Business Communication -successful communication between cultural Essay

Business Communication -successful communication between cultural sub-groups - Essay Example Furthermore, both internal and external communication of the organization is to be effective in order for the business to succeed globally (Rosenhauer, 2009). Effective cross-cultural communication is, therefore, one of the keys to success of a multinational business. As such, effective communication in a multinational environment requires both a sender and a receiver of a communicated message to have a common understanding of the same message. However, as Rosenhauer (2009, p. 33) outlines, the complexity of intercultural or cross-cultural communication is that â€Å"if sender and receiver have a different cultural background, the chance of accurately transmitting of information is quite low.† This means values, beliefs and norms that are a characteristic of a certain culture may prevent that culture’s representative form understanding the message correctly, even if both, a sender and a receiver, use one language. This point of view is also supported by Gudykunst (2003) and Schmidt (2001), who argue that the more different the cultures are, the more difficult it is for different cultural sub-groups to understand each other. ... Furthermore, one of the most difficult aspects of cross-cultural communication is that, in order to convey a message to a representative of a different cultural sub-group, the communicator might have to provide some additional information related to the message, so that the receiver understands the message properly (Puffer, 2004). Even if a sender and a receiver share the knowledge of the language they use, their understanding of the same message may be very different. This happens because the two people have different ways of thinking that are stipulated by the customs, systems, traditions and cultures of each. Commonality of these aspects, however, is necessary for effective verbal communication (Yamamoto, 1988). Jeanne Brett and Tetsushi Okumura conducted a study that was aimed at determining how much cultural differences influence the results of intercultural negotiations. The researchers studies participants of negotiations between representatives of American and Japanese compan ies. The results showed that cultural differences do have an influence on negotiators’ goals, as well as the outcomes of negotiations. In particular, individualism of the US citizens, in contrast to collectivism to the Japanese, showed to have an impact on the Americans’ views on the self, as well as individual goals that might be different from those of the group. The Japanese, being collectivistic by their culture, were following their group’s interests only (Gelfand and Brett, 2004). Such differences based on the culture of the negotiators may lead to different information-sharing perspectives. However, problems in cross-culture

Utopian literature through the time of World War II Essay

Utopian literature through the time of World War II - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of utopia, by the very sense of the word, is the fantasy of a non-existent society and it could not have crept into literature as far it did without the help of its pivotal device called ‘science fiction’, which, in the words of Darko Suvin, is characterized by ‘cognitive estrangement’. Understandably, the literature produced through the period of World War II and after was more dystopian in nature than utopian, considering the pessimism generated (by the events in the contemporary world) among intellectuals giving rise to the portrayal of degraded societies as in H. G. Wells’s â€Å"The Time Machineâ€Å". Often, the pessimism manifested in the title itself like Chad Walsh’s From Utopia to Nightmare (1962), â€Å"New Maps of Hellâ€Å" by Kingsley Amis and â€Å"The Future as Nightmare: H. G. Wells and the Anti-Utopiansâ€Å" (1967) by Mark Hillegas. Utopian literature, its suggestive nature n otwithstanding, is interesting only because it reflects mankind’s worst fears at a crucial point in history and not because it contains anything that has the potential to make the world a better place. The dystopian predictions of doom by a host of writers, from John Brunner to Margaret Atwood, never came true. It is worth recalling here, however, that Ray Bradbury’s apprehension (that television would kill books) in his 1953 iconographic work â€Å"Fahrenheit 451â€Å", was not entirely misplaced.... It points out how knowledge can be harmful unless it is combined with wisdom by the example of a scientist who â€Å"studies the composition of atom from a disinterested desire for knowledge and incidentally places it in the hands of powerful lunatics† (Yardi 103). Interestingly, Lost Horizon written by James Hilton in 1933 prophesies a devastating war that engulfs most parts of the world in less than a decade. In the classic, Hilton envisions a utopian civilization with Oriental character in a