Saturday, November 30, 2019

To See or Not to See Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth Essay Example

To See or Not to See: Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth Essay To see or not to see Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth 2009. 12. 14. Literary criticism has ever been a touchy subject. Throughout cultural history we have seen critics of various shapes and sizes commenting on all works of art in vastly different ways, from the condescending to the rave, the profound to the sarcastic – and all of them were right, in one sense. For a critic is a â€Å"voice of the masses†, a representative of readers everywhere, thus whatever opinion a critic has is justified by him having actually seen, read, interpreted and/or digested the given masterpiece, and being moved by it to such an extent as to express this in a verbal form. A true critic, however, is slightly more than that – he possesses a stable sense of cultural value, and the ability to pinpoint the exact place of any artificial creation in the golden canon of immortality, not to mention a sense of humour and a devout humility towards art in general. We will write a custom essay sample on To See or Not to See: Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on To See or Not to See: Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on To See or Not to See: Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Francis Jeffrey (1773-1850) was all these things and more – though admittedly he didn’t bear all the afore-mentioned qualities in equal measure. Even so, owing to his editorship and contributions at the Edinburgh Review, he was undoubtedly one of the most well-known critics of his age (and maybe since then), his utmost concern being to mould public taste in an intelligent and elegant way. And this is how he actually managed to influence the literature he was so keen on dissecting, and whose influence made him write in the first place; so presenting us with the old symbol of a snake biting its tail, one melting into the other, each affecting and being affected by its partner. Jeffrey’s judgements – both well-deserved and slightly less so – were something to be reckoned with, and several notable literary personages of the time can thank him for the growing (or diminishing) number of their readers, serving as an excellent example of what a critic might accomplish. Three personages are often mentioned in connection with Jeffrey, three men whose works became even more interconnected with his than the rest of the prestigious number he commented on. Jeffrey and Carlyle had an ambiguous relationship, with Jeffrey recognizing the genius of Carlyle early in his career, and going out of his way to present him with opportunities to flourish, while the different personalities of the two men – Jeffrey’s benign curiosity about the younger man’s affairs, and Carlyle’s independence – presented themselves in conflicts of varying intensity. Jeffrey and Dickens, on the other hand, had no major opposition of will, although this may be due to the fact that Jeffrey was an older and slightly kinder critic by the time they met. But neither of these relationships can compare, or even contrast, with the one Jeffrey had with William Wordsworth (1770-1850). Jeffrey had, from the start, a very strong opinion about Wordsworth – indeed, there are scarcely any criticisms left us which present such an unmasked feeling of dissatisfaction with a poet as his reviews about Wordsworth’s poems. The significance of these reviews is two-fold: on the one hand, they paint a vibrant picture of what the philosophy and idealism of the Lake Poets, and the morality of the Scottish Whig cultural elite, actually was like; on the other hand, Jeffrey’s unique style, made up of sarcasm, wit, elegance, and a slightly biased opinion, offer an insight to his mind, personal experience and ethics. In other words, Jeffrey’s reviews present themselves as a luxurious â€Å"feast for the soul and mind†, both contextually and stylistically speaking. In the following, we are going to look at two reviews, one from 1807, the other from 1822 – one of the first and last reviews concerned with Wordsworth and the Poets of the Lakes. Wordsworth’s Poems, published in 1807, move Jeffrey to express his disappointment with and worries over the new poetic style used therein in no uncertain form (though still much more mildly than in later years! ). He begins by mentioning the Lake Poets and the popularity of the Lyrical Ballads – and gently implies that success, however well-deserved, does not erase the many faults of the volume (i. . vulgarity, silliness). He goes on to state that these attributes are not in themselves worth any value, and therefore shouldn’t be seen as (aesthetic) virtues in any case. After this introduction, he moves on to the poems in question, and concludes that Wordsworth’s volume has settled the argument concerning literary merit in a definite way – so definite, in fact, that Jeffrey washes his hands, so to speak, and places the matter before the public (as if it weren’t already there), to decide for themselves whether Wordsworth’s Poems are worth something or not. Following this verdict, Jeffrey starts illustrating his opinion by moralizing about poetry in general, defining it as something that gives the reader â€Å"pleasure†, which can be divided into three parts: „that which we receive from the excitement of Passion or emotion — that which is derived from the play of Imagination, or the easy exercise of Reason — and that which depends on the character and qualities the Diction. † Diction, it seems, deserved some further introduction, for apparently this is what Jeffrey found most lacking in Poems. It becomes clear that in the critic’s opinion, true diction is elegant, dignified, appropriate – today we would probably add, conventional. The review laments the disuse of diction in the Lakeside fraternity, the disregard of classical sources and preference for the ordinary, the mundane. This latter tendency is also pointed out in relation to Poems’ topics, where Jeffrey emphasizes that the everyday subjects mentioned cannot actually be admitted as touching or sublime with a straight face. In his conclusion, Jeffrey admits that Wordsworth’s talents do shine through most of his works, making it doubly disappointing that they have to make do with such â€Å"trash†, and finishes by expressing a hope for the abortion of such â€Å"violation of the established laws of poetry†. Looking at the review from a stylistic point of view, Jeffrey is not as outspoken as he will be on following occasions, choosing instead to provide a poetical background philosophy to justify his negative impressions. Towards the end, however, he narrows his range of vision more and more from the general to the particular; and we can see the moraliser turn gradually into the critic, who doesn’t veil or justify his opinions thoroughly, but chooses rather to present them forcibly, with strong words and expressions (e. g. trash, folly, etc. ). Structurally speaking, the review is well-built, and conveys a false impression of impartiality with its units of refutation, exploration and conclusion, while in fact the personal opinion of the critic can clearly be felt in every instance of his well-composed sentences. But this, of course, was Jeffrey’s forte – to insinuate his own feelings even when seeming completely neutral. This tendency can well be observed also in the review of Wordsworth’s Memorials of a Tour, published in 1822. Note that fifteen years have passed, a significant period of time in contemporary literature – the new-fangled notions to which Jeffrey had objected previously had grown roots, even flourished somewhat; however, the opposition never altered its opinion: probably the most famous review of Jeffrey on Wordsworth, the one concerning The Excursion (published in 1814), opening with the line â€Å"This will never do! , is the best example of them still maintaining differences. During these years, Jeffrey used his wit and sarcasm to great effect, succeeding in shaking the reputations of Wordsworth and others considerably, albeit giving them considerable publicity at the same time. This review, however, is slightly different – although stil l wittily disapproving, it again includes the reader significantly, much like the one previously mentioned. Jeffrey – always a man of spectacular openers – starts off with the sentence: â€Å"The Lake School of Poetry, we think, is now pretty nearly extinct. . No gentlemanly reserve in his tone now – he follows up by separating Wordsworth from the fraternity, disclosing that now even they won’t admit him as belonging to them (though how someone could â€Å"belong† to a dead fraternity stays undecided), owing to his backward style, which even the inserted phrases of Milton or the Holy Writ can’t help (Jeffrey’s appreciation of these venerable sources clearly shines through his words on the subject). The second paragraph explains that while most of the compositions begin promisingly, the misguided author mostly succeeds in ruining them by saying nothing, or – even worse – by saying something totally ordinary in an â€Å"unintelligible way†, which, it seems, is one of the major sins against poetry itself. It soon becomes clear that the main concern of Jeffrey is that the sonnets of which the Memorial is composed are puzzling, and hard to understand; that Wordsworth insists on choosing the most unworthy objects to evoke startling fantasies or visions; and most of all, that the politics of the author leave much to be required. For a large part of the review is devoted to a sarcastic account of how Wordsworth depicted Napoleon, and how his sources for political and historical facts mainly consist of newspapers (the Morning Post is specifically mentioned). Following this, even the author’s reference to Milton becomes an object for derision (â€Å"Of a truth, it is a dangerous experiment in Mr. Wordsworth to recall his reader’s notice to Milton when he writes sonnets. †). Loftiness and high emotion are interpreted as pretension and impotence; however, Jeffrey again points out that even this volume has its merits, and that gems of beauty can indeed be found â€Å"†¦when [the author] is pleased to be plain and rational†. This review differs slightly from the previous one in style – Jeffrey does not give reasons for his verdicts any more, but declares his opinion in a straight, and sometimes still respectful manner. He constantly refers to contemporary matters, from affairs of the life of Wordsworth himself (Stamp-office) to the knowledge of the reader about important dates. We can see that this is a somewhat different approach than before – in 1807, he called on the reader to act as a dignified judge of literary value; now, he speaks out to him as a friend, someone with knowledge and experience similar to his own. The linguistic style of the review emphasizes this familiarity by often choosing sarcasm instead of elegance, or maybe not even that, just â€Å"plain† speech, only using flowing phrases when the context requires it. This tendency – although significant – is unsurprising, given that Jeffrey and his readership had, by now, more than fifteen years to grow familiar in. The single largest factor which ties both reviews together is, of course, the undervaluation of Wordsworth as a poet. One might well ask that how could a critic, any critic, of such taste and pedigree not recognize the genius of Wordsworth, and still be remembered by following generations as a critic of any value. There could be many answers to this question: one could simply shrug it off by saying contemporary critics very rarely discover the true talents of their times; or that Jeffrey’s enjoyable style is worthy of remembrance anywhere, notwithstanding his misjudged opinions. We could even say that badmouthing Wordsworth was Jeffrey’s one most significant achievement, which in itself constitutes a right to be remembered. The truth, however, lies somewhere deeper than that. For the reason to remember Jeffrey is Wordsworth himself – it is generally accepted that the critic’s judgements affected not only the criticized works’ afterlives, but the poet’s work as well. Wordsworth didn’t heed Jeffrey’s intimations, but they affected him slightly; he responded to the attacks, and defended himself as well as he could, on all grounds Jeffrey has challenged him: morality, philosophy, aesthetics and ethics, stating that contemporary reception cannot serve as a guideline for the future, but should be moulded and refined enough to accept these compositions according to their value. And so the symbiosis continued, with the works of Jeffrey and Wordsworth – although different in genre – growing ever more interconnected. And this is the most important reason why we have to remember Jeffrey: his impact on the Lake Poet’s work will last for ever, even when sarcasm seems outdated, classical references tedious, and elaborate language unnecessary. We can conclude that Jeffrey, even if he hadn’t managed to recognize Wordsworth, stated his opinion in a way worthy of his foe – noone needs to be ashamed of him; for although his sense of humour was limited, his humility likewise, and his ability to pinpoint immortal values a bit shoddy, he was – and remains – a force to be reckoned with. An eternal reminder that, whatever our opinions are, they will always have value and impact towards the one they are aimed at. To See or Not to See Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth Essay Example To See or Not to See: Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth Essay To see or not to see Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth 2009. 