Graded Assignment: Global Interactions Unite Test

Portuguese explorers and conquers. They brought them to the new world for farm labor. On the other hand England and France thought of the same ideas, bringing African slaves from Africa to work mostly on sugar plantations. In general Europeans couldn't work on farms on their own, they felt like they needed others to work for them, so they bought slaves and shipped them to the new world in order for their farms and plantations to keep going. When Spanish and Portuguese explorers first settled in the new world, they thought of calming the land they discover to their country.As they settled and as trading went by in the new world, they couldn't on the farms themselves. They basically needed others to work under their command. When the exploration went around the coast of Africa to reach India, they found what they call slaves to do farm labor in the new world. It started out as a trade with the Spanish and Portuguese and African tribe leaders. They slaves they traded for would be placed on slave ships and would be shipped to the new world. When they arrived at the new world, they wouldn't have much freedom except on the farm science now they were owned by theSpanish and Portuguese. The main reason slaves were bought by the Portuguese was for farm labor and growing different types of crops for trade. On the other hand, other European nations explored the new world and claimed land as well. The reason their slaves are called Caribbean slavery, is because they went to the Caribbean and claimed land for their countries. But their lands weren't the same as the Spanish and Portuguese. They had sugar and tobacco plantations. These type of plantations required hard work, and body strength.Of course Europeans couldn't do such work. They also bought slaves from Africa into the Caribbean. The slaves are what helped these Europeans trade valuable crops for valuable items as well. As the Spanish and Europeans expanded their empires, they needed even more slaves for more work o n more farms and plantations. And as their crops grew in size, their trade went greater too as well. This didn't only help them trade within themselves but all the way to the far east of Asia. Europeans had successful trade by their successful crops which were grown by slaves.In conclusion, Caribbean and west African slavery had many similarities and differences. Without the idea of slave trade and their farm and plantation labor, Europeans wouldn't have been the most successful traders in the world. During the 15th and 16th century, had control over the worlds trade. This trade mastering didn't only end with some crops, but many newly introduced crops to Europe helped strengthen their trade but also required trade for even more slaves. Slaves were a basic factor for Europeans in order to achieve success.

Equality for Undocumented Immigrants Essay

The women founders of sociological theory made it possible for women and members of other marginalized communities to gain access to the rights and privileges their white male counterparts enjoyed for centuries. In particular, the incredible lives of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Ida B. Wells-Barnett allowed new avenues of academia and social change that had not previously been conceivable. Although they used different approaches and their theories focused on different aspects of the society in which they lived, a common thread ties them together in the history of feminist thinkers: their passion for social and economic change for women. Their contributions laid the groundwork for the modern day struggles for civil rights, in particular the fight for fair treatment and equality of undocumented immigrants. Gilman and Wells-Barnett did not gain admiration for maintaining the status-quo, which is exactly why it is important to apply their methods of research and analysis to the fight for the equality of undocumented immigrants. This paper focuses on the revolutionary theories Gilman and Wells-Barnett are most known for, and discusses the potential implications the application of these theories might have when applied to undocumented immigrants. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was born on July 3, 1860 and died by suicide in August of 1935. Despite her unfortunate death, the contributions Gilman made to the feminist movement are still considered to be unparalleled, so much so that has been judged â€Å"the most original and challenging mind which the woman movement produced† 1. In her most famous work, Women and Economics, Gilman separated herself from other feminists of the time by boldly stating that the integral cause for sex-distinction and the inequality facing women is the dependence on the husband in the family unit for all money making activities. Her bold and unapologetic prose highlighted the â€Å"sexuo-economic relationship† between married men and women, dating back to prehistoric times 2. According to Gilman, women must rely solely on their sexuality to attain even their most basic needs. Unlike men, who have endless opportunities to gain their desires, young women are left with only their bodies as a means for material and social well being, because â€Å"all that she may wish to have, all that she may wish to do, must come through a single channel and a single choice. Wealth, power, social distinction, fame- not only these, but home and happiness, reputation, ease and pleasure, her bread and butter-all, must come to her through a small gold ring† 3. Woman’s dependence on men economically not only hurts women financially, socially, mentally, and intellectually. This dependence of married women on their husbands for virtually all aspects of their well being also has a negative effect on the economy. Gilman blames the â€Å"androcentric culture† for societies ills, using the term specifically to refer to the institutions and social norms defined by the capitalist patriarchy men and women are taught to live in beginning at a very young age. This phenomenon, coupled with the inability for women to compete with men in society, is causing great intellectual waste as well as economic ramifications. Until women could have the same freedoms as men to pursue economic independence, they would remain subjugated and forced to live their lives without freedom and confined by social norms perpetuated by the capitalist patriarchy of male domination. Ida B. Wells-Barnett made her mark in feminist sociology not only for her work in the field of sociology but also as a social activist who challenged the status-quo of American society. She used a unique blend of research and social activism to challenge the racism she and her fellow African Americans faced every day in the United States, particularly in the South. Wells-Barnett collected information from newspapers, journals, and other media outlets to uncover the ways African Americans were represented in the media and the negative effect this had on the lives of people of color and the poor across the country. For example, in her autobiography, Wells-Barnett describes one incident which resulted in a lawsuit against the Chesapeake, Ohio and Southwestern Railroad. When she refused to leave the â€Å"ladies† car, two conductors had to physically remove her, during which she bit one conductor on the arm and refused to let go. She explains â€Å"†the white ladies and gentlemen in the car even stood on the seats so that they could get a good view and continued applauding the conductor for his brave stand.†4Together with other theorists like Julia Cooper, Wells-Barnett developed a theory of domination that explained why white men of power continued to dominate American institutions and perpetuate the cycles of racism and poverty. Specifically, Wells-Barnett focused on the violent behaviors, such as lynching, that dominant members of society used when they felt their position of authority was being threatened by someone or some group they deemed subordinate in society. Historian Ula Taylor explains the many ways Barnett used these tools: â€Å"She challenged the myth that all White women were chaste, all Black women were without virtue, and all Black men were rapists by unleashing a massive international campaign against lynching. She documented the economic realities of lynching victims, the possibility that a White woman could be attracted to a Black man, and finally the fact that Black women were violated and abused at alarming rates. Barnett advocated self-help activities, but she also fought against Jim Crow facilities with economic boycotts and was not above armed resistance†. The focus of Wells-Barnett on the subordination of women was unique in that it looked at the problem not only through the lens of sex, but of race, class and geographic location. Undocumented immigration, commonly known as â€Å"illegal immigration†, is a hot button topic in American politics today. In the last ten years candidates for political office, political parties and interests groups have used this issue to gain support for their cause, resulting in a heated ongoing debate that affects the estimated 20 million undocumented immigrants that live and work in the United States today. What has become lost in the majority of these discussions is the diminished quality of life these immigrants are forced to endure due to failed social policy of US lawmakers, as well as the many positive contributions immigrants from all countries have on the economy and culture of the United States. Advocates for undocumented immigrants are faced with similar challenges faced by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Both women fought for equality for those who did not have equal status in society and in the institutions that make up American government. The application of their theories to the plight of undocumented workers provides a unique lens in which to study these women and to test whether their theories can still be successfully applied to modern-day issues. The fight for the rights of undocumented immigrants in the United States today is being fought with many of the same tools used by Wells-Barnett during her fight for civil rights. These tools include economic boycotts, marches, policy advocacy and media coverage that highlight the injustices being endured by millions of men, women and children across the country. For example, in 2004 a documentary entitled â€Å"Farmingville: POV† told the story of two murders in the suburban town of Farmington, New York6. Two undocumented workers from Mexico were brutally murdered by the hands of white men because of their ethnicity and legal status. According to Wells-Barnett, these vicious murders occurred because of the pathology of the white men. The violence was a reaction to the dominant members of the society feeling their status in their community was being threatened by those they considered beneath them. The similarities in legal status of African Americans during the lifetime of Wells-Barnett and present-day undocumented immigrants is strikingly similar. Undocumented workers, like African Americans of that time, have different legal rights than their â€Å"American† counterparts, and legally they are not afforded the same rights and liberties as those considered â€Å"legal†. As she did in her studies of lynching of African-Americans, Wells-Barnett would also look at media representation and instances of racism within the police force and other law enforcement agencies as proof of her theory of domination. For example, she could cite an article recently published in Los Angeles, California in which Ernesto Cienfuegos boldly stated: â€Å"murderous ogres are today getting away with the horrific killings of undocumented Mexican immigrants due in part to uncaring and often racist USA   law enforcement agencies. Anti-immigrant hysteria, once the purview of fringe vigilante groups, has now afflicted some in the mainstream media and this has fanned the flames of anti-Mexican bigotry throughout the nation resulting in a series of heinous murders of undocumented immigrants that have included women and children†7. The language in this article reflects the beliefs held by Wells-Barnett concerning the rape, murder and other brutality faced by African Americans before and during her lifetime. The theories of Charlotte Perkins Gilman could also be applied to undocumented immigrants in the United States. Specifically, her assertions concerning unspecialized labor in the workforce. In â€Å"The Waste of Private Housekeeping†, Gilman explains her belief that because women are forced to be housewives and therefore cannot pursue their intellectual potential: â€Å"Neither the labor of the overworked mother, nor the labor of the perpetual lowgrade apprentice, can ever reach high efficiency. This element of waste is inherent in domestic industry and cannot be overcome. No special training can be applied to every girl and produce good results in all; no psychological gymnastics can elevate housework when housework, in economic status, is at the very bottom of industrial evolution†. Gilman argued that because women were kept to working inside the home they were not able to develop intellectually at the same level or rate as men. Because undocumented workers face deportation and other punishments because of their legal status, they also are often forced to remain in jobs in the service industry and as maids cleaning up and looking after the children of other families. They depend on the companies that hire them and the families that pay them for their income, and therefore have no choice but to work in deplorable working conditions with wages often lower than the federal minimum wage. The argument can also be made that many undocumented women are kept economically dependent on men because they are brought into the United States for use in the sex industry, and often kept as slaves. Without the necessary skills, education, or legal status these women cannot escape their terrible situation, and therefore remain dependent on men for their basic needs in return for work around the house and sex. Without Gilman and Wells Barnett it is hard to know what these women would think about the plight of undocumented immigrants. It is important to take into account the different time periods these women lived and worked in. For example, Wells-Barnett focused on African Americans because they were legally enslaved by slaveowners for centuries in the United States, and there were laws in place that protected these slaveowners from being held accountable for inflicting harm on any of their slaves. Undocumented immigrants, however, are afforded some basic rights that African Americans were not even after the abolishment of slavery, which Wells-Barnett might be quick to point out. While it can probably be proven that the media gives less attention to the murders and violence towards undocumented immigrants, the severity and social stigma involving lynching of African Americans in the South was certainly much different. Gilman’s theories are often criticized for their racist and xenophobic undertones, as she believed America was the best country in the World and Americans were morally superior to citizens of all other countries9. Might she then condemn undocumented workers and treat them with the same racism she afforded African Americans? In conclusion, the work of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Ida B. Wells-Barnett is anything but limited to sociological theory. Both their lives impacted women around the world, and without their vision, intellect and passion for social change the status of women could not be where it is today. The lasting impression these women made on society is proven when their theories are applied to the plight of undocumented immigrants in the United States today. These women are responsible for the tools marginalized members of society use to gain access to the freedoms we as Americans strive to achieve. Although criticisms can and have been made against the theories of both women, their positive contributions to critical social theory far outweigh the negative. Because of these women’s passion for social justice and equality they too would join the fight for immigrant rights if they were alive today. I am honored to have been able to study and analyze their works and will carry the knowledge gained from this experience for the rest of my life.