remote monastery, Shangri-La, in the Himalayas where wonderful people live. The faith of the Shangri-La monks is a combination of the features of Christianity and Buddhism, the motto being ‘everything in moderation’: the rule is moderately strict, only moderate obedience is expected and people are moderately sober, moderately chaste and moderately honest. The book, for most part, is a deep meditation on noble ideas like pacifism and philosophy, instead of being a mere adven ture story. Shangri-La people teach us that exhaustion of passions is the key to the beginning of wisdom and that the most impossible things in life become possible if we believe in them. Nevil Shute’s On the Beach (1957) portrays a massive nuclear war and the resulting radioactive dust marking the end of the world. Another post-apocalyptic masterpiece The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham, with its ever-present threat of walking plants and blinding comets, is more like a horror novel than mere science fiction. Without any mention of nuclear warfare, this book still deserves to be labeled apocalyptic for its story is centered on rebuilding the society after a devastating

Telecommunications sector Essay Example for Free

Telecommunications sector Essay Belize Telemedia Limited is the new name of Belize Telecommunications Limited in Belize which was instituted in 1972 as the telecommunication authority. The Belizean telecom market was formally and authoritatively reformed and became less strict in January 2003; however Belize Telecommunications still has the control in the telecommunication market (Mansell 56, 2007). With limited rivalry and unproductive regulatory control, it has fixed very expensive charges for its services. VoIP is the case study which reveals a controversy in the Belize telecommunication industry. Although the government and the regulatory body collaboratively confirmed to promote competition in the telecom sector, in reality BTL was successful in conspiring against VoIP to remove competition. However, BTL has to face competition in the mobile sector where SpeedNet has successfully covered 18 percent of the market. At present, BTL prides on 335000 fixed landlines, 130000 cellular consumers and 8000 internet customers. BTL has more than 475 expert and capable workers with 15 branch offices spread countrywide (Mansell 56, 2007). The aims and objectives of BTL is to develop, engineer and install high tech network and technologies and to offer best communication services and facilities. The company is dedicated to increase its existing wire line, mobile and internet services by getting on-stream a broad range of matchless, unsurpassed services and facilities to the consumers. Additionally, its dynamic, quick and efficient network provides its consumers consistent, efficient, trusty and finest service accessed in the vicinity, all over the country, regionally and globally. BTL headquarters are in Belize City. It has 15 customer service centers installed countrywide. Telemedia is concentrated on increasing further than the national boundaries so that there is increase in investor value, development and promotion of new opportunities for workers and assistance in the economic development, progress and increase of the nation of Belize. Telemedia offers HomeFone Service which is a fixed telephone line service. It provides three latest and reasonably priced plans to residential customers. These plans offer distinctive alternatives which includes limitless night and weekend minutes, unlimited, unrestrained monthly usage, etc. Each package offer services such as caller id, voicemail, 24 hours contact to Operator, telephone directory, etc. Telemedia’s wireless service offers its consumers the basic telephone service (Calabrese 225, 2007). The consumer can avail other suitable features that will improve communication requirement for residential or commercial purpose. It offers the users to receive calls locally, countrywide and globally. Econo-Phone is another service which gives full access to Telemedia Prepaid telephone service at affordable rates. The user can keep an eye on the amount of time he or she spends on the phone and can make calls all over the world. Econo-Phone works as a prepaid cellular phone. The user can also enjoy facilities such as voice mail notifications, caller id, internet services, etc. DigiCell is cellular service that uses GSM. It is operational at GSM 1900 and offers advanced, improved superiority, improved voice clearness and wide-ranging safety measures (Calabrese 225, 2007). It is considered to be Belize’s most highly developed and ground-breaking mobile service. It offers increased collection of voice and multimedia services. DigiCell encrypts all voice and data, thus making it more secure. DigiCell also offers innovative solutions for business and residential consumers by means of DigiCell Prepaid services. It offers short message service, data and international roaming service, call