Learning and behavior

1. Define classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Identify the basic procedures of both types of conditioning. Identify and discuss the similarities and differences between the two types.  Traditionally, theories of conditioning have come to mean that learning takes place when two or more events are associated because they occur together. Scientific references to classical conditioning are commonly associated with Ivan P. Pavlov (1849-1936) as he was the first person to discuss issues related to classical conditioning with others in the scientific community.   Classical conditioning is a form of learning in which two stimulus events are associated.   Typically, a conditioned stimulus (CS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) that naturally produces an unconditioned response (UR).   The result is that the conditioned stimulus acquires the capacity to elicit a new response (the conditioned response, or CR) that is similar in form to the unconditioned response. On the other hand, Skinner (1953) developed the method of conditioning through what has been termed operant or instrumental conditioning. Skinner’s version of instrumental conditioning, called operant conditioning, is a technologically based model that has generated a great deal of research.  Ã‚   Operant conditioning involves voluntary behavior emitted by the learner which may be reinforced by its consequence.   In operant conditioning, whether a response occurs in the future depends upon the nature of the contingency.   If a response makes life better for the individual, it will likely occur in the future.   If it makes life worse, it will likely not occur again in the future.   Thus, operant conditioning makes use of reinforcements. The basic theory of both conditioning is behaviorism, which was formulated by the American behaviorists John B. Watson.   This theory has been described as an evolutionary, psychological doctrine developed to support the evolutionistic theories of knowledge.   It holds that all man’s behavior, mental states and processes have a purely physiological origin and function consisting of neurological, glandular, and other bodily responses to sensory stimuli; and that under proper stimulation can be appropriately conditioned to produce any desired response. Both classical and operant conditionings involve acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization, and discrimination.  Ã‚   Yet their difference is straightforward: Classical conditioning involves respondent behavior- reflexive behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.   Operant conditioning on the other hand, involves voluntary (nonreflexive) action, called operant behavior because the act operates on the environment to produce rewarding or pushing stimuli. 2. Identify two real-life experiences in which learning principles can apply. Discuss each experience and the principles of learning that are applicable. Be sure to fully explain each of the learning concepts that apply to these two experiences. Identify ways in which learning in the two experiences can be inhibited and improved. Pavlov’s principles of classical conditioning apply to human health and well-being.   For example, former crack cocaine apply often feel a craving when they again encounter cues (people, places) associated with previous highs.   Thus, drug addicts are advised to steer clear of settings associated with the euphorbia of previous drug use.   Classical conditioning even works upon the body’s disease-fighting system.   When, say, a particular taste accompanies a drug that influences immune responses, the taste by itself may come to produce an immune response. Everyday applications of operant conditioning are the experiments comparing computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to traditional classroom instruction suggest that, for some drill and practice tasks, the computer can indeed be more effective.  Ã‚   According to Skinner, â€Å"Good instruction demands two things,† he said.   â€Å"Students must be told immediately whether what they do is right or wrong and, when right, they must be directed to the step to be taken.† References Bolles R. C. (1989). Learning theory (2nd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Bower G. H., & Hilgard E. R. (1981). Theories of learning (5th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Domjan M. (1998). The principles of learning and behavior (4th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Corporations Essay

