Multiple Personality Disorder Essays (1317 words) -

Multiple Personality Disorder Multiple Personality Disorder More than two million cases can be found altogether in psychological and psychiatric records of multiple personality disorder also called dissociative identity disorder. It is often thought that multiple personality disorder is a trick, a bizarre form of play-acting that is committed by manipulative, attention-seeking individuals. It is not. Multiple personality disorder is a disorder of hiding wherein 80-90% of multiple personality disorder patients do not have a clue that they have the disorder. Most know that there is something wrong with them; many fear that they are crazy, but few know that they have a disorder. What is Multiple Personality Disorder? Multiple personalities is a dissociate reaction to stress in which the patient develops two or more personalities. Each personality has a distinct, well-developed emotional and thought process and represents a unique and relatively stable personality. The individual may change from one personality to an other at periods varying from a few minutes to several years. The personalities are usually very different and have different attitudes; one may be happy, carefree and fun loving, and another quiet, studious, and serious. People can have up to fifty personalities or more. All personalities usually will have their own name and their own role. For example one personality can be the keeper of pain, his role is to take and feel all the pain that the other personalities come in contact with. The personality also can have their own appearance, but this does not mean the person changes its outer image it is just the way he/she sees inside his/her head. The personalities will also have different ages, talents, and likes and dislikes. For example: In the novel, The Minds of Billy Miligin, there was a man who had twenty-four personalities. All of his twenty-four personalities were different. They had different ages, their own appearance, and some were of the opposite sex. The personalities al l had their own role and their own talents. There was one personality that was right handed all others were left handed, only one smoked, one had a British accent another Slavic. Many used their own talents some liked to paint, one was an escape artist, one was a karate expert and another a sculptor. Various types of relationships may exist between the different personalities. Usually the individual alternates from one personality to the other, and can not remember in one, what happened in the other. Occasionally however while one personality is dominant and functions consciously, the other continues to function sub-consciously and is referred to the co conscious personality. Relationships may become highly complicated when there is more than two personalities. In many cases of multiple personalities the personalities will talk of a spotlight. The spotlight is how they come into the conscious world. All the personalities live around the spotlight whoever stands on it finds himself o r herself in the conscious world leaving the other personalities unaware of the personality's actions. This leaves the next personality that comes into consciousness in total amnesia. Causes of Multiple Personality Disorder Multiple personality disorder often forms with a person who has been deprived of love and friendship and with a person who has been abused. These people make up friends for themselves, but not just and imaginary friends these friends form there own personalities. These people may also make up other people who are not scared or people, who can not feel pain to turn deal with abuse, which also turn into separate personalities. These people usually deny what is happening and may live their lives without anyone finding out about their disorder. The degree of vulnerability of the child has a great impact on the amount of personalities the person will have. The typical female multiple has about 19 personalities; male multiples tend to have less that half of that. For e xample a male multiple from ages 7 to 10 who was sexually abused a half-dozen times by a distant relative is going to have far fewer personalities than a female multiple who was severely physically, sexually, and emotionally abused by both parents from infancy to age 16. The female could easily develop 30 to 50 (+) personalities, even in the hundreds. Although its important

Foreign Direct Investment Essays

Foreign Direct Investment Essays Foreign Direct Investment Essay Foreign Direct Investment Essay Foreign Direct Investment Name: Course: Instructor: : Institution: Date: Foreign Direct Investment Foreign direct investments are the investments made by a company situated in one country to another company situated in another county. The company investing may make its investments by forming a subsidiary or an associate company in the country it is making investments. For example, a European company may take a majority stake in a company in Japan. The foreign direct investments cause an increase in growth, in the developing countries. It does this by accumulating capital in the developing country. FDI promotes the use of new inputs and foreign technology in the production process. It acts as a complement to the developing countries. It enables technological advancements in the developing countries. These technologies enable economic growth since they are efficient. In addition, these are the same technologies used by the multinational firms. This enables production good quality products enabling the developing countries to gain competitive advantage in the market. Technological ad vancement enables long-term economic growth in the developing countries (Cohen Oxford University Press, 2007). The foreign exchange rate policy also affects the developing countries economic growth. The foreign direct investments enable the developing countries to practice the key exchange rate reforms. This enables it to eradicate the real exchange rate misalignments. In turn, this enables the developing countries to experience a growth in their GDP. In addition, the foreign exchange rate policy enables trade liberalization. This enables the developing countries to experience an improvement in their international trade. They are able to trade with more countries by maintaining a constant high trade pattern, than before. By trading with more countries, they enjoy greater exports as compared to the imports. This prevents them from experiencing a deficit in their balance of trade. In turn, the developing countries gain access to the foreign currency that comes from the trade. This improves the developing country’s economic growth. The countries are also able to improve their terms of tra de. It can do this by raising their export prices permanently. This, in turn, increases the countries national income causing a growth in GDP. FDI enables the provision of capital to the developing countries. The multinational companies enable the transfer of capital in order to support the domestic savings. This leads to an increase in the domestic capital for the developing countries. This, in turn, increases the domestic investment. In addition, FDI increases the growth of the developing countries through promoting the returns in production. This is aided by its externalities and the spill over effects. FDI provides a knowledge channel for the developing countries. It provides knowledge to the countries engaging themselves in FDI. Example, FDI increases the flow of knowledge to the Japanese firms engaging in FDI. It also enables the provision of employment, which in turn raises the living standards of people. A new stock measure of the FDI centered on the employment enables access to a long-term effect of FDI in the states involved. This, in turn, increases growth in the developing countries, which finally increases the GDP. FDI helps in reducing the inflation rate and the government consumption, which in turn raises the GDP in the developing countries. Inflation control is a great macroeconomic stabilization policy. It is important for inflation to be controlled in order for the developing countries’ GDP to increase. On the other and, increasing the government spending reduces economic growth in the developing countries. Therefore, FDI helps in the reduction of inflation and government spending, a great barrier in the developing countries. With the achievement of this, the developing countries enjoy an increase in their GDP (Cohen Oxford University Press, 2007). References Cohen, S. D., Oxford University Press. (2007). Multinational corporations and foreign direct investment: Avoiding simplicity, embracing complexity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Human Computer Interaction - Usability and Evaluation Essay