Entreprenurship in America Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Entreprenurship in America - Research Paper Example In terms of definition, Harold Welsch (3) emphasized that â€Å"THE FIELD OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP was described in 1983 as ‘an intellectual onion. You peel it back layer by layer and when you get to the center, there is nothing there, but you are crying.’ This description of the field by a senior faculty member at Harvard Business School was given to a young person being recruited into the field.† The advice indicated management had to resolve all types of customer complaints. Even though there was lack of earlier academic attention, researches have indicated that the vital importance of new ventures and small businesses that incorporated creation of jobs for the community. For example, some of the global entrepreneurial powerhouses included Silicon Valley, Silicon Alley, Route 128, Austin, and Research Triangle. The sociological concept of the global entrepreneurship spirit continues to evolve. More and more individuals have joined the bandwagon called entrepreneursh ip. More and more people have funneled their hard earned cash and other assets into the entrepreneurship market segment during the last 100 years. In addition, Harold Welsch (3) mentioned Harvard described entrepreneurship as the pursuit of opportunity beyond the resources the investor can presently manage. The definition adeptly incorporates the benefits of maximizing the individual and society to bring out the best of the entrepreneurial spirit. The entrepreneurial spirit includes finding opportunities that will increase one’s current investments. The entrepreneur must find the needed resources to fill the needs of current and prospective clients. Further, David Landes (401) insists â€Å"THE SPECIAL GENIUS OF THE twentieth-century U.S. economy has typically been characterized as the harnessing of technology by entrepreneurs working within the large vertically integrated American corporation, at first wholly a private sector phenomenon, and then in cooperation with an incr easingly interventionist federal government. By the 1970s no sector of the U.S. economy, whether public or private, for-profit, or not-for-profit, was unaffected by this regime.† Focusing on the nonmanufacturing sectors such as entertainment and transfer of information have the marks of the scientifically improved, and controlled, type of industrial growth the incorporated the gains of the second industrial revolution. A better scrutiny of the 20th Century experience in the United States, on the other hand, proposes a much more complex image than simple rules espoused by many multinational corporations. Likewise, the seemingly normalization of innovative changes, that include the implementation of perpetual motion machine in a network of large corporations, with the financial aid of many entities, had been part of the more complicated entrepreneurial story. In addition, the business activities of some small and medium scale entrepreneurial entities as well as individual entrep reneurs, working under the management of multinational corporations. In addition, Gerald Hills (5) opined â€Å"There is growing evidence that entrepreneurship should be treated as a major conceptual dimension within the marketing discipline. Marketing journals, programs, and associations are structured around: (1) different marketing functions such as product development and advertising; and (2) types of markets and firms such as consumer and industrial, services, health care

Debenhams Plcs Competitive Position in Its Various Markets Essay

Debenhams Plcs Competitive Position in Its Various Markets - Essay Example The gross profit margin is at 13.59%, while the net profit margin is at 5.6%. Return on equity and assets also appear favourable at 18.20% and 6.06% respectively (Global Business Browser, 2014). The company has stated that it would expand its global operations by increasing the number of stores to 150 by the end of 5 years from this day. As per reports, the retail sector of UK has seen a rise in revenue by 1% in its 103 businesses that employ over 123,000 people. Before the crisis, the buying patterns were instinctive and the retail industry was booming. After 2008, the economy has somewhat stagnated and hence, has put a dent in sales. High levels of unemployment have led to lower levels of disposable income and lower consumer confidence because of which discretionary purchases have been forced to cut back. It is expected that the retail industry shall post the decline in the forthcoming financial year 2013-14 to the tune of 0.8% (Ibisworld, 2013). The paper aims to bring forth a comprehensive analysis of the company in the market where it operates. The paper shall seek to throw light on the competitive position of the company in relation to the markets within which it operates through Porters Five Forces, PEST, and Porters Generic Strategies. It moves on to discuss various cross-cultural issues that the company has come across in present times and how these were dealt with Hofstede's five dimensions and Trompenaars seven dimensions model. The paper also analyses the company’s CSR attempts with a view of sustainable growth objective for various groups of stakeholders. The paper concludes with a discussion of the present position and standing of the company in relation to its peers and future growth prospects. The paper tries to make a justification regarding the strategies being followed by Debenhams Plc and attempts to draw strategic directions for future market analysis. A study of the external environment and cultural challenges brings forth the trend of challenges faced by Debenhams while the internal study and CSR initiatives highlight the key sustainability attempts towards challenging competition in retail business.  

Quantitative Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Quantitative Analysis - Research Paper Example of taste and preferences, time of the year, and economic changes among other factors and an understanding of occurrence of such seasonal factors and their effects on equilibrium price is necessary and is recommended. Times series analysis allows for identification of effects of trend and seasonality, that can then be separated in forecasting optimal price and is therefore necessary for effective planning and goal setting. Forecasted seasonality and trend informs on expected changes in optimal prices that can be used to retain customers and even attract new customers for a competitive market share. The analysis, based on an organization’s data or that of the industry’s average and the following equation, can forecast daily or weekly prices for unit commodities that the restaurant could sell. Comparative analysis of cost and revenues is another recommended quantitative best practice for the business. Two approaches inform profit maximization and their understanding and use in the business will ensure optimal profitability. The difference between total cost and total revenue defines obtained profits and can be used to define profitability (Korrapati, 2014). Understanding the maximum level profit that an entity can achieve is more important for efficient resource utilization and this identifies the concept of marginal returns. Profit is maximized when marginal cost equals marginal revenues. Data analysis on difference between unit cost of a product and its unit price is therefore necessary for understanding the point of equality. This, however, relies on other practices such as optimal pricing that could use time series and cost accounting into determination of unit cost. The following mathematical equation expresses to optimization point. The mathematical approach can also inform decisions on optimal prices given cost and production capacity. A restaurant has such capacity limitation to space and number of seats in the restaurant and with a known optimal number

Literature Review on Leadership Theories, Leadership styles and Research Paper

Literature Review on Leadership Theories, Leadership styles and Visioning - Research Paper Example This generosity and unconventional style has been adapted by many ICT companies. Facebook has the same casual office lay-out and also provides employees with free food. Viximo has a â€Å"come and go as you please† policy and actually encourages their employees to establish their own business. The question now is whether this leadership styles are really borne of the technology or a modification of the classic ones. Servant Leadership As early as 1977, Robert Greenleaf already came up with Servant leadership theory. He argues that great leaders are the ones that serve his constituents. Yet, earlier thinkers like Socrates and Xenophon (Adair, 1989) believed that leaders should lead by serving and even earlier than that is St. Paul who publicly declared that his strategy in ruling other people and making them follow him is by serving them. This is the same strategy used by Jesus Christ. Though many may question his persona as God, no one can question the greatness of his leaders hip style (Cross, 1998). ... These things allow the employees to grow and learn and do their jobs (Dess and Picken, 2000). The test of whether or not servant leadership (Greenleaf, 1977) is effective lies in the productivity of the people within the organization. Servant leaders prove the system is working when people are more independent and able surpass the quality of work expected of them. It can be argued that an organization with a servant leader actually serves a purpose, not the person. Some examples of servant leaders are Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. They all rule their nation but put their cause front and center instead of relying on their persona. This allows the people to hinge their faith on a dream instead of a person. It strengthens their faith in a vision instead of a person (Zohar & Marshall, 2001). Action-Centred Leaders Adair (1973) also developed the Action-Centered Leadership theory. This leader clearly demarcates three levels of leadership: the team, the job, and the person. These thre e elements require separate strategies but also overlap as each cannot be operated in a vacuum, one must be operated in consideration with the other two. This theory argues that there is no leadership style that may be considered the best kind and that several styles may actually be used in a single organization by one person. The key is in determining what kind works best for a certain situation. If servant leadership puts the members’ need in front and center, ACL believes that the task is the most important element in leading an organization (Adair, 1989). Leaderless Theory This is, perhaps, the newest of the new theories that are emerging and also the one that is directly influenced by ICT. Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom

MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES FOR THE Research Paper

MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY - Research Paper Example A Multinational Corporation (MNC) is an enterprise engages in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which possesses or built facilities, operates and controls value-added undertakings in many countries. A firm is considered an MNC when 25% of its production and services output came from external through trading and services as well as infuse capital, technology, and managerial expertise to undertake production in foreign countries (Spero & Hart, 1997). Economists posit that a company is considered multinational when it has nurtured a number of affiliates or has subsidiaries in other countries; operate in an array of services and operations globally; gather high rate or percentile of assets, revenues, or profits; its human capital, stockholders, and administrators composed of varied nationalities, and their offshore operations are extensive, ambitious, and inclusive of manufacturing, research and developments (Spero et.al.1997, p 117). Often, the subsidiary company got financial and supervisory support from its parent company or may undertake joint venture in the operations. The financial transfer is called by economists as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which is aimed at controlling some offshore assets and when it invests capital to a subsidiary in other nation by purchasing an enterprise or by feeding capital to commence a new operation (Spero et.al.1997). Sometimes, MNCs does portfolio investment by buying stock or bonds from a national corporation (Spero et.al.1997). Many MNCs are engaged in extractive industries, manufacturing of technology, banking and finance, and the like, but in its corporate management, they are distinct in their technological capacity, corporate structure and the nature of products and services they introduced to the market (Spero et.al.,1997). Their characteristics illustrate that their profit sometimes is more that the gross domestic product (GDP) in almost 170 nations (Spero et.al.1987, p. 119) because they

International Exams for English Learners Research Paper

International Exams for English Learners - Research Paper Example Despite the numerous changes it has undergone, today, the test is accepted, alongside popular tests like International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), and Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Oral Proficiency Interview - computer (OPI-c) (Harper 91). However, it is currently not supposed to be taken by the foreign students who are nationals of the Commonwealth of the Nations. They are exempted because of being Anglophones-having English as their official language. First, the test covers listening skills. Since listening is one of the core skills in English language, students taking the test have to answer questions about it. To test the learners’ listening abilities, the test is designed with six passages in which the students have to listen to a series of conversations between an instructor and students. After keenly listening to these conversations, the students are given a chance to respond to questions. Sure ly, this is one of the ways through which the test effectively prepares students for higher education within the country. As English students, they need to have a sound knowledge of listening. Through it, they can be well ‘equipped with important skills like interpretation and understanding of main ideas, arguments, speaker’s attitudes, the relationship between opinions and organization of information’ (Sharpe 73). In fact, these are just basic skills that a university graduate should possess.