hold, call waiting, caller id, voicemail, etc. Telemedia’s Once Card can be used to avail all the Prepaid Services that are offered. When the consumer buys a Prepaid card, e-PIN or Fone TopUp, he or she is no longer requires to select between regular or DigiCell prepaid card. Further, this card can be used as a recharge or calling card. Fone TopUp is electronic recharge arrangement that permits representatives and distributors to supply electronic pins or immediately top up a prepaid number with any value. Belize Telemedia Limited has successfully increased its wireless coverage nationwide, covering most of the rural communities in Belize by deploying Nortel wireless technology (Cronin 29, 2007). This technology has completely replaced the old Belize Telemedia existing GSM structure given by Nortel competitor; as well deploy a new CDMA 450 MHz network to hold up Telemedia’s emergent subscriber demand in Belize and the requirement for more superior, high-tech products and facilities countrywide. .Telemedia’s existing wireless setup has been improved and enhanced to Nortel GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/1900 MHz wireless network which offers superior network coverage and connectivity for the consumers. In addition, the operator has launched a completely new network laid on Nortel CDMA xRTT and 1xEV-DO technologies in the 450 MHz range, to expand services and assist to seal the means of communication space in rural society (Cronin 29, 2007). According to Dean Boyce who is the chairperson of the executive committee at Belize Telemedia, the Nortel technologies has successfully enhanced the reputation of Belize Telemedia and also given wide-ranging services which has strengthen Telemedia’s network. The execution of CDMA/EVDO platform and the utilization of 450 MHz frequency have successfully provided voice and high speed internet services to consumers present in rural areas which has accelerated Belize economy. Belize Telemedia’s network substitute and improvement also includes Nortel all-IP products such as Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture, Mobile Switching Center and Home Location Register, allowing operators to back up numerous services and applications on the unchanged, consistent platform. The Belize government welcomed the 2004 sale of the nationwide telephone corporate to a U.S-Caribbean organization as a moment of guarantee and affiliation. The main highlight was the $90 million deal (Fox 103, 2007). However, the agreement was tattered and became a story of officially permitted and oral clash. The clash started when Musa management took full authority of Belize Telecommunication Ltd from Prosser and his company after the failure to pay $57 million to the government for the phone company. Prosser filed a case in which he demanded the court to give out a command that would invalidate the boardroom occupation and put him back in charge. Prosser’s attorney was Lanny Davis who criticized the Belize government by calling it lawless after the assembly approved a law allowing the occupation of specified telephone company shares after Prosser’s non-payment. In the initial stages of the case, U. S District Judge Ursula Ungaro-Benages instructed Belize to invalidate its conflict against ICC, and then hit the government with a disrespect, scorn allegation for refusal to comply, signifying that Belize authorities gave the impression to want to be hit over the head by a 2-by-4. UngaroBenages passed the verdict which favored the Belize government. The liberalization of the telecommunication market at various phases, from Guatemala to Costa Rica remains government owned. Costa Rica’s fixed-line tele-density is the highest in South America while that in Guatemala is 40 percent less than the complete South American average, which shows that fixed line privatization and competition are no assurance of the development there. The study reveals that low fixed line tele-density causes leapfrogged unswervingly into mobile communications. Mobile competition is intense and diffusion is far away that would be anticipated bearing in mind their other macroeconomic pointers (Fox 103, 2007). Belize is the only exemption since it has national owned mobile company. Broadband services also vary greatly among these seven countries. Efforts are being made to liberalize Belize’s telecommunication market. Belize stands out from its neighboring countries as a financial leader, having already commenced the internet trend that would hit its neighbors in the entire South American Region. The interests of foreign companies to chase the liberalization of the Belize telecommunication market set up in the country and use that country as a launch pad to launch its rising information technology business throughout the area. The initiation of foreign competitors in the Belize telecommunication market needs a legitimate alteration and adjustment to suspend the current government utility company’s domination in the market.