Human Computer Interaction - Usability and Evaluation - Essay Example Hartson, Andre, and Williges (2003, p.145) note that usability, also referred to as human factors, or human-computer interface design or user-centered design, has become a major field of interest in both industry and academia. This is attributed to the roles computer play in the daily lives of individuals. That is, the more we need to interact with computers, the more we tend to demand well-designed software interfaces. Software developers play a crucial role in answering such demands. Designing better interfaces have quite a number of commercial merits as having been demonstrated by big companies such as Apple, IBM, Eastman Kodak, SAAB, Rank Xerox and Microsoft just to name but a few. The advantages of well-designed software include increased productivity, reduced human error, as well as making the software use enjoyable (Matera, Rizzo, and Carughi 2006, p143). Nonetheless, usability is sometimes ignored not because it is considered worthless, rather because it is considered very ex pensive, which is a misconception, according to experts. Software developers also sometimes ignore usability, which does not justify the cost of usability testing and evaluation. Ignoring usability in interface design has greater cost attachments, as having been demonstrated in past fatal accidents that has resulted due to the failures of interface to show vital information. One such accident occurred in 1987 when an American airline crashed during takeoff at Detroit killing 156 passengers on board (Matera, Rizzo, and Carughi 2006, p143). The accident, according to investigations, was caused pilot’s failure to recognize the wrong positions of flaps during the aircraft’s takeoff. A skilled interface designer would have proper knowledge of organize an interface in such a manner that vital information cannot be missed. This paper will explore the principles of usability and the methods used to evaluate software interfaces. Finally, the paper will evaluate an Amazon.com we bsite in line with the usability principles. Usability design principles Adebesin (2011) argues that the interactive systems ought to be designed in a manner that supports the user to achieve his or her objectives. To do this, the design team need multi-disciplinary, with practitioners possessing ergonomics, cognitive science, and computer skills among others. This ensures that the team understands physical capabilities, human problem solving, their working environment, and the entire interaction context. A number of design guidelines are used in the software interface development. The design guidelines range from general to application-specific rules. Hartson, Andre, and Williges (2003, p.146) classify the design rules according to their level of authority and generality. According to Hartson, Andre, and Williges, the authority of design rule spells out whether or not the rules are to be followed or not. The level of generality, on the other hand, directs developers in ascertaining whether a particular guideline can be widely applied in different design situations. There are three basic principles of usability identified by Matera, Rizzo, and Carughi (2006, p.145). The first principle of usability design principle, according to Matera, Rizzo, and Carughi (2006, p145), is the principle of unity. The principle of unity in interface design is crucial since ensures congruency in the use of the interface. The unity principle also allows software interfac

Engagement and Motivation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Engagement and Motivation - Assignment Example It shall first discuss the concepts of engagement and motivation and then go on to discuss the relationship between engagement and motivation as it relates to literacy during early childhood. It shall also discuss the policy implications based on what is established in the discussion on early childhood. Practice implications shall also be established based on what is established in the discussion on early childhood. This paper is being conducted in order to establish a clear understanding of engagement and motivation as it applies to literacy during specific stages of human development. Engagement is about energy in action or the connection between person and activity (Russell, as cited by Ainley, 2004). It is about setting into motion activities which would help accomplish one’s goals. Cambourne (as cited by Kamil, Pearson, Barr, & Mosenthal, 2000, p. 403) discusses that engagement â€Å"entails holding a purpose, seeking to understand, believing in one’s own capability, and taking responsibility for learning†. There is an emotional and physical connection between the thought and the action in engagement and this engagement helps to ensure that a person has more self confidence in carrying out certain activities like reading and writing. Motivation is â€Å"about energy and direction, the reasons for behavior, why we do what we do† (Russell as cited by Ainley, 2004). It is the ultimate underlying reason for one’s activities and one’s engagement in a certain goal. Motivation may be intrinsic or extrinsic and as an intrinsic goal it may refer to a person’s reasons for doing an activity without any purpose other than the fact that one enjoys the activity. This may be related to the concept of reading for reading’s sake (Kamil, Pearson, Barr & Mosenthal, 2000). Motivation often inspires a deeper and a more profound engagement in an activity. It helps sustain

JP Morgan Chase Shifts IT Outsourcing into Reverse Case Study

JP Morgan Chase Shifts IT Outsourcing into Reverse - Case Study Example The major motive of the deal for JP Morgan Chase was to lower its IT costs and come up with better quality services to the customers. IBM, specializing in IT, could definitely help JP Morgan Chase in its motive and as part for IBM; it was getting the honor of outsourcing for a huge organization and increase its repute in the global customers it retains. This was the reason why the deal was beneficial and took place between the two companies. The deal was although a 7-year duration but ended up in just 21 months. JP Morgan Chase moved back from outsourcing to backsourcing due to a number of factors that proved that the decision of outsourcing was not a right one for JP Morgan Chase. These factors included: The entirely different work environments of both the organizations which influenced the employees of JP Morgan Chase who were also outsourced. Their ' morale and job security were highly influenced as in IBM they were not given the control and authority as they were given at JP Morgan Chase The information technology and information systems strategy of any organization needs to be matched with the business processes and requirements of the business. All the business processes need to be inline with the IT infrastructure and the IS which is being run in the organization. This is the reason why at present most of the companies go for customized information systems for their organizations rather than implementing off-the-shelf systems. With the customized approach, there is no need to change the business processes and the system that is being implemented is built with integration to the business processes. However, when off-the-shelf system is implemented, there is a need for BPR (Business Process Reengineering) in which the business processes are changed. JP Morgan Chase's information technology and information systems were in relation to their providence of the financial services on a global level. IBM is very famous for the quality it provides and the world wide customers it has to which it outsources systems and makes customers. Therefore the IT and IS Strategy of the organization was decided to be fully outsourced by IBM. The full dependency of JP Morgan Chase on IBM and the providence of its all data to IBM for building its IT was not a good decision. This is because the firms should not outsource their operational activities that stand crucial to them by any perspective. Through the operational activities, the firm interacts with its customers. Customer satisfaction is crucial to every business and when this job is handed to any other firm, the job cannot be performed as efficiently as the original firm does. For JP Morgan Chase, cost cutting and quality were the major issues due to which the decision of outsourcing seemed necessary to take; as through outsourcing, the IT budgets can be lowered. IBM, which is the outsourcing member in this case, has IT as its