The impact when parents loses a job Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The impact when parents loses a job - Essay Example The rate of joblessness is very high (Ananat, Gassman-Pines, Francis, and Gibson-Davis. 2011). There are many families where only one parents is working. In such families, the impact of job loss is higher. As a result of an increase in the job loss of parents, the rate of poverty among children is increasing. In the year 2011, 11% of children in the United States had one unemployed parent in the family (Strully, 2009). According to Rege et al. (2011), the loss of a parent’s job results in the loss of economic security of a family. Social scientists have revealed the devastating effects of parents’ job loss on families. The consequences of job loss are seen in the form of mental health problems, stress, and conflicts in relationships (Eliason and Donald, 2009). The job loss does not only increase marital conflicts, but also conflicts and disagreements among parents and children. This also results in ineffective parenting. Children, who are raised in such environment, often face neglect from parents. The education of children also suffers in case of job loss of parents (Spera, Buhrfeind, and Pennebaker, 1994). According to Farber (2010), when a parent loses a job, children are likely to be suspended or expelled from schools. When children are in high schools, they are less likely to continue post-secondary education when a parent loses a job (Nomaguchi, 2012). The increasing cost of education and the credit crunch are two significant challenges faced by children. The loss of a parent’s job also reduces the economic stability of the next generation. When parents endure unemployment, children are more likely to depend on welfare and other support programs. When parents struggle hard to get a job but lose their jobs, children are likely to become disillusioned with protestant work ethic (Gowan, 2012).Top of Form As suggested by Coelli (2011), when a job is lost, parents suffer from stress. The level of stress faced by

Quantitative finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Quantitative finance - Essay Example More investment capital has been attracted by different countries following significant growth in the capital markets, which has also encouraged sharing of international risks (Ahmed and Gooptu, 1993). Also, deregulation and liberalization of capital and foreign exchange markets has been practiced by many countries in the recent decades. This has been achieved through relaxing and withdrawal of statutory barriers on capital account transactions hence boosting many emerging market economies. Furthermore, many countries have realized the benefits of capital inflows through liberalization of domestic financial markets. In the recent years, investment is no longer tied on the sum of domestic savings. In addition, developments in technological innovation and capital accumulation have contributed to economy’s growth, which is spurred by foreign capital inflows. Other important developments that have led to a major reduction in information and transaction costs related to international investments include computer and telecommunication technologies (Tara, 2005). Products such as country funds and American Depository Receipts (ADRs) have been introduced by investment and commercial banks, hence facilitating international investments. Furthermore, the potential gains from international investments must have become more visible amongst many investors and hence the surge in international portfolio investment (New features of the stock market surge, 2005). The security returns amongst different countries differ because different countries differ in terms of resource endowment, industry structure and macroeconomic policies. This difference also results from the fact that different countries have business cycles that do not occur simultaneously, meaning that a particular country could be experiencing a boom while another one experiences recession at the same time. As such, securities from the same country undergo similar macroeconomic policies, and business cycles thus

Sanlu milk powder Essay Example for Free

Sanlu milk powder Essay Consequentialism, as its name suggests, is the view that normative properties depend only on consequences. This general approach can be applied at different levels to different normative properties of different kinds of things, but the most prominent example is consequentialism about the moral rightness of acts, which holds that whether an act is morally right depends only on the consequences of that act or of something related to that act, such as the motive behind the act or a general rule requiring acts of the same kind. Utilitarianism is a theory in normative ethics holding that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as maximizing total benefit and reducing suffering or the negatives. It also makes classic utilitarianism subject to attack from many angles. Persistent opponents posed plenty of problems for classic utilitarianism. Each objection led some utilitarians to give up some of the original claims of classic utilitarianism. By dropping one or more of those claims, descendants of utilitarianism can construct a wide variety of moral theories. Advocates of these theories often call them consequentialism rather than utilitarianism so that their theories will not be subject to refutation by association with the classic utilitarian theory. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible business (SRB), or corporate social performance, is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Milton Friedman and others have argued that a corporations purpose is to maximize returns to its shareholders, and that since only people can have social responsibilities, corporations are only responsible to their shareholders and not to society as a whole. They assert that corporations have no other obligation to society. (Freeman, 1984) Corporate social responsibility (CSR) essentially requires companies to conduct business beyond compliance with the law and beyond shareholder wealth maximization. It suggests that companies should do more than they are obligated under applicable laws governing product safety, environmental protection, labor rights, human rights, community development, corruption, and so on; it also suggests that companies should consider not only the interests of shareholders but also those of other stakeholders (e. g. , employees, consumers, suppliers, and local communities). CSR requires companies to provide not only the quantity of goods, services, and employment but also the quality of life for those whose interests are affected by corporate activities. (Carroll, 2008). Facing the challenge, in order to protect and expand the market, on one hand improve the Sanlu milk purchase cost, on the other hand, through the continuous low prices, unfair competition and reduce the product quality. At the same time, Sanlu Company launched the infant formula milk powder or occupation of the rural market, adding excipient, is as high as 40%. If the production in accordance with national quality standards enterprises not only profits, but also serious losses. Vicious competition led to price higher than the cost, one of the value and price inversion phenomenon is the direct cause of Sanlu milk powder incident. (Wu, 2007) Rethink of Corporate Social Responsibility by Sanlu Milk Incident Ethic problems in Sanlu Incident have the following aspects: (1) Ethic relationship between the enterprise and the government; (2) Ethic relationship between the enterprise and the competitors; (3) Ethic relationship between the enterprise and the consumers; (4) Ethic relationship among the enterprise, consumers, and government. The analysis is made step by step as follows.

Required Skills For Collaborative Learning Nursing Essay

Required Skills For Collaborative Learning Nursing Essay First of all, Collaboration learning is Inter-professional education which focuses on training all health care professionals the needed skills necessary to effectively learn and work inter professionally. Department of health (2000) was essential means for inclusion of inter professional learning and working as an agenda for health and social care. During the class seminars, I acknowledged that the skills taught in these lessons would be fundamental for a successful collaborative working in practice. I recognise communication, knowledge, beliefs, team working, and consent as the skills required from collaborative learning. Cooper et al (2001) supported that, the benefit of collaborative learning strategy and include the effects upon student knowledge, attitudes, skills and belief and particular on the understanding of professional roles and team working. Moreover, when I reflected back the scenario during the seminars, I realised that, reflection as a tool use to find out a new methods of delivery out a duty that may have been difficult. I discover some mistakes that were not obvious while I was tried to solve the case study myself. It can be argued that we learn more through physical experience rather than reading from a text book. Jasper (2003) indicated that, knowledge that we gain using reflective method is different from the assumption that provides the knowledge underpinning our practice. During the seminars, I joined student nurses, physiotherapist, radiographers, paramedics and social workers. When I reflected back on the case scenarios, I noticed that there were great communication mistakes within all the health professionals in their care delivery to Daisy in scenario 1. While reflecting I also notice that, there was lack of team working among the professionals. Kenny (2002) recommended that even if the principle of inter professional learning and working were emerging there was little evidence to suggest it was being embraced by the health care team in the practice areas. Furthermore, Communication skills are crucial in collaborative learning, it improves the care development and it ensures that all health professionals involved in the patients care are conscious of the patients condition and development. In practice communication is also essential to gain consent from patients in order to give them good health care such as personal care, and giving them injections. Code of Conduct (NMC, 2010), states that all nurses must use excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Their method of communication must always be secure, helpful, kindly and polite. The code also indicates that nurses ought to have the skill to work with service users to be able to deliver care. In practice I realise that keeping record is also a form of written communication. What health professionals write in the patients medical notes is vital information that needed to be shared with other health professionals. For example, In case scenario 2, it was the record keeping that reveal the numbers of times Timothy visited the A E. In Timothy case, he was been abuse by his own mother. Moreover, when admitting a new patient on to the ward one way of getting information about the patient is reading the previous medical notes. In addition, according to NMC (2010) record keeping of medical notes should always be in adequate detail, precise and all decisions prepared concerning the patients care ought be kept securely and recorded even if this was done as a form of written communication or over the phone. Patients notes should also explain why these decisions were made and who initiated these decisions. Patient or service user medical notes or care plans have to be complete as soon as possible therefore, the time and dates should always be stated, referrals should constantly be integrated and reassessments should be made and confirmed by all the health professionals involved in the patients care. In addition, original records should never be altered or tampered with in any way. Nurses must also carefully explain all the treatment or touching that will occur when obtaining consent (Griffith and Tengnah, 2010). Moreover, upon reflecting on the case scenario 2, the five years old boy who was abuse by his own mother? I realise that, for the boy to be protected, all the inter professional will have to work together. This indicate that team working which is been applied in my practice is very important within all health certain. It has been said that, government legislation and policies have introduced partnership working for health and social care, which led to inter professional team working becoming the preferred model for working (Quninney 2006). Hall (2005) also support team working is about professionals carrying out their role, while working in collaboratively with other professional to achieve common goal. Team working also promote effective ways of meeting the needs of patient / Service users. However, in practice I observed that continuing professional in a multidisciplinary team has a helpful impact on how flourishing the health professional work inter-professionally. My viewpoint of being professional is: respecting confidentiality and having a non-judgemental approach, regarding all service users and given that equal opportunities, safeguarding all service users, and maintaining a professional therapeutic relationship, with the service users as well as respecting, the job role of other health professionals. Kasar, et al (1996) suggest that being professional they commonly, anticipate professional arrangement, presentation, Initiative, empathy, administration, teamwork, decision-making and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Even though, inter professional working or team work among professional create a wider safety net to avoid vulnerable children and adult at risk from slipping from through the safety between health social cares. However, Hallet and Thompson, (2001) argues that without team work the potential of practice governance is not achievable. Accountability was one of skills I gain from the collaborative learning during IPE seminars. All through in practice I found that when collaboratively working, the nurses were usually positive regarding the care of their patients. However, they were accountable for the decisions they made even if the decisions were made whiles working collaboratively. According to Griffith and Tengnah (2010) a registered nurse would be professionally and lawfully responsible for their conduct, in spite of of whether they are following the instruction of another. On the other hand, ethics is used to design to preserve respect and health, avoid mistakes, keep patient safe and defend the privacy of the patient / service user. I observed in practice that, as a student nurse, I must be of high integrity, be willing to developed professionally and have a good moral character. Thompson, Melia and Boyd (2000) explained that morals and ethics are terms often used to refer to social customs and explain their rights and wrongs, in theory and practice, of human behaviour. In practice, I observe that I have to treat each patient /service user as individual and equally, despite their race, social background, illness or their way of life. As is the duty of nurse is to show compassion and care to all patients. This entire attribute are due the guidelines in nursing (NMC 2008). In practice, I observed, there was one particular patient who was refusing treatment and all the necessary care for three weeks. I took the opportunity to apply my ethics; I was able to persuade him into accepting all the care provided for the sake his recovery. In conclusion, I have learned that collaborative learning can improve quality of care delivery to patient / servicers users. Through the skills and knowledge that was shared from the other inter-professionals. Communication and team work are very essential requirement skills to provide patient / service users good quality of life. Overall I have found it is very important to act in the knowledge as you can, to prevent any condition arising. I have been able to recognise my weaknesses that can now turn into strength. I believe now that I have learned a lot from this experience, with assurance that, it will make me better student nurse, importantly, be a qualify nurse. References: Cooper, H. Carlisle, C. Gibbs, T. and Watkins, C (2001) Developing an Evidence base for interdisciplinary learning. Department of Health (2001) Working Together Learning Together. Department of Health, London. Griffith, R. Tengnah, C. (2010) Law and professional issues in nursing. (2rd ed.) London Learning Matters Ltd Hall, P. (2005). Interprofessional teamwork: Professional cultures as barriers. Journal of Interprofessional Care. Jasper, M. (2003) Beginning Reflective Practice. London: Nelson Thornes Ltd. Kasar, J. Clark, N. Watson, D. Pfister, S. (1996). Professional Development Assessment. Unpublished form. Kenny, G. (2002) Inter professional working: opportunities and challenges Nursing Standard Marks-Maran, D. Rose, P. (1997). Beyond Art and Science- Reconstructing Nursing. London. Bailliere Tindall. NMC (2010) Standards for pre-registration Nursing Education London: NMC. NMC (2rd Edition), September. (2010). Guidance on professional conduct for nursing and midwifery student. Quinney, A. (2006) Collaborative Social Work Practice edited by Jonathan Parker and Greta Bradley Leaning Matters. Thompson, I. Melia, K. Boyd, K. (2000). Nursing ethics. London: Churchill Livingstone

