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Research proposal on A study on how the participation in social volunteer work influences women in Hong Kong in self-recognition

// <![CDATA[ google_ad_client = "pub-0512912564335968"; /* 300x250, created 5/1/08 */ google_ad_slot = "6611326668"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; // ]]> A study on how the participation in social volunteer work influences women in Hong Kong in self-recognition     1.0  Aims of the research study   The working title of this research is initially drafted as – A study on how the participation in social volunteer work influences women in Hong Kong in self-recognition. The key question that this study will seek to answer is: How does the involvement in voluntary social work influence Hong Kong women’s self-recognition? The hypotheses are: 1)    Hong Kong women participate in social volunteer work because it enhances their personality. 2)    Hong Kong women participate in social volunteer work because it impacts their positive outlook in life. 3)    Hong Kong women participate in social volunteer work because it develops their self-discovery.   The main aim of this study is to explore the changes in self-recognition through participating in voluntary works. Specifically, the research will seek to determine the influences of the social volunteer work experience on femininity and extended role of women in Hong Kong community.               This study will be a significant endeavor in establishing the positive influences of social volunteering and other unpaid activities on how people perceive life in general. This study will be helpful for women, social organisations, volunteer councils, the HKCSS, Hong Kong government and policymakers to distinguish the importance of the role women played in voluntary works and protect their interests of self-development through social-related endeavours. Based on the findings of this research, interests on social works could be sustained and decision makers will be provided with guidelines/recommendations in optimising volunteerism plans that could effectively maximise the quality of social works in Hong Kong. The study is also important as it can relate the factors affecting the likelihood of success of voluntary works especially if people could understand the genuine benefits that will come from this and how it could likely to further develop their perceptions about themselves. This study is expected to have profound implications for addressing the special needs of those involved in social volunteer works. Moreover, this study will be an important contribution to a body of research concerning voluntary social work and its influences.               This is of particular relevance to me as after the completion of the course, I anticipate assuming a role within the social welfare industry in Hong Kong hence broaden my horizon of what is currently happening. It will be my job to maximise the amount of literatures regarding social welfare for my own and posterity’s advantage. This research, whilst fulfilling the requirements of the University, will be of great benefit to my career and my future organisation. It is of my best belief that addressing the needs of the industry and hopefully resulting in various improvements will help me maintain high levels of motivation for this project throughout the course of the research.     2.0  Context and literature review   2.1 Self-recognition   Self-recognition could be described in three ways: perceived personality, self-interest, and complete personality. Perceived personality refers to somebody’s personality or an aspect of somebody’s personality, especially as perceived by others. Self-recognition is also a complete and individual personality when one that somebody recognises as his or her own and when there is a sense of ease. As self-interest, it is somebody’s own individual interests and welfare particularly when placed before those of other people. Meyers (1994) relate that self-recognition involves both the cultivation of one’s moral identity and enactment of one’s moral identity. Combined, these activities implicate how an individual empathise with others (p. 121).   Meyers (1994) also noted that in self-recognition, an individual seeks to understand individuality through validating feelings and actions when it is appropriate to do so. Self-recognition is the self-directed care which consolidates independent subjectivity. In an oppressive social environment, self-recognition is being suppressed. As such, self-recognition has an inherent moral component wherein in order to receive recognition, one must recognise the other and to recognise the other, one must recognise oneself. Self-recognition, in effect, involves endorsement of sound values, development of one’s moral capacities and living up to one’s ideals. This is moral self-recognition which sustains interpersonal connection (pp. 128-132).     2.2 Self-recognition of women   For women, self-recognition is significant particularly when doing the right thing and making a difference. Doing something important mainly increases positive self-recognition among women, as according to Munhall (1994, pp. 172-173). Self-recognition is important specifically in the way women view themselves and personal outlooks. Positive remarks are important for women to know that they are indeed making a difference in their life and in the life of others as part of the recognition of their own importance. Regardless of the problems and situations women faced, personal reactions to own and various situations directly relates to elements of self-recognition. Women’s social and personal identity is triggered by self-recognition or self-discovery as a process of becoming whereby the self recognises itself in the otherness of objects (Taylor, 1994, p. 54).   2.3 Women and social work   Women accepted various roles as a practical strategy including voluntary social works. Viewed as women empowerment, voluntary social works is an effective way of preserving nurturing qualities and community involvement among women. The spread of the idea of voluntary social working to women of all socioeconomic backgrounds provides satisfaction and fulfillment (Kessler-Harris, 1981, p. 131). This is because, as Gardner (2001) puts it, social working develop the capacity to reflect and develop awareness of own attitudes and values. Indeed, voluntary social working works two-fold: women became aware of their significance in the process while also providing significance of the work to others. Deeper and more connection to the practice embeds on reflection which could enable women to tap on their ability to connect acquired experiences with personal meaning or past experiences.   2.4 Social work in Hong Kong               In the 1960s, various voluntary agencies had pioneered different kinds of service initiatives in Hong Kong, shaping and serving as a good foundation for the social welfare development in the region. Such agencies worked towards the development of diversified welfare services to meet the social needs. There are four strategic objectives of social welfare in Hong Kong. First is the development of human capital. People empowerment through improving skills, personal attitudes and motivations is a priority. This was seen as a way to connects individuals to communities, and enables them to contribute to the economic and social development of the society. Second is maximising opportunities for reliance. Economic and social participation by individuals, families and the communities are highly encouraged as it can prevent social exclusion. Third is strengthening family solidarity. As it preserves and strengthens families, individual families’ capacity to develop resilience to meet changes is being developed. Fourth is building community cohesiveness. Social services aimed at cultivating an inclusive and non-discriminative environment and positive social relationship, trust and participation that enhance social harmony and solidarity (Hong Kong Council of Social Service).   