monte and its employees include the speed of communication. Extranets provides access of information from anywhere especially from home in an effective and efficient manner to all partners by connecting intranets for urgent access to critical data. For instance, salesperson traveling far from the distributor is able to access information very fast and securely over the extranet, rather than calling a distributor for information. An extranet offers access to information in a very affordable price. For instance, companies are able to spend a very small amount in establishing and printing information for suppliers, distributors, and customers. Extranet also helps in reduction of hassles especially for an IT professional. It is sometimes hard to keep equipment and connections, while attempting to stay ahead of the access technology changes. Therefore, extranets tries to reduce these frustrations by permitting the IT organizer to outsource the difficult physical infrastructures. Extranets also tries to reduce long-distance phone charges. Hourly access fees charged by ISPs are up to 50 percent cheaper than the best available negotiated toll-free rates. Employees have a Cisco ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliance, which is a network device that offers a firewall and intrusion prevention system to keep hackers out and virtual private networking to encrypt and safeguard data flowing over the network. The device also enables the professionals to stay in contact while at home. If I were to choose whether to work at home or in a corporate, I would prefer working at home. This will thus enable me to work, at the same time attend meetings and do my own work at home. The company benefits from the devise in the general saving of money by allowing the company to erode expenses. I would prefer working at home rather than based in corporate office because it is easier to balance my personal life with work. For instance, working in an office requires daily commuting to and from work, which is hard to deal with when with children requiring to taken care of. Working from home also saves money and time and most of the time home environment is cool for working with no distractions from work mates, and I can plan my work in more organized manner. There is flexibility when working at home. My job can become flexible as long as I choose to be committed and reproductive. For instance, I can choose to work over the weekends, during the night and any time I am free. Therefore, working from home is very flexible since am able to make my own schedule and follow it to achieve the set goals. Working at home also gives time to spend with family members and friends. Hoover, Nicholas. Telecommunication: the internet, intranet, and extranets. New York, NY: Press, 2008.

Teamwork and employee commitment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Teamwork and employee commitment - Essay Example ACICO highly requires teamwork because its strategy involves the undertaking of all functions in order to provide quality housing. Thus, collaboration within each subunit is important in order to assure continuous work process and timely delivery of products. The corporate culture of ACICO emphasizes the importance of individual excellence and achievement. This mindset has strongly influenced teamwork within functions and departments which is even limited by the hierarchical and centralized organizational structure. It is notable that in the upper level management, coordination and informational transparency is more pronounced. However, with the middle and lower ranks, employees are more concerned on individual achievements and credit. 3. Does the organization have sufficient managerial and interpersonal skills to manage requisite coordination Examine the skills of top management team that provide the context for coordination as well as the skills of broader employee groups. ACICO's top management team members are selected primarily because of their knowledge and managerial expertise in the construction industry. The executives display excellent track record on running big business organizations. Thus, in terms of managerial skills, ACICO's management has the capacity to manage requisite coordination. On the other hand, the interpersonal skills are inadequate to foster sufficient coordination within the organization. It should be noted that as top management is mainly concerned on ACICO's strategic direction, executives lack the time to mingle with ordinary employees who man the day to day operations. There is also a gap between top management and other employees because of the emphasized importance of power hierarchy. 4. Does the organization have sufficient commitment from employee groups critical to the achievement of the strategic task Overall, there is a sufficient commitment from different employee groups which enables ACICO to accomplish its strategic task. The employees can easily identify with the goals of the organization and work to achieve its various objectives. To a large extent, there is a sense of belongingness and responsible among the work groups. The level of commitment within the organization is more apparent in the top management. This diminishes as one goes in the front line where employees are more concerned about the accomplishment of their specific responsibilities more than recognizing themselves with the company. 5. Do people in your organization express their viewpoint directly and candidly, and attempt to inquire into the validity of their own viewpoint and that of others Employees are given venue to express their viewpoint directly. It should be noted that ACICO conducts its own survey in order to ascertain the level of satisfaction within the different employees in the functional group. When working in teams, the members are also given the opportunity to contribute their specific expertise subject

Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Interview - Essay Example Harris’ office. The moment I walked into the room, I could sense that the atmosphere was very relaxing. The room was spacious and let in plenty of light, and there was a fountain running in the corner. The room had been painted with nice, soothing colors. Ms. Harris said that the standard Army counseling sessions are 90 minutes long. She said that the most difficult thing about her job is trying to help someone whose families are constantly moving every two or three years. Ms. Harris expressed frustration with her job, saying that most of the time she feels like she is just putting a bandage on the situation and is not making any long-term impact. The one positive aspect of the program is that it is carried out in conjunction with the military; if the abuser doesn’t stick with therapy or show any improvement, they will be discharged from the military. So, if they do not bother to participate in the program, they won’t have a job. This gives military personal more incentives to work harder. She also stated that the hardest issue is to know if they really want to change or not. As military members, they are supposed to show military barring. Ms. Harris commented that it can be hard to break down these walls because of how the military trains them to think. The U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program is dedicated to the prevention, education, prompt reporting, investigation, intervention, and treatment of spouse and child abuse. The program provides a variety of services to all active duty soldiers, retirees, and DOD employees and their family members to enhance relationship skills and improve each individual’s quality of life. This mission is accomplished through a variety of groups, seminars, workshops, and counseling and intervention services. The programs that are offered through the Family Advocacy Program include the Exceptional Family Member Program, New Parent Support Program, Transitional Compensation Program, and Victim Advocacy Pro gram. The Exceptional Family Member Program caters for soldiers who have a family member with special needs. The program provides community support, housing, education, medical, and personnel services to affected family members of soldiers. On the other hand, the New Parent Support Program helps soldiers and family members who are either expecting a child or have a child or up to three years of age. The program provides home visits, play groups, and parenting classes for military families with young children. The Transitional Compensation Program supports spouses of soldiers who have either been court-martialed or have been found guilty of domestic violence or child abuse. The afflicted family member is eligible for medical and dental care for a period of up to 36 months. Payments are made monthly and vary upon the victim’s status to the soldier. Lastly, the Victim Advocacy Program provides support to victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. This program is available 24/ 7 and allows victims to talk with trained professionals about their experiences. The treatment soldiers and their families receive include intervention and therapeutic services designed to prevent repetition of abuse and to restore the health of victims and innocent family members who have suffered physical or psychological damage from abuse. Treatment also may include crisis intervention, education programs, short-term counseling, marital

Overview Of Colgate Palmolive Company

Overview Of Colgate Palmolive Company Colgate Palmolive, a company where its headquarters is in New York operates in the business of care within the consumer goods industry. In an Annual Report released by Colgate Palmolive Company (2010), it is reported that the company is a $ 15.6 billion global company serving people in more than 200 countries and territories with consumer products that makes life healthier and more enjoyable. The core businesses of this company are Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Among some of the worlds most recognized household brands produced by Colgate Palmolive Company are Colgate, Mennen, Palmolive, Ajax, Softsoap, and Hills Pet Nutrition. Colgates business strategy is to Win on the Ground by focusing on its three core strategies: Driving Growth, Funding the Growth and Making Colgate the Best Place to Work. Its corporate values of Caring, Global Teamwork and Continuous Improvement acts as the foundation for its business strategy and are reflected in the way the company conducts its business worldwide (Colgate World of Care, n.d.). Colgate Palmolive Corporate Structure Led by its current Chief Executive Officer and President, Mr. Ian Cook, Colgate Palmolive Company is staffed with a team of talented and dedicated employees. The companys corporate structure has been assumed to be shown in Appendix 1. Streaming in to the Global Information Technology (GIT) organization itself, this organization is divided into three main sub functions which are Global Development, Enterprise Center and Shared Services Organization. The Shared Services Organization is further divided into four main divisions which are Global, Americas, Euro Americas and Asia Pacific. Colgate Palmolive Malaysia, founded in 1957 where the company office and plant is located in Petaling Jaya is supported by Asia Pacific division which is better known as Asia Pacific Shared Organization (APSSO). APSSO serves approximately 3500 employees in terms of Information Technology and its infrastructure in over 35 manufacturing sites throughout the Greater Asia and South Pacific division. Colgate-Palmolive Business Strategy and Relationship with Business Entity The main mission of Global Information Technology which is also cascaded down to APSSO is to operate on the same system, providing the same information to ensure the same performance and processes throughout the Colgate Palmolive Companys global operations worldwide. To achieve this mission, APSSO focuses on a 5 years strategy plan which is driven by a grid like Casita. This grid is derived from a stringent process