Taekwondo Essay Example For Students

Taekwondo Essay Do you know what Taekwondo is? Do you know how Taekwondo benefits the practitioner? Do you know Taekwondo is also considered a sport and is an event in many major competitions? When these questions are asked, the majority of the people who answer do not know the correct answers or the complete answer. Although many people do not know much about Taekwondo, there are hundreds of thousands of people worldwide getting involved. Taekwondo is the worlds fastest growing martial art, with currently over fifty million practitioners and growing everyday. The majority of the practitioners who get involved do so to learn self-defense. Not only do the practitioners learn self-defense, but they also learn many helpful things and receive the benefits that Taekwondo has to offer. Also, Taekwondo has become a sporting event in many major sporting competitions. But mainly, Taekwondo provides people with sporting and self-defending ability and gives that person an edge in daily life, with its merits as a martial art sport of self-discipline. We will write a custom essay on Taekwondo specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now First of all, Taekwondo teaches the practitioner self-defense, which can be used for a lifetime. Many of the self-defense techniques taught stimulate many real life situations so the person would know what to do when caught in a similar situation. Also, because not everything can be taught for all situations that arise, many basic techniques, rules, methods, and concepts are taught and emphasized. On the other hand, self-defense practice includes doing everyday drills, forms, and sparring. Self-defense training does not always have to be 100 percent self-defense training. Although, you really do not get instruction on self-defense when doing drills, forms, or sparring, those practices are just another way of learning self-defense and improving your skill of self-defense. Basically, all the instruction concepts, techniques, and rules of Taekwondo teach a person self defense in one way or another. Second of all, Taekwondo is classified as a sport along as being a martial art. Because Taekwondo is classified as a sport, Taekwondo is sometimes referred to as a martial art sport. There are many reasons why Taekwondo has become a sport. A few reasons are because the popularity that Taekwondo has received is overwhelming, the organized athletic competition (similar to boxing), and the push to consider Taekwondo as a sporting event by many practitioners, masters, instructors, and officials of organizations worldwide. Many athletic competitions are starting to or already have included Taekwondo as an official event. Such competitions/games are the Olympic Games, Pan-American Games, Goodwill Games, Asian Games, and the World Military Games. Although people join Taekwondo to learn self-defense, they are also getting themselves involved in a international sport. Finally, the benefits that person receives from learning Taekwondo will stay with that person for the rest of their lives. The benefits that the practitioner receives from Taekwondo are mental, physical, and philosophical. Mentally, a person improves concentration, focus, self-image, self-confidence, and self-discipline. All these benefits you receive mentally helps build inner strength, self-control, character, and a positive mental attitude. Physically, a person becomes stronger, quicker, flexible, physically fit, and learn self-defending ability. And philosophically, a person will create, set, and strive to meet goals, increase respect and honor, and develop social relationships. The benefits that a Taekwondo practitioner receives from Taekwondo gives that person an edge in their daily life and assists the person with everyday tasks. In conclusion, getting involved in Taekwondo is a lifetime investment. The people involved in Taekwondo learn self-defense, become involved in a sport, and gains the mental, physical, and philosophical benefits that Taekwondo has to offer. Taekwondo is a sporting and self-defending martial art that helps people excel in their daily lives and is for everyone, no matter who they are. Possibly, Taekwondo may become extremely popular and just might become as popular as many sports that exist today.

Definition Essay Sample on Information Security A Problem for Large Corporations

Definition Essay Sample on Information Security A Problem for Large Corporations This essay is based on the security of data and how it can be a problem for large corporations, and what can companies do to manage their data and resources properly. Information today has become one of business worlds and societys most important resources, and managing this information has become a major challenge. It is for this reason that the security of data is very important to corporations. The strong desire to protect and control information is rooted in the notion that information has value. The value of quality in information will enable the business to make sound decisions and conversely the presence of errors will undermine the credibility and therefore the value of the information (Marschak 1968). This means corporations must be able to handle and administer information safely and securely. The security of data and information should be very important to large corporations and if it is undermined then they are more likely to be vulnerable to threats, which could result in big problems for companies. To put this into perspective, a survey taken from Bocij et al (1999), was carried out about the extent of these threats with regards to the loss of information in a 1996 Business Technology Survey by Ernst Young. This survey found that 59 % of companies surveyed had experienced a security breach. (Bocij et al, 1999: p538). It may be thought that our society in general is becoming increasingly data-unsafe! However, this is not to imply that we are all exceedingly vulnerable as considerable efforts have indeed been made in this field, and more attention is being focused here. Nevertheless, it must be bared in mind that this does not mean that the situation is in full control. As the dependence of businesses on IS increases, so does the range and severity of the threats which can arise. This can happen for a number of reasons. The first being the scale at which the business is dependent on IS, as systems increasingly operate on a national or international scale. For example, a failure in a banks computer centre can put all its automated teller machines offline. A second reason is the speed of IS in an advanced technological environment. For instance previously, before computer-based information system, it may take for fire, flood or malicious damage to destroy records. Large computer files, on the other hand, can de deleted or corrupted electronically in matter of seconds. Similarly, unauthorised transmission or copying of data can be carried out almost instantaneously. Another reason is technical innovation. New technology changes all the ground-rules, and many employees may not understand them well. Previously, it was reasonable to rely, to a large extent on employeesÐ ±Ã ¿ good sense (for example, in not leaving filing cabinets unlocked). With IT-based systems, they may not even realise that they are taking unacceptable risks. On the other hand, at the opposite end of the skills spectrum, there are highly talented technicians who regard it as a challenge to invade and disrupt systems. They can conduct their attacks from the other parts of a network-without needing to go anywhere near the premises they are attacking. The fourth reason that may increase the range and severity of threats on IS could be hidden causes. For example, sometimes it is difficult to trace back to cause of a problem in complex systems. For example, on 1 Jan 1985, customers trying to use the cash machines of two major clearing banks, which normally accepted each othersÐ ±Ã ¿ cards, found themselves getting unpredictable results. The problem was eventually traced to erroneous updating of the