2.5 How Hong Kong women contributes in social work   In Hong Kong, women contribute significantly through participating in social-related activities particularly voluntary work and other unpaid activities. A survey conducted in 2001 reveals a multifaceted role of women especially that of homemakers. According to Mrs. Sophie Leung Lau Yau-fan, then Women’s Commission Chairperson, states that: [the Commission] is ware that both women and men have been contributing to the community through their paid and unpaid activities, and that some members of the community, especially women, are experiencing barriers that hinder them from participating fully in the community.”   The survey discovered that on average economically active women spent about 3.3 hours a day on unpaid activities including home caring work, voluntary work and other unpaid activities for relatives and friends. Further, in terms of average time spent, homemakers spent 6.8 hours a day on voluntary work and other unpaid activities aside from care-giving for household members, household work, purchasing goods and services for own household. More women are also engaged in voluntary work wherein 63% of all persons aged 15 and over had carried out voluntary work during the twelve months before the survey. However, because of voluntary work, they have not much free time for themselves. These women had negligible time for education and training, and were less inclined to engage in other activities, such as cultural or recreational activities. The survey confirmed, however, that women are valuable resources of the community and women played a greater role in building social network and social capital within their community.   3.0  Methodology   3.1 Sources of data               Initially, the sources of data will come from the household survey and the focus group interview to be conducted. The objective of the household survey is to determine who among the local residents are involved in voluntary social works. Survey will include demographic questions and questions relating to voluntary social work experience. Through these questions, I could address the way the process of social volunteer works affects the self-recognition of women. Housewives/homemakers are the target of this study. It is planned that target participants whom can be reached from my place of work which is a community centre will be included. Since I am planning to include housewives of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, the inclusion criterion is that they have already involved in different volunteer groups for the last twelve months.   This means that among the surveyed housewives participants for the focus group interview will be lifted. Informed sampling, or the process of choosing samples on the basis of specific considerations including different age groups, some of them may come from well off family, some of them with no children, and some of them with their children who are still going to schools and some of them with their children who are already adults and working, will be used. In this way, I can evaluate the extent of the impact of social voluntary work on their self-recognition despite the fact that they come from diverse backgrounds. The focus group interview will involve at least 10 participants. The respondents will be contacted through the personal information they will provide in the demographic items in the questionnaires. An attached interview consent form will be provided while answering the survey (an example is provided in the Appendix section).   3.2 Data collection               The research will utilise both primary and secondary research. In primary research, the study will use a structured survey questionnaire and focus group interview schedule as instruments. Questions on both instruments will relate on the social voluntary work experiences of the target participants of different backgrounds. Examples of the questions to be asked in the focus group interview are: 1) Prior to joining social voluntary works, how do you see yourself? 2) How do social voluntary works change your perception about yourself? 3) How do social voluntary works help in the further development of your self-identity? 4) How do you perceive the beauty and self-related benefits of social voluntary works? 5) Do you see yourself as a functional member of the society compared before when you are not yet involved in voluntary works?   Aside from survey and interview, a secondary research will also be conducted in the study. Sources in secondary research will include previous research reports and journal content and statistics. Sometimes, secondary research is required in the preliminary stages of the study to determine what is known already and what new data are required, or to inform research design. In this paper, existing findings on journals and existing knowledge on books will be used as secondary research.     3.3 Practical and ethical considerations             The project will abide by the regulations applied in conducting researches.  This means that ethics approval will be sought for all questionnaires and interview questions, and that the relevant documentation is completed by participants of focus group interview. . For this research, I will work hand in hand with my supervisor specifically in drafting and modifying survey and interview questions.  The research will include primary data and will include personal information on housewives/homemakers. The respondents of the survey will be able to choose whether to identify them or stay anonymous. Before doing interviews, I will check them with my supervisor. I will ensure that the data will be kept confidentially. Before getting interviews recorded, I will ensure if it is acceptable by person to be interviewed. I will establish with the data providers the use of my data and will ask their permission in case of publishing data.   3.4 Reflections   A qualitative study to investigate how partaking in social voluntary works influence the self-recognition among women, this study might provide new results that can be further explored in future studies. This type of study will allow seeing the importance of the contribution of women in social development in Hong Kong and address their special needs when performing their social role. However, like any other study, this research also has various limitations that may affect the credibility of its results. One of the limitations is that data will only be acquired through survey and interviews. Surveys are limited only to abrupt responses and while during interviews, the amount of information to be closed lies in the decision0making of participants. Participation then may also be a limitation of this study as there may be some who will not be willing to participate or who may participate half-heartedly.               A pre-test of the survey questions will also be conducted so that errors can be spotted and they can be modified immediately to suit the study better. A pre-test of the questionnaires will be conducted to 3 samples so as to validate if its contents are okay and can actually answer the research questions of the study. If ever the questionnaire is not suitable as the pre-analysis show, it will be immediately modified. The suggestions of the 4 pre-test samples will also be considered in the modification. The pre-test samples will not be included in the actual set of respondents. Same goes with the focus group interview questions, pre-testing and modification will be a priority.               