12. 14. Literary criticism has ever been a touchy subject. Throughout cultural history we have seen critics of various shapes and sizes commenting on all works of art in vastly different ways, from the condescending to the rave, the profound to the sarcastic – and all of them were right, in one sense. For a critic is a â€Å"voice of the masses†, a representative of readers everywhere, thus whatever opinion a critic has is justified by him having actually seen, read, interpreted and/or digested the given masterpiece, and being moved by it to such an extent as to express this in a verbal form. A true critic, however, is slightly more than that – he possesses a stable sense of cultural value, and the ability to pinpoint the exact place of any artificial creation in the golden canon of immortality, not to mention a sense of humour and a devout humility towards art in general. We will write a custom essay sample on To See or Not to See: Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on To See or Not to See: Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on To See or Not to See: Francis Jeffrey on William Wordsworth specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Francis Jeffrey (1773-1850) was all these things and more – though admittedly he didn’t bear all the afore-mentioned qualities in equal measure. Even so, owing to his editorship and contributions at the Edinburgh Review, he was undoubtedly one of the most well-known critics of his age (and maybe since then), his utmost concern being to mould public taste in an intelligent and elegant way. And this is how he actually managed to influence the literature he was so keen on dissecting, and whose influence made him write in the first place; so presenting us with the old symbol of a snake biting its tail, one melting into the other, each affecting and being affected by its partner. Jeffrey’s judgements – both well-deserved and slightly less so – were something to be reckoned with, and several notable literary personages of the time can thank him for the growing (or diminishing) number of their readers, serving as an excellent example of what a critic might accomplish. Three personages are often mentioned in connection with Jeffrey, three men whose works became even more interconnected with his than the rest of the prestigious number he commented on. Jeffrey and Carlyle had an ambiguous relationship, with Jeffrey recognizing the genius of Carlyle early in his career, and going out of his way to present him with opportunities to flourish, while the different personalities of the two men – Jeffrey’s benign curiosity about the younger man’s affairs, and Carlyle’s independence – presented themselves in conflicts of varying intensity. Jeffrey and Dickens, on the other hand, had no major opposition of will, although this may be due to the fact that Jeffrey was an older and slightly kinder critic by the time they met. But neither of these relationships can compare, or even contrast, with the one Jeffrey had with William Wordsworth (1770-1850). Jeffrey had, from the start, a very strong opinion about Wordsworth – indeed, there are scarcely any criticisms left us which present such an unmasked feeling of dissatisfaction with a poet as his reviews about Wordsworth’s poems. The significance of these reviews is two-fold: on the one hand, they paint a vibrant picture of what the philosophy and idealism of the Lake Poets, and the morality of the Scottish Whig cultural elite, actually was like; on the other hand, Jeffrey’s unique style, made up of sarcasm, wit, elegance, and a slightly biased opinion, offer an insight to his mind, personal experience and ethics. In other words, Jeffrey’s reviews present themselves as a luxurious â€Å"feast for the soul and mind†, both contextually and stylistically speaking. In the following, we are going to look at two reviews, one from 1807, the other from 1822 – one of the first and last reviews concerned with Wordsworth and the Poets of the Lakes. Wordsworth’s Poems, published in 1807, move Jeffrey to express his disappointment with and worries over the new poetic style used therein in no uncertain form (though still much more mildly than in later years! ). He begins by mentioning the Lake Poets and the popularity of the Lyrical Ballads – and gently implies that success, however well-deserved, does not erase the many faults of the volume (i. . vulgarity, silliness). He goes on to state that these attributes are not in themselves worth any value, and therefore shouldn’t be seen as (aesthetic) virtues in any case. After this introduction, he moves on to the poems in question, and concludes that Wordsworth’s volume has settled the argument concerning literary merit in a definite way – so definite, in fact, that Jeffrey washes his hands, so to speak, and places the matter before the public (as if it weren’t already there), to decide for themselves whether Wordsworth’s Poems are worth something or not. Following this verdict, Jeffrey starts illustrating his opinion by moralizing about poetry in general, defining it as something that gives the reader â€Å"pleasure†, which can be divided into three parts: „that which we receive from the excitement of Passion or emotion — that which is derived from the play of Imagination, or the easy exercise of Reason — and that which depends on the character and qualities the Diction. † Diction, it seems, deserved some further introduction, for apparently this is what Jeffrey found most lacking in Poems. It becomes clear that in the critic’s opinion, true diction is elegant, dignified, appropriate – today we would probably add, conventional. The review laments the disuse of diction in the Lakeside fraternity, the disregard of classical sources and preference for the ordinary, the mundane. This latter tendency is also pointed out in relation to Poems’ topics, where Jeffrey emphasizes that the everyday subjects mentioned cannot actually be admitted as touching or sublime with a straight face. In his conclusion, Jeffrey admits that Wordsworth’s talents do shine through most of his works, making it doubly disappointing that they have to make do with such â€Å"trash†, and finishes by expressing a hope for the abortion of such â€Å"violation of the established laws of poetry†. Looking at the review from a stylistic point of view, Jeffrey is not as outspoken as he will be on following occasions, choosing instead to provide a poetical background philosophy to justify his negative impressions. Towards the end, however, he narrows his range of vision more and more from the general to the particular; and we can see the moraliser turn gradually into the critic, who doesn’t veil or justify his opinions thoroughly, but chooses rather to present them forcibly, with strong words and expressions (e. g. trash, folly, etc. ). Structurally speaking, the review is well-built, and conveys a false impression of impartiality with its units of refutation, exploration and conclusion, while in fact the personal opinion of the critic can clearly be felt in every instance of his well-composed sentences. But this, of course, was Jeffrey’s forte – to insinuate his own feelings even when seeming completely neutral. This tendency can well be observed also in the review of Wordsworth’s Memorials of a Tour, published in 1822. Note that fifteen years have passed, a significant period of time in contemporary literature – the new-fangled notions to which Jeffrey had objected previously had grown roots, even flourished somewhat; however, the opposition never altered its opinion: probably the most famous review of Jeffrey on Wordsworth, the one concerning The Excursion (published in 1814), opening with the line â€Å"This will never do! , is the best example of them still maintaining differences. During these years, Jeffrey used his wit and sarcasm to great effect, succeeding in shaking the reputations of Wordsworth and others considerably, albeit giving them considerable publicity at the same time. This review, however, is slightly different – although stil l wittily disapproving, it again includes the reader significantly, much like the one previously mentioned. Jeffrey – always a man of spectacular openers – starts off with the sentence: â€Å"The Lake School of Poetry, we think, is now pretty nearly extinct. . No gentlemanly reserve in his tone now – he follows up by separating Wordsworth from the fraternity, disclosing that now even they won’t admit him as belonging to them (though how someone could â€Å"belong† to a dead fraternity stays undecided), owing to his backward style, which even the inserted phrases of Milton or the Holy Writ can’t help (Jeffrey’s appreciation of these venerable sources clearly shines through his words on the subject). The second paragraph explains that while most of the compositions begin promisingly, the misguided author mostly succeeds in ruining them by saying nothing, or – even worse – by saying something totally ordinary in an â€Å"unintelligible way†, which, it seems, is one of the major sins against poetry itself. It soon becomes clear that the main concern of Jeffrey is that the sonnets of which the Memorial is composed are puzzling, and hard to understand; that Wordsworth insists on choosing the most unworthy objects to evoke startling fantasies or visions; and most of all, that the politics of the author leave much to be required. For a large part of the review is devoted to a sarcastic account of how Wordsworth depicted Napoleon, and how his sources for political and historical facts mainly consist of newspapers (the Morning Post is specifically mentioned). Following this, even the author’s reference to Milton becomes an object for derision (â€Å"Of a truth, it is a dangerous experiment in Mr. Wordsworth to recall his reader’s notice to Milton when he writes sonnets. †). Loftiness and high emotion are interpreted as pretension and impotence; however, Jeffrey again points out that even this volume has its merits, and that gems of beauty can indeed be found â€Å"†¦when [the author] is pleased to be plain and rational†. This review differs slightly from the previous one in style – Jeffrey does not give reasons for his verdicts any more, but declares his opinion in a straight, and sometimes still respectful manner. He constantly refers to contemporary matters, from affairs of the life of Wordsworth himself (Stamp-office) to the knowledge of the reader about important dates. We can see that this is a somewhat different approach than before – in 1807, he called on the reader to act as a dignified judge of literary value; now, he speaks out to him as a friend, someone with knowledge and experience similar to his own. The linguistic style of the review emphasizes this familiarity by often choosing sarcasm instead of elegance, or maybe not even that, just â€Å"plain† speech, only using flowing phrases when the context requires it. This tendency – although significant – is unsurprising, given that Jeffrey and his readership had, by now, more than fifteen years to grow familiar in. The single largest factor which ties both reviews together is, of course, the undervaluation of Wordsworth as a poet. One might well ask that how could a critic, any critic, of such taste and pedigree not recognize the genius of Wordsworth, and still be remembered by following generations as a critic of any value. There could be many answers to this question: one could simply shrug it off by saying contemporary critics very rarely discover the true talents of their times; or that Jeffrey’s enjoyable style is worthy of remembrance anywhere, notwithstanding his misjudged opinions. We could even say that badmouthing Wordsworth was Jeffrey’s one most significant achievement, which in itself constitutes a right to be remembered. The truth, however, lies somewhere deeper than that. For the reason to remember Jeffrey is Wordsworth himself – it is generally accepted that the critic’s judgements affected not only the criticized works’ afterlives, but the poet’s work as well. Wordsworth didn’t heed Jeffrey’s intimations, but they affected him slightly; he responded to the attacks, and defended himself as well as he could, on all grounds Jeffrey has challenged him: morality, philosophy, aesthetics and ethics, stating that contemporary reception cannot serve as a guideline for the future, but should be moulded and refined enough to accept these compositions according to their value. And so the symbiosis continued, with the works of Jeffrey and Wordsworth – although different in genre – growing ever more interconnected. And this is the most important reason why we have to remember Jeffrey: his impact on the Lake Poet’s work will last for ever, even when sarcasm seems outdated, classical references tedious, and elaborate language unnecessary. We can conclude that Jeffrey, even if he hadn’t managed to recognize Wordsworth, stated his opinion in a way worthy of his foe – noone needs to be ashamed of him; for although his sense of humour was limited, his humility likewise, and his ability to pinpoint immortal values a bit shoddy, he was – and remains – a force to be reckoned with. An eternal reminder that, whatever our opinions are, they will always have value and impact towards the one they are aimed at.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Mothers Day Quotes - What Writers Say About Mothers