CHAPTER 19 CORPORATIONS 1. – THE NATURE AND CLASSIFICATION OF CORPORATIONS A corporation is a legal entity created and recognized by state law. It can consist of one or two persons identified under a common name. CORPORATE PERSONNEL When an individual purchases a share of stock in a corporation, that person becomes a shareholder and owner of the corporation. Shareholder and corporations are liable. THE LIMITED LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDER One of the key advantages of the corporate forms is the limited liability of its owners. Corporate shareholders normally are not personally liable for the obligations of the corporation beyond the extent of their investments. CORPORATE TAXATION Corporate profits are taxed, and do not receives tax deduction for dividends distributed to shareholders. Profits that are not distributed are retained by the corporation. These retained earnings if invested properly, will yield higher corporate profits in the future. TORTS AND CRIMINAL ACTS A corporation is liable for the torts committed by its agents or officers within the course and scope of their employment. Corporation may be held liable for criminal acts of its agents and employees, provided the punishment is one that can be applied to the corporation, corporation can be fined. CORPORATION SENTENCING GUIDELINES Penalties depend on factors and executives involvement. Corporate lawbreakers can face fines smaller amounting or to hundreds of millions of dollars. When a company has taken substantial steps to prevent, investigate, and punish wrongdoing, such as by establishing and enforcing crime prevention  standards, a court may impose less serious penalties. Corporate sentencing guidelines require corporations to train employees on how to comply with relevant laws. CLASSIFICATION OF CORPORATIONS Domestic, foreign, and alien corporations * Domestic corporation; by its home state (the state in which it incorporates). * Foreign corporation; corporation formed in one state but doing business in another state. * Alien corporation; corporation formed in another country but doing business on the E.E.U.U. In some instances, the corporation must obtain a certificate of authority in any state which plans to do business. But the foreign corporation does not need this certificate to sell goods over the internet. Public and private corporations * Public corporation, is one formed by the government to meet some political purpose, such a U.S. Postal service, AMTRAK. A public corporation is not the same as a publicly held corporation. A publicly held corporation is any corporation whose shares are publicly traded in a securities market, such as the New York Stock Exchange or over the counter market. * Private corporation, are created for private benefit. Most corporations are private although they may serve a public purpose. Nonprofit corporation Corporation formed for purposes other making a profit are called nonprofit or not-for-profit corporations. Private hospitals, educational institutions, charities, and religious organizations for example, are organized as nonprofit organization. Close corporations A close corporations is one whose shares are held by members of a family or by relatively few persons. Referred also as closely held, family, or privately held corporations. Usually the members of the small group  constituting a close corporation are personally know to each other. A close corporation is often operated like a partnership. *Management of close corporations To prevent a majority shareholder from dominating a close corporation, the corporation may require that more than a simple majority of the directors approve any action taken by the board. *Transfer of shares in close corporations The transfer of one shareholder’s shares to someone else can cause serious management problems. Control of a close corporation can also be established through the use of shareholder agreement. S corporations A close corporation that meets the qualifying requirements specified in subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code can operate as an S corporation. If a corporation has a S corporation status, it can avoid the imposition of income taxes at the corporate level while retaining many of the advantages of a corporation, particularly limited liability. *Qualification requirement for S corporations 1) The corporation must be a domestic corporation. 2) The corporation must not be a member of an affiliated group of corporations. 3) The shareholders of the corporation must be individuals, estates, or certain trusts. 4) The corporation must have no more than one hundred shareholders. 5) The corporation must have only one class of stock, although all shareholders do not need to have the same voting rights. 6) No shareholder of the corporation may be a nonresident alien. *Benefits of a S corporations 1) When a corporation has losses, the S election allows the shareholders to use the losses to offset other taxable income. 2) When the shareholder’s tax bracket is lower than the tax bracket for regular corporations. The S election causes the corporation’s entire income to be taxed in the shareholder’s bracket, whether it is distributed. Professional corporation Professional corporation such as physician, lawyers, dentists, and accountants can incorporate. There is generally no limitation on liability for acts of malpractice or obligations incurred because of a breach of duty to a client of a PC. In many states, professional persons are liable not only for their own negligent acts, but also for the misconduct of persons under their direct supervision who render professional services. A shareholder in a professional corporation is generally protected from contractual liability and cannot be held liable for the torts that are committed by other professional at the firm. 2. – CORPORATE FORMATION One of the most common reasons for creating a corporation is the need for additional capital to finance expansion. Incorporation may be the best choice for an expanding business organization because a corporation can obtain more capital by issuing shares to stock. PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES Persons rarely engage in preliminary promotional activities. It is important for businesspersons to understand that they are personally liable for all preincorporation contracts made investor, accountants, or others on behalf of the future corporation. INCORPORATION PROCEDURES Exact procedures for incorporation differ among states, but the basic steps are as follows: 1) Select a state of incorporation. 2) Secure the corporate name. 3) Prepare the articles of incorporation. 4) File the articles of incorporation with the secretary of state. Selecting the state of incorporation Because laws differ from state to state. States fees are considered too. Securing the corporate name The choice of a corporate name is subject to state approval to ensure against duplication or deception. All the states require the corporation name to include the word corporation (Corp.), Incorporated (Inc.), company (Co.), or limited (Ltd.). Preparing the articles of incorporation The primary document needed to incorporate a business is the articles of incorporation, must include the following information; 1) The name of the corporation. 2) The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue. 3) The name and address of the corporation’s initial registered agent. 4) The name and address of each incorporator. *Shares of the corporation The articles must specify the number of shares of stock the corporation is authorized to issue. A company might state that the aggregate number of shares that the corporation has the authority to issue is 5k. *Registered office and agent The corporation must indicate the location and address where of it registered office within the state. *Incorporators Each incorporator must be listed by name and address. *Duration and purpose A corporation has a perpetual existence unless the articles state otherwise. The owners may want to prescribe a maximum duration, however, after which the corporation must formally renew its existence. A corporation can be formed for any lawful purpose. *Internal organization Articles can describe the corporation’s internal management structure, although this is usually included in the bylaws adopted after the corporation is formed. Filing the articles with the State Once the articles of incorporation have been prepared and signed by the incorporators, they are sent to the appropriate state official, usually the secretary of State. FIRST ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TO ADOPT BYLAWS Usually, the most important function of this meeting is the adoption of bylaws. If the articles of incorporation named the initial board of directors, then the directors, by majority vote, call the meeting to adopt the bylaws and complete the company’s organization. DEFECTS IN FORMATION AND CORPORATE STATUS The procedures for incorporation are very specific. If they are not allowed precisely, others may be able to challenge the existence of the corporation. When the corporation seeks to enforce a contract against a defaulting party that party may be able to avoid liability on the ground of a defect in the incorporation procedure. De Jure and De Facto corporations If a corporation has substantially complied with all conditions precedent to incorporation, a corporation is said to have de jure existence. Because a de jure corporation is one that is properly formed, neither the state nor third party can attack its existence. Sometimes, there is a defect in complying with statutory mandates, under these circumstances the corporation may have de facto status, meaning that it will be treated as a legal corporation despite the defect in its formation. The following elements are required for de facto status; 1) There must be a state statute under which the corporation can be incorporated. 2) The parties must have made a good faith attempt to comply with the statute. 3) The enterprise must already have undertaken to do business as a corporation. Corporation by Estoppel If a business holds itself out to others as being a corporation but has made no attempt to incorporate, the firm normally will be stopped from denying corporate status lawsuit by a third party. When justice requires, the courts treat an alleged corporation as if it were an actual corporation for the purpose of determining the rights and liabilities in particular circumstances. A corporation by estoppels is thus determined by the situation. CORPORATE POWERS When a corporation is created, the express and implied powers necessary to achieve its purpose also come into existence. The following order of priority is used if a conflict arises among the various documents involving a corporation; 1) U. S. Constitution. 2) Constitution of the state of incorporation. 3) State statutes. 4) Articles of incorporation. 5) Bylaws. 6) Resolutions of the board of directors. To borrow funds, the corporation acts through its board of directors to authorize the loan. ULTRA VIRES DOCTRINE The term ultra vires means â€Å"beyond the power†. Most cases dealing with ultra vires acts have involved contracts made for unauthorized purposes. In some states, when a contract is entirely executor, either party can use a defense of ultra vires to prevent contract enforcement. 3. – PIERCING CORPORATE VEIL Occasionally, the owners use a corporate entity to perpetrate a fraud, circumvent the law, or in some other way accomplish an illegitimate objective. In these situations, the court will ignore the corporate structure and pierce the corporate veil. The following are some of the factors that frequently cause of the courts to pierce the corporate veil; 1) A party is tricked into a dealing. 2) The corporation is set up never to make a profit or always to be insolvent. Not enough money when it formed. 3) Statutory corporate formalities, such a holding required corporation meeting, are not allowed. 4) Personal and corporate interests are mixed together. THE COMINGLING OF PERSONAL AND CORPORATE ASSETS The potential for corporate assets to be used for personal benefit its especially great in a close corporation, in which the shares are held by a single person or by few individuals. In such a situation, the separate status of the corporate entity and the shareholder must be carefully preserved. Certain practices invite trouble â€Å"family owned corporation†, the comingling of corporate and personal funds, the failure to remit taxes, including payroll, and the shareholders continuous personal use of corporate property. LOANS TO THE CORPORATION Corporation laws usually do not specifically prohibit a shareholder from leading funds to her or his corporation. Any transaction has to be made in a good faith and for fair value. 4. – DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND SHAREHOLDERS ROLE OF DIRECTORS The board of directors is the ultimate authority in every corporation. Directors have responsibility for all policymaking decisions necessary to the management of all corporate affairs. Just as shareholders cannot act individually to bind the corporation, the directors must act as a body in carrying out routine corporate business. The board selects and removes the corporate officers. Election of directors Can be less than three, directors are elected by a majority vote of the shareholders. *Removal of directors A director can be removed for cause (failing to perform). *Vacancies on the board of directors Can occur because of death or resignation or when a new position is created through amendment of the articles or bylaws. Compensation of directors Director usually are compensated for time, effort, etc. In many corporations directors are also chief corporate officers and receive compensation in their managerial positions. Board of directors meetings The board of directors conducts business by holding formal meetings with recorded minutes. The date of regular meetings are usually established in the articles or by board resolution. Rights of directors A corporate director must have rights to function properly in that position. COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1) Executive committee. The board members often elect an executive committee of directors to handle the interium management decisions between board of directors meetings. 2) Audit committee. Is responsible for the selection, compensation, and oversight of the independent public accountants who audit the corporations financial records. 3) Nominating committee. This one chooses the candidates for the board of directors that management wishes to submit to the shareholders in the next election. 4) Compensation committee. Reviews and decides the salaries, bonuses, stock options and other benefits. 5) Litigation committee. Decides whether the corporation should pursue requests by shareholders to file a lawsuit against some party that has allegedly harmed the corporation. CORPORATE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVES Officers and other executives are hired by the board of directors. DUTIES AND LIABILITIES OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS Are deemed to be fiduciaries of the corporation because their relationship with the corporation and its shareholders is one of trust and confidence. Duty of care Directors and officers must exercise due care in performing their duties, they need to act in a good faith. If directors and officers failed to exercise due care results in harm to the corporation can be held liable for negligence. *Duty to make informed and reasonable decisions Directors and officers are expected to be informed on corporate matters and to conduct a reasonable investigations of this situations before making a decision. *Duty to exercise reasonable supervision Directors are also expected to exercise a reasonable amount of supervision when they delegate work to corporate officers and employees. *Dissenting directors Directors are also expected to attend board of directors meetings, and their votes should be entered into the minutes. Unless a dissent is entered in the minutes, the director is presumed to have assented. Dissenting directors are rarely held individually liable to the corporation. *The business judgment rule Directors and officers are expected to exercise due care and to use their best judgment in guiding corporate management, but they are not insurers of business success. Under the business judgment rule, a corporate director or officer will not be liable to the corporation or to its shareholders mistakes of judgment and bad business decisions. Duty of loyalty Defined as faithfulness to one’s obligations and duties. Typically involve; 1) Competing with the corporation. 2) Usurping a corporate opportunity 3) Having an interest that conflicts with the interest of the corporation. 4) Engaging in insider trading. 5) Authorizing a corporate transaction that is detrimental to minority shareholders. 6) Selling control over the corporation. Conflicts of interest Corporate directors often have many business affiliations, and a director may sit on the board of more than one corporation. Sometimes engage personal interest too. Liability of directors and officers Corporate directors and officers are personally liable for their own torts and crimes. Additionally they may be held personally liable for the torts and crimes committed by corporate personnel under their direct supervision. THE ROLE OF SHAREHOLDERS The acquisition of a share of stock makes a person an owner of and shareholder in a corporation, shareholders own the corporation but have no right to manage it. Basically the shareholders ownership control is limited to voting to elect or remove members of the board of directors and deciding whether to approve fundamental changes in the corporation. Shareholders are not agents of the corporation, nor do they have legal title to the corporations property, such as its building and equipment, they simply have an equitable (ownership) in the firm. Shareholders powers Shareholders must approve fundamental changes affecting the corporations before the changes can be implemented. Shareholder approval normally is required to amend the articles of incorporation or bylaws, to conduct a merger or dissolve the corporation, and to sell all or substantially all of the corporations assets. Shareholders have the power to vote to elect or remove members of the board of directors. Shareholders meetings At least annually and proper notice need to be send it. *Proxies The law allows stockholders to either vote in person or appoint another person as their agent to vote their shares at the meetings. The signed appointment form authorizing an agent to vote the shares is called proxy. Shareholder voting Shareholders exercises ownership control through the power of their votes. Corporate business matters are presented in the form of resolutions, which shareholders vote to approve or disapprove. *Quorum requirements At least 50% need to be present. Extraordinary corporate matters, such as a merger, consolidation, or the dissolution of the corporation require approval by a higher percentage of representatives of all corporate shares entitled to vote. *Voting list The RMBCA requires a corporation to maintain an alphabetical voting list of shareholders. *Cummulative voting Most states permit and some require, shareholders to elect directors by cumulative voting, a voting method designed to allow minority shareholders to be represented on the board of directors. *Other voting techniques A voting trust is an agreement under which shareholder transfers the shares to a trustee, usually for a specified period of time. The trustee is responsible for voting the shares on behalf of the beneficiary-shareholder. RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS Stock certificates Is a certificate issued by a corporation that evidences ownership of a specified number of shares in the corporation. In jurisdiction that require the issuance of stock certificates, shareholders have the right to demand that the corporation issue certificates and record their names and addresses in the corporate stock record books. Preemptive rights With preemptive rights a shareholder receives a preference over all other purchasers to subscribe to or purchase a prorated share of a new issue of stock. Which means a shareholder who is given preemptive rights can purchase the same percentage of the new shares being issued as she or he already holds in the company. This rule does not apply to treasury shares, shares that are authorized but have not been issued. Stock warrants Are rights to buy stock at a stated price by a specified date that are given by the company. Dividends Is a distribution of corporate profits or income orders by the directors and paid to the shareholders in proportion to their respective shares in the corporation. *Sources of funds for dividends Depending on the state law, dividends may be paid from the following sources; 1) Retained earnings 2) Net profits 3) Surplus *Directors failure to declare a dividend Shareholders can ask the court to compel the directors to meet and declare a dividend. To succeed the shareholders must show that the directors have acted so unreasonably in withholding the dividend that their conduct is an abuse of their discretion. Inspection rights Shareholders in a corporations enjoy both law and statutory inspection right (but limited). This include inspect voting lists, specified corporate records. Transfer of shares Corporate stock represents an ownership right in intangible personal property. The law generally recognizes the right of an owner to transfer property to another person unless there are valid restrictions on its transferability. Rights on dissolution When a corporation is dissolved and its outstanding debts and the claims of its creditors have been satisfied, the remaining assets are distributed on a pro rata basis among the shareholders. The shareholders derivative suit When the corporation is harmed by the actions of a third party, the directors can bring a lawsuit in the name of the corporation against that party. LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS One of the hallmarks of the corporate organization is that shareholders are nor personally liable for the debts of the corporation. If the corporation fails the shareholder can lose their investment but that is the limit of their liability. Watered stock When a corporation issued shares for less than their fair market value, the shares are referred as watered stock. Usually the shareholder who receives the watered stock must to pay the difference to the corporation. Duties of majority shareholders A majority shareholder is regarded as having a fiduciary duty to the corporation and to the minority shareholders. This occurs when a single shareholder owns a sufficient number of shares to exercise de facto control over the corporation. In these cases the majority shareholders owe a fiduciary duty to the minority shareholders. A breach of fiduciary duties by those who control a closely held corporation normally constitutes what is known as oppressive conduct. 5. – MAJOR BUSINESS FORMS COMPARED

