Income Tax Contribution

Chapter – I – Introduction 1. 1-Focus of the Study This is the age of management information system (MIS) in the business world, which enables management to provide the appropriate information at optimal cost so manager can manage in private as well as government organizations. MIS can be defined as the system, which provides proper information that helps management to take management decisions in a timely fashion. Therefore the information served by management information system is very crucial for a proper management of a business organization. In a process of receiving information from various sectors, MIS use various sectors. As well as we can find the position of income tax in government revenue. Income tax is the main source of government revenue. If high sources of income tax in government revenue, government can make good development, economic planning for development of the nation. After knowing about the contribution of Income tax in government revenue of Nepal, we can find the strength and weakness of the government functions and method of raising the revenue. < There are various sources of government revenue. Income tax, VAT, custom duty, foreign aid, internal and external loan are the main sources. There are various users and interested person and sector of Income tax in government revenue. Government is the main interested and handles body of income tax. Government can make suitable policies, acts and rules for increasing the government revenue. In current situation, government must have sufficient revenue for developing the nation. At present government expenditures is gradually increasing but government revenue is not satisfactory. The trend of income tax in government revenue is not satisfactory up going, even it’s going down some years. Thinking of taxpayer towards the tax is not positive. The study of income tax shows the performance and contribution of taxpayers. Nepal has adopted mix economy. So there is equal contribution of private and public sector for economic development as well as government revenue. The overall performance of government and taxpayers reflected on contribution of collection of income tax in government revenue. Government and financial policymakers can make suitable policies and rules for collection of high income tax from organizations. Analysis of income tax in government revenue is the mean of financial and accounting interpretation. We can say that analysis of income tax in government revenue is meaningless until and unless it is properly analyzed, interpreted and taken any corrective actions to the best way. Therefore the analysis and interpretation part of government revenue is fulfilled by the analysis of income tax. The idea of introducing income tax in Nepal originated along with the first ‘Budget’ on 21st Magh 2008 B. S. (1952 AD). The first elected government finally introduced ‘Business profit and Remuneration Tax Act 2017’ to promise income tax on remuneration and business profit in Nepal. The ‘Business profit and Remuneration Tax Act 2017’ had very narrow coverage that income tax was imposed only on business profit and remuneration. Since this act could not cover all the sources of income, the ‘Nepal Income Tax Act 2019’ replaced it after two years to avoid such drawbacks. After a year, ‘Nepal Income Tax Rules 2020’ were enacted with the view of implementing the objectives of the income tax act. According to the changing condition this act was also incapable in fulfilling the needs of changing time, it was replaced by another, ‘Income tax Act 2031’. In the course of development and modernization of income tax system, the new ‘Income Tax Act 2058’ has been enacted. Similarly, the new ‘Income Tax Rules 2059’ have been enacted for the effective implementation of the objectives of the Act. The study will cover the analysis and interpretation of all activities related to income tax such as income tax from Business income, Investment income and Employment income. Main purpose of the study is to find out the relationship between income tax and other sources of government revenue, the trends of collection of income tax, contributing part of income tax in government revenue and to point out the reasons of low collection and imposed of income tax. 1. 2-Statement of the problem Income tax is the main source of government revenue. For the development of nation, every government needs high revenue. For higher the revenue, the main sources is income tax. The economy of a country flourishes with the flourish of government revenue and collection of income tax and it deteriorates with unsatisfactory performance of Government function in the country. Therefore periodical review and analysis of Income Tax in the country is very essential. Performance of Income Tax is very constructive for all stakeholders closely attached with the government revenue as well as for a prosperous economic future of the country. Generating income by any individual or institution is the main sources of income tax. If income is favourable then collection of income tax is also favourable. Lower contribution of income tax in government revenue negatively affects the country’s development. The variation of income tax contribution brings the variation of government revenue and government development function. Country’s economic development and government revenue are the closely related parts. For higher revenue, economic development is necessary and for better economic development of a country, high government revenue is necessary. Nepal is a landlocked country. The trend of collection of income tax is not satisfactory. As maintained above, sustainable economic development and good political environment is necessary for growth the income. Income is source of income tax. Currently, political situation of Nepal is not good. From one decade it’s being worse. Here is no good environment for income generating functions. Previously running organizations also can’t perform better. They are going downwards. Individual income is also not a good increasing trend. It affects directly income tax and government revenue as well as government activities. The data of income tax may suffer a lot in lack of proper view and analysis practice of it. Currently contribution of income tax in government revenue of Nepal may not sufficient for development of nation. At the analysis period of data income tax collection remained below the expected level due to various national and international level. Therefore, this research study is concentrated on trend of income tax collection to review and analysis the contribution in government revenue and to draw recommendation for coming period. 1. 3-Objective of the study 1. 3. 1 General Objective To analyze the contribution of Income tax in the government revenue of Nepal. 1. 3. 2 Specific objective To measure the ability of income tax to meet the government current requirement. †¢ To measure the ability of income tax to meet the government long term planning and policies. †¢ To measure the operating efficiency and ability to ensure for adequate government revenue. †¢ To analyze the problems of revenue collection from Income Tax. †¢ To suggest some measures for the improve ment of Income Tax collection. 1. 4 Signification of the study There are many institutions and individual that many contribute for government revenue by income tax. But their ability and willingness is not so good. The proportion of income tax in government revenue is not appropriate. The trend of income tax collection also is not sustainable and satisfactory. Much income tax acts and rules were implemented and many of are active at present. But they are not properly implemented. For many of these problem there is best alternative to analysis the trend and contribution of income tax in government revenue. 1. 5 Research Questions For the effective performance and result of the study and to state the findings in a core and precise form, the important research questions have been structured: 1. What is the state of income tax collection? 2. What is the proportion of income tax income for government revenue? 3. What is the trend of income tax collection? 4. What are the findings for coming days? 1. 6 A brief survey of the related literature The related theoretical and previous studies review will be made later on while writing the thesis. Main of these is: †¢ Budget speech of many fiscal years †¢ Performance Review of public and private Enterprises †¢ Economic survey of many fiscal years †¢ Statement of Income and Expenditure of many fiscal years †¢ Statement of Revenue of many fiscal years Different Acts, Rules and regulations, Ordinance and Circulars related to Income Tax †¢ Related Research, Thesis, Articles, Journals, Books, Web site etc. 1. 7 Limitations of the Study The study on â€Å"Contribution of income tax in the government Revenue of Nepal† is not free from the following limitations: i) This study is based on financial stateme nts, Economic surveys, Statement of revenue and Income and expenditure, which are subject to limitation of many National and International causes. ii) This study is based on past data’s which are provided by IRD or published. ii) The various methods and formulae are been taken as standard formula, which are worked out on the basis of different items and conditions. iv) Mostly secondary data are analyzed. v) The area of income tax is very wide, so all the part of it may not be covered. vi) Being a student, different types of resource constraint is another important factor, which has limited the scope of the study. Chapter-II-Research Methodology 2. 1 Research Design A research design refers to the conceptual structure within which the research is conducted. The research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance the research purpose within the economy and easy to procedure. This study is basically both in analytical and descriptive. 2. 2 Data collection procedure For the study, secondary data will be collected from IRD, Budget speech, Economic survey, Statement of Income, Income and Expenditure and from other related sources. The secondary data related to income tax and revenue are basically from last fifteen years. 2. 3 Tools for analysis To conduct the study, management and statistical tools such as ratio analysis, trend analysis, correlation regression analysis, variation, weights, diagram, graphs etc. will be used as required by the study. 2. 4 Methods for analysis and presentation Various results will be calculated by using various management and statistical tools, and formula, which are required for this study. Then the data will be presented on suitable tables, diagrams, graphs and formats with the help of different suitable computer software on the basis of which necessary interpretation and explanation will be drawn. 2. Plan of work The study will be carried out on sequential order, which will be five chapters. The first chapter will begin with the introduction of the study, followed by review of literature, research methodology, presentation and analysis of data and conclusion and recommendation in second, third, fourth and last fifth chapters respectively. 2. 6 Bibliography 1. Amatya, S. K. , Pokharel, B. B. and Dahal, R. K. (2004), Taxation in Nepal, M. K. Publisher and Distributors, Kathmandu, Nepal. 2. Budget speech of the Fiscal Year 2055/056 to 2060/061. 3. Economic Survey of the Fiscal Year 2055/056 to 2060/061. . Income Tax act, 2031(1974) and Income Tax act, 2058 (2002) 5. Income Tax Rules, 2059. 6. Income Tax, Circular Collection 2055/56 to 2060/61. 7. Statement of Income and Expenditure of the Fiscal Year 2055/056 to 2060/061. 8. Statement of Revenue from 2055/56 to 2060/61. 9. Wolf, H. K. , and Pant, P. R. ,(2002), SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH AND THESIS WRITING, Buddha Academic Publishers & Distributor Pvt. Ltd. , Kathmandu, Nepal. 10. Web sites : http://www. ird. gov. np/index1. php http://www. taxresources. com/ http://www. asosai. org/journal1993/revenue_auditing_in_nepal. htm