Press Statement Essay Example for Free

Press Statement Essay An approach to aspects of a child abuse investigation in a modern society using police and community cooperation (A reference to the media)   Ã‚   As traditional communities erode and our societies become more diverse, feelings of insecurity grow, fear of crime increases and questions of identity and citizenship come in question A threat on the safety of our children has culminated to an investigation into the cause and the socio-political aspects of the problem. Our law officers and the stakeholders of the social welfare are investigating and researching on various socio perspectives and trends that are described as possible factors leading to the problem. It’s not commonplace in this society to have incidents of child abuse and as such we are working towards stemming down any possible link and also address the problem collectively through arresting those perpetrating such crimes.   Ã‚   Out of every ten children in our community one of them has reported abuse or aggressive behaviour. 17% of the children report that their attackers were burly or sickly looking. 25% of the children are now afraid of venturing into the neighbourhood. The rate of these abuses has rose up with up to 11% which is a considerable rate.    We have checked on any psychopathic connections to the few cases that have been reported. We are also evaluating theories and investigating curtails that have suspect characters that are substance abusers and their possible involvement. We are comprehensively analyzing socio-economic factors as well as ideological issues which could be eliciting the problem. We believe some people might have ideologies which force them to think and argue that children rights and safety are not important. These ideologies result to hate against children. We also view childless individuals who have developed frustration and stress levels might be involved due to obsession with the idea of harassing other people’s children due to this frustration.      We are establishing stereotyping, class and other social factors which have negative impacts on children social groups. Apart from these theories we understand victimisation based on family and social feuds might victimise children. We are working on looking into any possibilities of parents, select social classes, estate neighbourhoods and school based feuds as being the cause of the problem. Some disgruntled parents or neighbours might be trying to settle scores, seek payment of a debt, drug money and illicit business dealings and other bad dealings gone sour might be causes. We are establishing all these theories so that we can close in on the perpetrators so that not a single aspect of the problem will result to unjust prosecutions or any victimisations.   Ã‚   As members of the society we understand that there are various socio-political aspects of crime pattern and jurisdiction that we have to flow and collectively approach when dealing with suspects. We assure the members of the society that we will not victimise or arrest any suspect without credible evidence on his involvement or connection. We understand and respect all human rights and abide by principles of justice. No suspect will be charged until investigations establish credible evidence of involvement. This will be done according to the law and we will emphasise on justice being administered in accordance to all penal codes as stipulated and comprehensively understood in the judicial system. We attribute rise in crime and related social anomalies to changes in economic structure are altering the pattern of regional inequalities (UNICEF 2006).    On the other hand we blame radical political changes on the faà §ade of some expression values, especially in the fourth estate. Too much exposure of various aspects of the judicial system acts to people with criminal intent has increased affableness to crime due to the knowledge and criticism on aspects of legislation and police action on the issues as well as the legal loopholes. We are encouraging more concise and distinctive media education and publishing in judicial and social values content so that we can have a responsible and safe society. We are sure that political dividing lines of class and religion are eroding and cannot sustain values and ethics of safe and respectable humanity.   Ã‚   The perception of increasing violent crime, often drug related, has gone along with a rise in anti-social behaviour: petty criminality such as vandalism on housing estates, or extreme rudeness, disrespect and lack of consideration for others. (Liddle Lerais 2006). We expect that all acts against children will come to book in accordance to the United Nations act that protects children against anti-socio behaviour on children (UN 2007). We are optimistic we will arrest and put behind bars those involved and successfully contain the problem. Sources (Liddle Lerais 2006) Europes social reality: pp 5 UNICEF United Nations (www.undp.com )

The Consumer Buying Decision Marketing Essay