History after world war †II Essay

The Jim Crow segregation can be described as one of the low points in the history of America which preached inhumanity legally. The Jim Crow segregation consists of legal laws that segregated the white people from the black, making the white race a superior one. The segregation preached preference to whites in all walks of life which included separate entrance in a restaurant and punishable inter-race marriage. This was legalised in the nineteenth century and the African-Americans fought for over hundred years to earn back their civil rights. It was in 1964 after a decade long intense African-American civil rights movement from 1955 that overturned the oppressive laws and instead conferred equality to the African-Americans. The trigger for the whole movement was the landmark victory in the case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 which made segregation based on colour impermissible. The African-Americans who till then had been escaping, surviving and tolerating the humiliating acts of the whites were overjoyed. However, their happiness was short-lived as there was absolutely no change in reality. This prompted many individuals and African-American political groups like NAACP and CORE to conduct protests that were both effective and dramatic in nature. The first cry of protest came from the 42 year old lady Rosa Park, also known as the mother of the Civil Rights movement, when she refused to vacate her seat for a white in a bus. This led to her arrest and eventual trial at court, but this act of her gave birth to what is called as Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. This protest was one of the first successful movements which united the blacks in a major way. This protest continued for 382 days till a local ordinance legally ended the segregation in the buses. The next major movement which called the attention of the nation were the various â€Å"Sit-ins† that black students had started in 1961. Students professionally dressed started sitting quietly in local stores without any segregation. The silent protests were often met with force wherein they were forcibly evacuated. However, it did make a loud noise at a national level and its cause did not end on deaf ears. Another equally important movement was the freedom rides that were taken in the Deep South to desegregate those areas. Nonetheless, this movement turned out to be very violent that resulted in the use of brute force. The march to Washington in 1963 was a huge success where Martin Luther delivered his famous speech â€Å"I have a dream† though the demands that were met were not that effectively implemented. The Civil rights movement by then had reached a critical stage where protest for civil rights for the African-Americans was not a surprise anymore. This was followed by many important campaigns like Albany Movement, The Birmingham campaign, the violent and the last nail on the coffin, Mississippi Freedom summer, which eventually led to the conferment of civil rights to the African-American in 1964. The act was signed on July 2nd that almost ended the segregation of the blacks. The role of Bayard Rustin, the civil rights activist, was largely behind the scenes but nevertheless a very important one. An avid follower of Gandhian principles of non-violence (the tallest leader in the Indian Independence from the Great Britain), he had played a major role in planning of the hugely successful march to Washington in 1963 though he was never given any form of recognizition for the same. Bayard Rustin was the one who introduced martin Luther to the non-violent tactics in the civil movement which was implemented to a large extent. After the civil rights were conferred in 1964 and the voting rights in 1965, Rustin had stood for greater proximity between the civil rights movement and the Democratic Party. The Black Panther party, on the other hand, was established on the principles of armed resistance which was quite opposite to what Bayard believed. In fact, its history is mostly violent with it being also referred to as a militant group. The civil rights movement for Black Panther, in actuality, intensified after 1965. The period, 1966-1972, saw lots of Black Panther action. They had become the vanguards of the black in many areas where they followed cops in black areas and protected the inhabitants from their brutality. This often resulted in violent confrontations and also death of many policemen and the Black Panther activists. This party was very popular because of the direct action approach that they had adopted. This is quite unlike the peaceful tactic that Bayard had adopted. Basically, Bayard and the Black panthers represented two opposite forces that determined the course of life for millions of African-Americans – one that believed non-violent resistance as the key and the other violent protests as the only answer. The Policy of Containment is a major foreign policy in the history of America that guided many decisions that America as a country took. As the name suggests, the policy of containment aimed at containing the growth of Communism in general, and Soviet Union in particular by isolating it from everyone. The containment would check the growth and expansion of the targeted object by cutting off its basic needs or forming alliances that would effectively contain its augmentation. The policy of containment was a brain child of George Kennan who was then the head of the State Department Policy Planning Staff. This doctrine was developed as a strategy that would stop the Soviet from spreading Communism throughout the world and had prescribed a simple pill: the need to confront â€Å"the Russians with unalterable counter-force at every point where the Soviet Union shows signs of encroaching upon the interests of a peaceful world. † This theory came at the right time as President Truman had just spelled out the changed foreign policy of America that talked more about â€Å"freeing people from oppressive regimes†. Though not the official line of the White House, it was quickly taken in to the fold to cushion the effect of the â€Å"Truman Doctrine† had on the nation. Since then, the policy of containment was applied and used as the main guiding light in determining many of the future foreign policy events till the fall of Soviet Union in 1991. During this period, the containment policy saw many changes and modifications to its original state by different Presidents. The first major implementation of the policy of containment was the Korean War. This war is also known as the hardest test this policy had to go through. The origin of Korean War was quickly blamed on Stalin and was touted as the expansion of communism by America. Thus, America had the right to intervene and eventually joined the war in support of South Korea against the other raging part of Korea – North. Truman had specifically targeted at complete containment wherein every nook and corner of Korea would be protected against the onslaught of communism. The period saw the policy of containment acting as a military option. A major shift in the Containment policy occurred in 1955 when Eisenhower met Soviet Premier Nikolai A. Bulganin, and Nikita S. Khrushchev, the head of the Soviet Union’s Communist Party. This was a huge change in the original tone adopted when the containment policy came to into effect, that of isolating Soviet Union. Eisenhower sought better relations with Soviet as he believed that negotiation with communists would be desirable. Kennan endorsed this view though he was criticized for this stand and was accused of â€Å"futile and lethal attempt to crawl back into the cocoon of history. What followed this was a dangerous implementation of this policy in 1962 what, we today know as the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Russians had moved its missiles at the Cuban border for reasons still unexplained. This step was seen as a great threat of Communism to America and the free world. America, immediately, resorted to armed confrontation, though by some good sense, a major confrontation wa s avoided. This crisis was believed to be the most tensed moment in the period of Cold war where fears of another world war spread all over the world. Another mis-utilization of this policy also occurred in the Vietnam War which was fought in the name of containing the spread of communism in Asia. Though properly warned against the great expenses and possible losses if involved in a war in Indochina, United States had marched in to Vietnam with its troops. This had definitely weakened the policy of containment, though it was not dismantled completely. It was in the mid-1970s that the containment policy seemed to have distanced itself from the then foreign policy adopted in America. Communism was weakening in many parts of the world and the war of Vietnam ended with America bearing far more losses than anticipated. All this increased the unlikliness of the use of that policy. However, the 1970’s also saw the overthrow of Chile’s communist government and worldwide military alliances that did suggest influence of the containment policy. This policy officially met its end with the disintegration of Soviet Union. To conclude, this policy alone played a role of paramount importance in shaping the various events in the history of world post world war – II that has defined the borders we see today.

Human Resource and Organizational Performance Essay

Human Resource and Organizational Performance - Essay Example HR therefore can improves a company performance through; increasing motivation and promoting positive attitudes among the employees, increasing employees abilities and skills, giving employees a vast responsibilities so that they can realize their potential and make full use of their abilities and skills. Moreover, through looking at the wellness/safety and health of the employees such as development of accident prevention strategies, substance and AIDS abuse policies, health and legal safety policies, and promotions and implementations of wellness programs, companies make its employees comfortable and work towards the achievement of the company goals and objective. For example, FedEx Corporation Company has made lots of strides through their Human Resource strategy where they developed a philosophy called people-service-profit (Bohlander & Snell, 2010). The fundamental belief from that philosophy was that excellent care of the employees yield excellent service to the company. FedEx offers regular feedback actions programs as well as annual survey to track employees’ relations. The above program provided resolution opportunities and permits problem assessment. The company also provided better ways of addressing problems so that the company employees could be kept balanced (Berger, 2011).Additionally, a strong Human Resource offers Training and development services to their employees to boost employees’ skills and knowledge in their job areas to international standards. This involves designs, evaluation, planning.

