The Main Purpose of Farce

The main purpose of farce is to make people laugh, so as a result the laughter connects people and becomes a means of agreement among them. Ratajczakowa distinguishes five types of texts according to their level of comedy and association with farce or comedy:The low comical that uses only means of farce to induce laughter;The moderately that uses using humour as a way of expression and intellectualisation;The highly comical that limits humour and uses various aesthetic categories to bring a smile and emotion to the addressee;The tragicomic that connects non comical matters with comical representations which makes the audience confused and evokes contrasting emotions;The non comical abandoning humour that does not even try to evoke a pleasant mood. Further distinctions between comedy and farce are noticeable at the level of structure as well as the rules of creation. The author of a comedy could present the ability to create based on the principles of drama. Also, comedy marks the probability and avoidance of absurdity, so it represents a closed entity with an ordered storyline. Surprise is the main source of its humour. Farce is funded on none of these principles, since it is much more independent, disordered, and amorphic. It is a way of expressing mockery of a lower class of the world, so that the body language is the language of farce. With time, these two genres have evolved in a complex relation to each other, it is even believed that without farce's vulgarity and carnality, comedy would be tedious. 1.3. Physical humour With time, salacious jokes and physical humour have been added to the concept of low comedy, so the concept of physical humour has become extremely popular among comedians. The so-called â€Å"slapstick comedy† is based on violent acts, but presented in a hilarious form. Many slapstick comedians perform without speaking, because their performance was supposed to be more about amusing movement than verbal content. For this reason, they have to be extremely expressive. The contemporary name of this kind of physical

Does Khaled Hosseini’s Writing Matter?

Kevin Ortiz Ms. Meredith AP Literature and Composition 11/18/11 Does Khaled Hosseini's Writing Matter? Salman Rushdie is perhaps the most prolific foreign writer of modern times. As such, one can consider him a major voice in the criteria for what makes for a good expatriated writer. In his 1992 collection of essays, Imaginary Homelands, Rushdie sets forth multiple essential qualities the expatriated writer must possess. The most important three of these qualities are the ability to create universal subjects, must be daring, and encourage people to be open-minded. Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner mostly accomplishes these tasks, though coming short in one of Rushdie's major qualities. This is shown from the novel's subject matter, in conjunction with an article from online magazine Slate, which highlights the major flaw. Rushdie's first point is that an exiled writer should be able to â€Å"speak properly on a subject of universal significance and appeal. † Hosseini, in his many subjects pertaining to human nature that is present everywhere, accomplishes this task. One such topic in Kite Runner is loss. At some point or another, every human being has experienced loss. Whether it be the loss of a parent, like Amir losing Baba, the loss of a close friend, such as Amir's loss of Hassan, or loss early in life such as Sohrab's loss of Sanuabar, the reader can relate, regardless of race, place, or creed. The losses do not necessarily have to be physical, as the loss of innocence that occurs in the father-son tandem of Hassan and Sohrab is transferable to the everyday struggles one may face with beliefs, experience, or emotions. The easily acceptable nature of these topics as realities of the â€Å"normal† world, as well as being a clear burden on the characters in the universe set forth by Hosseini show that he is definitively able to accomplish the task of relating loss. Another such subject is that of redemption. Throughout the novel, Amir's conquest for the reconciliation of his deeds knows no bounds. This is very much the situation many people are in after a terrible mistake leaves them begging not only for forgiveness, but redemption. The people who are in these situations will often go to great lengths, risking their mental or physical well-beings in order to rest their conscience at the end of their journeys. For Amir, it meant the rescue of Sohrab, but for the common man, it can be as small as apologizing or as large as turning to an enemy in order for help. The ability of the themes, though being masterfully complex and unique, to be related to and associated with on a deep, connective level are clear indications that Hosseini has fulfilled the first task set out by Rushdie, to create universal subject matter. While performing extremely well in the area of creating a universally relatable subject matter, Hosseini falls short in one of the major tasks of Rushdie, being daring. While some may argue that Hosseini's depictions of rape and violence are edgy or daring, his presentation of them, is not. In fact, Slate argues that â€Å"the Hollywood elements of his story conduce to a view of Afghanistan and its dilemmas that is in the end more riddled with facile moralizing than even the author may realize. † The argument set forth by Slate's Meghan O'Rourke is that though Hosseini's novel does depict these brutal scenes, they are moralized. They are painted in a light where they are seemingly not allegorical or necessary, but simple tools for shock value or fear induction. It is because of this shortcoming, that he is firstly failing the task set forth by Rushdie, in being daring. He once more fails this task in the choice of writing style. Because Hosseini chose to write a book deeply engraved with Afghan culture, which is already a fine line for an English novel, one would hope that he would take the risk of writing with a style that mirrors the roots of the storyline. Instead, Hosseini chooses a cinematic approach, which mirrors that of American film, and American culture, which is a safe approach to the subject matter. He is not reflecting the risk that comes with changing between cultures for expatriates, therefore is not fulfilling the task set forth by Rushdie. Though Hosseini is able to mostly fill the requirements for what Rushdie defines as a great expatriated writer, the biggest flaw comes in his inability to take risks in his prose that reflect the risks taken by the exiles who preceded him. Though he does have flaws, the final task set forth by Rushdie, making the reader open-minded, is easily fulfilled by Hosseini and his subject matter. Hosseini’s use of the Hazara-Pashtun conflict is effective in that it creates a more in-depth look at how a place many generalize as having one ethnicity is actually diverse, but not without conflict. The conflict also humanizes both parties in showing that although societal standards separate them, Hazaras and Pashtuns are not always treated as less than equals. This concept works to make the reader aware that every Muslim that they may see, be it in America, France, or England, is more than simply a â€Å"potential terrorist,† but as many individuals with complex emotions and conflict, trying to create a new life. In addition, Assef’s introduction into the story further humanizes the Afghans. This is because, the concept of the Middle-Eastern groups bullying the world, the Afghan people are having their country destroyed by Assef, who is a neo-Nazi. His socially and morally despicable actions lead the reader to feel a sense of sympathy for the Afghan people. It is due to this feeling of sympathy that the standard Afghan is looked at as not only a human being, but an equal, with fears and oppression as great as that of a man from America to Japan. These two forms of humanization lead the reader to not only become more accepting of Afghan people, but all new people in general, showing that they could be as troubled and frightened as the person judging them. When judging an expatriated writer’s work, one often needs a guideline, or â€Å"measuring stick,† in order to truly gauge the significance of the writing. Salman Rushdie’s qualifications of the expatriated writer are extremely important in that they set that guideline for what an exiled writer should hope to achieve. Though Slate, and the reader, may find some fault with Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner’s ability to take risks, an amazing job is done at filling two massively important pieces of Rushdie’s philosophy in its universal appeal and ability to open one’s minds. In doing so, the clear answer to the titular question of this essay, â€Å"Does Khaled Hosseini’s Writing Matter? † is yes. Works Cited: Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead, 2003. Print. ORourke, Meghan. â€Å"Do I Really Have To Read The Kite Runner?. † Slate, 07/25/2005. Slate Magazine. Web. 20 Nov 2011. Rushdie, Salman. â€Å"Imaginary Homelands. † London Review of Books 4. 18 (1982): 18-19. 21 Nov. 2011 .