magnetic strips on the cards by one of the banks. It seems that some of the bankÐ ±Ã ¿s software had failed to recognise that 1984 was a leap year, and entered date information on the cards, which then confused other parts of the system. (Hawker, 2000: p18). The security of data can be a big problem for large corporation as, defining the contents of an international information security policy as an associated set of security controls is one problem, however to enforce them may be an even bigger one (Solms,1999). Also another problem that large corporations may face is remaining competitive and having a long-term future ahead with a lack of security of data. Solms states that if an organisation is found secure enough by others, it will be welcomed to join, if not it may be excluded and left in the cold. This discussion proves that in the era of electronic commerce, proper information protection and proof of it may be demanded among business partners. Data and information security can result in a big problem for large corporations if security policies are not implemented in the correct manner. It is very important that firms recognise this, as it may well prove far more expensive not to invest in security measures than the measures themselves would have cost. Increased security means increased possibilities of safe guarding a companys assets, through reducing or eliminating the danger of financial loss. As a result of this companies need to manage their data and resources properly. Information technology does not only bring the benefits of better ways of storage and accessibility of data but with it comes the managerial responsibility, which is control of files and resources. There two major management responsibilities that companies need to manoeuvre in order to control their information so that their data is secure and they can make the most out of the resources they have invested in. These measures and responsibilities are physical and procedural. Under each of these, there are several components that make up these controls. Firstly, physical protection is an important control. Physical barriers are aimed at protecting equipment, accessories against theft and unauthorised access, and so that sources of possible damage are eliminated. If access to rooms with equipment were restricted, the risk of theft and vandalism may be reduced. A second control that could be used by some firms is biometric controls. These controls make use of the unique characteristics of individuals in order to restrict access to sensitive information or equipment. The technique has scanners that check on fingerprints, voiceprints and retinal patterns. Until recently this technique was not accessible to many organisations, partly because of the cost involved and secondly because companies used to have doubts about the accuracy of the technique. Both of these concerns have been addressed and been solved by technological advances in software and hardware. An example of companies that could use this type of control to increase security and manage their resources properly is banks and more specifically their ATMs where customers are able identify customers by fingerprints or retinal patterns. Thirdly procedure controls are also very important to take into consideration. Procedural controls include controls such as data security controls, failure controls, and auditing and security policy. Data security controls help to identify and verify the users. For instance system software can be used so that passwords are assigned to only authorised individuals. No one can log on to the system without a valid password, furthermore additional sets of passwords and security restrictions can be developed for specific systems and applications. Laudon Laudon (2001) give an example, that data security software can limit access to specific files, such as the files for the accounts receivable system. It can restrict the type of access so that only individuals authorized to update these specific files will have the ability to do so. All others will only be able to read the files or will be denied access altogether. Another procedural control is failure controls. These controls are necessary especially in large corporations, to avoid damage caused by failure of an information system. The techniques of failure control are regular back-ups of data and recovery procedure. For example, everyday transactions in a bank such as deposit, and withdrawals are stored on a daily basis as backup. Another recovery procedure which is important to companies is having a disaster recovery or contingency plan which is a strategy concerned with ensuring that a disaster of a information system is restored as quickly as possible, with little disruption to the organisation as possible. Auditing could be another way in which companies may protect information systems against security breaches. Auditing involves making physical checks of hardware, software and data at regular intervals. Audits can be carried out automatically for software and data with an appropriate program. Auditing software works by scanning the hard disk drives of any computers, terminals and servers attached to a network system. As each hard disk is scanned, the names of any programs found are added to a log. This log is then compared to a list of the programs that are owned by the company. The log gives information as to where to find the program. It is then simple to determine the location of any unauthorised programs. In many organisations auditing programs are also used to keep track of software licences, which allow companies to ensure that they are operating within the terms of their licence agreement. Other types of controls that may help companies to manage their resources properly are legal controls. Legal controls exist to prevent security breaches. Computer Misuse Act (1990), covers unauthorised access to information systems. Unauthorised access to information systems is referred to as hacking, and any breach of security by a third party invokes this Act for which the culprit may be prosecuted. Another legal protection, which companies need to comply with, is the Data Protection (1984). This Act is mainly intended to cover the individuals rights to view the information the company holds about them. For companies this is a strong message that only factual information should be held and the information should be relevant. In addition and also very important the Act restricts disclosure of information about the files a company holds about individuals to third parties. Special rules apply to this clause and it is the companyÐ ±Ã ¿s responsibility to ensure that these are followed. For example a finance company may request the account holder to set up a passed for a spouse to discuss general information but the liability lies with the company should the information get into the wrong hands resulting in fraud. Formal Security Policy is another way in which companies can protect their data. Companies are now required by law to make existing and new employees sign a security policy. This is a benefit to both the company and the employee if the policy is explained. The security policy document would include things such as what the company considers to be acceptable use of the information system, what is considered unacceptable use, disciplinary action for non-compliance and details of the controls in place. However it important that management support is essentially there to ensure that employees follow the guidelines contained in this policy. An article from the Financial Times (1998) in Bocij et al, hinted that many fraudsters rely on human behaviour rather than technology. A senior manager of a UK based company; Forensic Investigations stresses the importance of the IT department in keeping abreast with the latest developments and maintaining regular security revisions across the organisation. Another example is an UK based company, Priority Data Group (PDG), whose clients include Citibank, computer services company EDS and General Motors has developed a system that automatically