I want to place myself in the position wherein I could provide new orders of thinking applicable to incumbent and posterity. Limitations inherent in this kind of research would include susceptibility from the researcher’s subjectivities in the context of the research study. I would tend to think that social voluntary works changes the lives of the persons involved in great ways. Further, the research does not intend to interpret phenomena but only those that are affecting the social voluntary works and how it relates to women’s self-recognition.     3.5 Timeframe           TASK Weeks 1st 2nd 3rd 4th  5th 6th 7th   8th 9th 10th 11th  12th Read Literature                         Finalize Objectives                         Draft Literature Review                           Devise Research Approach                         Review Secondary Data                         Organize Survey                         Develop Survey Questions                         Conduct Survey                         Organize Interviews                         Develop Interview questions                         Conduct Interviews                         Analyze secondary & primary data                         Evaluate data                         Draft Findings Chapter                         Complete remaining chapters                         Submit to tutor and await feedback                         Revise draft and format for submission                         Print, Bind                         Submit                           (2, 468 words)       Appendix   Interview Consent Form   Title of Research __________________________________________   1. I agree to be interviewed for the purposes of the student research named above. 2. The purpose and nature of the interview has been explained to me, and I have read the assignment and/or information sheet as provided by the student. 3. I agree that the interview may be electronically recorded. 4. Any questions that I asked about the purpose and nature of the interview and research have been answered to my satisfaction. 5. Choose a), b) or c): a) I agree that my name may be used for the purposes of the research only and not for publication. OR b) I understand that the student may wish to pursue publication at a later date and my name may be used. OR c) I do not wish my name to be used or cited, or my identity otherwise disclosed, in the research.   Name of interviewee_______________________________________ Signature of interviewee____________________________________ Date______________________   6. I have explained the project and the implications of being interviewed to the interviewee and I believe that the consent is informed and that he/she understands the implications of participation. Name of interviewer________________________________________ Signature of interviewer_____________________________________ Date_____________________         References   Gardner, F 2001, ‘Social Work and Self-awareness: how does it happen?’ Reflective Practice, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 27-40.   Kessler-Harris, A 1981, Women Have Always Worked: A Historical Overview, Feminist Press.   Meyers, D T 1994, Subjection and subjectivity: psychoanalytic feminism and moral philosophy, Routledge, London.   Mission of Social Welfare in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), retrieved on 20 March 2009, from http://www.hkcss.org.hk/download/folder/socialwelfare/sw_eng.doc.   Munhall, P L 1994, In Women’s Experience, Jones and Bartlett Publishers.   Taylor, C, 1994, ‘The politics of recognition’, in C Taylor and Gutmann, A, eds, Multiculturalism and the politics of recognition, pp. 25-73, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.   Thematic Household Survey Report No. 14 2001, Census and Statistics Department, Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department, retrieved on 20 March 2009, from http://www.women.gov.hk/download/press_release_on_time_use_survey_e.pdf.

Research proposal on A study on how the participation in social volunteer work influences women in Hong Kong in self-recognition

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Sample SWOT Analysis as Marketing Planning Process on Starbucks and Toyota

12. Conducting a SWOT analysis is a basic component of the market planning process.  We have discussed Starbucks and Toyota (the Scion brand) in our group discussions.  Use the information in the articles from the group discussions and the company web site and conduct a brief SWOT analysis for either Starbucks or Toyota.  Select one of these companies, outline the four parts of the SWOT analysis, and describe at least two (2) entries for each part, (2 marketing strengths, 2 marketing weaknesses, 2 marketing threats, and 2 marketing opportunities.).   Briefly explain why your think your entries are strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats that would affect the company’s marketing strategy.               Starbucks is one of the leading purchasers and grinders of quality coffee beans. The company has an international market with shops established around the world. In conducting a SWOT analysis of the company, there are four considerations. First are the strengths of the company. Starbucks enjoys the position of having high brand equity as well as satisfied employees. The company has strong brand equity because of the quality of the products that they offer. Starbucks prides itself with offering exclusive coffee products or products that customers cannot find in other coffee shops. People make the effort to go out and purchase the exclusive coffee of Starbucks. The company also enjoys the benefit of satisfied employees expressed in the recognition of the company as Fortune’s top 100 companies to work in. The company attracts the best employees in their different branches ensuring service quality. Second are the weaknesses of the company. Starbucks has several weaknesses, one is the lower price of coffee in supermarkets and another is its shrinking target market. Starbucks competes with the cheaper make-your-own coffee sold in supermarkets and it also felt the dwindling of its original target market of people belonging to the 35 and above age range. Third are opportunities. Starbucks is faced with several opportunities. One is the expansion of its market to include the younger age range by making the company accommodating to the preferences of younger people through the variety of their products. Another opportunity is the introduction of its coffee products in supermarkets but which should include instructions on the specific manner that coffee is to be prepared if the final product is to become at par with coffee sold in the Starbucks shops. Fourth are threats. Several international companies also operate through the exclusivity of products espoused by Starbucks. This means that Starbucks has to continuously develop new varieties of their products if the company is to succeed in maintaining product differentiation. Another threat is the superiority of the access of competitors to channels of distribution. Companies selling ground coffee in supermarkets enjoy the benefits of this channel of distribution that Starbucks does not enjoy. Starbucks only provides its products and services to people within the vicinity of its cafes.      13. You are a marketing specialist working for a company that operates 21 multiplex movie theaters (theaters with several movie screening rooms) in suburban shopping malls and shopping centers near major metropolitan areas including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.  The company wants to know if its potential customers want additional food items in the theater, if so what items, and if they want a dining area in the lobby.  