The Environement and It’s Problems

Essay The Environment and its problems The environment is the place that surrounds us. It is a gift of nature and it is the natural world of water, land, air and change. The environment is what we call home. Did you know that every day the environment is somehow getting damaged or destroyed? There are many examples of environmental problems that affect our environment. E. g. global warming There are also several ways humans effect our environment. For example the removal of fish from the oceans and timber from tropical forests.There are so many new things to learn about the environment and so many ways to take action for our eco-system by protecting it, why wait? Impressed? Read on to learn about the environment and what you can do to protect it. Let’s get started! There are several environmental problems that we need to take action for. They all affect the world and harm the eco-system. Some of the environmental problems in the world are acid rain, air pollution, energy, glob al warming, hazardous waste, pollution, and smog. Some of these problems are man-made and some of these problems are natural disasters.Environmental pollution is the biggest problem on Earth today. It is true our trees are getting cut down rapidly and the earth is getting warmer but if pollution continues our earth will fell like a boiling desert or covered with seawater. There are three types of pollution which are air pollution, sound pollution and water pollution. Air pollution is when smog is in the air and it’s hard for us to breathe. Sound pollution is when there’s such a big noise by a vehicle that sometimes people lose their hearing. That is why we should walk or ride a bike anywhere close to where you are and a mile distance.Water pollution is when the water gets polluted with waste and chemicals There are also many politicians who have done something to help the environment. For example, Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the Uni ted States of America and was a politician and conservationist. He is known for setting aside land for national forests, establishing wildlife refuges, developing the farmlands of the American West, and advocating protection of natural resources. Theodore Roosevelt is a strong role model for environmentalists of the future.He used his political skills to influence people and to help the cause of conservation, consistently focusing on the state the environment and on its effect on future generations. Creating a future in which the environment is clean is a challenging task. Managing the environment involves support from governments, organizations and your community. It may appear that environmental problems are too hard to take care of but the decisions we make, the actions we take and the words we speak influence the decisions that we make about the environment.There are many ways in which you can adapt your daily life to think more about the future of the environments and wildlife. Saving energy, conserving resources, and recycling are just a few ways you could make a difference. The most important thing to think about is the choices you make related to the environment. One of the things your school can do is become an eco-school! Ontario EcoSchools is an environmental educational program for grades K-12 that helps school communities help kids become environmentally responsible citizens and reduce the ecological footprint of schools.Ontario EcoSchools' resources offer an environmental perspective to the choices we make in operating our schools and in planning classroom programs based on the Ontario curriculum. It consists of four components: ecological literacy| waste minimization| energy conservation| school ground greening| The leaf within each figure symbolizes thinking and acting with the environment in mind. It also visually connects the four areas, a reminder that the environment is very important. Here are some ways you can take care of the environment . 1. Reduce your driving (walk, bike, ride, take public transport, or carpool).Choose a more fuel efficient car. 2. Don't leave your TV, computers, and DVD/VCD players on standby; it uses more electricity than the little red LED light! 3. Choose more energy-efficient appliances, especially major ones like refrigerators, air conditioners and water heaters. 4. Recycle everything you can; newspapers, cans, glass bottles and jars, motor oil, scrap metal, etc. 5. Don't use electrical appliances for things you can easily do by hand, such as opening cans. 6. Plug off your cell phone charger when charging is completed. 7. Re-use bread bags and the bags you bring your produce home in. . Store food in re-usable containers, instead of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. 9. Take unwanted, re-usable items to a charitable organization or thrift shop. 10. Don't leave water running needlessly. Save some of your washing machine water. Gargle your mouth with a cup of water instead. 11. Set your air condit ioner temperature to 24-26C instead of below 23C. 12. Turn off the lights, TV, or other electrical appliances when you are out. 13. Fill a 1. 5/2L drink plastic bottle and leave it inside the Water Closet; this will save you that same amount every time you flush the toilet. 4. Do not use the water heater on a hot afternoon! Use cold water in the washer whenever possible. 15. Print or copy on both sides of the paper. (Plus use the other side of this paper. ) The environment, the Earth, is our home. It is where we live, breathe, and eat. It is very important so I think we should take really good care of it and protect it! Remember, we can all take action for this by even doing little things that will help. E. g. recycling! I enjoyed writing this essay. I learned many new things that I didn’t know before and I hope you have too!Also, remember to keep the Earth clean as much as possible. â€Å"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. † Theodore Roosevelt Bibliog raphy:1. Ontario EcoSchools. (2002). Retrieved from www. ontarioecoschools. org2. Theodore Roosevelt. (1999). Retrieved from www. library. thinkquest. org/26026/People/theodore_roosevelt. html3. Environmental problems. (1999). Retrieved from www. library. thinkquest. org/26026/Environmental_Problems/environmental_problems. html4. Bowden, Rob. Environments. Miami: KidHaven Press, 2004. Print. | |

Behavior: Teacher and Young People Essay

Adults that support children and young people in school setting have to be aware of the different stages that children and young develop: this includes emotional, physical and social development. Children and young people learn how to behave in time and need guidance and clear boundaries from adults in order to behave the way society expects them. There are Strategies to make children and young people’s behavior one of them is the need to praise them for their work and effort. Children and young people need to feel valued, some seek to belong to group being able to communicate with them effectively to build a positive relationship will help them learn to use to positive behavior. A behavior policy will help all staff to learn how to promote positive, by explaining that children need to develop positive skills and attributes. In my setting these are some of the behavior policies in place: Behavior policy-in order for effective learning to take place, good behavior in all aspects of school life is necessary. By adhering, this policy we aim recognize and promote positive behavior and in doing so we will help promote self-esteem, self-discipline and build positive relationship based on mutual respect. The policy is not only aimed at pupils but to all who are involved in the school community from parents to governors to staff ect in order to be able apply it consistently. In key stage one and two an assembly is held each week one child will receives a prize for earning a Golden star award which is selected by raffle of all the awards. Golden awards are counted up in houses across the school and the wining house receives a reward such a additional P.  E/ games or an ice skating trip. All classes have an opportunity to LAD achievement assembly, which parents/cares are encourage to attend, where are able to show and celebrate examples of their best work. Each week a different year group’s achievement are celebrated in whole school assembly with individual pupils being selected to come on stage to receive a certificate. All staff work hard to help children maintain high standards of behavior. This important so that they can use their in school effectively to learn that learning is not disrupted by others. We actively encourage and promote good behavior which is rewarded in variety of ways such as house points, certificates, stickers, praise from other teachers ect. Children also understand that poor behavior is not acceptable. Within school we have a clear set of behavior consequences such if a child is disruptive: question them on their behavior; a warning inappropriate behavior continues; consequence if child choose not to heed warning. Six Golden Rules: This is the guideline in my setting for pupil so they have an understanding how to behave in school: * Do be kind and helpful * Do be honest * Do look after property Do be gentle * Do listen to other people * Work hard * Do wear the right uniform. Teachers are only able to teach effectively and pupils learn effectively in orderly classes with good behavior. (Department for children and families- taken from school setting behavior policy) Sanctions In my setting they have accepted that some children will find it difficult to abide by the schools code conduct therefore all staff have to be consistent when confronted with inappropriate behavior. The staff are informed of the three groups of behavior that the school has listed: * Less serious incidents- calling out in class Serious incidents-swearing * Very serious incidents-fighting Depending on behavior staff will allocate appropriate sanctions which may include; loss of privileges- not being a prefect, class leader, helping the teacher with register, loss of lunch or morning break or the loss any extra, curricular activities if the child keeps contenting behaving the same. In key stage two, children who are being disruptive in class not working too of their ability and who have forgotten their homework will be given 5mins in the time out corner and if it happens twice in one week is detention at lunch time. Parents are always informed of their child’s inappropriate behavior, if the child gets two lunch time detentions for the same reason in one half term. They get a lunch time detention with the head teacher or Deputy head teacher. And the parents are invited to discuss the matter with the class teacher. In a case where the child’s disruptive behavior continues, either in the playground or the classroom, the child will receive two warning. If the child continues to behave inappropriately then the head teacher, after consultation, may decide to issue an internal exclusion. An internal exclusion differs from exclusion as the child is still able to come into school but the child works away from their own class for fixed period. Exclusions also vary depending on the behavior. If a child is excluded and it is for over 15 days the head teacher will need to get it approved by a panel of governors. The outcome is decided by the Chair of Governors and the LEA. All exclusion are record in every child’s school file and will eventually be sent on to their secondary schools. BULLING: In my setting, all staff work alongside with parents and the children to create a school community where bulling is not tolerated. They take all types of bulling seriously such as, emotional, physical, and racial, cyber bulling and are recorded in the school behavior book by the Head teacher. Any form bulling is reported to the Head teacher as well as the class child protection officer. The children are encouraged to speak to their class teacher if they feel they have are being bullied. The school involves the parent(s) of the child who is bulling others by encourages them to support and re-educate their child, they also inform the parent(s) of the child who have been bullied and offer support. Describe with examples the importance of all staff consistently and fairly applying boundaries and rules for children and young people’s behavior accordance with the policies and procedures of the setting: In my setting staff promotes positive behavior by giving children and young people the opportunity to develop their true potential academically, morally and spiritually. It is important for all staff to be consistent when dealing with inappropriate behavior so that children and young people have sense and knowledge of right from wrong and also know what is expected from them. Example: One day the teacher was instructing the children on their learning objective when a child was being disruptive. I asked the child politely not to sit down and if he/she needed something to put their hand up first, I was quite taken back by when he/she replied rudely. I waited till the whole class was busy with their work and approached the child spoken to her about her rudeness then and asked her if she would move her name down from green to yellow, also made her aware I would tell her teacher about her behavior. The class teacher spoke to the child and he/she was told to apologize to me. It is important for all staff to work alongside each other so that children and young people will expect rules to be the same. If boundaries and rules are not consistent staff would feel undermined. If one staff allows inappropriate behavior and another disciplines the child, the child would be confused. It is also important to remember when addressing a child or a young person of their unaccepted behavior the appropriate sanction is used according to their age and stage of development. For example a child in key stage one who behaves inappropriately would not be given lunch time detention for not doing their homework as opposed to a child in key stage two or at secondary age. The reason why policies and procedures are in place is for parents to support children and young people in their school work and for children and young people to understand what is expected from them. As well as school having a behavior policy, each class would have their own ‘golden rule’ that was created by the children themselves. The importance of letting children create this rule is to include them and allow them to participate. Children benefit by this as they feel valued which helps their self-esteem and self- development. In my setting children who behave inappropriately are given verbal warning and are encouraged and supported to make more positive choices. If the unaccepted behavior continues throughout out the week the child misses their morning and lunch time break by spending it in detention supervised by the Head teacher. Their parents are also informed they may come a time when a child or a young person’s behavior is out of control that parents, class teacher, Head teacher and appropriate practitioners have to work alongside each other. IEP {Individual Education Plan} is created for the individual and a target is set to manage the child or young person’s unwanted behavior. This approach is known as the S. M. A. R. T target {specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time, bound/specific} The plan may include use of intervention to get the child not to behave inappropriately. It also has to be specific and clear so the child understands what has to be achieved. The target has to be realistic in order for the child to be able to achieve it, therefore it needs to be relevant and time given is reviewed according to the child’s behavior. Before a child or young person is put on the IEP, teachers invite the child’s parents/guidance/Carer to discuss the behavior. A child’s behavior may be a cause of by many factors that has affected them largely such as a change in family structure, home environment or transition to a new school such as secondary school, it can also be through bereavement, parents getting divorce, parents getting re-married, new siblings or illness on one of the family members. In order to support the child, staff in school setting has to act as role model, it sets the standards of behavior and expectations to the children and young people. This is how they learn about positive behavior by watching us. Praising the child for positive behavior and rewarding them with responsibilities such as head boy/girl prefects, class monitors will build their self-esteem, create a calmer environment and build relationships.

