Polk Company Review Essay

†¢ In this case, would it be better to use the variable or absorption costing method, and why? In this case, it would be better to use the absorption method because this method incorporates only the overhead that is allocated to the 80,000 units sold. The variable method counts fixed overhead as a period expense, meaning that the fixed overhead for this period is calculated on the basis of the 95,000 units produced, if the absorption method is used. The absorption method only calculates fixed overhead on the basis of the 80,000 units that were sold. This provides management with a more accurate picture of the profitability of the fishing lures. Thus, the absorption costing method is optimal. †¢ What are the benefits of the two methods? Under absorption costing system, the product cost consists of all variable as well as all fixed manufacturing costs.. But when variable costing system is used, the fixed cost (both manufacturing and non-manufacturing) is treated as a period cost and therefore is not included in the product cost. The ability to provide accurate information to management about product costs is the main benefit of the absorption method. The variable method is beneficial because it provides an output (net income) that is closer to the cash flow of the business. This is useful in particular for businesses that might be short on cash flow. Further, the variable costing method provides management with a clearer picture of the effect that fixed costs have on the total profitability of the company (AFM, 2012). †¢ Which method would lead to the best decision when a competitor is submitting a lower bid for your product? Absorption costing is particularly useful for firms that do not sell all of their manufactured products during the accounting period, as is the case with Polk. Under absorption costing, the cost of a good is not shown until the good has been sold (Johnston, 2013). This can be a disadvantage if a portion of the goods produced are ultimately not sold, as management would still have to know the cost of those goods.

Asia Essay

1. Which internal and external factors have helped Reliance group to grow into its current position? Reliance group is an example of a well-managed company that has been able to take advantage of interior competitive advantage possibilities as well as exterior ones. On one hand, Reliance started out with Dhirubai Ambani by borrowing money from the Indian government, shifting towards textiles made out of synthetic plastic fibers and receiving benefits from government incentives and political connections at its origin and middle life cycle. Reliance responded perfectly to the world leading industries at the time and acted as a pioneer in introducing them in the Indian market. As the world’s leading industry shifted from a high demand for plastics and textiles derived from plastics to petrochemicals and fuel production, the Reliance group did likewise by building petrochemical plants in India and tried to make the maximum profit out of what India had to offer to the world and itself at the time and had not been developed to its maximum potential yet. On the other hand, government played a key role in Reliance success as it enabled the company to export worldwide and grow in domestically by reducing quotas and tariffs as well as taxes on the raw materials needed for manufacturing. 2. In which aspects has the management of Reliance group been typical for Indian management? In which aspects has it been atypical? Most of the aspects of the management of the Reliance group can be easily related to the way companies are managed in India. Reliance group is a family run company that depends gravely on the relationship between the siblings that own the company, all siblings had the father and founder as the center of the company and once he passed away the company was divided amongst the brothers and sisters. Another typical Indian attribute is the diversification of the operations of the company, Ranging from petrochemical to eatable products or telecommunications. Each brother took care of a different sector and the gender role with a tendency towards masculinity and seniority was also seen when the company was divided giving the oldest of the brothers 70% of the market share of the company, 20% to the younger brother and only 5% to each one of the sisters. What was very atypical was the monochromic way the company has been run, however it can easily be explained due to the fact that they need to replicate the way the international monochromic market works that emulates the way US firms work. 3. Do you think Reliance Group has to transform its fundamentally to remain successful in the future? Yes, I do believe that Reliance group should find of way of not having to depend on the fluctuations of the global market as much as it does, Thus preventing the company from ever being as impacted as it was by the recent global crisis. I believe they should expand domestically as a way of having a â€Å"safe space† in case there is another crisis in the future and perhaps try to grow deeper ties with other Asian countries like Japan or China that did not suffer from the crisis at the scale that western economies did and that are geographically closer from India than many other western countries.

Literature questions

1. What is the nature of Feudal society in the Middle Ages? How might Aquinas’ concept of Natural Law reflect the more general medieval belief in hierarchy and a hierarchical universe? How does Dante’s Inferno also reflect the medieval belief in hierarchy? In other words, how does the poem structure the punishment of sin in relationship to God’s love (or its absence)? Provide two examples to illustrate this relationship, one early, one late, to show the change as we descend. The nature of Feudal society in the Middle Ages was very much that the roles of people of various classes were very much defined. The feudal lords would rule over the peasants and each person’s role in society was defined by his rank and his birth. The concept of Aquinas’ Natural Law philosophy reflects the more general medieval belief in hierarchy and hierarchical universe because this philosophy implies that there is a natural state of things; for example, the poor should be beneath the rich. Also, the concept of what is right versus what is wrong is part of this Natural Law. This idea is evident in the beliefs of the medieval period and within that particular society. In literature this belief is also reflected, such as in Dante’s Inferno, a poem that deals with hell and damnation. In this literature the medieval belief in hierarchy is connected to the idea of man’s sin. The idea of purgatory is important to the medieval belief in hierarchy because it leads one to believe that there is a natural order in the universe as well as on earth. Just as the main character in Dante’s Inferno must go through various stages of hell and purgatory before he can be reconnected with God’s love, so is this seen on earth in earthly institutions and society. 2. What are the key features of Renaissance Humanism? How does it view the capacities of humanity in distinction to the views of the Middle Ages? How might Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing reflect the new Renaissance view of humanity? Renaissance humanism is a philosophical movement that put a great deal of emphasis on what mankind can accomplish. In direct contradiction to the traditional Christian beliefs in Europe at the time, which focused on the sinfulness of mankind and that he was nothing without God, the humanist movement steered people towards the liberal arts and the humanities in hopes that the potential of mankind could be appreciated. This philosophy was almost heretical because it places such an emphasis on beauty, art, and humankind and not completely on God. While the Middle Ages saw all things that mankind accomplished as being, by nature, sinful because of the sinful nature, humanism was all about appreciating what mankind can accomplish. In â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing† by William Shakespeare the ideals of humanism are definitely reflected because of the strong emphasis on the arts and the importance of the individual as opposed to the group. In this play we see a lot of elements that are a precursor to the Romantic era, with the relationships between the lovers and the way that each of the characters interacts with each other. 3. How does the Enlightenment tend to view mankind and society? What do these thinkers believe will promote progress, happiness, and justice? How does Voltaire’s Candide both express and critique these Enlightenment assumptions? The Age of Enlightenment was a time when people were beginning to reexamine the accepted ideals and beliefs of times past. It was a time of reason, when they began to really look for their own answers and not relying solely on the Church to tell them what to believe, or the monarchs. The Enlightenment viewed mankind and society as having free will, not having innate virtues given to them automatically by God. Society was supposed to help create equality, liberty, and fraternity, and even accepted forms of government were reexamined. The thinkers of the Enlightenment believed that true progress, happiness, and justice could only be achieved by creating societies that nurtured mankind’s search for reason and establishing equality among people. In Voltaire’s Candide the writer shows the audience the transition from the beliefs of the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment in the difference between the attitudes of two of the characters. In this story Pangloss sees the world as being naturally right, while Candide feels that it is not fate that makes a persons life, but their own actions. This idea is seen throughout the story of these two characters as they progress through El Dorado, where gold is not worth anything because there is so much of it. This idea is also very rational in nature and reflects the Enlightenment view. 4. How does the Romantic movement represent a revolt against key Enlightenment values? How might Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights express some reservations about some extreme Romantic assertions, particularly about the passions of the â€Å"natural† self as opposed to the artificial constraints of civilization? The Romantic movement represents a revolt against key Enlightenment values because it was during this period that there was a shift in values and core beliefs from the logical and rational emphasis of the Enlightenment to a period that focused more on the natural passions of each individual person. While the Enlightenment focuses more on the head, the Romantic period definitely was all about the heart, and people projected that shift in values through their art and writing. Everything about the Romantic period challenged the view that science, reasoning, and society were what needed to dictate one’s actions. Instead, the focus should be on one’s own wants and needs. In a novel like Wuthering Heights, written during the Romantic period, these extreme Romantic assertions were even challenged. In this novel the characters are fighting with their inner passions and their natural selves. The love story between Heathcliff and Catherine is a perfect example of a Romantic relationship: she’s rich, he’s poor, and he is very much the antagonistic type of character and yet she loves him because of what is in her heart. While the Romantic period was all about opposing the artificial constraints of civilization and not worrying about what society dictates but instead depending on their own feelings to dictate them, this novel challenges this by posing questions about whether or not the relationship between these two main characters is really a good one. 5. Andre Gide’s Straight is the Gate, published in 1909, is set in the period just before World War One: in other words, at a time when it was still possible to hold nineteenth-century ideals. Even though Gide was unaware of the catastrophe about to fall on Europe, he still seems to sense that there is something wrong with the bourgeois world of the age. What does the story suggest is wrong with this pre-war world? How might Gide be classified as a modernist? In Andre Gide’s Strait is the Gate seems to suggest that there are problems existent in the pre-war world of Europe, mostly having to do with the bourgeois world of the age and the way that people viewed each other. This story at first glance is a love story that deals with the way that dedication to God can change the way people relate to each other, particuarly in the relationship between Alissa and Jerome, but it shows that the Romantic ideals of the 19th century were still being held onto by many people in Europe. Gide can be classified as a modernist because his style was very modern but, more importantly, his themes were modern in that he was a humanist that was moving away from the 19th century beliefs that were prevalent at the time and dealing with issues in society, especially issues dealing with homosexuality and challenging religious beliefs.