You have not been able to find any existing market research data and will have to generate your own primary data.  Use this situation and give examples of how you could use three different methods to generate the primary data.  For each of the three methods, explain why you think each method would be effective in this situation.               The first method is observation of customer behavior. This is done by posting observers at key points in the different theaters and documenting the behavior of customers for a given period in relation to the objective of the research. Since the objective of the research is to determine whether customers want additional food items or a dining area in the lobby, the observers will be posted at the food stalls in the theater. The significant behavior to be observed is the interest that people show on the food being sold by the stalls. An increasing or constant number of people going to the food stalls indicate that people are interested in purchasing food sold at the cinema. However, if there are only a few people buying from the food stalls then this means that there is little interest in the food that the theater has to offer especially if this is the experience throughout the period of research and regardless of the peak and slack days in the theater. In terms of the dining area, the behavior that should be observed is whether there are many people standing around the food stalls while eating especially if the people eat before going inside the theater and after watching a movie.             The second methodology is interview. This is done by randomly picking viewers to the different theaters and asking them about the food sold in the theater and their opinion on the putting up of a dining area near the food stalls. This is an effective method because the interaction between the research and the customer enables the researcher to ask customers why they answered they way they did and to clarify answers. The interview method provides a manner of gathering in depth information from customers including the type of food they want and the arrangement of the dining area. The number of interviews and the period of conducting the interview depend upon the number of viewers per day of a theater and should cover the peak and slack days. However, the interview should be conducted in a manner that will not inconvenience the customers.             The third methodology is survey. This is done in several manners but the most common way is to provide a suggestion box and forms that gauge the satisfaction of customers on the food and other existing arrangements and at the same time request them to give their suggestions and other comments. If the theater wants to expand its market by improving the food and dining arrangements, then research can be extended to include the people within the vicinity of the theaters and the questionnaire form asking the people about the theater services and products that they prefer can be floated to a significant number of people in other shops, supermarkets and other public places. 14.  Assume you have just opened your own coffee and sandwich shop in a shopping center.  The shopping center is in an affluent suburban area and there are a number of professional offices (lawyers, accountants, consultants, doctor offices) in the local area.  You specialize in coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and salads, and serve breakfast.  You plan to operate the store 7-days a week, 6:00AM to 9:00PM.  Now all you need are customers.  Outline the steps in the consumer decision process and briefly explain marketing actions you could take to help potential customers go through the process and decide to start patronizing your coffee shop.  Please be specific and relate your response to the situation of opening the coffee shop.             Consumers go through the stages of the decision process before making the actual purchase of a product or a service. The fist stage of the decision process is problem recognition or the perception of a need. The company should introduce its services and its products as needs of its potential customers. The company may offer the service of going to the offices in the morning to take the orders of the office workers for coffee and sandwiches and then do this again during the afternoon break. The company may also distribute flyers to its potential customers stating its products, services and the time that it is open. In doing this the convenient service experienced by customers will make them rely on the company for their coffee, bread and breakfast needs.             The next stage is the information search or the seeking of products and services offering the greatest value. After the potential customers have realized their need for a convenient food shop, the company can heighten its promotion by giving free coffee and food in case the person making the delivery is late. This is to make potential customers consider the shop in deciding which product or service to be preferred. The shop should be able to prove to potential customers that they have a substantial competitive advantage over other shops.             The third stage is the evaluation of alternatives or the weighing of value. The company can help potential customers in this stage by again highlighting its advantage and difference over other shops and introducing the good reputation of the shop through its dedicated employees and the good reputation of its owners as well as the quality of its products and the convenience of its services. The competitive advantage of the shop is reinforced through the consistency in the substantiation or actual delivery of goods and services.             The fourth stage is the purchase decision or the actual buying of value. The company can help potential customers in this stage by offering excellent terms of sale by selling goods and services that are equivalent in value to payment made by customers. The company may also have allied services such as the reheating of coffee that have become cold to customers dining in the shop and accommodation of the specific preferences of customers on the ingredients of their food and the manner of preparation. The objective is total customer satisfaction.             The fifth stage is the post-purchase behavior or the evaluation of the value of the service. After customers have purchased the food and experienced the service, they assess their experience based on their pre-conceived expectations. After the assessment, customers are either satisfied or dissatisfied. The company can help customers in this stage by offering customer satisfaction surveys and suggestion forms to enable people to express their comments and suggestions. Customers appreciate business that take the time to lean about the level of satisfaction of their customers because the business is able to show that the importance of customers to the company.    15. Smith & Company is an accounting and management firm that provides financial auditing and general accounting services to large and medium-sized firms, primarily in the retailing and import/export businesses. The company also provides management services such as project planning, designing quality assurance programs, and employee development training.  Smith & Company has offices in Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.  Use at least three (3) of the market segmentation variables used for business markets and describe two (2) different possible market segments for the company’s services.  For each of these possible market segments, indicate which bases for segmentation you are using.               