Structural Functionalist Theory

This essay is an attempt to discuss the problems political parties in Zambia are facing by using structural-functionalist and their contributions to liberal democracy. The academic piece shall begin by defining the key terms; those being, structural-functionalist, political parties and liberal democracy. This will be followed by a comprehensive discussion of political parties, focused on, with examples, the Zambian scene. Lastly, a brief conclusion based on the discussion will be outlined.â€Å"Functionalism holds that society is a complex system whose various parts work together to produce stability and solidarity† (Giddens 2006:20). It also views society in terms of their functions. Merton (1968), made an important distinctions between manifest and latent functions. The manifest functions of an institution are open, stated, conscious functions. They involve intended, recognized consequences of an aspect of the society such as the university’s role in classifying acade mic competence and excellence.By contrast, latent functions as unconscious or unintended functions and may reflect hidden purposes of an institution. Structural-functionalist acknowledges that not all parts of the society contribute to its stability all the time. This function refers to an element or process in society that may actually disrupt as social system or lead to a decrease in stability† (Schaefer, 2004: 14). Social life depends on unity and cooperation of a group.The functionalist points out that for society to be stable the different parts of the society must contribute to the stability of society. For instance, the teachers should teach the society to reduce illiteracy, the doctors are making sure that society is healthy, and the police maintain order. Hence society becomes stable since everyone is contributing. According to MacIver (1962), a political party is an association organized in support of some principles or policy which constitutional means it endeavors to make the determinant of government.Not only that, a political party consists of a group of citizens, more or less organized, who act as a political unit and who by the use of their voting power, aim to control the government and carry out their general policies. Similarly, a political party is different from a pressure group, though in some cases the distinction between the two is almost blurred. According to Ball (1976), It may be said that a political party is an organization of numerous people who are openly committed to broad matters of public policy and who want to assume direct responsibility  for their policies by seeking monopolize power or share it with other parties in a position of political power.According to Barker (1951), the panorama of a party system is so fluid that a good number of pressure groups behave like political parties. The cases of fragmentation and polarization of political parties may also be taken note of. It is also possible that some minor politi cal organizations emerge at the time of elections and then they disappear. But the most essential fact remains that three, four even more parties manage to share power.For instance, in Zambia before voting is taken place, there are many parties heard like Movement for Multiparty Development (MMD), United Party for National Development (UPND), Patriot Front (PF) and Heritage Party (HP). But at the end of elections only few will be available to be strong holding oppositions party for example the UPND and MMD. Political parties act as a check against the tendency of absolutism and totalitarianism, ideologies also known by names such as ‘Caesarism’ and ‘Bonapartism’ (CITE). When one party forms government or few form coalition to hold power, other parties play a role of opposition.It not only keeps the government vigilant, it also prevents it from being arbitrary and irresponsible. The leaders of the opposition expose acts of corruption, nepotism, scandals and maladministration in which great men in power are involved. According to Lasswell (1950), the political parties enable the power to hold the government in check. The constant presence of a recognized opposition is an obstacle to despotism, with a programmed fairly within the limits of a possible public opinion, is a bulwark against the tyranny, not only of a despot but also a practical political majority.Significant political developments have occurred in Zambia since the 2001 tripartite elections. After having had two previous elections in 1991 and 1996, the 2001 elections produced a multiparty Parliament for the first time since Zambia’s independence in 1964. These elections seem to signal that the country has moved from a dominant one party political system to a competitive multi-party system According to The Post Newspaper (20/01/2013), opposition parties have serious financial difficulties.And for the new member of the opposition, MMD, this is even worse. The MMD doesn't know how to operate without a lot of money. They were used to receiving a lot of money from all sorts of characters doing business with government. And the MMD was also parasitic on government institutions for resources. As a result of this, a series of other problems have appeared. Passions about the future of their party rightly fired people up, but wrongly led them to attack and despise their colleagues. The impact of disunity upon members of the party is clear to see.They must in the very near future learn again to display the camaraderie and common purpose that are fundamental to a party's prospects. If they don't do so, they stand no chance of being re-elected Also, according to Okar (2005), the ruling parties deliberately employ a â€Å"divide-and rule† tactic to fragment and weaken the opposition parties. Wilson (1956) says, â€Å"The numbers of parties that appeared with the opening to democratization is not a demonstration of increased participation, but rather of fragmentation and therefore weakness of the party systems†.Zambia had more than five political parties, and the dominant party was the movement for multi party democracy (MMD), which ruled the country since 1991 to 2011. According to The Post Newspaper (20/01/2013), opposition political parties like, UPND, that was bound together by regional, cultural and language ties is also now failing to conceal its problems and challenges. The regional, tribal and cultural glue that held them together is also starting to weaken. The hopes that they had of getting into government by 2011 have disappeared. The illusions that they had about their popularity have also dried up.And they can no longer deny the fact that they are a regional political party that has serious problems and challenges becoming national. Their arrogance and pomposity can no longer carry them. The bragging of being this and that has proved unsustainable because it is unrealistic. They can no longer claim to be the mos t educated, the most knowledgeable when it comes to business and economic matters, the leading entrepreneurs. Parliamentary statistics actually show that UPND has the least educated members of parliament of the three major political parties.And their leader, Hakainde Hichilema, who tried to project himself as a leading entrepreneur, an outstanding economist and a very rich man can no longer lay much claim to these credentials. According to Mwansa,(2012), The leadership of opposition parties suffer from overly rated ambition for power and pride, such that it overcrowds their effective participation on important national matters that affect the citizenry and poor people. They could be more effective by engaging government and the ruling party in debating policy frameworks on how to develop the country.Particularly,  pushing policies that address the needs of poor people such as improving access to clean water and sanitation, quality healthcare, education, rural and agricultural deve lopment, and debate macroeconomic policy frameworks required for growth and development, critically contributing to poverty eradication, employment creation and addressing inequalities. According to Soko, (2013), the opposition parties have to find their own political shoes rather than to follow in Sata's shoes if they are to earn confidence of the electorates on social and developmental programmers’.The strategies the opposition want to use today, of protesting against the Chief Justice, the demand to have a medical board to examine president Sata's health, the demand to have the constitution changed, among others were Sata's strategies when he was in the opposition. The opposition just seem to be recycling Sata's political strategies with the hope of gaining confidence and trust from the Zambians but this will not work for them as they are being viewed as imitators instead of being initiators.Opposition parties are also not given a fair chance by media. Media is always crit icizing them and portraying opposition parties in a horrible way. All favor is upon the ruling party which is not supposed to be the case. Lastly, one of the very crucial problems in Africa at present is the unwillingness of the incumbent parties to be opposition parties due to their over-dependence on the benefits available to the ruling parties. Therefore, they are ill-equipped to become the opposition.In conclusion, the ruling party in Zambia should try by all means to incorporate the opposition parties in some development decisions, there also has to be inter-party dialogue over how to move beyond the dominant party situation. Because the ruling party feel comfortable once in power and do not want to give chance to the opposition parties to rule the nation. Media should also be an independent source of information and not favor any party but be like a no man’s land that is not owned by anyone, the opposition parties should be able to broadcast their manifestos to the publ ic.