which priorities the projects according to the GITs mandates of Performance, Reliability and Regulatory, Utilization, GIT Grid Strategic Portfolio and Global Projects. The Global Information Technology partners five global external entities to ensure the success of its businesses. Colgate partners one of the worlds most renowned enterprise software developers, SAP. Aside from SAP, Colgate partners IBM and Lenovo for providing the company computer hardware, Verizon for networking and telecommunications, CISCO for LAN equipments, Wipro for consulting and resource management as well as Comvault for data management and storage. The details of Colgate Palmolive infrastructure will be discussed in Part 2: IT infrastructure: Issues and Challenges. Colgate Palmolive specifically in Malaysia does not partner any government entities for its IT infrastructure. The homepage URL of the Colgate Palmolive Company is http://www.colgate.com. Part 2: IT Infrastructure: Issues Challenges 2.1 Colgates IT Infrastructure Information technology infrastructure today is composed of seven major components (Laudon Laudon, page 203) and Colgate is not exceptional in investing in a comprehensive array of hardware software to help with its daily operations. The below is a list of IT infrastructure that Colgate is currently having: 1) Computer Hardware Platforms. Colgates permanent employees are given laptops while temporary employees are provided with desktops. a) Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad 410: Intel i5-520M, Intel QM57 Exp, 14.1 XGA, Intel HD Graphics, 160GB 7200rpm, 4GB (2x2GB), N6200 11a/b/g/n (22), 6 Cell. b) Desktop: Lenovo ThinkCentre M58p: Intel ® Core 2 Duo Processor E8400, 2GB, 160GB 7200RPM S-ATA HDD, PCI/PCIe SFF (23),Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500,DVD Rble, Intel Gigabit Ethernet. 2) Operating Systems: Colgate is currently using Windows XP Professional but they are planning to rollout Windows 7 Professional in the 4th quarter of 2011. 3) Enterprise Software: Colgate uses SAP R/3 Enterprise for virtually all its departmental business units. 4) Networking/Telecommunication: Colgate enlists Cisco Systems and Verizon Communications respectively as its business partners for their networking and telecommunications needs. 5) Consulting System Integration Services: Colgate recruits Wipro Technologies to assist with new technology building as well as managing new projects. 6) Data Management Storage: Colgate counts Commvault as its business partner to manage its data management and storage. 7) Internet Platform: Colgate uses Microsoft.net to support its website. It uses the 2.2 Issues and Challenges in the management of IT infrastructure Even though Colgate has a relatively stable IT infrastructure in place, there are bound to be issues and challenges that the organisation faces in the management of its IT infrastructure. One of the most prominent challenges would be to keep abreast with the technology advancement. As Moores Law suggests, the number of transistors on a chip roughly doubles every two years. (Moores Law, whitepaper from Intel). Colgate has a strict workflow when it comes to implementing new hardware, which includes going through the many layers of manual approvals from the upper management, most of them scattered throughout the globe. By the time IT department is ready to implement the new hardware, newer version would have already been introduced to the market. Security is also a major challenge for the IT department in Colgate. As with any multinational corporation, Colgate takes pride in their products secret formula, new product launches and confidential employees information. Hackers and PC infections are a big risk to the company. This is due to the many software that Colgate uses. Although each laptop and computers are linked together via the Colgate network, these software are independently installed into the computer, and this making it difficult for the IT department to monitor the health of each hardware. Another challenge is to manage Colgates business partners such as Cisco, Verizon, Wipro and Commvault. As the business partners are vital to Colgates success in managing IT, they have to be exposed to Colgates culture and its ways of managing business. Perhaps the biggest challenge of all would be to manage the internal cost. The IT department is given a budget of 1.5% of net sales for software hardware acquisition, installation, training, support and maintenance. This budget also includes downtime as well as space and energy needed to keep the technology running. IT has to play its role in maintaining Colgate to be the leading consumer products company in the world. The above IT infrastructure has be to integrated seamlessly in the running of daily business activities, and this would require the IT department to be the ultimate business partner to Colgate worldwide. Part 3: Cloud Computing and its business benefits and costs 3.1 Overview of cloud computing Cloud computing is defined as a model of computing where firms and individuals obtain computing power and software applications over the Internet, rather than purchasing their own hardware and software (Loudon Loudon 2010, p. 196). The five essential characteristics of cloud computing are assumed in Figure 1 (Mell Grance 2011) On-Demand Self Service The on-demand self-service characteristic of cloud computing allows employee to use cloud computing without human interference with the cloud provider. Employees can login in the network by keying in a unique password given to them. Broad Network Access Ubiquitous network access is available to employees via cloud computing. The network can be access by all employees through a standard mechanism. Employee would only need to key in their password and once the system authenticates it, employee can access to all resources available in the network. Resource Pooling Resource pooling allows employees to access cloud computing without having to bind to location where they are. All employees