Land law problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Land law problem - Essay Example As this is pertinent to both the issue of Jennifer's intended severance and the right of survivorship, it is important to establish that joint tenancy existed. Joint tenancy, as noted in the preceding, holds that each tenant' has an identical interest in the whole of the property, as determined through the four unities of title, interest, possession and time. Under common law, unity of interest is present despite the unequal financial contributions of both parties because conveyance was to both as "beneficial joint tenants." Unity of title is similarly present as both Jennifer and Clarissa received their interest in Maple Leaf under the same conveyance. The same applies to unity of time since both received their share under the same conveyance in fee simple and their titles were vested at the same time. Further, unity of possession also holds as both parties are entitled to the possession of the whole of Maple Leaf and neither Jennifer nor Clarissa may exclude the other as a joint tenant. In further affirmation of the fact that the joint tenancy exists, it is important to clarify that nothing in the case study indicates that the conveyance contains an explicit/express declaration of how Jennifer and Clarissa should hold equitable interests in Maple Leaf. Such declarations are absolute (Goodman v Gallant (1986) Fam 106) and conclusively rebut any presumptions to the contrary. As no such declaration is present, however, one can affirm that neither of the two husbands has a right to the property and that Jennifer's statement, albeit written, does not constitute an act as severance as would convert a joint tenancy into a tenancy in common. First, as regards the question of severance, one may affirm that despite Jennifer's very clear intent, severance was not concluded in this case. In accordance with Section 36(2) Law Property Act 1925, there are four legally recognized methods for severance. The first of these is the actions which any one of the joint beneficial tenants may take operating on his/her share. As per case law, any of the tenants is at liberty to dispose of his/her share in a way that would severe it from the joint tenancy. In Nielson v Fedden (1975), Justice Walton found that a unilateral declaration did not constitute such an act as it did not shatter any of the unities and, hence, did not sever the joint tenancy. Within the context of the stated, Jennifer's statement does not constitute a severance in accordance with the first method. A second method for severance is by mutual agreement as in Burgess v Rawnsley (1975). A third method involves the parties acting, for a sufficiently extended period, as if the property were a tenancy in common, as in Palmer v Rich (1897) but not Greenfield v Greenfield (1979). In the first, the parties acted as if the property in question was a tenancy in common for an extended period but in the second, the parties simply divided the property into two maisonettes and the interests of both were not treated as a tenancy in common for a sufficiently extended period. As regards, Maple Leaf, neither of these two methods, whether severance by mutual agreement nor acting as if it were a tenancy in

Project 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Project 3 - Assignment Example n.d.). Beryl or 3BeOÂ ·Al2O3Â ·6SiO2 is one of the most valuable and famous mineral in the Beryllium family. It is a hard and relatively light mineral found in granitic rocks, pegmatites, mica schists, and similar environments. Beryl is usually milky and translucent with a greenish color however pure Beryl is clear and transparent, where small amounts of impurities add to its attractive color (Beryllium. n.d.). Diamond is one example of carbon mineral which has many unequaled qualities among other minerals. It is the hardest known substance, a great conductor of heat, and one that has the highest melting point. The luster of Diamond is excellent. It exhibits a shiny and polished look with proper cutting (Diamond: The mineral Diamond information and pictures. n.d.). Bararite is one example of a Nitrogen mineral. It is a natural form of ammonium fluorosilicate that has a chemical formula (NH4)2SiF6 and a trigonal crystal structure. It was classified as a part of cryptohalite. Bararite was named after the place where it was first described, Barari, India. It was found at the fumaroles of volcanoes over burning coal seams. Bararite is a mineral that is formed with cryptohalite, sal ammoniac, and native sulfur (Bararite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. n.d.). Fluorite is one example of a Fluorine mineral which is known for its glassy luster and rich variety of colors. It comes in purple, blue, green, yellow, brown, pink, black, reddish orange colors and sometimes colorless. Because of this, it is deemed as the most colorful mineral in the world. Most specimens of fluorite have a single color but a significant percentage of fluorites have multiple colors arranged in bands depending on the shape of the fluorite crystals. Typically, fluorites are shaped as cubes where it has a clear outer zone. One crystal fluorite can have four or five different colors (Class.

Cometition law in international context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cometition law in international context - Essay Example Statement of purpose The Minister of Trade and Industry should prevent nationalization of electronic mail service and reinforcing the monopoly of Greek Post office. These plans are anti-competitive and will lead to prices paid by consumers. Greek is a Member State of the European Union and several provisions, Regulations and legislations of EU aim at ensuring market competition. Background of the problem The new Minister of Trade and Industry in Greece is planning to nationalise the electronic mail service, reinforcing the monopoly of Greek post office in the delivery of traditional mail. The objective is to ensure that Greek post office maintains important market share of customers. However, most customers have already switched from the traditional postal services to modern electronic mail, which is offered by efficient private companies. After nationalization, the Greek post office aims at increasing the prices of both services since the costs of delivering the ordinary post has be en increasing over the recent years. The Greek post office will decline access to its facilities including fibre optic infrastructure, to private companies who would like to offer competition to Greek post office by providing internet service and electronic mail services. International competition law According to the European Union treaty on competition, member states are not supposed to enact policies that create rigidity in trade and hinder competition or distort the market economy. Article 101 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU prohibits agreements that distort market competition or encourage cartels. This article aims at prevention undertakings that restrict and distort market economies of the member states within the internal market. Some of the prohibited practices include limitations on production, technical development and investments in the market. Direct or indirect price fixation or the selling and buying prices and trading conditions are prohibited by the Articl e. Member states are prohibited from applying different trading conditions on similar transactions with other trading partners in the economy1. The EC Treaty provisions regarding competition are contained in Article 3 (g) and Articles 81-89 of the Treaty that established the European Community along with several regulations and subsidiary legislations. Articles 81 to Article 86 mainly apply to the trade undertakings while Articles 87 to Article 89 apply to the Member States. The primary objective of the EU competition law is to prohibit internal markets distortion. Article 81 (1) prohibits all trade agreements between undertakings and association decisions that may hinder trade between member states2. However, the Article makes exception s for the trade agreements that aim at improving the welfare of the EU citizens by promoting the distribution of goods or technical promotion, while allowing customers a fair share of the benefits of the trade agreement. The excepted trade agreement s should not impose conditions and restrictions on the customers in the access of the goods or eliminate free competition in the market in regard to the goods being produced. Article 1 (1) of the Regulations 1/2003, the agreements that are outlined in Article 81 (1) and that contravene conditions of Article 81 (3) are unlawful. Article 1 (2) of the

Dictionary usage Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dictionary usage - Assignment Example The banshee comes from the Irish bean si, which is term used to refer to woman of the sighe or simply put, woman of the â€Å"fairly mounds† is female spirit in Irish folklore, typically viewed as an omen of death and a messenger from the realm of death. In fairy tale, a banshee is an elf woman who starts to weep if someone is about to demise. The term infernal comes from the Old French word infernal resultant from the Latin term infernalis resultant from the Latin term infernus which denotes (underlground, lower, the dammed amid others), which is resultant from the Latin term inferus. The English term interlude is resultant from the Medieval Latin term interludium that represents play or game. The term interludium is derived from Medieval Latin word ludus that denotes a game or play. The Spanish word interminable is resultant from the Latin word interminabilis which denotes unending. The mediation comes from the Latin word mediato which originally point outs any psychological or physical exercise done systematically. The word phoenix is derived from Latin word phoenix that is derived from the Egyptian fnkhw. This word signifies mythical bird. The word transcendence is derived from two Latin words trns and scandere. The word haughty is derived from Middle English hautein or hautain before becoming haughtiness derived from haute which stands for self-important. The word is derived from the Anglo-Saxon term tacen that represents sign or symbol. In all, the word bough is derived from Old English word bog which is closely related to the German boug shoulder. Romney’s reply to the Democrats seemed interminable. The loud music from our next-door neighbor came flying at us like a screaming banshee. I love soft rock concert interludes. The bough of the oak was easy to reach at my bedroom’s window. It is really fascinating to see the phoenix rise from its ashes. The professor sat at his desk looking rather meditative. The stints in the movie were clearly

Film Composition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Film Composition - Essay Example It also brings a feeling of warmth, inspiration from the inner and outer lives of the people. â€Å"Little Miss Sunshine† focuses on lives of a family called the Hoovers. They are on a road trip to outlying California where their little daughter, Olive plans to participate in a contest named â€Å"Little Miss Sunshine Contest†. They face with numerous hurdles that compel them to cooperate. Their union in such times is of essence in their success. The main aim of examining this film is to bring forth other insights besides the comedy. This is through inspection of the themes present in the movie. Generally, they are the two aspects that make this movie exceptional. Thematic concerns The film creates insights into the lives of the cast. There are compelling issues in their lives that are worth attention and concern. The themes of winning and losing come out as the major issues in the lives of the characters. Richard Hoover, the father to Olive and the most prominent in th is movie is fanatical to his plan to success. He labels the plan â€Å"Nine Steps to success†. He believes that it is going to guarantee success in any way provided strict adherence to it be maintained. Consequently, the notion that achievement of success at all cost lingers in his mind. He questions the desires of others to achieve success. This shows up by expression of judgment towards Frank after he attempted suicide. Richard has considerable information on what winners do and do not do. For instance, he believes that any feeling of self-doubt or fear is associated with a loser. He also acknowledges that giving up on oneself (as Frank had done) is detrimental and against the core principles of winners. He dismisses luck as a contributing factor towards being a winner. He sees it as a tool used by losers to justify their shortcomings. Richard stresses that one has to want to win and all will be okay. This is evidenced by the talk with his daughter where she expresses her d esire to win. He goes ahead to assure her daughter of victory in the dancing competition. According to (Dickmeyer, 22), it is not the mere impression of what success is but the energy put towards success. The other family members have differentiated views on winning. They particularly do not like the way Richard handles the talk with his seven-year-old daughter. They believe that Richard is more into beliefs than the hard reality. Beliefs relating to success cannot solely guarantee one to be a winner. (Dickmeyer, 18) They concede that success is not as simple as the way Richard views it. They believe that the infliction of those â€Å"mere winner beliefs† and attitude can result to severe frustration and downheartedness for their daughter if all is not well in the competition. Family efforts help Olive to deal with her failure to win the contest. Upon realization that life is full of unpredictable situations, she becomes equipped to deal with frustrations and failures. The fa mily contribution serves, largely, in helping the young girl to deal with the situation. By taking to the stage at the end of the show, family cohesion is on display. They ultimately show that they have triumphed even when the situation does not exactly mean the same. The component of losing at the initial stages and then winning in the long last arises from Dwayne. Dwayne is Richards’s son. Richard expresses pleasure with his son for his unshaken focus on gaining entry to a flight school and become a pilot. According to Richard, Dwayne fulfills some