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 18

Marketing - Assignment Example I browsed several sites online like the career center of the Denver University website, onetonline.org, mymajors.com, and myplan.com. From these sites, I learned that the competition in this field of work is fierce, and since I am already keen on starting my internship the soonest possible time, the other thing I need to prepare is my resume and cover letter. Resume writing can be overwhelming because it is hard to balance which data to include, and which to leave out. Some resume help sites offer tips in writing effective cover letters and resumes. I learned that it is a good idea to study the target company first before indulging into any cover letter or resume writing to ensure that the information included in the resume and cover letter will catch the eye of the hiring manager of the company. Some companies will be very specific in who they are looking for, and I learned that it is wise to customize the cover letter and resume in a way that will highlight the skills I have that the company looks

Cloud Computing and Information Systems in Business Article

Cloud Computing and Information Systems in Business - Article Example Here are some of the models of cloud computing: A public cloud is one based on the standard cloud computing model, in which a service provider makes resources, such as applications and storage, available to the general public over the Internet. Public cloud services may be free or offered on a pay-per-usage model. Community cloud shares infrastructure between several organizations from a specific community with common concerns (security, compliance, jurisdiction, etc.), whether managed internally or by a third-party and hosted internally or externally. The costs are spread over fewer users than a public cloud (but more than a private cloud), so only some of the benefits of cloud computing are realized. Hybrid cloud is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together, offering the benefits of multiple deployment models. It can also be defined as multiple cloud systems that are connected in a way that allows programs and data to be moved easily from one deployment system to another. Private cloud is infrastructure operated solely for a single organization, whether managed internally or by a third-party and hosted internally or externally. They have attracted criticism because users "still have to buy, build, and manage them" and thus do not benefit from lower up-front capital costs and less hands-on management, essentially "[lacking] the economic model that makes cloud computing such an intriguing concept" 2. Security concerns. Experts claim that their clouds are 100% secure - but it will not be their head on the block when things go awry. Its often stated that cloud computing security is better than most enterprises. Also, how do you decide which data to handle in the cloud and which to keep to internal systems - once decided keeping it secure could well be a full-time task.