The Bmw Mini Brand Marketing Essay

The Bmw Mini Brand Marketing Essay According to the book Strategic brand management by Kevin Lane Keller, Identifying and creating brand positioning is the first and important stage of the strategic brand management process. Positioning effects on a founding benchmark and works toward building a strong brand by helping marketers to design, to implement, to solidify or to sustain brand associations. Aaker ( ) also supports the idea that the brand position can offer clear direction to a communication program implementation. To establish the position of a brand, the concept of it should be clearly defined. Criticism of the literature reveals numerous meanings and clarification of positioning. Sekhar, (1989) states that the concept of positioning developed from research on market segmentation and targeting. Kotler (2003, p. 308) defines brand positioning as the act of designing the companys offering and image to occupy a distinctive place in the mind of the target market. The end result of positioning is the successful cr eation of a customer-focused value proposition, a cogent reason why the target market should buy the product. Arnott (1992, 1993) parallels the idea by stating that positioning is, correlated to the rivalry, management attempt to adjust the tangible features and the intangible views of a marketable contribution. Furthermore, Kapferer, (2004, p. 99) emphasises on the distinctive characteristics that make a band different from its competitors and alluring to the public. In addition, Sengupta (2005 ) enhances the term of perception that indicate the core of the brand in terms of its functional and emotional benefit in the decision of customer. Also, it is shown as points in perceptual space and think up a product class. In essence, Keller outlines the idea behind the concept of brand positioning that involves four aspects; target market identification, the nature of competitors, the ideal of points of parity, and the points of difference. Identifying target market is crucial part in establish a robust positioning because dissimilar segment may have diverse brand knowledge structure or perceive the same brand in different way vary by own attitudes, beliefs, and experience. The target customer can be classified as descriptive (customer-oriented), which associated to the kind of customer or behavioral (product-oriented), which related to how customers consider of or utilizes the brand or product. The behavioral side is more significant to comprehend brand position due to stronger strategic implication. Decided type of target can, then, implicitly sketches the nature of rivalry because businesses usually target that same segment in terms of category membership. Once the appropriate competitive frame of reference for positioning has been formed, the correct points of parity (POPs) and points of difference (PODs) are able to make.  Point of parity (POPs) are characteristics or benefits that may mutual with other brands separated into two forms: category and competitive. Category point of parity is a standard association expected by customers to show the credibility of companies. Competitive Point of parity are associations designed to abolish rivalry Point of difference. It is used when firms want to break even the area that competitors are attempting to seek an advantage and achieve advantages in some other areas. To illustrate, to enter in the fast food industry, there are key elements that help customers to label a brand as a fast food restaurant such as quick service, good taste, and low prices. These are fundamental features and benefits of product category that it belongs to. Point of difference, on the other hand, comprises of strong, favorable and unique associations for a brand based on attribute or benefit association in the mind of customer. It is associations that customers believe that they couldnt find in the competitive brand. It is considered by functional basis, performance-related consideration and imagery related criterion, which are competitive strengths and insight about consumers motivations. Reeves and Ted Bates advertising agency (1950) also support the common concept of PODs in terms of unique selling proposition (USP) that promoting use to compel customers to buy product that competitors could not race. For instance, fast-food chain Subway uses the healthier benefit as PODs compared with other quick-serve restaurants that supported by less fat attribute. Nike, for another example, claim of superior performance in athletic shoes. Nowadays, business environment is becoming more intensively competitive. Marketers must certify that their brands constantly amend to stay s, at the same time as keeping on the true core values (Aaker, 1991; Keller, 1999). There are many reasons that make a firm to reconsider about its brand position which could be environmentally driven, Consumer driven, Competitor driven, and company driven. The environmentally driven can cause by economic issue, political issue, or the green movement. Consumer driven is able to be the change of consumer needs and lifestyles or the attractiveness of alternative target markets . Moreover, the driven from internal of company usually be a change in company strategy or gaining of new technology or other asset that provides the brand a competitive advantage and valuable differentiator. Finally, the essential reason that affects a brand to reposition is the competitor movement. Markets are shredded and full with proposition that rivals try to display the ir point of different and superior positioning. Then, the brand may be faced by a new stronger positioning. Often, competitive advantages survive for only a short period before competitors attempt to match them, which may harm the brand positioning in terms of building satisfactory distinction benefits over their contenders (Clancy and Trout, 2002). Thus, brand should react by using repositioning strategy to change and stay contemporary and fresh in the eyes of customers. Trout and Ries () propose an idea of the repositioning that involve with competition, change, and crisis issues. Firstly, repositioning can compete the rival by discriminate the brand or product and add value to it. Secondly, since time pass by, brand should update itself and make connection to target customer by using technology and communication and multimedia assets. Finally, repositioning can cure the crisis especially the cost issue. Ryan et al ()also gives the meaning of repositioning that is the way to re-ad apt brand position the consumers thought to change the way in which a firms product or service is apprehend. Basically, positioning and repositioning are the same; they are both process of getting  ownership of a place in the thoughts of the target market that is proper, differentiating and fascinating. These two activities are , likewise, bases on the Customer Based Brand Equity (CBBE) Model settled by Keller in 1993 which defined as the different effect that consumer knowledge has on the customers response to marketing activity. To clarify, this paper will show the illustration of two repositioned brand of the automobile industry in both successful and fail way. Begin with brand that succeed in repositioning that is MINI, The MINI (original named Mini) is one of the most well known brands in the car industry, and indeed the most prosperous British car in terms of volume sold (Birmingham Mini Owners Club, 2002). It was launched in 1959 by British Motor Corporation. It was originally designed for four people seat, in a small size, practical, easy to park and economical. Also, priced was inexpensively. This reacted to a fuel scarcity, and the increasing demand for proficient urban cars. The Mini Cooper was designed and commercialized as a faster and sporty version of the Mini that would allow the car to compete successfully in rallying. Moreover, in 1969 the Mini was placed on the film The Italian Job. Due to the combination of the Minis rallying success and celebrity style reputation so it became a necessary fashion accessory. It gained the cultural status that considered as a British icon. The Mini Coopers status was variable between the 1970s and the 1980s as the license for the brand was sold to Span ish and Italian companies. In 1994, BMW bought the Rover Group, the owner of the Mini and launched the line in 2000. BMW still used the Mini brand to unite old and new to form explicit and consistence profile, but a bit change in name from Mini to MINI. Launching the New MINI had task to preserve the MINI from becoming a fad. Therefore, business strategy of BMW is to position the MINI as a symbol. It target young groups of customers that are urbane, stylish, individualistic or characteristically take their own path, value and quality consider, love to drive, and a trendsetter. To meet the target market need, characteristic, and lifestyle, Mini brand came out the repositioning strategy that tried to attract customer in both logical level by the products performance and insurance of quality, and at a sensational level by the value of the brands image or product aesthetics. At the rational level, MINI keeps the perception of a small premium car. It emphasized in practical and brand heritage about being an economy small sport car that have a different and new technical base. There are three main