The Consumer Buying Decision Marketing Essay Introduction In this assignment I have employed as a business marketing advisor for the Sheffield Business Support Council where John Ryan from Window World has made contact with. He has been in replacement window industry for fifteen years. Early years of business was doing successfully. Window World had been a focused on upon replacing old windows and doors and constructing and installing new conservatories for customers. First he had resisted and purposely declined approaches from local business. Then he realised move into seeking and accepting orders from business. But overall business over past fourteen months had declined by 25%. The reason why he is seeking advise from us is there is something wrong with their approach in business marketing and sales. So I have allocated to visit the company and offer advise and assistance to them. Task 1. Making money is one part of selling product or service in most businesses. However, it can be much more complicated than that simple model; some businesses serve as the middle man from manufacturer to customer; others sell to other businesses, and some organizations do not follow a financial model that generates a profit for them. All of these business models lead to different types of business transactions. There are three buying decisions consumer goes through. These are limited problem solving, habitual decision making, and extended problem solving. Limited problem solving happens during a purchase decision that calls for, at most, a moderate amount of time. Limited problem solving usually based on past experience more than an external information. Habitual decision making describes a purchase decision process in which consumers engage little effort. Marketers strive to attract and maintain habitual purchasers by creating strong brands and store loyalty. Extended problem solving is a common when the customer thinks that purchase decision causes a massive risk. To reduce risk, customer does lots of information. Also there are factors that affects consumer decision process which are psychological factor, marketing mix, social factor, situational factor. Psychological factors Although marketers themselves can influence purchase decisions, psychological factors affect the way people receive marketers message. There are motives, attitudes, perception, and learning Social factors The decision process is also influenced by the external, social environment , which consists of customers family, reference groups, and culture. Family Many purchase decisions are made about products or services that the entire family will consume. So, firms must consider how families can do the purchase decisions. Reference group One or more person whom an individual uses as a basis for comparison regarding beliefs, feelings, and behaviour. Culture Defined as the shared meanings, beliefs, morals, values and customs of group people. Business Purchase The process of selling products or services to buying organisation. Therefore, Business to Business marketing involves manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Some firms find it more productive to focus on their efforts and resource on key business customers rather than on ultimate customer. Manufacturers or Producers One of the biggest business-to-business buyers are manufactures and producers. They buy raw material s, components and parts to supply for the product. Resellers They are marketing intermediaries that resell manufactured products without significantly altering their form. Institutions Institutions, such as school and hospitals purchase all kinds of goods and services. Government In most countries, the central government tends to be the one of the largest purchasers of goods and services. The distinction between a B2B and a B2C transaction is not the product or service itself; rather, it is ultimate user of that product or service. Task 2. A  buying center  (also known as a  decision making unit  or  DMU), in  marketing,  procurement, and  organisational studies, is a group of employees or members of any type of organization responsible for finalising major decisions, whether to purchase. These DMU participants can range from employees who have a formal role in purchasing decisions to members are specifying the highly technical purchases, such as information systems or production equipment, also require the expertise of technical specialists. All these employees are likely to play different roles in the buying process, which vendors must understand and adapt to in their marketing and sales efforts. These roles compromised of 6 different roles: -Initiator the person who first suggests buying the particular product or service, often associated with the user -Influencer anyone outside of DMU with influence on its members, has knowledge about potential suppliers -Decider the person with the authority to make the decision to buy-whether to buy, what to buy, how to buy, or where to buy -Buyer the person who is tasked to make actual purchase for doing paperwork etc. (handle the paperwork) -User the person who is consumes or uses the product or service -Gatekeeper the person who controls information or access, or both, to decision makers and influencers All these roles tend to be more formal and by job title. Degree of influence may still be affected by a strength of personality. Also these specialised buying centres typically receive information about the product or service from commercial sources, peers, publications and the experience. The number of individuals involved in purchasing will relies on the complexity of the need, the value of the purchase and the level of risk held to be connected to the decision.  