Contemporary Global Marketing ( International Marketing Opportunity Essay

Contemporary Global Marketing ( International Marketing Opportunity Planning Group ) - Essay Example From Jurlique's farm to your skin, the biodynamic practices that used on their farms help create the beauty on your skin. The biodynamic blends that are applied with extreme care and precision to Jurlique's soil and plants lead to greater effectiveness in all of Jurlique skin care products. Jurlique's soil is fertile and their farms are based on a natural cycle of renewal to help keep your skin replenished and alive. Since 1985, Jurlique's biodynamic farming methods have been rooted in their belief in the relationship between health, beauty, the earth and all living things. Jurlique strived to create products that sustain both of restoring and maintaining healthy skin. 2.2 Situation Jurlique innovation Jurlique's mission is to be the global leader and innovator in biodynamic and organic skin care. Today each harvest is still tended with the same care and detailed focus that began on a farm in South Australia over twenty years ago. Jurlique continues to lead the industry and strives t o development of high-performance skin care. As Jurlique’s company continue to lead the industry, the company strives to produce the most effective skin care while meeting the changing of the customer. 3. Issue and Problem 4. Analysis 4.1 Environment Analysis The environment analysis of a business corporation can be done on the basis of the strategic tool PESTEL. The PESTEL stands for the acronym for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal which are the factors upon which the firm’s external environment would be analyzed. The country chosen for the analysis is United Kingdom where the company focuses to export huge volumes of its natural products. Political Factors The government of United Kingdom is found to render holistic support for the growth of trade of Jurlique skin care products and beauty spas owing to the cause that the products increase the consciousness of protecting the natural environment. This fact helps the business corporati on to gain large amount of support from the government to carry out its expansion drives in competition to another key player Body Shop (Ammenheuser, 2011). Economic Factors It is found that owing to the reasonable price standards of Jurlique skin care products it is highly appreciated by the economy of Australia. The Australian economy truly appreciates the long bonding relationship that it has framed with the reasonably priced and high quality products of the cosmetic company. Thus more number of stores and beauty clinics are coming up in the region for its high social acceptance (Jurlique, 2011). Social Factors Jurlique skin care products earn a high amount of social acceptance for being able to satisfy the necessities of different demographic profiles pertaining to income and age levels. It is found that the herbal cosmetic company tends to produce different products for different age groups of people belonging to either gender and also for kids. Further the company to catch inc reasing consumer consciousness endeavors to produce large number of variants at different price ranges. Still the company to get a larger space in the consumer market need to gain a more favorable social image so as to enhance its brand value in regards to its competitors (Naturisimo, 2011). Technological Factors Jurlique skin care products fully depend on herbal technology for the preparation of different skin care body lotions

Mythological Women Essay Example for Free

Mythological Women Essay Attitudes toward women in mythology reflect the attitudes that still exist today around the world. In mythology women always seem to mess up and make mistakes. Women are viewed as incapable in mythology. The attitudes toward women in both Judeo-Christian/Western and Greek mythology are negative. One of the three types of mythology that are going to be discussed about is humanity mythology. In Judeo-Christian/Western humanity mythology, there is the parable of Adam and Eve. In Adam and Eve, God tells them to not eat from the forbidden tree. Eve, the woman, is tempted and ends up disobeying God by eating an apple from the tree that was forbidden. On the other hand, in Greek humanity mythology there is the story of Pandora. Pandora was given a box and was told to never open the box. Curiosity got the best of Pandora and she ended up disobeying by opening the box. In humanity mythology women are portrayed as not being able to follow instructions and obey. The next type of mythology is the animal/plant mythology. In Judeo-Christian/Western animal/plant mythology, you have the parable of Adam and Eve again. In the parable, Adam the man, is given the responsibility to name the animals. While in Greek animal/plant mythology, you have the myth of how spiders came to be. There was a Goddess named Athena who challenged Arachne at weaving. Arachne was the best weaver there. After loosing, Athena turned Arachne into a spider so she would weave webs forever. In animal/plant mythology, women are viewed as incapable to complete tasks and also viewed as jealous. The last type of mythology is hero mythology. In Judeo-Christian/Western hero mythology, you have superhero and trickster schemes. Without a trickster there is no superhero to solve the problem. In the superhero community, almost every superhero is male. On the other hand, in Greek hero mythology you have The Odyssey. In The Odyssey, you have Odysseus who is away for twenty long years. Odysseuss wife has been mourning for his arrival and has remained clean and faithful. In the meantime, Odysseus is sleeping with other women. Hero mythology portrays the dominance of men and their image of strength. Hero mythology also portrays the double standard of  what men expect for women. In conclusion, bad attitudes toward women that are seen in Judeo-Christian/Western and Greek mythology still exist today. In humanity mythology, women are portrayed as incapable of obeying and following instructions. In animal/plant mythology, women are viewed as incapable to complete tasks and also very jealous. In hero mythology, men are seen as the ones with dominance, strength, and superiority and you can see a double standard in the expectations of morality. The attitudes toward women in both Judeo-Christian/Western and Greek mythology are negative.