competitive advantages that support the aspect; custom design, modern quality technology, and outstanding safety. Firstly, MINI has an extensiv e variety of equipment along with paintwork choices, applications on the external and rare materials for the internal that make MINI customizable and can be differentiate. As a result, it offers customers to choose their own style MINI to express and show their own brand personality. Secondly, the quality dimension, it involves; body structure setting new standards, the powerful engines, the most progressive suspension technology, which makes driver feel a go-kart experience. Thirdly, the safety system guarantee excellent safety airbag system, which makes the MINI one of the safest and the most reliable cars in its category. At an emotional level, the MINI stressed on the fun facet, play with the slogan fun to drive. Thus, MINI attempted to create brand personality of it as fun loving, outrageous, cheeky, trendy, sporting and attractive. Figure 1 : The perceptions of the BMW Mini brand: the importance of historical associations and the development of a model : Figure from Simms and Trott (2006) The victory of the MINI brand repositioning can be analyzed in many aspects. Firstly it achieved in clearly defined its target market so it could offer the brand attributes or benefits that meet the target needs and, also, was able to compete with the relevant brands in the sporty compact cars market such as Honda and Volkswagen. Likewise, MINI did not forget to offer the Category points-of-parity; it provided essential and credible attributes that a car should have to customers. Additionally, MINI can prove strong superiority on its attribute and benefit and, too, consumers can be swayed. MINI brand associations met three criteria that can correctly be good at a point-of-difference; desirability, deliverability, and differentiability. First of all, the MINIs target customer was given a persuasive motive to believe by MINIs pose on exclusive design, up-to-date quality technology, excellent safety, plus fun emotion. Accordingly, they can feel the relevance in both performance and emot ion. These advantage associations are hard to compete. Also, MINI got benefit from the combination of two legacy advantages; British heritage and BMWs German heritage that effected to customer perception. The former British heritage included construction in England, iconic scheme, fun and sporty sensation. The later German heritage BMWs consisted of the certifying in excellence of production and technology along with the premium car segment. Moreover, the company can really deliver favor attributes and benefits, in the other words, MINI could sent the promise unique joy at an attainable price to its consumers. The product design and its marketing campaign supported the desired associations. Their unique, specific and complete forms of advertising resulted to minis repositioning accomplishment. The customer was underlined that possessing and driving a MINI is fun, at the same time, also promoting brand personality and the idea of smaller is better. In every touch points, from the bil lboards to the showrooms, everything is branded that pararell with the set position. Finally, associations of MINI brand are strong in differentiate about history related, product related, and emotional related that can claim distinctiveness and superiority against relevant competitors. Whilst MINI brand repositioning has been very successful, Oldsmobile brand, contrastingly, had left customers confused. The Oldsmobile brand is a case of the failure brand in repositioning. Oldsmobile is one of the brand legends in US car history. It was in the portfolio of General Motors (GM) same as Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac. It was a pioneer brand that launched the first car with chrome plated trim and front wheel drive. Besides, it was an original of an automatic car called Toronado model. The brand was popular for many decades until there were problems that shake the strength of brand and have to end the production in 2000. The reason behind the brand failure can be divided in terms of positioning in three parts. First of all, around 1980s onwards, when GMs technology had cutting edge begin with the Chevrolet engines were substituted ad diesel engines were given as an option, it, afterward, stopped maintaining and emphasizing the unique selling proposition of Oldsmobile and make the brand to be uniform like others. Consequently, Oldsmobile is devalued its positioning in advance automobile in sportiness and innovation .It lost its advantage edge and considered very alike to other brand of GM. Additionally, due to its brand name, there is an effect of the name old to the perception of customer that mislead to be perceived as outdates brand specially among teenage segment. As a result, marketers of Oldsmobile tried to reposition the brand and adjust the brand image with Its Not Your Fathers Oldsmobile slogan and ran advertising to describing the point. Unfortunately, this customers couldnt recognize reasonable about age association and still perceive that Oldsmobile is old-fashioned (Levinson,2005). One Brand Week article, published in February 2001 gave a recommendation to the Oldsmobile that instead of attempt to be younger, it should better accept the exist brand, with its older profile, search for older customers insight and give them a communication that fascinated to their needs. It could be possible, as the Oldsmobile had been seen as a trendsetter in its field, even though it had never been a youth brand. Also, the process of this repositioning was rather impulsive operation. The customer perception should proceeding adjust for example, from old brand to adult brand to, eventually, younger brand. Moreover, Oldsmobile had endeavoured to lift its position to be a luxury brand by changing logo and make many product variations to enter European market. However, the principal notion of Oldsmobile was to manufacture a low-priced car for the masses and discounting strategy to sales was still used that against the repositioning aim, thus, consumers were confounded. Again, their memories with the earlier brand image still ran deep. Ultimately, General Motors shut down its Oldsmobile section. Refer to the case, there are many factors that make Oldsmobile incapable to success in repositioning. Begins with the target market, it attempted to target younger consumers and affluent market without finding those customers insight. While there were overwhelm of competitors that pierced in the same target. Thus, introducing trendy new Olds cars were too late. Oldsmobile did not carry on the brands new promise; it just created the tag line Its Not Your Fathers Oldsmobile but did not do anything on product or service programs to stress the claim. The product reforms did not meet wishes of new clients. By reason of deficient product development plus inconsistent brand communications, it did not have power enough to change the targets perception that Oldsmobile is a youthful, modern brand. Sharfman(2001) states that this slogan excluded both newer and elder purchasers. The reason that might be it had not done enough through its designs, contemporary images, and marketing mix, especiall y to the customers who do not have high involvement in the brand. They saw no advantage and no distinction, and no emotive association. In addition, it abandoned their competitive advantages which are a sporty and innovative, based on its heritage. Consequently, the trusted and believable personality of Oldsmobile was destroyed. In addition, to be in the upper market, Oldsmobile did not do well on credibility. Price levels did not represent the new willing position. Also, it was not able to form a unique emotional advantage or identity component of brand equity that is related to its customers. For these reasons Oldsmobile turned people off. In a nut shell, brand positioning is a strategic concept that marketers make a band image to sit in a unique room in the mind of the target market by a customer-focused base value correlated to competitors. Furthermore,There are factors require brand managers to reconsider about their brand position such as altering customer needs, increasing competitive pressures and changing of the company own structure. The BMW MINI case shows an example of how a brand cans success in repositioning. It created effective brand associations that consumers perceive a brand dwell in a favourable, differentiated and credible location in the minds of consumers. Thus, MINI gained trustworthiness of the product position by information given by brand. Although many brands are desired to become resurrected and famous again, often, repositioning brand fail in changing the image in the mind of customer as the mentioned case of Oldsmobile. It underwent from a lack of strong positioning since targeted goal that it did not have ability to send the promises or new benefits. Also, elements of marketing mix did not go along with new position such as the product improvement and the price. As a result, marketers should carefully redefine brands target market, stick on their needs and expectations, then, find the right and available place to be in their minds, which unique, certifiable, and satisfactory. Finally, the new position should be communicated properly and consistency.