Mothers Day Quotes - What Writers Say About Mothers What do the writers have to say about Mothers Day? From Edgar Allan Poe to Washington Irving, read what famous writers have written about their mothers. Writers Quotes The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. - Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mothers secret hope outlives them all. - Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men - from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms. - Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) Where we love is homehome that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. - Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. - Washington Irving (1783-1859) Whatever else is unsure in this stinking dunghill of a world a mothers love is not. - James Joyce (1881-1941) Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. - Marcel Proust (1871-1922) Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children. - William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. Thats his. - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895 How have mothers influence the lives of writers? How have women writers balanced the demands of motherhood with the need to write? And, what have authors written about their mothers? Celebrate mothers in literature! Mothers in LiteratureTo My Mother - Edgar Allan PoeMother o Mine - Rudyard KiplingMother and Babe - Walt WhitmanMothers Day Proclamation - Julia Ward HoweAh, Woe is Me, My Mother Dear - Robert BurnsLittle Women - Louisa May AlcottEmilys Mother  - Emily Dickinson

Friday, November 22, 2019

An Evaluation of the reasons why a multinational enterprise undertakes FDI

While it is often argued that MNCs ship capital to where it is scarce, transfer technology and management expertise from one country to another, and promote the efficient allocation of resources in the global economy, it is important to note that inspite of this, the ultimate goal of the corporation is to increase profit and improve share value for its owners and shareholders (Barris and Cabra, 2002). It is believed that while FDI helps the country at the receiving end it also benefits the organisation because FDI by their nature has multiple benefits and can offer quick growth for any organisation if carefully undertaken. According to the International Monetary Fund (2002) FDI refers to an investment made to acquire lasting or long-term interest in enterprises operating outside of the economy of the investor. It plays an important role in global business especially in an everly increasingly competitive world marked by competition and globalisation. FDI can also provide a firm with new opportunities, distribution channels, markets and cheaper production capacities including, skills, technology and financing (IMF, 2002). In the work of Zarsky (2002) he points out that MNCs who invests in other countries often tend to benefit from lower costs and higher productive efficiency amongst several other benefits, therefore for firms seeking to achieve better performance, FDI is always undertaken as a strategic decision to achieve such objective. The aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of FDI to multinational organisations and evaluate some of the most important reasons why a MNC would undertake foreign direct investment abroad. The paper looks at the varying benefits of FDI and how it particularly benefits the firm undertaking such investment. Understanding FDI UNCTAD estimates that there are over 76,000 multinational corporations with affiliates and subsidiaries running to about 770,000 worldwide (UNCTAD, 2007). In 2005, FDI was estimated to have reached over $1.5 trillion with MNCs responsible for 12% of the world’s GDP while employing over 55 million people across the world (OECD, 2007). The OECD also estimates that 100 of the largest MNCs in the world account for over 15% of foreign assets with them accounting for 1/3 of global trade. In total over 70% of MNCs are based in advanced industrial countries with increasing stake in the developing world. The increasing surge of MNCs in emerging markets over the past decade especially attests to the fact they are increasingly undertaking FDI through market expansion to diversify their portfolios and increase their presence. Some of the few examples are: Vodaphone in India, Ford in Turkey, Microsoft in the UK and Coca cola in African countries. As is inherent in some of these examples, F DI can either take the form of merger, acquisition, the development of a new firm and or joint venture participation with existing firms (OECD, 2007). According to Thomsen (2000) FDI is important in so many ways for both the host country and the firm making the FDI because it holds various advantages in the long term for both. However, while its benefit for the firm is the focus of this paper, it is important to state that FDI can stimulate competition so long as there are proper policies in the host economy. Therefore FDI investment is not only important to the multinational firm but also the host economy for which it has so many spill over effects which is enjoyed in the long term. Generally, there is outward FDI and inward FDI. Outward FDI is the type of foreign direct investment which typically leaves a country while inward FDI is one which is received by a host country (Ekholm, 2004). MNCs participate in both forms of FDI and benefits from both at the same time through their activities. While outward FDI is generally not in favour of the host economy, it is said to benefit the MNC because it offers the opportunity for reinvest ment or as profits for the owners or shareholders. Inward FDI on the other hand benefits the host economy as it creates jobs and generates tax for the government while also benefiting the multinational company in several ways. Why MNCs undertake FDI In the old economics textbook, various reasons were adduced to the motive behind MNCs undertaking of FDI in other countries. One of the main explanations is that ‘Market disequilibrium and distortions’ give MNCs the impetus to undertake foreign investment (See e.g. Knickerbocker, 1973; p. 21). In a sense, it is believed that government imposed distortions as well as temporary disequilibria for example causes the need for firms to look outside their domestic market for opportunities in other countries (Ibid). Another explanation often put forward for MNCs motive for undertaking FDI is that market imperfection drives MNCs to look outward because imperfection in a market creates opportunities and economies of scale therefore it offers the MNC a perfect opportunity to increase its profits by investing its stake (See: Ekholm, 2004). While some of these explanations are still true to some extent as to why MNCs undertake FDI, the current and most important reasons indeed surpas es what is documented in the old textbooks of economics as explained earlier. Today, MNCs undertake foreign direct investment for various reasons and one of such is the increasing pressure wielded by competition through the forces of globalisation on the MNC making the rate of risk higher as to sustain long term operation in domestic markets (Nunnenkamp, 2002). Indeed through the modern process of globalisation, competition has taken a new dimension as forces outside a country can compete with a firm irrespective of its dominance in its local market, its brand awareness or strenghth, with the power of increasing competition therefore, survival today is about thinking ahead of the game, organisational thinking through innovation, collaboration, expansion and increased presence in other markets. This can be said to be one of the main impetus for MNCs motive for undertaking FDI abroad as such investment would enable the firm to achieve its objectives of improving profits and enhancing productivity theough cost cutting. Another motive behind MNCs undertaking of foreign direct investment is to diversify risks in their markets and portfolios. As noted by (Johnson, 2005) increasingly the macro business environment is becoming characterized with operational risks as the rate of unceratinty is increasing and markets are failing. The recent recession is an example of such risks existing in the external operating environment, since the recession which first started in 2007, several well known brands have collapsed while many are still suffering from the ruins of the recession. Indeed, many organisations operating in single markets and with limited product and market portfolios were exposed to market failures and increased risks in the last recession which consequently marked major decline in their share value and profit margin. Consequently, as a result of the threats associated with the risks of operating in one single market or product, MNCs are undetaking FDI abroad in other to diversify the risks in th eir primary market. Risk for a MNC can come in various faces. It could be operational risk, market risk, product risk, and several other. Undertaking FDI therefore offers the MNC the opportunity to mitigate such risks by diversifying into other markets or products through FDI. In the recent work of Davis (2009) he suggests that by undertaking foreign direct investment the MNC is able to lower production costs while also able to avoid trade restrictions. More so, the increasing labour cost and the cost of production in industrialised economies has given more impetus to MNCs to undertake FDI in a way that would allow them to lower production costs and enjoy cheaper labour costs (Barros and Cabral 2000). Ford motors is a typical example; Since the cost of production of Ford motors has increased in the UK, the company has decided to conduct its operations from other markets like Turkey for example where the cost of labour and production is relatively low. In addition to aiming to reduce labour and production costs, MNCs also undertake FDI to take up opportunity in profitable markets (Johnson, 2005) and this especially has to do with markets where there are better opportunities for the MNC to compete and make profit while at the same time increasing its brand v alue and identity (Ibid). Most of large oil and gas firms in the industrialised countries are typical examples of this development. Most big western oil firms such as Shell, Chevron, Mobil, BP, Texaco, etc have increased their presence in oil producing nations such as Russia, Angola, Brazil, Nigeria, Qatar, etc because the oil market in such countries require huge investment and infrastructure which they can undertake through FDI yet the market is such that there is little competition and therefore when they enter such markets they are able to use their market power and experience to increase their profit and become better at what they do. Shell like many other oil firms operating in the oil industry of many countries around the world have been able to avail itself of more opportunities in the general oil and gas market as well as other related industry through FDI than it can do in its primary and domestic markets. Similarly, the oil producing companies generally have been able to learn more about the intricacies of downstream and upstream operations as well as able to diversify into other related markets while at the same time able to contribute to the development of their host communities, although there are issues concerning corporate social responsibility and the environmental degradation caused by oil companies to their local communities, however the opportunistic and growth aspect of participating in other markets which FDI offers has been the main motive of MNCs. A similar development can be seen in other industries too, like the beverages industry for example where Coca cola is a prime example, Coca cola have been able to enter over 200 countries mainly to take advantage of the gaps and opportunities in those markets for the purpose of maximising its own profits while at the same time increasing its enhancing productivity and creating edge against its competition. The question to ask indeed is why MNCs are addicted to profit making and the taking up of opportunities everywhere there isIn response to such question: Kugler (2001) suggest that large firms over the past twenty years have been operating in a tougher and competitive world where their market power is challenged by small firms and the power of globalisation, it is this which gives them the motivation to invest abroad with the aim of challenging their competitors and taking to their advantage the benefit inherent in other markets to increase their profits and stay ahead of the game. Several MNCs also take opportunities abroad through FDI with the aim to vertically integrate their operations back and forward so as to sustain their operations and maintain healthy profits. It is at this juncture that the role of greed in their motive to undertake FDI can also be located. While little research exists in the literature on greed and why MNCs undertake FDI abroad, the 2007 global financial crisis has sparked academic debates about the role of greed in the operations and investment motives of MNCs abroad. In the work of Gultung (2009) for example looking at the case of some oil firms, financial institutions and industrialised apparel firms’, he talks about grievance, greed and opportunism in the way MNCs engage in FDI. The author explores the exploitation and the activities of many multinational corporations; How they exploit local firms, resources and labour in the foreign markets in which they operate. He cited the case of Shell in Nigeria and how the firm has over the year’s completely overtaken and forsaken local communities in which they exploit natural resources. As a consequence of such exploitation – Gultung suggests that many f armers have ceased operations while many fishermen are not able to feed their families and survive because their lands and firms have been taken over by oil activities and in many cases devastated and contaminated, yet Shell announce billions of dollars in its after profit tax every year. A similar example was cited of the apparel industry and the activities of company like Primark which has over the years undertaken foreign direct investment in India and many developing countries but to take advantage of labour and other local factors. Exploitation according to the author is defined as a â€Å"means through which one party gets much more out of a deal than the other-measured by the sum of internalities and externalities†. Sadly, most MNCs always get much more out the deals they strike than others. It is in this definition that it can be further argued that many MNCs as it is across many industries in the world mostly exploit other parties with whom they engage in FDI, theref ore it can be assumed that MNCs often undertake FDI in order to improve their profits with the motive to exploit others resources and take advantage of the opportunities in such markets. Finally, MNCs undertake FDI as a result of what Gorg and Strobl (2001) describe as the Product Life Cycle effect which occurs as a result of products reaching their maturity. For example a FDI takes place when product maturity hits and cost becomes an increasingly important consideration for the MNC. Conclusions This paper has explored the foreign investment activities of MNCs and the main reasons why they undertake FDI; it has presented various motives and factors underlying MNCs quest for investment abroad and as discussed above; one of such reasons is to increase profit, diversify risks and increase their competitiveness. The motive to undertake FDI to improve competitiveness has particularly become important for many MNCs given that in the current business environment, competition has become the order of the day and irrespective of size or location, small firms are able to compete in the same market with the multinationals. For the multinationals therefore, competitiveness has been the key and that includes aggressive expansion, constant innovation, acquisition and investing in markets abroad through various means. In view of the reasons mentioned in the paper, the reasons why MNCs undertake FDI can be said to be numerous and dependent on specific factors having to do with individual MNC s. For example some MNCs would make FDI decision to avail themselves of opportunities abroad, while other would take such decision to diversify risks, or vertically integrate their operations. References Barros. P.P. and L. Cabral (2000). Competing for Foreign Direct Investment., Review of International Economics, 8, 360-371. Ekholm, K. (2004). Multinational Enterprises and their Effect on Labour Markets, in Sodersten, B. (ed.), Globalization and the Welfare State, New York: Palgrave Macmillan. OECD (2007). Global Competition and the top ten investment destination, Paris: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Gorg, H. and E. Strobl (2001) .Multinational Companies, Technology Spillovers, and Plant Survival: Evidence from Irish Manufacturing., EIJS Working Paper 131, Stockholm School of Economics. Glass, A. and Saggi, K. (2002). Multinational Firms and Technology Transfer, Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 104(3), 495-514. Galtung, J. (2009) Peace by peaceful means peace and conflict, development and civilisation. London, Sage publications International Monetary Fund (2002). FDI statistics. Johnson, A. (2005). Host Country Effects of Foreign Direct Investment: The Case of Developing and Transition Economies, Jonkoping, Singapore: Jonkoping International Business School Dissertation Series