Super Bakerys management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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112 paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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Events that left to the Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

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Career research&analysis assignment Research Paper

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Madre Womens Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Madre Womens Rights - Essay Example (Pol, 2009) However, the Reagan Admin worked domestically to roll back the victories of social MADRE's founders knew that while women's traditional social roles and discrimination against women were global in scope, they are experienced differently, depending on race, nationality, class, sex- uality and other aspects of identity. They saw that building on the strengths of those differences while focusing on the universality of women's roles and women's oppression could be a key to building lasting political partnerships between women from different communities within the US and between US-based women and those in other countries. (Madre, 2013) These made them to resurface their strengths in early 1980s.They have been on the move ever since, cham- pioning for the rights of the women. Why women rights? According to the New York Times by Robin, about 78% of the women are not enjoying their dem- ocratic rights. They are denied the right to freedom, speech and are treated unfairly at the place of resi- dence. Ordinarily, they are considered as weak ves- sels who will obey every command from their hus- †¢ †¢ to situate their struggles in the global context. The training in- fuses local human rights strug- gles with the power of interna- tional law At the same time, we help the partners identify their lack of sustaining resources as human rights violation. We provide resources to guarantee that the international arena is acces- sible to grassroots activists.

Price Differences Associated with Quality Essay

Price Differences Associated with Quality - Essay Example This paper will critically analyze the price differences associated with quality by giving a specific focus on imperfect competition and price differences. Effects of grade quality on demand According to an observation, â€Å"grade quality is the distinguishing feature or grade of the product in appearance, performance, life, reliability, taste, odor, and maintainability etc; these are generally called as quality characteristics† (Charantimath, 1). The grade quality or quality characteristics can have a great influence on the demand of a product because quality and price are the major determinants of a product’s market demand. Economic theories state that a change in quality can make a shift in the demand curve. When two identical products with different quality levels are available in the market at the same price, consumers would buy the product having superior quality. To illustrate, demand for Giordano’s pizza is greater than that of Papa John’s at a gi ven price. It happens because consumers believe that Giordano’s pizza has higher quality and therefore it would better satisfy their needs than Papa John’s pizza would do. ... It is observed that modern people are able to determine their needs precisely; hence, they can accurately identify product quality characteristics that are necessary to serve those needs. It is obvious that improved quality characteristics may better serve an individual’s needs. In other words, a consumer would get greater level of utility from a product with higher grade quality. Generally, a consumer always tries to acquire increased utility with minimum amount of money. In short, it can be stated that a product with higher grade quality will have increased market demand or demand is positively affected by grade quality. Referring to the law of demand, it is clear that the price of a product is directly proportional to its market demand. As discussed earlier, a product with higher grade quality will have a high level of market demand which in turn leads to an increase in its price. Maintenance of quality-price relationship is necessary for stabilizing an economy. To illustra te, majority of the agricultural products have predetermined grade quality standards and hence their price considerably varies in accordance with grade quality changes. Agricultural yields with a lower quality are paid minimum prices while marketers are ready to pay higher for high quality agricultural yields (â€Å"Grain marketing plans for farmers†). However, the law of diminishing marginal utility is also applicable to quality-price relationship. The law states that utility derived from the consumption of a product diminishes with each unit of the same product additionally consumed. Hence, a product’s price will not be increased beyond a certain level if a person continuously consumes a

(Why did Tsarism survive in 1905 but not in February 1917) Essay

(Why did Tsarism survive in 1905 but not in February 1917) - Essay Example The Riots went as far as Odessa, Black Sea Port and Moscow and at Moscow the soviets were formed. Though as implied by director Eisenstein that â€Å"this rebellion would give momentum to a fresh revolutionary movement,†1 ultimately, the 1905 revolution got suppressed in the short term when mutinies from both army and naval were brought. Russia’s loss in opposition to Japan at Port Arthur and their defeat at Tsushima weakened Tsars government. â€Å"Some of the things that marked the organized soviet workers, soldiers and sailors were that they were elected democratically from their workplaces, barracks and ships but they were given no privileges and at any time they would be called back by their electors. This was one of the things that marked the revolution defeat†2. The source of Tsar’s government was that most peasants Loved Tsar and most of them regarded him as a father whose empowerment was from God and at that time the church was very powerful and in support to the government, this was however shattered in 1905, following the massacre of the peaceful soviet demonstrators and assassinations, Prime Minister stolypin who was murdered in 1911. Also celebrations which accompanied the Romanov dynasty had greatly increased Tsars popularity. Nobles controlled the army and the government and they used Cossacks to deal with protests. Suppression of the 1905 revolution and assumption of a united nation was however a mask because this indeed marked the commencement of an imperialist war exposing every rotten thing that sharpened Russia’s social contradictions and deepened the ultimate revolutionary upheavals, (Gatrell, 1986). Approximately 15 million peasants joined the army where they faced consistent misery that opened their mind to the working class ideas. About 800,000 workers were working at Moscow in defense industries and 300,000 others in Petrograd in huge factories. This reduced the struggles in the cities and country side and

Journal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Journal - Research Paper Example 114). An exclusive characteristic of the multilingual creation was carrying out a sequence of expertise workgroups with practitioners and scholars across the United States of America. The main objective of the sessions was to attain a sense of what practitioners and scholars viewed as promising and effective activities. According to Rhian, Pauline, Paramjit and Sheila, they made use of these groups to assist them in explaining what the field is viewed; recurring issues in given directions. The contribution reinforced the validity of the understanding that surfaced and gave a significant connecting amid practice and study. A number of varying sources of data is made use of so as to advance and also substantiate study interpretations (Loudon, Anderson, Gill, & Greenfield, 1999, p. 99). Conscious comparison of disparate researches with divergent results is contrasted in order to assist in enhancing and refine scholar explanations. Critical entertaining of adversary theories are not simply supposed to be disclose to adversary theories (Slavin, 2005, p. 247). Scholars are also supposed to look for adversary explanations and try to comprehend the foundation for these explanations. In a multilingual production, scholars assess the techniques and findings of an offered combination of records and make use of demanding qualitative processes to review the diverse literatures. The steady-relative technique of negotiating information sources to advance and refine clarifications. Ganschow, L. and Sparks, R. Effects of Direct Instruction in Spanish Phonology on the Native- Language Skills and Foreign-Language Aptitude of At-Risk Foreign-Language Learners. J Learn Disabil February 1995 vol. 28 no. 2 107-120 Loudon, R. F., Anderson, P. M., Gill, P. S. and Greenfield, S. M. (1999). Educating Medical Students for Work in Culturally Diverse Societies. The journal of the American medical association. September 1, 1999, Vol 282, No.