I Need To Know Where I Came From To Know Where I Am Going Essay example

Growing up I learned the stories of my ancestors and how all of them were immigrants. I felt a need to learn their stories because I thought â€Å"I need to know where I came from to know where I am going†. I believe I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors and my accomplishments are not my own but resulted due to what they accomplished in their lives. I view my family history as building blocks with each generation improving, if only in millimeters. My ancestors came from Germany, Sweden and Bohemia. Three of my great-grandparents were immigrants. My parents both knew their grandparents and had a relationship I find it amazing to be so close to the immigrant generation yet so far away. I say far away because the language and customs are gone. We are completely â€Å"American† but in writing this paper I realized the values of the old countries remain alive and well within the current generation. The maternal side of my family contains Swedish and Bohemian ethnicities. My maternal grandmother was 100% ethnic Swedish. My great-grandparents arrived in America in between 1874 and 1888. The section on parenting issues for parents of color in Diller (2011) while my grandparents were not people of color they were immigrants which made them different. I wonder what experience my grandmother had growing up in a home with parents who were born in another country, spoke a different language and had different customs. I knew Grandma was raised by immigrant parents but I never thought how that would affect their parenting style and if the children were teased because their parents were different and how their parents helped the children deal with it. I now wish I had spoken to my grandmother about this and how it was to grow up in... ...ow my great-grandfather’s ethnic identity, his self-image of being German, was impacted (Diller, 2011). I can’t begin to understand how my great-grandfather must have felt during this time knowing the country he chose to become a part of and was a upright citizen in thought he was suspect in some way just because he was German. Knowing someone in my family was forced to assimilate, to give up his native language to take on English the language of the domnianat culture, made me angry and sad (Diller, 2011). I myself would personally love to be able to speak German along with the other native languages of my ancestors. I know the values I have written about provide mere snapshots of the cultural values of my ancestors but I believe they impact the way I live my life and view the world. So how does all of this affect my identity and place in American society?