The people taking on the different roles of the DMU vary with each purchasing occasion, but it is important for suppliers to identify the members of the DMU and recognize their particular needs so that communication efforts can be customized in each single case. According to Morris et al (2001), the mechanism of the DMU is of critical importance to the B2B marketer. Morris (1992) states that  one approach to clarify what takes place among  the participants in the purchasing decision process is to focus on the structure of the DMU. Since the DMU is normally not a formal group, its structure is not formally established by the organisation. Task 3. Buying process begin when consumer recognize that they need unsatisfied need. Research suggests that customers go through a five-stage decision-making process through before, during, and after making purchases. This five-stage decision-making process summarised in the diagram below. The Consumer Buying Decision This model is important for anyone making marketing decisions. It forces the marketer to consider the whole buying process rather than just the purchase decision (when it may be too late for a business to influence the choice!) The model implies that customers pass through all stages in every purchase. However, in more routine purchases, customers often skip or reverse some of the stages. Need Recognition The buying process starts with need recognition. At this stage, the buyer has an unsatisfied need and want to go form their actual, needy to state to a different, desired state. Information Search The second step, after a consumer recognises a need, is to search for information about the various options that exist to satisfy the need. Customer can get information from internal and external research for information. Internal research is customer uses own memory and knowledge about the product or service, gathered through the past experiences. For the external research, buyers seek to information outside of own personal knowledge base to help make the buying decisions. These are can be personal source -friends, family; commercial source- advertising, salespeople; public source- newspapers, radio etc. Alternative Evaluation Research has shown that a consumers mind organises and categorise the alternatives to a support their decision process. When consumer begin to evaluate different alternatives, they often base their evaluations on a set of important attributes or evaluative criteria. Purchase Value is a strong driver of consumers purchase decisions. Customers seek out and purchase the products and services that they believe provide them with the best value. Then, after consumers have access to the product or service, they usually consume it. Post Purchase The final step of the consumer decision process is post purchase behaviour. It is common for customers to experience concerns after making a purchase decision. For the business decision process occurs to include six different stages. Though it differs many ways from consumer decision process, both started with need recognition. Information search and evaluation of alternatives steps are more formal and structured in B2B process. Typically, B2B buyers specify their needs in writing and task potential suppliers to submit formal proposals, whereas B2C buying decisions usually made by individuals or families. The diagram below has shown business decision process. Business-to-Business Decision Process Need Recognition In the first step of the B2B buying process, the buying organisation recognises through either internal or external sources, that has a drained need. Product Specifications After recognising the need, the organisation considers alternative solutions and come up with potential specifications that suppliers might use to develop their proposals to supply the product. RFP Proposals The request proposals (RFP) is a common process through which buying organisation invite alternative suppliers to bid on supplying their required components. The purchasing company may simply post its RFP needs on its Web site, work through various B2B linkages. Proposal Analysis and Supplier Selection The buying organisation, in conjunction with its critical decision maker, evaluates all the proposals it receive in response to its RFP. Firms are likely to narrow the process to a few suppliers, often those with which they have existing relationships, and discuss key terms of the sale, such as price, quality, delivery, and financing. Order Specification In the fifth stage, the firm place its order with its preferred supplier. The order will include detailed description of goods, prices, and delivery dates. Vendor analysis An organization that supplies specific goods or services to the business markets. Before that firm analyse their vendors performance, strengths and weakness of current and prospective suppliers in terms of their capacity, sales revenue, reputation, stocks, service etc. The Business DMP and the Consumer DMP looks similar but its really quite different because of its formality. The table below shows differences between Business DMP and Consumer DMP. Business DMP Consumer DMP High priority problem solving mode Low priority solving mode Interested in features Interested in advantages of product Risk factor is greater Risk is not high Not spending their own money Spending own money Sales cycle is longer Sale is instant Narrow segment for the product Entire sales market of customers Task 4. The type of buying situation also affects the business to business decision process. Most B2B buying situations can be categorised into three types: A new task buying  situation appears when the company has no earlier experience of the product or service and is buying it for the first time (Smith Taylor, 2002). In this kind of situation, the greater the cost or risk, the larger will be the number of decision contributors and the greater will be their efforts to collect information (Kotler et al., 2002). A modified rebuy  situation emerges when the buyer has some previous experience of the product or service(Smith Taylor, 2002), but wants to modify product specifications, prices, terms or sup-pliers  (Kotler et  al., 2002).   Finally, a straight rebury  situation appears when the company  buys on a regular basis (Smith Taylor, 2002). In this situation, the buyer reorders something without any modifications. It is generally handled on a routine basis by the purchasing department (Kotler et al., 2002).   