Based on the description of the operations of Smith & Company, its market may be segmented into its domestic and overseas market. The domestic market comprise of the customers that are serviced by its offices in Houston, New Orleans and Seattle while its overseas market is constituted by the customers in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Several market segmentation variables characterize this aspect of segmentation. One is the customers served by the business. Based on this segmentation variable the company serves both domestic and international clients. However, the clientele of the company is limited only the market reach of its three domestic offices and two overseas offices. Another variable used in market segmentation is the environment where the company is operating. Smith & Company has to content with two general operating environments, the domestic environment consisting of the political, cultural and legal consideration for its operations in the United States and the overseas environment consisting of the political, cultural and legal operating environment in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Another variable is the perception of customers of the company. In the United States, the company is recognized as a local or homegrown company. However, in Taiwan and Hong Kong the company is a foreign company. The different in perception has an effect on the market share of the company. The primary basis of segmenting the market of Smith and Company into domestic and overseas is the geographic location of its market, the customers that the company serves, the environment in which the company operates and the perception of customers about the company.             The market of Smith & Company may also be segmented into small and medium sized firms. This means that the company exclusively offers its services to this segment of the market and it is from this market that the clientele of the company are classified. One variable that characterize this classification is the customers served by the business. Smith & Company targets small and medium sized firms relative to large clients in the market. Another variable characterizing the segmentation is the purchase readiness of the company or its available expertise and skills. The company has developed its expertise on the accounting and auditing needs of small and medium sized firms that justify its market segmentation. Another variable justifying the segmentation is the environment where the company operates. Smith & Company caters to the accounting and auditing needs of small and medium firms because the firms located near the offices of the company are classified as small and medium sized firms. The bases for the segmentation of the market into small and medium sized firms relative to large firms are the expertise of the company, the businesses operating in the market and the opportunities offered  by the market environment. 16.  Good Stuff, Inc., is a discount department store chain with 43 stores in the Boston-New York-Philadelphia metropolitan corridor.  The company specializes in casual clothing, sporting goods, kitchen appliances, and toys.   Assume you are a new marketing specialist in the company’s marketing department.  You have been assigned to work on the company’s market research projects.   Select one of the problems/questions below, outline the steps in the market research process, and give examples of what you might do/what you would accomplish in each step of the process to address the problem/question you selected.  (Note:  Please do not simply provide a generic definition of the steps in the research process extracted from the textbook, relate your response to the problem/question you selected).               The market research process involves seven steps. The first step is defining marketing problems and opportunities. One problem that the company may face is the possible reallocation of floor space that implies prioritizing the clothing products to be displayed. The company has to determine if reallocation is an efficient move and if so the manner of reallocation. The second step is to set objectives and determine a budget and timetables. The primary objective of the company is to gather as much information as possible from customers as basis for its decision regarding the possibility of reallocation. The third step is the selection of the type of research to be conducted including the appropriate methods and techniques. The company may opt to use the survey method to classify the clothing products according to profitability to determine which clothing products to prioritize. The fourth step is designing the research instruments. In the survey method, the average number of purchases made in the different types of clothing will be gathered and collated for the past 12 months to determine which types of clothing incurred the highest sales. The fifth step is the actual collection of data.  Data collection is done continuously and objectively throughout the research period. The sixth step is the organization of data according to importance in addressing the problem and analysis of data through the applicable statistical tools. The seventh step is the presentation of research data and findings. The research results may show that clothing tailored toward adolescents accounted for the highest sales in clothing. This finding becomes the basis for the company to decide on the best possible solution to their problem. 21. Marketing is a basic function of all organizations.  But what does marketing consist of?  Briefly explain what marketing is (what does marketing consist of, what are we trying to accomplish with marketing) by using examples from the normal operation of a company that franchises a chain of fast food restaurants throughout the US.                Marketing is a process that commence from the development of a product or service to the time that customers are able to utilize the product or obtain the service. In the case of a fast food chain, marketing covers the entire process of the company’s decision on the food that it will serve, the manner of cooking and serving the food, and other services that the company plans to offer until the actual delivery of the order of the products and services and ending with the post company experience of the customer. Since marketing is a process, it involves a chain of continuous events that covers the planning and actualization stages and providing stimulus and expecting a response.              Marketing also involves the facilitation of the exchange of value for value between the business firm and its customers. In the case of the fast food chain, the facilitation of exchange refers to matching the money paid by customers with quality products and services. The expected result is that customers should fee that they received their moneys worth or even more than what they paid for with the business firm earning profit.             Marketing is targeted towards customer satisfaction and other goals of the company. This means that end of the marketing process is to satisfy customers including the other related goals of the company. In the case of the fast food chain, customer satisfaction is achieved by developing food and services that cater to the preferences of customers such that after the customer has tasted the food and experienced the service, the customer feels satisfied about the exchange or transaction that affects the propensity of the customer to return to the fast food chain or recommend the fast food to family, friends and colleagues.             Marketing involves the determination of particular business objectives and accomplishing these objectives through the appropriate means. In the case of the fast food chain, the primary objective is to achieve customer satisfaction and the related objectives are to increase the number of customers and increase customer retention to increase profit. These are done through marketing.