within the Colgate world would be able to access the same database and same network from even their homes. This is also a step taken to encouraged employees to strike work life balance in their workplace. Rapid Elasticity Cloud computing promises elasticity where resources can be scaled both up and down as required. This will allow standardization and for Global Information Technology to achieve its mission of operating on the same system, have the same information for all its employees, which in turn ensures the same performance and processes throughout the Colgate world. Measured Service The number of employees accessing the service is measured and monitored to ensure that the cloud is able to optimize its service and to sustain the agreed service level for all employees. Figure 1: The five essential characteristics of cloud computing There are three main types of cloud computing which are public clouds, private clouds and hybrid clouds. Public clouds are usually operated by a third party company where more than one party or customer can be mixed together and can access the servers or storage system at once. Private clouds are usually on demand infrastructure owned by a single customer who controls the applications run On the other hand, hybrid clouds are the combination of both public and private cloud models which usually offers high sustainable on-demand and externally provisioned scale however adds complexity to the distribution of applications throughout the different networks (Isse 2010, pg 18). 3.2 Current trends in cloud computing In a cloud computing survey done in 17 countries in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific by Kelton Research in 2009, the results shows that technology is used to cut cost in 54% of the companies surveyed. One of the technologies discussed was cloud computing which allows companies to quickly react to market conditions and competitors. By having cloud computing, companies can use this ability to immediately tap computing power and software which in turn help company focus on its core business. 99% of its respondent also claimed that they are discussing or implementing public and private cloud computing solutions. 3.3 Benefits of cloud computing Information Weeks Thomas Claborn reported (Calburn, 2008) on a presentation by Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president at Hewlett-Pakard, at the 2008 Cloud Summit Conference: Some 87 billion emails are drafted per day around the globe, the digital universe doubles every 18 months, and the number of network-attached storage devices double every two years, he said. Yet, some 80 percent to 85 percent of IT budgets goes to operational maintenance. ..Cloud computing promises to help IT organisations dial back maintenance cost so they can spend on creating business values. To ensure sustainability and competitiveness of Colgates business, cloud computing can be an option to reduce cost, maintenance complexity and ease of management. Among some other of the benefits of cloud computing are discussed as below. Availability of standardized data Cloud computing plays a vital role in ensuring that Global Information Technology achieves its goal to providing the same information at the same speed to Colgates entire employee. This allows managers to make decision based on the same set of data irregardless of where they are located. It also ensures data integrity and allows more decision collaboration between countries as they have access to all sets of data. Business Agility Cloud computing allows managers to have access to data anywhere at any time. The benefit of cloud computing not being device and location dependence allows managers to make faster decisions to gain competitive advantage by responding rapidly and reducing time to market. IT efficiency Cloud computing increases the efficiency and allows ease of management of information technology. For instance when they is a need for a system upgrade, cloud computing allows managers to push the updates at the backend through the server and all employees will receive the auto run update at the same time. This reduces time of IT personnel to individually install updates on each computer, ensures that all computers has been upgraded simultaneously and increases efficiency as updates need not be bonded by boundaries and time zone. Implementation of one system for all concept The implementation of cloud computing allows standardization in term of systems processes and speed. This will reduce the maintenance cost, ensures data security and provides every employee an equal opportunity to obtain data to make quality decisions. For example, an employee in India will be using the same system as an employee in Russia. This facilitates knowledge sharing among employees and also transfers of talent throughout the Colgate world. It allows our global customer (ie: Tesco, Carrefour) to make business decisions on a global basis based on the availability of standardized data and the way of doing business with Colgate. 3.4 Cost of implementation of cloud computing It is crucial to determine the return of invest and total costs of ownership to senior management before being able to influence them to make decisions on whether or not an organisation should invest in the system/infrastructure. The total costs of ownership looks into nine areas which are: Hardware acquisition The cost for purchasing of computing power might be higher at the initial stage when setting cloud computing however the return of investment in the long run might justify the initial investment. Software acquisition The licensing for software used within Colgate might decrease if the company decides to subscribe to Software as a Service (SaaS) applications such as Salesforce.com. SaaS applications allow users to pay as they use. This decreases cost of purchasing licensing for the whole package of software but employees only use partial applications within the package. Installation Installation cost remain constant with or without