Kotters Eight Step Change Management Model Management Essay

Kotters Eight Step Change Management Model Management Essay Change is the word that best described of the modern societies and culture. Change occurred in almost every aspects of life. Change presses us out from our comfort zone. People changed in their life to avoid stagnation and to improve their quality of life and become a better person. This is also true in business where the rapid change in technologies, the way of doing things, advances in information technologies, internal and external pressures, e-business and globalization creates a competitive environment in most organization in order to survive and to be relevant. How business react, operate and adapt to any changes determine the survivability of the company. In organization, change is necessary but often proves to be challenging. To guide a change (managing a change process) may be the greatest test for the leader of the organization especially when there is resistance. Therefore to lead a change is essential but difficult (Kotter 2007). The successfulness on implementing change in an organization requires a series of phase, a correct tools and proper planning. Palmer, Dunford and Akin (2009) quoted that Changing organizations is as messy as it is exhilarating, as frustrating as it is satisfying, as muddling-through and creative a process as it is a rational one (p. 1). On the other hand, Lean Six Sigma or Lean thinking has been widely accepted and adoptable tool for improving organizational performance. The thinking provides a method to do more with less without jeopardizing the quality, cost and delivery and at the same time meeting customers requirements. Less means less effort, less equipment, less time, less cost, less space and eliminating all sources of wastes in the process. Developed as a production systems eliminating wastes in the Toyotas manufacturing plant in 1960s, now lean thinking evolving across countries and industries as a management approach that improves all processes at each level of the organization. However, in realities, many organizations are not able to transform themselves to lean organization and unable to get the benefit out of it. Transformation initiatives towards the lean organization are full with challenges and resistances. Many companies that promote lean thinking, even those undertaken with the best intention are often destined to a failure due to its unsuccessful execution (Jeyaraman 2010). There are a lot of resistance factors and mostly can be divided into human and non-human factor. From Langstrand et al. (2012) In a member survey, the Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI) found that more than 36% of the respondents attributed change failure to middle management resistance. Along with employee resistance and supervisor resistance, these were considered three of the four most significant obstacles to implementing lean (LEI, 2007). According to (Norani 2011) lean transition requires emergent strategy and he suggested that among all the emergent change approaches, Kotters Eight-Step Change Management Model is one of the best-known change management model. Kotter (1996) suggested Eight-Step Change Management Model as shown on Table 1.1. Table 1.1: Kotters Eight-Step Change Management Model Step 1 Establishing a Sense of Urgency Step 2 Creating the Guiding Coalition Step 3 Developing A Vision And Strategy Step 4 Communication the Change Vision Step 5 Empowering Employees for Broad-Based Action Step 6 Generating Short-Term Wins Step 7 Consolidating Gains And Producing More Change Step 8 Anchoring New Approaches In The Culture This study will analyze the effectiveness of change steps efforts that have been taken during the implementation of Lean Six Sigma Program in government owned service oriented organization from a perspective of change management using the Kotters eight-step change management model as benchmarks. Background of The Study In todays fast-moving era, if there is an organization that is looking for the pace of change to slow or slow in their reaction to any response, is likely to be sorely disappointed and left behind. In fact, some says that, in businesses change is permanent. Change is important in every organization because without change, business would likely lose their market shares, competitive edge and fail to meet the various needs of the customers. SIRIM Berhad is also not neglected from the challenges of reacting more intelligently to customers needs to become more effective. SIRIM Berhad, formerly known as the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM), is a corporate organization owned wholly by the Malaysian Government, under the Minister of Finance Incorporated. It has been entrusted by the Malaysian Government to be the national organization for standards and quality, and as a promoter of technological excellence in the Malaysian industry. The organization came into operation on September 1, 1996 via corporatization scheme of standards and industrial research institute, initiated by the government with the vision to be a corporation of choice for technology and quality. SIRIM Berhad as the national organization of standardization and quality, and as the prime mover in industrial research and development acts as a catalyst in bringing about national economic dynamism through excellence in technology and international acceptance of Malaysian products and services. Their mission is to enhance their customers competitiveness through technology and quality, and fulfill the needs of the shareholders. As such its role is to act as: A champion of quality. The national technology development corporation. Vehicle for technology transfer. A provider of institutional and technical infrastructure for the Government. SIRIM Berhad has initiated a program called Lean Six-Sigma Program (LSSP). LSSP is developed based on the infamous improvement methodology known as Lean Six Sigma Strategy. It was initiated based on the emerging needs to develop SIRIM to be a market driven organization with sustainable business growth and global market penetration. The proposal has been developed by Group Quality Occupational Safety Health and Environment Department (GQOSHE) in 2008. The main objective of the LSSP is to establish an Integrated Business Process Improvement (IBPI) system that builds on four initiatives namely Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Innovative and Creative Circle (ICC), Just Do It (JDI) and Personal Quality Program (PQP). The first three initiatives are continuous improvement methodology used to enhance business performance while the latter is a motivational and cultural conditioning program for SIRIM staffs. The continuous improvement initiatives were used to promote, nurture and inculcate innovative, creative thinking and learning culture into SIRIM to strengthen its business processes and systems in order to be a market driven organization. Problem Statement Upon acceptance of the proposal from President and Chief Executive, LSSP was officially started on January 28, 2008 followed by the directive to begin the Lean Six Sigma project implementation on few small scale pilot projects on February 29, 2008. Seven (7) departments / divisions of SIRIM Berhad have been selected for the pilot project. These departments have been participating in the Lean Six Sigma workshops and training program which comprise of Green Belt and Black Belt programs. The program focusing on areas as follows; To assist the existing project team to implement prioritized ICC projects, Lean Six Sigma Value Stream projects, To initiate Lean Six Sigma initiative at other SIRIM departments and, To certify the Green Belt who has fulfilled the certification process. During the training period, 19 projects initiated on cost saving activities and 9 of the projects have been completed. Based on value stream mapping (process analysis) conducted at participating departments, upon completion of all the prioritized projects, the program has estimated cost savings of RM300k per year (including project savings from Genba Kaizen 5S implementation). Other tangible benefits from the program are: Safer and more organize work place. Creation of work space and elimination of obsolete and out-dated items. Low and controllable stock keeping level of certain items such as stationeries, chemicals resulting to better cash flow and stock management. Improved process visibility and productivity. Lean Six Sigma Program (LSSP) is expected to be a new change program in SIRIM Berhad and the successful implementation of the program is important for sustainability and growth of the organization. Despite the 3 years of training program consists of briefings, training session and pilot projects, the program unable to reach its goal of transferring SIRIM Berhad to become lean organization and to embed lean thinking into the culture of the organization. From an early interview with some of the staff involved, it is confirmed that currently Lean Six Sigma has not been practiced in their section or department. The program seems to be abandoned and not getting enough coalition to sustain the initiatives. Research Objectives The objectives of this study are: To analyze the effectiveness of change steps efforts that have been taken during the implementation of LSSP with reference to Kotters Eight-Step Change Management Model. To determine the benefit of LSSP to the department during the implementation stages. To determine the weakness of LSSP to the department during the implementation stages. To make recommendation on the finding to the management of SIRIM Berhad on managing lean program and any change management initiatives. Scope of The Study This study will be focusing on the implementation stages of Lean Six Sigma program in SIRIM Berhad. The respondents will comprise of managerial and non-managerial employees that participated in the program before. This study is focusing the change management steps as per Kotters eight change steps of change management as a benchmark. Significance of The Study After the training period, Lean Six Sigma program seems to be abandoned and not getting enough coalition to sustain the initiatives but no formal and structured study has been done to understand why the program not achieving the expected outcome especially on the implementation process. Therefore this study is significant to fill the gap by assessing the implementation steps that have been taken during the implementation of the Lean Six Sigma program. The research will analyze the employees perception toward the effort of change steps that have been taken during the implementation. By understanding this, it will help the management to prepare the suitable and effective steps to improve the implementation of LSS program in SIRIM Berhad and also to be used as a guideline for any changes initiatives in the organization. This study will also provide value by identifying if Kotters popular change management model is also useful in government owned service organization. As a result, the outcome can also be used by other government owned organizations that will or are undergoing Lean Six Sigma initiatives by providing information concerning the applicability of Kotters eight-step change management model as a useful model on managing a change in their organization. Academician and lean consultant could also get the benefit from the findings on the effective way of managing lean in government owned service oriented organization. Limitation of The Study It is important to understand that this is a case-study. This study is limited only to the staff of SIRIM Berhad that involved during the implementation of LSSP. The survey is based on perception and subject to bias that could impact the end results. Therefore the sincerity of the correspondents during answering the survey is very important. Definition of Terms Black Belt Full time position responsible for leading project teams. They are responsible for delivering the value and benefits that were determined for each of their projects during the projects selection process. Green Belts A person who works on a Lean Six Sigma project only part-time, on a specific process about which he or she generally possesses knowledge important to the success of the project (Michele 2002). Kaizen Continuous improvement in Japanese. The kaizen process is modeled after quality circle, the team-based continuous improvement vehicle utilized in the Toyota production System. The secret to Kaizen is that it emphasize creativity before capital (Michele 2002). Lean Six Sigma The activities that cause the customers critical-to-quality issues and create the longest time delays in any process offer the greatest opportunity for improvement in cost, quality, capital, and lead time (Michele 2002). Value Stream The set of activities that convert customer needs into delivered products and services. Improving an entire value stream requires multiple projects (Michele 2002). CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction Chapter 2 presents the literature review of the research study. This chapter is discussing about the change management, lean six sigma, change model, Kotters eight-step change management model and the research questions. Change Management Change is a reality of life. In the past five decades change/improvements initiatives have been driven by a lot of approaches. For example, in 1950s Management by Objectives (MBO), Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) have been introduced. In 1960s to 1970s Sensivity Training, T-groups, Quality Circles, Corporate Culture have been used. The famous improvement initiatives such as ISO9000, Total Quality Management and Corporate Culture were introduced in 1980s and in 1990s Reengineering Agile Strategies, Horizontal Corporations, Employee Empowerment, Core Competencies and Vision have taken the scene (Palmer, I. et.al 2009). Motivations for change have been customers satisfaction, cost reduction, improved efficiency, improved quality, or, in extreme cases, survival (Longbothom et.al 2006). Self D.R and Schraeder M. (2009) explained that the first challenge organization faced during implementing change in the organization is recognizing the need for change and second, and possibly more significant is effectively deploying strategies to implement change. Contemporary literature outlines a multitude of various strategies for implementing change in an organization. Wikipedia (2012) defines Change Management as an approach to shifting / transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from a current state to desired future state. Smith (2005) explained that change is a process of letting go of things as they are in order to take up a new ways of doing things. Organizational change normally challenges the status quo of the employee and it may challenge the values and perceived rights of workers and work group. For some people, change is welcome and relates to something new, fresh and exciting but for some people may be more cautious by seeking to test and examine before proceeding. Palmer et. al (2009) explained that there are six images of managing change. First is change manager as a director which gave an image of management as control and change outcomes as being achievable. Second is change manager as a navigator where the manager is in control of a given situation and the outcomes are partly emergent rather than completely planned and result from a variety of influences, competing interests and processes. Third is change manager as care taker is an ideal image of management is still one of control, although the ability to exercise control is severely constrained by a variety of forces, both internally and externally driven, that propel change relatively independent of managers intentions. Forth is change manager as a coach where the manager is in a position to shape the organizations capabilities in particular ways. Fifth is change manager as an interpreter where managing change places the change manager in the position of creating meaning for the other o rganisational members, helping them to make sense of various organisational events and actions. And lastly change manager as nurturer where the nurturing image to managing assumes that even small changes may have a large impact on organizations and managers are not able to control the outcomes of their changes. For other journal, Michael Stanleigh (2008) found that most change initiatives fail because management may not be engaging employees in the process towards change and do not allow sufficient time for change to set. It is important to implement change in a series of phases that will engage employee and to allow sufficient length of time for each phase to become institutionalized within the organization. He listed out several drivers of change such as mergers and acquisitions, innovation, technology, restructuring / re-organizing, declining sales and/or market share, globalization, expansion and growth, sense of urgency and lastly when 75% of the leadership is honestly convinced that business as usual is no longer as acceptable plan. However he claimed that, too often, management fails to recognize that adjustment to change takes time. They expected the employee to react quickly to the changes and fail to recognize that each individual will go through all of the phases at different pac es. As a result, sometimes the employee may burn out, scared or frustrated and unable to cooperate. Therefore he recommended all managers to apply multi-step process to guide, include, empower, enlist and motivate employees toward change. 2.2 Lean Six Sigma Lean Six Sigma is a technique to improve process and can be used either individually, in a group of people or in combination with a target to improve the quality and delivery of any business process. Originally developed by Toyota called as Toyota Production System is based on series of principles focusing on eliminating 7 categories of Muda, Japanese word means waste, specifically any activity of consuming resources but creates no values. Waste such as over produced of goods that no one wants, transportation of goods from one place to another without any reasons, waste due to correction of defects which require rectifications, waste in waiting time due to delay in process, over-processing, inventory pile up and motion waste of unnecessary processing steps will end up not meeting the needs of the customers. Liker (2004) claimed that the lean thinking was used by Taiichi Ohno, a Toyotas Plant manager who was assigned to improve Toyotas manufacturing process back in 1950. TPS underpins many innovation including the elimination waste muda, quality at the source jidoka and continuous improvement kaizen. Through years of trial and error, Toyota caught the worlds attention in 1980s where the cars produced were lasting longer than American cars and required much less repair. Based on his study, in 1990s Toyota capable to produced new design of auto faster, with more reliability, at a competitive cost and became third-largest auto manufacturer in the world behind General Motors and Ford. Much of the success comes from its astounding quality reputation. Kaizen (continuous improvement) will lead to learning organization. This culture when embedded to the organization will give a great benefit by providing opportunities for improvement and sustainability in a long run. Any organization will obtain an effectiveness and efficiency in their process by implementing Lean. Lean requires a specific way of thinking, philosophy and management system. Liker (2004) describes fourteen principles of lean at Toyota Production Systems (TPS) and the principles can be divided into four categories that are; Long-Term Philosophy. The Right Process Will Produce The Right Results. Add Value by Developing Your People and Partners, and Continuously Solving Root Problems Drives Learning. Womack J.P and Jones D.T (1996) explained that the lean thinking provides a method to make any tasks more satisfying by converting waste into value with less human effort, less equipment, less time and less space while coming closer and closer to providing customers with exactly what they want. He proposed 5 lean principles consist of: Specify Value. Identify the Value Stream. Determine the Flow. Pull. Perfection. They proposed that all 5 steps should be applied holistically and it is important that all the steps are performing together due to the interrelationship between the principles is enough to enhance the outcomes of the others. They also argue than lean not just can be successful in manufacturing organization but also in any other organization. They come out with a term called From Lean Production to Lean Enterprise. Although lean will always associated with reduction of costs, eliminating waste and JIT but the adoption of lean is beneficial for knowledge-based activities such as services, design, engineering and product development. 2.3 Change Model There are a lot of change models been studied and introduced to organize change activities in a systematic approach. Researchers have been studying change, specifically organizational change, for decades. Detail studies on implementing change has been conducted by Ian Palmer, Richard Dunford and Gib Akin (2009) and presented in their book Managing Organizational Change. They said that in various change management approaches provide multistep models of how to achieve larga-scale, transformation change. They studied 9 examples of change management model that have been introduced from 1992 to 2006. These models differ not just in terms of the number of steps but also the way to implement the steps. Katner, Stein and Jick proposed an approach called Ten Commandments in 1992, Pendlebury, Grouard and Meston proposed Ten Keys in 1998, Nadler proposed 12 Action Steps in 1998, Taffinder proposed Transformation Trajectory in 1998, Anderson and Anderson proposed Nine-Phase Change Process Model in 2001, Kirkpatrick proposed Step-by-Step Change Model in 2001, Mento, Jones and Dirndorfer proposed 12-Step Framework in 2002, Light proposed RANDs Six Steps in 2005 and Leppit proposed Integrated Model in 2006. The summary of all 9 change models made by Palmer et. al. (2009) is as Appendix 1. Ian Palmer, Richard Dunford and Gib Akin (2009) said that possibly one of the best-known change management model is John Kotters eight-step model. Norani (2011) also says that among all the emergent change approaches, Kotters model is said to have a long standing high reputation that has flexibility to deal with vast number of problems and issues that may be experienced during change. Kotters simplifies the steps during change process to overcome the challenge and constraints that might occurred during the implementation. 2.4 Kotters Eight-Step Change Management Model John P. Kotter graduated from MIT and Harvard. He joined the Harvard Business School faculty in 1972 and after 8 years, at the age of thirty-three, he was voted tenure and a full professorship. He wrote a lot of books, journals and articled related to leadership, change and managements. In 1994 he wrote an article for the Harvard Business Review entitled Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail. It was based on his analysis from a lot of initiatives to produce significant useful change in organization via restructuring, reengineering, restrategizing, acquisitions, downsizing, quality programs and cultural renewal in companies that trying to remake themselves into significantly better companies. These companies included large organizations such as Ford, General Motors, British Airways, Landmark Corporation etc. The basic goal of all change efforts was to make fundamental changes in how business is conducted in order to cope with a changing market environment. He has made his st udy on both success and fail of change initiatives. As a result from his analysis Kotter developed his 8 steps for change. The eight steps were created to be followed one by one and in sequence where for him each step building on the previous. Kotter states that it is essential to thoroughly complete all 8 steps, not cutting only one or short. Kotter (1996) quoted Whenever you leave one of the steps in the eight-stage change process without finishing the work, you usually pay a big price later on. Step 1 is Establishing a Sense of Urgency. Change efforts begin successfully when some individuals of a group of people start realize and look hard at a companys competitive situations, market positions, technological trends and financial performance. Kotter notes that over half of the companies he analyzes have never been able to create enough urgency to prompt action. Compared with other steps in the change process, step one can sound easy but it is not. Well over 50% of the companies I have watched fail in this first phase (Kotter, 2007, pg. 3). Kotter proposed that the change initiatives can be successful is when 75% of companys managements is honestly convinced and agreed to change. Step 2 is Creating the Guiding Coalition. Kotter (1995) described it as a step that requires the organization to assembling a group with enough power to lead the change effort and encourage the group to work together as a team. The team may consist one or two people in the early stage but it must grow over time. It is important that the team get full support by the top managements. A high sense of urgency for change within the top management is such organization helps enormously in putting a guiding coalition together. Leadership play an important role to spread out the sense of urgency to change. Efforts that dont have a powerful enough guiding coalition cant only sustain for a while and in the end the progress will stop. Step 3 is Developing a Vision and Strategy. A vision helps clarify the direction in which the change results should be. Kotter (1995) describe this step as developing a picture of the future that is relatively easy to communicate and appeals to customers, stock-holders and employees. Without a sensible vision, any change effort can easily dissolve into a list of confusing and incompatible projects that can take the organization in the wrong direction or nowhere at all. Step 4 is Communicating the Change Vision. In this step, every possible communication channel must be used to spread out the change initiatives. Everybody needs to know, aware and get familiar about what is happening. Some key elements of effectively communicating shall be used such as repetition, explanation, forums and leading by example of the guiding coalition. Step 5 is Empowering Employees for Broad-Based Action. In this step, action should be taken to remove all obstacles to change. This might as be up to the extent of changing systems or structures that seriously undermine the vision. It also may involve allocating some budget, money, time, support etc. These are to get more people to involve. The more people involved, the better the outcome (Kotter 1995). Step 6 is Generating Short-Term Wins. Transformation will take time and effort and will risk losing momentum if there are no short-term goals or achievement. Some people will only get participate when they start to see the positive results. Without short term wins, people will get exhausted and may turn back to their original behavior or condition. Step 7 is Consolidating Gains and Producing More Change. In this step, Kotter gave warns that people tend to declare victory too soon before they are really won. They easily get satisfied with the changes without knowing that it is not fully embedded into the systems of the organization. The change might take years to complete. Step 8 is Anchoring New Approaches in The Culture. This step is the ultimate goal of any change initiatives. It embeds in the culture of the organization, when it seeps into the bloodstream of the organization. 2.5 Research Questions Based on the discussion above, the following research questions have been formulated to guide the study. Is the program established enough Sense of Urgency to the staff during the implementation period? Is the program creating a group of people with enough power to lead the change effort and encourage the group to work together as a team during the implementation period? Is the staff been thought about the Vision and Strategy and understand the end results of Lean Six Sigma program? Is the staff well versed and understand about the benefit of Lean Six Sigma? Is the program gets enough support from the management and well accepted by the staff? Is staff clear about the short term target and long term target of the program and feel that Lean Six Sigma will give a lot of benefit to them? Is the program continuously developing and more people start to talk about Lean Six Sigma? Is Lean Six Sigma embedded into the culture of every staff? CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Introduction The previous chapters provide with a contextual framework for understanding the purpose and objectives of the research. Chapter three focuses on the research methodology and its application to the research objectives and questions outlined in chapter one and two. The research design, population and sample, sampling procedure, assessment instruments and pilot study are described according to its use in this chapter. In addition the statistical tools used for data analysis are defined in relation to the objectives and research questions. Research Design Research can be describe as a systematic and organized effort to investigate a specific problem that needs solution. Management research could encompass the study of employee attitude and behavior, human resources management, the impact of changing demographic on management practices, production operation management, strategy formulation, information systems, and the like (Sekaran, 1984, p. 5). The type of this research is applied research. When research is done with the intention of applying the results of its findings to solving specific problems currently being experienced in the organization, it is called applied research (Sekaran, 1984, p. 6). Data can be collected in a variety of ways, settings and sources. This study will base on quantitative research using questionnaires (survey) method and qualitative research by interviewing some of the selected staff purposive sampling. Sekaran (1984) explained that a questionnaire is a preformulated written set of questions to which respondents record their answer, usually within rather closely defined alternatives and interviewing is a process to obtain information on the issues of interest to the researched. It can be either unstructured or structured and could be conducted either face to face or any means. The main purpose of the interview is to have an early understanding on Lean Six Sigma Program that has been implemented. Population and Sample A total of 120 participants from 7 departments / divisions of SIRIM Berhad participated in Lean Six Sigma Program will involve in this study. The participants are full time staff work