Careers Assignment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Careers Assignment - Research Paper Example Secondly, the interactive intelligence company are offering a position in the field of information technology business analyst. Apparently, the person is mandated with the task of relating business practices with information technology. On the contrary, for the career panel, the following are the questions that would be asked. Firstly, how will you benefit the company? Secondly, have you ever held the position offered before? Lastly, where do you view this company in the next five years? On the other hand, a system administrator is mandated with the task of servicing and ensuring good operation of computer systems. In fact, they are the core of the information technology business for instance computer manufacturing firms such as dell. Moreover, a programmer is mandated with the task of creating and maintenance of computer programs. On the same note, they are essential in companies that manufacture computer programs, thus they promote the information technology sector. To this end, information technology is crucial in the field of

Bibliography Annotated Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Annotated Bibliography Example Individuals who were forced to be admitted and who had a pacemaker were not made part of the sample size. When the patients were first admitted to the healthcare center, they experienced higher level of dehydration. Different physiological factors were considered while identifying hydration levels including: systolic blood pressure levels and dryness of the tongue. The study was descriptive in nature and for a descriptive study a sample size of 15 is enough, while the study employed 43 individuals and this means that the sample size was enough. The statistical power of 95% has been mentioned that means that the sample size is adequate for the study. The study was well designed as it followed all the requirements of a descriptive study such as the requirement of the minimum sample size. The study even contained various factors that were related to the purpose of the study. The relevant outcomes of the prevalence as well as the measures and factors of measuring dehydration were clearly mentioned. These outcomes were relevant to the purpose of the study and that is why they were reported. The study included only patients who aged over 60 which is mostly the benchmark age of older adults in most of the nations. This means that the findings of the study can be generalized in people belonging to other nations and this why the eligibility criteria was appropriate. The older adults were experiencing higher levels of dehydration as compared to the dehydration levels assessed by the hospital. This study helped in identifying parameters that are being considered globally to assess the level of dehydration. The study has provided some new measures of identifying the levels of dehydration among older adults and these measures can be utilized in clinical settings to perform the same analysis. This can help in better care of the patient as nurses should know whether their patients are taking appropriate amount of fluid

Criminal justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Criminal justice - Essay Example It proves to be difficult as there are so many new laws and rules. So if the senior is complaining that the team of new supervisor has made some forced complaints and if the supervisor feels that he was just doing his duty then it is important for the supervisor to have a good look at the arrests and warrants made while he was on a leave. It is very important to deal with the situation with a clear mind and remain calm. One should not try to do something extra ordinary. One should just remain himself as people can see through someone who is trying to be someone that they are not. The supervisor should start off strict and then ease off, rather than starting off easy and then becoming stricter. Proper communication with the seniors as well as the team is very important to alleviate the situation. It is not necessary to rush to make changes, it is better to bring in changes slowly and steadily. One should not let his ego get on to him. The new shift can be overwhelming and very tiring, but it is important to give the best shot and not get irritated with the tiring job. The sergeant must ensure that everyone in his team knows what is required from them and they have the resources required to do the job, as the supervisor is responsible for all the mistakes made by his team.

The Business Environment of Tesco Plc Case Study

The Business Environment of Tesco Plc - Case Study Example In its website, Tesco Plc clearly identifies its mission by the statement "Our core purpose is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty" (Tesco Plc 2008) This statement is in recognition that the success of the giant retailer is highly dependent on two key identified stakeholders-"the people who shop with us and the people who work with us" (Tesco Plc 2008). Thus, the company also expresses its two core values which are focused on the satisfaction of these two groups of stakeholders. For customers, Tesco maintains that in their stores "No-one tries harder for customers," (Tesco Plc 2008) while for its employees, it stresses that it would "Treat people as we like to be treated" (Tesco Plc 2008). This analysis will focus on three stakeholders of Tesco Plc, two of which are already identified above as its customers and employees. It should be noted that the success of the business organization is dependent on the customers' decision to purchase in the retail store. This in part is attainable only through the direct cooperation and effort of its employees to pursue its overall strategy of providing good products, excellent service, creation of a convenient shopping atmosphere and making shopping as enjoyable as possible. The mission of Tesco to retain loyal people both its customers and employees is created in recognition to this fact. Since the mission statement revolves around customers and employees, the company's values are also geared towards the satisfaction of these stakeholders. Tesco further expounds on how it satisfies its customers by identifying the direct ways on how to boost customer value: "Customers have told us what they want-clear aisles, to be able to get what they want at a good price, no queues and great staff. We call this our Every Little Helps Shopping Trip for customers and use it every day to ensure we are always working hard to make Tesco a better place to shop, at home and abroad" (Tesco Plc 2008). The identification of customers as key stakeholders of Tesco becomes a primary importance when it formulated its values. For its employees, Tesco Plc is committed in making the company a "great place to work" by listening to what its workforce wants: "Our staff have told us what is important to them - to be treated with respect, having a manager who helps them, having an interesting job and an opportunity to get on. Helping achieve what is important to our staff will help us to deliver an Every Little Helps Shopping Trip for our customers" (Tesco Plc 2008). Recognizing that Tesco's customers can be satisfied by its staff, the retailer also focuses on the satisfaction of its people to look after and deliver value to its customers. The four pronged objectives of Tesco Plc together with the identified mission and values altogether work for the maximization of the wealth of its other key stakeholders-its shareholders. Every business organization pursues the same goal and that is to be able to generate a sizable profit for its