No. 031 Knickerbocker, F. T. (1973) Oligopolistic Reaction and Multinational Enterprise. Division of Research Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University: Cambridge, MA Nunnenkamp, P. (2002). Determinants of FDI in Developing Countries: Has Globalization Changed the Rules of the GameKiel, Germany: Kiel Institute for World Economics working paper No. 1122 Thomsen, S. (2000). Investment Patterns in a Longer-Term Perspective, OECD Working Paper on International Development, Number 2000/2 UNCTAD (2009). FDI statistics for multinational and Transnational’s, Geneva: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Zarsky, L. (2002). Foreign Direct Investment: No Miracle Drug [online]. Ultimate Field Guide to the US Economy, Available: http://www.fguide.org/Bulletin/fdinodrug.htm An Evaluation of the reasons why a multinational enterprise undertakes FDI While it is often argued that MNCs ship capital to where it is scarce, transfer technology and management expertise from one country to another, and promote the efficient allocation of resources in the global economy, it is important to note that inspite of this, the ultimate goal of the corporation is to increase profit and improve share value for its owners and shareholders (Barris and Cabra, 2002). It is believed that while FDI helps the country at the receiving end it also benefits the organisation because FDI by their nature has multiple benefits and can offer quick growth for any organisation if carefully undertaken. According to the International Monetary Fund (2002) FDI refers to an investment made to acquire lasting or long-term interest in enterprises operating outside of the economy of the investor. It plays an important role in global business especially in an everly increasingly competitive world marked by competition and globalisation. FDI can also provide a firm with new opportunities, distribution channels, markets and cheaper production capacities including, skills, technology and financing (IMF, 2002). In the work of Zarsky (2002) he points out that MNCs who invests in other countries often tend to benefit from lower costs and higher productive efficiency amongst several other benefits, therefore for firms seeking to achieve better performance, FDI is always undertaken as a strategic decision to achieve such objective. The aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of FDI to multinational organisations and evaluate some of the most important reasons why a MNC would undertake foreign direct investment abroad. The paper looks at the varying benefits of FDI and how it particularly benefits the firm undertaking such investment. Understanding FDI UNCTAD estimates that there are over 76,000 multinational corporations with affiliates and subsidiaries running to about 770,000 worldwide (UNCTAD, 2007). In 2005, FDI was estimated to have reached over $1.5 trillion with MNCs responsible for 12% of the world’s GDP while employing over 55 million people across the world (OECD, 2007). The OECD also estimates that 100 of the largest MNCs in the world account for over 15% of foreign assets with them accounting for 1/3 of global trade. In total over 70% of MNCs are based in advanced industrial countries with increasing stake in the developing world. The increasing surge of MNCs in emerging markets over the past decade especially attests to the fact they are increasingly undertaking FDI through market expansion to diversify their portfolios and increase their presence. Some of the few examples are: Vodaphone in India, Ford in Turkey, Microsoft in the UK and Coca cola in African countries. As is inherent in some of these examples, F DI can either take the form of merger, acquisition, the development of a new firm and or joint venture participation with existing firms (OECD, 2007). According to Thomsen (2000) FDI is important in so many ways for both the host country and the firm making the FDI because it holds various advantages in the long term for both. However, while its benefit for the firm is the focus of this paper, it is important to state that FDI can stimulate competition so long as there are proper policies in the host economy. Therefore FDI investment is not only important to the multinational firm but also the host economy for which it has so many spill over effects which is enjoyed in the long term. Generally, there is outward FDI and inward FDI. Outward FDI is the type of foreign direct investment which typically leaves a country while inward FDI is one which is received by a host country (Ekholm, 2004). MNCs participate in both forms of FDI and benefits from both at the same time through their activities. While outward FDI is generally not in favour of the host economy, it is said to benefit the MNC because it offers the opportunity for reinvest ment or as profits for the owners or shareholders. Inward FDI on the other hand benefits the host economy as it creates jobs and generates tax for the government while also benefiting the multinational company in several ways. Why MNCs undertake FDI In the old economics textbook, various reasons were adduced to the motive behind MNCs undertaking of FDI in other countries. One of the main explanations is that ‘Market disequilibrium and distortions’ give MNCs the impetus to undertake foreign investment (See e.g. Knickerbocker, 1973; p. 21). In a sense, it is believed that government imposed distortions as well as temporary disequilibria for example causes the need for firms to look outside their domestic market for opportunities in other countries (Ibid). Another explanation often put forward for MNCs motive for undertaking FDI is that market imperfection drives MNCs to look outward because imperfection in a market creates opportunities and economies of scale therefore it offers the MNC a perfect opportunity to increase its profits by investing its stake (See: Ekholm, 2004). While some of these explanations are still true to some extent as to why MNCs undertake FDI, the current and most important reasons indeed surpas es what is documented in the old textbooks of economics as explained earlier. Today, MNCs undertake foreign direct investment for various reasons and one of such is the increasing pressure wielded by competition through the forces of globalisation on the MNC making the rate of risk higher as to sustain long term operation in domestic markets (Nunnenkamp, 2002). Indeed through the modern process of globalisation, competition has taken a new dimension as forces outside a country can compete with a firm irrespective of its dominance in its local market, its brand awareness or strenghth, with the power of increasing competition therefore, survival today is about thinking ahead of the game, organisational thinking through innovation, collaboration, expansion and increased presence in other markets. This can be said to be one of the main impetus for MNCs motive for undertaking FDI abroad as such investment would enable the firm to achieve its objectives of improving profits and enhancing productivity theough cost cutting. Another motive behind MNCs undertaking of foreign direct investment is to diversify risks in their markets and portfolios. As noted by (Johnson, 2005) increasingly the macro business environment is becoming characterized with operational risks as the rate of unceratinty is increasing and markets are failing. The recent recession is an example of such risks existing in the external operating environment, since the recession which first started in 2007, several well known brands have collapsed while many are still suffering from the ruins of the recession. Indeed, many organisations operating in single markets and with limited product and market portfolios were exposed to market failures and increased risks in the last recession which consequently marked major decline in their share value and profit margin. Consequently, as a result of the threats associated with the risks of operating in one single market or product, MNCs are undetaking FDI abroad in other to diversify the risks in th eir primary market. Risk for a MNC can come in various faces. It could be operational risk, market risk, product risk, and several other. Undertaking FDI therefore offers the MNC the opportunity to mitigate such risks by diversifying into other markets or products through FDI. In the recent work of Davis (2009) he suggests that by undertaking foreign direct investment the MNC is able to lower production costs while also able to avoid trade restrictions. More so, the increasing labour cost and the cost of production in industrialised economies has given more impetus to MNCs to undertake FDI in a way that would allow them to lower production costs and enjoy cheaper labour costs (Barros and Cabral 2000). Ford motors is a typical example; Since the cost of production of Ford motors has increased in the UK, the company has decided to conduct its operations from other markets like Turkey for example where the cost of labour and production is relatively low. In addition to aiming to reduce labour and production costs, MNCs also undertake FDI to take up opportunity in profitable markets (Johnson, 2005) and this especially has to do with markets where there are better opportunities for the MNC to compete and make profit while at the same time increasing its brand v alue and identity (Ibid). Most of large oil and gas firms in the industrialised countries are typical examples of this development. Most big western oil firms such as Shell, Chevron, Mobil, BP, Texaco, etc have increased their presence in oil producing nations such as Russia, Angola, Brazil, Nigeria, Qatar, etc because the oil market in such countries require huge investment and infrastructure which they can undertake through FDI yet the market is such that there is little competition and therefore when they enter such markets they are able to use their market power and experience to increase their profit and become better at what they do. Shell like many other oil firms operating in the oil industry of many countries around the world have been able to avail itself of more opportunities in the general oil and gas market as well as other related industry through FDI than it can do in its primary and domestic markets. Similarly, the oil producing companies generally have been able to learn more about the intricacies of downstream and upstream operations as well as able to diversify into other related markets while at the same time able to contribute to the development of their host communities, although there are issues concerning corporate social responsibility and the environmental degradation caused by oil companies to their local communities, however the opportunistic and growth aspect of participating in other markets which FDI offers has been the main motive of MNCs. A similar development can be seen in other industries too, like the beverages industry for example where Coca cola is a prime example, Coca cola have been able to enter over 200 countries mainly to take advantage of the gaps and opportunities in those markets for the purpose of maximising its own profits while at the same time increasing its enhancing productivity and creating edge against its competition. The question to ask indeed is why MNCs are addicted to profit making and the taking up of opportunities everywhere there isIn response to such question: Kugler (2001) suggest that large firms over the past twenty years have been operating in a tougher and competitive world where their market power is challenged by small firms and the power of globalisation, it is this which gives them the motivation to invest abroad with the aim of challenging their competitors and taking to their advantage the benefit inherent in other markets to increase their profits and stay ahead of the game. Several MNCs also take opportunities abroad through FDI with the aim to vertically integrate their operations back and forward so as to sustain their operations and maintain healthy profits. It is at this juncture that the role of greed in their motive to undertake FDI can also be located. While little research exists in the literature on greed and why MNCs undertake FDI abroad, the 2007 global financial crisis has sparked academic debates about the role of greed in the operations and investment motives of MNCs abroad. In the work of Gultung (2009) for example looking at the case of some oil firms, financial institutions and industrialised apparel firms’, he talks about grievance, greed and opportunism in the way MNCs engage in FDI. The author explores the exploitation and the activities of many multinational corporations; How they exploit local firms, resources and labour in the foreign markets in which they operate. He cited the case of Shell in Nigeria and how the firm has over the year’s completely overtaken and forsaken local communities in which they exploit natural resources. As a consequence of such exploitation – Gultung suggests that many f armers have ceased operations while many fishermen are not able to feed their families and survive because their lands and firms have been taken over by oil activities and in many cases devastated and contaminated, yet Shell announce billions of dollars in its after profit tax every year. A similar example was cited of the apparel industry and the activities of company like Primark which has over the years undertaken foreign direct investment in India and many developing countries but to take advantage of labour and other local factors. Exploitation according to the author is defined as a â€Å"means through which one party gets much more out of a deal than the other-measured by the sum of internalities and externalities†. Sadly, most MNCs always get much more out the deals they strike than others. It is in this definition that it can be further argued that many MNCs as it is across many industries in the world mostly exploit other parties with whom they engage in FDI, theref ore it can be assumed that MNCs often undertake FDI in order to improve their profits with the motive to exploit others resources and take advantage of the opportunities in such markets. Finally, MNCs undertake FDI as a result of what Gorg and Strobl (2001) describe as the Product Life Cycle effect which occurs as a result of products reaching their maturity. For example a FDI takes place when product maturity hits and cost becomes an increasingly important consideration for the MNC. Conclusions This paper has explored the foreign investment activities of MNCs and the main reasons why they undertake FDI; it has presented various motives and factors underlying MNCs quest for investment abroad and as discussed above; one of such reasons is to increase profit, diversify risks and increase their competitiveness. The motive to undertake FDI to improve competitiveness has particularly become important for many MNCs given that in the current business environment, competition has become the order of the day and irrespective of size or location, small firms are able to compete in the same market with the multinationals. For the multinationals therefore, competitiveness has been the key and that includes aggressive expansion, constant innovation, acquisition and investing in markets abroad through various means. In view of the reasons mentioned in the paper, the reasons why MNCs undertake FDI can be said to be numerous and dependent on specific factors having to do with individual MNC s. For example some MNCs would make FDI decision to avail themselves of opportunities abroad, while other would take such decision to diversify risks, or vertically integrate their operations. References Barros. P.P. and L. Cabral (2000). Competing for Foreign Direct Investment., Review of International Economics, 8, 360-371. Ekholm, K. (2004). Multinational Enterprises and their Effect on Labour Markets, in Sodersten, B. (ed.), Globalization and the Welfare State, New York: Palgrave Macmillan. OECD (2007). Global Competition and the top ten investment destination, Paris: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Gorg, H. and E. Strobl (2001) .Multinational Companies, Technology Spillovers, and Plant Survival: Evidence from Irish Manufacturing., EIJS Working Paper 131, Stockholm School of Economics. Glass, A. and Saggi, K. (2002). Multinational Firms and Technology Transfer, Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 104(3), 495-514. Galtung, J. (2009) Peace by peaceful means peace and conflict, development and civilisation. London, Sage publications International Monetary Fund (2002). FDI statistics. Johnson, A. (2005). Host Country Effects of Foreign Direct Investment: The Case of Developing and Transition Economies, Jonkoping, Singapore: Jonkoping International Business School Dissertation Series No. 031 Knickerbocker, F. T. (1973) Oligopolistic Reaction and Multinational Enterprise. Division of Research Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University: Cambridge, MA Nunnenkamp, P. (2002). Determinants of FDI in Developing Countries: Has Globalization Changed the Rules of the GameKiel, Germany: Kiel Institute for World Economics working paper No. 1122 Thomsen, S. (2000). Investment Patterns in a Longer-Term Perspective, OECD Working Paper on International Development, Number 2000/2 UNCTAD (2009). FDI statistics for multinational and Transnational’s, Geneva: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Zarsky, L. (2002). Foreign Direct Investment: No Miracle Drug [online]. Ultimate Field Guide to the US Economy, Available: http://www.fguide.org/Bulletin/fdinodrug.htm