blanks a PC screen when the user is away from it and then is reactivated by a password. Also, US based company Finjan has developed a program called Surflinshield Corporate, to protect computers against rogue programs attached to Active X or Java created programs. Surfinshield monitors the behaviour of the downloaded program and if attempts to breach computer security system are found, the program is eliminated. These are all examples of how companies manage their data and resources properly. Increased security means increased possibilities of safeguarding a companys assets, through reducing or indeed eliminating the danger of financial loss. Investment in relevant and suitable security measures can prevent damage to EDP equipment, technical installations and premises, reduce the chances of information being tampered with and fraud being attempted, ensures reliable data processing by seeing to it that errors, inaccuracies, mishaps and omissions are deleted more easily or prevented, and ensure that the situation is revised as soon as possible, should anything happen. All this means that it may well prove far more expensive not to invest in security measures than the measures themselves would have cost. In fact investing in data security should be considered a form of insurance. On the other hand, in themselves security measures can never be a foolproof guarantee against damage and accidents. They will have to harmonize with the companyÐ ±Ã ¿s overall profile and atmosphere. Both staff and management must have an active, positive attitude towards the security aspect. Such an attitude will in itself have a preventive effect. In working to improve security, it is important to realize that even the most comprehensive measures can never manage to remove each and every possible risk involved in using new technology. Moreover, maintaining a very high level of security is a costly affair. In conclusion, then, a certain degree of risk will have to be accepted, and not every irregularity should be seen as a major problem. Here is a list of possible essay topics on information: The Impact of Information Systems Management for Organisation Operation Freedom of Information Does Information Want To Be Free? Information Literacy Advancements in Information Technology The Impact of IT on Information Services, with special reference to India Data and Information Security Use of Information Technology in Business Information is power Piaget vs. Information Processing Information Warfare The Role of Information Systems in Business Value Chains

Sociology and Social Constructs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sociology and Social Constructs - Essay Example Social construct exists because people agree to behave as if it exists, or concur as if to comply with certain conventional rules, or behave as if such accord or rules came into being (Social Constructs 2007). One social construct is individualism. It places the individual as the center of the social structures. For Hofstede, individualism "pertains to societies wherein the ties between individuals are loose, where everyone is expected to look after himself or herself and his or her immediate family (as cited by Allik and Realo.). As opposed to collectivism, which holds that the group (e.g. the nation, the community, the race, etc. is the primary unit of "reality and the ultimate standard of value," individualism points the individual as the principal unit of reality. His individual person, and not a certain group where he belongs in, is its main focus. For Tocqueville, selfishness is "a passionate and exaggerated love of self, leading a man to connect everything with himself and to prefer himself to everything in the world." On the other hand, his concept of individualism is "a mature and calm feeling, which disposes each member of the community to sever himself from the mass of his fellows and to draw apart with his family and his friends, so that after he has thus formed a little circle of his own, he willingly leaves society at large to itself (Democracy in America 1835)." Based from his definition selfishness concerns more on the emotional craving to love one's self, while individualism is more a mature feeling that makes a member of a society to choose it. Another common misconception is individualism's relation with isolation. Isolation means being alone and being outside of the social sphere. Individualism is a sociological concept that puts the individual at the pedestal. It makes individuals as the unit by which a society's achievement is measured. The common misconception about individualism is that the individual is emphasized and it disregards other members in the society. While it is true that individuals are given emphasis on this social construct, individualism only empowers the members of the society to freely choose what they prefer doing. This social construct should be viewed from the perspective of society wherein individuals are given the freedom to choose what they want in life. Individuals are responsible for himself and society's role is very minimal (Individualism 2007). Individualism and Collectivism After clarifying individualism from the common misconceptions about it, let us further illuminate this confusing term by differentiating it from its contradictory term - collectivism. As mentioned above, individualism puts individual members of the group as the unit by which the success or achievement of a group is based on. Collectivism, on the other hand views a social group as the basis. When an individualist, for example, comments on a crime the fault solely rests in the hands of the individual. The social group wherein he is part of is minimal. This makes individuals responsible for their actions. Collectivism stresses that the society is

Media Ethics and Violence in Media. The Effect of Media on the Public Essay

Media Ethics and Violence in Media. The Effect of Media on the Public - Essay Example The author claims that children who are more influenced by television and media has a general tendency to imitate behaviors seen in media .The article states that this kind of social behavior aggravate the violence among children and lead to chaos in society So I agree with the article and believe that the media should follow ethical standard and should broadcast less violent information in order to avoid imitation of criminal behavior among public especially children. The article states that the tendency to imitate among young children is high, same as in infants. This news with violent content can have a negative impact on the children as they imitate what the criminals are doing which aggravate anti – social behavior in them. The author states that studies have shown the psychological effect of crime on children and their behavior. Today, crime is an important part of the news media. The media certainly has a complex and strong influence on the society and it is their respo nsibility and obligation to follow ethical standards to protect the social security of the public. The Concept of Media Ethics Ethics in the Greek means â€Å"Ethos† and it deals with principles regarding the way in which we need to live with the â€Å"good â€Å"and understanding the distinction between right and wrong. Media ethics is a set standard of principles and laws a media professional should follow during the practice of their profession. This is particularly hard to do, when actions have to be taken quickly, as is often is the case in media. When it comes to the media, however, we don’t always know what is right. Ethical issues are not clearly new. But this issue need to be clearly reviewed and updates on regular basis. The ethical context is ever changing, creating a necessity for careful evaluation of the ethical issues that confront media professionals. The role of media is to educate and enlighten the public and for this it should follow an ethical fra mework in order to realize their full potential. The responsibility of media extends beyond the importance attached to news coverage. Ethical issue arise when the media