Social Interaction in People with Autism Essay Example for Free

Social Interaction in People with Autism Essay People with Autism tend to face difficulties in social interaction. This study examined the possibility that the cause of these social difficulties is heightened anxiety in response to social situations. First year psychology students were asked to complete three surveys online, in order to test their anxiety levels, as well as the extent to which they demonstrate autistic-like traits. The results indicated a link between anxiety and autistic-like traits in the general population. Due to the fact that this study was based on the general population, further research using participants who have autism would be beneficial to ensure the validity of this link. If this link was reinforced in future studies, it could potentially have significant implications for the treatment of Autism. By developing ways to reduce anxiety, clinicians may be able to make patients more comfortable in social situations and improve their quality of life. Social Interaction in People With Autism: The Link Between Anxiety and Social Communication Deficits Individuals with Autism exhibit â€Å"abnormalities in social and communication development, in the presence of marked repetitive behavior and limited imagination† (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). One of the most prominent issues for people with Autism is their tendency to experience difficulties in social interaction. They tend to lack conversational skills, find it difficult participate in social events and are often seen to behave in a generally strange manor (Kanne, Christ, Reiersen, 2009). The reason for this lack of social interaction is unclear. It is possible that people with Autism are simply not interested in social interaction, however it is more plausible that this lack of social interaction is due to heightened anxiety in social situations. Research has identified that those with significant Autistic-like traits are more prone to loneliness. Loneliness implies that these individuals are not content in being by themselves and are experiencing negative feelings as a result (Bauminger, Shulman, Agam, 2003). Furthermore, research has illustrated that many individuals with Autism have expressed a desire to develop friendships and sexual relationships (Jobe White, 2007). These results indicate a desire to engage in social activities; therefore it seems likely that this avoidance of social interactions is due to elevated anxiety rather than disinterest. One recent study compared the anxiety levels in children with autism, with the anxiety levels of two control groups. The results indicated that the children with autism had â€Å"considerably higher† anxiety than the control groups (Gillott, Furniss Walter, 2001). An alternative study examined the link between autism and anxiety in adolescents. Similarly, the results indicated significantly higher anxiety in people with autism. Both studies listed a limited sample size as a limitation, and suggested future research with a larger sample size (Bellini, 2004). This study will build upon the foundation provided by these and other studies and further examine the link between anxiety and autism with a larger sample size. Autism is often considered to be a â€Å"spectrum disorder. † This means that those with Autism are high in particular traits, which can be found to a lesser degree in all members of the general population (Jobe White, 2007). Therefore, the general population can be used to examine the link between autistic-like traits and elevated anxiety. This report will use three questionnaires, namely the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS, Mattick Clarke, 1998), the Autism Quotient (AQ, (Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright, Skinner, Martin, Clubley, 2001) and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE, Carleton, McCreary, Norton, Asmundson, 2006) to analyse the link between Autistic-like characteristics and anxious tendencies in the general population, which can then be related to people with Autism. The aim of this report is to clarify the cause of social deficits in people with Autism. It will examine the notion that these social difficulties are linked to heightened anxiety levels in response to social situations. It is expected that the data will reflect this link, and higher AQ scores will be positively related to higher scores in the BFNE and SIAS. Method Participants The research was based on a sample of first year psychology students studying at the University of Western Australia. There were 356 participants- both male and female- ranging from 17 to 56 years old. Participants were asked to take part in the study as a part of the course requirements for PSYC1102. There were no additional selection criteria; all students were invited to participate in the study regardless of age, sex or ethnicity. Materials The data was collected using three surveys: the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), the Autism- Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE). The SIAS provides a list of social tendencies and skills and asks participants to identify whether the statement is characteristic of them. Participants are given 20 statements such as â€Å"I have difficulty making eye contact with others† and are asked to select the option that most accurately reflects them from a five-point Likert scale between â€Å"not at all† and â€Å"extremely. † Participants receive a score between 0 and 80 based on their answers. The BFNE seeks to assess participants’ fear of negative evaluation; it does this by providing 12 statements such as â€Å" I am afraid of other people knowing my shortcomings† and asking participants to select an answer on a five-point Likert scale from â€Å"not at all characteristic of me† to â€Å"extremely characteristic of me. † Participants receive a score between 0 and 60 based on their answers (Carleton, McCreary, Norton, Asmundson, 2006). Finally, the AQ is a 50-question questionnaire, which assesses where the participant lies on the Autism Spectrum. It assesses the participant on five areas: social skills, attention switching, attention to detail, communication and imagination (Baron-Cohen et al. 2001). It offers statements such as â€Å"I prefer to do things on my own rather than with others† and invites participants to select an answer on the five-point Likert scale from â€Å"definitely agree† to â€Å"definitely disagree. † Participants receive a score between 0 and 50 based on their answers. (Baron-Cohen et al. 2001) The current study aimed to clarify the cause of social deficit in people with Autism. It was hypothesised that these social difficulties are linked to elevated anxiety levels in response to social situations. It was expected that the data recorded from the AQ, BFNE and SIAS questionnaires would be consistent with this hypothesis and highlight the link between autistic-like traits and heightened anxiety. The results show no link between the AQ and the BFNE. However, they do indicate a positive relationship between the AQ and SIAS, and a positive relationship between the SIAS and BFNE, as expected. This indicates that there is some truth to the hypothesis that the social deficits faced by people with autism are linked to anxiety. This study has some limitations, which should be considered when discussing the results. Firstly, participants of this study were first year students, largely under the age of 20, and of similar level of intelligence. These factors make the sample somewhat limited, and it is unlikely to be a true refection of the general population. Future studies would benefit from conducting surveys with a more diverse sample group. A random sample of participants would provide a more rounded and accurate representation of the general population. In addition, this study assessed members of the general population, and most –if not all- participants do not have autism. Therefore, it could be argued that the results may not be entirely valid. While there is research to suggest that autistic-like traits are evident in the general population, this does not necessarily mean that the link between autistic-like characteristics and anxiety established in this study can be transferred to people with autism. Future studies may need to assess this hypothesis with people who have autism for more valid findings. A further possible limitation of this study is that of the 931 students, only 356 participated in the study. It is logical to expect that the students who completed the survey are likely to be the more diligent students. The more diligent students may share similar characteristics, and may have more autistic-like tendencies; this could indicate some bias in the sample group. This study indicates a link between autistic-like characteristics and anxiety in the general population. If this link was proven in future studies to be also relevant to people with Autism, the information could be used to improve the quality of their social interactions. Clinicians could potentially take this link into account when working with patients with Autism. By developing ways to reduce anxiety, clinicians may be able to make patients more comfortable in social situations. This study has supported the theory that there is a link between autistic-like characteristics and anxiety. This could be further developed with more extensive research into anxiety in people who have autism. With further research, clinicians may be able develop methods to target anxiety in people with Autism and reduce the severity of their social deficits.