These varied types of buying situations call for very different marketing and selling strategies. The most complex and difficult is the new task buying because it requires the buying organisation to make changes in current practices and purchases. In new buying situations, the buying center members spend more time at each stage of B2B buying process. Modified buying is probably using existing criteria. Straight re-buys often happens when the buyer recognise the firms need and skipping all the buying process and go directly buy. So new task buying is more intense than modified buying and straight re-buying situations. What we missing at Window World are: Window World need to engage the business, marketers need persuasive content that appeals to both logic and emotion. The communication strategy should serve prospective buyers as well as their current customers with lifetime value. What they need is make customers to open Window Worlds web site and take their phone and calls. Strategic approach to build long-term relationship with buyer, it is mutually beneficial. Answering why and how would be start of new buying situation, telling them why they need their product and how it solves their business problems. Also doing the re-enforcing value and purchase satisfaction with exiting customers . One of important thing is that their product can be easy to purchase. More importantly, key account management (KAM) changes in selling  . KAM is a completely different organizational process used by business-to-business suppliers to manage their relationships with strategically-important customers, and it produces measurable business benefits. Role of sales people in KAM Customer Partner Buyer Behaviour Expert Buyer-seller Team Coordinator Customer Service Provider Information Gatherer Service Provider Market Analyser and Planner Market Cost Analyser Technologist Task 5. Window world has been delivering excellent returns with consumers. Marketers are particularly interested in post purchase behaviour because it causes actual rather than the potential customers. Satisfied customers, whom marketers hope to create, become loyal, and spread word of mouth, so they are quite important. There are three positive post purchase outcomes as illustrated in table 1; increased customer satisfaction, decreased post purchase dissonance, and increased customer loyalty. Customer satisfaction is the state of mind that customers have about a company when their expectations have been met or exceeded over the lifetime of the product or service. The achievement of customer satisfaction leads to company loyalty and product repurchase. Setting unrealistically high consumer expectations of the product through the advertising, personal selling, or other types of promotion may lead to higher initial sales, but it eventually will result in dissatisfaction when the product fails to achieve the high performance expectations. This failure could lead to dissatisfied customers and the potential for negative word of mouth. On the other hand, setting customer expectations too low is equally dangerous strategy. So marketers can take several steps to ensure post purchase satisfaction, such as these: -Build realistic expectations, not too high and not too low. -Demonstrate correct product use-improper usage can cause dissatisfaction. -Stand behind the product or service by providing money-back guaranties and warranties. -Encourage customer feedback, which cuts down on negative word of mouth. -Periodically make contact with customers and thank them for their support. Because customers appreciate human contact, even it is expensive than e-mail or mail contacts. Also it gives you opportunity to correct mistakes. Post purchase dissonance Post purchase dissonance is basically an after purchase cognitive  behaviour. While evaluating the  benefits after a purchase it is common for customers to be concerned about their purchase decision. It is caused by  cognitive dissonance. Here the customer thinks that if customer had purchased some other item it would have been better than the one customer bought. Simply customer is not  completely  satisfied with the purchase and is most likely to switch brands. Marketers can avoid post purchase dissonance the below: Under promise and over deliver. You dont need to under promise, but just make sure you deliver on the promises you make. The sale doesnt end with the sale.  As in, the sale is the start, not the end of the relationship so make sure that you behave in that way.   Follow up on the sale, ask for feedback (and act on it).   Do the nice little unexpected things that you didnt promise this could be a message a week into the sale with a voucher for money off a complementary product or even just a little card to say, thanks for your purchase, we really appreciate it., although I might then think, If you appreciate it show me the money! so an offer or freebie would be appreciated more. Anticipate what might go wrong.  Think through the customer journey and try to remove any of the pain-points they might hit.  Take that approach to every stage of the user experience and youll continue not to disappoint your customer. If something does go wrong, act accordingly.  Sometimes things go wrong. Say sorry and then fix the problem.   Sometimes the best relationships start this way. Loyalty In the post purchase decision making process, marketers attempt to solidity in relationship with their customers. They want customers to be satisfied with their purchase and buy from same company again. Loyal customers only will buy certain brands and shop at certain stores. Firm build loyalty by keeping touch with customers using e-mail marketing, thank you cards and more. treating own team well so they treat your customers well. showing that you care and remembering what they like and dont like. Firm build it by rewarding them for choosing you over your competitors. Firm build it by truly giving a damn about them and figuring out how to make them more success, happy and joyful.