International business-Business Environment Country Analysis Project Essay

International business-Business Environment Country Analysis Project - Essay Example Healthcare industry supported by advanced technologies in medical equipment like the ultrasonic devices, x-ray equipment and MRI scanners can be the right platform for business development in fast growing Indian market. This paper analyzes the socio-economic conditions and the policy frame work in India to assess the market conditions and to decide on the best approach to tap this market. Endowed with democratic institutions and supported by internationally acknowledged legal frame work, India presents an attractive opportunity. Since the time of economic reforms undertaken in the early 90s, GDP grew steadily to the level of over $1 trillion in 2008 (Silicon news, 2008). During the four years since 2003-04 the average annual GDP growth rate was 8.83%, and exports formed around 26.5% of GDP on the average (India Country Report, 2007). Even in the current financial year (April 2008 – March ’09) GDP growth rate is expected to be around 7% (RBI Bulletin, 2009), confirming that the Indian economy is relatively less affected by the current global economic crisis. Sector-wise, agriculture & allied activities, industry and services constitute 17.8%, 19.4% and 62.9% respectively of the GDP during 2007-08 and among the services, community, social and personal services segment that has relevance to healthcare industry constitutes 13.4% and has been growing at over 7% annually since 2004-05 (RBI Annual report, 2008). IT and IT enabled services, metallurgy, automobiles and telecommunications are some of the most visible sectors. Tata Consulting Services, Infosys, Wipro, Tata Sons, Mittal Group, ICICI etc. are some of the global Indian companies. Large infrastructure investments are changing the landscape of the country. With US$ 250 plus billion foreign exchange reserves, GDP growth rate of 7%, fiscal deficit target of 3.3% and inflation target of below 5%, the Indian economy is on a

Marketing Strategy of Vodafone Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Marketing Strategy of Vodafone - Research Paper Example Strategies of an organization should well be able to detail themselves as per the needs of the environment while planning for the future. A framework for any program can well be preferred if it is deeply affinitive to the generalization of a venture or enterprise keeping in mind the quality of methodizing. The one concept firmly oriented towards the creation of values for its customers will conclude with excellence in the target market. Vodafone uses its familiar red logo and retains themes of togetherness, fashion joy, and enjoyment throughout its marketing communications. The same uniformity is maintained and followed by Fanta, Microsoft, Nike, Sony and host of other companies. What should be the rationale behind this Is it for fun Integrated marketing communications see the elements of the communications mix 'integrated' into a coherent whole. As the fight of market shares and a quest for product success continue, marketers are employing all the necessary tactics, and methods to g ive their product a breakthrough, or remain competitive (Brennan, Baines, and Garneau, 2003, Rowley J 2004). One way of doing this is through differentiation, making your product outstanding, by having your values and image (Zineldin M., and Philipson S., 2007). This is known as the marketing communications mix and forms the basis of marketing (Pelsmacher& Kitchen., 2005) This paper examined the importance of marketing to Vodafone, it current and future market challenges using certain analytical tools and models. Part one of the paper lay emphasis on these models while part three looks at the resources and capabilities that distinguished Vodafone from its competitors.     The PESTEL framework can only be used to look at the future impact of environmental factors and that this impact might be different from the past. Thus an understanding of how the factors in the above framework may drive change is only a starting point1.There is a need for an understanding of the key change dri vers and this will be explained below. Looking at the PESTEL framework shown above one can observe that the Vodafone is affected by all the environmental factors in the framework. Under political factors, Vodafone is affected by both taxation and social welfare policies.

China will be the next global superpower Research Paper

China will be the next global superpower - Research Paper Example Defining a Superpower When we look at the generic use of the term ‘super power’, the term refers to those selective states with power. Power in this perspective is defined by a series of prominent variables put together. These could be economic wealth, population size, military strength, and the possession of sophisticated nuclear armaments. Alice Lyman Miller, a professor at the National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School defines a super power in the following words â€Å"a country that has the capacity to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, and sometimes, in more than one region of the globe at a time." A super power comprises of four components that are dominant over all other qualifying elements; Military, economic, political and cultural. Hegemony, a Greek term for leadership plays a critical role in paving way for this supremacy. It is the ability to dictate policies of other nations. If we look back towards Roman and British empires this feat was accomplished by brute force. Germany attempted to benefit from it in the late 1930s and Russia’s efforts to work at it never really succeeded in the global sense. China however is often looked upon as regionally hegemonic. The U.S. achieved hegemony not just through sheer military might but through economic, political and cultural influence – factors that many perceive are diminishing now. A few years back, the presidential hopeful Ron Paul echoed what many analysts perceive: The "dollar hegemony" — U.S. currency's strength and attractiveness —  has been a key factor in U.S. dominance, but "our dollar dominance is coming to an end." And China has become a great power in a "spectacular" rise over the past two decades (Miller). China China is one of the earliest recorded human settlements in the world with nearly 4000 years of continuous history. It covers an Area of 16,800 square kilometers and has a population of about $1.3 7 billion. It is a communist state and its GDP is about $ 4.99 Trillion. Its currency is the Yuan and the capital of China is Beijing (China facts, web). China's population of 1.3 billion renders it the most populous nation on earth, accounting for a fifth of the world's population; while at almost 10 million square kilometers it is the third largest country after Russia and Canada. Its 2.25 million troops form the world's largest armed force. China's reputation as a major military power is crowned by the possession of nuclear weapons that are capable of all ranges and delivery modes. Economically, it is the world's fourth largest trading nation, having risen from 32nd  in 1978 and 10th  in 1997. Its GDP at 13% of world output (at purchasing power parity) is second to the US. China, inheritor of 5,000 years of civilization, is also the world's fastest developing economy in the present age, having grown an average of 9.5% annually for the past 20 years. Such high growth rates, lo w labor costs and a huge emerging market, have attracted the world's highest levels of foreign direct investment. Since China joined the World Trade Organization in December 2001, it has also become one of the most open economies in the developing world, with average tariffs dropping from 41% in 1992 to 6% after accession to WTO. China’s education system Despite the economic, military and political growth of China its education system due to the presence

Investment and Portfolio Managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Investment and Portfolio Managment - Essay Example Investors must take account of the interplay between asset returns when evaluating the risk of portfolio at a most basic level; for example, an insurance contract serves to reduce risk by providing a large payoff when another part of the portfolio is faring poorly. A fire insurance policy pays off when another asset in the portfolio-a house or factory, for example-suffers a big loss in value. The offsetting pattern of returns on these two assets (the house and the insurance policy) stabilizes the risk of the overall portfolio. Investing in an asset with a payoff pattern that offsets exposure to a particular source of risk is called hedging. Anther means to control portfolio risk is diversification, whereby investments are made in a wide variety of assets so that exposure to the risk of any particular security is limited. By placing one's eggs in many baskets, overall portfolio risk actually may be less than the risk of any component security considered in isolation. So, using portfolio is very much important in investment decision-making Prof Stein should protect the value of his shares before the company issues an IPO by using derivative products such as options, forwards and futures. Derivative products help to avoid risk of price fluctuations and others. In hedging, Derivatives are tools for changing the firm's risk exposure. A derivative is a financial instrument whose payoffs and values is derived from, or depends on, something else. For example, an option is a derivative. The value of a call option depends on the value of the underlying stock on which it is written. Actually; call options are quite complicated examples of derivatives. The vast majority of derivatives are simpler than call options. Most derivatives are forward or futures agreements or what are called swaps. An unlimited variety of payoff patterns can be achieved by combining puts and calls with various exercise prices. Some strategies are discussed below: Protective Put: Under this one would like to invest in a stick, but one is willing to bear potential losses beyond some given level of investing in the stock alone seems risky to one because in principle one could lose all the money one invest. One might

Advertisements analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Advertisements analysis - Essay Example According to Fowles, 15 basic brain centers are targeted including the need for sex, affiliation, nurture, etc (18) in order to have the desired impact. Advertising agencies are continually looking for new and fresh ideas that have not been done before and at the same time, are stimulating to the minds of their target audiences. The main aim of an advertisement by appealing to the needs and drives of people is to induce them to respond in a certain way, mostly to make a purchase. While various techniques are employed so as to get the audience’s attention, the most common one has been to trigger an individual’s need for sex. Such Freudian advertising uses an individual’s subconscious sexual desires in order to appeal them. One of the print advertisements to be run in Singapore by Burger King also employed Freudian advertising methods (Steinberg, n.pag.). Though the print advertisement did not display outstanding graphics, imagery, or lighting, it definitely appeal ed to the masses due to the presence of a suggestive model and her sensual pose. It has made use of various graphic elements so as to create the desired effect on its viewers. Therefore, the advertisement successfully brought the food chain giant high sales from its customers. The Burger King Freudian print advertisement did not only use an erotic visual imagery but also contains lewd texts and slogans along with it. The print advertisement shows the Burger King super seven incher sandwich and an amorous model right next to the sandwich. The model has worn bright red lip stick and has an open mouth just to the left of the sandwich depicting a great eating experience. The face expression of the model is intentionally kept such that it demonstrates the â€Å"mind blowing† experience of eating a seven inch Burger King sandwich. To the top right is the Burger King logo followed by its tag line â€Å"It just tastes better† (Steinberg, n.pag.). The photography lighting has b een edited to be darker on the right side of the advertisement which displays the Burger King logo and its seven inch sandwich. Towards the left is the erotic model with an open mouth as if she was going to engulf the delicious seven incher sandwich. The print advertisement seems to have been heavily modified and edited using a computer graphics program in order to adjust the lighting and the various elements of the advertisement. The sandwich is especially shown in great detail so as to trigger a hunger feeling within the viewer of the advertisement, targeting his need basic for the physiological component – food. This induces a person to feel the hunger and hence purchase a Burger King super seven incher sandwich. This tactic effectively attracts the attention of the viewer and creates a desire within him to go and purchase their sandwich thereby bringing Burger King great returns in terms of profits. 2. The Burger King print advertisement has made use of various visual ele ments to motivate them to buy the delicious super seven incher sandwich. The sandwich is deliberately positioned to the right side where it is easily viewable by the audiences. The photography has particularly captured a fresh and juicy sandwich that is sure to induce a strong feeling of hunger. In case the viewer is already hungry, the picture of a supersized sandwich would conjure up images of a hearty Burger King meal. In particular, the advertisement is trying to focus on the â€Å"mind blowing† aspect of the sandwich. The picture of the sandwich deliberately shows quite a lot of detail about the sandwich including its ingredients and other additives. An individual can notice the sauce dripping down the sides and other tempting ingredients. The lighting is relatively darker