External Factors Affecting To The Pepsico Marketing Essay

External Factors Affecting To The Pepsico Marketing Essay Books, articles, journals and periodicals were reviewed; internet sources were also visited, to elicit information. The major threat identified were more of environmental, arising majorly from its sludge which was alleged to contain a high level of toxic chemicals, including cadmium and lead, both of which can be harmful to human and plants. The case of coca-cola plant in Perumatti in the southern state of Kerala in India was used as a case study Not only is PepsiCo the worlds largest beverage company, but in 200 nations ( with consumers enjoying an average of 1.6 billion servings a day), sells about 500 sparkling brands, including 4 of the top sellers (coca- cola, diet coke, sprite and fanta), sparkling beverages, juices, and ready to drink teas among others. In this assignment we focused on the activities regarding the external factors which affect the PepsiCo, needs and expectations of stakeholders of PepsiCo, major changes taking place in the external environment in PepsiCo, modeling tools develop strategic options, basis of future PepsiCo strategy, comparative understanding of competitor activity from others. External factors affecting to the PepsiCo. PEST analysis is concerned with the key external environmental influences on a business. POLITICAL ECONOMICAL SOCIAL TECHNOLOGICAL PepsiCo product are subject to various federal laws New opportunities in other countries Replenishing water Operates in almost all the countries Land acquisition for new factories Fuel price Replenishing water Introduction of cans and plastic Bottles Govt. focusing on stricter water pollution norms Availability of labor Partnership with farmers Newer and attractive Designs Raw Material prices A great worry. Have a global economic perspective Solid waste management program State-of-the-Art plants Needs and expectations of stakeholders of PepsiCo Consumers PepsiCo are proud to offer PepsiCo consumers a wide range of products that deliver great taste, nutritional value, convenience and affordability. PepsiCo are committed to playing a responsible role in health and PepsiCo are finding innovative ways to reduce the use of energy, water and packaging, and to better serve consumer wants and needs through new products and packaging And PepsiCo work relentlessly to improve productivity so PepsiCo can offer affordable products to a broad range of consumers. Consumer Privacy Consumer privacy is important to PepsiCo, and PepsiCo make every effort to make sure consumers are provided with PepsiCo policies, terms and conditions. PepsiCo business divisions and many markets maintain corporate and brand PepsiCo sites, fully accessible to all interested parties. Communities PepsiCo support PepsiCo communities through PepsiCo businesses by contributing to not-for-profit groups and by working with organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people. PepsiCo have advisory groups that focus on health and issues of concern to the African American, Asian and Latino/Hispanic communities, among others. Investors PepsiCo strive to provide investors with a reasonable return on their investment, based on consistent financial growth in the marketplace and consistent financial results. PepsiCo take a long-term view and make appropriate investments to strengthen PepsiCo brands, develop PepsiCo capabilities and pursue new opportunities. Partners PepsiCo did not control these bottlers, PepsiCo did not consolidate their results. Instead, PepsiCo included PepsiCo share of their net income based on PepsiCo percentage of economic ownership in PepsiCo income statement as bottling equity income. Suppliers PepsiCo suppliers provide us with the goods and services needed in PepsiCo business. PepsiCo buy goods and services at competitive prices with the goal of allowing both PepsiCo suppliers and PepsiCo to make a reasonable profit. Major changes affect strategy. PepsiCo intend to continue to focus our efforts on, among other initiatives, the following. These changes of the external factors changes the Strategy of PepsiCo PepsiCo Company to develop a business model to continue exploring and participating in new lines of beverages, extending existing product lines and effectively advertising and marketing our products; implementing selective packaging strategies designed to increase consumer demand for our products and to build a strong returnable base for the PepsiCo brand; replicating our best practices throughout the value chain; Adapting organizational and asset structure in order to be in a better position to respond to a changing competitive environment; to build a multi-cultural collaborative team, from top to bottom; and broadening our geographic footprint through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. SWOT analysis of PepsiCo SWOT Analysis of PepsiCo Strengths Weaknesses Opportunity Threat one of the most recognized brands of the world Low Productivity In 2008 PepsiCo had approximately 198,000 employees. International Expansion PepsiCo is in the midst of making a $1, 000 million investment in China, and a $500 million investment in India Decline in Carbonated Drink Sales Soft drink sales are projected to decline by as much as 2.7% by 2012, PepsiCos diversification is obvious in that the fact that each of its top 18 brands Image Damage Due to Product Recall Growing Savory Snack and Bottled Water market in US PepsiCo is positioned well to capitalize on the growing bottle water market which is projected to be worth over $24 million by 2012. Intense Competition The Coca-Cola Company is PepsiCos primary competitors. But others include Nestlà ©, Groupe Danone and Kraft Foods. Intense competition may influence pricing, advertising, sales The company delivers its products directly from manufacturing plants and warehouses to customer warehouses and retail stores Its revenue per employee was $219,439, which was lower that its competitors. Broadening of Product Base PepsiCo is seeking to address one of its potential weaknesses; dependency Potential Negative Impact of Government Regulations Develop a comparative understanding of competitor activity from other organizations in the market. pff2.jpg Create options to form the basis of future organizational strategy. The PepsiCo reaffirmed the underlying strength of its integrated food and beverage portfolio and concluded that PepsiCo offers the most compelling value to shareholders as one company. Significantly increase investments in its iconic brands and in bringing innovation to market. Advertising and marketing spending will increase by $500-$600 million in 2012, the majority in North America. Going forward, it expects to maintain or increase that rate of support as a percentage of revenues. To drive efficiencies, it will reduce the number of agency