Sample SWOT Analysis as Marketing Planning Process on Starbucks and Toyota

12. Conducting a SWOT analysis is a basic component of the market planning process. We have discussed Starbucks and Toyota (the Scion b...

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING

Public Service Broadcasting “The broadcast media is important as a milestone in the struggle for free, independent and pluralistic print in all regions of the world”. Broadcasting has been part of everyday life in all of us. It is there to keep the people informed and yet as the media men and everyone who is involved in the broadcasting field dealt with danger as they try to decipher issues to keep the society aware.  The Broadcasting The best practice in an informed society requires transparency around the media broadcasting institutions. The constitution, function, appointment procedures and allocation processes for companies in the broadcasting field are the important foun (  , 2005). The broadcasting or news media is primary concerned for the human development, since they intentionally touched people’s lives. Communication is the lifeblood of economic markets; it facilitates trade, transmits ideas, and diffuses innovations, thus promoting growth. Information can improve the delivery of public services, forewarn against natural disasters, spread education and knowledge, and reduce preventable health risks. News helps inform the general public, donor agencies, and the international development community about severe challenges facing low‐income states and the urgent humanitarian crisis arising from natural and man‐made disasters ( and , 2008). The global flow of information across national borders is also essential for international understanding and peace; lack of information and awareness about other communities, cultures and viewpoints can fuel social intolerance, erode trust, and lead towards conflict ( and , 2008).  The Evolution The public service broadcasting stems from the radio to television to different communicating devices that have the ability to contain market mechanisms and fulfill certain goals. The objectives applied to public broadcasting have its broad expectations to inform, educate, and entertain. The role and importance of public broadcasting requires a public organization at the service of citizens, culture and democracy (, 2005). The media or the broadcasting field used the opportunity to create a noise among creative people in advertising agencies, and get the best minds in the industry to work on a public service television spot that will get the people informed and persuade. As a responsible news broadcaster, it is better to prompt or create educational information towards the viewers and let him exercise what he learned (, 2005).    The Challenge The information broadcast by public broadcasting must be treated with a concern for in-depth explanation and examination to enlighten citizens on the issues at hand and, in so doing, enrich democratic life. It is often this ability to act as a reference in the area of information that brings the public to recognize the importance and role of public broadcasting, and identify with it (, 2000). More than any other broadcasting programs that of the public broadcaster must be national in content. It means that public broadcasters must first promote the expression of ideas, opinions and values current in the society where they operate. In this regard, it is of foremost importance to give priority to national programs. The challenge of the years to come, for public broadcasting, is to evolve and to adapt to the digital era the principles underlying its existence. Thus, the vast majority of public broadcasters already have a foothold in the world of specialty channels and Internet. What they need to do is to use these new technologies to improve and complement their public-service mission (, 2000). The Global World Public broadcasting has been used to many political nature and agenda. It is clear that the media has influenced the society and the danger among the broadcaster or reporters are always on behind. In a global perspective, public broadcasting has been a marginal; enterprise, it has tended to be a dominant factor and component of the media landscapes in many other nations (, 1995). The important contribution is that reporting conveys diplomatic signals between nations and shapes domestic perceptions about foreign countries. Countries with both widespread media access and an independent free press have been found to experience lower corruption, greater administrative efficiency, higher political stability and more effective rule of law, as well as better developmental outcomes, such as lower infant mortality rates and greater literacy ( and , 2008). Because of the status of public broadcasting, because it is financed by the public and intended to be at its service, expectations in the area of information are high and so are the requirements. Public broadcasters must provide information enabling listeners to form the fairest possible idea of events; if not objective, the information should at least be unbiased. Such information will allow the different viewpoints to be expressed and foster an enlightened understanding of current events (, 2000). References:

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING

Public Service Broadcasting “The broadcast media is important as a milestone in the struggle for free, independent and pluralistic print...