Analyzing the functions of music in upcoming Rappers Essay Example for Free

Analyzing the functions of music in upcoming Rappers Essay Prach Ly’s Power Territory and Rice functions as a link between his heritage as a Cambodian and his ambition to give back to those who became targets in the tragedy of Cambodia. He communicates the lyrics in a provocative rhythm which sets the tonality for the listeners in a grave and arguably concerned poise deeming his lyrics to be of a serious nature. His rap therefore takes a distinct tone that is akin to the musical function of other rappers who compose lyrics around their precarious lifestyles in the ghettos and their fight for survival amongst the hostility they are faced with everyday. As Prach relays in the telephonic interview, his urge to make music was met with a purpose around the time he discovered the true extent of the tragedies that were faced with the Cambodian people (Ly, 2004). Even though he was born at the time of the Cambodian massacre, his memory was only riddled with sparse recollections of the chaos, and through the eyes of his brother he managed to piece them together and write about it, his lyrics reconnecting with the adults who understood and the kids who appreciated alike. His intention was to use his music for emotional expression, a function that allows the artist to communicate more effectively than normal speech. While this sat well with the adult listeners, the song also seemed to incorporate the function of entertainment for the younger listeners. On a bigger picture, the powerful lyrics also contribute to the integration of society, largely educating the people of the struggle of the Cambodian people and reinvigorating their sense of compassion for them. Mandeep Sethi’s Adair Sethi is more focused on hip-hop as an art form that educates as well as entertains (Sethi, 2009). While he considers music as a tool for the oppressed, Adair shows that he intends the song to function primarily as a fusion of entertainment and emotional expression given the beat it follows and the lyrics that surround the regular questions about life and religion. His intention is further made vivid by the line Music has its own sound, as it invites the listener to indulge further into the entertainment function while still engaging in the mystical side of the rhythm that each artist utilizes in order to communicate a message. Sikh Knowledge’s Ch-Ching The music here functions primarily as a form of emotional expression. The slow beat and rhythm perfectly complements the mood that Knowledge is trying to set, and his lyrics, which discuss the conflict in Palestine, particularly the ruins of Gaza, aim squarely to inform those who do not know and those who sympathize equally. This function of music is of course a utility that highlight matters of grave concern to the public or a specific community and Knowledge reinvigorates the feeling by mentioning other more entertainment oriented music such as two-step bhangra and declaring that this song is nothing like them. Thus, he expresses himself in rap of matters that he finds deeply emotional putting himself on the Palestinian side of the battle. Conclusion One prevailing characteristic of the aforementioned rappers is their Asian American ethnicity, and it is evident that their origins greatly encourages their listeners to see their viewpoints, just like their chosen genre sets them up against stigmas of being unable to thrive in a field dominated by African Americans. The subject matter of the song, thus, becomes very important and the function of music in turn plays a much more important role in determining success. It is interesting to note that the rapper acquires acceptance a lot easily amongst people of his race before anywhere else as was the case with Prach who became a no. 1 hit in Cambodia whereas he composed the album elsewhere. It can easily be concluded from the popularity of these rappers that their ethnic origins account for a large percentage of their success, since that success takes root in first instance amongst the people of their own race. References Ly, P. (2004). Art of faCt: An Interview with praCh. (S. May, Interviewer) Sethi, M. (2009, October 26). The Brown Underground. (N. Dhillon, Interviewer)