Fdi in retail in india

As India has liberalized its single brand retail industry to permit 100 percent foreign investment, we take a look at the regulatory issues and legal structures pertinent to establishing operations In this new dynamic market. That India should be well on the radar for foreign retailers was recently supported by A. T. Kearney, whose 2011 Global Retail Development Index ranks the nation as fourth globally. India's retail industry is estimated to be worth approximately USS411. 8 billion and is still growing, expected to reach USS804. 06 billion in 2015. As part of the economic liberalization process set in place by the Industrial Policy of 1 991 , the Indian government has opened the retail sector to FDI slowly through a series of steps: The Indian government removed the 51 percent cap on FDI into single-brand retail outlets in December 2011, and opened the market fully to foreign investors by permitting 100 percent foreign investment In this area.It has also made some, albeit limited, progress In allowing multi-brand retalllng, which has so far been prohibited In India. At present, this Is restricted to 49 percent foreign equity partlclpatlon. The specter of large supermarket brands displacing traditional Indian mom-and-pop stores is a hot political issue in India, and the progress and development of the newly liberalized single-brand retail industry will be watched with some keen eyes as concerns further possible liberalization in the multi-brand sector.In this article, we discuss the policy developments for FDI in these two retail categories, with a focus on the details of the multi-brand retail FDI discussion paper and related policy developments. FDI In â€Å"single-brand† retail While the precise meaning of single-brand retail has not been clearly defined In any Indian government circular or notification, single-brand retail generally refers to the selling of goods under a single brand name. Up to 100 percent FDI is permissible in single-brand retail, subject to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) sanctions and conditions mentioned in Press Note 3[8].These conditions stipulate that: Only single-brand products are sold (i. e. sale of multi-brand goods is not allowed, even if produced by the same manufacturer) Products are sold under the same brand Internationally Single-brand products Include only those Identified during manufacturing Any dditional product categories to be sold under single-brand retail must first receive additional government approval FDI In slngle-orana retall Implles tnat a retall store wltn Torelgn Investment can only sell one brand.For example, if Adidas were to obtain permission to retail its flagship brand in India, those retail outlets could only sell products under the Adidas brand. For Adidas to sell products under the Reebok brand, which it owns, separate government permission is required and (if permission is granted) Reebok products must then be sold in separate retail outlets. FDI in †Å"multi-brand† retail While the government of India has also not clearly defined the term â€Å"multi-brand retail,† FDI in multi-brand retail generally refers to selling multiple brands under one roof.Currently, this sector is limited to a maximum of 49 percent foreign equity participation. In July 2010, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and the Ministry of Commerce circulated a discussion paper on allowing FDI in multi-brand retail. The Committee of Secretaries, led by Cabinet Secretary Alit Seth, recommended opening the retail sector for FDI with a 51 percent cap on FDI, inimum investment of IJS$IOO million and a mandatory 50 percent capital reinvestment into backend operations.Notably, the paper does not put forward any upper limit on FDI in multi-brand retail. Immediately following the release of this discussion paper, the shares of a number of retail companies in India grew; domestic retail giant, Pantaloon Retail gained 7 percent on the sam e day, while Shoppers Stop, an Indian department store chain and emerging retailer, gained 2. 9 percent. The long-awaited scheme has been sent to the Cabinet for approval, but no decision has yet been made.There appears to be a broad consensus within the Committee of Secretaries that a 51 percent cap on FDI in multi-brand retail is acceptable. Meanwhile the Department of Consumer Affairs has supported the case for a 49 percent cap and the Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry has said the government should limit FDI in multi-brand retail to 18 percent. In terms of location, the proposed scheme allows investment in towns with populations of at least 10 lakh (1 million), while retailers with large space requirements may also be allowed to open shop within a 10 kilometer radius of such cities.Our view is that while we do expect further liberalization towards foreign investment in the multi-brand sector, this is highly unlikely to be gazetted until after the next elections, due to be co mpleted towards the end of 2012. Any additional liberalization of this market will therefore depend on the political make-up of the next government. Government â€Å"safety valves† on FDI There is concern about the competition presented to domestic competitors and the monopollzatlon 0T tne oomestlc market Dy large Internatlonal retall glan ts.Ine Inalan government feels that FDI in multi-brand retailing must be dealt with cautiously, iven the large potential scale and social impact. As such, the government is considering safety valves for calibrating FDI in the sector. For example: A stipulated percentage of FDI in the sector could be required to be spent on building back-end infrastructure, logistics or agro-processing units in order to ensure that the foreign investors make a genuine contribution to the development of infrastructure and logistics.At least 50 percent of the Jobs in the retail outlet could be reserved for rural youth and a certain amount of farm produce could be required to be procured from poor farmers. A minimum percentage of manufactured products could be required to be sourced from the SME sector in India. To ensure that the public distribution system and the Indian food security system, is not weakened, the government may reserve the right to procure a certain amount of food grains.To protect the interest of small retailers, an exclusive regulatory framework to ensure that the retailing giants do not resort to predatory pricing or acquire monopolistic tendencies. Benefits of FDI in multi-brand retail Soaring inflation is one of the driving motives behind this move towards multi-brand etail. Allowing international retailers such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour, which have already set up wholesale operations in the country, to set up multi-brand retails stores will assist in keeping food and commodity prices under control.Moreover, industry experts feel allowing FDI will cut waste, as big players will build backend infrastructure. FDI in m ulti-brand retail would also help narrow the current account deficit. Additional benefits include moving away from an industry focus on intermediaries and Job creation. Moving away from intermediary-only benefits There is broad agreement on the need to improve efficiencies in the household trade of consumer goods. Competent management practices and economies of scale, joined with the acceptance of global best practices and modern technology, could immensely recover systemic competence.Like their foreign counterparts, Indian customers are entitled to receive quality products, produced, processed and handled under a hygienic environment through professionally-managed outlets. Speculative apprehensions that small retailers will be adversely affected are not reason enough to deny millions of consumers access to roducts that meet global standards. Furthermore, todays intermediaries amid producers and customers add no value to tne products, aaalng nugely to Tlnal costs Instead.By tne time products Tilter tnrougn various intermediaries and into the marketplace, they lose freshness and quality, and often go to waste. However, intermediaries garner huge profits by distributing these losses between producers and customers by buying products at low prices from producers, but selling at extremely marked-up prices to consumers. In an unbalanced system that incorporates multiple intermediaries simply for logistics, nly intermediaries benefit.With organized retail, every intermediate step – procurement, processing, transport and delivery – adds value to the product. This happens because it uses international best practices and modern technology, ensuring maximum efficiency and minimum waste. Organized retail enables on-site processing, scientific handling and quick transport through cold storage chains to the final consumer. Once modern retailers introduce an organized model, other vendors, including small retailers, would mechanically copy this model to improv e efficiencies, boost margins and stay in business.Organized retail would thereby bring more stability to prices, unlike the present system where hoarding and artificial shortages by profiteering intermediaries push up product prices. Job creation Despite predictions from some analysts that millions of Jobs would be lost due to FDI in retail, it may in fact be the other way around. With the entry of branded retailers, the market will increase, creating additional employment in retail and other tertiary sectors. Given their professional approach, organized retailers will allot some quantity of resources towards the training and development of the resources they mploy.This effect of branded retailing can already be seen with the Bharti-Wal-Mart collaboration, which has Joined forces with state governments to open training and development centers in Amritsar, Delhi and Bangalore, preparing local youth for Jobs in retail. Training is entirely free and more than 5,600 local youth have al ready been trained. Retail Jobs don't require higher education or highly specialized abilities. No threat to kiranas (mom-and-pop stores) The Indian retail industry is generally divided into organized and unorganized retailing: Organized retailingOrganized retailing refers to trading activities undertaken by licensed retailers, those who have registered for sales tax, income tax, etc. These include corporate-backed hypermarkets and retail chains, and also privately-owned large retail businesses. Unorganized retailing Unorganized retailing refers to the traditional forms of low-cost retailing, for example, local Klrana snops, owner-operated general stores, paan/Dee01 snops, convenlence stores, hand cart and street vendors, etc.The question of whether or not organized and unorganized retailing can peacefully co-exist is a primary concern. While the Indian retail sector is still heavily weighted towards unorganized retailers, which occupy 97 percent of the market, organized retail is g rowing quickly. But with a mere 7 percent of the market, organized retailers are unlikely to drive kiranas (local grocery stores) out of business. Indian retailers simply lack the deep pockets and in-depth field expertise required to be on a par with global models.However, the presence of foreign retailers through Joint ventures and other means could speed up the process of transforming India's retail trade. Considering that small stores offer customers quick doorstep delivery and even credit xtensions – conveniences that no organized retailer in India has so far matched – local, unorganized retailers will likely retain a sizeable market share. The example of China demonstrates clearly that increased FDI in retailing does not necessitate the complete closure of local retailers.China first allowed FDI in retail in 1992, capping it at 26 percent, while India capped FDI in single-brand retail at 26 percent. Only in 2004 did China finally permit 100 percent FDI and local C hinese grocery stores have since grown from 1. 9 million to more than 2. 5 million. Organized etail has Just 20 percent market penetration in China, despite a 20 year lapse since the initial introduction of FDI. According to the proposed state regulations, the minimum FDI would be IJS$IOO million and retail stores would only be allowed in cities with more than one million people.Front-end operations would be allowed only in states that agree to authorize FDI in multi-brand retail. It will also be mandatory for retailers to source at least 30 percent of the value of manufactured goods, barring food products, from small and medium-sized, local enterprises. Such terms will serve as ample safeguards for small retailers. Farmers and small producers will benefit in the long run from better prices for their products and produce, while consumers receive higher quality products at lower prices, along with better service.The advantages outweigh the disadvantages of allowing unrestrained FDI i n the retail sector, as successful experiments in countries like Thailand and China demonstrate. In both countries, the issue of allowing FDI in the retail sector was first met with incessant protests, but allowing such FDI led to GDP growth and a rise in the level of employment. Moreover, in the fierce battle between the advocates and opponents of unrestrained FDI flows in the Indian retail sector, the impact of the consumer on the outcome of these policy changes has been largely disregarded.Consumers will ultimately respond to the incentives of convenience, price, variety and service. Thus, the Interests 0T tnose In tne unorganlzea retall sector will not De gravely unaermlnea; rather, the choice to visit a mega shopping complex or a small retailer/sab]imandi is purely left to the consumer, whose tastes are complex and constantly changing.