White Privilege in America Essay -- Race Racial Racism Supremacy

What is privilege? What does it mean? Is privilege inherited or is it earned? As an American resident of color I’ve learned that privilege in this country is something that is innate and inherited. The privilege that I speak of is that of White privilege. There are two prominent writer/scholars who have taken the issue of white privilege to heart and have shared their expert analysis on the subject; these authors/writer-scholars are Peggy McIntosh, a white feminist, and Beverly Tatum, an African American Psychologist. McIntosh, in her article "Coming to See Correspondences," makes excellent observations about the privilege that she has experienced just by being a white female in America. The two most significant points made by McIntosh in this article are as follows. One, â€Å"A white skin in the United States opens many doors for whites whether or not we approve of the way dominance has been conferred on us†¦the silence and denials surrounding privilege are the key political tools here† (P. 104). The second and even more important point is that â€Å"the obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage, is kept strongly inculturated in the United States so as to maintain the myth of meritocra cy, the myth that democratic choice is equally available to all†¦props up those in power and serves to keep power in the hands of the same groups that have most of it already† (105). Both points serve McIntosh’s objective of making clear that the notion of white privilege is not a myth. Due to the socially constructed and arbitrary nature of ideologies concerning race (a biological, phenotypic/ (physical) expression of human features) the highly immoral and nonsensical practice [whether recognized or not] of white supr... ... of â€Å"defeatism† in which people of color refuse to adhere to the demands and requirements of popular culture because they believe their efforts and accomplishments will go unrecognized. This psychological ditch works against the advancement of people of color and serves to further perpetuate the institutionalized practice of passive racism by influencing minority groups to remove themselves from the realm of socio-economic mobility, the attainment of education and involvement in political activity. Both authors have recognized the fundamental structures behind privilege –specifically white privilege in America. Their purpose and that of many civil right activists of our era is to bring awareness to those who are in positions of privilege to bring change that fosters the spirit of inclusion, reform and progression into America’s social and mainstream environments.