Medical Tourism In India: A Proposal

Medical Tourism In India: A Proposal Medical tourism- the concept of traveling far and wide for better medical treatment is not a novel idea, only the term. The globalization of the health care sector and the massive demand for low cost-high quality treatment in recent times has caught the attention of many developing countries that have the adequate resources and potential to meet these demands. The profitability and the lucrative nature of the medical tourism business has now put this trade, high on the agenda of both the Indian government and the private health care providers. Today, medical tourism has become a commonplace practice with a large number of people around the world since usual constraints like language, finance, difficulties in global travel and fear of the unknown are no longer acting as barriers to the tourists who seek medical treatment in foreign countries. Countries like India, Singapore, Malaysia etc have developed strategies specifically with the aim of tackling such issues and rendering themselves as the ideal medical tourism destinations. Although India is emerging as the hot-spot medical tourism destinations within the Asia-Pacific and other regions of the world, it seems to be facing tough competition from other big players of this industry who have projected an equally good reputation for themselves and are reaping the benefits of this business. Therefore, it is imperative for India to continuously rethink and reform its marketing strategies to gain competitive advantage and increase its market share in the health care sector. It is an undisputed fact that medical tourism is a rapidly growing industry and creating inroads into the Indian economy. There are a large number of stake holders in this industry in South East Asia including countries like Singapore and Malaysia. There are various marketing strategies being used for propagating this industry. My endeavor would be to seek the gaps that exist and suggest remedial action. Being from the medical fraternity and having had the opportunity to treat a number of overseas patients, the concept of medical tourism has generated a great deal of interest in me. I believe that there are some deficiencies in the marketing strategies for health tourism in India that need to be looked into and improvised. The aim of my research would be to propose marketing strategies that would boost the Indian Medical Tourism for the future. 3. Preliminary review of literature There are three sections of the literature review:- i) Historical aspects- inception and evolution ii) Medical tourism in India- the present scenario iii) Probable concerns and pitfalls of the Indian medical tourism industry. i) Historical aspects- inception and evolution The concept of constructing health complexes around hot springs goes back to as old as the Sumerian civilization (circa 4000BC) where health care facilities comprised of grand elevated buildings with flowing pools. The hill tribes of Switzerland of the area presently know as St. Moritz, during the Bronze Age (circa 2000 BC) recognized the benefits of bathing and drinking in iron-rich mineral springs. The discovery of bronze drinking cups used by them in thermal springs in Germany and France possibly signifies health pilgrimages within these cultures. As per written historical accounts, bathing and healing complexes were erected around therapeutic springs in Mesopotamia, India, Greece and China. The concept of medical tourism emanated as trips to sacred baths and hot springs. However, it is the Greeks who have to be given the credit for laying the foundations for medical tourism networks. Greek medical tourism. Asclepius was considered to be the god of medicine according to Greek mythology. In his honor, Asclepian healing temples had been constructed throughout Greece by the 4th Century BC. These temples were established near the mineral springs which were considered to be the prime Healthful Locations. The system of medical tourism during this period was as follows:- Patients and their attendants came to Asclepia temples seeking treatment for various ailments. At Epidaurus, the port temple, treatment included gymnasia, palaestra (exercise area), bathing springs and a dream temple. There was a retinue of priests, caretakers and stretcher carriers who attended to the patients before they were granted final appointment with the mighty priest. Patients made sacrificial offerings according to their status- the poor left shoes; Alexander the Great left his breastplate. Roman Medical Tourism. The hallmark of ancient Roman medical tourism centered around hot water baths called Thermae. These centers of medical treatment were posh establishments. Some of these centers comprised of art galleries conference halls, theatres and sometimes sport stadia. Because of the active trade with Asia, the Roman baths augmented medical tourism activities like Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic massage and various aspects of Buddhist spiritual healing at some Roman Thermae. Japanese Medical Tourism-Onsen. ONSEN means hot mineral springs in Japanese. Medical tourism in Japan centered around these hot mineral springs which were enriched by surrounding volcanic soil. It attracted a variety of people including hunters, fishermen, farmers and warriors. It was believed that these mineral springs were effective in alleviating pain, healing wounds and recuperation. A thousand years later, this form of medical tourism in Japan is still an ongoing phenomenon. Indian Medical Tourism. India has been the home ground of alternative system of medicine for the past 5000 years. Aspects of medical tourism include yoga, eastern cultural, spiritual and medicinal compilation with meditation thrown in. India has been a Mecca for alternative medicine practitioners. A new boost was given to health tourism in the 1960s with the New Age movement in the US. This New Age movement seeks Universal Truth and the attainment of the highest individual human potential and is characterized by an individual approach to spiritual practices and philosophies and the rejection of religious doctrine and dogma. With this movement, India had once again become the most sought after destination for thousands of western pilgrims. Indias deep commitment to health care infrastructure and technology furthered the mass influx of medical tourists. India is now one of the worlds oldest medical tourism destinations and has gained popularity over the years over other destinations. European Medical Tourism. European medical tourism came into existence with the rediscovery of the Roman baths in the 16th century. With the rediscovery of the Roman baths, Baden Baden , Aachen and most notably Bath, became spa towns. By the 1720s the spa towns came to be frequented by Aristocrats and gentlemen of leisure from other parts of Europe and even royal patronage. Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, French royal inventor of the essay was the most noteworthy medical tourist of this time. He traversed the continent for 9 years for the cure of his gall bladder problem. He is widely believed to be the father of luxury travel and has helped to write one of the earliest documented spa guides for European tourists. Health Tourism-New world. English and Dutch colonists in the 1600s, constructed log cabins near mineral springs in the newly discovered Americas. By 19th century the American reformists made it a habit to travel to remote Western springs that were rich in medicinal properties. Today, there are no physical, economical and cultural barriers that separate nations from one another. Coupled with the flattening global economy, ease of international travel and lenient trade policies has opened the vistas of medical tourism destinations around the globe. This has made affordable health care availability to patients who find it difficult or impossible to access such health care facilities in their own countries. Inflated health care costs are driving the patients to medical tourism destinations like Thailand and India for sophisticated procedures at a fraction of the price. Long waiting periods for medical treatment is another factor that is making patients seek treatment abroad. Also, lack of comprehensive medical insurance has attracted thousands of patients to seek treatment abroad. Medical tourism today has become a global phenomenon with many countries expanding their offerings, including unique tourism opportunities for example South Africa is promoting medical safari in a big way. ii.) MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA-the present scenario Medical Tourism India or Health Tourism India is a developing concept that has gained tremendous popularity and is attracting people from all over the world for their medical and relaxation needs. The treatments most commonly include knee transplant, cosmetic treatment, dental treatment and cardiac surgery. India is now a favorable medical tourism destination as its infrastructure and technology are at par with USA, UK and Europe, enabling it to provide treatment centers and hospitals that are best in the world with world class facilities. These factors coupled with visits to some of the most alluring and awe-inspiring places of the world have brought about the merging of tourism with medication giving rise to the concept of Medical Tourism. India is promoting health tourism through depicting the high-tech healing of its private healthcare sector. The Indian government is marketing the concept of traveling to India for cheaper and world-class medical facilities to foreigners, with the intention of encouraging the growing Indian medical tourism industry. The policy of the Indian government to merge medical expertise and tourism was announced during the 2003-04 budgets when the finance minister Jaswant Singh propounded India to become a Global Health Destination. According to a study conducted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the field is so lucrative that it has the potential to become a $2.3 billion business by 2012. Around 150,000 foreigners visited India for treatment during 2004 and since then, this number has increased by 15% every year. In recent times, India has emerged as the Global Health Destination due to the following advantages: 1. Medical services are provided at almost 30% lower cost than the Western countries and are the cheapest in South-east Asia. 2. India has a large population of doctors and paramedical staff who have good knowledge of spoken English. Therefore language is a major comfort factor that attracts so many foreign tourists to visit for the purpose of medical and health tourism making it easier for overseas patients to relate well to Indian doctors. 3. Indian doctors expertise in various surgical procedures including cardiac surgeries, liver transplants, orthopedic surgeries and other medical treatments. 4. Indian hospitals offer a wide array of high quality treatment procedures comprising of joint replacements, cardiothoracic surgery, dental care, cosmetic treatments and more. iii) Probable concerns and pitfalls of Indian medical tourism industry Review of literature suggests the following concerns that need attention if one has to augment and boost the medical tourism sector. Concerns of the consumers Some of the consumers feel that India is unhygienic, polluted and bureaucratic. There is no appropriate accreditation system for the hospitals. Concerns about medical insurance which is underdeveloped, inadequate and has few global players. overseas companies refuse reimbursements. There are also concerns about terrorism, communal unrest and bad connectivity between cities and towns. While some of these concerns are genuine, most of them are mere perceptions. Concerns of the promoters From the promoters point of view, the concerns that have emerged revolve around lack of regulations concerning ethics and systemic support, lack of infrastructure deficiencies like electricity, power supply and water, inadequate land reforms, taxation anomalies, funding constraints, implementation lacunae and bureaucratic bottlenecks. 4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES. India seems to be an emerging medical tourism destination offering great opportunities in terms of creating new jobs and generating sources of revenue for the Indian economy. It is therefore imperative that the impetus gained so far should not be jeopardized and measures should be adopted to improve the present situation by developing and implementing new strategies. Research questions 1. What is the present state of Indian medical tourism? indicating assessment of the present situation. 2. What are the drawbacks or felt impediments of the medical tourism trade sector? indicating an analytical structuring of the data. 3. What are the ways to improve medical tourism in India through better marketing strategies? an assessment of the lacunae in the existing marketing strategies. 4. Is the government doing enough to support the medical tourism industry? an assessment of the governmental leaning towards the industry. Research objectives 1. To develop pragmatic marketing strategies for health care institutions involved in medical tourism in India. 2. To assess the impact of the government action on the present marketing strategies for foreign patients. 