Media ethicss Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media ethicss - Essay Example For Aristotle, proper understanding of and grateful attitude towards wealth, honor, virtue, pleasure, and friendship is what is needed for human to live well. Through appropriate behavior and good upbringing, one must learn the ability to understand, choose, and decide which conduct is best for an occasion. This, of course, should be supported by logical reasoning --- a power that all human beings are capable of. Aristotle also believes that practical wisdom cannot be acquired by following general guidelines. Through practice, every individual should learn the social, emotional, and reflective skills that allow him/her to act in ways that are appropriate for each unique event (Bertrand, 22). Per Kant, it is the cause for doing a certain action, rather than the outcome of the deed, that gives it a moral value. Kant's renowned statement regarding duty is "Act according to the belief that you choose and can do so as to make it your entire principle." (Bertrand, 45) On the other hand, countering Kant's principle on ethics is utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is the thought that a behavior's role in producing advantage for all is the moral value of the deed. Advantage for all involves the summed pleasure or satisfaction for everybody. It means that the outcome establishes the value of any behavior --- the ends justify the means (Bertrand, 25). PluralPluralism Pluralism is about different values. This ethics model asserts that there are several differing values existing in a diversely peopled world. These values are called duties, and they are unspoken guidelines so every individual's behavior will not threaten other people's happiness and life (Patterson and Wilkins, 12). This ethics model acknowledges the unique roles people play in their every day lives, and the similarly differing values people believe in based on these diverse roles in the society (Bertrand, 29). Commutarianism Commutarianism, on the other hand, places social equality as its guiding principle (Patterson and Wilkins, 14). As every individual is a part of a larger society, it asserts that every one should be sensitive to the consequences of their every action. These actions, must be beneficial not only for themselves, but for the entire society. Communitarianism stresses the relationship of the individual to the society and the correlation of the different social systems --- economic, legal, etc. This ethics model is applicable in evaluating the role of the media in the society, since per Patterson and Wilkins, it enhances the accomplishments of the media as a whole and eliminates possible rivalry among them (15). Surname 3 Ethical Issues in Reporting the Truth Chapter 2: "Taste in Photojournalism" and "Too many Bodies, Too Much Blood" In this case studies, the media had a hard time reporting the truth due to differences in moral sensibilities. A photo journalist may have a hard time distinguishing what is right and moral and what is considerate and moral. Pluralism is very obvious in this case study as different individuals who play different roles may value things at different levels. What may be deemed as a responsible publishing of a photo to warn society may be considered harsh or insensitive towards the feelings of the photo's

Forever Free

Forever Free Exhibit Essay Forever Free, an exhibit held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California and inspired by Mr. Abraham Lincoln’s promotion and assertion of Emancipation Proclamation, is much related to the written account of Frederick Douglass’ â€Å"narrative of his life as an American black slave† with special regards and attention to its both focus and objectives. Body At the Forever Free exhibit, the implicit objective was to stimulate ambiance of America’s bludgeoning, sadistic, and historical past. For the visitors to commemorate the beginning of the â€Å"anti-black slavery,† Mr. Abraham Lincoln distinguished and proclaimed the pressing need for the aforementioned act, Emancipation Proclamation to denounce and suppress the proliferating Black slavery. Moreover, the exhibit included several sentimental stuffs like: letters made and signed by Mr. Abraham, and the contents of his proclaimed act, the handkerchief signed and belonging to Lincoln’s wife, Ms. Mary Lincoln, and some photographs taken depicting the long time slavery in America. Inspired by Lincoln’s provision of welfare among the Blacks, the theme of the exhibit was carried out successfully (Giller, 2008). On the other hand, the â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave,† tackled the same insatiable thirst for freedom against the injustice, discrimination, and evil acts suffered by the Black Americans (Douglass, 1997). Conclusion The Forever Free exhibit rendering commemoration to Abraham Lincoln’s pursuit for the liberation of the slaves (Giller, 2008), together with the striking and overwhelming account of Frederick Douglass’ personal traumatic experience of the unjust slavery, both presents the truth of the need for liberation, love, and respect for all human race as everyone is a son of one Divine (Douglass, 1997). References Douglass, F. (1997). Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave. Retrieved October 31, 2008, from, http://sunsite. berkeley. edu/Literature/Douglass/Autobiography/01. html Giller, M. (2008). Forever free-Abraham Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation. Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://www. reaganlibrary. com/pressrelease. asp? press_id=135