The Need For Depository Systems In India

The Need For Depository Systems In India With the existence of 23 recognized stock exchanges, Indian capital market has been witnessing rapid growth in recent past. However, this growth has not matched with supporting infrastructure to handle the growing volume of paper that has flooded the market choking and existing system. This has caused problems like delay in transfer, long settlement periods, bad deliveries etc. With the view to globalize Indian capital market in a real sense, the government of India has initiated a number of financial reforms that were initiated in 1991 as part of the structured reforms comprising industrial de-regulation, privatization and globalization. A thigh committee on financial system with Sh. Narsihma Rao as the chairman has set up in 1991, which made for reaching recommendations for banking sector and non-banking financial sector to improve the flexibility and operational efficiency of the markets. Securities Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India, Department of Company Affairs and Ministry of Finance are the important regulatory bodies of the capital market measuring the effective and efficient functioning of the market. SEBI also constituted a number of committees such as G.S. Patel Committee to review the system of carry forward transactions in the stock exchanges, Malegram Committee to review the disclosure practices of companies in primary market, Bhave committee to examine problems pertaining to transport shares. The earlier system, a paper based mode, entails cumbersome legal formalities for the purpose of transfer of securities and settlement of transaction theorem. The earlier system suffered from the following shortcomings, thereby arising the need for depository system, these are Lack of supporting infrastructure, Problems in transactions, Delayed settlements, Soaring costs of transaction, Transactions end up as bad deliveries due to faulty compliance of paper work, mismatch of signatures on transfer deeds with specimen record of the issuer, Theft, mutilation of certificates and other irregularities. The modern system i.e. depository system is the system whereby the transfer and settlement of scrips take place not through transfer deeds and physical delivery of scrips which are traditional but through the modern system of effecting transfer of ownership of securities by means of book entry on the ledgers of the depository without physical movement of scrips. History of stock exchanges The Indian stock markets are nearly 128 years old, with the Bombay stock exchange, the oldest of them functioning since 1875. At present there are 23 recognized stock exchanges. Stock exchanges are the most perfect type of market for securities whether of government and semi-government bodies or other public bodies as also for shares purchases and sales of shares are made in the conditions of the competitions. The bargains that are struck in the trading ring by the members of the stock exchanges are at the fairest prices determined by the basic laws of supply and demand. Development in the capital market The reforms for Indian capital market is mainly focused on market regulation, primary market functioning, secondary markets trading, development of a proper debt securities trading market, development of a derivatives market (futures and options), development of an integrated national market system, technological investment in exchanges, investor protection and more foreign portfolio investment in exchanges. SEBI, the regulatory body of the capital market, has been taking various steps and has introduced various guidelines for the efficient functioning of the market and has also constituted various committees to review the existing system and suggestions for further reforms. Deficiencies in the existing system of Scrips Transfer The existing system, a paper based mode, entails cumbersome legal formalities as per section 108 of Indian Companies Act, 1956, for the purpose for transfer of securities and settlement of transaction there on. The present system suffers from the following shortcomings, thereby arising the need for depository system, these are: Lack of supporting Infrastructure Problem in transactions Global Imperatives Problems in dealing with Securities Greater mobility of Securities Cumbersome legal system Need for depository system Indian capital market has been witnessing rapid growth in recent past. However, this growth has not watched with supporting infrastructure to handle the growing volume of paper that has flooded the market, choking our existing system. This has caused problems like delay in transfers, long settlement period, high levels of failed trade and bad deliveries, high-risk exposure etc. These characteristics were normally the attributes of an under developed market. As the market grows, there is need for better system to ensure that such impediment to growth is removed. The foreign investors seeking to invest in India are also apprehensive about the reliability of the post trade settlement mechanism used in India. The biggest deterrent or bottleneck in Indian capital market was largely manual and paper based settlement system that was obsolete for a rapidly growing market. Since 1992, old trading system in Indian stock exchanges has been under constant review. The main deficiencies have been identified in 2 broad areas: The clearing and settlement system in stock exchanges whereby delivery of shares by the seller and payment by the purchaser is made and Procedure for transfer of shares in the name of the purchaser by the company. The new system has eliminated paper work, facilitated electronic book entry of the transfer of securities, permitted automatic and transparent screen based trading in securities, shorter settlement periods and improved liquidity in investment in securities. All this has given impetus to the growth of the capital market in India. The transactions in a stock exchange, earlier involved physical movement of paper (the share certificate) which first changed hand from the seller to buyer on payment of price and subsequently was sent to the company (issuer of the share) for the change of the ownership of the shares to be incorporated in the books of the company. The process of verification of the ownership of the seller and hence validity of the sale took a long time, disabling the purchaser from the selling the shares further while the shares were being transferred in his or her name. Though section 113 of the Companies Act, 1956, stipulates that the company effects the transfer within 2 m onths. In reality transferring shares in ones name took longer. This delay reduced the liquidity of the investor, as during these times, he/she cannot sell the shares. This has proved particularly inconvenient for large investors for whom fast transfers were essential to maintain the liquidity. Apart from this, physical movement of shares also meant the possibility of theft and loss of shares in transit. The magnitude of the problem has increased manifold as the daily turnover in stock exchange has increased considerably. The average daily turnover of BSE itself amounts to Rs. 500 crores with shares of more than 7500 companies, being traded by more than 650 brokers for more than 30 million investors in the country. This has necessitated the use of better and faster transfer system like computerized records as compared to the physical paper (security) Emergence of Depositories There are two depositories that have emerged in India: National Securities Depositories Limited The Honourable Union Finance Minister, Shri. P. Chidambram inaugurated NSDL as the first depository in the country on Nov 8, 1996. It has been promoted by three premier institutions in India the largest mutual fund UTI, the largest stock exchange NSE of India Ltd. Subsequently, the State Bank of India, the largest commercial bank in India has also taken up a stake in NSDL. NSDL provides for electronic ownership, holding and transfer of securities trading in electronic securities on the NSE commenced in Dec, 96 and the first settlement of transactions in electronic securities was successfully completed at NSDL on Jan 7, 1997. The stock exchange Mumbai BSE also extended the facility of trading in electronic securities from December 27, 1997. NSDL is responsible to every individual to every individual investor who holds electronic balances with the depository. The depository participant acts as an agent of NSDL for providing its services to the investors. NSDL has designed the software for the operating systems in such a way that the software systems at the depository participant office are connected. Thus, a highly integrated set up for maintenance of investor accounts through the DPs has been developed and implemented. NSDL has access to all the accounts of individual maintained by the DPs to ensure adequate control. The operating system of NSDL also maintains continuous electronic connectivity with the registrar and transfer departments/agents of the companies whose securities can be dematerialized in NSDL. To all the investors both retail and institutional, NSDL offers the following services: Maintain beneficial holdings through depository participants. Provide for dematerialization and Rematerialisation of securities Dematerialization Rematerialisation Effect account transfers for settlement of trades Allow for receipt of allotment in the electric form Providing pledging, hypothecation facilities for stocks held with it. Receive and disburse corporate actions (only securities) Central Depositories Services Limited This is the second depository after NSDL. This inter connectivity will be established prior to the commencement of business by CDSL. This will facilitate settlement and movement of assets and custody from one depository to another. CDSL has been promoted by the Stock Exchange, Mumbai (BSE), in association with Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank and Stare Bank of India. It has been able to tie up with as many as 35 brokers till now. CDSL and NSDL both have signed a MoU for inter-depository connectivity on 23rd April 1999. The MoU covers the understanding between the depositories for inter-depository transfers arising out of transactions not settled through the CH/CC (off market). The procedure for inter-depository transfers between CDSL and NSDL arising out of transactions settled through a CH/CH (on market) are expected to be finalized separately. The Depositories Act, 1996 The Depositories Act makes a provision for the setting up of multiple depositories in India. The investor has been granted the option of holding securities in a physical or dematerialized from. Thus it is a matter of choice for the investor as to whether he wants to avail of depository services. The depository has been entrusted with the responsibility of indemnifying beneficial owners for any loss caused due to negligence of the depository or its participants. For holding securities in the depository, the two routes that are adopted by depositories world over as: Immobilization In this the depository holds the securities in the physical form in its own vaults, but transfer of securities takes place through book entries. Dematerialization In this the securities in physical form are shredded and corresponding credit is made in the form of electronic balances that are maintained in the depository account. The concept of a depository has made a late entry into our country so we are fortunate to have the advantage o hindsight gained from the experience of other depositories the world over as well as adopting the latest technology. Thus, the law in our country has preferred the demat route. The demat securities will be identical and interchangeable as they will not have any unique characteristics such as distinctive number of folio. The depository will facilitate dematerialization of securities. The investor has the option of holding securities in the physical form or in the depository form. He can choose not to opt for depository system by requesting issue of physical certificates. The depository will, thus provide for Rematerialisation. All rights with respect to the securities held in the depository will be with the beneficial owner (investor) and not with the depository, the depository acting as the registered owner only. When transacting through a depository, the investor will not be required to pay stamp duty on transfer of shares within the depository. The depository will interface with the investors through market intermediaries called DPs. The depository will hold beneficial owner the level in formation through its network of DPs. The depository is obliged to provide this information to the issuer company or its registrar and transfer agent at regular intervals. This will facilitate proper distribution of benefits arising out of the investors holdings such as dividend, interest, bonus and rights as on a given record date by the issuer company or its registrar and transfer agent. The SEBI Regulations, 1996 Based on the depositories ordinance, SEBI has notified regulations on 16th May 1996, which specify the norms for functioning and operations of depositories. The depository system is very similar to banking environment. Thus, while a bank performs the function of holding, transferring and allowing withdrawal of funds, a depository performs the function of holding, transferring and allowing withdrawal of securities. A bank reaches out to the masses by setting up its branches. Similarly, a depository reaches out to the general investor through its agents that are the DPs. The regulations have selected various categories of market participants, who are eligible to become DPs and have a well-established customer interface network and are therefore the ideal choice to become the agents of a depository. The categories are: Public Financial Institutions Scheduled Banks RBI approved Foreign Banks operating in India. State Financial Corporations Certified custodians of securities Clearing corporations of stock exchanges Registered stock brokers Non-Banking Financial Companies. Entities desiring to become DPs must apply to the depository and are required to be recommended to SEBI by the depository. If approved and registered by the SEBI, the DP can be admitted on to the depository. The depository has to formulate its own set of criteria for selection of participants. The regulations require