professionals assumes a position that conflicts with the best interests of the public. Media ethics has been formulated in order to allow journalist to produce news which are fair, accurate and socially acceptable. The main motive of media ethics is to create information which is justifiable and safeguard public interest. Media ethics are formulated with an intention to safeguard the interests of public and regulate immoral action from the media professionals. The Effect of Media on the Public Within the last few decades, the popularity of media has grown exponentially due to the technological advancement and economical development. The society today largely depends on communication and information delivered by the media outlets. The daily lives of people are significantly directed by the media. A common man wakes up with the television and gets himself updated with the help of radio, internet and television regarding the latest news throughout the day. Nowadays, the most of the culture, values and beliefs of a person is molded by the media business. We get the experience of the world and perception of life from the media. We built up our knowledge on worldly facts and events with the help of newspaper and news channels. The trust that people keep on media is high and the lives of people are tied strongly to media world. Especially, the teenagers are more bonded with media as they are constantly in touch with internet and television channels. Nowadays, it is trend to see crime, obscenity and vulgarity on internet and tele

Matriarchy versus Patriarchy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Matriarchy versus Patriarchy - Research Paper Example Such a society implies male privilege and rule, and entails women's subordination (Asadi 4). Most patriarchal societies are as well patrilineal, indicating that only males inherit the title and property. Women, in a patriarchal society are matriarchal. On the other hand, matriarchy is a social system in which women or older females are the headers of their families. In such societies, women determine relationships and descent and they play major roles in the government. Currently, many religions believe that males should be the leaders in their families and society and both children and women must obey to their authorities (Asadi 72). The main purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast how women are presented, treated and importance in different religious. The content of this paper compares and contrasts women treatment in Islamic and Christian religions. Women treatment in Christianity and Islam Religions Throughout the religious history, men believe that they are more superio r to women in most diverse religions (Eller 121). Is this belief true in Islam or Christianity religions? In Christianity view, a woman's role is different from other religions since their roles are equal to those of males. In Galatians chapter 3 verse 28, Apostle Paul writers, â€Å"in Christ there is neither female nor male in Christ, Greek or Jew†¦Ã¢â‚¬  all human beings are equal before Christ. However, the two religions have expressively denied accepting the significant roles that women can influence in the society. Despite the advent of civilization, the prevalence of male chauvinism has served to suffice the importance of women in the society. Majority of the people professing the two religions hold that women are subjects to their husbands and they can never be equal. Similarities In both religions of Islamic women and Christian women, worship is a vital part of their responsibilities although the reasons behind this worshiping differ. Women from Islamic religion wors hip by adhering to a schedule of prayer and fasting, therefore, after their death, their good actions and ability to keep the Islamic laws, will enable the women enter â€Å"paradise† (Kanra 111). While Islamic men in â€Å"Paradise† are assured the company of various virgins for their pleasures, Koran does not offer much information for those women who afford their way in. It is evident that Islamic men derive the assurance that they will dominate the women in paradise since it is the case on earth while still the women are knowledgeable of passing into paradise as virgins to become subjects to their men. On the other hand, Christian women love God because He initially showed love to them. God offered is only beloved son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the sinners since they were unable to earn any of the heavenly grace. Similarly, Christian women worship God through praying and fasting, but this is practiced in response to God’s commandments, and not fo r earning God’s favor (Kanra 42). A Christian woman is always aware of the awesome ease of acquiring God’s favor. As Jesus Christ said in John chapter 3 verse 16, â€Å"whoever believes in me shall not perish, but have everlasting life†. Christian women worship and praise the Lord to enable them to enter the Kingdom of heaven after death. Further, Christian women abide by Biblical teachings in order to draw God’s favor and become certain of the resurrection after death and acquisition of eternal life in paradise. In both religions, women play a major role of taking care of their husbands and children. They have the role of preparing and serving meals for their husbands and children. Women are only supposed to concentrate with home duties such as

Promotional mix used by two established organizations

Promotional mix used by two established organizations Select two organisations of your choice and create a booklet that describes the promotional mix used by these two organisations for a selected product/service. 1A. Mc DONALDS: COMPANY OVERVIEW Dick and Mac McDonald founded the very first drive-in and self service restaurant in California, US in 1940. Today McDonalds is one of the leading fast-food retailer having more than 32,000 local restaurants [1] across the globe. With a mass penetration and exhilarating brand image, McDonalds is serving more than  60 million people in approximately 117 countries of the world [1]. To establish its market presence and differentiate from its competitors, McDonalds has created a number of logos and road signs depending upon its operations as for example dine-in facility drive-through etc. Following are few examples illustrating different logos: [2] Different Logos of McDonalds 1.1 THE PROMOTIONAL MIX STRATEGY McDonalds has employed an effective promotional mix strategy for the marketing of its products and services. For the organisation to penetrate within a specific market, it is essential to gain maximum knowledge about the culture, taste, climate, consumer needs etc. to design a correct set of promotional mix for marketing its marketing campaign. The right choice of the promotional mix helps the organisation to communicate the benefits of its products and services to the consumers (OShaughnessy 2003, p. 110). McDonalds core consumer base is built upon children, business personnel and fast-food lovers. Followed by which the promotional mix strategy used by McDonalds is advertising and sales promotion. [1] http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_history.html [2] http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center/image_gallery/logos.html OShaughnessy, J., 2003. The marketing power of emotions, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. 