Marketing startegies of kfc Essay Example for Free

Marketing startegies of kfc Essay Harland Sanders was born in 1890 and raised on a farm outside Henryville, Indiana. His father died when he was five years old, forcing his mother to work at a canning plant, and leaving her eldest son to care for his two younger siblings. After he reached seven years of age, his mother taught him how to cook. After leaving the family home at the age of 12, Sanders passed through several professions, with mixed success. In 1930, he took over a Shell filling station on U. S. Route 25 just outside North Corbin, a small city on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. It was here that he first served to travelers the recipes that he had learned as a boy: fried chicken and other dishes such as steaks, country ham, and pancakes. Originally using his own dining room table, in 1934, he purchased the larger filling station on the other side of the road and expanded to six tables By 1936, this had proved successful enough for Sanders to be given the honorary title of Kentucky colonel by Governor Ruby Laffoon. The following year he expanded his restaurant to 142 seats, and added a motel he purchased across the street, naming it Sanders Court Cafà ©. Sanders was dissatisfied with the 30-minute duration it took to prepare his chicken in an iron frying pan, but he refused to sacrifice quality by deep frying the product. If he pre-prepared the chicken in advance of an order, there was inevitably wastage. In 1939, the first commercial pressure cookers were released onto the market, predominantly designed for steaming vegetables. Sanders bought one, and modified it into a pressure fryer, which he then used to fry chicken. As well as reducing production time to be comparable with deep frying, the new method produced flakier, moister chicken. In 1940, Sanders finalized what came to be known as his Original Recipe of 11 herbs and spices. Although he never publicly revealed the recipe, he admitted to the use of salt and pepper, and claimed that the ingredients stand on everybodys shelf. After being recommissioned as a Kentucky colonel in 1950 by Governor Lawrence Wetherby, Sanders began to dress the part, growing a goatee and wearing a black frock coat (later switched to a white suit), a string tie, and referring to himself as Colonel. His associates went along with the title change, jokingly at first and then in earnest, according to biographer Josh Ozersky. History KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is a fast food restaurant chain which specializes in fried chicken and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. It is the worlds second largest restaurant chain overall (as measured by sales) after McDonalds, with over 18,000 outlets in 120 countries and territories as of December 2012. The company is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, a restaurant company which also owns the Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurant chains. KFC was founded by Harland Sanders, a colorful figure who began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. Sanders identified the potential of the restaurant franchising concept, and the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise opened in Utah in 1952. KFC popularized chicken in the fast food industry, diversifying the market by challenging the established dominance of the hamburger. By branding himself as Colonel Sanders, Harland became a legendary figure of American cultural history, and his image remains prominent in KFC advertising. However, the companys rapid expansion saw it grow too large for Sanders to manage, and in 1964 he sold the company to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown, Jr. and Jack C. Massey. KFC was one of the first fast food chains to expand internationally, opening outlets in England, Mexico and Jamaica by the mid-1960s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, KFC experienced mixed fortunes domestically, as it went through a series of changes in corporate ownership with little or no experience in the restaurant business. In the early 1970s, KFC was sold to the spirits distributor Heublein, who were taken over by the R.J. Reynolds food and tobacco conglomerate, who sold the chain to PepsiCo. The chain continued to expand overseas however, and in 1987 KFC became the first Western restaurant chain to open in China. The chain has since expanded rapidly in China, and the country is now the companys most profitable market. PepsiCo spun off its restaurants division as Tricon Global Restaurants, which later changed its name to Yum! Brands. KFC primarily sells fried chicken pieces and variations such as chicken fillet burgers (chicken sandwiches [US]) and wraps, salads and side dishes such as French fries and coleslaw, desserts and soft drinks, often supplied by  PepsiCo. Its most famous product is pressure fried chicken pieces, seasoned with Sanders Original Recipe of 11 herbs and spices. The exact nature of these ingredients is unknown, and represents a notable trade secret. Larger portions of fried chicken are served in a distinctive cardboard bucket, which has become a signature product of the chain since being introduced by franchisee Pete Harman in 1957. KFC is known for the slogan finger lickin good, which has since been replaced by Nobody does chicken like KFC and So good. Marketing Marketing is the process of communicating the value of a product or service to customers, for the purpose of selling the product or service. It is a critical business function for attracting customers. From a societal point of view, marketing is the link between a society’s material requirements and its economic patterns of response. Marketing satisfies these needs and wants through exchange processes and building long term relationships. It is the process of communicating the value of a product or service through positioning to customers. Marketing can be looked at as an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, delivering and communicating value to customers, and managing customer relationships in ways that also benefit the organization and its shareholders. Marketing is the science of choosing target markets through market analysis and market segmentation, as well as understanding consumer buying behavior and providing superior customer value. There are five competing concepts under which organizations can choose to operate their business; the production concept, the product concept, the selling concept, the marketing concept, and the holistic marketing concept. The four components of holistic marketing are relationship marketing, internal marketing, integrated marketing, and socially responsive marketing. The set of engagements necessary for successful marketing management includes, capturing marketing insights, connecting with customers, building strong brands, shaping the market offerings, delivering and communicating value, creating long-term growth, and developing marketing strategies and plans. Marketing Strategies Marketing strategy is defined by David Aaker as a process that can allow an organization to concentrate its resources on the optimal opportunities with the goals of increasing sales and achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Marketing strategy includes all basic and long-term activities in the field of marketing that deal with the analysis of the strategic initial situation of a company and the formulation, evaluation and selection of market-oriented strategies and therefore contribute to the goals of the company and its marketing objectives. Marketing Strategies of KFC KFC IS synonymous with chicken. It has to be because chicken is its flagship product. The latest they have on offer is the marinated hot and crispy chicken that is crrrrisp and crunchy on the outside, and soft and juicy on the inside. It gives you a regular Pepsi with this at nothing more than just Rs. 39. But make no mistake, while this is a rage across the world, and in our very own Bangalore, KFC has made sure one other thing: it doesnt want to alienate the vegetarian community that gave birth to the vegetarian menu. It means you can be veg and yet be at KFC. KFC offers a wide range of vegetarian products such as the tangy, lip-smacking paneer tikka wrap n roll, the veg de-lite burger, and the veg crispy burger. There are munchies such as the crisp golden veg fingers and crunchy golden fries served with tangy sauces. If you are veg and looking for a meal, you can combine the veg fingers with steaming, peppery rice and a spice curry. The mayonnaise and sauces dont have egg in them. Sharanita Keswani, Director, KFC Marketing, says the vegetarian menu in India came about when KFC found the country had about 35 per cent vegetarians, and in metros such as Delhi and Mumbai, almost 50 per cent. The non-vegetarian is the obvious target customer because, as Ms. Sharanita points out, Bangalore and the rest of south India have over 70 per cent non-vegetarians. But she also observes that chicken is KFCs strength. KFCs vegetarian menu is almost exclusive to India and is the most extensive. Most countries either do not have a vegetarian menu, and some which do, have a burger at the most. Contrary to affecting chicken sales, the presence of a vegetarian menu has made the brand more relevant to a wider cross-section of the consumer society. This is essential as we grow the brand across the country, says Ms. Sharanita. The KFC menu strategy is to balance standardisation and localisation. The localisation works in two ways: to modify a standard chicken product with a different topping or sauce; and to have a vegetarian menu, where necessary, along with the flagship product, chicken. The localisation exercise is undertaken in every country. The U.S. and European markets have a traditional KFC menu based on chicken burgers and wraps, while Asian markets like India have been more experimental and adventurous. Here, they have rice meals, wraps, and sides. The change is imperative as Asian tastes can be very different from Western ones, Ms. Sharanita observes, adding that KFC learnt very early the high demand for vegetarian products in India. KFC has taken care to maintain safeguards on the production of its non-vegetarian products in response to observations by People For Ethical Treatment of Animals that chicken were not being treated humanely by suppliers. The debate has been on for years now and animal rights activists have prompted companies to adopt stringent measures. Pankaj Batra, Director, Marketing, Indian Sub-Continent, Yum! Restaurants International, observes: KFC is committed to the well being and humane treatment of chickens. We require all our suppliers to follow welfare guidelines developed by Yum! Restaurants International, U.S.A., with leading experts on their Animal Welfare Advisory Council. In India, we source chicken from Venkateshwara Hatcheries Limited (Venkys), which is one of the leading and respected organised players in the poultry farming business. They also supply chicken to several reputed hotel and restaurant chains in the country. We respect the Indian law and our guidelines completely adhere to them. Ms. Sharanita points out that while KFCs brand standard products are their strength throughout the world, KFC works around the core and gives consumers products with a familiar taste, especially important in a country like India that is home to such distinct and different food habits. All KFC outlets offer its customers with various forms of incentives to buy its Chicken. Using coupons that one can acquire after spending a particular amount over a period of fixed time, customers can enjoy the benefits of free meals or free add-ons. Additionally they provide meal vouchers and exciting offers in their print ads, which the customer must cut and bring along. KFC in India The first Indian KFC opened in Bangalore in June 1995.[198] Protests ensued from left wing, anti-globalisation and environmental campaigners, as well as local farmers, who objected to the chain bypassing local producers.[199] Many Indians were concerned about the onslaught of consumerism, the loss of national self-sufficiency, and the disruption of indigenous traditions.[200] The protests came to a head in August 1995, when the Bangalore outlet was repeatedly ransacked.[198] KFC Bangalore demanded, and received, a police van permanently parked outside for a year.[199] Rural activist M. D. Nanjundaswamy subsequently claimed KFC would adversely affect the health of the impoverished, by diverting grain from poor people to make the more profitable animal feed.[201] Former environment minister Maneka Gandhi joined the anti-KFC movement.[201] KFC was also accused of using illegally high amounts of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and frying its food in pork fat.[202] A second store opened in Delhi, but was closed by the authorities soon afterwards, purportedly for health reasons, but more likely to avoid a repetition of the Bangalore incident. The two stores only managed to attract a limited, affluent clientele, and KFC decided to abandon the Indian market. KFC returned to India in 1999, with a new Bangalore outlet. This was the sole KFC in India until 2004, when the chain began to expand, albeit with a makeover and a range of new vegetarian dishes. As of December 2012, there were 280 KFCs in the Indian market. As well as the standard KFC offerings, the chain sells a chickpea burger and hot wings with chilli lemon sprinkles.