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Fair Trade Movement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Fair Trade Movement - Research Paper Example The contemporary fair trade movement traces its roots back in the 1950’s when it was known as the Alternative Trade Organizations (ATO). Evidently, Alternative Trade Organizations were formed by humanitarian groups that sought to address the pertinent issue of poverty in the developing countries through alleviation measures. To this end, the humanitarian groups adopted the approach of cutting off the middleman from the supply chain of trade between small scale businesses in the Southern hemisphere and small scale producers in the Northern hemisphere (Warrier, 100). Evidently, Oxfam UK intervened by selling craftwork in Oxfam shops which were produced by Chinese refugees (Hutchens, 5). To this end, the result was increased amount of profits for the labour force in developing nations. In 1988, the Dutch chapter of the Alternative Trade Organizations, Solidarid, innovatively crafted a labelling mechanism. Evidently, it aided in the introduction of products within mainstream marke ts without betraying consumer trust in their acts of humanitarian assistance. Background Information In 1964, Oxfam UK formed the first Fair Trade Organization (Warrier, 100). In this regard, there were parallel interventions being undertaken in Netherlands. Consequently, an importing organization known as Fair Trade Original was created in 1967. To this end, Dutch third world associations started to sell sugar cane under the slogan, â€Å"by buying sugar cane, you offer poor people in third world countriea a chance in the sun of prosperity†. Moreover, the third world Dutch groups proceeded to sell Southern handicrafts and by 1969, they opened the first ‘Third World Shop.’ ... Consequently, this led to the creation of numerous Southern Fair Trade Organizations which established networks with the newly created Northern organizations (Hutchens, 5). Evidently, the North and South co-operation was centred on respect, dialogue, transparency and partnership. The mutual goal was towards achieving better equity in international trade. In addition, developing countries were engaged in international political platforms towards addressing the inequality and unfairness in international trade. In this regard, during the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development that took place in Delhi in 1968, the developing nations were addressing the issue of ‘Trade not Aid.’ To this end, the third world countries emphasized on the creation of mutual, and equitable trade partnership with the South. This was in defiance to the North’s approach which was involved in getting all the benefits and offering piecemeal benefits masqueraded as developmental aid. Evidently, development trade has been attributed to the growth of Fair Trade Movement since the late 1960s. Moreover, its growth is attributed to the responsive intervention against poverty as well as partly due to disaster emanating from the South. Its major focus during its inception was the marketing promotion of craft items. The eminent founders of the Fair Trade Movement were drawn from large humanitarian and religious organizations located in European countries. Consequently, collaboration with Southern counterparts led to the creation of Southern Fair Trade Organizations (Warrier, 100). Evidently, the Southern Fair Trade Organizations performed the work of