3. To make a marketing plan model for the Health tourism industry in India 5. RESEARCH PLAN Research perspective My research approach is based upon the words of the renowned anthropologist Clifford Geertz man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun. I take culture to be these webs, and the analysis of it is not to be an experimental science in search of law but an interpretive one inn search of meaning (Jewell,S.2010). It therefore forms an interpretivist approach. Since the medical tourism industry is a business and management perspective, any research into this field would fall into the gamut of positivist and interpretivist approaches. My research is essentially a qualitative one since my data collection is mainly secondary in nature. Furthermore, my research is theory forming where in I shall be using the inductive approach to analyze the data. My research also involves the assessment of factors of concern that are related to the health tourism industry of India. It would be my effort to sift out the relevant factors and analyze them from the point of view of deve loping marketing strategies. Research design The approach that best answers my research questions fits into the modified cross sectional design. Here, the research design revolves around the collection of data that is occurring naturally over a designated period. My research design also involves mainly quantitative data and some qualitative data too. My research is based upon observation and document analysis. The cross sectional design also gives information on aspects of who, what, how many, where, and the how and why. Data collection methods I shall be collecting my data through analysis of secondary data. I also intend to submit questionnaires to the stakeholders and the major players of the medical tourism in India with the aim of seeking relevant data that would help me in answering my research questions and fulfill my research objectives. Secondary data: the secondary data would be collected through the following; Written materials- various websites, websites of homepages of key players, magazines and journals, books and publications. I would also be looking for government publications, laws and acts related to this subject. Non-written materials- media, television etc. Most of the data from outside the individual organization will yield information about the medical tourism industry. While, data that is collected from the organizational websites would give information on how things are done within the organization and their modus operandi. ii. Questionnaires: I will be sending the questionnaires to all the major players in the Indian medical tourism industry. The questionnaires will be used to obtain data for quantitative analysis in order to assess the functioning of various medical tourism facilities in India. The idea of using questionnaires is that a large quantity of data can be made available covering a wide range of database for quantitative analysis. A good amount of objectivity can be incorporated and the results would be of valid and reliable nature. Analysis of data Having collected all the qualitative and quantitative data, I would subject it to appropriate analysis and apply relevant statistical tests of significance to ensure that the results are valid, reliable and give a reasonable level of generalisabilty. I aim to deduce the relevant marketing strategies being used and to assess their impact on the industry. I shall be presenting the analyzed data in the form pie diagrams, bar charts and other forms of statistical presentations. LIMITATIONS Validity and reliability Since my data is mainly secondary in nature it is presumed that global players in the me dical tourism industry would not putting false data to propagate their business ventures. From this point of view my data would be valid as well as reliable. As my data is being collected from internet, websites of various stake holders, magazines etc. I am confident that stake holders at this level of global competitiveness would not be putting up false data or information for promotional activities that could jeopardize their reputation. However, the limitations of validity and reliability I foresee to come across would be from the questionnaires I would be sending to the stake holders. The disadvantage I feel I would face using the questionnaires is that some people may not respond, may take a long time for returning back and the response rate cannot be predicted. However despite these limitations, I expect to be able to generate valid information and data for quantitative analysis. I shall be sending these questionnaires to the concerned stakeholders through their homepages and their websites and try and elicit as much response as possible from them. Generalisabilty My research design is based upon the study of an industry and does not impinge upon a case study research. All factors being studied can be considered as offshoots of a single industry. For e.g. the legislation aspects would be covering the entire industry and not a single institution or a hospital. Secondly, my aim is to give broad based generalized guide lines on the recommendations for improving medical tourism in India. My attempt therefore would be to collect and analyze data from where generalisabilty can be achieved. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS I will abide by the Coventry University BES ethical guidelines. I will conduct my research honestly and present all the data accurately. I will get the low risk approval form signed by my supervisor to get his approval before I begin my research. I shall take all precaution to ensure and respect the rights and integrity of subjects if any. I shall treat all the data confidentially and would ensure that it would not be used for any other purpose other than that intended. Since my data collection is mainly secondary in nature, my research work is considered to be a low risk from the ethical point of view. I shall keep all the raw information on ethics and the data collected for audit purposes. PLAGIARISM I will paraphrase; reference and cite the sources used by me, to acknowledge the work of others and avoid any sort of plagiarism. Michael Porter: Impact of Strategic Management Theory Michael Porter: Impact of Strategic Management Theory The field of strategic management is complex and multi-faceted. Strategic management has been defined in many different ways. The basic tenet of the Positioning School is that strategies are generic positions in a competitive marketplace and are based on analysis by a consulting firm. Michael Porter, indisputably one of the most influential thinkers on management and competitiveness in the world laid the groundwork for strategic positioning in 1980 with his book Competitive Strategy in which he presented his Five Forces model. His 1985, work, Competitive Advantage, described his activity-based view and introduced his Value Chain model. Since the publication of these influential works, their popularity has continued due to their general applicability and ease of use. Keywords: Michael Porter, strategic management, Five Forces Model, Value Chain Model, Porter, Positioning School. The Influence of Michael Porter The field of strategic management is complex and multi-faceted. Numerous definitions have been proposed in an attempt to prescribe the essential elements of management strategy and to discover a methodology to satisfy once and for all the needs of managers seeking to maximize their organizations potential in the dog-eat-dog business world. Strategic management has been defined in many different ways based on the organizations mission, policies, sector, structure, objectives, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, key success factors or decisions, capabilities, planning, implementation, and sustainable competitive advantage (Sadler, 2003). Generally, strategic management is the means by which organizational managers seek to bolster the success of their businesses via a series of competitive maneuvers. Such maneuvers may be taken with regard to the external environment in which the firm is currently operating or in relation to the organizations internal capabilities (or inabilities) (Sadler, 2003). Mintzberg, Ahlstrand and Lampel (as cited in Sadler, 2003, p. 15) developed a method of organizing these numerous schools of thought into three major groups labeled the Prescriptive, Descriptive, and Configurational Schools. The Descriptive group consists of those schools which seek to describe strategic management in terms of how it is formed in practice. The Configurational group encompasses one single school of thought which has two facets, the first seeking to describe the organizations state and context, and the second endeavoring to depict the strategy-making process. The Prescriptive Group is composed of those schools which venture to define strategic management in terms of how it should be formulated, as opposed to how it is formed in practice (see Descriptive Schools above). Within the Prescriptive group reside the design, planning, and positioning schools. The design school seeks to define strategic management as a conceptual process, and the most recent manifestation of this approach is the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) Analysis, developed by Ken Andrews in the early 70s. SWOT analysis aims to analyze the firm in terms of internal factors strengths and weaknesses, and external environmental factors opportunities and threats, in order to gain a competitive advantage. The planning school, on the other hand, focuses primarily on the future and has as its principal goal the formulation of decisions and actions that will guide the organizations actions and define its purpose. Michael Porters seminal and best-known work, Competitive Strategy, laid the foundation of the positioning school. The basic tenet of this school is that strategies are generic positions in a competitive marketplace and are based on analysis by a consulting firm. A renowned business management theorist and commonly recognized as the father of modern management theory, Porter is a respected professor holding the prestigious Bishop William Lawrence University Professorship at Harvard Business School. He is a prolific author; since 1976, he has written some 18 books and more than 125 articles on competition and strategy. Porter has advised management in numerous U.S. and international companies and governments worldwide and has won many honors and awards for his work in economics and strategic management theory. Michael Porter is indisputably one of the most influential thinkers on management and competitiveness in the world. Michael Porters Theories Porter is best known for the prescient theories illuminated in his 1980 work Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. The hallmark of Porters works, Competitive Strategy presented Porters five forces model, five elements that affect an industrys profitability, and his generic strategies which are intended to counter those forces. In his follow-up piece, The Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, published in 1985, Porter developed his Value Chain Model, a framework for activity-based competitive analysis of a firm. Porters Five Forces Model Porters five forces are classified as industry-level (vice organizational-level) determinants of long-term profitability in an industry. These economic and technical characteristics are said to be foundational, key factors to industry success and affect such critical industry elements as prices, the degree of investment necessary for competitiveness, market share, potential profits, and profit margins, and industry volume (Childress Kirkwood, 2006). The five forces are industry competitors, pressure from substitute products, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and potential entrants. These five forces acting in unison comprise the competitive environment in which the firm must operate. The nature of competition within the industry is affected by factors such as the size of competitors the number of competitors, changes in demand for products, asset specificity, the strength of exit barriers and competitor variety and is generally considered to be the most powerful force. Competitive tactics employed by one firm may affect the entire industry (Mayo, Grigoroudis and Zopoundis, 2006). Pressure from substitute products affects the industry by imposing an artificial price ceiling. Decreases in customer switching costs and increases in the price of substitute products are causes of competitive pressure. The threat of substitutes varies inversely to the price of substitute products and consumers switching costs (Mayo, Grigoroudis and Zopoundis, 2006). The bargaining power of suppliers affects competition particularly when there are many, limited substitutes for raw materials exist, or when switching costs increase. When suppliers raise prices, or reduce prices or services or the quality of goods or services, competition intensifies. When suppliers reduce quality or services or increase prices, competition increases (Mayo, Grigoroudis and Zopoundis, 2006). Buyers affect competition when they are able to negotiate lower prices, distribution and quality. The number and concentration of consumers and product differentiation are influences. Switching costs and the power of buyers to backwards integrate are factors as well (Mayo, Grigoroudis and Zopoundis, 2006). High entry (and exit) barriers are a deterrent to companies seeking to enter new industries. New entrants alter the competitive climate by increasing capacity and competition for market share and by adding new resources. Entry barriers may take the form of capital requirements, economies of scale, product differentiation, switching costs, access to distribution channels, cost of promotion and advertising, and so on (Mayo, Grigoroudis and Zopoundis, 2006, p. 835). Porters model is versatile, popular and widely used. From banking to brewing, numerous examples of studies conducted using Porters model to analyze the competitive climate of a variety of industries can be found easily. Several of these are summarized below. Finnish publishing In a study investigating the effect of the internet on the consumer Finnish magazine publishing industry using Porters five forces model (Ellonen, Kuivalainen et al., 2008) conducted semi-structured interviews of eight industry experts. The researchers identified specific examples of some of the forces shaping competition within that industry. They chose Porters model as the vehicle for their analysis because it is a useful tool for examining the industry structure and assists in the analysis of industry competitiveness. They noted that the internet had intensified rivalries among competitors by making proprietary information and that competitors habitually benchmarked each others websites. Financing and support functions were recognized as barriers to entry. As for the treat of substitute products and services, the most significant threat was identified as the internet itself because it offers readers alternative ways to spend their leisure time and their money. Notably, however, neither the bargaining power of buyers (both consumers and advertisers) nor the bargaining power of suppliers was considered a significant hazard. Online banking Smith (2006) studied the online banking industry and, like the authors in the study of the Finnish publishing industry, used Porters five forces model to identify the strategic forces affecting the industry. Smith