cloud computing. Colgate advocates providing the same infrastructure and computing power in terms of both hardware and software for all its employees. Training Trainings for implementation of cloud computing can be done via three methods. Firstly, the company can deploy collaboration tools to allow virtual training. Secondly, training can be deliver via an online knowledge portal (ElementK) which the company has subscribed to and lastly via classroom trainings for more technical personnel. The cost of training (in terms of travel) can be minimized by having power users within subsidiaries of Colgate to train employees of their own division. Support The implementation of cloud computing allows a standardized support of IT employee for every employee. By having a standardized system and processes, IT employees now need not have different sets of manual to provide differing system support. Maintenance Cloud computing eases the maintenance of systems and upgrading of both hardware and software. By implementing cloud computing, all upgrades can now be push from the backend of servers to each computer. Infrastructure Investment in specialized equipment and network at the initial stage is required. However the yield in the long run surpasses the cost of initial investment made. It also allows business to replough back the cost used to maintain IT systems to the core of its businesses after the implementation of cloud computing. Downtime The downtime of servers that support cloud computing can be managed internally. Although downtime cannot be eliminated, it can be minimized to ensure minimal disruption to the business. Downtime can be planned and communicated to employees at earlier so that employees can plan their work accordingly. Space and energy Part 4: Recommendations of cloud computing adoption/adaption Based on the issues and challenges that have been discussed in Part 2, it is vital that Colgate adopts a technology that will enable the company to move forward in the era of information technology. However, due to sensitive and confidential information that Colgate has to protect, they are not able to outsource to external providers such as Salesforce.com. Hence, it is recommended that Colgate invests in a private cloud which only employees of the organization can access, with the option of having their business partners obtaining a certain amount of information from the cloud. With the use of the cloud, the IT department will no longer need to go through the manual layers of approvals needed to implement new technologies. By creating an approval system that links to the email system, approvers will need to simply login into the cloud to sanction the requests, regardless of time zone and location once they receive email notifications. This will further simplify the approval process and the IT department will be able to rollout new technologies, thus enabling Colgate to be, if not in the forefront, at least keeping up with the latest technology compared to their competitors. Colgates IT departments objective is to have the same systems, same information, same processes and the same performance everywhere across the Colgate world. With the implementation of a cloud, a series of commonly used software can be stored in the cloud. Employees laptops and desktops will merely be terminals to access the cloud. Hence, using the method of single sign-on username and password, this would allow the IT department to have further security measures as well as enabling them to monitor the health status of each of the terminals. Business partners can be given limited access to the cloud, thus exposing them to Colgates workflow, processes and cultures. This in turn would assist them to understand how Colgate manages its business and how they are able to contribute more efficiently towards Colgates success. Cost has always been a challenge to most organisations. A resourceful firm can fully make use of a budget of 1.5% of net sales to stay ahead of competitors by investing in a cloud. As mentioned in Part 2, Colgate currently has independent software installed in each computer. By implementing a cloud, instead of having the IT personnel physically installing the software in each computer, which may take a few weeks, depending on the location of Colgate offices, they simply need to load or upgrade the software into the cloud, enabling employees to use the latest software within days, if not hours. On top of that, the cost of travelling for IT personnel to install these software will be very minimal. In line with business needs, the speed of change will be beneficial not only to Colgate, but also to their employees as they will be exposed to newer technologies/software in order to be more efficient in their daily tasks, thus reducing time needed for business to wait for processed information from the employees. Currently Colgate in every location around the globe has their own set of servers and data storage system within each subsidiary. With the implementation of a cloud, Colgate will only need to have these hardware investment and maintenance in one particular site only. IT departments can be much leaner, more efficient and more focused in their areas of expertise. Colgate has always been prudent in investing in any type of technology. The local IT department refers to a grid that lists the yearly initiatives that they will need to implement in every subsidiary. This grid consists of requests and is essentially an approved wish list from each business unit on implementing certain technologies within the department. Colgates business strategy to balance both technology and the demand from employees on the ground is important to achieve strategic goals. The yearly resource of 1.5% of net sales has always been the budget that the IT department has to adhere to. Given this allocation, the IT department has to be judicious in spending, balancing the business needs, keeping the current technology abreast with the market as well as being ahead of competitors.