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Commentary essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Commentary - Essay Example This beautiful ode â€Å"Complaint† runs deep through the hearts of each reader with its soothing effect on a marooned mind. The poet literates his feeling for his beloved one on her demise from his romantic world. The quote, â€Å"She was my moon and more.† shows how good he is at metaphorically attributing his love for her. This poem has its name ‘Complaint’ with a sensible parameter applied in naming eminent word works. This verse shows the author’s feelings for his spouse on and off her presence. Her motherhood is highlighted with added effects of a natural mother. The lines â€Å"Now morbid boys have†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦dress† show the influence of her motherhood on the children. She was truly a mother teacher, the one who showed her children better ways of living. The lines, â€Å"What arm will†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. hungry dogs† explicit the inseparable role of a mother at home. This poem though simple and small, gives a very good message to the readers with a breeze of comfort and a passionate feeling for their beloved ones; more accurately saying, it wraps up our heart with the loveliest feeling of

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Nutrition programs Essay Example for Free

Nutrition programs Essay Traditionally, nutrition programs were targeted to the indigent and poor populations in developing countries. Many of todays Americans are malnourished also, but they are inundated with unhealthy foods and require a multidisciplinary approach to nutrition education. What would be the three most important points to include in a public nutrition program? Provide current literature to support your answer and include two nutritional education community resources. Answer: Although we already know it is essential to eat a healthy diet, we may find it more challenging to sort through all of the information about nutrition and food choices. Nutrition is the provision to cells and organisms of the materials necessary (in the form of food) to support life. Healthy eating helps prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure and helps reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Many people today in America are malnourished and it is mostly due to indulging in unhealthy/poor dietary intake. These problems can be controlled by utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to public education. The doctors, social workers, nurses, dieticians and other health educators involved in health promotion should all have a part in ensuring and promoting healthy dietary intake with appropriate food portions and increasing physical activity. The three most important points to include in a public nutrition program are (a) the relationship between food choices and chronic disease such as high blood pressure (high salt intake), high lipids (high fat intake), obesity/diabetes (high sugar/carb intake/low activity) and much more. Educating the public on how to use natural herbs/ seasonings, or salt substitute, reading labels for nutritional contents and ingredients and eating low carb food are all vital factors to know. It is also very important to increase your physical activity daily. Another important point to include is (b) the nutritional assessment. Individuals need to be assessed for their nutritional status and risk. This will help to â€Å"tailor the food packages, design appropriate nutritional education and make referrals to health and social services† (USDA, 2015). The next would be  the nutrition for mothers and children in regards to lactation counselling and school lunch programs. Newborn maternal nursing along with children’s’ nutrition is also a very important point to address. There are a lot of mother/baby classes in the community to help promote breastfeeding, infant meals, and children lunch box ideas. Schools are also in a unique position to promote healthy eating and help ensure appropriate food and nutrient intake among students. There are many nutritional education community resources that helps families in America to improve their nutritional status. They are (A) MyPlate Program: This was created by Michelle Obama in 2011 to serve as a reminder for people to create/make healthier food choices. It put emphasis on eating lots of fruits, grains, vegetables, protein foods and dietary foods. (B) The woman, infant and children program (WIC): This program assist pregnant women, new moms and young children obtain and eat healthy foods. Qualified individuals can only purchase healthy food items. Nutritional education is also provided for qualified individuals at no cost to them. References: MyPlate, 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate WIC Program Nutrition Education Guidance, 2006. Retrieved from: http://www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks/learning_Center/ntredguidance.pdf Edelman, C.L., Kudzman, E, C., Mandel, C. L., (2014). Health promotion throughout the Lifespan. St. Louis: Elsevier.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Analysis of Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros Essay examples -- Caramelo His

Analysis of Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros Caramelo has been quite an interesting novel. It describes a Hispanic family to the tee. Sandra Cisneros chose her title perfectly for this book. Life’s hardships and possibilities are explored throughout this fascinating novel. The author describes the word caramelo in different ways and in two different occasions. The first occasion was to describe Candelarias’ skin color. Celaya quoted: â€Å"Her skin a caramelo. A color so sweet, it hurts to even look at her.† (p.37). She also says: â€Å"Her skin is as smooth as peanut butter and deep as burnt-milk candy. The other occasion caramelo is mentioned was to describe the awful grandmothers’ rare, old, unique, and unfinished silk rebozo. â€Å"The grandfather pulls out a cloth from the walnut-wood armoire of caramel, licorice, and vanilla stripes.† (p.58) These two events are mostly connected by the description of color. The author describes Candelarias’ skin color being so sweet it hurts, much like a very sweet candy would. Much like the candy is sweet, so is Candelaria and her personality. I believe Cisneros chose Caramelo because a caramelo or candy cane has dark and bright long stripes on it. To me the stripes indicate a person’s life span. They also symbolize the dark, dreadful times we all go through and the bright stripes would tell the joyous, wonderful times we have in life. In addition, the stripes twirl around and around similar to our lives. Everyone’s life has a curve or tu...