1.2 ADVERTISING The promotional mix strategy followed by media advertising is always favourable as it reinforces the existence of the organization and also helps in persuading the consumers to buy. The advertising tools include print media, electronic media, billboards etc. for promotion. McDonalds too employs certain effective promotional techniques with the help of advertising tools. Print Media, TV Commercials McDonalds utilises aggressive media advertising as a tool to promote its products. With the help of television commercials, newspapers and magazines, the organisation has successfully managed to create a positive image of its brand. The scrumptious representation of its food products on the hoardings not only attracts its consumers but also helps to keep them well informed about the new arrivals. [3] Images of Burger and Fries Social Networking Today social networking websites have become extremely popular and since most of the traffic on these websites is followed by the younger generation therefore, it becomes essential for the organisations like Mc Donalds to demonstrate their market presence. To keep itself connected with its core consumer base, McDonalds has created pages [4] on the most popular social networking websites that includes: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/aboutmcdonalds Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/aboutmcdonalds Twitter http://twitter.com/mcdonaldscorp These pages confer all the related information about the latest news and upcoming events about McDonalds and also updates about new deals and offers. [3] http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center/image_gallery/products.html [4] http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center PUBLIC RELATIONS Public relations play an integral role in todays marketing world. The multinational organisations having vast operational framework take part in certain international affairs like exhibitions, charitable work, rallies and sports events. McDonalds has also been involved in such large scale events which not only execute a positive message but also facilitate in the advertising of its brand image. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games The 2010 Olympic Winter Games were held in the beautiful city of Vancouver located in the host country of Canada. Since the brand image of McDonalds represents youth and therefore, it continues to participate in sports events. McDonalds has formally announced its involvement as the Official Restaurant for the eighth consecutive games [5]. The company is all set to feed more than 10,000 of the worlds best athletes, coaches and the Olympic officials. It is yet another component of McDonalds smart promotional strategy as millions of people across the globe will acknowledge the presence of McDonalds as a worldwide partner of this Olympic movement. 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa FIFA World Cup is an event that is anxiously awaited by diverse range of age groups everywhere across the world. Mc Donalds always seek for such events that create an extravaganza to target a mass audience. The organisation is an official sponsor and the official restaurant of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. With more than 32,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries, McDonalds will bring the FIFA World Cup to life for millions of customers and employees around the world. [5] Logo for the 2010 FIFA World Cup [5] http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center/press_kits.html SALES PROMOTION The sales promotions are usually short-termed or time specific strategies that are designed to attract the new customers or to replenish the relationships with the existing ones. The sales promotional campaigns offer attractive deals, work on pricing and put forward new products. The buy-one-get-one deals, gifts and prize schemes are few examples of such sales promotions. Toys, Scratch Cards Lucky Draws Children are the target consumer base of McDonalds and hence it becomes inevitable for the organisation to develop such promotional strategies that may create enthusiasm in children. Happy Meals are offered with small toys which excites children. McDonalds also introduces lucky draws, numerous schemes for winning prices and child competitions from time to time as for example, Happy Meal toys, Big Mac Hockey Contest, card games etc. The promotional tactic of scratch cards is also utilised for marketing which comes with combo meals. Adding to this, Mc Donalds also offers econo-meals and value meals. [6] Toys offered by McDonalds Meals Designed for Healthy Eating The consumer world of today is getting more cautious about organic food and healthy eating and realising this McDonalds has come up with a plan of preserving its existing clientele along with attracting new customers. The company has designed Happy Meals with intent to promote healthy eating in children. The organisation has teamed up with DreamWorks Animation to put forward a series of toys including Shrek, Donkey and Puss in Boots to endorse fruit, vegetables, and low-fat dairy and fruit juices.  By promoting the healthy eating McDonalds has tried to penetrate within the consumer base that intentionally avoid the fast food products as they consider it to be fattening and un-healthy. This is a smart promotional campaign that will benefit the organisation by pulling in the new segment of consumer base to the existing database of the company. [7] Shrek Themed Happy Meal [6] http://www.kathysfastfoodtoys.com/McDonalds2.html [7]http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center/press_kits/McDonald_s_Shrek_Forever_After_Global_Happy_Meal.html 1B: TESCO: COMPANY OVERVIEW Tesco is the leading retail super market in UK having a mass penetration of approximately 90% with an annual turnover of more than 1 billion. Tesco is an internationally recognised brand name which is not only restricted to food and grocery items but is also extended its operation to the non-food products. [8] Official Logo of Tesco 1.1 PRODUCT RANGE Food Ranges: Milk, eggs, butter and all grocery items Non-food Ranges: Books, DVDs and Electronic products Others: Dieting clubs, flights and holidays, music downloads electricity etc. 1.2 CORE COMPETITORS The list below indicates the core competitors of Tesco in UK. All of the listed below companies are the leading supermarkets in UK and operates almost in same range of products and categories. The competition for Tesco is extremely fierce in UK as the quality of products and services offered by these supermarkets are relatively same hence it becomes difficult for anyone to send out. However, Tesco with its comparatively huge operational network has got a leading position since it has got smaller or bigger outlets in almost every other corner. The promotional techniques offered by these supermarkets is more or less the same but Tesco ensures its distinct identity by introducing smart marketing mix followed by carefully designed promotional mix. Tesco Asda Sainsbury Waitrose Morrisons 1.3 THE PROMOTIONAL MIX STRATEGY Tesco has designed an intelligent promotional mix strategy that reflects a prudent thought process behind its campaigning. Tesco has successfully managed to achieve a vital role in the routine life of every household and its progress lies in the success of its creatively devised promotional strategy. The core constituents of Tescos promotional mix are as follows: 1.3.1 DIRECT MARKETING In combination with a number of meaningful promotional tactics, Tesco is successfully following a direct marketing strategy. Once a customer is registered on their main website -and starts shopping, the company keeps on interacting with that customer via phone, emails and text messages from time to time. Emails Messages The comprehensively designed website stores the contact information of the customer and the efficient direct marketing team of the organisation keeps a track record of customers buying behaviours. Tesco sends promotional offers, necessary information, new products and special deals via personalised email addresses to the customers. Moreover, Tesco also sends out feedback forms and surveys via emails to keep updated with the continuously evolving customers needs and choices. Text Messaging This is yet another way of close interaction with the customers. Tesco keeps on sending useful information about the new offers and products via text messaging. The company ensures that the customer never misses out anything offered by them and by doing so the company also develops a certain place in the customers everyday life. 1.3.2 MEDIA CAMPAIGNING Like its core competitors, Tesco too needs to make heavy investments on media campaigning even though its market presence is humungous. The competitive environment of today doesnt allow anyone to fall short when it comes to media campaigning. Media is one of the most powerful and decisive element of the overall promotional strategy. TV Commercials To differentiate from others it is essential to highlight the key features of the organisation in the TV commercials. Tesco primarily focuses on its accessibility as its network is comparatively broader. The commercials also highlight its healthy eating and organic products. Moreover, the TV commercials are designed to offer a little extra eye-catching moments to ensure that the commercials stay in the customers minds for a longer period of time. Interactive Websites In addition to its main comprehensive website, Tesco has launched a number of other web pages including Tesco Apps, Tesco Diet, and Talking Tesco etc. The links to these web pages are also made available on the main website and the link to the main website has been kept prominent on all other web pages. 