partners and also take steps to leverage the global scale of its top brand platforms. The brand investments are expected to drive top line growth and enable greater price realization; Implement a three-year productivity program that is expected to generate over $500 million in incremental cost savings in 2012, further incremental reductions in the cost base of about $500 million in 2013, and an additional $500 million in 2014. The productivity savings will span every aspect of the business: Improve its net return on invested capital by at least 50 basis points annually beginning in 2013 through increased focus on capital spending and working capital management. As an example, in 2012 we will be reducing capital expenditures by 10% versus 2011. The emphasis is on systematically improving the efficiency of the existing asset base; (Armstrong, 1986) Strategy plan that ensures stakeholders of an organization The newest campaign slogan, introduced this year, is More Happy, which definitely coincides with one concrete example of more in the packaging of Pepsi products today-more designs. Many more. At least 35 distinct design ideas will grace the packaging of Pepsis cans and bottles this year alone, and this design strategy may continue indefinitely Pepsi actually asked their loyal consumers what brand elements would have to remain so that they would be intuitively reassured that their favorite drinks were not changing and the brand they trusted was still essentially the same. Their answer was direct and consistent. Pepsi-lovers needed to see three elements for sure-the Pepsi globe, the iconic Pepsi blue, and the familiar tilted Pepsi capital letters. Television ad campaigns are reinforcing the globe-centric approach by featuring a boulder-sized Pepsi globe in various settings careening to and fro like a pinball. In the ads and on the front of most of the new packages is the reassuring tag line: Same Pepsi inside, new look outside. Miller explains that it is customary and important to reassure consumers for at least six months in situations like this. (Renger, (2002). ) Create options for a strategy plan Hopefully you and your team will come up with several options or solutions to fix the problem you are working on. In evaluating these options or potential solutions, I have found the following criteria to be beneficial: Effectiveness: How likely is it that this solution will get me to the desired situation? Feasibility: How realistic is this solution? How likely is it that this solution can be implemented effectively? Time: How long will it take to implement this solution? How long will it take to get the desired results? Cost: How much will it cost, in money or other resources, to implement this solution? Human resources: How many people will need to be involved to implement this solution? Difficulty or ease of implementation: Overall, how easy or difficult will it be to implement this solution? Risk: How much is at risk in implementing this solution? (Armstrong S. , 1985) Strategy plan ensuring the resource implications. Intensive growth (Identifying the opportunities to achieve further growth within the current business) Product -market expansion grid is useful framework for detecting new intensive growth opportunities. (Conley, 1992, April.) Market penetration strategy (The Company first considers whether it could gain more market share with its current products in the current markets): Headquartered in Purchase, New York, with Research and Development Headquarters in Valhalla. A third force was the perceived synergy between salty snacks and soft drinks. As Kendall succinctly related to Forbes in 1968, Potato chips make you thirsty; Pepsi satisfies thirst. The plan was to jointly market PepsiCos snacks and soft drinks, thereby giving Pepsi a potential advantage in its ongoing battle with Coke. Expand the Global Leadership Position of Our Snacks Business. PepsiCo is the global snacks leader, with the No. 1 savory category share position in virtually every key region across the globe. Ensure Sustainable, Profitable Growth in Global Beverages. When combined with the actions we are taking to refresh their brands across the entire beverage category, they believe this game-changing transaction will enable them to accelerate their top-line growth and also improve their profitability. Unleash the Power of Power of One. The combination of snacks and beverages-with our high-demand global and local brands-makes PepsiCo an essential partner for large-format as well as small-format retailers. Mission, Vision, Objectives of PepsiCo Mission Mission is to be the worlds premier consumer products company focused on convenient foods and beverages. PepsiCo seek to produce financial rewards to investors as they provide opportunities for growth and enrichment to our employees, our business partners and the communities in which they operate. And in everything do, they strive for honesty, fairness and integrity. Our Vision PepsiCos responsibility is to continually improve all aspects of the world in which they operate environment, social, economic creating a better tomorrow than today. Vision is put into action through programs and a focus on environmental stewardship, activities to benefit society, and a commitment to build shareholder value by making PepsiCo a truly sustainable company. Objectives At PepsiCo, theyre committed to achieving business and financial success while leaving a positive imprint on society delivering what they call Performance with Purpose. PepsiCo approach to superior financial performance is straightforward drive shareholder value. By addressing social and environmental issues, they also deliver on our purpose agenda, which consists of human, environmental, and talent sustainability. PepsiCos Future management objectives As a global food and beverage company with brands that stand for quality and are respected household names-Pepsi-Cola, Lays, Quaker Oats, Tropicana and Gatorade, to name a few-PepsiCo will continue to build a portfolio of enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages; find innovative ways to reduce the use of energy, water and packaging; and provide a great workplace for our associates. The Companys operating management structure consists of five geographic groups plus the Minute Maid Company. Name of the group Country/Region The North American Group USA and Canada. The Latin America Group Central and South America The Greater Europe Group Greenland to Russias Far East. The Africa and Middle East Group Middle East and the Africa continent. The Asia Pacific Group From India through the Pacific region . Values and culture of PepsiCo PepsiCos mission is to continue to be the worlds premier consumer Products Company focused on convenient foods and beverages. They endeavor to produce financial rewards to investors while providing opportunities for growth and enrichment to their employees, their business partners and the communities in which they operate. In everything the company does, they strive for honesty, fairness and integrity. PepsiCos mission for 2008 was Performance with Purpose which the CEO of PepsiCo Indra K. Nooyi elaborates on when she says this mission combines the two things that define what we do-growing the business, and acting as ethical and responsible citizens of the world The companys values philosophy are centered on being a socially and environmentally responsible company. Therefore every policy it formulates and decision it makes is based on the following guiding principles: * Care for customers, consumers and the world they live in. * Sell only products that they can be proud of.  · Speak with truth and candor. * Balance short term and long term. * Win with diversity and inclusion. * Respect others and succeed together. Evaluation of a strategy plan The introduction stages starts when products lunched in this period sales will be very slow, must of the organization faced negative profit and high cost. There are some stages where organization has to face high risk in innovation of new product. When the coca-cola company launched power the stages are: where high risk product development stage Introduction stage Growth stage After passing these stages product will be in maturity stage where organization make more profit and try to stay in this stage after this stage is decline stage which is also risk and here need to some force/change to stay in maturity stage. (Conley, 1993, April) The action plan, basically developing a very detailed list of to do thing where PepsiCo included task, time and budget or cost framework with relating marketing mix the coca-cola company in estimate the budget and talks in marketing about activities. Implementation of strategy plan Step One: Goal Setting This first step is a bit obvious. PepsiCo have a goal in mind. And PepsiCo see at earlier Coca cola made its goal at early of the year. Step Two: Research Start talking about goal and research what it will take to fulfill it. Step Three: Weigh Options Theres almost never just one way to do something. PepsiCo depend RD in here. Step Four: Direction Now that PepsiCo have a goal, knowledge of that goal, and options towards obtaining it, theyre now ready to decide the best course of action. Step Five: Begin Analysis Current situation Goals Target Customer Key Services Communication Strategy Evaluation Has this type of communications activity taken place before? If so, what was the result? Are PepsiCo seeking to provide new information? PepsiCo target the Customer with the market segmentation. Motivate the customer Fit with the resources PepsiCo already have. can learn how plan worked with various Customer, What are your major communications opportunities? Are PepsiCo calling the audience to action? PepsiCo focus on the Customer Keep in mind that consumer PepsiCos best assets. are the most effective communications vehicles to reach target Customer which activities had the most impact Define your communications challenge Are PepsiCo seeking to change behavior? PepsiCo develop strategy to implement this quickly. What are the Customer knowledge regarding PepsiCo. Helps to achieve goals and deliver the outcomes you wan which parts of the plan failed Many people fail at this step. It can be relatively easy to make a plan up to this point. But, heres where its time to put in the work. Step Six: Adapting The most successful people in the world are those that can adapt to current situations. Sometimes opportunities will open up and youll need to revise your plan to take advantage of them. Communications plan in a tabular format to support the roll out of the plan Monitoring and Evaluation system of PepsiCo Scenario Planning: Scenarios are realistic descriptions of the organizations possible futures that allow the scenario team to set aside its individual and organizational assumptions about how the external environment will operate and explore new ones PepsiCo is constantly aware of the link between its strategy and the changing future, thus, itself for the ifà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦then probable future. This is exemplified it its mission statement, thus: Benchmarking is the comparison of performance in one organization or part of an organization against that in another, with a view to finding ways of improving performance. This avails the company the opportunity to take corrective measures actions. Experience to Strategy Plan A business strategist can be regarded as the leader of an expedition to find the highest elevations on a companys fitness landscape. Fog prevents the hikers from seeing more than a few feet in front of themselves. What can be done when things look so hazy? Biologists have identified key rules that evolution uses to find high peaks. Managers too can use them. The first rule is that evolutionary searches never stop. No matter how successful a strategy is at a given moment, a business must experiment constantly to find something better. Another key principle is parallelism. The entire expedition should not explore the same region. Instead, many search parties should spread out from the base camp to explore the shifting terrain and bring back news of discoveries. (Cook, 1988) Effective strategy formulation is about Building collective intuition Encouraging healthy conflict Maintaining a pace so that decisions are taken within a stipulated time Defusing political behavior. Conclusion This strategic plan articulates for the PepsiCo community and for our constituents an understanding of who we are, what we do, and the values by which we define ourselves. It articulates as well our ambitious aspiration, five key goals we believe we must meet in order to achieve that aspiration, and an assessment of where the PepsiCo stands today as we rededicate ourselves to these shared objectives. The plan does not reflect everything that the PepsiCo hopes to do over the next five years; nor does it represent an irrevocably fixed set of directives, since the planning process must be dynamic and adaptable. It will, however, serve-at the PepsiCo level and also at the collegiate, departmental, and unit levels, where so many of the important decisions of the PepsiCo are made-as the framework according to which we will make difficult decisions, focus our resources, and thereby advance the PepsiCos distinction as a leader in higher education. Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any license, franchise, permit, certificate, approval or other similar authorization affecting, or relating in any way to, the assets or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with only such exceptions, in the case of each of clauses (b) through (d), as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the Merger