the depository to list out through its byelaws the securities, which are eligible to be admitted to depository for dematerialization. Equity shares, debentures, warrant, bonds, units of mutual funds etc. are part of list of eligible securities. The depository is empowered to set its own criteria for selection of securities and make securities eligible to be maintained in the form of electronic holdings on the holdings of the depository. Agreements should be entered into by the following entities: Depository and every participant Participant and every client Depository, issuer company and the registrar The drafts of these agreements are to be included in the byelaws and to be approved by SEBI. It is important that participants are connected to the depository through a continuous electronic communication system. The same is true for registrars or corporates communicating with the depository. In addition, for enabling settlements of securities, the depository is also to be connected electronically to clearing entities. This imposes the need for automatic data processing systems with necessary security features and forms one of the criteria for selecting securities for dematerialization. The depository required to ensure that sufficient safeguards are there to protect the data available with it and with the participants. To reduce risk in operations, the regulations stipulate that the depository and DPs must provide for, adequate insurance cover as well. Since the depository acts as the source of information for the registrar in terms of providing beneficial ownership details, the depository has to reconcile data internally with the participants to ensure validity of data. The regulations require this reconciliation to be carried out on a daily basis. Further the depositories and the registrar will also reconcile balances on a daily basis and periodic basis. SHOWING THE DEPOSITORY INTERFACE WITH THE INVESTOR AND THEIR BUSINESS PARTNERS NSDL ISSUER RT AGENT CLEARING HOUSE CLEARING MEMBER DEPOSITORY PARTICIPANT STOCK EXCHANGE TRADING MEMBER INVESTOR NSDL is electronically linked to its DPs, the RT department of the issuer co. and the clearing corporation/ clearing house of the stock exchange. This is done in order to facilitate the settlement of trades and to perform a dealing reconciliation of all the accounts balances with NSDL. The entire system is called the NEST (National Electronic Settlement Transfer) system. Thus a higher integrated set up for maintenance of investor accounts has been developed and implemented. Constituents of Depository System Depository Depository Participant Beneficial Owner Issuer Benefits/Advantages of Depository System Benefits of depository system are: To the Nation Growing and more liquid capital markets to provide financing and development stemming from more efficient post trade systems with reduced transactions costs. Increase in competitiveness in the International market place and attracting investors and fund managers by complying with stipulated international standard for and efficient and risk free trading environment. Improved prospects for privatization of public sector units by creating a conducting environment. Restoration of faith in the capital market on the participants with system to minimize settlement risk and frauds. Considerable reduction in the delay in registration which can currently impact trading. To the Investing Public Reduction of risks associated with loss, mutilations, theft and forgery or physical scrips. Elimination of financial loss owing to loss of physical scrips. Greater liquidity from speedier settlements and reduction in delays in registration. Faster receipt benefit and rights resulting from corporate action. Improved production of shareholder rights resulting from more timely communication from the issuers. Reduced transactions costs through greater efficiency. To issuer Upto date knowledge of shareholders names and addresses. Savings in costs of new issuers from reduction in printing and distribution costs. Increase in efficiency of registrars and transfer agent functions Better facilities for communication with shareholders conveying benefits of corporate actions and information notices. Improved ability to attract international investors without having to incur the expenditure of issuance in overseas market. Objectives of the study To know the perception and viewpoint of the investors regarding depository system. To know the satisfaction level of investors regarding depository services. Related Researches Alton (1994) found the principles of converting shares into dematerialized form. He also commented that with a grand start the concept of demat of shares in Indian Market is all pervasive and set to conquer the stock market. George (1996) studied the growth and the dematerialization of products and found that the concept of dematerialization is coming at a very fast pace. Kumar (1998) studied the advantages of dematerialization and opening of Demat account. He also compared the effect on trading of shares of the companies have dematerialized their shares and who have not dematerialized their shares. Mittal (1998) presented an extensive information on dematerialization of shares, their advantages, investor grievances and insurance aspect related to dematerialized shares and found that a very large potential of dematerialization of shares exists in the Indian Market. Cholamandalam (1998) conducted research on requirements to be fulfilled by a company to get its shares listed at a depository so that they can be easily dealt in dematerialized form. Hughes India Limited (1999) conducted a research to study the benefits and drawbacks, which are to be borne in mind by company that is planning to dematerialize its shares and get them registered with NSDL. Law (1999) in his article Depository Revolution has discussed that depository is not just removing fake shares and bad deliveries from the capital market but to prove a great catalyst for reform. The depository is a reality today. The concept of depository is set to revolutionize trading practices, reduce transaction costs and increase investor safety. Kumar (1998) in his Article Demat trading simpler the better has shed light on the different fees structure charged by NSDL from depository participants and by depository participants from the investors. NSDL charges nominal fees under three heads i.e. transaction fees in case of purchases, custody fees and rematerialisation fees. Gajra (1999) in his article Claim your rights has provided us the useful information that the investors get the compensation or the loss due to the depository participants mistake. The investors for protecting their return should give debit instruction to their DPs for sale at least a day or two before settlement day. Then the investor has to look for an instruction carried out properly. If he failed to get it, then he should approach NSDL, for arbitration. DPs are personally liable for their losses. This article was given in regard when SCHIL, one of the largest DPs failed to transmit instructions of its investor-clients to NSDL on time before settlement pay in. Saikia (1999) in his article Compulsory demat within a year has shed light on the views expressed by Ministry of Finance that one year has been set in adopting the full demat route for primary and secondary market shares. Research Methodology The study is based on descriptive research design. The primary data was collected and used for the research purpose. Primary data was collected by survey with the help of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered by the personal interview i.e. questions were asked from the respondents in a face-to-face meeting and the study was conducted with the help of pre-structured non-disguised questionnaire. Respondents were interviewed with the help of structured questionnaire. An investor residing and availing Depository Services in Ludhiana was taken as a sample. In the present study, non-probability sampling technique i.e. convenience sampling is used to collect the sample. Here in the study, population consists of all the investors of Ludhiana and a sample of investors have been taken from it. It is a convenience sampling because the respondent investors are chosen from those who happened to visit the office of a particular broker and the brokers themselves. The respondents were interviewed with a structural questionnaire by the researcher. A smaller sample but well selected sample may be superior to a larger but badly selected sample. A total of 100 respondents were selected from the city for the study. Investors ranked various advantages of depository. Rank was determined by computing the weighted average i.e. 4 points were attached to rank first, 3 points to rank second, 2 points to rank third and 1 point to rank fourth. Then for calculating ranks for various advantages, points allotted by investors were added and divided by 100 i.e. sample size. The advantage with the highest weighted average was ranked first and the advantage with the lowest weighted average was ranked fourth i.e. last. Similarly, the investors ranked problems faced by investors in depository system. Weighted average method was used. For rating the satisfaction level regarding depository services and the investors view point regarding depository system, weighted average method as well as factor analysis were used. The points were given as such. For highly satisfied +2, for satisfied +1, for indifferent 0, for dissatisfied -1 and for highly dissatisfied -2. Results of the Study Respondents Profile As per the study, majority respondents were professional i.e. 33% such as C.As, MBAs and C.S., where as 22% were post-graduates and the remaining 45% were graduates. The study found that majority of the investors i.e. 46% belonged to age group 30 or less than 40. 18% of the investors were belonging to age group 20 or less than 30, 26% of the investors were belonging to the age group 40 or less than 50 and 10% of the investors belong to the age group 50 or more. As per the study majority of the respondents i.e. 44% of the investors were found operating in the capital markets for 6 years or more. Whereas 29% of the investors have been operating for 4 years of less than 6 years, 18% have been operating for 2 years or less than 4 years and the remaining 9% have been operating for less than 2 years. As per the study, majority of the respondents had opened their demat accounts in year 2000 and 1999. The Different Sources Of Information From Where The Investors Came To Know About The Depository System. Sources of Information No. Of Investors Percentage Brokers 42 42 Friends 6 6 Newspapers Magazines 36 36 T.V. Programmes 2 2 Others 14 14 Total 100 100 As per the study, majority respondents had brokers, newspapers and magazines as the best source of information regarding depository system. The Depository Participants With Whom The Investors Had Opened Up Their Demat Account Depository Participants No. Of Investors Percentage SHCIL 30 30 Master Capital 22 22 LSE Securities 16 16 Karvy Consultants 18 18 Others 14 14 Total 100 100 The study revealed that Majority participants had opened their accounts with Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited followed by Master Capital, Karvy Consultants, LSE Securities and other depositary participants. The Reasons For Opening Demat Account With Particular DP By The Investor The respondents were asked to tick the various factors being considered for opening demat account with a particular DP. Reasons Percentage Nearness to location 15 Fast transaction 30 Infrastructure Facility 25 Good client dealing 15 Goodwill of the Organization 10 Others 05 Total 100 As per the study, the major factor contributing in selecting the depository was Fast Transaction followed by other factors such as Availability of Proper Infrastructure, Client Dealing, Goodwill of the organization, approachability etc. The Ranking Given By The Investors To Various Advantages Of Depository System Advantages Mean Scores Ranking No scope for any risk of loss, theft or fraud regarding share certificates 1.32 1 Investment is highly liquid 1.96 2 No stamp duty 3.9 4 Bad deliveries are almost eliminated 2.82 3 The study found that majority of the investors were of the view that the depository system would overcome the chances of loss, theft or fraud as a first advantage followed by other such as liquid investments, elimination of bad deliveries and absence of stamp duties. The Ranks Being Given By Investors To Different Problems Of Depository Services. Problems Mean Scores Ranking Not fully aware of the mechanism 3.64 4 Fear of enquiries from Income Tax Department 2.45 3 Increase in transactions costs 2.27 2 Difficulty in maintaining accounts 2.25 1 Increased paper work 4.39 5 As per the study the investors thought maintenance of accounts as a major problem of Depository System and ranked it at first place. The study highlighted the other problems such as increase in the cost of transaction, fear of enquiries from Income Tax Department, not full awareness about the system and increased paper work. Satisfaction Level Of The Investors Regarding Depository Services Attributes Mean Scores Satisfaction Level Dealing of DPs 1.6 Highly Satisfied Fees structure of DPs 0.94 Satisfied Service time of DPs 0.32 Indifferent Infrastructure Facilities of DPs 0.97 Satisfied Dematerialization/Rematerialisation procedure 1.14 Satisfied The study found that the investors were highly satisfied with dealing of Depository participants and satisfied from other services such as fee structure, infrastructure facilties and demateralisation/rematerialisation procedures. However, many of the respondents were found indifferent from service timings of DPs. The Investors View Regarding The Different Factors Of Depository Services Sr. No. Factors Mean Scores View Point 1 More transparency in depository system 2 Strongly Agree 2 Fear of losing physical possession of share certificates -1.36 Disagree 3 More cost involved in opening, maintaining and closing of demat account 1.05 Agree 4 Manipulation done by DPs and Brokers -0.02 Indifferent 5 Burden on small investor has been increased 0.21 Indifferent 6 Cost of Depository System matches with the revenues from it 1.22 Agree 7 Demat process is a lengthy one 1.14 Agree 8 Business for brokers has been increased 1.58 Strongly Agree 9 Need of single Depository 0.02 Indifferent 10 Demat has a bright future