Free Essays on Why Being an Architect Fits Me

Why being an Architect fits me My strengths and interest are in design, creativity and imagery but I feel I am also good at problem solving. If I had to pick a career I’d choose Architecture because it utilizes more of my strengths than weaknesses. My career goal is to earn a good salary and enjoy how I spend the time earning it. I would enjoy Architecture because I would express myself creatively, building whatever I can imagine. I hope to get the education and experience to fit the job description. Requirements for being an Architect Form business and operational strategy guiding overall studio efforts. Motivate and inspire team leaders and members to achieve success. Create, maintain and promote clear and concise mission for studio. Build and promote a culture that is unique to studio and that follows overall firm culture. Measure and show results of processes and performance on a regular basis. Formulate new/build on existing processes and ideas to achieve desired results. Lead in the marketing efforts of studio and consistently seek out new opportunities. Responsible for maintaining and monitoring studio standards and quality control procedures. Responsible for setting overall project schedules, recruiting and maintaining staff which includes coordinating annual salary and employee reviews. Responsible for maintaining an approved list of outside consultants. Serves as consultant on master plan projects. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Travel is required. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE A professional degree from an accredited school of architecture. Must be registered with a minimum of 12 years project... Free Essays on Why Being an Architect Fits Me Free Essays on Why Being an Architect Fits Me Why being an Architect fits me My strengths and interest are in design, creativity and imagery but I feel I am also good at problem solving. If I had to pick a career I’d choose Architecture because it utilizes more of my strengths than weaknesses. My career goal is to earn a good salary and enjoy how I spend the time earning it. I would enjoy Architecture because I would express myself creatively, building whatever I can imagine. I hope to get the education and experience to fit the job description. Requirements for being an Architect Form business and operational strategy guiding overall studio efforts. Motivate and inspire team leaders and members to achieve success. Create, maintain and promote clear and concise mission for studio. Build and promote a culture that is unique to studio and that follows overall firm culture. Measure and show results of processes and performance on a regular basis. Formulate new/build on existing processes and ideas to achieve desired results. Lead in the marketing efforts of studio and consistently seek out new opportunities. Responsible for maintaining and monitoring studio standards and quality control procedures. Responsible for setting overall project schedules, recruiting and maintaining staff which includes coordinating annual salary and employee reviews. Responsible for maintaining an approved list of outside consultants. Serves as consultant on master plan projects. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Travel is required. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE A professional degree from an accredited school of architecture. Must be registered with a minimum of 12 years project...

Chinese Funeral Traditions and Preparation

Chinese Funeral Traditions and Preparation While Chinese funeral traditions vary depending on where the deceased person and his or her family are from, some basic traditions still apply. Funeral Preparation The job of coordinating and preparing  Chinese funerals falls on the children or younger family members of the deceased person. It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety and devotion to one’s parents. Family members must consult the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date to hold the Chinese funeral ceremony. Funeral homes and local temples help the family prepare the body and coordinate the funeral rites. Announcements of the funeral are sent in the form of invitations. For most Chinese funerals, the invitations are white. If the person was age 80 or older, then the invitations are pink. Living until 80 or beyond is considered a feat worth celebrating and mourners should celebrate the person’s longevity rather than mourn. The invitation includes information about the funeral’s date, time, and location, as well as a small obituary that includes information about the deceased that may include his or her birth date, date of death, age, family members that survived them and sometimes how the person died. The invitation may also include a family tree. A phone call or in-person invitation may precede the paper invitation. Either way, an RSVP is expected. If a guest cannot attend the funeral, the tradition is that he or she sends flowers and a white envelope with money. Chinese Funeral Attire Guests at a Chinese funeral wear somber colors like black. Bright and colorful clothing, especially red, must be avoided as these colors are associated with happiness. White is acceptable and, if the deceased was 80 or above, white with pink or red is acceptable as the event is cause for celebration. The deceased person wears a white robe. The Wake There is often a wake preceding the funeral that  may last several days. Family members are expected to keep an overnight vigil for at least one night in which the person’s picture, flowers, and candles are placed on the body and the family sits near by. During the wake, family and friends bring flowers, which are elaborate wreaths that include banners with couplets written on them, and white envelopes filled with cash. Traditional Chinese funeral flowers are white. The white envelopes are similar to red envelopes that are given at weddings. White is the color reserved for death in Chinese culture. The amount of money put in the envelope varies depending on the relationship to the deceased but must be in odd numbers. The money is meant to help the family pay for the funeral. If the deceased person was employed, his or her company is often expected to send a large flower wreath and a sizable monetary contribution. The Funeral At the funeral, the family will burn joss paper (or spirit paper) to ensure their loved one has a safe journey to the netherworld. Fake paper money and miniature items like cars, houses, and televisions are burned. These items are sometimes associated with the loved ones interests and are believed to follow them into the afterlife. This way they have everything they need when they enter the spirit world.   A eulogy may be given and, if the person was religious, prayers may also be said. The family will distribute to guests red envelopes with a coin inside  to ensure they return home safely. The family may also give guests a piece of candy that must be consumed that day and before going home. A handkerchief may also be given.  The envelope with coin, sweet, and handkerchief should not be taken home.   One final item, a piece of red thread, may be given. The red threads should be taken home and tied to the front doorknobs of the guests’ homes to keep evil spirits away. After the Funeral After the funeral ceremony, a funeral procession to the cemetery or crematorium is held. A hired band resembling a marching band typically leads the procession and  plays loud music to frighten spirits and ghosts. The family wears mourning clothes and  walks behind the band.  Following the family is the hearse or sedan containing the coffin. It is typically adorned with a large portrait of the deceased hanging on the windshield. Friends and associates complete the procession. The size of the procession depends on the wealth of the deceased and his or her family. The sons and daughters wear black and white mourning clothes and walk in the front row of the procession. Daughters-in-law come next and also wear black and white clothes. Grandsons and granddaughters wear blue mourning clothes. Professional mourners who are paid to wail and cry are often hired to fill up the procession. Depending on their personal preference, Chinese are either buried or cremated. At a minimum, families make an annual visit to the gravesite on the Qing Ming or Tomb Sweeping Festival. Mourners will wear a cloth band on their arms to show that they are in a period of mourning. If the deceased is a man, the band goes on the left sleeve. If the deceased is a woman, the band is pinned to the right sleeve. The mourning band is worn for the duration of the mourning period which can last 49 to 100 days. Mourners also wear somber clothes. Bright and colorful clothes are avoided during the mourning period.