death penalty Essay -- essays research papers

James Felner, author of â€Å"Mentally Retarded Don’t Belong on Death Row,† states that, â€Å"A person is considered mentally retarded if he or she has a significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning, which generally means recording an IQ score of lower than 70, and exhibiting deficits in adaptive behavior before the age of 18.† According to the American Association on Mental Retardation, it has three components: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  significantly sub-average intellectual function 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  accompanying impairments in the adaptive skills of the person 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  manifestation of the disability before the age of 18 How can Americans put someone on death row that is not fully responsible for his actions? Many argue that these people have committed horrible murders and are absolutely guilty of a capital crime; therefore they deserve the death penalty as the consequence of their crime. The people behind these arguments are wrong; it is a dreadful way to deal with people who do not understand the extent of their actions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Several cases have proven that convicted felons of below average mental capacity are not competent enough to argue their case effectively. According to Felner, in the united states alone, there have been at least 33 mentally ill men executed since the United States reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Some experts estimate that as many as 10-15 percent of the 3,000 men and w...

Comparing Women in The Bell Jar and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute

Exploitation of Women Exposed in The Bell Jar and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute      Ã‚  Ã‚   In their manifesto, the Redstockings argued that the relationship between men and women was a class relationship, and that the men repressed and controlled the women. The women were objects, and the men owned them. They said that, as a class, women "are exploited as sex objects, breeders, domestic servants, and cheap labor" by the male class(Bloom, Takin' it to the Streets, 486). Many of the women characters in The Bell Jar and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute give us examples of this repression and exploitation.    In both The Bell Jar and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, we often see women as being subordinate to men. For example, in "Debts", one of Grace Paley's characters is happy because she has found "a husband to serve"(Paley, Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, 11). Her life has no meaning apart from her role as wife. She is defined by her husband. The idea that women are defined by their husband is so pervasive that we even find it in the language of the stories. In "The Burdened Man" there is a newspaper article describing the shooting of a wife and her lover by her husband. The husband and the lover are called by name, Sgt. Armand Kielly and Alfred Ciaro, respectively. The wife is only referred to as Mrs. Kielly. In The Bell Jar, when Buddy Willard proposes to Esther, he asks her "How would you like to be Mrs. Buddy Willard?"(Plath, The Bell Jar, 75). In both these instances, the language used defines the women in terms of their husband. This casual indication of dominance says a great deal about the culture.    The exploitation of women as sex objects is also easy to find. Both works contain extreme i... ...(Bloom, 486). As a class, men exploit them for personal use, both economically and sexually. They do everything they can to keep women in an inferior position. This repression is so pervasive that it is even found in the language of the women themselves. Correcting this problem is not a matter of changing individual relationships within the society. As the manifesto says, "the conflicts between individual men and women are political conflicts that can only be solved collectively"(486). In order for things to improve, there must be some change in society at a base level.    Works Cited Bloom, Alexander and Wini Breines, eds. Takin' it to the Streets. Oxford University Press, New York, 1995. Paley, Grace. Enormous Changes at the Last Minute. Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, New York, 1974. Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. Harper and Row, New York, 1971.