THESIS CHAPTER II: Supply Chain Management: Economics or Environment

CHAPTER II: Review of Related Literature               This literature review aims to give a brief evaluation on the implications of supply management to the economy and to the environment. This covers a brief discussion on what Supply Chain Management (SCM) is, along with Just-In-Time (JIT) systems.  This also presents some opinions on the never-ending issue of which is more important, economics or the environment.   Supply Chain Management             According to Modern Materials Handling (2003), Wall Street values supply chain management. (SCM). Good SCM is no longer just a goal; it is a necessity.  Indeed, SCM is rapidly becoming the most important aspect of business success.  A company that has an effective supply chain management is bound to prosper, whereas a company that has poor management of its supply chain will probably not be around after a few years (Ashcroft, 2003). A supply chain is the process of moving goods from the customer order through the raw materials stage, supply, production, and distribution of products to the customers.  Every company has its own supply chain, the degree of which varies, depending on the size of the company and the product being manufactured (RCG University, 1999). Controlling or directing the events in this process is what’s called supply chain management.  Logistics, on the other hand, is that part of the supply chain process that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services, and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers' requirements (Council of Logistics Management, 2003).  The six elements to a supply chain are production, supply, inventory, location, transportation and information.  Production is concerned with what the customers want and how much the market demands.  This puts into consideration the volume of products to be produced and where they will be produced, as well as assuring the quality of the products and balancing the workload.  Supply involves the consideration of the facilities to be used in production, in which case outsourcing may be considered in the event that the company does not have the required facilities.  Inventory is concerned with how much stock is kept in-house, making sure that it is not too much nor too little, in order to meet customer satisfaction.  The placement or location of production plants, distribution and stocking facilities is also important as it should be in close proximity to the market being served or to the source of raw materials.  Transportation is a crucial factor to the entire process as it plays a big role in the speed of delivery of the products to the customers.  It should be considered whether to use air transport or shipping by boat or by rail.  The cost of transport would also be considered.   Lastly, a part of supply chain management is obtaining information from the point of end-use and linking them with resources throughout the chain for speed of exchange. Old supply chains were paper chains, linearly connecting manufacturers, warehouses, wholesalers, retailers and consumers.  Communication among the people involved was messy and time-consuming   Money and potential customers may also be lost (Mayer, 2003). However, with the advancements made in technology, particularly with computers, a new way of doing things has been developed.  Software packages, customized to every company’s needs, have been developed to provide optimum delivery route of the products, from supplier to manufacturer.  This optimization improves the performance of a company’s supply chain management in the following areas:  reduced supply costs, improved product margins (profit per additional unit produced), increased manufacturing throughput (production at all levels) and better return on assets (net income after expenses/interest). SCM is improved even further with the advent of the Internet, where business transactions, such as ordering and checking of the availability of products, may already be done online, minus the delay caused by having to deal with a lot of paper work and the time spent in passing these papers throughout the chain. This gave birth to the concept of Just-in-time, an approach to manufacturing that stresses the benefits of a system, where material is brought to the worksite only when it is needed. To achieve this goal, each operation must be synchronized with those subsequent to it  (Microsoft Business Solutions ApS, 2003.  It connects the producer directly to the consumer, eliminating the costs of storage, as production is done upon the demand of customers, that is, a made-on-order transaction (Bennett, 1998).  Its elements, though not discussed in detail in this paper are: Customer-supplier satisfaction, Empowerment, Dynamic Quality improvement (DQI), Quality and metrics, Standardization, Reusable components and the library, Flexible approaches to development, and Planning (Kliem, Ludin, 1994).    Economics vs. the Environment It cannot be denied that the supply chain management being applied in this modern age is effective and that most, if not all, companies apply it in their operations.  Atik Ahmed Faroqi, member of the Oracle 11i team, Oracle India Private Ltd, said that it is possible to streamline the procurement to payment process, reducing purchasing costs and realizing a rapid return on investment.  It facilitates forecasting, reduces inventory costs, improves delivery performance, shortens supply chain planning cycle times, increases data accuracy, extends visibility and responds to exceptions across the entire supply chain (Kumar, 2002). Effective SCM has been responsible for $472 billion in revenues since 1996. Outsourced SCM services alone, such as software, integration and on-demand services, will grow to over $50 billion annually within the next few years.  Still, more investors are bound to invest in companies with good SCM. Indeed, SCM has contributed a lot to the improvement of the economy.  However, together with the increased production and the faster delivery of goods come the increase in pollution and an increase in damage to the environment.  Increased production would lead to more factory wastes, and faster modes of transport, including an increase in the use of air transport, would cause increased traffic and air pollution.  A deterioration in natural systems: can be seen.  Forests are shrinking, deserts are expanding, croplands are losing topsoil, the stratospheric ozone layer continues to thin, greenhouse gases are accumulating, the number of plant and animal species is diminishing, air pollution has reached health-threatening levels in hundreds of cities, and damage from acid rain can be seen on every continent (Stren, 1992, p. 307).  To this, environmentalists have made their concerns known.  Analysis conducted in the ’60s and 70s indicate that the reason why market economies produce too much pollution is because polluters do not have to pay for the damage they cause (Blinder, 1988, p. 7). A paper plant, for instance, that throws its waste into bodies of water does not have to pay for its use of the clean water, but it is the people who eventually make use of this water who will bear the effects of using dirty water.  