1.3.3 SALES PROMOTION Tesco is facing a cut throat market competition and therefore, it has to keep on designing innovative promotional strategies to address the consumer needs and offer them a pleasurable shopping experience at the same time. Keeping in view of the rising level of inflation and recession period, Tesco has come up with ground-breaking promotional tactics as rewarding their customers. Club Card Points By introducing the Club Card rewards point, Tesco has made shopping a lot more fun and exhilarating experience for the consumers. The reward points can be collected by shopping via the online website which can be accessed by going to its website [8]. This promotional technique attracts the customers looking for discounts and saving options. [8] Image of Tesco Club card [8] http://www.tesco.com/ Tesco Apps Tesco has launched a direct mobile website which enables its consumers to shop for groceries from absolutely anywhere on their mobile by downloading the Tesco application from the website [9]. The online shop also allows the customer to add or delete an item from the online shop accessed via the mobile. The mobile application also enables the customer to access the favourite list which makes the process much easier. This application is an innovative promotional technique which attracts the consumer base that has an extremely busy life. [9] Image of Tesco Apps 1.3.4 PUBLIC RELATIONS With its mass penetration in the consumer market, Tesco completely comprehends with the idea of consumer satisfaction which can be achieved by listening to them. It has been established that the customer sentiments drastically changes about a certain product depending upon the positive or negative image they build by experiencing the offered level of services. Believing the same, Tesco maintains close connections with its customers with the help of numerous methods. Talking Tesco The company has introduced a distinctive website named as Talking Tesco so that its customers know that their say matters and is always encouraged. The web page [10] is designed to collect the feedback from its customers along with any issues or grievances and it has been ensured that the relevant team members respond to the complaint or enquiry as soon as possible. The web page also displays a personalised email address i.e. [emailprotected] to directly contact the team and get a quick response. [9] http://www.tesco.com/apps/ [10] http://www.tesco.com/talkingtesco/ Tesco Diets Tesco believes in maintaining strong bond with its customers so that their loyalty can also be preserved. Tesco has introduced an interactive website which offers a personalised fitness programme that is designed to encourage people for healthy eating, maintaining a balanced diet and follow an exercise regime that may help in reducing weight. By registering on the website an individual can receive personalised daily workout programme and log the progress. Moreover, scrumptious recipes, tips, diet plans and interactive tools are also available on the website for free. These kinds of interactive and informative websites help the consumers to develop a positive image about the brand and thereby, develop a relationship of trust between the retailer and the consumer which eventually benefits the organisation. [11] Image of Tesco Diets [11] http://www.tescodiets.com/why-join/90078 2. Explain the role of promotion within the marketing mix for a successful promotional campaign. PROMOTION Promotion is the fourth marketing-mix element which is crucially important for a successful marketing campaign. There are a number of tactics involved in the promotional activities in order to communicate the message to the consumer base. Depending upon the nature and size of the campaign the target market is selected which could be a focus group; a particular market segment based on culture, tastes, and religious believes etc. and promotional materials are designed to influence these customers. 2.1 PROMOTIONAL TOOLS THEIR ROLES There are a number of tools which are helpful in the promotion of the products. These tools include: Advertising Advertising is a method of communicating with the end-customers and passing on a message about a particular products or services. There are several ways of advertising including print media such as press releases, newspapers, magazines, broacher, hoardings and leaflets or it could be electronic media such as radio, television or internet. The advertisements are external mass-mediated messages which do not necessarily influence the individual consumers as desired because these messages are filtered through interpersonal communication channels and the perceptual systems of the consumer before acquiring any implications however, they do influence the consumers buying behaviour (Schiffman and Kanuk 2000, pp. 129-35). The advertisements are typically designed to penetrate a larger segment of the consumers. Since the advertisements represent pictures and the information about the product therefore, it is expected to develop a certain image in the consumers minds. The TV commercials or radi o advertisements are also meant to connect with the target market. The repeated telecast of commercials and the entrance of print media in the sitting areas of every household have developed a different paradigm of marketing. With the help of advertisements the manufacturer attempts to send a clear message to its consumer. OGuinn, Allen, and Semenik define that the meaning of the advertisement is determined through a Schiffman, L. G., and Leslie L. K., 2000. Consumer Behaviour (VII ed.), Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. subtle but powerful process of meaning construction by consumers (OGuinn, Allen, and Semenik 2003, p. 202). Sales Promotion The advertisements are intended to instigate a desire amongst the target market about a particular product as a result of which the consumer develops a need to purchase it. However, the competition is fierce today and almost every other competitor more or less uses the same tactics to attract the customers. Here comes the need for exploiting different promotional tools. The sales promotion is an effective way to manipulate the pricing strategy and gain advantage over the competitors. The cost of a product plays a vital role when it comes to the consumers decision making process. There is segment of consumers which do not necessarily look for designs, colours and quality instead they always look for discount deals. Depending upon the market density the sales promotion strategy may do wonders with a product. The markets that are rich in similar brands may not get competitive advantage but may boost sales for a limited period and on the other hands, where the markets where the positioning of brands are dissimilar, the sales promotion may aid in establishing the roots of a new brand or may even help in penetrating deep in the market. The main objective is to utilise this tool in an effective manner. The smartly designed sales promotion campaigns can help the retailers to get rid of the old or unsold