Monday, November 11, 2019

Reasons for United States Possible Attack on Iran Essay

The topic on the possibility of United States launching a military attack against Iran has dominated much news for several years since the Bush administration and during which some quarters speculated that such an attack would be ordered before the administration left office. As early as 2005, a number of articles had started revealing the imminent plans by Pentagon to order military operations against Iran. While people and the media may speculate and give their opinions about many aspects of the imminent war, the most important issue to understand is the reasons which may spark the attack. It is therefore the objective of this paper to discuss the reasons why US would engage in a military land war with Iran. 2. 0 The Euro-Based Oil Bourse This is one of the major reasons which revolve around the plan by Tehran government in 2005 and 2006 to start competing with the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the largest physical commodity futures exchange in the world based in New York and the London based International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) by using the euro-dominated oil trading mechanism (Clark, 2004). The logic behind this is that by using this mechanism in international oil trades, the euro is going to take dominance and establish a firm ground which will serve to overshadow the strength of the U. S dollar in the global oil market. The U. S government therefore considers this a real threat by Tehran government which warrants intervention to protect the dollar from being toppled off from its long term monopoly in the critical international oil market. It is worth noting that lack of an oil pricing standard that is euro-dominated also referred to oil â€Å"marker† in the oil trading industry is one of the technical challenges facing the euro-based trading system in oil transactions. The oil markers currently in operation today are the U. S dollar dominated which include Norway Brent crude, West Texas Intermediate crude, and the UAE Dubai crude. In the spring of 2003, Iran laid down a requirement that all the transactions for its Asian and European oil exports be conducted using the euro currency though the pricing of oil was still predominantly controlled by the dollar. Following an official announcement in 2004 that Iran had intentions to develop an Iranian oil Bourse, it raised the concerns that a stiff competition would ensue between the Iranian oil bourse and the U. S owned NYME and the IPE (Clark, 2004). The macroeconomic implications of such a development would cause a shift in the international commerce in both Middle East and the European Union which is the largest importer of oil from OPEC producers. Consequently, the financial hegemony enjoyed by the IPE and NYMEX would be greatly challenged and thus the U. S is likely to avoid this through military action. 3. 0 The Ambitious Nuclear Program of Iran The Tehran’s nuclear ambition is another possible reason as to why the U. S may launch a land military attack on Iran. This has been seen from the latest series of sanctions on Iran by the Obama administration which mainly targets the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps which is the most powerful social, political and economic institution in Iran. The organization also has a large number of companies and banks and therefore makes it an appropriate target for these sanctions (LANDLER & COOPER, 2010). However, the critical thing to focus on with regard to this issue is whether these sanctions have the capacity to compel Iran to halt its nuclear program. If the history of political and economic sanctions against countries is anything to go by, then Iran may not change its course despite the sanctions and this may lead to war. The reason for the sanctions is to â€Å"contain† Tehran which depicts a link which leads from diplomatic pressure to military action (Nadal, 2010). Tehran views this threat as real considering that its two neighbors to the west and to the east have a large number of U. S troops. 4. 0 Conclusion A possible military action on Iran by the US cannot be overlooked since the reasons surrounding this possibility would also have major effects on the economy and the security of the US. Considering the economic problems facing the US, the attempts by Iran to establish the euro-based oil bourse may seem as an attempt to suppress the dollar in the international oil market. The nuclear program also would threaten the security not only of the US but also of the world if it is not either regulated or completely halted. To aver the nuclear weapons development, Washington ought to try and alter the perceptions of threat harbored by Iran against America. References Clark, W. (2004). The Real Reasons Why Iran is the Next Target: The Emerging Euro-denominated International Oil Marker. Retrieved August 20, 2010, from http://www. globalresearch. ca/articles/CLA410A. html LANDLER, M. , & COOPER, H. (2010). U. S. Eyes New Sanctions Over Iran Nuclear Program. Retrieved August 20, 2010, from http://www. nytimes. com/2010/02/10/world/middleeast/10sanctions. html? _r=1 Nadal, A. (2010). Sanctions against Iran and the Next War. Retrieved August 20, 2010, from http://www. campaigniran. org/casmii/index. php? q=node/10518

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Gen Chem Study Guide

A. WORK-OUT PROBLEMS: Write formulas for the following: calcium nitratephosphorous pentafluoride aluminum carbonatestrontium hydroxide methanepotassium oxide lithium chloridebarium sulfate phosphate iondinitrogen tetroxide Give the complete electron configurations of: S, O2-, and Mn. For the following molecules/ions, give the Lewis structure, molecular geometry, and electron pair geometry: NO2-SF4 Write Lewis structures to represent all resonance forms of CO32-. 5. How many joules of heat energy are lost when a 100-gram sample of a metal (with a specific heat of 0. 312 J/(g?C) cools from 80. 0? C to 30. 0? C? Calculate the number of moles in: 4. 20 X 1024 molecules of SO2 240 grams of NaOH 5. 00 liters of H2 gas at 0? C and 1. 00 atm. 1. 7 liters of Ar gas at STP 7. How many grams of AlCl3 can be prepared from 50. 0 g of Al and 100. 0 g of Cl2 according to the equation: 2 Al + 3 Cl2 ? 2 AlCl3 ? How many neutrons are there in 131I? Which bond is the most polar? I-ClI-Br I-SI-I Circle the molecules that are polar (have a dipole moment): CCl4CH4H2ONH3HBrCHCl3 CCl2F2 How many unpaired electrons does the Si atom have?Write the correct Lewis structure for CS2. Write the formal charges on each atom in [F-S=F]2+ (lone pairs are not shown). How many ions are formed when Ca3(PO4)2 dissolves? How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are there in 19F- ion? Discuss the properties of molecules used as liquid crystals. (ignore this question) What is the molarity of the solution made when 1. 25 grams of sodium chloride are dissolved in 500 mL of water? What is the hybridization of the carbon atom C2H2 ? What is the molecular formula of a compound with 30. 5% N and 69. 5% S, and it has a molar mass of 184 g/mol?How many electrons are found at the sublevel 1=2? How many sigma and how many pi bonds does carbon dioxide have? How many milliliters of 2. 5M solution are needed to prepare 500 mL of 0. 08M solution? How many milliliters of 1. 25M hydrochloric acid are needed to neutra lize 50. 0 millimeters of 0. 55M barium hydroxide? The vapor pressure of SiCl4 is 100 mmHg at 5. 4? C and the normal boiling point is 56. 8? C. What is ? Hvap for SiCl4 in kJ/mol? B. MULTIPLE CHOICE A 34. 6 g sample of calcium oxide is a. 0. 0346 molb. 0. 617 molc. 1. 23 mold. 34. 6 mol 2.When the following equation is balanced, the total number of nitrogen atoms on the reactant side is:BaCl2(aq) + AgNO3(aq) ? Ba(NO3)2(aq) + AgCl(s) a. 2b. 3c. 4d. 6 Given that 4 HNO3(aq)? 4NO2(aq) + 2 H2O(l) + O2(g), the amount of NO2 which could be produced from 3. 00 mol HNO3 is: a. 138 gb. 177 gc. 184 g d. 236 g Given that 3 CuCl2(aq) + 2 Al(s) ? 3 Cu(s) + 2 AlCl3(aq), the amount of Al required to produce 42. 4 g of Cu is: a. 12. 0 gb. 28. 3g c. 40. 5 gd. 42. 4 g The type of substance least likely to appear as a product in a net ionic equation is a soluble saltc. weak electrolyte an insoluble saltd. an insoluble gas When a solution of NiBr2 is mixed with a solution of (NH4)2CO3 the net ionic equa tion is: a. NiBr2(aq) + (NH4)2CO3(aq) ? NiCO3(s) + 2 NH4Br(aq) b. Ni2+ (aq) + 2Br- (aq) ? 2 NH4+ (aq) + CO32- (aq)? NiCO3(s) + 2 NH4+ (aq) + 2 Br- (aq) c. Ni2+ (aq) + CO32-(aq) ? NiCO3(s) d. Br-(aq) + NH4+ (aq) ? NH4Br(aq) When a sample of chlorine gas at 35? C doubles in volume, its pressure stays the samec. is half as great doubles d. increases fourfold A 385-mL sample of oxygen gas collected at 747 mm Hg and 27. 4?C would occupy what volume at STP? a. 344 mLb. 356 mLc. 416 mLd. 431 mL A 9. 74 g sample of CO2 will occupy 6. 37 L at 0. 829 atm only if the temperature is a. 17. 6? Cb. 6. 61? Cc. 564? C d. above 100? C A sample of N2 would obey the ideal gas law most closely at 0. 68 atm and –68? Cc. 680 atm and –68? C 0. 68 atm and 680? Cd. 680 atm and 680? C A 50. 0 g sample of an unknown substance absorbed 1. 64 kJ as its temperature changed from 36? C to 98? C. The specific heat of the unknown is: a. 0. 53 J/(g? C)b. 0. 76 kJ/(g? C)c. 1. 3 kJ/(g? C)d. 1. 9 kJ/(g?C) The formation reaction in this list is a. Sn(s) + 2Cl2(g) ? SnCl4(l)c. 2C2H5OH(l) + 7O2(g) ? 4CO2(g) + 6H2O(l) b. 2HNO2(l) + NO(g) ? 3NO2(g) + H2O(l) d. 2Cl2O(g)? 2Cl2(g) + O2(g) For CH4(g) + 4Cl2(g) ? CCl4(g) + 4HCl(g), ? H? =-402 kJ. How much HCl was formed when 201 kJ were given off? a. 18. 2 gb. 72. 9 gc. 146 gd. 292 g Use the thermochemical equations below to calculate the enthalpy of reaction for NOCl(g) + Cl(g) ? NO(g) + Cl2(g) N2(g) + O2(g) + Cl2(g) ? 2NOCl(g)? H? =105. 2 kJ N2(g) + O2(g) ? 2NO(g)? H? =180. 7 kJ Cl2(g) ? 2Cl(g)?H? =243. 2 kJ a. 529. 1 kJb. 264. 6 kJc. -83. 85 kJd. –167. 7 kJ The energy of a photon of electromagnetic radiation is directly proportional to its a. speed in a vacuum c. frequency b. wavelength d. diffraction The volume in space where an electron with a particular energy is likely to be found is called a wave functionc. the spin quantum number a photond. an orbital The frequency of a microwave with a wavelength of 12. 2 cm is a. 8. 08 x 10-3 3 Hzc. 2. 46 x 107 Hz b. 3. 66 x 109 Hzd. 2. 46 x 109 Hz The number of orbitals in the 4p subshell is a. 1b. 3c. 5d. 18The energy difference between the two energy levels responsible for the 451 nm blue-violet line the emission of indium is a. 6. 65 x 105 Jc. 2. 27 x 1018 J b. 1. 50 x 105 Jd. 4. 40 x 10-19 J The maximum number of electrons contained in a 3d subshell is a. 2b. 6c. 10d. 18 The number of valence electrons shown in the Lewis formula for SF4 is a. 40b. 34c. 32d. 5 The formal charge on O in the compound H2O2 (in the order HOOH) is a. 0b. –2c. –1d. –3 The resonance structures for SO2 include each of these except a. O=S-Ob. O-S=Oc. O=S=Od. S-O=O The O-S-O bond angle in SO2 is closest to a. 0? b. 109. 5? c. 120? d. 180? Of the following substances, the least polar bonds are those found in a. H2b. H2Oc. H2Sd. CH4 Matter is said to be transparent to those wavelengths it a. absorbs b. diffractsc. cyclesd. transmits In formaldehyde (H2CO) the electron pairs are located about the central atom in which type of arrangement? a. pyramidal b. tetrahedralc. trigonal planard. bent The molecular geometry of SO3 is best described as a. linearb. trigonal planarc. tetrahedrald. bent The molecular geometry of CO32- is best described as a. linearb. trigonal planerc. tetrahedrald. bentOf the following, which has a molecular geometry that is not planar? a. CH4b. H2COc. C2H4d. SO3 When a solution of sodium chloride and a solution of lithium nitrate are mixed a precipitate forms a new salt is formed a gas is evolved no reaction occurs When solutions of barium chloride and sodium sulfate are mixed, the spectator ions in the resulting reaction are a. only Ba2+b. only SO42-c. Only Na+d. both Na+ and Cl- Which of the following ionic compounds is insoluble in water? a. NH4Clb. AgNO3c. KId. Na2S Given that Fe2O3(s) + 3CO(g) ? 2Fe(s) + 3CO2(g), when 45. 3 g of CO reacts quantitatively with 79. g of Fe2O3, the amount of Fe formed is a. 45. 3 gb. 55. 8 gc. 60. 2 gd. 79. 8 g For the above reaction, when 45. 3 g of CO reacts quantitatively with 79. 8 g of Fe2O3, the amount of leftover reactant is a. 34. 5 gb. 24. 0 gc. 17. 8 gd. 3. 2 g 36. The oxidation numbers of P, S and Cl in H2PO2-, H2S and KClO4 are, respectively a) -1, -1, +3 b) +1, -2, +7 c) +1, +2, +7 d) -1, -2, +7 e) -1, -2, +3 37. Identify the oxidizing agent in the following redox reaction. Hg2+(aq) + Cu(s) > Cu2+(aq) + Hg(l) a) Hg2+(aq) b) Cu(s) c) Cu2+(aq) d) Hg(l) e) Hg2+(aq) and Cu2+(aq)