Background Study Of The Organization MIS System

Background Study Of The Organization MIS System In this thrilling subject, i would be focusing on the Management Information System of Starbucks. It is no doubt that this firm in question, is one popular and well patronised firm amongst many. That being said, i would be doing justice to the very background of this organization in question and i would elucidate in tangible details their IT systems, schemes and practices and lastly, i would be recommending what i see fit to suite the organisation even in this era of technology. But before i proceed, i would like to briefly define MIS(Management Information System) MIS (Management Information System) This may be defined as a general word for computer systems in an enterprise or organisation which provides information or details on firms business operations. Its also refers to the people who manage and maintain these systems. Furthermore, in a large corporation, MIS or the MIS department refers to a central or centrally-coordinated system of pc expertise and management, and entire network of computer resources in a business organization (firm). Body Background study of the organization Starbucks was first introduced in Seattles Pike Place Market in 1971. Back then, the company was called Starbucks Coffee, Tea ans Spices before change into what we have known today, Starbucks Coffee Company. Today, there are approximately 16, 706 Starbucks stores in 50 countries. The first ever Srabucks store in Malaysia opened on December 1998, located at KL Plaza, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Later, there are more than 115 Starbacks stores in Malaysia.Basically, their buyers will travel to Africa, Asia and Latin America to choose only the best quality of arabica beans. These high quality beans will be sent for roasting and production. Starbucks experts then only combine the roasted beans with Italian style expresso beverages to produce different type of cold and hot coffee beverages. The famous products introduced by Starbucks company and mainly can be found in all of its stores include more than 30 blends single-origin premier arabica coffees. As for their own signature of handcrafted beverages such as hot and iced expresso beverage, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages Vivanno smoothies, Frappuccino bottled coffee or blended and premium ice creams with the and brewed coffee and also tea product,Tazo Tea. Merchandises are also offered by Starbucks are coffee mugs and accessories. Customers not only can enjoy sipping their high quality coffee beverage but also indulging on baked pastries, sandwiches and cakes. The company focuses in providing a relax, comfortable atmosphere with modern fittings. It is an ideal place for hanging out with friends and families, with entertainment magazines to read. Most of the Starbucks company offer free wi-fi for their customers, so it is a great advantage to business people discussing on their work or students doing some research for assignments/ projects. POS The Point of Sale System (POS) or front of house till system; in addition to regular register functions offers some functions to be accessed only by Store Manager(SM), Assistant Manager(ASM) and Shift Supervisor(SS), with the correct security level.The Point of sale consists in two touch screen tills used by deployed partners that need to insert their username and specific password before to start. From the Point of sale, managers can access different managers functions menu, such as paid in and Paid Out, and Refund to customers. These manager functions are security measures for cash management and inventory control in the store. Paid in and paid out occurs when money is taken from the till to buy items necessary for the store operations and/or any kind of emergency. Other functions such as Cash Skim, Void transactions or refunds occur when money is given back due to complaints or customers are returning faulty merchandise. The point of sale is used also to record wastage. In conclusion, most Point of sale functions are related to customer service, sales, refunds, discounts, voids.By ringing items through the tills, data such as time, customer transaction, quantity of food and drinks sold, quantity of wasted items, are transferred to the Management Work Station where data are stored, analysed and produced in form of reports, graphic, charts or diagrams. MWS (Manager Work System) The Manager Work Station can be accessed in the office where there is a computer connected to the intranet, a private communication channel for employees to access the organization network that resembles the internet. To access the system it is required to sign in with a password and the partners ID. The system recognises security level and allows accessing the function assigned to the security level. The normal partners can just access the time punching option, which is that function that record staff punches in and out for breaks and shift. A start of day and end of day is run into the system on a daily base. Shift managers can access cash management functions that are used to count tills, modify or correct transactions and to prepare daily bank deposit. A menu of available reports is available on a report menu. The Store manager can access these reports to track sales, find out customer transactions within different hours range, to check sale by product category, to record wastage, to carry a financial audit. All this information is relevant for Store Managers to identify business requirements and customer needs, to identify peak time in the store, to increase or amend product ordering, to control wastage and track stock and decide whether is necessary to cut labour. Managers can access staff information and personal details in the work station, they can insert new partners, terminate partners, maintain employee records, track employees training and process payroll. The payroll process transfers information to the support centre in order to pay partners. Store Manager and the shift supervisors can use the IRIS System to process electronic ordering for food, stationery, packaging. The IRIS System can also use e-mail set up for communicating with London Support centre and other stores within the district and others. Hardware Hardware components of the computer system used in Starbucks There are two types of modem: The speed touch cable modem and the ISDN (integrated services digital network) modem. The speed touch cable modem and the ISDN connect the store computer system to the STARBUCKS retail network. The Retail Network is the communication access between the store and the internet. This allows the management work station to send and receive large quantities of data and information. There is a wireless internet provided by T-mobile, which allows customers to connect to the wireless network. There are two pieces of equipment; the Cisco Router and the Cisco Wireless access point. Connected to the computer system there is a Printer used to print reports of any nature, and a cash scale which counts Cash in a faster way and more accurately, mainly it is used to count the tills and at the end of this process all data are send to the system. At the Point of sale there are two small printers where all receipts come out, and two (chip and pin) credit and debit card machines. To protect retailers, a new security system has been designed for cards which will use a smart chip. When customers pay using one of these cards, rather then signing a confidential security number (PIN) is entered. Further more, the starbucks firm, uses Intel based systems and fast Computers. In terms of functionality, the starbucks firm is bent on getting hardwares(PC) that have great and outstanding specifications to avoid slow down on business. A sample spec would be: A PC with 512 Memory or 1GB. And A flat screen monitor and processor speed of 2.40GHZ and a HDD of 150GB to 200GB. The company has a nac for greater heights that why its no surprise that starbucks is doing greatly well in terms of their ability to maintain their standards. Software OS (Operating System): As we all know, the I.T age is springing forth with lots of sotwares and technology all with the focus of improving the lifes of humans in all ramification of life. Having said that, the Starbucks company makes use of Windows based softwares for their computers which is categorized in the hardware section. They run applications that aid their business. Example POS, Excel and others. Excel is often used for their spreadsheet needs. When it comes to system software for driving their hardwares, they run windows xp or 7. POS Installing a Point of sale system software into your business can have as dramatic an effect on your retail, bar, concierge, or any other hospitality based business. The right POS system software will enable you to have a more precise level of control over your business operations thus increasing efficiency, boosting profits, and helping you fine-tune your business model. Incorporating the wrong system, however, can be a waste of time, monetary investments and a source of ongoing frustration. Switching from a traditional cash register or as we like to say over sized calculator to a streamline computerized POS software can be a bit of a headache if you do not research your options before buying a new system. There are many factors to consider and various pitfalls to avoid. However you will definitely be impressed with the R.O.I return on investment and benefits your business cannot do without. Thus implementing a POS system can make it worth your time and effort. In the most basic sense, a POS system is a cash register with all the bells and whistles of the new fast paced, internet streaming technological speed. Current themes and practices This Starbucks new idea of POS is currently available for all 6,800 Starbucks stores and Target locations across the US. The solution is not yet in place in Canada. For the uninitiated, the solution works as follows. Consumers download the Starbucks Card Mobile App to their mobile phone; be itiPhone or BlackBerry. Customers with a Starbucks stored value card (effectively a gift card) that is registered on the Starbucks website, enter the card number into their phone when the obtain the app, and that card number is stored. When consumers visit a store, they place their coffee order as usual, and indicate their desire to tender with their mobile. Consumers start the Starbucks Card Mobile App on their mobile and navigate to the payment screen so that a 2d barcode representing the consumers Starbucks card is displayed. The Starbucks associate, selects mobile as the tender in the POS, and prompts the consumer to use the customer facing imager (the same as those used in airports to read boarding passes). The consumer places their mobile device under the imager, the 2d barcode is read, and the POS treats the tender like a gift card, following the usual payment verification procedure. Once tender is complete, the customer obtains their coffee as usual. The discussion on electronic wallet is an industry favourite, and this development will certainly encourage more discussion on the subject and provide some much need experience. Im fully behind this initiative, but at present, this solution is very much a Starbucks specific solution, and it is not easily translatable to other retailers. While retailers can learn a great deal from the obvious careful thought that has gone into the solution, and we can look forward to others moving down this road as well. To clarify for consumers (and non-technical retail executives) who ask why other retailers dont have mobile payment schemes as yet, consider the following unique characteristics of the Starbucks situation that make a solution like this pay off. Use of Stored Value Card Very few retailers have a stored value card with the massive following and ongoing usage that Starbucks have. Effectively consumers are giving Starbucks their funds in advance in exchange for some very small benefits (free drink on your birthday, free pump of flavouring in your drink). Starbucks gets loyalty data on customers, and a nice balance of cash on hand. More relevant to the mobile payment solution, the Starbucks mobile phone application allows consumers to make a payment onto their stored value card, and the applications 2d barcode payment system is connected to that card. Connecting the mobile payment system to the stored value card means that Starbucks can take the risk of a payment system internally. Stored value are not subject to the same roadblocks, legislation, and scrutiny that building a mobile payment system that would access a credit card or a debit card would have. Using the stored value card simplifies implementation and sidesteps many complexities of payment systems like EMV and PCI. Cross Platform While Starbucks are very keen on the iPhone, they have not limited themselves to an iPhone app, but also provided an app for the other key smart phone users via the Blackberry App. Considering the corporate core of Blackberry users and how often meetings now take place in Starbucks stores, this is a wise move to maximize potential users. Given the number of Android Users and the recent release and growing use of Windows 7 Phone platforms, it would not be surprising to see the Starbucks Card App ported to those platforms as well, ensuring maximum potential usage. Valuable App With over 400,000 apps on iTunes, retailers need to make their app unique and useful. Ideally it pulls together the mobile and in store experience in some way. Starbucks has managed both. Any successful retailers mobile app needs something unique to it to encourage download, and having it on a consumers screen on a permanent basis. Customer Demographic Based on my experience, and what I have read in the media over the past few years, the average Starbucks consumer is more likely than average to be a tech-savvy iPhone or Blackberry user, and beyond that, the kind of user who would be comfortable with technology and placing a payment with their mobile. It is important that any solution put in front of a consumer by a retailer fit their target market. A savvy comfortable customer is more likely to use the app, and use it well, to speed transactions and drive convenience for them, and speed throughput for the retailer. Infrastructure Most Starbucks locations have 2 terminals. In order to leverage 2d barcodes, special imagers are required, and this means hardware investment. 2 lanes means only a $300-$400 investment per store for imaging hardware. Considering the potential value of transactions per store, this is a very low cost. The ROI would be far less attractive for a lower margin retailer with dozens of lanes in a store to deploy, as it would be key to have the imagers in every lane to simplify the process for consumers. Transaction Type The slowest portion of any retail transaction, and the most difficult to trim time from, is the tendering process. Given that in Starbucks transactions generally include a small basket size and the ordering time is relatively short, the value of an alternative payment is increased, as it is a greater proportion of the transaction. This value is increased further by the incredible traffic at Starbucks sites. Having many small transactions provides a boost to the ROI of the solution. No Mobile Device Handling In order for any sort of mobile payment solution to increase throughput and minimize operational complications, it is key to streamline the process of scanning the mobile device. Starbucks has done this via a customer facing scanner with very simple signage. This allows the consumer to place their phone in the scanning area with no need to pass the mobile device to a cashier. This simplifies the process by providing a consistent process, not only increasing the scan speed, but also avoiding the potential of store staff dropping or otherwise damaging a customers mobile device. Consumers are also more likely to use the mobile payment solution if they do not have to pass their mobile phone to a cashier, given how consumers increasingly consider the mobile device as a personal item. As with all solutions implemented by consumer facing organizations, ROI is key. Looking at the Starbucks solution, the costs of entry are probably not that high. A mobile app is relatively inexpensive and standalone compared to other point of sale solution implementations. Using the stored value card leverages electronic processes and databases already in place. The crucial part is operationalizing the solution, and that can be put in place for hundreds or low thousands per site. All in all, this is a relatively low cost solution with the potential for a high ROI in both funds, and in good will from consumers. Other retailers looking to implement such a solution would do well to observe what Starbucks have done, but note well that this is not a one size fits all solution. Any future implementers should be sure that the app suits their customer demographic, their transaction model, and has a way of dealing with the complexities of payment. Other solutions will arise, and it will be fa scinating to see what comes next. Evaluation: 4).Starbucks also runs a high scale of management in handling their I.T related issues. They are I.T aware such that, they have good network services. An example would be, Starbucks offers free WIFI Zone. An attraction for a customer on the move. The firm has VOIP services for communication with other chains around the globe. As we live in a net centric age, starbucks has made it a perfect fit, to incorporate most I.T business related schemes into their business. A good analyses on this comoany, would however show us that starbucks uses the I.T based things to builkd their customer range. It is however no secret that most competitors have based their examples on comoanys in the likes of Starbucks. Some practices in starbucks, include some discount sales issued by the management. A customer however sees this as a grand oppurtuinty to have a 50%(Percent) discount on whatever he buys and also enjoys free internet. This indeed is a wise practice. The Mgt Informaion system has in many ways, made things easy for staffs. Most messages to staffs are communicated via the network. As fore mentioned, starbucks uses intranets and internet(Voip). This helps in forwarding swift messages to workers in the company. This comoany also makes judicious use of their MIS by running web based adverts and all. The firm keeps its customers continuesly aware of products and new recipes that might be tried in a given time. Thus, their market base increases undoubtedly. Marketing Analysis: Retails: Recommendation: In my opinion having pratronised starbucks from time to time, i would suggest the following: Starbucks should try in purchasing a reasonably fast internet with low traffic. They should try to maintain their hardwares and try upgrades from time to time, to avoid being left out in the dark age of slow computing. They should employ staffs that are more I.T learned to avoid diffulty in system operations. They should embrace more of touch screen services. And what i mean is, buying gadgets(hardwares) that provide self service for each customer. The MIS should continually see to it that customers are intrigued by the brilliant I.T based services that Starbucks provide thus leaving the customers spell bound to return and purchase more items . They could also provide on screen advertisements for new generation hardwares this in itself, could be an avenue for starbucks to get paid for advertising for I.T firms in the cities and wherever . They could also make a web based system, that would enable customers to order online to ease driving out of the office at lunch. Conclusion: At this juncture, i would like to reiterate that it is of immense importance that the MIS in starbucks embraces more heightened technology hardwares to ease the work load and the number of staffs. We all in the world are aware of the generation of computers. This promises to be huge and phenomenal turn in every industry especially industries like starbucks. As we see Managements improve their information systems, it would be an important part for starbucks to play in their MIS. With an improved and well balanced MIS, starbucks has what it takes to battle up for the future even competitors. Time is of the essence for firms like starbucks this is because each day slips away and more upgrades are made to databases. To this end, i would beseech starbucks, to keep up the very good work and embrace a new era of improved management systems. Thus increasing their profit base and client base.