stocks and make ways for new arrivals. It is important to note that the sales promotion technique might give quick results or might take a little longer to benefit however, the overall performance of the sales promotion strategy can be monitored and measured over the time. The main role of the sales promotion campaign is to attract new customers because the benefits associated with this technique are short termed and hence it is difficult to break the loyal customers. It has been estimated that the tremendous rise in the number of brands and a decrease in the efficiency of traditional advertising due to increasingly fractionated consumer markets has lead to augment the need for developing sales promotion strategies (Brierley 2002, p. 132). Public Relations The main objective of the public relations technique is to exploit the consumers sentiments in the benefit of the organization. The public relations tactics primarily involves the people OGuinn, T., Chris A. and Richard S., 2000. Advertising (II ed.), USA: Southwestern Publishing. Brierley, S., 2002. The advertising handbook, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. having potential impact on a companys operations to achieve its goals and objectives, which include both retailers and the customers. The idea is to maintain healthy and positive relationships with the individuals and groups of mutual interests working together for the benefit of the organization. This could be charitable event, a cultural show which is not directly related to the interests of the company but definitely portrays the social responsibilities of the organization towards the society in general. This may in return have a great impact on public sentiments which will lead to maximise sales. The organizations sponsoring the shows ensure that appropriate coverage has been given to such public events and activities thereby, highlighting the positive image of the organization through news and information media. The press conferences, contests, meetings, and other social events are all part of public relations which is intended to draw the attention of general consumers towards their products and services. It is the responsibility of the advertising agencies and the public relation specialists to foresee the possibilities of evolving goodness out of the brand image (Arvidsson 2006, p. 88). On the other hand, several irrelevant issues are also touched by the multinational organizations by supporting certain causes which eventually impacts the organizational objectives in achieving its goals. It has been observed that many corporate companies do not necessarily seek profitability out of public relations tactics however; the brand imaging culture of today evidences that public sentiments plays a vital role in the success and failure of products and services. The multinational organizations and corporate companies acknowledge the importance of public sentiments and therefore, it has been established that marketing public relations departments are essential to directly support corporate and product promotion and image management (Arvidsson 2006, p. 96). Direct Marketing It is a time consuming process which requires the collection of data about the target consumer market. The direct marketing technique is based on an in-house data base which provides sufficient information about the targeted consumers to facilitate the direct marketing teams to offer the best services possible which may suit the clients needs. A number of multinational organisations and corporate companies conduct extensive researches, polls and public surveys to collect the consumers views about certain products. The responses obtained are thus incorporated into the database and are updated from time to time. The process could be very time consuming and therefore, a number of organisations buy the mailing lists and Arvidsson, A. (2006) Brands: meaning and value in media culture, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. contact information of potential customers that is tailored to a precise specification. It is an effective promotional tactics which involves a number of different techniques to execute a well-designed marketing plan. Direct marketing may involve the use of emails, letters, phone calls etc to reach the targeted consumers. This method is useful in targeting a specific group of customers and sends them personalised messages which may have a distinct impact as compared to the TV commercials or regular promotional tactics. It has been observed that a segment of consumers prefers to be personally addressed as it gives them some extra importance (Levy 2003, p. 108). This technique is welcomed by a consumer base that is psychologically inclined towards introvert lifestyle. The main role of direct marketing technique is to get realistic results as the promotions are designed to target the listed customers and therefore, the response level obtained from them can give an idea of how well the c ampaign is working. Today, the competition is getting tough and the organisations seek for improved results therefore, direct marketing techniques are adopted to measure the effectiveness of the promotional campaigns and make necessary alterations where required. Personal Selling Personal selling is another tool used to devise an effective promotional campaign. It involves the employment of sales representatives in order to carry out the day to day sales activities. The personal selling technique is not very well complimented by the fast paced environment of today as the consumers are much more inclined towards the electronic sales option i.e. via internet. The personal selling option can be termed as the most expensive means of promotion, as human involvement requires certain expenses, and supplementary benefits however, a number of companies still maintain their sales force and encourage door to door selling. Personal selling is effective with the consumer base that is not very fond of following the commercials and is not capable of using internet. These customers have got the psyche of believing what they see in real. They may prefer trying a product before their final decision making process. The sales personnel are highly trained to deal with such custom ers and also taught to utilise personalised elements and techniques to convince the customers. The door-to-door selling techniques are quiet time consuming and might not get instant results for the organisations however, they seem to be effective in unapproachable client base to get the competitive advantage. Salespeople are trained to make presentations, answer objections, Levy, S., 2003. Roots of marketing and consumer research at the University of Chicago, Consumption, Markets and Culture, 6(2): 99-110. gain commitments to purchase, and manage account growth (McFall 2004, p. 63). The main goal of a sales person is to convince the customer on the spot and achieve the companys target by maximising sales activities which can also be achieved by the word of mouth if the customer is happy with the way the sales person has presented the product. The technique is all about maintaining a good reputation with the end customer where the sales person serves as a face of the company. Therefore, the sales force must be well acquainted with the product knowledge in order to satisfy the consumers enquiries related to the product. The personal selling strategy is considered to be out of fashion due to growing e-technology and web based marketing strategies however, the effect of personal interaction with the consumer can never be ignored. Combined with a correct set of promotional mix a successful marketing campaign can be designed. McFall, L., 2004. Advertising: a cultural economy, London: Sage. Explain the role of advertising agencies in the development of a successful promotional campaign the evidence that you have to produce is a fact sheet. 