The Media Influence on Public Perceptions of Crime

The Media Influence on Public Perceptions of Crime Introduction The publics knowledge of crime is primarily derived from its depiction in the media. The media affects the publics opinion of crime and punishment, and its perception of the police. If the media is responsible for the headlines, the conclusion is that it influences the publics attitude regarding crime incidents. (Muraskin and Domash 2007). Crime stories are covered extensively by the print-based media seemingly because they help to sell newspapers. Stories are often sensationalised with the intent to make attention-grabbing headlines that do not always represent the true facts; but do these articles play a part in needlessly fuelling the publics fear of crime? This dissertation will attempt to answer this question by conducting primary research in the suburban village of Stannington in Sheffield. Aims/Objectives/Hypothesis The objective of this research is to analyse the relationship between crime and the media, more specifically fear of crime levels and print-based media articles. Due to the geographic location in which the research will be conducted, two specific crime types have been chosen; personal crimes such as burglary and theft and community-based crimes such as vandalism and anti-social behaviour. These crime types were chosen as a result of the suburban area in which the study will be conducted. These crimes are those which are more likely to be of a concern to the respondents of the study and are therefore more suitable for this particular piece of research if I wish to collect an accurate data set. More serious crimes like rape, murder and assault are less likely to occur on a private, middle class housing estate and thus these crime types would probably not be a major concern to residents living in the area. Prior to conducting any research; the hypothesis chosen which predicts the outcom e of the research is that respondents who are female and who read print-based media more frequently will have an increased fear of crime in comparison to males who dont read print-based media articles. Literature Review Fear of crime Garofalo (1981:840) defined fear of crime as an emotional reaction characterized by a sense of danger and anxiety produced by the threat of physical harm elicited by perceived cues in the environment that relate to some aspect of crime. The definition of fear of crime can vary depending on the individual and their own personal experiences of crime; and this is in fact similar to how people have differing levels of fear. An individuals level of fear could be influenced by several factors. Personal experience of crime is one of many factors which can significantly increase the level of fear which a person has, with the fear of repeat victimisation a key issue in this. Balkin (1979) and Hough (1985) argue that a commonly accepted belief is that people who have been victimised, particularly in their neighbourhood, or who know others who have been similarly victimised, will tend to be more afraid. Similarly, a report published by the Beth Johnson foundation in 2006 looked at the fear of c rime in people over the age of 50. It found that several respondents who had been mugged and/or burgled had a particularly high level of fear of crime as a result of their previous experiences. This publication shows many interesting opinions of the elderly, however it does not take into account the opinions of a larger demographic of people with varying ages. As a result it allows an opportunity to conduct research on a broader scale to investigate fear of crime from people of all ages. Jewkes (2010:155) acknowledges that victims of crime will probably become more fearful about the likelihood of future victimization as a result of their experiences, however many more individuals will experience fear as a result of indirect contact with crime. Fear of crime has become a major social problem and although some of this fear can be accounted for by the actual amount of criminal activity, particularly in the neighbourhood (Kinsey et al.1986). People may come to be fearful of criminal victimisation because they perceive their immediate environment to be threatening, thus noisy neighbours, teenagers hanging around street corners and flats with broken windows may all signify to some individuals that their neighbourhood is threatening (Baumer 1985; Hunter and Baumer 1982), however much of it is caused by other subjective/perceptual and social structural factors. A substantial amount of research has already identified several factors which appear to make a contribution to fear. Box, Hale and Andrews (1988: 341) classify these under the following headings: vulnerability, environmental clues and conditions, personal knowledge of crime and victimisation, confidence in the police and criminal justice systems, perceptions of personal ris k, and seriousness of various offences. The research for this piece of work will be carried out by households in close proximity to each other; consequently the environmental conditions should be very similar for each respondent. However other factors, in particular vulnerably; personal knowledge of crime; and confidence in the police and criminal justice system should be different for every respondent. As a result, the findings of the research should be particularly diverse. In terms of fear of crime, the British Crime Survey offers an in depth insight into the British publics perception of crime, in comparison to actual crime statistics. The BCS is a face-to-face victimisation survey in which people inhabiting households in England and Wales are asked about their experiences of crime in the 12 months prior to interview. The 2009/10 BCS shows that a large proportion of people (sixty six per cent) believe crime has risen across the country as a whole in the last few years. There has been a large majority of respondents who think crime has risen at a national level since the questions were first included in 1996. Statistics provided by the Home Office (2010) show an actual decrease in a large number of crimes between 2002 and 2010. The total of sexual offences, robbery, burglary, fraud, drug offences, and the total of all recorded crime have decreased every year for the past 8 years. These figures would suggest that the publics fear of crime is unjust base d on the number of crimes which have fallen throughout Britain in recent years. It would appear that the publics perception of these high crime levels is influenced by more than just official statistics released by the Home Office, the most obvious contributor to this fear of crime being the media. Fear of crime and the media It is often argued that the media exaggerate the extent of crime in Britain. This includes newspapers, news and entertainment on television and radio, as well as crime fiction (Greer,2005). These exaggerations of crime stories which are in the public eye daily can have a substantial impact upon the publics perception of crime, but more significantly their fear of it. As previously mentioned, personal experiences of crime can often result in victims becoming increasingly fearful of being victimised; while accounts of crime from family, friends and neighbours may also have this effect. However as previous research has discovered; the most influential source to fuel fear of crime is usually the media. As Jewkes (2010) states numerous writers have examined the proposition that the media present crime stories (both factual and fictional) in ways which selectively distort and manipulate public perceptions, creating a false picture of crime which promotes stereotyping, bias, prejudice and g ross oversimplification of the facts. Their conclusion is that it is not just official statistics that misrepresent the picture of crime, but that the media are also guilty of manipulation and fuelling public fears. Roberts and Doob (1986) and Surette (1998) reaffirm this view of crime and the media in their analysis of how influential the media can be. The publics perception of victims, criminals, deviants, and law enforcement officials is largely determined by their portrayal in the mass media. Research indicates that the majority of public knowledge about crime and justice is derived from the media. Western society is fascinated with crime and justice. From films, books, newspapers, magazines, television broadcasts, to everyday conversations, we are constantly engaging in crime talk. In this sense; the mass media play an important role in the construction of criminality and the criminal justice system. Research conducted by Ditton and Duffy (1983) came to a similar conclusion to Jewkes in regards to coverage of crime stories in the media after their analysis of three Scottish newspapers. An analysis of the crime content of the newspapers (in terms of the numbers and page areas of crime reports) was completed and found that six per cent of the news involved crime, with forty five per cent of this being violent or sexual crime. This figure was then compared with actual police statistics which showed just two per cent of crime in the locality to be of a violent and/or sexual nature (Williams and Dickinson 1993:35). As a result of their findings, Ditton and Duffy came to the conclusion that this research exemplifies the level of sensationalism and exaggeration of crime stories which appear throughout print-based media. Consequently, they called for further research to be conducted to determine whether the misrepresentations of crime in newspapers influence the general perceptions of re aders. Despite a large percentage of violent or sexual crimes covered in the newspapers, it is arguable as to weather a percentage of just six out of the total of all articles in them is substantial enough to conclude that print-based media exaggerate and sensationalise as Ditton and Duffy suggested. This research took significant steps to examine the content of crime stories in print-based media and be regarded as a successful study, however it was conducted almost thirty years ago which means in terms of quantity and coverage of crime stories in modern Britain, it is somewhat outdated. In addition; the research fails to determine any links between media coverage and fear of crime, so with this in mind, the study which will be conducted for this piece of work primarily aims to investigate if there is any sort of correlation between print-based media and fear of crime in an attempt to come to a conclusion which Ditton and Duffy were unable to achieve. When the discussion takes place surrounding how influential the media can be on crime levels and fear of crime; the theory of moral panics often surfaces. This model made famous by Stanley Cohen in the 1970s with the publication of Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The creation of Mods and Rockers refers to public and political reactions to minority or marginalized individuals and groups who appear to be some kind of threat to consensual values and interests. (Jewkes 2010:74) By labelling certain groups as deviant; missing out key facts and extensively covering crime stories; the creation of moral panics by the British press has becoming arguably one of the more damaging aspects of crime coverage, causing unnecessary for fear and apprehension amongst the public. These fears when compared to actual crime statistics do appear to be uncalled for, but figures from the British Crime Survey suggest that they are still present in the minds of newspaper readings. The British Crime Survey has been conducted by the Home Office since its introduction in 1982 and from 2001 it has run continuously each year. The survey of around forty thousand adults is conducted to gain an insight into public attitudes to crime as well as other criminal justice issues, with the findings often used to assist the Government in their policy formations (Home Office 2010). The 2003 edition of the BCS was the first to ask respondents directly about their newspaper reading habits. The results showed that attitudes to crime are very much influenced by newspaper reports. Forty three per cent of tabloid readers believed that crime has increased a lot with seventeen per cent also claiming to be very worried by the threat of physical attacks (Guardian 2003). These findings are based on a very large scale with the respondents geographically located across most parts of Britain. They offer an accurate representation of the populations fear of crime and how this is influenced b y newspapers articles, however due to its large scale, a more appropriate approach to use in order to get a localised view on crime would be a study of households in one particular part of a city. This method then allows the researcher to investigate if the immediate area in which the respondent resides is influential in their levels of fear. Several other pieces of research have been carried out to understand fear of crime in both the elderly and in women respectively. A recent Age Concern reported entitled The Fear Factor: Older people and Fear of Street crime reported that forty seven per cent of those over 75 years of age and thirty seven per cent of those over fifty no longer take part in social and community activities after dark because of fear of street crime (Help the Aged 2006). Similarly an article in the Independent (2005) entitled Women and Crime: Fear in Suburbia goes into depth about the fear which single women have about being attacked in their own homes. In this article many women interviewed agreed that the media has a role to play in increasing womens fears despite official Home Office statistics suggesting total recorded crime is down by six per cent year-on-year (Independent 2005). Both pieces of research gain insight into two separate groups of society with valid and reliable data collection, however they fail to make comparisons of fear of crime levels with other groups of people. By conducting research from both men and women of varying ages, this allows for more in depth analysis, where comparisons and correlations can be made between all respondents to determine if age and/or sex are an influential factor in fear of crime levels. There has been extensive criticism of the empirical and theoretical validity of the claims that media images cultivate a misleading view of the world of crime (Howitt 1998; Ditton et al. 2004); and according to several critics, there is still not enough sufficient evidence to suggest that exposure to the media as well as other variables such as class, gender, race, place of residence and actual experience of crime can and do effect an individuals fear of becoming a victim of crime (Reiner 2006). Despite these criticisms; the research carried out for this piece of work will attempt to gather enough evidence to show that the media along with other variables does in fact influence fear of crime. Methodology The data collection method which will be used for this research is a cross-sectional questionnaire consisting of both qualitative and quantitative questions. The questionnaire will be given to twenty four randomly selected respondents living on a housing estate in the semi-rural village of Stannington, in Sheffield. At the last census (2001), the population for Stannington village was listed as 16,600 (www.stannington.org.uk). This number is far too large as it would require a significant amount of questionnaires to be produced which is unrealistic given the resources and time-frame available; therefore a combination of both cluster and systematic sampling will be used to select certain roads and houses within a small geographical location. Kalsbeek (1998) defines cluster sampling as: sampling in which sampling units (that is, households) at some point in the selection process are collections, or clusters, of population elements. For the primary sample group; eight roads on the housi ng estate will be selected as part of the cluster sampling process, then house numbers two; five and eight are to be chosen systematically. This approach eliminates any potential bias, allowing the validity of the research to be increased. Similarly; for the secondary sample group, four roads will be selected with house numbers one and ten chosen to receive the questionnaire if not all twenty four primary respondents decide to complete the questionnaire. In order to be courteous when addressing the respondents, the electoral register will be accessed at the Sheffield Town Hall to gather the names of those chosen to participate in the study. Doing this should allow for the respondents to be contacted formally whilst making it more manageable to record which households responded and those who declined. When the collection of data from the primary sample group commences, personal introductions will be made informing the randomly selected respondents what the research study is for and how they have been chosen. If the respondents then decide to take part in the study they will be given the questionnaire along with a cover sheet, outlining the instructions on how to complete the questionnaire and a brief letter explaining the purpose of the study. If the there is no one in at the chosen addresses; the questionnaire will be posted to the respondents and will be collected a week from that date. The decision to utilise a cross-sectional questionnaire was made because this method allows data to be collected relatively quickly and at a single point in time. These characteristic of data collection are very much suited for this type of research study due to the time and transport limitations which apply. A questionnaire is preferable over other designs such as a longitudinal survey or case study as it lends itself well to quantifiable data, allowing for variations to be established which may appear throughout the different variables. According to Bryman (2008:45) cross sectional studies are very effective in terms of replicability because the researcher can spell out procedures for selecting respondents, designing measures of concepts; administrating research instruments and analysing data. When the questionnaires have been collected from all respondents and the required amount of data has been gathered; it will then be analysed using the data analysis software SPSS. This software allows complex data to be interpreted very easily through the use of bivariate and multivariate crosstabulations as well as frequency tables. This data can then be used to create graphs which allow for patterns of correlation to be identified. SPSS was elected due to its capability to eliminate any issues regarding inter-coder reliability. It also lends itself well to quantitative closed-ended question data (which I intend to collect) because this form of data requires very little coding and can therefore be inputted into the programme with ease. Data Analysis Following the collection of twenty four questionnaire responses; the data was inputted into the SPSS software and the variable values were coded. After compiling frequency tables and crosstabulations it appears that the research has identified some interesting findings, which do not necessarily agree with the original hypothesis stated at the beginning of the study. Table 1 (below) shows how participants responded to the question Do newspapers influence your fear of crime? It appears that only 37.5% of people felt that their fear of being a victim of crime was influenced by newspapers. 50% stated that they werent influenced which is reasonably more than those that answered yes to the question; however it is not significantly high enough to suggest a majority because there were 3 respondents (12.5%) who were undecided. (Table 1) Do newspapers influence your fear of crime? Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Yes 9 37.5 37.5 37.5 No 12 50.0 50.0 87.5 Dont know 3 12.5 12.5 100.0 Total 24 100.0 100.0 When the variable of gender is factored into the same question, it appears that men are more influenced by print-based media than women. A crosstabulation of the two variables shows that 6 males in comparison to just 3 females stated that their fear was influenced by newspapers. This figure at first appears to be a surprise when compared to the Independent (2005) article (referred to earlier); which stated that the media has a role to play in increasing fear of crime levels amongst women. However when a crosstabulation was formed which analysed the gender and how often do you read national newspapers? variables; it appears that the male respondents in the study read newspapers more regularly than the females. Table 2 (below) shows that half (6) of all male respondents read a national newspaper once a week in comparison to only 2 female respondents. It also illustrates that all of the male respondents read a newspaper at least once a month in comparison to 5 females who stated that th ey never read a newspaper. (Table 2) How often do you read national newspapers? * Are you male or female? Crosstabulation Are you male or female? Total Male Female How often do you read national newspapers? Every day 2 3 5 Several times a week 2 1 3 Once a week 6 2 8 Once a fortnight 2 0 2 Once a month 0 1 1 Never 0 5 5 Total 12 12 24 With this in mind; the statistics appear to suggest that those who are subject to newspaper articles more frequently appear to be influenced by them more in terms of fear of crime. Lichtenstein et al (1978: 575) state Fear sells. Past research by Ditton and Duffy (1983) amongst others, primarily focused upon newspaper content analysis. Some evidence was found to suggest that certain crime types; in particular violent or sexual crimes appeared continuously throughout newspapers articles. This research along with several other studies has collectively suggested that sensationalism of crime stories does occur in order to sell more copies. The questionnaire given to respondents asked them Do you think newspapers sensationalise crime stories? The pie chart above shows the overwhelming majority (91.7%) of participants felt that sensationalism does occur in British newspapers. This figure is particularly high considering that 5 out of the 24 respondents stated that they didnt read newspapers. In this case the assumption could be made that those who dont read newspapers would not be fully aware of the extent to which sensationalism appears to occur. However this statis tic confirms that this is irrelevant. In a similar manner, many newspapers (and the media in general) have been accused of creating moral panics. These accusations have especially