To somehow balance these effects to the environment and to control the activities of companies, economists have developed policies and imposed laws in order to penalize these companies.  These companies are charged taxes or fees for the pollution they cause, but environmentalists continue to argue that cleaner air and water are not just goods to be bought and sold like milk and shoes, but are rights not to be trifled with.  Economists think of environmental degradation as an economic problem that should be corrected, but many environmentalists see it as a moral issue that should not be reduced to the monetary calculations made by economists. Still, more criticism against these policies state that pollution cannot be measured, so that punishment for these companies may not be measured accurately either.  Analysis made by The European Union Online (2003) goes on further to say that holding polluters liable for the environmental damage they cause does lead to less damage and a cleaner environment.  However, its purpose may be defeated by substitution, where companies would redirect the emission of waste from one place or medium to another that is with lesser risk of damage.  If this becomes a practice, though, it can only lead to nothing but environmental damage just the same.   Davidson (2000, p.7-11) goes on further to state the three fallacies of the current mainstream economic and technological model.  They are:  1.  Marie Antoinette Economics; 2.  Custer’s Folly; and 3.  False Complacency from Partial Success.  “Marie Antoinette’s economics” derives its name from what Marie Antoinette suggested that French peasants without bread could eat cake.  Some economists are not bothered by ecological damage such as global warming, since they reason that the only sector that will be greatly affected by it is agriculture, which contributes very little to a country’s GNP (3% in the US).  However, what if this agriculture fails?  Can the 97% of the GNP be eaten?  It cannot be denied that food production is an essential part of life, as our well-being depends largely on the quality of food we eat.  The role of forests in providing clean water and habitat for plants and animals and in regulating the climate is also important. Custer’s Folly is counting on technology to save the ecology from completely being destroyed.  Yes, technology has contributed a lot to improving agriculture and the other sectors of the economy, but with the continuous deterioration of the environment because of the use of chemicals and other activities, no matter how advanced technology may become, will it still be capable of saving the environment from complete disaster? Lastly, False Complacency from Partial Success states that just because the measures implemented   by governments have improved the quality of water and air and reduced poisonous lead emissions with the use of unleaded gasoline, this is no reason to be complacent or to think that ecological damage is no longer a serious problem, as the environment still continues to deteriorate at an amazing speed. Looking at it from another point of view, it is indeed ideal to have a pollution-free environment, but the cost of cleaning up the environment is very high, and suppose that a pollution-free environment can be attained, the poor are unlikely to applaud these efforts, as they will be sacrificing a decent way of living for a clean environment, since the money used for environment cleanup could be used to feed the poor, for housing and for educational purposes.  In reality, though, it is impossible to attain a pollution-free environment, as every raw material that is processed would either be recycled completely, which is very difficult, or turn to waste.  Even a horse that is used for transport would produce its own waste. This is very much likened to what a Harvard physicist said.  A particular benzene standard proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) might save at most one life every three years, at an annual cost of more than $100 million per year. Human life may be valuable, but would it be practical to spend more than $300 million just to save one life, when that money could be spent on improved highway, guard rails, on organ transplants, or on more policemen, eventually saving and improving more lives?             When more people may benefit and when the good of the majority is considered, it is natural to place clean and water only second to economic goods.  Although everyone would want a clean environment, perfection just cannot be attained, and this should be accepted.              To the contrary, studies (California Native Plant Society, 2003) examining factory emissions, endangered species, air quality and other issues have found no evidence that economies suffer as environmental policy strength increases. Instead, numerous researchers have reported slight positive correlations between environmental and economic figures, suggesting that environmental health may help fortify economies.  Also, evidence that increased environmental regulation damages economies or reduces employment is insufficient.             The value of rivers and the wilderness are measured by the number of visitors who want to travel to it, and the value of real estate that is adjacent to clean bodies of water, to open space or to an area with high quality of air.  Studies agree that clean and fishable waterways, including those that can be used for swimming, clean air, diverse and vigorous native plant and wildlife populations, and open space are highly valued by the public and that the public is willing to pay to preserve and enjoy these resources The value of ecosystem services has also increased.  Ecosystem services are the processes by which the environment produces resources that we often take for granted such as clean water, timber, and habitat for fisheries, and pollination of native and agricultural plants.  One of the most widely cited analyses estimated the average aggregate global annual value of wild land ecosystem services at $33 trillion. Finally, these studies state that pollution control and other green industries are rapidly growing and are strengthening economies, providing more jobs everyday.  There are also jobs in wild land ecosystem restoration and management.   Summary and Conclusion             Effective SCM has been responsible for generating a large part of revenues.  However, this robustness in the economy comes with a price, a price that the environment is made to pay. Pollution increases, and the forests and other natural resources are being damaged.                On the other hand, there are those who say that the economy should not be sacrificed because of concern for the environment.  It cannot be avoided that improving the economy would do some harm to the environment, in the same manner that protecting the environment may have some effect on the economy. Since one cannot do without the other, it is best to create a balance between them. More than implementing policies for this, the writer believes that the best measure would still be self-discipline, genuine concern and cooperation within the society.

THESIS CHAPTER II: Supply Chain Management: Economics or Environment

CHAPTER II: Review of Related Literature This literature review aims to give a brief evaluation on the implications of s...