chose Porters model because it provides clarity, ease of understanding, and is insightful when examining a complicated and complex issue like strategic management. Smith noted that economies of scale and product differentiation, capital requirements, limited distribution channels, and government regulation were substantial barriers to entry in online banking. Conversely, the bargaining power of suppliers is relatively weak as is the bargaining power of buyers, chiefly due to the low-cost or free nature of online banking services. Pressure from substitute products is considerable. Traditional banking offers customers a personal touch and some do feel online services are secure enough. Other substitute products are credit unions, ATMs and other financial institutions and credit card companies. Not surprisingly, Smith found that competition is intense in the online banking industry. This is largely due to the increasing popularity of computers the internet with each successive generation and the cost savings gained from using online services. European beer Niederhut-Bollmann and Theuvsen (2008), in yet another example of the versatility of Porters model, analyzed the dynamic competitive environment of the European (German and Croatian) brewing industry. Niederhut-Bollmann and Theuvsen chose Porters model, they say, because it is powerful, thorough, and provides a flexible framework for this type of analysis. The authors of this study provided a detailed look at the competitive forces affecting both the German and Croatian brewing industries. Moreover, they offered an extensive analysis of the generic strategies which various breweries had adapted in order to position themselves in the face of the industrys competitive pressures. Porters Generic Strategies Porter postulated three generic or broad alternative strategies which may be pursued as a response to the competitive pressures. They are termed generic strategies because they are broadly applicable to any industry or business. They are differentiation, cost leadership, and focus. A focus strategy may be further defined as cost focus, differentiation focus, or cost and differentiation focus (Ormanidhi Stringa, 2009). A differentiation strategy may be based on actual unique product features or the perception thereof, conveyed through the use of advertising and marketing tactics, in the eyes customers. Obviously, the product or service feature must be one the customer needs or desires. Moreover, such enhanced features and designs or advertising and marketing will increase costs, and customers must be price-insensitive willing to pay for the differentiated product or service. This willingness to pay for the differentiated product of service is what provides the company relief from competitive pressure, cost pressure specifically. Firms pursuing a cost leadership strategy must make lower production and distribution costs their priority (Thomas, J., 2006). By keeping their cost lowers than those of their competitors, firms using cost leadership can still price their products up to the level of their competitors and still maintain higher gross profit margins. Alternatively, these firms can price their products lower than those of their competitors in the hope of achieving greater market share and sales volume at the expense of gross profit margins (Thomas, J., 2006). A focus strategy is based on a particular market, customer, product, or geographic. A Focus strategy is a concentrated, narrowly focused niche strategy (Mayo, D., Grigoroudis, E. Zopoundis, C., 2006). It will normally be employed by smaller companies or small target markets. Products and services may be customized to the extent that customers are allowed input throughout all stages of production. European brewing In the case of European breweries mentioned above, Niederhut-Bollmann and Theuvsen (2008) noted that one German brewer used a cost leadership strategy to undercut larger competitors prices by as much as 50 percent. Another brewer used national brands to increase customer loyalty in a differentiation strategy. Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle, founded in 1589, uses traditional brewing techniques for a small local market, a focus strategy. The authors note that although Porter, in his original work, warned that a firm should choose one specific strategy, he later (2001) accepted that a hybrid strategy (lower operating costs and premium prices) may be appropriate. Japanese industry Allen, Helms, Takeda, White, (2007) studied the use of Porters generic strategies in Japanese firms. According to the authors, the traditional style of Japanese management in which all employees of a company share risks and gains of the operation; layoffs are a last resort, even during economic crises; and lifetime employment with a single company is expected, is often cited as a primary cause of the ongoing Japanese recession (p. 70). Recently the Japanese government implemented the Porter Prize in an attempt to spur improvement in the competitiveness of Japanese industry. Several small and medium-sized forms have received the prize presumably due to their strategy of operating in niche markets, a focus strategy. Larger corporations, those who operate under the keiretsu, or lineage system have not substantially participated in the program arguably due to the characteristic inability to react to change and over-reliance on a group decision-making style inherent in the keiretsu system. The authors believe that encouraging Japanese firms to vie for the Porter Prize will enable those firms to become accustomed to employing competitive strategies and become more profitable. Michael Porters Five Forces Model is still popular today due to its broad applicability and because it is easy to use. Competitive Strategy laid the foundation for the Positioning School of strategic management philosophy. Porters Five Forces Model and his generic strategies have substantially influenced strategic management thought for the last thirty years and will undoubtedly continue to do so. The Value Chain Model In 1985, Porter followed up and built upon his Competitive Strategy with Competitive Advantage. In Competitive Advantage, Porter developed the concept of a sustainable advantage and introduced his Value Chain Model. Porter referred to his own model as an activity-based view because used the activities of the firm to analyze the organizations competitive advantage. Value, Porter said, was defined as the sum total that a buyer is willing to pay for what the firm produces or delivers and is measured as total revenue or price times the number of units sold. Economically speaking, the firms value must exceed its costs, or it is not considered profitable. Competitive analyses, therefore, must be focused on those value-generating activities which influence the companys costs and provide a means for strategic differentiation (Patnaik and Sahoo, 2009). The value chain, according to Porter, is part of the larger value system comprised of the individual value chains of industry suppliers, constituent firms, distributers and buyers (Patnaik and Sahoo, 2009). Interestingly, the term value system has been as widely accepted as value chain has; the term industry value chain is more popular (Dommisse and Oosthuizen, 2004). The purpose of the value chain model, according to Porter, was to systematically examine all the activities a firm performs and how they interact (as cited in McPhee Wheeler, 2006). Sheehan and Foss (2009) undertook to examine the intellectual underpinnings of the theory Porter laid out in Competitive Advantage. They note Porters proposal that the true value of the firm was not its products or services, but the aggregate value of the chain of individual activities that went into the production process and the only way to identify a means of identifying potential sources of competitive advantage was to examine the firm in terms of these activities. They summarized the key characteristics of Porters activity-based model. The unit of analysis was the activities the firm performed. The value chain focuses on the business or industry level. Activity drivers cost and value drivers play a key role. Activity drivers are the factors that are the firm can influence in order to position the firm as either low cost or differentiator compared to ones competitors. Activities were categorized as either primary or supporting activities. Primary activities were defined as those which directly create customer value. Primary activities are related to production and sales of the product, delivery of the product, and after-market sales (Value Chain, 2005). Structure Primary activities Inbound logistics comprises those activities involved in receiving, storing, handling, and distributing materials to the manufacturing or operations department. Manufacturing activities include those activities involved in converting the inputs received into the final product. Outbound logistics activities are those activities which are involved in the shipping, storage, and final distribution of the end product. Marketing and sales activities are those which are aimed at persuading the customer to buy and pay for the product, e.g., advertising, promotion and pricing. Finally, service activities include all activities concerned with maintaining or enhancing the value of the delivered product such as installation and repair services (Value Chain, 2005). Supporting activities Support activities serve to enhance the value (create added value) already created by the primary activities. Support activities include corporate structure, human resources, technology development, and purchasing. Corporate structure includes those activities related to management including planning, financial and accounting, legal, public relations, and quality management. Human resources activities include recruitment and hiring, training, and pay and benefits. Technology development involves R D functions such as new product development and design. Purchasing encompasses activities relate to the procurement of supplies and raw materials. The models popularity Porters model is indisputably popular. Ormanidhi and Stringa (2009) examined Porters model in comparison to several other strategies: Structure-Conduct-Performance, the New Industrial Organization and Game Theory, the Resource-Based Perspective, and Market Process Economics. The authors cite as proof a study that found Porters Competitive Strategy referenced in nearly half of the articles published in the Strategic Management Journal from 1986 to 1990. They believe Porters model is a most apt methodology for competitive analysis for several reasons. Porters model is most suitable because of its well-defined structure; it provides an analytical framework of definite criteria. Porters value chain model is practically suited for empirical analysis because it facilitates the comparison of firms and analysis of their competitive performance. Another reason Ormanidhi and Stringa mention for their preference of Porters model is its conceptual clarity; its terminology is consistent and easily understandable. Furthermore Also, Porters model complements other strategies such as game theory and the resource-based model. The last reason is inherent in Porters definition, that is, it is a generic strategy that is sufficiently general that it is applicable to various types of industries such as service and manufacturing firms. Manufacturing White and Pearson (2001) proposed in a study of the manufacturing value chain using the JIT concept and technological advances related to systems integration, the establishment of customer service levels on par with overall management objectives in order to improve organizational performance. They used Porters value chain model to demonstrate how the application of JIT systems throughout the manufacturing process enables the organization to integrate its activities in a continuous improvement process. In each stage of the Porter model, primary activities and support activities, the authors illustrate how the application of JIT techniques can optimize the manufacturing process. Retail Dommisse and Oosthuizen (2004), utilized Porters model in a study of the U.K. retail life insurance industry and introduced an evolutionary a concept referred to as value chain deconstruction which, they say, is gaining acceptance. Based on Porters model, value chain deconstruction theory is largely a result of the proliferation of new technologies and regulatory measures. Analysts, they declare, have observed components of the traditional value chain fragmenting to form new or merge with other industries. This relatively new, conceptual models main advantage, according to the authors, is that it clearly highlights the areas in the value chain where the traditional strategies of differentiation, cost leadership and focus can be applied (p. 18). Thus, Porters model persists as the foundation of new and emerging concepts of strategic management. The field of strategic management is complex and various definitions have been proposed based on the different aspects of organizational infrastructure. One means of organizing the numerous schools of thought was proposed by Mintzberg, Ahlstrand and Lampel (as cited in Sadler, 2003, p. 15) who described three major groups labeled the Prescriptive, Descriptive, and Configurational Schools. Michael Porter, renowned scholar, author, advisor, and recipient of a myriad of rewards for his work, laid the foundation of the Positioning School, which falls into the Prescriptive Group. Porters is best known for the theories illuminated in his 1980 work Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors in which he presented his Fve Forces Model five elements that affect an industrys profitability, and his generic strategies which are intended to counter those forces. In The Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, published in 1985, Porter developed his Value Chain Model, a framework for activity-based competitive analysis of a firm. These two monumental works have influenced academia and management since their inception. Widely popular and broadly used, these prescient theories have influenced strategic management philosophy the world over. Across the spectrum of industry types, from Japan to Europe, the impact of Porters works is indisputable. Undoubtedly, Michael Porters influence will continue to be felt in the halls of business for years to come.