A Philosophic Challenge Essay -- Theory of Evolution, Darwin, DNA

Did you know the odds of proteins necessary to create a strand of DNA lining up in order naturally are only once in 4x10022 years? (Werner 104). That’s highly improbable! Darwin didn’t anticipate that future discoveries would disprove the fundamental tenants of his theory of evolution. Modern science is repeatedly uncovering evidence that Darwinian evolution cannot be the explanation for life on earth because it relies on an implausible claim of spontaneous generation, leaves gaps in the fossil record, and is contradicted by emerging scientific discoveries. Spontaneous generation refers to the theory that the first life form evolved rapidly out of nothing, and all organisms evolved gradually from the original life form. Mounting evidence makes the argument for spontaneous generation untenable. No biological phyla (a level of organism classification) have yet been discovered to support Darwin’s theory. Even more condemning is that Darwin understood taxonomy (the classification of living organisms), but he refused to acknowledge or account for the gaps in his theory (Wilker 24). For example, spontaneous generation, a necessary assumption in Darwin’s theory, cannot explain how proteins are formed. Evolutionists suggest that either proteins or DNA were involved in the first living organism. However, proteins cannot be formed naturally, yet are required for DNA (Werner 105). This raises the â€Å"chicken and egg question,† which came first? Evolutionists cannot explain this, providing no justification for how proteins an d DNA could have been involved in spontaneous generation. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, would have had to form naturally to allow for the possibility of spontaneous generation. Yet, an experiment conducte... ...naturalists for using the existence of vestigial organs as an argument for evolution, stating â€Å"vestigial organs provide no evidence for evolutionary theory.† (qtd. in Wells, â€Å"Why Darwinism†) More and more scientific evidence is overturning the biologically based arguments used to support Darwin’s theory. Darwin’s theory falls short of fulfilling explanations for the beginning of life. Darwin’s suggestion that life is spontaneously generated is a leap of faith not supported by science. The fossil record is full of gaps that Darwin’s theory cannot explain, and new discoveries in biology undermine the basis the of evolutionary theory. While Darwin’s theory may have initially seemed plausible when it was first published, modern science has provided evidence that the foundations and hypotheses on which Darwin’s theory of evolution are based cannot possibly be true.

Ford :: essays papers

Ford The Good Soldier, utilises a variety of literary techniques to construct meaning and propel imaginative power. Ford uses figurative language to initiate the polarity of â€Å"Convention and Passion†(1) and a divergent narrative style and structure to present cultural issues such as the quest for human knowledge and the imprisonment of society. â€Å"The long afternoon wore on† commences in the context of Nancy’s revelations. She has read the account of the Brand divorce case in the newspapers and is apprehending the manifestations of recently discovered phenomena. Ford employs a vocabulary that is mournful and dull to conjure up images of shadow and anguish. He uses words like â€Å"frightened,† â€Å"writhed,† â€Å"agony,† â€Å"pain† and â€Å"gloomy† to connote feelings of â€Å"affaissement.† These are juxtaposed with the vocabulary of the second half of the passage: â€Å"lover’s,† â€Å"flame ,† and â€Å"cheerful† which signifies the corruption of Nancy’s chastised mind. Knowledge of convention takes â€Å"all sweetness†¦out of life.† The lexicogrammar interplays the theme of â€Å"Convention and Passion† as being unable to exist congruently in â€Å"the law of the land† and cognition of human nature as futile, leading only to darkness. Ford expresses the degenerative nature of human passion in the metaphor: a tune in which major notes with their cheerful insistence wavered and melted into minor sounds as, beneath a bridge the highlights on dark waters melt and waver and disappear into black depths. The anagoge alludes to images of passion fading into darkness. An antithesis of light and dark, black and white, the certitude of Passion succumbing to Convention: Society must go on, I suppose, and society can only exist if the normal, if the virtuous, and the slightly-deceitful flourish, and if the passionate, the headstrong, and the too truthful are condemned Samuel Hynes, ‘The Epistemology of The Good Soldierâ⠂¬â„¢, The Good Soldier, Norton Critical Edition (1995. W.W. Norton & Company) to suicide and to madness. Nancy’s love must regress, as the etiquette of society must prosper. Fatally for those who were unable to conform to â€Å"the technicalities of English life† due to burgeoning eroticisms, â€Å"the end was plainly manifest.† Ford creates imagery of umbra and shadow elsewhere in the novel: â€Å"inevitably they pass away as the shadows across sundials.† Ford’s adumbrations of unillumination may also reflect the restrictions of human knowledge. Darkness reflects the tenuousness of human cognition. Dowell proposes earlier: what is there to guide us in the more subtle morality of all other personal contacts, associations, and activities?