Essay --

Heat Transfer Through Extended Surface 1. Objective To determine the temperature distribution and heat flow along the extended surface and comparing the data with theoretical analysis 2. Equipment Required Heat transfer service unit Extended surface heat transfer accessory Data logging accessory 3. Theory The term extended surface is commonly used to depict an important special case involving heat transfer by conduction within a solid and heat transfer by convection (and/or radiation) from the boundaries of the solid. Extended surfaces are used to increase the surface area and to increase the total rate of heat transfer. A temperature gradient exist between two different temperature surfaces for heat transfer. The temperature distribution along the fin or pin must be known to determine the heat transfer from the surface to its surroundings. Plate fins are mostly used in aircrafts, cryogenic and other industries. By considering the insulated tip extended surface the temperature distribution in terms of hyperbolic function expressed as ÃŽ ¸/ÃŽ ¸Ã¢â€šâ€™ = Cosh[m(b-x)]/ Cosh(mb) (1) Where, ÃŽ ¸ = T(x) - T∞ (⠁ °C) ÃŽ ¸Ã¢â€šâ€™ = To - T∞ (⠁ °C) To = fin base temperature (⠁ ° C) T∞= free stream fluid temperature (⠁ °C) b = fin height (m) x = coordinate (m) m = (4h /k d) ½ (1/m) h = heat transfer coefficient (W/m ² ⠁ °C) k = thermal conductivity of fin (W/m ⠁ °C) d = fin diameter (m) The heat transfer, Q, for a pin fin is found using the relation Q = (h P k A) ½ tanh(m b) (2) Wh... ... 4.5In = 0.1125m Tx = 45.56 ⠁ °C At x = 6In = 0.15m Tx = 44.17 ⠁ °C 5. At 16V, To = 47.2 ⠁ °C , T∞ = 22.78 ⠁ °C Heat Transfer Q = √(hPKA) (To - T∞) tanh(mb) Q = √0.0422 Ã'… (47.2 – 22.78) tanh( 9.01 Ã'… 0.1524) Q = 4.413 W At 25V, To = 67.7 ⠁ °C , T∞ = 22.78 ⠁ °C Heat Transfer Q = √(hPKA) (To - T∞) tanh(mb) Q = √0.0422 Ã'… (67.7 – 22.78) tanh( 9.01 Ã'… 0.1524) Q = 8.1178 W Result 1.The Heat transfer through the fin at supply voltage 25V is approximate double to the heat transfer at supply voltage 16V. 2.As the value of x increases value of Tx decreases continuously. For 16V, For 25V, Conclusion From the experimental result it is shown that as the distance increase from the heat source temperature decreases. Graphs also shows the continuous temperature decrement in the positive x direction.

Organizational Strategy and Structure of Unilever Essay -- Business St

Organizational Strategy and Structure of Unilever Introduction Unilever is one of the largest packaged consumer goods companies specializing in hundreds of different brands. Unilever is based in Holland and the UK and is jointly owned by Unilever N.V and Unilever PLC. Both companies have the same board of directors but operate as a single entity and list there stock separately. In 2000, Unilever restructured their board of directors by electing new faces to the board and seeing other key members retire, like Jan Peelen and Robert Philips. Miles and Snow stated that there are four types of organizational strategies pursued by companies; Defenders, Prospectors, Analyzers and Reactors. Unilever are a company that uses the â€Å"Prospectors† organization type. Prospectors are organizations which almost continually search for market opportunities, and they regularly experiment with potential responses to emerging environmental trends, in particular when Vis was appointed to the Food Executive committee and began to emphasize more on environmental and sustainable development in response to changing trends and demands by consumers giving these consumers greater confidence. (Miles & Snow; pp29) In my discussion, the main types of organizational strategies and structures will be listed and how they have impacted on Unilever’s improved performance and growth in recent years. Organizational strategies and structures, and there impact on Unilever’s performance †¢ Restructured Approach: 1. Identifying market opportunities: A key part of an organizational strategy is to identify market opportunities by finding a niche or a gap in the marketplace that they can pursue to take their company ahead of all their competitors. An organiz... ...ification as we move towards our destination IT architecture, and further strengthen our global market presence† said Neil Cameron, chief information officer at Unilever. Unilever’s steady underlying improvement in Europe has continued, with 2.8% growth in the year. The fourth quarter was particularly strong, at 5.5%, against a weaker comparator. The Americas were up by 4.1% in the year, with Brazil and Mexico improving through the year, while the US grew solidly at 3.2%. Asia Africa has shown consistent, broad-based growth across countries and categories throughout the year, up by 11.1%. This demonstrates that merging with globalised technologically advanced companies such as SAS, and using their expertise, is paying dividends for Unilever. (Unilever’s Annual Report, 2007) (Drinks Business Review, â€Å"Unilever selects SAP as standard for global IT Strategy†, May 2007)

Exploring Reincarnation :: Religion Culture Cultural

Exploring Reincarnation Missing Works Cited For as long as man has been on this earth, one of the most popular questions without a finite answer has been, what happens after we die? Each culture, religion, organization, family, and any other group of people has had their own views about this subject for as far back as history goes, and probably even farther. One particular answer to this question is reincarnation. The simple version of reincarnation is re-birth. When one dies, they lose their physical being, but their soul lives on and is re-born into another body. According to the Buddhists, â€Å"Central to the belief in rebirth is the idea of an individual stream-consciousness. As an unceasing flux of primal spiritual energy, it acts as a concurrent link with the new body conceived in the mother’s womb. The nature of rebirth is closely linked with, or is the effect of, past thoughts and deeds. Rebirth is thus an essential part of the natural law of causality.† (pg. 74, child incarnate) The western wo rld has traditionally been quick to dismiss the idea of reincarnation as nay say. They don’t believe it is possible for someone to be reborn into a new body, most of the time due to religion, mainly Christianity and Judaism, both of which have rejected reincarnation as a valid theory. The Eastern half of the world however, has consistently accepted reincarnation. Four hundred million Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs believe in reincarnation according to statistics. (Christie-Murray, 50) Although the western world has had increasing numbers of people believing in reincarnation, it is still widely disregarded. In the west, we live in a very materialistic age, and for that reason, very little consideration is given to anything besides the present. Reincarnation should not be disregarded so easily however, because there are a lot of logical reason it can be, and probably is, true. There is overwhelming evidence of reincarnation beliefs in every period of time, so it is not some notion that was recently just made up for comfort or stability. There are many stories of people who can remember vivid details of their former lives, and even biological evidence such as birthmarks that are a result of an injury in a prior life. Reincarnation can also be a good explanation for child geniuses like Mozart, and even the current Dali Llama.