Missing in Action: The Female Work Force in Nazi Germany :: European History Research Papers

The Female Work Force in Nazi Germany Unlike the examples of the United States, Great Britain, Italy, and the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany refused to mobilize its female work force behind their war effort. Even as Germany was starving from attrition in a lack in war supplies as well as civilian essentials such as food, Nazi officials declined from enlisting the female force as laborers. All of Europe struggled to survive throughout the brutality of World War Two by using every resource available, except for Germany. Germany struggled as well, but stubbornly denied its full capacity in fighting the war by declaring the workplace unsuitable for women. Yet women around the world supplied munitions to the men at the front in order to succeed militarily as well as domestically. Germany did not have the luxury of maintaining a male dominated work force during the war, yet they tried to do so and found disaster. The reasons that Germany chose not to mobilize "racially acceptable" German women into the work force were complex and varied, but can be categorized into four primary categories. Firstly, Nazi expectation about World War II influenced not only how they dealt women, but also the entire German community. Nazi belief and behavior supported a "racially" superior nation inhabited by a war weary people. Subsequently, they feared losing support should Germany become involved in a protracted war or if the government asked too many sacrifices from its people. Secondly, German history paints a continuous prejudice toward women and their role in society. Nazis understood the prejudice, based their ideologies and policies on it, and then expanded from this base to more radical and limiting policies toward women. Thirdly, the enactment of Nazi policies and ideologies toward women were incompatible with including them in the war-stressed industrial force. Nazis had mapped out women's role in the Third Reich before the war, and were inflexible to altering it to include the necessary hardships of war. Finally, Germany used a pool of labor in their industry that was unique to Nazi Germany. Germany had the luxury of pulling from the populations of occupied Europe to fill its factories, and when even they were not enough, Nazis finally used the "inferior" forces of the inmates of concentration camps. Nazi Germany's failure to mobilize its female work force behind its war effort was a flaw that eventually became fatal. Germany is a country traditionally preoccupied with status and titles.

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Canada’s tried to remove assurances that Canada would support its allies in future wars, but failed. †¢ In 1921, Canada’s population was approximately 9 million citizens from which the majority was English Canadians. †¢ Canada was troubled by the lack of unity with its people. Disagreements and arguments arose that interfere government’s policies †¢ Many French Canadians wanted to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada. †¢ In the general elections held in 1921, the liberal Party held the most seats and won the elections. The liberal party was led by Mackenzie King. †¢ Mackenzie King served as a prime minister of Canada three times: from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948. †¢ He worked to improve Canadian self-government in foreign relations and to unite English and French Canadians. †¢ J.S Woodsworth together with William Irvine won seats in the Canadian Parliament. Together they wanted churches in Canada and that the government to become more active on such social issues as alcohol abuse, the hardship of immigrants, labor conditions, poverty and prostitution. †¢ Canada was asked and other dominions to send troops to help participate to help the British to hold a position at the Turkish port in Chanak. †¢ Canada disagreed to support Britain in the potential war with Turkey. †¢ First time, Canada did not automatically support Britain in war. †¢ In the â€Å"Imperial Conference â€Å"in London, Mackenzie King eager for having a common foreign rule for all the British Empire. †¢ In 1923 Canada signed freely with the U.S. the halibut treaty to control fishing in the Atlantic, pacific oceans and the Great Lakes. †¢ First time, Canada signed a treaty without including Britain. †¢ At the â€Å"Imperial Conference â€Å"Canada was allowed to sign treaties on i... ...the Canadian confederation in 1949. †¢ 1972, British citizens living in Canada are no longer able to vote in the Canadian elections. †¢ Canadian medals for military courage, bravery and valor were created and given. †¢ 1980, the Canadian national anthem was created. †¢ â€Å" Dominion day â€Å" is renamed â€Å"Canada Day† †¢ 2004, letter of credibility from foreign ambassadors are now formally addressed to the governor general of Canada. †¢ 1982,Constitution act is revised †¢ No longer can the British parliament make changes in Canada’s constitution. †¢ In 1925 Mackenzie King made his first idea for the national flag of Canada, it was very hard to get an approval, agreement among all. †¢ In 1946, King selected a parliamentary committee to choose a flag design. †¢ On Feb, 15, 1965 Canada had its own national flag. †¢ Union Jack was Canada’s unofficial national flag, it was Britain’s flag