Application of the Principles of Interpersonal Communication to a Essay

Application of the Principles of Interpersonal Communication to a Communication Scenario - Essay Example In this way of communication people depend on each other for the purpose of constructing and negotiating a clear picture of social reality (Wood, 2009, p. 9). This paper is aimed at making a clear picture of an application of the principles of interpersonal communication to a communication scenario in my life. 1. The change: The most important change that I would like to make in myself or in my behavior or characteristics is that I would like to be more familiar with people while having a conversation with them or interacting with them. In fact I would like to put more effort in building more concentration while talking to people, whether they are my family members or friends or my professional contacts. At present I do have a good interpersonal communication skill, but I would like to improve my skill even further as I have seen many flaws in myself when I communicate with people and I have also seen negative reactions from very few people regard to the fact that I have failed to un derstand the proper expression or feelings of what they were trying to express while talking to me (Hargie, 2011, p. 13). 2. Reason for the change: The reason that I need this kind of change in myself is that I believe that this change will give me enough opportunity to know other people while talking to them, to better understand what they think about myself (hence, if they feel bad about me, so that I can make necessary changes in my behaviors or characters for which they were actually feeling bad about me). This change will also help me to better represent myself in front of others and hence to express my true feelings, emotions through proper and truthful conversations. This change will also give me the kind of opportunity which people generally gather from successful conversations. The most important opportunities are good relations, such as friends and families, and knowledge regarding every aspect of society, economy, politics, sports and many more. This change will also give me enough opportunity to listen carefully to what people are saying at the time of talking to them and hence to understand a better approach of feelings, emotions and expressions of them (Hargie, 2011, p. 14). 3. Models and what others do: I have so many people around me whom I think as my models regarding the change that I would like to make in my conversation skill. First of all I would like to mention my father who listens to people very carefully while talking to them and express positive feedbacks to them. My best friend Peter also possesses effective skills of interpersonal communication. He is not only a good listener but also a very good communicator and always tries to engage in debates and arguments while talking to people. This quality makes others feel that he is properly reacting to what they are saying. My senior colleague in office, Mr. Beck, is also my model. He listens very carefully what others are saying and replies only after others finish expressing their entir e feelings. This makes the conversation more effective through revelation of complete feelings and emotions (Hargie, 2011, p. 21). 4. Required context or setting: In respect to the change that I am expecting to bring in my behavior while talking to people requires few settings and contextual facts. As I have already mentioned that in the context of the change my foremost inspiration is my father, therefore I would like to talk to

With the increase in global interconnectedness, the scope of strategic Essay

With the increase in global interconnectedness, the scope of strategic policy choices available to individual governments and the effectiveness of many traditional policy instruments tends to decline - Essay Example Various contemporary scholars from different fields of discipline support the belief that globalization is the main concept in these contemporary times. Although there is no single definition for globalization, those who support its tenets believe that as interconnectedness is advancing in most economies, national governments are also losing their relevance and their power to impact on economic outcomes. Based on such perspective, the state seems to have become a mere pawn in the globalized economy. Held and McGrew (2003, p. 13) point out that "[w]ith the increase in global interconnectedness, the scope of strategic policy choices available to individual governments and the effectiveness of many traditional policy instruments tends to decline". This paper shall discuss this statement, considering any supporting proof or evidence to this statement, and possibly discussing any claims contrasting such statement. This study is being carried out in order to establish a clear evaluation of the above statement, as a means for this student to establish a clearer and more logical assessment of the claim. A better understanding would likely provide assistance also for interest groups and other scholars in their better understanding of globalization and state roles. ... 90). They argue that the economic activities are now less under government control and the state power is withering, often giving rise to different kinds of state. These states appear to have lost their sovereignty and have stepped back on their welfare programmes and industrial policies, entering into more collective government processes (Garland, 1990, p. 449). In general, it is important to understand that â€Å"globalization, as a process, is one that rejects and obliterates boundaries† (Basu, 2008, p. 26). In order to understand globalization, it is also important to understand that globalization refers to various overlapping interactions of national economies, up to a point where the impact of the national networks declines in relation to the effect of global networks (Kaldor, 2003, p. 18). The concept of globalization therefore implies the spread of international interactions to the extent that it creates new social relations. This seems to be what most authorities beli eve when they seek to assess the impact of global economic integration (Kaldor, 2003, p. 18). III. Globalists It is important to note that the globalization discussion does point out that for the globalists and for its critics, evaluating the international activities has become the main measure of globalization (Kaldor, 2003, p. 19). However, even where globalization networks may be advancing, this would not necessarily settle the issue because it would not eliminate the possibility that the expansion and sustenance of globalized networks are based on national interactions as much as transnational networks (Mann, 1997, p. 99). In effect, supporters of globalization must confront issues being pointed out in the globalization discussion. One of these issues is on whether or not the