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How to Use the French Expression Allons-y

How to Use the French Expression Allons-y The French phrase allons-y  (pronounced ah-lo(n)-zee) is one you may find yourself using if youre traveling with friends or about to begin something. Literally translated, it means Let us go there, but this idiomatic expression is usually understood to mean  Lets go. There are many variations of this common phrase, depending on the context, such as lets get going,  off we go, lets get started, here we go, and more. French speakers use it to  announce that its time to leave or to indicate the beginning of some activity.   Usage and Examples   The French expression  allons-y is essentially the first person plural (nous) form of the imperative of aller (to go), followed by the adverbial pronoun  y. Rough synonyms include  On y va!  (Lets go) and  Cest parti  (Here we go). An informal variation is Allons-y, Alonso.  The name Alonso doesnt refer to an actual person; its just tacked on for fun because its alliterative (the first two syllables are the same as those of  Allons-y). So its a bit like saying, Lets go, Daddy-o. If you were to put this in the third person  plural, youd get the similarly well-known French expression Allez-y! The idiomatic meaning of allez-y in colloquial French is something like Go on! or Off you go! Here are some other examples of how you might use this phrase in conversation: Il est tard, allons-y.   Its getting late;  lets go.Il y a un nouveau resto cà ´tà © du cinà ©ma, allons-y.   Theres a new restaurant next to the movie theater.  Lets go (eat there).Tu veux apprendre le japonais? Moi aussi, allons-y!   You want to learn Japanese? Me too. Lets go / Lets do it!Vous à ªtes prà ªts? Allons-y!   Are you ready? Lets go!Allons-y maintenant! Lets go now.OK, allons-y. Okay, lets go.Allons-y, ne nous gà ªnons pas!  (ironic usage)   Dont mind me !Allons bon, jai perdu ma clef maintenant!   Oh no, now Ive lost my key !Allons bon, voil quil recommence pleurer!   Here we go; hes crying again !Eh bien,  allons-y  et voyons sil disait la và ©rità ©.  Ã‚  Well,  lets go  and see if he was telling the truth.Alors,  allons-y. Oà ¹ mettez-vous les mains?  Ã‚  Go on then. Do you put your hands like this?Enfin, puisque vous insistez,  allons-y.   Oh, well, if you insist.  Come  on.Je suis partante,  allons-y, ici, t out de suite.  Ã‚  Im ready.  Lets do it. Right here, now.A quoi cela ressemblerait-il? Alors  allons-y.  Ã‚  What would it look like? Lets  begin. Sinon, remontons nos manches et  allons-y.  Ã‚  Otherwise, lets roll up our sleeves and  get on with it.

Monday, November 4, 2019

IDENTIFY the challenges faced by HRD professionals in meeting the Essay

IDENTIFY the challenges faced by HRD professionals in meeting the needs of an intergenerational workforce (read full quesation attch on folder) - Essay Example acing the field of HDR include stiff competition in the global market, increased workforce diversity, the need to eliminate the skill gap associated with globalization, ethical issues and intergenerational issues in the workplace (Werner & DeSimone 2011). Intergenerational issues are perhaps some of the greatest challenges experienced by HRD professionals as organizations compete to recruit young innovative brains from the global job market. As business organizations increasingly compete in the global economy, many are introducing new technologies that require significant training and development of workers. Technological revolution has had significant implications on the attempts by HRD professionals to manage intergenerational needs in organizations. In order to emerge successful in the increasingly sophisticated market, companies have been compelled to hire highly qualified employees as well as providing knowledge and additional skills to match the changing market demands (McDonald 2008). Workforce diversity challenges require organizations to go beyond skill improvement to empowerment of employees to accommodate intergenerational differences in the workforce. HRD professionals in companies operating in developing countries from the developed countries face the challenge of dealing with skill gap associated with such nations. Workforce diversity has had significant implications for the HRD professionals including the need to address racial, ethnic, as well as cultural insensitivity and language differences (Reid, Barrington & Brown 2004). Buttressing the primary purpose of this study is the imminent workforce heterogeneity challenges facing HRD professionals amidst the increasing changes in the global environment. This essay entails identification of the various workforce intergenerational challenges facing HRD professional in different organizations. Age diversity in the workplace poses one of the greatest intergenerational challenges facing HRD

Saturday, November 2, 2019

MARKETING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE CUSTMER SATISFACTION Essay

MARKETING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE CUSTMER SATISFACTION - Essay Example A comparison of the expectations that a customer may have had as a result of any marketing and the subsequent reality after the purchase of a product, service or trying out of something that had been the subject of a marketing campaign can result in the customer being satisfied or dissatisfied with their closer interaction. Customer satisfaction determines the repeat purchase behaviour of a customer, their word to mouth recommendation and loyalty to a firm as well as any long term business association. It is far more expensive to gain a new customer then it is to retain an existing one and customer experiences do get repeated to others in the market. Marketing involves the whole customer interaction with a company or firm and any expectations that a customer has as a result of marketing have to be fulfilled in reality. Thus, the marketing strategy that is pursued by a firm does determine the profits that it can make and the success that can be enjoyed. This dissertation proposal atte mpts to present a research project that will try to investigate ingredients of marketing that can give rise to customer satisfaction in an age of computing, telecommunications and information technology networks. Marketing is about making people aware of solutions for their human and social needs in a cost effective and appropriate manner so that profits can be made for those who are providing the solutions as well as those who are communicating the message about the existence of the available solutions (Kotler, 2005, Chapter 1). Although effective marketing can take many forms, it should be able to satisfy the target audience and meet their need for information about what is available in a manner that is both pleasing and informative. If information is conveyed in a manner that is pleasing and exciting, then it is very likely that potential customers will be attracted to a product, service or solution for which they perceive that they have a need. The scope of marketing