Consumers’ Behavior on Exotic Foods Essay

Abstract The study was conducted to identify and evaluate the consumers’ behavior on exotic foods of the consumers’ in. The descriptive method of research was used in this study. The researcher distributed the questionnaires to four restaurants. Each restaurant has a quota of ten respondents a total of forty respondents for the researcher’s convenience. Convenience-Quota sampling technique a non-probability sampling was used in getting the respondents. There were twenty-nine (29) male and eleven (11) female who consume exotic foods in the selected restaurant. The researchers selected a particular exotic foods to choose from namely Tugak (Field Frog), Kamaru (Mole Crickets), Bayawak/Barag (Monitor Lizard), and Dagang Palay (Farm Rats) and others if they have consumed other exotic foods aside from the exotic food that are mentioned. Here are the other exotic foods Snake, Eel, Kambing (Farm Goat), Balot (Fertilized duck embryo), Tatad (Huge worm), Pawikan (Turtle) and Dog. Since the topic is generally for consumers’ behavior on exotic foods. Among those four exotic foods Tugak (Field Frog) have the highest consumers because it is more realistic to eat rather than the insects and reptiles. The researchers find out that the consumers behavior on exotic food is based on its attitudes and perceptions of individuals. Exotic food is food that a person finds strange and/or unfamiliar. Exotic food can be unusual types of meats, fruits, vegetables or spices or it can be the way that the food is prepared. (Fred Flanders, eHow Contributor) Exotic food was coined when people from one region/country moved to other countries and started experimenting with not so regular foods, as a result of non-availability of shortage of regular foods. However, there is no record as to the actual time of exotic dishes coming into existence. According to a blog (Manyaman Mangan Queni ,2009), due to revolts, floods, disasters and the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, Kapampangans experienced extreme famine, hunger and poverty in the 18th century mainly in Angeles City. This is the reason why Kapampangans created dishes out of the most horrible creatures and weirdest ingredients. Tugak (field frogs), daguis pale ampong atbu (field mice found in rice field and sugarcane plantations), barag/bayawak (monitor lizard) and kamaru (mole cricket) are just some of the variations of exotic dishes in Angeles City. The concept of â€Å"exotic food† seems to be well known to many consumers. Some people are more familiar to exotic food consumption and even accepted it as a part of their lifestyle but to others it may be a bit eccentric. Each individual have different reasons why they eat exotic foods, may it be of the taste or appearance of the food or the influence harbor from the environment. Consumer behavior is the study of the characteristics of individual consumers such as demographics and behavioral variables in an attempt to understand people’s wants. It also tries to assess influences on the consumer from groups such as family, friends, reference groups, and society in general. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, April 2012) Basic idea behind the consumer research was to describe each respondent in terms of their demographic profile and the attitudes of an individual when it comes in eating exotic food. Consumer Behavior consists of ideas, feelings, experiences, and actions of consumers with additional environmental factors. Consumer behavior is a dynamic process, because of the continuous changes in ideas, perception and activities of consumers’ as an individual or in a group. (Olson and Peter, 2008) Factors that influence the consumers’ to eat exotic foods should be considered. Each individual differ on their perception, personality, and preferences towards eating this type of foods. Statement of the Problem The study intends to identify and evaluate the consumers’ behavior on exotic foods. Specifically this study sought to answer the following: 1. How may the respondents be described in terms of the following: 1. 1Age 1. 2Gender 1. 3Income 2. What are the attitudes of consumers’ towards the preparation and eating of exotic foods? 2. 1Taste 2. 2Health 2. 3Appearance 3. What are the factors that influence the consumers’ to eat the selected exotic foods? 3. 1Cultural Factors 3. 1. 1Culture and Subculture 3. 1. 2Social Class 3. 2Social Factors 3. 2. 1Group and Family 3. 3Personal Factors 3. 3. 1Lifestyle 3. 3. 2Personality 3. 4Psychological Factors 3. 4. 1Motivation 3. 4. 2Perception Conceptual Framework Input Process Output Consumer Behavior on Exotic Foods Survey Questionnaires Interviews Data Collection analysis and interpretation 1. Respondents 1. 1 Consumers’ of Exotic Foods described in terms of the following: 1. 1. 1 Age 1. 1. 2 Gender 1. 1. 3 Income 2. Attitudes of consumers’ towards the preparation and eating of Exotic Foods. 3. 1 Taste 3. 2 Health 3. 3 Appearance 3. Factors that influence the consumers’ to eat the selected Exotic Foods. 4. 4 Cultural Factors 4. 5. 1 Culture and Subculture 4. 5. 2 Social Class 4. Social Factors 5. 5 Group and Family Influence 5. Personal Factors 6. 6 Lifestyle 6. 7 Personality 6. Psychological Factors 7. 8 Motivation 7. 9 Perception The inputs of the study included the respondents which are the consumers’ of exotic foods described according to age, gender, and income. Survey questionnaires were distributed to respondents to assess the consumers’ attitude towards the preparation and eating of exotic foods as well as the factors that influence the consumers’ to eat this type of food. As part of the process, the researchers conducted statistical analysis and interpretation. Consumers’ Behavior on Exotic Foods was the output of the study. Scope and Delimitation This study focused on determining the consumers’ behavior on exotic foods. The researchers delimited the respondents to forty (40) consumers’ particularly those who only eat exotic foods. The researchers also delimited the study within four restaurants in Angeles City namely, 19 Copung-Copung, Apag Marangle, Everybody’s Cafe, and Gubat Grill. Exotic foods that were tackled were also delimited into four kinds specifically, Tugak (Field Frog), Kamaru (Mole Crickets), Bayawak/Barag (Monitor Lizard), and Dagang Palay (Farm Rats). Convenience Quota sampling technique was used in the selection of the participants. Significance of the Study The researchers intended to know the consumers’ behavior on exotic foods. This study would be most significant to the following: a. Consumers This study will serve as a good reference to the consumers’ of exotic foods for them to gain knowledge on how exotic foods affect each individual’s attitude. b. Students The study serves as their reference material in doing research work and as a reading material to find out the behavior of the consumers’ towards eating exotic foods. c. Future Researchers This study will serve as an out-growth for future study. It will help future researchers as a form of resources in fulfilling their study. Method The descriptive method of research was used with the questionnaires as the main instrument for gathering primary data and academic journals, the internet, and reference books for secondary data. Descriptive research, according to Santiago (1985), concerns the present situation, prevailing conditions, current practices, contemporary events, characteristics of groups of individuals, their behavioral patterns, attitudes or opinions. Hence, this method was used to analyze the consumers’ behavior towards eating exotic foods. Participants. Participants of this study were forty (40) consumers’ of exotic foods that of those who only had experience on eating exotic food. In order to obtain the maximum scattering of consumers’ behavior, the convenience sampling method was adopted, where in ten (10) respondents from the four (4) restaurants visited were selected. Instrument This study used the â€Å"Consumers’ Behavior on Exotic Foods Survey† as questionnaire. The questionnaire is composed of the profile of the participants, and the survey proper. The profile of the participants includes the gender, age, marital status, nationality, native language, religion, occupation, and income. The researchers also employed questions on which of the exotic foods tackled have they tasted and how often do they eat and from what source do they get the exotic foods. A ranking system was also used to rate the respondents’ agreeableness on a five-point scale with 1 representing highly agree and 5 representing highly disagree. Sampling Technique This study will make use of the convenience sampling technique, a non-probability sampling design in choosing respondents. The researchers had drawn a sample from a part of the population which is close to hand. This was done for the convenience of the researchers due to large population size and time limitation. Data Collection Procedure The researchers asked permission to the respondents to conduct a survey. The questionnaires were the main instruments for data gathering which were personally distributed by the researcher himself. They contained a covering letter describing the study and indicating the confidentiality of the information that may be given out by the respondents. Data Analysis Frequency counts and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the result of respondents. Results In this research, a total of forty (40) questionnaires were collected. Research findings were analyzed using Frequency counts and descriptive statistics to conduct results. Table 1 Gender Gender| Frequency| Percentage| Male| 29| 72. 5%| Female| 11| 27. 5%| The samples consist of 29 male (72. 5%) and 11 female (27. 5%). Therefore, study shows that male are predominant consumers’ of exotic foods. (Figure shows in Table 1) Table 2 Age Age| Frequency| Percentage| 16-25 years old| 20| 50. 0%| 26-35 years old| 10| 25. 0%| 36-55 years old| 8| 20. 0%| 56-above| 2| 5. 0%| Exotic consumers’ age distribution shows 16-25 constitutes the largest proportion of the sample with 20 respondents (50. 0%), while â€Å"56 – above† has the smallest number with 2 respondents (5. 0%). (Figure shows in Table 2) Table 3 Marital Status Marital Status| Frequency| Percentage| Single| 26| 65. 0%| Married| 14| 35. 0%| In the sample, 26 respondents (65. 0%) are single, while 14 (35. 0%) are married. (Figure shows in Table 3) Table 4 Nationality Nationality| Frequency| Percentage| Filipino| 38| 95. 0%| Others| 2| 5. 0%| The table also shows that 38 respondents (95. 0%) were Filipino nationality, while 2 respondents (5.0%) are foreign nationality which belongs to Korean and German nationality. (Figure shows in Table 4) Table 5 Religion Religion| Frequency| Percentage| Catholic| 28| 70. 0%| Christian| 4| 10. 0%| Iglesia ni Cristo| 4| 10. 0%| Baptist| 2| 5. 0%| Agnostic| 1| 2. 5%| Buddhist| 1| 2. 5%| The respondents’ religion shows that 28 respondents (70. 0%) are Catholic, 4 respondents (10. 0%) are Christian, 4 respondents (10. 0%) are Iglesia Ni Cristo, 2 respondents (5. 0%) are Baptist, 1 respondent (2. 5%) is Agnostic, and 1 respondent (2. 5%) is Buddhist. (Figure shows in Table 5) Table 6 Monthly Income. Monthly Income| Frequency| Percentage| Below-10,000| 20| 50. 0%| 10,000-19,000| 13| 32. 5%| 20,000-above| 7| 17. 5| Sample also shows that 20 respondents (50. 0%) fall into the low income group earning less than 10,000 pesos per month, while 13 respondents (32. 5%) fall into middle income group earning 10,000 – 19,000 pesos per month and only 7 respondents (17. 5%) fall into high income group earning 20,000 pesos per month. (Figure shows in Table 6) Table 7 Native Language Gender| Frequency| Percentage| Pampango| 24| 60. 0%| Tagalog| 9| 22. 5%| Ilokano| 5| 12. 5%| Others| 2| 5. 0%|. The respondents’ native language composed of 24 respondents (60. 0%) were Pampango, 9 respondents (22. 5%) were Tagalog, 5 respondents (12. 5%) were Ilokano, and 2 respondents (5. 0%) belong to other foreign native language. (Figure shows in Table 7) Table 8 Occupation Occupation| Frequency| Percentage| Student| 11| 27. 5%| Unemployed| 3| 7. 5%| Employed| 17| 42. 5%| Self-employed| 7| 17. 5%| Retired| 2| 5. %| Furthermore, occupation of the respondents were also shown in the table, were 17 respondents (42. 5%) were employed, 11 respondents (27. 5%) were students, 7 respondents (17. 5%) were self – employed, 3 respondents (7.5%) were unemployed, and 2 respondents (5. 0%) were retirees. (Figure shows in Table 8) Table 9 Different Exotic Foods that the respondents consumes Exotic Foods| Frequency| Percentage| Tugak (Field Frog)| 33| 35. 87%| Kamaru (Mole Cricket)| 26| 28. 26%| Bayawak/Barag(Monitor Lizard)| 12| 13. 04| Dagang Palay (Farm rat)| 8| 8. 70%| Others:| Snake| 5| 5. 45%| Eel| 1| 1. 08%| Kambing (Farm Goat)| 1| 1. 08%| Balot (Fertilized DuckEmbryo)| 3| 3. 28%| Tatad (Huge worms)| 1| 1. 08%| Pawikan (Turtle)| 1| 1. 08%| Dog| 1| 1. 08%| Table 9 shows the different exotic foods that the respondents consumes. It shows that 33 respondents (35. 8%) consumes Tugak (Field frog) which constitutes the largest proportion of the sample, while 26 respondents (28. 2%) consumes Kamaru (Mole crickets), 12 respondents (13. 0%) consumes Bayawak/Barag (Monitor Lizard), 8 respondents (8. 7%) consumes Dagang palay (Farm rat), other exotic foods were also suggested by the respondents. 5 respondents (5. 45%) consumes Snake, 3 respondents (3. 28%) consumes Balot (), while Eeel, Kambing (Farm goat), Tatad (Huge worm), Pawikan (Turtle), and Dog has 1 respondents (1. 08%) each. (Figure shows in Table 9) Table 10 It is Delicious. | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 12| 17| 8| 3| 0| Percentage| 30. 0%| 42. 5%| 20. 0%| 7. 5%| 0%| Table 10 shows the frequency of how the respondents’ consumes exotic food based on its deliciousness. It shows that twelve12 respondents (30%) highly agreed that exotic food is delicious while, seventeen 17 respondents (42. 5%) agreed, eight respondents (20%) answered neutral, three 3 respondents (7. 5%) disagreed, and no respondent (0%) highly disagreed that exotic food is delicious. Table 11 It is Unusual | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 23| 12| 3| 0|. Percentage| 5. 0%| 57. 5%| 30. 0%| 7. 5%| 0%| The table (Table 10) above shows that there were two respondents (5. 0%) who highly agreed that the taste of exotic food is unusual, while twenty-three 23 respondents (57. 50%) who constitutes the largest proportion of the sample agreed, twelve 12 respondents (30. 0%)answered neutral, three 3 respondents (7. 5%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent highly disagreed. Table 11 It is Palatable | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 3| 18| 18| 1| 0| Percentage| 7. 50%| 45. 00%| 45. 00%| 2. 50%| 0%| Table 11 shows that there were three 3 respondents (7.50%) who highly agreed that exotic food is palatable while, eighteen 18 respondents (45. 00%) agreed. Also eighteen 18 respondents (45. 00%) answered neutral, one 1 respondent (2. 50%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 12 It is Appetizing | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 5| 18| 12| 4| 1| Percentage| 12. 