Motivation at Panasonic Essay

Motivation at Panasonic Introduction Panasonic is very huge and world famous corporation. Panasonic is much more than a well-known brand name. It stands for the depth and diversity of our research capabilities, manufacturing expertise and product selection. It stands for the advanced technology of products, from easy-to-use consumer goods to sophisticated medical, broadcast, business and industrial systems. Visit the Panasonic Web site (http://www. panasonic. com) and you’ll quickly see the broad range of consumer, business, industrial and broadcast products offered. Business customers, seeing this wide range of expertise, have asked us to provide entire system wide solutions for all their electronics needs. Our engineers are rising to the challenge. The demand for this â€Å"one-stop shopping† is becoming a major growth area for the company as technology becomes more sophisticated and omnipresent. No matter if it’s a giant hotel, a stadium or a major metropolitan transit system, Panasonic is meeting customers’ needs. The research Question What motivate customers? What motivate employees and supervisor? How could this theory help you motivate the various individuals who work for you? How could you encourage the need for achievement in others? What are some of the difficulties in attempting to motivate high –NACH individuals in organizations? What evidence exits for the use of various types of reinforcement, vicarious learning, and self-control? What makes people kill others? There are questions that are unclear in many minds. Through this research, it is hope that the readers likewise will have a clearer view and understanding of motivations. Methodology The university library has very limited materials available for research purposes, and internet resource is not enough. For this reason and for fact that the scope of this research is limited to motivation, the research only used resources available. Literature search How to define motivation To define what motivation is, let us begin by point out what motivation isn’t. Why? Because many people incorrectly view motivation as a persona trait, that is, they think that some have it and others don’t. In practice, this attitude would characterize the manager who labels a certain employees as unmotivated. Our knowledge of motivation, though, tells us that people can’t be labeled in this way. What we know is that motivation is the result of the interaction between the individual and situation. Certainly, individuals differ in motivational drive, but an individual’s motivation varies from situation to situation. As we analyze varies both between individuals and with individuals at different times We’ll define motivation as the willingness to exert high levels of effort to reach organizational goals, conditioned by the effort’s ability to satisfy some individual need. Although general motivation refers to effort toward any goal, here it will refer to organizational goals because our focus is on work-related behavior. The three key elements in our definition are effort organizational goals, and needs. Motivation is the willingness to exert high levels of effort toward organizational goals, conditioned by the effort’s ability to satisfy some individual need. The motivation process begins with an unsatisfied need, which creates tension and drives an individual to search for goals that, if attained, will satisfy the need and reduce the tension. Motivation is the forces that energizes behavior, give direction to behavior, and underlines the tendency to persist. It is an internal force. NO one can really measure it; even the person involved himself or herself. How we measure motivation is by simply watching the behavior, actions, and performances of the people in their search for fulfillment towards their goals. These actual performances are likely to be a function of their own abilities, motivations, and working conditions of their environments. Motives are dynamic and they are constantly changing as a result of the rise and fall of a motive’s importance as it is satisfied or not. Dr. Abraham Maslow The best known theory of motivation is probably psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. He stated that within every human being there exists a hierarchy of five needs. Physiological needs . This most basic level of Dr. Maslow’s hierarchy includes the needs for food, water, sleep, oxygen, warmth, and freedom from pain. If these needs are unsatisfied, an individual’s actions will be dominated by attempts to fulfill them. If these needs are sufficiently met, the second set of needs will emerge. Safety needs. These needs relate to obtaining a secure environment in which an individual is free from threats. It includes security and protection from physical and emotional harm Social needs. The third set needs include the need for affection, belongingness, acceptance, and friendship. Esteem needs. Internal esteem factors such as self respect, autonomy, and achievement and external esteem factors such as status, recognition, and attention. Self-actualization needs. Growth, achieving one’s potential, and self-fulfillment; the drive to become what one is capable of becoming. As each need is substantially satisfied, the next need becomes dominant. From a motivation viewpoint, the theory says that, although no need is ever fully gratified, a substantially satisfied need no longer motivates. If you want to motivate someone, according to MASLOW, you need to understand where that person is in the hierarchy and focus on satisfying needs at or above that level. MASLOW’S need theory has received wide recognition, particularly among practicing managers. Its popularity can be attributed to the theory’s intuitive logic and ease of understanding. David McClelland David McClelland and others have proposed the three-needs theory, which maintains that there are three major relevant motivates or needs in work situations: Need for achievement(NACH) , Need for power(NPOW) , Need for affiliation(NAFF). Some people have a compelling drive to succeed, but they are striving for personal achievement rather than for the rewards of success per se (NACH). They have a desire to do something better or more efficiently than it has been done before. This drive is the need for achievement. From research concerning the achievement need, McClelland found that high achievers differentiate themselves from others by their desire to do things better. They seek solutions in which they can attain personal responsibility for back on their performance in order to tell whether they are improving or not, and in which they can set moderately challenging goals . High achievers are not gamblers; they dislike succeeding by chance. They prefer the challenges of working at a problem and accepting the actions of others. An important point is that they avoid what they perceive to be very easy or very difficult tasks. The need for power is the desire to have impact and to influential. Individuals high in NPOW enjoy being â€Å"in charge†, strive for influence over others, and prefer to be in competitive and status-oriented situations. The third need isolated by McClelland is affiliation (NAFF), which is the desire to be liked and accepted by others. This need has received the least attention by researchers. Individuals with high NAFF strive for friendships, prefer cooperative situations rather than competitive ones, and desire relationships involving a high degree of mutual understanding. Mr. McClelland proposed that a culture’s growth is due to level of need for achievement inherent in its population. His research indicates that increases in the level of need for achievement precede increases in economic activity. He also proposed that achievement motivation can enhanced in adults who others lack high level. Adams’s theory Employees don’t work in a vacuum. They make comparisons. If someone offered you $60,000 a year on your first job upon graduation from college, you would probably grab the offer and report to work enthusiastic and certainly satisfied with your pay. How would you react if you found out a month or so into the job that coworker -another recent graduate, your age, with comparable grades from a comparable college -was getting $70,000a year? You probably would be upset! Even though, in absolute terms, $60,000 is a lot of for a new graduate to make, that suddenly would not be the issue. The issue would now center on relative rewards and what you believe is fair. There is considerable evidence that employees make comparison of their job inputs and outcomes relative to others and that inequities influence the degree of effort that employees exert. Developed by J. Stacey Adams , equity theory says that employees perceive what they get from a job situation (outcomes) in relation to what they put into it (inputs) and then compare their inputs -outcomes ration with the inputs-outcomes rations of relevant others. Worker will balance the input and out put in different way. Such as 1Change their own perception 2Change other’s inputs or outputs Change our own inputs or outputs 4Choose another comparator 5Quit job. Reward System Motivating employees can be through extrinsic rewards which come form sources that are outside and intrinsic rewards which are more accurately characterized as self administered, arising form within the person. More specifically, motivating different employees are done differently. Motivating professionals differ from mo tivating contingent workers, motivating volunteer differ from motivating temporary employees. The professional employees are usually university graduates. They receive intrinsic satisfaction from their work. They are differing from non professionals. They have long term commitment with their field of expertise. They are loyal to their profession and not to their employees. They need regular update of their knowledge. They are well paid and enjoying what they do. The contingent employee would be more interest in having an opportunity to get a permanent job than anything else. They work contingent, if the company now are lack of secretary, then they must do the job as secretary; if the company need operators, then they must do the job as operators, they are not the formal employees in the company. The hours volunteers give to make programs and special events successful, and the fundraising contact they have with your donor base, make them key spokespersons. Volunteers can be your organization’s strongest recruiters, whether for additional volunteers, or for financial contributions. The most credible source of information within your organization to someone without any personal knowledge of it, volunteers must be informed and up-to-date about your organization’s mission, projects and plans. They need support and feedback. The temporary employees enter into a new company, whether it is for a few hours or a few weeks, they are naturally unsure and uncomfortable with the new environment. They are adapting to new and different management styles and are challenged by assuming somebody else’s responsibilities. Temporary employees are not second hand employees. Many choose to be a temporary employee for flexibility, variety of work experience, and mobility or are looking for permanent work in a company of choice. They have their own professional goals and are there to make things easier for your company. They are motivated by respect of others. Motivation at Panasonic The researcher will talk about motivation at Panasonic from two aspects. 1. Motivating employees The employees at Panasonic are only of two kinds: the supervisor and the employees. The supervisors are likewise well chose, and promoted from its own company, they must at least be university graduate and have rich experience. As supervisors, they set good examples to all their subordinates. They are very professional and mainly are old man, so the motivators to them are not money any more; they want esteem, the accepted of others. The employees are almost young and have very little experience, they want training to make them become stronger and also money to give their parents, even support their family. They also need to be treat equity, and need the understanding of managers; they want to feel managers keep an eye on them 2. Motivating customers The Panasonic are also taking some actions to motivate customers. The customers of Panasonic are mainly two kinds: Government purchasing officials and the user community. Why the customers want buy Panasonic products, because the high quality, good service, and the world famous brand, the good grantees. More importantly, Panasonic stands for a commitment to quality, value and innovation. In North America, this commitment is backed up by employees working in research and development centers from California’s Silicon Valley to Video Valley in New Jersey, state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, one of the country’s largest customer call centers in Virginia and sales and service organizations that deal with the public and business-to-business relationships in nearly every state. In all of our dealings, the customer is always first. This was our bedrock philosophy through the 20th century and it will carry us through the 21st century. Panasonic always make customers satisfied. Analysis and Interpretation Motivation helps people attain their goals and objectives easily. All people have motivation in doing anything, whether it is for a good cause, an ambition or a bad thing. Many times people don’t know their motivation in doing what they’re doing because they are simply following some unwritten rule of the society or that of they are simply following the wishes of others. At Panasonic, there are two aspects that motivate employees. How to motivate them? 1. The Panasonic itself as a large world famous corporation. Panasonic has very good organizational culture. At Panasonic, the working condition is pretty good, the salary is tie to the performance, the employees have equal chance to be promoted, and the outstanding persons at Panasonic will have chance to self-actualizations. â€Å"The reason I stay, is not they particularly enjoy the actual work that I do is because of the company. They all know, from experience and through exposure, that there are few companies out there that treat their employees as well as Panasonic. † One employee at Panasonic said. People and the Environment they work in are the reasons why they stay at their organization. Often people will dislike their work or the product, but they will remain at an organization because of the people they work with all week. Great companies create a home for their employees. No one wants to leave a nest where one is cared for and a part of a â€Å"family. † As one employee commented, â€Å"My current job satisfaction is the people! I love everyone I work with. This company has gone out of its way to create the perfect â€Å"culture† of people to work with. † 2. Motivation is about making an employee feel valuable. Provide a valuable salary to your employees for the value they deserve and for the void you would feel if they were to leave. You make efforts to make them feel valued as an employee in your organization and they will most likely feel valuable and appreciated. Run incentive and reward programs. Make the investment to organize and rally the troops around a goal and reward them for their efforts. They want to know they are being invested in as much as they are investing their time and talents in the company. In conclusion, motivation and retention appear really complex, but they are simple. Write the things down that make you feel valued at your company and try to do those same things for your co-workers and employees. You don’t have to be a mind-reader and you don’t have to have a degree in psychology or a heavy pocketbook to make your team members feel valued. It is all about trial-and-error and the fact that you are concentrating on making your work place like a home. At Panasonic, it also takes some actions at motivating customers such as provide the products that customer needs, From humble beginnings with one man producing one product on a table in his apartment, to current status as the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer electronics, Panasonic has strived to develop products and services that meet the needs of all of customers. Panasonic products have had access-friendly features for many years. They strongly believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of accessible products. To achieve this goal, they endeavor to assure that Panasonic products use all readily achievable means to make them ever more accessible to, and usable by people with disabilities. The popular DVD format is an excellent example of Panasonic’s engineering and marketing prowess. Panasonic developed many of the key technologies that make possible DVD, the format that is now transforming home entertainment and the computer industry. Their engineers took that technology from the laboratory and created high-quality, affordable components for the industry. At the same time, they used their expertise in storage media to make DVD discs a reality. For their DVD efforts, they were awarded a technical Emmy Award by the television industry. While they are proud of that award, it hasn’t stopped the technological advances. Panasonic was first to introduce recordable DVD for the PC and is moving forward with recordable DVD players for video enthusiasts. And this is only the beginning. Good service of guarantees procedures. In-warranty whole unit service is for in-warranty units that require service at the Panasonic repair center. 1. The specialist will make a determination of your warranty status* based on the date of purchase, serial number and problem description. Please refer to the green warranty card provided with your unit. 2. The specialist will provide you with a service authorization number, shipping company account and phone number, and address of the Panasonic repair center. If you need a box to ship the unit, we will send one to you. Make sure you backup your hard drive before sending your unit in for service. 4. Schedule a pick up of your unit with a shipping service company. Arrangements must be made within 30 days after you receive your service authorization number. 5. On the average, Panasonic’s repair center will troubleshoot and repair your unit within 48 hours of receipt. We will then return your computer via next day air service. All the above things make employees and customers highly motivated. Conclusion Motivation works differently for different people at different situations. According to Maslow hierarchy, our first need is survival, so we concentrate on basic physiological needs, such as food, water, and shelter, until we feel fairly sure that these needs are covered. Next, we concern ourselves with safety needs, which person to the desire to feel safe, secure, and free from threats to our existence. Once we feel reasonably safe and secure, we turn to attention to relationships with others in order to fulfill our belongingness needs, which involve the desire to affiliate with and be accepted by other. ow at Panasonic, employees mainly at this level, every few supervisors such as CEO, at the fourth level, even fifth level, the highest level of hierarchy, money is not their motivation any more. Because they already have a lot of money, they need excellent working conditions, others respect etc. But, the employees at lowest level of Panasonic, the main motivation to them is money, because they need support their family, they need satisfy their own needs of survival and safety. But when their needs are satisfied, then they will go to higher level of hierarchy.