How Do Organisations Build Customer Relationships?

How Do Organisations Build Customer Relationships? Why do organisations seek to build relationships with customers and how do they successfully develop such relationships? Terms of Reference In the pursuit of my studies for a degree in â€Å"Business Studies and Marketing,† and to aid my chosen career development and progression in the future, I have selected a specific area of marketing as the topic for this dissertation, this relating to the concept of customer relationships development and, in particular, the determination of why this is so important to organisations and what comprises a successful marketing strategy to achieve these ends. There has been a considerable amount of literature related to the issue of customer relationships and its management, which covers areas including the use of branding and brand loyalty as part of the market strategy needed to create such relationships. In addition, although almost as a separate issue, other empirical researches have been undertaken into the study of the consumer practical and psychological buying determinants. However, as Jerry Zaltman (2003) states in introducing his consumer research â€Å"too many marketers don’t understand how their own and their customers minds interact.† The purpose of this dissertation is to take a closer look at the level of interaction that should exist between the two areas of research and endeavour to determine how a greater level of research and understanding of the consumer buying determinants can be used to enhance the successful creation of the consumer relationship management strategy objectives of the firm. In order to provide a greater understanding of this subject, the dissertation will focus on the following objectives: Provide an understanding of customer buying determinates Define the term â€Å"customer relationship† and the benefits that building such relationships provide for the corporation Identify how an understanding can assist in the development of a firm’s customer relationship strategy and management. Literature Review As Zaltman (2003) and Evans et al (2006) suggest, understanding consumer psychology and buying determinates should be a pre-requisite for building successful brand strategies that lead to the building and managing of successful customer relationships, although this is not always deemed to be the case. Therefore, the literature review for this dissertation will concentrate upon three main aspects of this subject, this being consumer behavioural determinates, branding and consumer loyalty and retention, and customer relationship management and the tools used Consumer behaviour determinates Consumer behaviour is driven, consciously or sub-consciously, by a combinations of emotional, physical and psychological elements. This includes experience created memories, both past and present, which are used to judge the quality and appropriateness of a purchase to the consumers needs and satisfaction, as Bagozzi et al (2002), Zaltman et al (2002) and Evans et al (2006) explain at length in their studies. As this research further stresses, the memory element is an important element of the study as it creates the perception that consumers associate with the product or service. The involvement of habit, peer pressure and demographics are other important consumer determinants that organisations need to consider. For example, being subjected to family influences, following the pack, a peer pressure that is particularly relevant to the younger age group, are all parts of the consumer decision-making process. As Zaltman (2003) and Evans et al (2006) discovered, evidence of the successful integration of these determinates to entice consumers to products can be found in the adoption of nostalgic advertising and â€Å"fad† promotion using celebrity endorsement. These also help to retain the consumer’s custom in the case of new products (Arnold 1992). Demographics, in the form of targeting, determines which customer segment or group of segments is most likely to need or desire the product (Arnold 1992 and Stroud 2005), for example, dividing the consumer into age groups of appropriate value to the product being marketed. However, it has also been sugge sted that there is, within the consumer determinant, the need to consider the impact that emotional attachment to the product can have upon the consumer decision-making process and loyalty (Durgee 1999, Shrimp and Madden 198 and Thomson et al 2005). The study and researching of all these determinants, together with the issues of trust and confidence, are important if an organisation wants to create a successful relationship strategy with the consumer because, as (Kelly 2005) states, the purchase is only confirming that these have been met in the mind of the consumer. Branding and loyalty Commercial organisations attract consumers to their products by the method known as Branding, endeavouring to create an automatic and lasting consumer reaction in terms of perception and association, as found with McDonalds equating to burgers, (Haig 2004). The art and purpose of branding can therefore be seen to have two main purposes. The first of these relates to quality, standard and reputation (Kolter 2002), which is important to repeat purchase (Kolter 2002 and Kracklauer et al 2003), and the second is to achieve a dominant market position (Buttle 2004 and Bruhn 2006). Experts are of the opinion that there are two important aspect to focus upon when developing a branding strategy within CRM, the first of which is its usage in the process of targeting and forming a connection with the consumer, which is need to create a foundation for a relationship that can be nurtured over time. An essential part of the targeting process is research into demographics and segmentation, a task by which the marketer is able to closely identify which customer segment or group of segments is most likely to be attracted to the product because of need, desire, emotional attachment or financial capability. Arnold (1992 and Stoud (2005) have suggested that, with many marketers, some segments, such as the older age groups are overlooked, irrespective of the recorded increase in their disposable incomes. The second aspect when developing branding strategy is related to longevity. As the downfall of Marks and Spencer PLC in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s evidenced, brands have a short life and need undated to retain their relevance, both in terms of physical appearance and connection with the changes in consumer needs and perceptions (Floor 2006 and Haig 2004). Loyalty and retention Floor’s (2006) research states, â€Å"as long as the†¦ experience matches the brand identity, the consumer will come back.† This is known as the loyalty factor. Customer loyalty can be achieved in a number of ways. This includes the traditional methods of special offers, saver and store cards (Kracklauer 2003: 5; Buttle 2004: 10 and Bruhn 2006: 15). The concept here is that, whilst the customer derives benefit the store itself benefits from constant contact with the customer, as a result of these services, it acquires a considerable amount of research data about the customer. This is essential if a business wants to improve and better manage the customer relationship management system. Customer Relationship Management The potential conclusion from the above is that the marketer has to incorporate consumer determinants, branding and loyalty into a customer relationship designed to achieve the business objectives of increased product sales (Zaltman 2003). The crux of customer relationship management is the importance of every customer, recognising that a lost customer costs (Kracklauer et al 2003 and Buttle 2004). Therefore it is important to build a relationship and bond with each consumer (Kelly 2005 and Bruhn 2006). However, to ensure that this relationship building is approached in the correct manner, it is important to ensure that the firm and its marketers are fully cognisant of the factors that need to form the foundation of their research. As can be observed from the explanations given earlier this includes consumer behaviour and loyalty, but also the effect that â€Å"brand love† has upon this element of the relationship. CRM Tools There are a number of Branding and Loyalty tools that the CRM process can use to continue developing the relationship between organisations and customers. Loyalty cards are one possibility for data collection, which is essential in CRM (Buttle 2004). This data can be used to aid understanding of changing consumer needs and desires, directing them to purchase other products and as a basis for designing future promotional and marketing campaigns (Bruhn 2006 and Kracklauer 2006). If the relationship is close, the customer will also recommend the business, thus helping increase market share. Data Sources It was decided that the data sources being used for this dissertations will be a combination of a qualitative and quantitative nature. The reason for this is that the secondary data can be used as a means of comparison and evaluation of the primary data. Primary Data The intention is to collect primary data using a process of structured questionnaires. The questions will be designed around a combination of the â€Å"closed† and â€Å"open† format with the intention of these being directed to the areas that require an affirmative or negative response in terms of the former and a multiple choice option for the latter. It is also intended to provide additional spacing within which the interviewees can add personal comments if considered appropriate. The intention, time and resources permitting, is to distribute around 150 questionnaires and interviews, of which 25 will be directed to employees at all levels within the retailing industry and the remainder to consumers across a wide range of age and lifestyle segmentations. This mode of distribution has been chosen for two purposes. The first is to test the comment about lack of connection of minds between consumers and marketers mention by Zaltman (2003) and the second is to provide practical evidence of the consumer buying determinates used within the decision-making process. Clear definition of the reason for the questionnaire and the purposes for which it will be used will be included in explanatory notes. Space will also be provided with each answer to allow for comments that the respondents may wish to add. In addition, and in order to comply with data and identity protection, there will be no identifying questions included apart from age, occupation and other non-personally descriptive issues. Secondary data From a practical viewpoint, and in particular to be utilised for comparative purposes in respect of the authors own qualitative research, data from newspapers and periodicals, as well as the results of previously relevant surveys will be researched and included. The benefit of the gathering of extensive secondary data is that it can be useful for the purpose of cross referencing and evaluation of accuracy and compatibility. Methodology The methodology being used for this research can be summarised as follows. The initial period of time allocated to the research will be utilised in the gathering of data from external sources and analysing the relevance to the subject matter. This will additionally be useful in the preparation of the questionnaire to be used for the collection of primary data. Once this data has been collected, the draft and final questionnaires will be prepared and distributed. During the time required for the return of completed questionnaires, work will be commenced on areas of the dissertation, such as the literature review. Once the questionnaires have been returned and analysed using the Excel programme, these will be introduced to the dissertation to enable the analysis of the responses and findings. It is anticipated that, during the preparation of the study, additional secondary data may be required. Where this is appropriate, it will be collected and added to the existing references indicated at the closure of this proposal. Project Framework Although during the course of the dissertations preparation the final project framework may be subject to change the current intention, in order to create a logical and sequential progression for the study, is to base the project around the following breakdown of chapters: Chapter 1. Introduction In order to provide the reader with a clear understanding of the purpose and direction of the dissertation, this chapter will serve as an introduction to the subject matter. It will therefore include a brief definition of the term customer buying determinants and how this theory fits within the wider concept of consumer relationship management. In addition, a brief overview of the aims and objectives of the research will be included. Within this chapter a clear hypothesis for the research will also be set. Chapter 2. Literature Review In research of this nature it is important that the findings be founded, set against, and compared with existing literature relating to the subject. Therefore, a critical review of literature will be conducted in this chapter, which is intended to cover the research into all aspects of consumer behavioural determinates, branding and consumer loyalty and retention and customer relationship management. Chapter 3. Methodology In a step-by-step process, chapter three will be used to explain the methods used for the preparation and execution of the dissertation. This will include my reasoning for the data collection methods, which relates to both primary and secondary sources, the origination of the data and the methods by which it was to be analysed and assimilated into the final study. Furthermore, the limitations of my research will also be included within this chapter. Chapter 4. Results and Findings In chapter four it is intended to analyse the results of my findings into the areas that have been studied, in a manner that will the reader with an understanding and explanation of the basis upon which the conclusions of the research has been derived. For ease of understanding and explanation statistical and graphical diagrams will be used where appropriate, particular in explaining the results of the primary research. Chapter 5. Analysis and discussion Using the findings form the primary and secondary sources outlined in chapter 4, this chapter will further analyse those results and discuss the affect that these have upon the interrelationship between consumer determinants, branding, brand loyalty and the commercial CRM strategy process in general. Furthermore, the discussion will outline the commercial benefits of combining these two disciplines for the purpose of marketing strategy. Chapter 6. Conclusion Chapter six brings the research to a conclusion. This section will convey to the reader whether the research conducted has proved or disproved the hypothesis presented in the introduction. In addition, recommendations in respect of further area of research required and actions that corporations should take as a result of the findings will also be outlined within this concluding chapter. Other comments The intention of this dissertation is to add value to the existing research that has been conducted into the fields of consumer determinants and customer relationship management (CRM), in particular in respect of identifying the beneficial impact that building relationships with customers has for the corporations, together with the practical ways that the result of consumer determinants research can be added to the practical elements of marketing research into branding, consumer relationship and loyalty can be used as a further tool to enhance the success of their promotional strategy in this area. References   Arnold D (1992). 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Harvard Business Review, Sept-Oct, 1990, pp 105-111 Shimp, T.A., Madden, T.J. (1988). Consumer-object relations: a conceptual framework based analogously on Stermberg’s triangular theory of love. In: Houston M.J. (ed), Advances in consumer research, Provo, UT: Association for Consumer Research, vol. 15 pp. 163 – 168. Stroud, Dick. (2005) The 50 Plus Market: Why the Future is Age-neutral when it comes to Marketing and Branding Strategies. Kogan Page Ltd. Chichester, UK Thomson, M., McGinnis, D.J., Park, C.W. (2005). The ties that bind: measuring the strength of consumer’s emotional attachment to brands. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 15, 77 – 91. Zaltman, Jerry (2003) How Customers Think. Essential Insights into the mind of the market. Harvard Business School Press. Massachusetts, US.