50%| 45. 00%| 30. 00%| 10. 00%| 2. 50%| Table 12 shows that there were five 5 respondents (12. 50%) who highly agreed that exotic food is appetizing while, eighteen 18 respondents (45. 00%) who agreed, twelve 12 respondents (30.00%) who answered neutral, four 4 respondents (10. 00%) who disagreed, and one 1 respondent (2. 50%) who highly disagreed. Table 13 It is Safe-to-eat | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 12| 30| 11| 1| 0| Percentage| 37. 50%| 32. 50%| 27. 50%| 2. 50%| 0%| Table 13 shows that there were twelve 12 respondents (37. 50%) who highly agrees that exotic food is safe-to-eat while, thirty 30 respondents (32. 50%) agrees, eleven 11 respondents (27. 50%) answered neutral, one 1 respondent (2. 50%) who disagrees, and zero 0 respondent (0%) who highly disagrees. Table 14 It is Medicinal. | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 5| 7| 23| 5| 0| Percentage| 12. 50%| 17. 50%| 57. 50%| 12. 50%| 0%| Table 14 shows that there were five 5 respondents (12. 50%) who highly agreed that exotic food is medicinal while, seven 7 respondents (17. 50%) who agreed, twenty-three 23 respondents answered neutral, five 5 respondents (12. 50% ) who disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) who highly disagreed. Table 15 It is Eye-appealing | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 5| 14| 15| 5| 1| Percentage| 12. 50%| 35. 00%| 37. 50%| 12. 50%| 2. 50%|. Table 15 shows that there were five 5 respondents (12. 50%) who highly agreed that exotic food is eye-appealing while, fourteen 14 respondents (35. 00%) agreed, fifteen 15 respondents (37. 50%) answered neutral, five 5 respondents (12. 50%) disagreed, and one 1 respondent (2. 50%) highly disagreed. Table 16 It looks Disgusting | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 4| 9| 15| 11| 1| Percentage| 10. 00%| 22. 50%| 37. 50%| 27. 50%| 2. 50%| Table 16 shows that there were four 4 respondents (40. 00%) who highly agreed that exotic foods looks disgusting while, nine 9 respondents (22.50%) agreed, fifteen 15 respondents (37. 50%) answered neutral, eleven 11 respondents (27. 50%) disagreed, and one 1 respondent (2. 50%) highly disagreed. Table 17 It is colorful | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 23| 12| 3| 0| Percentage| 5. 0%| 57. 5%| 30. 0%| 7. 5%| 0%| Table 17 shows that there were two 2 respondents (5. 0%) who highly agreed that they eat exotic foods because it is colorful. Twenty three 23 respondents agreed while, twelve 12 respondents (30. 0%) answered neutral, three 3 respondents (30. 0%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 18 It is well presented | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 6| 17| 14| 3| 0| Percentage| 5. 0%| 57. 5%| 30. 0%| 7. 5%| 0%| Table 18 shows that there were six 6 respondents (5. 0%) who eat exotic foods because it is well presented while, seventeen 17 respondents (57. 5%) agreed, fourteen 14 respondents (30. 0%) answered neutral, three (7. 50%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 19 Cultural Factors (Eating of exotic foods has been one of the traditional practices at home) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 23| 12| 3| 0| Percentage| 5. 0%| 57. 5%| 30. 0%| 7. 5%| 0%| Table 19 shows that there were two 2 respondents (5. 0%) who highly agrees that eating of exotic food has been one of their traditional practices at their households while, twenty three 23 respondents (57. 5%) agreed, twelve 12 respondents (30. 0%) answered neutral, three 3 respondents (7. 5%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 20 Cultural Factors (Do they allow you to eat exotic foods in your religion? ) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 11| 20| 7| 1| 1| Percentage| 27. 50%| 50. 00%| 17. 50%| 2. 50%| 2. 50%| Table 19 shows that there were eleven 11 respondents (27.50&) who highly agrees that eating exotic foods doesn’t affect their religion while, twenty 20 respondents (50. 00%) agreed, seven 7 respondents (17. 50%) answered neutral, one 1 respondent (2. 50%) disagreed, and one 1 respondent (2. 50%) highly disagreed. Table 20 Social Factors (Family) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 23| 12| 3| 0| Percentage| 5. 0%| 57. 5%| 30. 0%| 7. 5%| 0%| Table 20 shows that there were two 2 respondents (5. 0%) who highly agrees that family is one of the social factors that influenced them to eat exotic foods while, twenty-three 23 respondents (57.50%) agreed, twelve 12 respondents (30. 00%) answered neutral, three 3 respondents (7. 50%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 21 Social Factors (Friends) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 14| 16| 7| 3| 0| Percentage| 35. 00%| 40. 00%| 17. 50%| 7. 50%| 0%| Table 21 shows that there were fourteen 14 respondents (35. 00%) who highly agrees that Friends are one of the social factors that influenced them to eat exotic foods while sixteen 16 respondents (40. 00%) agreed, seven 7 respondents (17. 50%) answered neutral, three 3 respondents (7.50%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 22 Social Factors (Neighbors) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 23| 12| 3| 0| Percentage| 5. 0%| 57. 5%| 30. 0%| 7. 5%| 0%| Table 22 shows that there were two 2 respondents (5. 0%) highly agrees that Neighbors are one of the social factors that influenced them to eat exotic foods while, twenty-three 23 respondents (57. 50%) agreed, twelve 12 respondents (30. 00%) answered neutral, three 3 respondents (7. 5%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 23 Social factors (Colleagues). | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 3| 9| 22| 5| 1| Percentage| 7. 5%| 22. 50%| 55. 0%| 12. 5%| 2. 5%| Table 23 shows that there were three 3 respondents (7. 5%) who highly agrees that Colleagues are one of the social factors that influenced them to eat exotic foods while, nine 9 respondents (22. 50%) agreed, twenty-two 22 respondents (55. 0%) answered neutral, five 5 respondents disagreed, and one 1 respondent (2. 5%) highly disagreed. Table 24 Social Factors (Advertisements) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 3| 6| 19| 9| 3| Percentage| 7. 5%| 15. 00%| 47. 50%| 22. 50%| 7. 5%| Table 24 shows that there were three 3 respondents (7. 5%) who highly agrees that Advertisements are one of the social factors that influenced them to eat exotic foods while, six 6 respondents (15. 00%) agreed, nineteen 19 respondents (47. 5%) answered neutral, nine 9 respondents (22. 5%) disagreed, and three 3 respondents (7. 5%) highly disagreed. Table 25 Personal Factors (Eating Exotic Foods when drinking alcohol/liquor) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 23| 12| 3| 0| Percentage| 5. 0%| 57. 5%| 30. 0%| 7. 5%| 0%| Table 25 shows that there were two 2 respondents (5.0%) who highly agrees that they eat exotic foods when drinking alcohol/liquor while, twenty-three 23 respondents (57. 5%) agrees, twelve 12 respondents (30. 0%) answered neutral, three 3 respondents (7. 5%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 26 Personal Factors (Eating Exotic Foods for Adventure) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 11| 13| 12| 4| 0| Percentage| 27. 5%| 32. 5%| 30. 0%| 10. 0%| 0%| Table 26 shows that there were eleven 11 respondents (27. 5%) who highly agrees that they eat exotic foods for adventure while, thirteen 13 respondents (32.5%) agrees, twelve 12 respondents (30. 0%) answered neutral, four respondents (10. 0%) disagreed, and zero 0 respondent (0%) highly disagreed. Table 27 Personal Factors (Eating Exotic foods only when craving for it) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 6| 9| 15| 8| 2| Percentage| 15. 0%| 22. 5%| 37. 5%| 20. 0%| 5. 0%| Table 27 shows that there were six 6 respondents (15. 0%) who highly agreed that they eat exotic food only when they are craving for it while, nine 9 respondents (22. 5%) agreed, fifteen 15 respondents (37. 5%) answered neutral, eight 8 respondents (20.0%) disagreed, and two 2 respondents (5. 0%) highly disagreed. Table 28 Personal Factors (Eating Exotic Foods only when Available) | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 10| 14| 11| 4| 1| Percentage| 25. 0%| 35. 0%| 27. 5%| 10. 0%| 2. 5%| Table 28 shows that there were ten 10 respondents (25. 0%) who highly agrees that they eat exotic foods only when it is available while, fourteen 14 respondents (35. 0%) agreed, eleven 11 respondents (27. 5%) answered neutral, four 4 respondents (10. 0%) disagreed, and one 1 respondent (2. 5%) highly disagreed. Psychological Factors (Consumers’ Perception). Table 29 Safe-to-eat | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 10| 22| 8| 0| 0| Percentage| 25. 0%| 55. 0%| 20. 0%| 0%| 0%| Table 29 shows that majority proportion of the samples has positive perception on the wholesomeness of exotic foods because there were twenty-two 22 respondents (55. 0%) who agreed that it is safe-to-eat, ten 10 respondents (25. 0%) highly agreed, and eight 8 respondents (20. 0%) answered neutral while, zero 0 respondents (0%) disagreed and highly disagreed which means there is no negative perception when it comes to the wholesomeness of exotic foods. Table 30. Taste Good | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 15| 17| 7| 1| 0| Percentage| 37. 5%| 42. 5%| 17. 5%| 2. 5%| 0%| Table 30 shows that there were fifteen 15 respondents (37. 5%) who highly agrees, seventeen 17 respondents (42. 5%) who agrees, and seven 7 respondents (17. 5%) who answered neutral which shows that majority proportion of the sample has positive perception on the taste of exotic foods while, one 1 respondent (2. 5%) disagreed, and zero respondent (0%) highly disagreed which means there is no negative perception when it comes to the taste of exotic foods. Table 31 Expensive. | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 7| 7| 18| 8| 0| Percentage| 17. 5%| 17. 5%| 45. 0%| 20. 0%| 0%| Table 31 shows that majority of the samples with eighteen 18 respondents (45. 0%) answered neutral followed by eight respondents (20. 0%) who disagreed, then seven 7 respondents (17. 5%) who highly agreed and agreed while, zero 0 respondents (0%) highly disagreed. Table 32 Very risky | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 3| 19| 14| 2| Percentage| 5. 0%| 7. 5%| 47. 5%| 35. 0%| 5. 0%| Table 32 show that majority of the samples nineteen 19 respondents (47.5%) answered neutral followed by fourteen 14 respondents (35. 0%) who disagreed, three 3 respondents (7. 5%) who agreed, two 2 respondents (5. 0%) who highly agreed, and two 2 respondents (5. 0%) who highly disagreed. Table 33 Cheap | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 1| 10| 16| 9| 4| Percentage| 2. 5%| 25. 0%| 40. 0%| 22. 5%| 10. 0%| Table 33 shows that majority of the samples sixteen 16 respondents (40. 0%) answered neutral followed by ten 10 respondents (25. 0%) who agreed, nine 9 respondents (22. 5%) who disagreed, four respondents (10. 0%) who highly disagreed, and one 1 respondent (2.5%) who highly agreed. Table 34 Mouth Watery | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 5| 21| 10| 2| Percentage| 5. 0%| 12. 50%| 52. 50%| 25. 0%| 5. 0%| Table 34 shows that twenty-one 21 respondents (52. 50%) answered neutral followed by ten 10 respondents (25. 0%) who disagreed, five 5 respondents (12. 5%) agreed, two 2 respondents (5. 0%) highly agreed, and two 2 respondents (5. 0%) highly agreed. Table 35 Addictive | 1HighlyAgree| 2Agree| 3Neutral| 4Disagree| 5Highly Disagree| Frequency| 2| 5| 19| 11| 3| Percentage| 5. 0%| 12. 5%| 47. 5%| 27. 5%| 7. 5%|. Table 34 shows that nineteen 19 respondents (47. 5%) answered neutral followed by eleven 11 respondents (27. 5%) disagreed, five 5 respondents (12. 5%) agreed, three 3 respondents (7. 5%) highly disagreed, and two 2 respondents (5. 0%) highly agreed. Discussion The researchers conducted a survey of the Consumers’ Behavior on Exotic Foods particularly in Angeles City. The researchers included in their study the respondents’ demographic profile, their attitudes towards the preparation of exotic foods specifically with the taste, health, and appearance and the factors that influenced them to eat exotic foods. The researchers included the demographic profile of exotic food consumers’ which revealed that men consumes exotic food more frequently than women. Men are more capable to eat any kind of food than women. Age, was also included which revealed that consumers aged between sixteen to twenty-five years old shows the highest frequency in the consumption of exotic foods. Age influences consumer behavior in a rather direct way. For instance, the wants of a 6-year old are not similar to those of a teenager. Consumer wants are basic in childhood but become complex in teenage and middle ages. In old age, consumer wants go back to basic. Furthermore, the psychological needs of people at different age groups are different thus the difference in consumer behavior. The respondents added the marital status, monthly income and occupation to the survey to be the basis of the respondents’ lifestyle while nationality, religion, and native language are used as basis for the cultural factors. Conclusion In this paper, exotic foods consumptions conducted by the help of questionnaires that has been answered by the consumers of exotic foods in different restaurant. In spite of the limited respondent number, this research can give an overview about consumers’ behavior towards exotic foods. Demographic analyses indicate that males are predominant consumers’ of exotic foods. Exotic consumers’ distribution shows that age ranges 16-25 constitutes the largest proportion, while â€Å"56 – above† has the smallest number with two (2) respondents. And most of the consumers are single Filipino catholic, belong to lower income group and also most of them are employed meaning they have the means to buy exotic foods in restaurant. The researchers conclude that religion is not a hindrance in consuming exotic foods as long as it is digestible. Since the researchers delimited the study and conducted questionnaires within Angeles, Pampanga only most of the respondents are Pampango or lived in Pampanga. Furthermore, usually the respondents consume tugak(field frog) because of its availability and it is palatable in most of the consumers. Even the foreign consumers choose to eat this exotic food. Eating exotic foods has been a traditional in some of the consumers; even though it is exotic it seems that it became a part of their eating habit and do not consider this food as an exotic and sometimes consume this with liquors as â€Å"Pulutan†. Consumers’ behavior shows that eating exotic foods is based on their perception and attitude. Consumers’ have different preferences in exotic food also based on their kind of taste and orientation in that food. If the consumers known the food as risky and look disgusting they will hesitate to eat exotic food but other consumers suggested to taste it to believe it that it is really delicious. Researchers as consumers really love it as they go in different restaurant to critic the real taste and give justice to the respondents and give firsthand information about exotic foods and not just according to the consumers.