3. ROLE OF ADVERTISING AGENCIES IN PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNS The ever-increasing range and diversity of market products has given rise to plethora of brand consciousness as a result of which the significance of information, persuasion and convincing the customer has become a key feature within the consumer market. Advertising is a vital tool that provides an opportunity for the companies to connect with their target market and to escalate the marketing process, advertising agencies has been pioneered that serves as a bridge between the company and its consumer base. FACT SHEET The advertising agencies facilitates in the development of positive consumer culture. They serve as an effective mediator in between the market products and their consumers. For a successful promotional campaign, an advertising agency aims to benefit its client by maximising sales opportunities. The advertising agencies externalise marketing as a management function and create a body of specialised knowledge about markets and consumers (Wilson and Thomson (2006, p. 112). They comprehend with the clients objectives, product knowledge and the target consumer base. The advertising agencies conceptualise the overall promotional activities. The products are well understood and the process begins by constructing the image and identity of the brand. A team of professionals are involved in the process of brainstorming innovative ideas to achieve the set targets. Extensive research is conducted to study the market trends and consumer needs are identified. Depending upon the size of the budget, an advertising agency creates effective Wilson, J. and A. Thomson (2006) The making of modern management: British management in historical perspective, Oxford: Oxford University Press. promotional campaigns. Advertising agencies makes a strong effort to create and maintain the goodwill of the brands. The agencies are involved in the process of managing a trade marks augmentation to a key symbolic element of marketing strategy (Brierley 2002, p. 97). The agencies devise a marketing communication strategy for mass promotion with the aim of selling The aim is to create a direct link in between the manufacturer and end-consumer by reducing the efforts of sales activities of wholesaler and retailers (Levy 2003, p. 103). Developing a brand image that creates desire for the advertised products. Follow competitor-based approaches to market segmentation and product positioning (Cano 2003). Study the behavioural and psychic dispositions of the consumers which are heavily influenced by the brand imaging. Strategically manipulate the socially-shared symbols in order to facilitate the market penetration. They offer meaning and symbolic connotations to the marketed product which helps the consumers in decision-making process. The advertising agencies plan and design the promotional campaign in such a way that the desired information about a product shall be presented to consumers in a presentable manner (Arvidsson 2006, p. 56) Review the progress of promotional campaigning and improvise necessary alterations where required. Maintain and replenish the bond between manufacturer and the consumers. Brierley, S., 2002. The advertising handbook, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Levy, S., 2003. Roots of marketing and consumer research at the University of Chicago, Consumption, Markets and Culture, 6(2): 99-110. Cano, C., 2003. The recent evolution of market segmentation concepts and thoughts primarily by marketing academics, in E. Shaw (ed.) The romance of marketing history: proceedings of the 11th Conference on Historical Analysis and Research in Marketing (CHARM). Boca Ranton, FL: AHRIM, 2003. Arvidsson, A., 2006. Brands: meaning and value in media culture, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. In a report explain the reasons behind the choice of media in a successful promotional campaign. 4. INTRODUCTION With the passage of time the competition in the corporate world has become increasingly fierce that has enabled the marketing sector to grow. Marketing can be done by a number of ways depending upon several associated factors however; the role of media in every form is an essential element of the marketing world. The rising trend of e-connectivity and social networking practices has made it obligatory for the organisations to incorporate

The Concept Of Being A Gentleman in Charles Dickens Great Expectations :: Great Expectations Essays

'The beautiful young lady at Miss Havisham's, and she's more beautiful than anybody ever was and I admire her dreadfully and I want to be a gentleman on her account' - Pip (page 126) This is the turning point where Dickens advances the not so clear plot of the story. This is where Pip admits to Biddy he is in love with Estella and wants to become a gentleman. He is, at this point, doing it for the wrong reasons. He is doing it to impress Estella. When Pip is at Miss Havisham's he realises how much social classes actually matter. People who were orphans or had other jobs such as blacksmiths were regarded as people who could never become gentlemen. Estella makes it clear to Pip that he is in a lower social class than she is. 'Why, he is a common labouring boy' I thought I overheard Miss Havisham answer - only it seemed so unlikely - 'well? You can break his heart!' - Estella and Miss Havisham (page 57) The reason Miss Havisham says this is because she was hurt so badly by Compeyson she wants to hurt someone else as revenge for what happened to her. Pip at this point thinks a gentleman is someone who is rich and well respected; he does not think about the conduct of a gentleman. Pip thinks that people who are regarded as gentlemen are born into a decent family and have a socially respected occupation such as a lawyer or a clergyman. An example of what a true gentleman is would be Herbert. He sets the example to Pip and Pip looks up to him. Herbert's father knew exactly what Compeyson wanted when he tried to marry Miss Havisham. What Herbert says here was exactly what his father said. 'But that he was not to be, without ignorance or prejudice, mistaken for a gentleman because it is a principle of his that no man who was not a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman in manner'- Herbert (page 177) The Concept Of Being A Gentleman in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations :: Great Expectations Essays 'The beautiful young lady at Miss Havisham's, and she's more beautiful than anybody ever was and I admire her dreadfully and I want to be a gentleman on her account' - Pip (page 126) This is the turning point where Dickens advances the not so clear plot of the story. This is where Pip admits to Biddy he is in love with Estella and wants to become a gentleman. He is, at this point, doing it for the wrong reasons. He is doing it to impress Estella. When Pip is at Miss Havisham's he realises how much social classes actually matter. People who were orphans or had other jobs such as blacksmiths were regarded as people who could never become gentlemen. Estella makes it clear to Pip that he is in a lower social class than she is. 'Why, he is a common labouring boy' I thought I overheard Miss Havisham answer - only it seemed so unlikely - 'well? You can break his heart!' - Estella and Miss Havisham (page 57) The reason Miss Havisham says this is because she was hurt so badly by Compeyson she wants to hurt someone else as revenge for what happened to her. Pip at this point thinks a gentleman is someone who is rich and well respected; he does not think about the conduct of a gentleman. Pip thinks that people who are regarded as gentlemen are born into a decent family and have a socially respected occupation such as a lawyer or a clergyman. An example of what a true gentleman is would be Herbert. He sets the example to Pip and Pip looks up to him. Herbert's father knew exactly what Compeyson wanted when he tried to marry Miss Havisham. What Herbert says here was exactly what his father said. 'But that he was not to be, without ignorance or prejudice, mistaken for a gentleman because it is a principle of his that no man who was not a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman in manner'- Herbert (page 177)